Chapter 1 Prologue

Life isn’t fair, and I never expected it to be. I never wished for this life. Then again, who would? No one wants to be an orphan, seen as baggage always weighing down the pack. Once I turned eighteen, I was leaving to travel, find myself, and see what the world had to offer. When the war started, my father had to leave to help fight with the others—protecting our pack, the midnight pack, from the neighbouring pack, the bloodstone pack—leaving me alone to take care of myself and our land. My father never returned. The last thing I remember about him was the smile on his face and the pride that sparkled in his silver eyes, worn with age. His hair was almost white, making his tan skin stand out even more. He hugged me and then left for what would be the last time. My mother passed when I was young. She was killed while out on patrol. My father never talked about it. I could see his heartbreak every time I mentioned her. Losing your mate was like losing your soul. I could never imagine a loss like that. I feel that losing my father felt similar in ways, but I never hope to know the feeling. After my father’s funeral, I was moved from my home and placed in the packhouse to begin my training and learn how to connect and bond with my wolf. Once I turned eighteen, I would be able to turn to allow my wolf the freedom she craved and deserved. But, unfortunately, with that freedom also came the chance of finding my mate. *****

Chapter 2 New Order

Chapter 1 - New order Three months later There was a loud bang on my door. "Athena, get your ass up. We're going to be late." A voice shouted from outside my room. I slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. As the seasons changed from summer into fall, the morning sun grew tired and made waking hard. "I'm coming; calm down," I mumbled as I got out of bed, chucking on my training outfit. I swung open my door, looking at my friend. Her raven-coloured hair, done up in a braid. She looked up at me with her crimson eyes, annoyance written all over her face. I let out a sigh as I stepped out of my room, shutting the door behind me. "If you don't want Beta Paul to make you do extra training, you should stop being so late all the time." She scowled. "I said calm down, Greta, I'm up. If you don't stop nagging me, we will both be doing extra training." I rolled my eyes at her and gave her a smirk. Greta was the first person who really connected with me at the packhouse. She lost her parents in the war and was an orphan like me. She was a sweet girl, but she could kick your ass if she needed to. Her five-foot-two appearances fooled many. She was fast and always knew where your weak points were in a fight. She and her mate lived in the packhouse. "Crap, I forgot a hair tie," I groaned, running my fingers through my tangled hair. "You're so lucky you have a friend like me. Honestly, where would you be without me." Greta joked, pulling a band off her wrist and handing it to me. I looked at her and laughed. I grabbed my scarlet hair and twisted it into a messy bun. "You'd probably be dead in a ditch after pissing off Beta Paul again." My wolf teased in my head. "Glad to see someone finally woke up." I scowled "If you had woken me up, we wouldn't be late. Phoenix, now would we?" I smirked and rolled my eyes at my wolf. Though we couldn't shift into our wolf form yet, we were connected at birth. She learned as I did, and once I turned eighteen, she would be able to finally roll in the grass and sink her paws into the dirt. As we entered the gym for training, there was an uneasy feeling that filled the room. At the front of the gym stood Beta Paul. His eyes were tired and filled with sorrow. As most of us were too young to fight in the war, we would only hear updates the following day before training. But, most of the time, the information was the same. The only reminder that the battle was still raging on was how our pack had grown smaller and weaker with each passing day. "Attention pups," Beta Paul shouted, his voice stern and filled with pain. All of us stood up and stared up at Beta Paul. I couldn't help the knot that was forming in my stomach. I knew what he had to say wasn't good. "Alpha Hues has fallen. We are no longer..." The room filled with gasps, and whispers broke out. You could see him trying to form his words carefully, trying to deliver the news without causing complete chaos. He cleared his throat before continuing. "We are no longer the midnight pack. Our warriors fought hard and brought honour to our pack. The Bloodstone pack was far too big for even our strongest warriors. We will hold our heads high as we join our new pack. We will hold our new name with just as much honour." He shouted, his voice strong and demanded our attention. "The Bloodstone pack is fierce and so strict, we won't survive with your attitude," Phoenix whispered, worry clear in her voice. "Their alpha is ruthless.""Quiet, we can worry about that later. I want to leave once I turn eighteen. I can contain myself until then." I snapped back as I tried to hide the worry in my voice. The stories that we heard of the bloodstone pack were unsettling. I didn't want to think about that until it was needed. Besides, my birthday was a month away. Then I would be free. "There will be no training today. I want you all to pack as we will be moving to the bloodstones packhouse this evening. That is all you are dismissed." Beta Paul shouted. The room filled with whispers of worry and fear. "Athena, I need to speak with you in my office." I heard Beta Paul shout over the crowd. My stomach in knots, I nodded and gave Greta a worried look. I knew I had trouble following orders and controlling my attitude; I only wondered if that's what Beta Paul needed to talk to me about. "I'll be back shortly," I mouth to Greta before I followed Beta Paul into the hall towards his office. We walked down the hallway and turned down the left-wing of the packhouse. We passed several doors until we reached the door at the end of the hall. I had been in this office so many times in my short stay at this house, but this time felt different. I looked up at Beta Paul as he opened the door and walked in, holding it open for me. "If this is about my attitude, I'll work on it," I spoke softly. Beta Paul looked at me a small smile rose from his lips. "Athena, sit down," Paul ordered, his voice soft but assertive. I walked in and sat down in the chair in front of his desk. His office was bright with large cascading windows. The walls were a bright white with black trim and pops of gold throughout the room. "As an Omega, you don't need to know the details, but I'm here to warn you. As a close friend of your father, I promised to protect you as my own." He said in a worried tone. "The new Alpha runs things very different from here and demands order. So you need to be able to control yourself.""I will, and once I turn eighteen, I will leave and be on my own," I muttered, annoyance clear in my voice. "That's just it, Athena. He doesn't allow pack members to leave. Once you are in his pack, he owns you. You are not to defy his orders. You will be punished or killed." Beta Pauls's voice sounded rough, and his eyes darkened. My heart sank to my stomach. "We can't be owned. We aren't pets." Phoenix hissed. "This Alpha is unbelievable.""I will not let us be trapped, I promise," I said with anger in my voice. "I can't promise you anything." With that, I got up from my chair and walked out of his office, slamming the door behind me before running down the hall to my room. If I couldn't leave once I turned eighteen, I would leave now before I was trapped. I only owed my loyalty to Alpha Hues. I was not going to be trapped with a ruthless Alpha, who treated his pack members like pets. As I turned the corner, I saw Greta sitting in front of my door. Her eyes lit up as she saw me, but then a frown flashed on her face as she saw the anger that had become stuck to my face. "What happened this time?" Greta asked. I opened my bedroom door and pulled her in. "I'm leaving is whats up. This new Alpha will not allow me to leave once I turn eighteen—no chance to travel or find my mate or myself. We will be his property. I am not anyone's property." I muttered as I grabbed a bag and placed a few outfits in them. I didn't have much, but it didn't matter. It would be enough to last me until I got to where I needed to be. "You can't, Athena. You don't have your wolf form yet!" Greta's voice was full of concern and worry. "It's too dangerous out there, with rogues, humans, and everything else in the world. You would be killed. It might not be as bad as the stories you need to wait and see." She whispered, her voice shaky and uneven. I turned around to see her eyes filling with tears as she feared for me. "Greta, you are already eighteen and have your mate. I might never get the chance if I'm stuck there. So you don't need to worry. I'll be fine." I reassured her with a smile and then hugged her. As I got up, I swung my bag over my shoulder, giving her one last look as I opened the door. "I'll miss you," Greta mumbled as tears fell from her eyes. I made my way out of the packhouse. Watching for any other pack members as I walked down the driveway to the edge of the forest. I looked around to make sure no one was watching as I slipped into the trees and began running.

