The rain beat a steady rhythm against the windowpane, a melancholic backdrop to what should have been a celebratory day. Jewel Stuart, turning nineteen, felt the usual indifference towards the pack's buzzing excitement. Today, the Alpha's son, Drew, was returning from his two-year training, a significant event for everyone else. For Jewel, it was just another day, another opportunity for the 'girly girls' to flaunt and gossip. Her wolf, Jade, however, stirred with an unfamiliar mix of unease and anticipation, a feeling Jewel quickly pushed down. She was a warrior, rough around the edges, preferring comfort and combat over frills and flirtations.

Her red hair, a stark contrast to her sisters' blonde locks, and her green eyes were her mother's legacy. Unlike her feminine siblings, Jewel embraced her strength, her well-built physique a testament to her dedication as a warrior. She chose loose clothing to avoid unwanted attention, hiding the curves that others failed to notice beneath her practical attire. The pack's persistent whispers about her sexuality, born from her unconventional style, were a tiresome hum she'd long learned to ignore.

Downstairs, the aroma of her mother's legendary birthday breakfast – chocolate chip and blueberry pancakes with all the fixings – filled the air. Her father's booming 'Happy Birthday' and her family's warm embraces were the only genuine warmth she truly felt. Soon, it would be time for school, a necessary evil where the incessant chatter about Drew would undoubtedly reach a fever pitch. Jewel snorted, a fleeting thought of breaking speed limits to escape the madness crossing her mind, a rebellion in a pack that boasted no such rules. She just wanted the day to be over.