Chapter 1

Five years ago

Red POV

“That’s enough training for today,” my mother said, walking towards us. We were in the woods, training as usual.

“I finally got it, mom; I crossed over that big log,” I said, jumping happily. She smiled, her brown eyes staring at me.

“Well, my daughter is so strong, just like her mama,” she said, rubbing my cheeks. Tomorrow is my 13th birthday. I will be shifting to my wolf, and dad said I could finally start training. I had to beg him for weeks before he allowed me to do anything, and now I am not even learning combat yet; I am just doing some press-ups, running around the field, lifting tires, and jumping logs that keep moving. It was the hardest.

“Let’s go inside,” she said, taking my hand. We walked back to the pack house, and I kept skipping happily in the middle of my parents. My parents are just ordinary pack members; we don’t stay at the pack house; we live almost in the woods. There are other houses here too, but they are separate from each other. We got to our house, and I breathed out, removing my coat.

“It’s so cold outside,” I said, shivering. Dad laughed, messing my hair up.

“You get your wolf soon; it won’t be as cold,” he said. I smiled, nodding my head.

“Let’s eat,” Mom said, calling from the dining room. I smiled, looking at all the food. I love it when she cooks because she is not around most nights to cook, as she is a pack nurse.

“It looks delicious,” I said, cleaning my hands. Mom smiled, and we all started eating in a comfortable silence. Dad doesn’t like it when we talk at the table. He said its table etiquette. We continued eating silently, and we heard a loud boom followed by cries and shouts. I stopped eating my food, looking up in shock.

“What is that?” I asked. Dad stood up, running to the window, and I heard someone screaming loudly. I could already feel myself panicking.

“Leah, take her upstairs,” dad said, and mom wasted no time dragging me up with her.

“What’s going on?” I asked, but she didn’t answer me. Instead, she got to my room, opened the secret door, and pushed me inside.

“Stay here and don’t open the door till your father or I come get you,” she said, and she didn’t even wait for me to reply; she shut the door on my face. I stood there, lost and surprised, and I could hear her spray perfume. What is going on? Is it a rogue attack? But why would they attack us? Our pack is so peaceful. I sighed, sitting down on the floor, and I waited patiently. I waited for what seemed like hours, but nobody was coming; I couldn’t even hear any sound.

I was tired of waiting, so I pushed the door open; she didn’t even lock it. She must have been panicking. I climbed down the stairs, and I could just feel something was wrong; it was too quiet. I got to the living room, and my eyes widened in shock as mom and dad lay on the floor with blood all over them.

“Mom, dad,” I cried, running to them. I shook mom repeatedly.

“Mom, wake up; I’m scared,” I cried, slapping her cheeks lightly. What am I going to do? I need to get some help. I thought, and with that, I ran outside, running to the pack house. It was night, and it was cold with snow falling, and no one was outside.

“Find her!” I heard someone yell. I looked to my right, following the noise, and I got to the pack border, where some men were standing. I didn’t know them, but I didn’t care; my parents were in danger.

“Please, my mom and dad, they are bleeding,” I cried, trying to catch my breath. A man turned to me; he had a mask on.

“Well, just who we were looking for,” he said, and his voice was deep. It made me scared.

“Run! Este…..” Luna was cut off harshly with a sword to her throat. All the blood left my body as my eyes widened in horror.

“You are mine now,” he growled. I screamed, biting his fingers harshly, and I ran faster than I could ever imagine.

“That little bitch! Bring her to me, and not even a strand of her hair should be missing!” he yelled. I cried, running into the woods. I didn’t know where I was going, but I kept on running. The rogues ran after me, growling. It was the scariest moment of my life—enormous wolves and muscular men chasing behind me, growling and trying to snap at me. I screamed, terror filling my body as my arm twisted to the side.