Chapter 3 Defiance

Chapter 2 - Defiance I couldn't tell how long I had been running, but the pack had to know I was gone by now. I finally took a moment to stop and breathe. The sun was slowly setting, and the forest was growing dark. Then, for the first time since leaving, the feeling of regret started to creep in. "We need to find a place to sleep." Phoenix said softly "somewhere high to protect us from rogues and any other animals or creatures out here." Her voice was full of concern. I nodded in agreement as I used what daylight we had left to find a suitable tree to climb. I was so busy trying to find a tree I hadn't noticed the wolf staring at me a few trees back. I could feel my hair stand up on end as I felt eyes burning into my back. A loud growl pierced my ears as I slowly turned around. A horrible smell of rot filled my nose as I turned to face the dark grey eyes staring at me. This wolf was definitely rogue. It smelled of death and decay. Foaming at the mouth, his teeth showing as his snout was pulled back into a snarl. "I'm a werewolf too." I managed to say surprisingly calmly. As if that would change their mind about killing me. My heart was racing as I slowly stepped back. His fur was black as night with a huge scar across his side. He was rough, and the fur never fully grew back from whatever attack he endured. His eyes flashed to my feet, and he stepped forward, his growl deepening. I knew I only had seconds left before my life was over. "I'm sorry I was so stupid to leave." I cried to Phoenix. "With you until the end. I'd rather die than be a pet." She snarled. I flashed her a nervous smile and then turned to run as fast as I could. I knew I wouldn't get away, but I needed to try. As I ran, I could hear the wolf run after me. I felt a sharp pain shoot down my leg as I fell to the ground. I grabbed anything I could and turned around, hitting it in the face with a rock. Hearing it yelp and step back for a second before it lunged at me again. I squeezed my eyes shut and pictured my father as it was the last thing I wanted to see before I died. I let out a loud scream as I felt its teeth bite into my arm. Just as I was about to pass out from the pain, I heard a huge yelp and felt a sense of relief. I opened my eyes in shock as I saw a giant wolf, the biggest I've ever seen, ripping the rogue to pieces. Its fur as white as snow, it stepped back and turned to me. Its eyes were the most beautiful emerald green I had ever seen. Too weak to speak or move, I layed there welcoming death as I closed my eyes and passed out. **** Unknown P.O.V I heard the screams as I raced through the forest. The smell of blood and rotting flesh hit my nose as I got closer. I could see a rogue on top of her. Its teeth Ripped into her arm. I jump straight for the rogue smashing it to the ground and ripping out its throat. I could hear her heart rate slowing. I stepped back from the mangled wolf and turned to look at her. She looked at me with her blue eyes, welcoming death as she closed them. Her scarlet hair was filled with leaves and twigs. Her skin was tanned from the kisses from the sun. I shifted into my human form as I got closer to her. My Beta arrived, looking at the mess behind me. He changed and threw me some shorts from behind a tree. Her arm was definitely broken, but our pack doctor would put it back in place. She was lucky, considering all the rogue's bites and clawing. It didn't manage to hit any major arteries. "We need to get her back to her packhouse. Have her fixed up there, and then we will bring her back to our territory right after." I told my Beta, giving him a nod to move forward. "Go ahead of me and tell the others we found her and get the room and doctor ready for her arrival," I ordered "On it." My Beta said as he turned into his wolf and ran ahead. I picked up her limp body. She couldn't have weighed more than a hundred and five pounds, maybe a hundred and fifteen pounds. She smelt so intoxicating; even with the smell of blood, her scent pushed through. The scent of vanilla and citrus hit my nose as I leaned her head against my chest and carefully carried her out of the woods. As I walked into the packhouse, the werewolves that were left searching for her stared in disbelief. They couldn't believe she was still alive. I brought her into a room with a bed. As I placed her on the bed, the old pack doctor walked in. His eyes were wide as he stared at me. "Her arm is definitely broken, and she has some lacerations on her stomach and back of her thigh," I told the doctor as he quickly put on gloves and examined her. I couldn't stop myself from watching his every move. I wasn't sure what had come over me. "Once she is bandaged up, she will be brought to our territory," I said to my Beta as he walked into the room. He nodded "She is lucky you got to her in time, Alpha Erik." My Beta said in a low tone. I could feel his eyes on me as he spoke. "No one touches what's mine," I said sharply.

Chapter 4 Regret

Chapter 3 - Regret Athenas P.O.V "How are we not dead" Phoenix mumbled. Her words sounded muffled and exhausted. " Where ever we are, it smells weird.""Maybe we are dead," I laughed, wincing at the sharp pain it caused. "Nope, definitely not dead." I could hear a faint beeping, but it sounded so far away, becoming louder as I slowly woke up. The smells all hit me at once—a mix of bleach and other cleaning products. I slowly opened my eyes, wincing at the light shining through the curtains. The room was bright white with a large bay window. There was a sink with a small cupboard above it. I slowly turned my gaze to my right to see a small bathroom. I looked down to see I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my arm. My left arm was wrapped in bandages. I looked to my left to see a heart monitor beeping away, letting me know indeed I had survived. My head was sore from the sunlight beaming in. I tried to sit up, only to be greeted with a wave of pain shooting through my body. I lifted the blankets to reveal my stomach was wrapped in bandages along with my right thigh. "You're awake." A young woman chimed as she entered my room. I looked at her as she smiled. Her silver eyes twinkled in the sunlight as she had her auburn hair in a tight ponytail. "If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. My name is Claire. "her voice was so light and full of joy. "Hi, "I said quietly, smiling at her, afraid talking any louder would bring more sharp pains. "I just have to check a few things, and then I'll be on my way. Doctor Turner will be in shortly to check on your wounds, and sure they are healing nicely." She smiled as she read my IV monitor and checked my heart rate. "Doctor Turner?" I asked, "Where am I, and how long have I been here?" I asked as my heart rate slightly increased, making the monitor beep faster. I tried to sit up again, enduring the aches to have a better look around. "You're at The Bloodstone packs hospital. Doctor Turner is our pack's physician." She said softly. The way her eyes looked at me made me feel at ease. She was full of kindness and patience. A gentle soul. "Oh, I see, and how long have I been here," I asked, looking down at my wounded body. My hands were shaking as I remembered what had happened. Flashes of the wolf's face crossed my mind. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Phoenix whimpered as she looked at what had happened to us. "I'm sorry I was so stupid to believe we would be okay," I sighed. "I'm just happy we're alive.""Thank the moon goddess for sending that handsome wolf our way, "Phoenix laughed. I just rolled my eyes at her. Just as she was about to speak, there was a light knock at the door. An older man with a white coat walked in. A smile on his face, his hair was slowly going grey, and his brown eyes had worn with age. "Great, you're awake." He spoke with such enthusiasm as he put on his gloves. "I'm going to have Claire help me take off your bandages. You sustained quite a few injuries, but they should all be healed in the next few days. "I just nodded as he moved the blanket, and Claire helped him slowly peel the bandages away. My stomach turned at the sight of the scabbing that appeared from under the bandages. A lot of them had closed and left a scar that was slowly fading. As he removed the bandages on my arm, I could see the marks of where the rogue's teeth had come in contact with my skin. The sound of my bones cracking rang through my head. You could hardly tell my arm had even broken. If the marks weren't there, you wouldn't even know I had been attacked so viciously. "Everything is healing beautifully. You should be in the packhouse by tomorrow." He smiled, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "You will have a few scars on your arm, but with everything that happened, it's better than losing your life." His voice was rough but gentle "Doctor Turner, do you know who saved me?" I asked. My heart raced at the thought of knowing his name. "It was Alpha Erik. He heard an omega had tried to leave the pack. A young wolf who couldn't shift at that." He said as he raised his brow at me. "He got there just in time. You had luck on your side that night. If he weren't there checking out his new land, you probably wouldn't have made it.""We can't change the past now, can we" he smiled. "After a week in here, it'll be nice for you to get some fresh air and meet your new pack members and you're new Alpha. I'll be back tomorrow to make sure everything is in order before you leave". "Thank you for everything thing." I gave him a small smile as his words sunk in. I was so busy thinking I didn't notice my dinner had been brought in. My stomach rubbled as the smell hit my nose. "I'm famished if like we haven't eaten in a week." Phoenix laughed "You're hilarious," I said as I rolled my eyes at her. As I began to eat, my mouth watered. I hadn't had food this good in a long time. The cook at our packhouse was good, but this was amazing. The way the chicken fell apart in my mouth, it was so tender and juicy. The mashed potatoes had the sweetest taste melting in your mouth. I never wanted to forget the taste. I slowly laid back with a full stomach feeling so blissful. I hadn't realized how tired I was until my head hit the pillow. Sleep called to me as I focused on the beeping of my monitor sang me to sleep. I closed my eyes and drifted off my mind closed to the world, and worries left for another day.

Chapter 5 Resistance

Chapter 4 - Resistance Eriks P.O.V Adding new members to a pack is always stressful. As I sat in my office, I couldn't help but think of Athena. Everything always leads back to her crossing my mind. I told the hospital to keep me updated on any changes. I wanted her to stay in the packhouse, but she was in rough shape and would do better there until she was healed enough to be here. I didn't understand why my pull to her was so instantaneous. There was a knock at the door that snapped me from my thoughts "Come in," My voice sharp, revealing a hint of annoyance My Beta entered my office with a smile on his face. "The new pack members have settled in nicely, Alpha. Doctor Turner also has some news on Athena." He spoke with a tone of pride. "What did he say?" I asked a little too fast for my liking. I cleared my throat and leaned back in my chair, trying to through off the happiness I felt hearing her name. Drake smirked at me. "She has finally woken up. Her wounds are healed to his liking. He said she would be able to be released tomorrow afternoon.""Thank you, Drake. I am going to head out for a bit. Link me if you need me. "I said as I stood up from my chair, stretching out the aches from sitting for so long. "Of course, sir" Beta Drake nodded as he left my office. "Can we visit her again?" my wolf asked. He was also drawn to her. "I need to clear my head, not fill it with more questions, Creed," I said sharply. "There's something about her. Even you can't deny it. She could be our mate. We've been looking for so long." Creed "Even if she is our mate, she isn't eighteen yet. Why would I waste my time on something that isn't ours yet? She could be someone else's, and I'm not doing that again." The words stung as I said them. With that, Creed retreated, remembering what happened the last time I fell for someone. I would never let that happen again. If she were meant to be mine, it would happen, but I would keep my distance until then. I walked out of the packhouse and entered the training room. I looked around at the empty space. Everyone was eating dinner and getting ready for their nightly patrols. I enjoyed training in silence. It helps me think. Every time I came out here to train, it was like a new solution would appear. I changed into my workout clothes and walked over to the punching bags. I wrapped my hands in bandages and did a few stretches before I started punching the bag. With my first punch, the bag swung up and hit the wall. I followed it with another hit throwing my weight into it. Hours must have passed before a familiar voice spoke behind me. "Save some for the pack Erik." They joked, their voice raised to catch my attention. "What do you want?" I snarled as I took one last swing at the punching bag before turning around. Greeting me was my brother with a crooked grin plastered on his face. "Who has you this pissed off?" He asked, eyeing the three destroyed punching bags thrown against the back wall. "I'm just processing. Adding new pack members always comes with new challenges," I stated, annoyance clear in my tone. "Is there something you want, Phillip, or do you just come to irritate me?""That's part of the fun." He laughed. "I hear you killed a rogue protecting a stray Mutt, one who clearly didn't want to join you. And had her placed in the hospital to be treated instead of the holding cells down in the basement." He looked at me with a smirk. "I thought I would never see the day, Alpha Erik going easy on a mutt." He laughed again. Hearing those words come from his mouth made me see red. "Put him in his place before I do." Creed Snarled "Quiet Creed, he's doing it on purpose. He wants to challenge me, and I won't allow it. If I fight him, I have to, and as much as he pisses me off, I don't want to kill my brother to prove I deserve to be Alpha ." While we both were irritated, Reasoning with him was enough to drive me to punch my brother in the face. "Don't push your boundaries, Phillip. I wouldn't want to have to put you in your place." I snapped. Phillip's eyes darkened as his wolf showed through. I pushed past him as I went heading to the locker room to shower. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Rachel is pregnant. "I could hear the grin in his voice. Stopping me dead in my tracks "Have a good night, Brother." He said as he patted my shoulder and left the room. "That bastard, next time I see him, I'll rip his head off." Creed hissed I ignored Creed as I started the shower. Phillip always knew how to get to me, but I couldn't let him win. The more I ignored him, the more he would push back. I tried to wash the thoughts from my mind and decided I needed to get some air. After getting dressed, I went for a drive. I zoned out most of the drive; when I realized where I was going, I was in front of the hospital. "It wouldn't hurt to see her," Creed muttered. "It's late. She's probably sleeping." My tone was stern. "Even better, she won't know we were here." I could hear the excitement in his voice. "Just for a minute to make sure she's good, and then we are done," I muttered. I turned off the car and walked up to the hospital. Everyone was shocked to see me enter. The last time I was here was when our mother passed. I never stepped foot in the hospital after that. But something was drawing me in. I had to know, and I had to know her. As I walked to her room, the sweet smell of vanilla and citrus filled my nose. It was something you couldn't miss. I wondered if anyone else could smell it or if it was just me. As I entered her room, her scent wrapped its self around me, luring me in. She was sleeping so peacefully, her scarlet hair a mess on her pillow, some resting across her fair skin. Freckles perfectly spread across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Before I realized it, I was standing over her. "I said we needed to keep our distance" I scowled at Creed "She calls to us. Even you can't deny it." Creed whimpered Something about her makes us different. More caring, soft as Phillip had stated before. As an Alpha, that worried me. How could I run a pack with such distractions? Her monitor beeping loudly snapped me out of my trance. With a loud gasp, her Blue eyes flew open. Her hand gripped my arm in fear. "Erik." She whispered as she let go falling back asleep. Hearing my name escape her lips sent sparks up my spin. There was no doubt about it. She was my mate, and soon she would know this too. "She is ours," Creed whispered. ****