“Not now,” I cried, pushing myself to run faster, ignoring the pain. My other arm twisted, and I bit my lips, tears falling down my eyes. I was in so much pain—pain my 13-year-old self couldn’t hold.

“Watch out!” I heard from behind me, but it was too late. I had fallen down the cliff. Horror filled my eyes as I fell into the dark abyss.

*************

I gasped, opening my eyes as I woke up from my dream. I groaned, cleaning up my sweat, my collar filled with sweat. I have been having this dream for 5 years. I really wish I could forget that horrible night, but mother and father ghosts are haunting me; they don’t want me to forget so I can avenge their deaths, but I can’t even do that, so this is my punishment.

“You are late for school,” my wolf, Aurora, said. I stood up from my bed, dragging myself to the bathroom. I stood in front of the mirror, my wild red hair staring back at me.

“It’s really hard to tame you,” I mumbled, packing it into a messy bun. I removed my clothes, heading to the shower.

“Aren’t you excited?” Aurora asked. I smiled.

“I am; I really hope he is my mate,” I said.

“He is our mate; Bryan is in love with us,” she chirped. I chuckled. Bryan is the beta son and my boyfriend. After I fell down the cliff, the alpha saved me and brought me in. I have been living in the pack house for five years and schooling. Bryan was my first friend here, and he was my emotional support. Some pack teens didn’t like me because of my red hair and because they think I don’t have a wolf. I didn’t care, but Bryan always came to my rescue. We started dating when I was almost 15, and he said he loved me and hoped we were mates. His birthday was a week ago, and he didn’t find his mate, which means she is not of age yet. Today is my birthday, and I would like to confirm if he is my mate. I am so excited, I could scream.

I quickly took my bath, brushing my hair and covering it with my hoodie. Then I went down to the pack house. I greeted the elders, not bothering to eat. I really need to see him and feel the sparks the elders talk about. I climbed onto my bicycle, paddling to school. I can’t just contain myself right now, I am just so happy. Getting to school, I packed my bicycle. Upon entering the school, I was expecting to be ignored as usual, but it was quite the opposite; they were pointing fingers at me.

“Do I stink?” I mind-link Aurora.

“No, you smell like fresh flowers,” she said. I looked down at myself, and I was perfectly okay.

“That’s usual,” I mumbled, walking inside the hallway. It was even worse here. They were gossiping really loudly.

“She is a whore.”

“I can’t believe she would do this.”

“It’s always the innocent-looking ones.” I was hearing so many side talks and so many horrible words. I saw Bryan by his locker. I smiled, ignoring them all and running to him, all smiles.

“Bryan,” I called, hugging him from behind, but my mouth opened wide in shock as I met my ass on the floor. Everyone burst into loud laughter as he turned to me. I was too stunned to speak.

“Who are you?” he asked. My mouth opened in shock. Who am I?

“Bryan,” I heard Natalie’s chirpy voice. I looked to the side, and she walked to him in a really short skirt. She got close to him, and I watched as they exchanged a sweet kiss, making disgusting sounds.

“What are you doing with this bitch?” she growled, staring at me.

“Forget about her miserable ass, baby,” he said, groping her ass. She smiled, kissing his nose. Then she turned to me.

“Stay off, my mate,” she growled. Thousands of needles pierced my heart as she said, mate.

“Mate?” I whispered after finding my voice.

“Yes, he is my mate. Now back off,” she growled, slapping me with fire in her palm. I held my cheeks as a burning sensation went down my body. She has always been powerful. Natalie, the smart teen with outstanding control of her magic, the IT girl of the school, the one everyone wants. I watched as she walked away with him while my cheeks burned. Bryan turned to me and he smirked. His smirk was so evil, like he wanted me to be hurt.

“The sex was great, though,” he mind link. I used admire his voice in my head, wishing to hear it all the time, now it sounded so evil. I swallowed my tears as I realised he used me all along. He used me all along. I continued looking at him, and my anger increased.

“Bryan!” I yelled.