Chapter 6 Acceptance

Chapter 5 - Acceptance Athena P.O.V I slowly opened my eyes, letting the light hit my face. The sun was just rising as I woke up. Today was the day I got to leave and venture to my new home. Was it home, or would it be a prison. Would I be locked away for trying to escape, for showing the new Alpha such disrespect? I heard stories of the Bloodstones pack. How ruthless their Alpha was. He showed no mercy to anyone who defied him. My stomach turned at the thought of him only saving me so he could end my life himself. "Knock knock." A familiar voice spoke with excitement, snapping me from my train of thought. A smile spread across my face as I looked at Greta. "Greta, what are you doing here so early?" I asked happily. "I mean, I could leave if you want." She said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at her response. "I just wanted to stop in before training. This is a change from the last time I saw you." Her eyes dropped in sadness but quickly changed, looking back up at me with a  weak smile. "I'm sorry I put you through that. I should have listened and stayed with you." My voice began breaking as regret sunk in. "I'm just glad you're here and that Alpha Erik got to you in time." She said softly. "Me too." My voice was trailing off as I flashed back to that night once again. Then, snapping myself free of the nightmare, I looked at Greta and smiled, changing the subject. "So about Alpha Erik, what is he actually like? I get to come to the packhouse today, and I'm scared he is going to murder me himself." I laughed half heartily. "He is terrifying, but I'm sure it wouldn't stop a certain she-wolve from acting up to have him punish them." She winked. We both laughed at the idea. I slowly gripped my stomach as a sharp pain shot across it. Then, letting out a slow breath, I smiled at her. "Hopefully soon, I can join you in training. Can't wait to start kicking your ass again." I smirked "You wish you could," She stood up, looked at her watch and walked towards the door. "I'll see you back at the house. I have to get my workout on." She laughed as she pretended to punch the air. I shook my head at her and waved her goodbye before leaning back against my pillow with a nervous sigh. "Is there a reason we're up so early? We're healing. Embrace the slumber." Phoenix huffed, sleep evident in her voice. I rolled my eyes at her. "Oh, poor you, I have to pee." I laughed I looked at the bathroom and the help button. I decided I didn't need to bother anyone. If I were going to the packhouse today, I would have to walk on my own. I slowly sat up and, letting my one leg hang off the side, I grabbed my other leg with my right hand, slowly pulling it towards the edge of the bed. A slight pain shot up my stomach as I moved. I'm sure not having this wrap on my leg would have made it easier to move. I scooted my butt to the edge. I could feel my toes touch the cold floor sending a cold chill up my legs into my spine. I lightly applied pressure to my arm, testing how far I could move it. The surprise hit me as I moved it, and I didn't feel any pain as I pushed down. "Easy now, we don't need any more injuries," Phoenix warned. "I'm fine. I got this. We're almost fully healed." I said, reassuring her. I slowly pushed off the bed, lightly pressing down. Waiting for the pain to shoot up my leg and force me to sit, but it never came. "See, we're golden," I smirked, Phoenix rolling her eyes at me. The morning went by slow, Claire and Doctor Turner returned to remove my bandages. Only small scars were left on my arm and thighs. My stomach was taking a little longer to heal. They gave me the all-clear to go to the packhouse. I'd be able to begin training on Monday. I realized I had nothing to wear besides the hospital gown. Just as the thought crossed my mind, a knock echoed from the door. A tall man stood at the door. His eyes were dark chocolate, and his sandy blonde hair swooped up in a bun. His body thin but muscle his clothes hugging all the right places. In his hand, he held my duffle bag. "Alpha Erik has sent me to bring you back to the packhouse." His voice was smooth and friendly. He placed my bag on the counter. "I'll be in the hall while you get changed." He smiled. "Thank you," I said as I walked over, grabbing my bag. I opened my bag and grabbed a black T-shirt and some sweatpants sliding them on. I brushed my wild hair, putting it into a messy bun. I closed my bag and swung it onto my shoulder. I opened the door to see the man standing there flirting with a nurse. He turned his head and looked at me, giving me a smile nodding at the nurse as I walked over. "I'm good to go.. uh... "I realized he never stated his name. "Beta Drake." He added, giving me a smirk. "Nice to meet you, Beta Drake." I smiled. He turned quickly on his heels and proceeded towards the exit. I followed closely, trying my best to keep up. We stopped in front of a black BMW, and he opened the passenger door. I slowly slid in, and he shut the door behind me. The drive was quiet and felt like an eternity as I thought of all the things that Alpha Erik would do to me. I could feel Beta Drake's eyes on me as I looked out the window. My eyes widened in awe as we pulled up to a huge house. It was covered in black stone and looked like a fairytale—the windows, tall and wide, allowing all the light to seep into the home. The front door was massive and stained a dark ebony. "This place is beautiful," I murmured, sounding way more excited than I should have. "Alpha Erik had it remodelled last year after his father stepped down," Drake said as he got out of the car. He walked over and opened my door. I smiled and turned my attention back to the house. My stomach dropped as I realized This was probably the last thing I would see before I was brought to a cell for punishment or murdered for trying to go rogue. "He isn't as bad as they say," Drake reassured me as if he could read my thoughts. "He protects his pack and does what's best for us. Yeah, he has a temper, but he also has a heart. He would do anything for us all. I think people just let the fear control the stories." Beta Drake said, leading me to the entrance. "Sure, said the lion to the lamb." I managed to let out a small laugh. He smiled and walked to the door opening it. I followed him inside my eyes, taking everything in. The walls were painted dark forest green with gold accents placed around the entrance. The floor was black tile and ran throughout the packhouse. He led me down the south wing, which held six rooms. Each had two bunks. The walls were painted the same green throughout. "This here is the girl's wing. All unmated she-wolves that are in training reside here. The North Wing is the unmated males. All mated wolves who are in training are placed in the centre of the two." Drake explained as I looked at the eight doors placed down the hall, four across from each other. We proceeded down to the kitchen and the dining room. I followed him to the back of the house. As we turned the corner, a vast wall of windows was revealed, showing the considerable large yard and gym in the back. "We train Monday to Friday five to eight in the morning and then again at two to four in the evening in our gym back here. We do breakfast at nine, lunch at one and dinner at six. On the weekend, you are free to roam and do what you please, but we do alternate weekend patrols with the other wolves." Drake looked at me as I tried to absorb it all in. A smile on his face as he continued walking. "We're almost done. The east wing is where myself and Beta Paul are staying, and the west wing is Alpha Eriks for him and his family." We had circled back to the front of the house in front of a set of stairs that I completely missed as I was lost in the beauty of the rest of the house. "Is that everything," I asked, uncertainty crossing my voice. "One last thing." He Smirked. "Upstairs is Alpha Erik's office. He is expecting you." I swore my heart stopped for a second. I was hoping he would have waited to take my life until tomorrow, at least giving me one day to enjoy the beauty that surrounded me. "Saved the best for last, I see," I muttered, biting my lower lip nervously. I walked up to the stairs turning back to Beta Drake. "Nice knowing you." He laughed, sending me a wink as he turned around walking down the hall. My stomach turned as I looked at the top of the stairs. There stood a pair of black french doors. They seem so close but so far away. I walked up the stairs, my legs feeling like cement with each step, as fear set in. "Now, I wish the rogue got us." Phoenix huffed "At least we wouldn't be tortured. Our suffering would have ended long ago." I agreed "At least we won't be a pet if he ends us here." She laughed. I rolled my eyes at her. I reached the top of the stairs and stepped in front of the door. Just as I went for the handle, a deep voice erupted from behind the doors, making me jump. "Come in." Erik's voice was deep and alluring. I slowly turned the handle and pushed the door forward as I walked in. This room was different than the others, with bright, wall-to-ceiling windows facing the back yard allowing natural light to brighten the room. The walls were a creamy white colour with black accents throughout the room. As I walked forward, the door closed behind me, making me jump as it clicked. "Have a seat." his voice lower and full of authority. My eyes flickered from the room to him. He stared at me with his bright emerald eyes watching my every move. His onyx hair was long on top and shaved at the side, messy but pushed back. His broad shoulders filled his shirt, stretching it to its max—his shirt, hugging him perfectly. I moved forward and sat in a black leather chair in front of his oak desk. "Maybe I wouldn't mind being his pet after all," Phoenix purred, sending me a smirk, excitement laced in her voice. "Until he kills us," I reminded her. Alpha Erik cleared his throat before speaking again. "How are you feeling?" His question and tone caught me off guard. "I'm... I'm feeling a lot better. Doctor Turner gave me the go-ahead to start training on Monday." He continues to stare at me, his emerald eyes starting to darken. His eyes narrowed, causing my heart rate to quicken. "I have already spoken with Doctor Turner." He spoke, his voice sounding annoyed. His whole mood seemed to shift. " You will begin training Monday night with me. As punishment for trying to run from my pack. You will also clean up the packhouse for the next week with the night staff." He said firmly My stomach turned at his words, anger strangely washing over me. Then, before I could stop myself, the words shot from my mouth. "When am I supposed to sleep?" My voice was sharp as I spoke. Immediately I dipped my head in a bow. He let out a low growl before speaking. "You are walking on thin ice, Athena." His voice was harsh and full of rage. "You will report to Beta Drake after dinner. He will introduce you to the night staff. You are dismissed. Get out." I couldn't let myself look at his eyes as I got up and all but ran to the door, knowing they were most likely black and full of anger. I felt them burn into my back as I left the room, taking a deep breath as I reached the stairs. Realizing I was holding my breath, I let it out as I proceeded down the stairs to our room. "Are you trying to get us killed?" Phoenix scowled. "I don't know what came over me," I said, my voice shaky as I entered the North wing and walked into my bunk room. "He sure is yummy looking. I want to enjoy that a bit longer. Thank you." Phoenix muttered. I rolled my eyes at her perverted comment. "I just hope I find my mate right after my birthday and get out of this house." I sighed. "I feel bad for whoever mates with him. He is so harsh and unhappy." Phoenix nodded in agreement. I headed to the dining room for dinner. I sat with Greta and her mate Tom. He is a nice guy, about five-nine, chestnut-coloured hair and golden-brown eyes. He has a slim build, but it was all muscle; he matched Greta perfectly. Their bodies moved in sync, Tom placing his arm around Greta and always looking at her in awe as they laughed and told me about their week here. They Filled me in on everything I missed. As everyone cleared out of the dining room. I got up, said my goodbyes and reported to Beta Drake. "This is Veronica. She is head of night staff and will be giving you your tasks for tonight." Beta Drake said as we approached an older woman. Her hair was white as snow, and her eyes bright blue. She greeted me with a warm smile. "So this is the one who lives to see another day." She laughed as she looked at Beta Drake and me. "Sure is, she will be with you for the next week. I'm sure Alpha Erik already informed you of that." She nodded in response. They said their goodbyes, and she turned her attention to me. "We start in the kitchen and dining room, cleaning up after dinner. Next, we move on to the bathrooms and then the common room. After that, we end the night cleaning up the gym for the next morning's training. If it isn't a complete wreck, we should be done by one, and then you can head to bed. We wake at four to start prepping for breakfast, and then you can go on with your day until the following evening." She spoke with kindness in her voice. "The others are in the kitchen already, so we will head there and start our night." I nodded and followed her to the kitchen. It was going to be a long night. ***

Chapter 7 Transparent

Chapter 6 - Transparent I walked into the washroom staring at my reflection in the mirrors lining the wall above the sinks. Dark circles sat under my eyes, my blue eyes dull with exhaustion, and my scarlet hair was weighed down and sweaty from cleaning. I turned on the shower and got undressed. My body was ready to collapse as the hot water soothed my aching muscles. The last three nights had been a blur. From the early mornings to the late nights I needed to sleep for a week, it seemed each time we would get finished one room, another would be left in worse condition. We finally ended the night by cleaning the gym for the morning training, which took the longest after the bathrooms. Each mat had to be moved, washed down, and ensured all blood was gone before being placed back. As I turned off the shower, I could feel my eyes grow heavier. I wrapped myself in a towel. I walked over to my locker to grab a set of shorts and a tank from my bag. I realized it was empty. "Crap, of course, I forgot a change of clothes," I muttered to Phoenix. "Greta was right. We are screwed without her." She laughed, smirking at me. I found myself looking at the clock seeing it was 2 in the morning. I bit my lip, deciding whether or not to throw on my dirty clothes from work or just run back to my wing in a towel. "Everyone is sleeping. I'm sure we would be fine," Phoenix mumbled. "Whatever, I'm too tired to care." I groaned. I grabbed my bag and peeked my head out of the doorway. I was walking fast, worried about being seen, but running might wake the other wolves in the house. Most nights, everyone was asleep by twelve as the patrol teams switched out at eleven. The beautiful house was so quiet, giving me time to really take in the character it had. I placed my fingers on the wall running them down the wainscoting. Studying every carving that the trim held. As I turned the corner, I felt as though I had walked into a wall catching me off guard and throwing me back on my butt. I glanced up to see Alpha Erik staring down at me, his eyes black with little bits of emerald still swirling around. "I'm sorry, Alpha, I didn't realize you were there or awake for that matter," I spoke fast, trying to smooth my voice as my heart raced. "I just finished my shift. I was on my way to bed." His eyes were hard and his face firm. I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering across his chiselled chin and down his neck to his muscular torso. I forced myself to look up at him only to see he was no longer staring at my face but the towel wrapped around my body. I immediately stood up, my face bright red, and I looked down, trying to hide my face behind my hair. Without warning, I felt his hand grab my waist as he pushed me against the wall. His other hand gripping my chin, forcing me to look up at him. His eyes were full of hunger as he stared at me. I winced as a sharp tingle shot through my body. It was as if I had been zapped, but at the same time, I enjoyed the sensation. "Why do you insist on testing us, Athena?" he whispered in my ear, his voice low and husky. His lips were mere centimetres from me. His breath smelled of fresh mint as it brushed across my cheek. "I don't understand," I whispered, my heartfelt as though it was going to beat out of my chest. For some reason, I wanted him closer and to see how far I could push him. Before I knew it, my hand had reached up to his shirt, my fingers grazing his abs, sending the same sparks up my hand. He grabbed my wrist and pinned it above my head. "I suggest you don't do that." He growled, "If I catch you like this again, there will be consequences." He let go of me, ending the sparks from coursing through my body. He looked at me again his eyes returned to their gorgeous emerald green. "I... I'm sorry, Alpha." I bowed my head, something about him called to me. It made my body crave his touch and see how far I could go. It also made me want to please him any way I could and submit to his every command. I somehow knew he would never hurt me. "I will see you in training. "with that, he stormed off down the hall. I couldn't help but stare as he turned the corner. My heart pounded in my chest, my breathing heavy as I tried to understand what had just happened. I pulled my towel closer to my chest, the smell of campfire and chocolate clinging to me. "I don't know what that was, but I would love to feel that again." Phoenix squealed in excitement "It was weird, wasn't it? He looked at me like I was food." My voice came out shaky. I forced myself off the wall and walked back to my room, got changed, and went to bed. Dreading the early morning training as I was pulled into a dreamless sleep. ** Erik's P.O.V "Drake, I need you to keep tabs on the new members. We need to make sure their needs are met, so there aren't any rebellions. Once preparation is finished, they will be transferred back to their homes." I ordered. My voice was tired from the long nights spent organizing my new territory. "Will do, Alpha." Drake nodded. "Oh, and just a reminder, you will be training with Athena tomorrow evening. Do you need me to finish training early so you can have a one on one session with her?" Drake smirked as he raised his eyebrow at me With all the preparations for the pack ceremony, I hadn't gotten much training or sleep in. But Creed wouldn't let me forget about Athena. He always made a point to mention her in the most annoying instances. Between him and Drake, I couldn't ignore her. "I didn't forget," I muttered. I couldn't trust myself alone with her, but Drake enjoyed pushing my buttons. "Your smart mouth is going to earn you some extra nights of patrol." I smirked, "Between you and Creed, I don't know how I manage to stay sane." "That's what I'm here for, causing shit and keeping you on your toes." Drake laughed "It would be fun, you know, just to smell her scent and be close to her," Creed whined. "You are so insufferable sometimes." I moaned "Just so you don't get any ideas, Drake, we will be training as a group like usual," My eyebrow raised as I looked at him. He nodded and turned out of the room. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. Athena popped into my head immediately. Her bright blue eyes and her scarlet hair. I could smell her even in my imagination; her scent was so powerful. I had been avoiding her since she arrived at the house. I knew I couldn't trust Creed or myself to keep our hands off of her. To feel her hair run through my finger and my lips against hers was enough to drive me mad. Creed had already claimed her, but she still wasn't able to claim us. The last time I was alone with her, I had to do everything not to get up and touch her. It was unusual to know your mate before you both were of age. Something about her was special different from any other she-wolf I ever met. I would be hers completely, but I also was hesitant she might not want to be mine. "Daydreaming again, brother," Philip spoke, his voice snapping me from my thoughts. "No wonder you have so much work to do." He mused "What do you want, Phillip" I muttered, the taste of metal on my tongue. "Someone is in a mood today, aren't we." He laughed. He knew I was not too fond of his presence, almost as fond as I was of rogues. He constantly challenged me and tried to push my buttons, igniting my already short fuse. "I just don't have patients to deal with an arrogant swine like you today." My voice came out sharp "Now, you don't truly mean that, brother." His voice full of sarcasm, he let out a sigh and continued. "I'm just here to invite you to our house for dinner. Rachel insists that the whole family get together to celebrate the news. Dad will be there, and so will Cassie." I couldn't stand his arrogance and constant need to rub his mate in my face. Of course, I couldn't blame Rachel for being his mate, but the thought of it still stung. "I'll try to show up; I have a lot to do, Phillip. Because, unlike you, I have a pack to run." I muttered, my voice sharing the annoyance I was feeling. Phillip laughed for a minute before turning his back to me. "I'll see you Friday for dinner. Don't be late." He said as he left my office. "I would love to fight him. Put the miserable mutt in his place." Creed growled. "He may have gotten her, but we got the title and the respect. I sighed before responding. "She wasn't our mate, though we were too naive to see it. I thought I knew what love was then, but I was wrong." "You're too level-headed sometimes. It's such a bore." Creed huffed before retreating from my mind I shook my head before continuing the rest of my paperwork. Tuesday is when we would do our pack ceremony, and the new pack members would join us, mind link and all. As I looked up at the clock, I realized it was two in the morning. I stood up from my desk and decided the rest could be done tomorrow. I mind-linked Drake to make sure patrol was okay as I headed down the stairs into the hallway. As I turned the corner, I was caught in a familiar and intoxicating smell. The smell of vanilla and citrus hit my face and caused me to stop in my tracks. I hardly felt her run into me. I was too stunned to catch her as she fell to her butt. "I'm sorry, Alpha, I didn't realize you were there or awake for that matter." She spoke fast, her blood rushing up to her cheeks. "I just finished my shift. I was on my way to bed." I looked down to see she was just in a towel; her wet scarlet hair clung to her body. Her chest was rising frantically as she tried to compose herself. She stood up frantically, her lips parting slightly as she looked up at me. How much I wanted to taste them and let her know she had me. Before I could stop myself, I wrapped my hands around her waist and pushed her against the wall. And lifted her chin, so her wild eyes met mine. I could feel Creed taking over. He wanted what was ours and didn't have the self-control I did. "Why do you insist on testing us, Athena?" I whispered in her ear, trying my best to control my urge to touch every inch of her body. The sparks from holding her were enough to drive me mad. I could hear her heart beating rapidly. I could feel her breath against my neck. Her scent was calling me closer, begging for a taste. "I don't understand." She whispered, fear entangled in her voice. Her eyebrows in a slight frown as she tried to process what was happening. I could see the desire in her eyes. She could feel something too, but she wasn't sure what. I felt her fingers graze my skin as her hand glided under my shirt sending waves of sparks through my body. I grabbed her wrist and pinned her arm above her head. If I didn't stop her now, I wasn't sure I would be able to walk away from her. "I suggest you don't do that." I growled, "If I catch you like this again, there will be consequences." It took everything in me not to give in to the thoughts Creed was showing me. I had to leave before I pushed it any farther. I let pushed myself back, letting go of her. I held my breath to stop her intoxicating scent from drawing me in. "I... I'm sorry, Alpha." She said as she bowed her head. Seeing her so submissive made me even crazier for her. My control on Creed was starting to slip as he tried to gain complete control. "I will see you in training." That was all I managed to say before I rushed down the hallway. I could feel her eyes on me as I turned the corner and left. I didn't know what had come over me, but it took everything in me not to turn around and bring her to my room. "I'm sorry, Erik, she caught us off guard," Creed whined. "You will be the death of me." I snapped as I walked out of the packhouse into the forest lining the backyard. I let Creed take over, running into the woods to collect my thoughts of what just happened. *

Chapter 8 The Calling

Chapter 7 - The Calling Athena POV After a short but quiet night of sleep and a fast-paced morning, I was finally able to sit down and breathe. I knew after lunch I would be training with Alpha Erik. Yet, my mind kept flashing back to last night. How much I wanted to touch him and test how far I could go. The thought of all of it caused my cheeks to flush the lightest shade of pink. I craved the sensation his touch gave me. I didn't know what I was going to do, but I had to have his touch. Something was pulling me to him. "Earth to Athena.. where'd you go?" Greta asked, snapping me from my thoughts. "Oh, sorry, just the lack of sleep is catching up to me." I lied. "I can't wait to be done this night shift. I know I pissed him off, but he could have just tortured me instead of having me clean up the whole packhouse. It's honestly disgusting. I'll never look at the other wolves the same." I said, pretending to shiver at the thought. "Yeah, that's pretty disgusting. I've heard he's done a lot worse. So consider yourself lucky." Greta laughed. "He's also the best warrior in the pack and in his family, so training with him is going to be intense. I feel sorry for you. It's even crazier how he became Alpha." Greta's voice was full of excitement as she spoke. "What do you mean how he became Alpha?" I asked, "I thought you were born into it or married into it.""Yeah, you usually are, but only the firstborn is Alpha usually ... but not Alpha Erik. He is the youngest of three siblings. His brother Phillip is the oldest and was supposed to be Alpha. One of the pack members told me that the White Wolf in the family is always the Alpha and usually the firstborn who possesses it. But for some reason, Phillips wolf wasn't white, which caused so much confusion. So they waited until the second born, Cassie, could shift, and it wasn't her either. So Finally, when Alpha Erik could shift, they were shocked to see that he possessed the White wolf." Greta's eyes lit up as she told me the story. She was one who always loved tales and drama. "That must have been hard on his brother. To be trained his whole life as an Alpha only to have it taken from him." I said softly "Yeah, apparently, they have been against each other ever since. Especially when Phillips's mate ended up being Alpha Erik's girlfriend, she turned eighteen before him, and everyone thought they would-be mates, but they were wrong." For some reason, the mention of him being with someone else irritated me. I shook the thought from my head as I continued to listen to Greta. "Sad really to think that even though they're family, they probably harbour so much hate towards each other, both taking what the other wanted." Greta shook her head. "He still hasn't found his mate either. He's twenty-three, and he hasn't had any luck. So it makes sense that he's so ruthless. I couldn't imagine not having Tom." Her voice grew quiet before she smiled again. "I hope you find your mate as soon as you can too. Waiting that long is enough to drive any of us mad." She laughed "Yeah, me too. The faster I can get out of the packhouse and far away from Alpha Erik's wrath, the better." I laughed We chatted for a bit longer and then headed in for lunch. After lunch, We headed into the change rooms of the gym. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about last night. Knowing he still hadn't mated and how much pain he must have felt losing the one he thought was destined to be his. His loss made me think of my father and how he found his mate but lost her. No one deserves a fate so cruel. I closed my locker and put on a black sports bra and spandex shorts. I tossed my scarlet hair in a ponytail and followed Greta out to the gym. It looked so different in the daytime. The light shined through the windows making the white walls even brighter than before. I heard someone clear their throat, and my attention was drawn to the front of the gym. There stood our Alpha the way the light hit him showed off his form perfectly. His emerald green eyes sparkled in the light. His muscle shirt was filled by his broad chest, his shirt hugging perfectly against his abs. My eyes trailed down his body to his shorts. They hugged his legs perfectly. My face started to turn red as I returned to his face seeing him staring right at me. His eyes were slightly darker as a smirk appeared on his face for a second before turning cold again. I immediately looked down, hiding my face wishing my hair was down to cover my flushed cheeks. "We will be splitting up into partners today. Working on our adaptability. Switching partners every half hour." Alpha Erik said, his voice full of power. "Remember to focus on your weaknesses, become aware of them and correct them. You are to help each pack member grow stronger. We never favour one move or side. We must be able to protect ourselves and show no weaknesses to our enemies. "Eriks voice sharp as he spoke "Beta Drake will be walking around to help with anything you need. I will be sparing with one member of the pack today." Erik's voice shifted, sounding more sly. I could feel his eyes on me. I slowly looked up to meet his gaze. "Athena, you will be my partner today." My stomach dropped as soon as he said it. I knew it was coming, but I thought he might change his mind. Beta Drake had a huge smile on his face as he looked at me. The other pack members moved aside so I could walk towards him. Their eyes were weary as they watched me approach my death sentence. "You're all to begin; your thirty minutes starts now," Erik ordered. Everyone bowed their heads and partnered up. Starting their training, not even giving Alpha Erik and me a second glance. "Did you train in your other pack?" Erik asked, snapping me away from the thoughts. "Did we train? What kind of she-wolf does he think we are." Phoenix snapped "Hush, Phoenix, I need to focus. I want to walk away from this," I growled at her. "Of course I trained, after my father.." I stopped myself before continuing. "I trained once I was moved to the packhouse," I said, my voice coming out sharp as I tried to hold back the anger that flashed through me. Before this, I never realized how angry I felt about my father's death. He died fighting against Alpha Erik's pack. "Perfect, then we don't need to go over anything. Let's begin." His voice was coming out softer than before. A slight hint of happiness formed as he spoke. He took his shirt off and got into position. "Well, hello there." Phoenix squealed as her excitement flooded my mind. Then, before I could even react, I felt a fist connect with my stomach, throwing me to the ground. I let out a sharp grunt as I slammed into the mat. "God damn it, Phoenix, keep your thoughts to yourself, please. I'm already having a hard time focusing as is." I snapped "Well, I mean, come on. How fair is it that we have to stare at that while we fight." Phoenix said, her voice full of excitement. I glared at her in response. "Fine, I'll focus. Let's kick his ass, or at least die trying." She laughed. I rolled my eyes at her as I got back up, putting all my focus onto Alpha Erik. "Thought you said you trained," Erik said, his voice full of amusement. "Lucky shot," I grunted as I let the pain from his hit pass. His cockiness pissed me off. He went forward, trying to hit me again. I dodged his fist. I Spun around quickly, delivering a hard kick to his side. It barely fazed him. "You're a fast one, but I won't let that happen again." He laughed "Are we going to talk all day, or are you going to fight." I snapped. Shock flashed through me as I didn't mean to come off that hard. My anger got the best of me. His eyes darkened as he looked at me. I just signed my death wish. "Very well." He said before swinging at me again. I dodged his next blow but didn't anticipate his leg as it swung up and hit me in the back, sending me flying forward. I let out another grunt as I slowly stood up. We continued to fight, I would get the odd hit, but he was fast for his size and exceptionally skilled. He definitely earned his title as Alpha. I had hardly noticed the gym was empty, with only a few members staying behind to watch us continue. For a brief second, I looked away; he connected his fist with my side. I fell forward, my face hitting the ground. The taste of blood hit my tongue. I stood up, wiping the blood from my nose, turning around to meet his gaze. I was so mad he got me again. I had to get another blow in, one that counted. His eyes scanned my face; a flash of worry crossed his eyes as he looked at the blood. I ran towards him he threw another punch. I ducked and slid on my back between his legs. Before he had a chance to turn around and react, I kicked the back of his knee in, causing him to lose his balance. Just as I went to connect my fist to the side of his face, his hands shot up, grabbing my arms. He threw me over his shoulder onto the ground and pinned me down. "I think we're done for today, Sweetheart." He said, his voice soft and a victorious smile on his face. The way he spoke to me sent shivers down my spine, and his smile made my heart skip. I wasn't angry anymore, just existing in his presence. Then, someone cleared their throat, snapping us both from each other's gaze. Only to have Beta Drakes stupid smirk greeting us as we looked up. "That was one hell of a show. Can't wait to see what you do tomorrow." Beta Drake said, his voice full of amusement. "It's seven. You guys missed dinner. I had the cooks put some aside for you both. I figured it was going to be a long night.""It's seven," I said frantically. "Crap, I have to get ready for my shift," I said, almost falling over as I stood up. I felt Alpha Erik's hands grab my hips to steady me. The same tingling feeling shot through my body, causing me to jump. I looked over at Alpha Erik to see he had unwrapped his hands, so his skin was touching mine. "You are excused from your duties tonight. After a fight like that, you need to eat and get your rest." Alpha Erik spoke, his voice soft but cautious as he looked at me, letting go of my hips. "Thank you, Alpha," I said as I bowed my head to him. I looked up to see Beta Drake watching us with a smile on his face as he watched how close Alpha Erik stood to me—causing my face to flush. "Go have a shower, and I will meet you in the dining room." Alpha Erik instructed as he stepped back from me. "You're going to have dinner with me, don't you have more important things to do," I asked. My eyes widened as I realized what I had said. I could hear Drake stifle a laugh. "Nothing is more important than gaining our strength after a fight. That's the best fight I've had in a while. You definitely have some skill." He said a small smile on his face. "Th...thank you, Alpha." I stuttered as I tried to collect my thoughts. My face was extremely red at this point. I put my head down and ran to the change room to shower. "I wonder if he will join us," Phoenix smirked as she spoke. "You are a serious perv." I laughed as I turned on the shower. I stripped off my clothes and let the hot water hit my body. My muscles instantly relaxing as the water soothed their aches. "He's so gorgeous it's hard not to be. There's just something about him." Phoenix said dreamily. "You got that right. Those sparks he causes when he touches us make it almost impossible to concentrate." I said, "No one has ever done that before. Do you think that's because my birthday is soon? That may be every unmated male's touch will feel like that." I asked, my voice full of wonder as I rinsed out my hair and turned off the shower. "I hope not, but we could always try touching someone else and see if it happens with them." I nodded in agreement to Phoenix. I walked to my locker and grabbed a change of clothes. A blush crossing my cheeks as I thought about last night and not having a change of clothes. I slid on a red tank top and a pair of ripped jeans. I looked at my face in the mirror. The swelling was gone, and just small red marks remained. One of the bonuses to being a werewolf was how fast we healed. Once I could fully transition into my wolf form, I would heal much faster and be so much stronger. I turned to the door and walked out towards the house. Once inside, I headed to the dining room. My stomach was in knots, knowing I had to see Alpha Erik again. **

Chapter 9 Hunger

Chapter 8 - Hunger As I walked into the dining room, two plates sat on the table, one at the head of the table and the second next to it. I was pleased to see I was the first to arrive. It gave me time to calm the knot in my stomach and reel in Phoenix's over baring thoughts. "You be careful tonight. We don't need to find out what Alpha Erik meant when he said we would have consequences," Phoenix smirked. "You are so unbelievable." I scoffed "I just say what we're both thinking." Phoenix huffed. "Just imagine what it would feel like to have him." She said dreamily, sending flashes of what she thought through my head. My fingers entangled in his hair. His warm lips pressed against my neck as his hands wandered my body, making their way down. I was snapped out of my trance by someone clearing their throat. My eyes flew open, meeting alpha Erik's gaze, my face growing red. I gripped my thighs tighter as I tried to keep any scent of arousal from the air. Werewolves had a keen sense of smell, and a female's arousal drove all the unmated males crazy. "Alpha Erik, you finally made it." The words left my mouth before I could stop it. My eyes widened as I examined his expression. A small smirk spread across his face as he looked at me. "I see you waited for me to eat." He said as he approached his seat. I stood up to bow, only sitting back down once he had been seated. "Such an obedient pup when you want to be." He said, his voice sending out a mocking tone. "What's that suppose to mean," I said sharply. Again my mouth opened before I could catch myself. "Thought you didn't want to find out the consequences ." Phoenix laughed. I rolled my eyes at her. I heard a laugh from the corner of the room. I didn't even notice Beta Drake standing at the entrance of the dining room. "She's definitely a feisty one," he laughed. "Careful, Athena, you might get yourself into some trouble. Alpha likes them spicy." I heard a low growl erupt from Alpha Erik's chest. Causing me to turn to him, my eyes met his. They were dark with emerald swirls. His wolf was present again. "Okay, I get it, touchy subject." Beta Drake said, raising his hands as if to surrender. "Sorry to bother you, Alpha, but I just needed to remind you we need to head out soon to hunt for tomorrow's ceremony.""Ceremony," I questioned, not remembering any mention of it. "I'm assuming Drake didn't tell you." Alpha Erik said, giving Drake a pointed look. "We will be holding our pack ceremony tomorrow. You along with your pack will be welcomed into ours, sealing our bond officially becoming a part of the Bloodstone pack." I smiled in response, nodding as my stomach twisted. Soon Alpha Erik could get into my thoughts and be in my head. "It's quite an experience; we need the deer's blood to complete the ceremony. Sharing the blood of the kill unites the pack." Alpha Erik spoke, his voice sounding soft. He looked up at Beta Drake again. "We will head out after dinner. Is there anything else?" He asked. "No, sir, I'll leave you two alone." Beta Drake shot me a wink as he turned and left the room. A blush ran across my cheeks. I looked down at my plate and started eating to distract myself. "Tell me more about yourself." Alpha Erik asked, his voice breaking the silence. I looked up at him. His gaze set on me. I cleared my throat before speaking. Trying to steady my heart rate before speaking. "What do you want to know?""Well, all I know about you is you have poor impulse control and tried to run when I claimed your pack. So really anything would be great." His face was emotionless, and I couldn't tell what he thought. His Emerald eyes stared into my soul as I looked at him. I couldn't think when I looked at him. Something always seemed to be pulling me closer to him and causing me to lose all sense of control. I cleared my throat, returning my focus to my meal. "I am an only child. I never knew my mom. She was killed while out on patrol when I was young. My father raised me with the help of Beta Paul and a few other pack members. My father he.." I paused for a minute, trying to fight back the tears; anger washed over me. I could see Alpha Erik's face change as he watched me. "He died three months ago fighting against your pack." I spit out. I could feel Phoenix's sadness stir inside me too. I suddenly felt a warm tingle run up my arm. Its waves of electricity calmed me down. I looked down to see Alpha Erik's hand on mine. He had taken the fork from my hand and placed it on the table. His eyes were full of compassion as he stared at me. Full of understanding. I pulled my hand away, placing it on my lap. "I'm sorry that your father died in our battle. It was never my intention to start a war with your pack. There are a lot of things you don't know. Before the war, we had been working on joining our packs peacefully. Unfortunately, something happened with Alpha Hues. He decided to back out and instead sent his men to send a message. As a result, a few of my pack members were attacked and killed. Before we knew it, Alpha Hues had declared war on us. Claiming he never agreed to any of our terms and that we were trying to steal his pack." Erik said his voice was soft as he explained the story to me. He rubbed his hand through his chocolate brown hair. "We found out after it ended that Alpha Hues was very sick. He had been attacked a few weeks back after we had started our agreement. The rogue who attacked him was diseased. It drove him mad, causing his wolf to turn feral. It took over and only wanted blood. If we had known sooner, we could have avoided the war and all of the losses we endured on both ends." He stopped talking to look at me. Knowing what happened to Alpha Hues made my stomach turn. Rogues were horrendous creatures. They took my mother's life and then indirectly took my father's. I didn't realize I had started crying until I felt a tear fall from my eye and roll down my cheek. I looked away from Alpha Eriks and wiped my face. "I'm sorry for your loss Athena. It was never my intention to hurt you and your pack." His voice was genuine. "I'm no longer hungry." I stood up from my tables and ran out of the dining room. I knew I would get in trouble for not properly excusing myself from alpha, but I didn't care. My father died for no reason, and it made me feel even more broken than before. I knew it wasn't Alpha Erik's fault, but he was the only one I could be angry at, the only one still alive to feel my pain. ** Erik's POV "Nice one, make our mate cry and hate us," Creed growled. "At least now she knows it wasn't our fault," I muttered. "Alpha, we are outside ready when you are," Drake said through the mind link. "I'll be right there," I said as I left the dining room, ending our link. I definitely needed to hunt after this. Creed was pissed at me for being so truthful, and I hated myself for making her cry. You're supposed to protect your mate. It killed me not being able to hold her and make her feel safe. I knew it would be too soon to share our bond, but it was getting harder not to touch her. "Earth to Alpha, dinner go that bad," Drake asked through the mind link. I hadn't even noticed he was talking to me while we were hunting. We caught three deer and needed one more. "What makes you say it that," I muttered back. "You haven't said anything to me, Dylan, Gabriel, or Lucas since we started hunting. You love the chase, and you're kind of being a drag." Drake laughed. "whatever happened, I'm sure she'll come around. She just doesn't know yet." He said, his voice switched to a more serious tone. Drake was always good at reading people, especially when it came to mating bonds. He could predict a soon-to-be-mated couple from a mile away. "Never asked for your advice Drake, keep it up, and ill have to downgrade you to our psychology wing." I laughed. I could feel his mood shift as I said that. "Somethings here," Dylan shouted through the link. "Smells like a rogue." We all stopped running and sniffed the air. "It's a rogue, alright, careful. He smells more pungent than usual," I ordered. Just as we looked up, a wolf came charging at us. His fur was all matted and coated in mud and dried blood. He had been in his wolf form for a while. His eyes were grey, and his mouth was foaming. He snarled at us, snapping his teeth. "He's sick, don't get bit!" I shouted as I charged forward,  taking out the rogue's back legs. It didn't even notice it, turning and snapping at me. Drake came up behind and stomped on its head. Dylan ran forward; the rogue's front paw swung up, clipping him before he ripped its neck open. The rogue stopped moving instantly. Its blood pooled on the ground beneath him. We all went behind trees and turned into our human forms, slipping on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt we had placed around the forest. "Burn his body. We don't need any other animals getting sick," I ordered. I bent down and lifted the rogue's paw. There was a large bite mark on his arm. It was filled with puss and smelt like rotting flesh. "This is the first one in months. Where are they coming from, and how are they getting so sick." Drake asked. "I'm not sure, but we will need to double up on patrols and increase training. We can't have any of our pack members getting bit or sick." I said I stood back up and looked at Dylan, one of the warriors that came with us "Dylan, I need you to go back to the packhouse. Go see Doctor Turner get him to give you some shots, and have you monitored for a few days." I said, making sure to contain my anger "Yes, Alpha." He said, nodding and then running in the direction of the town. "Gabriel, Lucas, I need you two to bring the deer to the shop to be drained of their blood for the ceremony. Unfortunately, we will have to make do with the amount we have. It's too dangerous to be out here right now." They both nodded at me and turned back into their wolves to collect the deer and head back to town. "Drake, we will have to have a meeting with the other warriors. I will get them to come to the hall so we can discuss our plans." I said the feeling of being watched washed over me. My hair standing up on end as I felt a powerful presence. "Do you feel that?" Drake asked me. I nodded before stepping back. "I know you're there. Step forward before I drag you out." I Snapped m y voice cold and demanding. We heard a woman laugh as she stepped forward. "I've made the big bad wolf angry." She pouted, her voice sounding as if she was talking to a child. "I would watch your mouth. You are speaking to an Alpha." Drake snapped. "You mutts and your hierarchy. You're all just a waste of space and time." She spit as she stepped forward into view. She was tall and thin, her eyes blue as the sea and her hair scarlet red. Her skin was porcelain and almost glowed. Her ears were pointed. She smelt of citrus and lavender, and her body sent off waves of power. She had a beauty you couldn't ignore. It was magical. "She can't be," Drake whispered. His eyes were wide as he watched her stand there. "Oh, but I am, one of the very last purebloods in existence." She said, her face held a sinister smile. "Why are you here Fae," I asked, my voice sharp. "I'm here to make you a deal." She said, "I need something that you have in your possession." "What would that possession be?" I asked, feeling the annoyance and anger rush through me. The instinct to protect my pack overruled my curiosity with most enemies, but she had me wonder what she could want. "You will know soon enough. But when I come for it, you will give it to me. If not, you will find your entire pack infected. That wolf wasn't sick from anything of your world. Neither was that Mutt that ran the other pack." "What did you do to Alpha Hues," Drake growled. "I made him sick, of course. He refused to corporate with me. He believed he could hide things from me." She laughed. "This item I seek isn't ready yet. I will be back in a month. Remember, if you refuse to give it to me, your pack will suffer. Until next time Erik." She said before fading before our eyes. "What the fuck was that.." Drake asked frantically. "I don't know, but she isn't getting what she wants without a fight. Alpha Hues protected it with his life, and we need to talk to Beta Paul to see what he knows." I growled. Creed was seeping through. Drake nodded in agreement. We shifted into our wolves and returned to the pack. I met with my warriors and gave them their instructions. First, they were to increase their patrol teams and have them posted all along the forest. Second, they would increase training and were to report anything different, smells or even sounds they were hearing. Fae are powerful creatures and not to be tested. Though they never aged, they could be killed. After we finished up our meeting, I headed to my office, Drake and Paul following me. We sat in my office, the air heavy as I began questioning the newest member of my pack. "Paul, did Hues ever mention anything to you about a Fae visiting him. Did he ever say anything weird?" I asked. My eyes were hard as I stared at him, gauging his reaction. Paul stared at me, his eyes falling before he spoke. "Yes, sir." He said, his voice full of remorse. *