Chapter 1: Unwind

Amelia’s POV

“Ames, are you ready to go? The car is here!” Olivia squeals with excitement. I roll my eyes and expect her to come bouncing in here with excitement, and as if right on cue she makes a grand entrance with a twirl. Her straight, chocolate hair was flowing with movement until she stops and pins me with a smile that makes guys swoon and her green eyes lit with excitement.

“Liv, only you can have that kind of energy at 7 AM. How many cups of coffee are you on now? 4?” I snort at my remark but it’s sadly not a joke. That girl can take down coffee like she is drinking water. I often joke that she must get an IV bag of coffee everyday to remain this energized.

“Ha-ha. Very funny. I’ve only had 2 cups so far and the 3rd cup is waiting with my bags downstairs.” She walks towards my bed and she decides to sit on my bag to help me zip it closed. “Are you sure you packed everything you need?” I nod my response, even though majority of my clothes have already been moved to my old house. “ Awesome! Now hurry your cute ass up and let’s go. I can’t wait to get out of this hell hole of a school.” Olivia rushes off with my bag out of my dorm room.

I shake my head at my crazy friend.

Letting out a deep breathe as I look around the room that I have called home for the last 4 years.

Seeing it stripped of all of the things that once made it mine brought me closure.

To be clear, it wasn’t a bad school. Besides, Olivia and I barely had any friends except the ones she shoved towards me. They acted like they cared but they cared more about being in good graces with an Alpha’s daughter.

No one wanted to be seen with the girl that has no family. I was once considered a high ranking member of the pack but since the accident I was easily cast aside and forgotten about by all of my “friends”, except Olivia. That accident didn’t just make me alone, it changed every aspect of my life.” I shook my head. I can’t keep thinking about it. I need to move on. That’s why Alpha James, Olivia’s dad, decided to give me a fresh start after a year of wallowing. They took care of the expenses and I will always feel indebted to them but I still felt as if I only had Olivia in this world.

I walked out the door, making sure the key is on the desk as instructed with the ‘packing out’ email we got last week.

I walked out to the front of Crescent Hall and climb into the black Mercedes-Benz that Alpha James sent to collect us.

The driver is being polite and letting Olivia have control of the music. I hope he brought ear plugs.

Olivia scrolls through her phone and puts on some Machine Gun Kelley. She starts doing her usual singing and throwing in some dance moves. I just smirk at my best friend and slide on my headphones. I can listen to some MGK, but not for hours on end like Olivia can. I settle on some Queen as I hit play to tune out her singing and lean my head on the window.

As we travel down the road, my thoughts drift off to why I am going on this trip.

Even though the week has flown by, I can’t believe that graduation has passed. Now this next week will be the hard part, as I am expected to celebrate Olivia’s brother, Noah. It’s a big deal when a new Alpha comes in order, so his parents decided to let them use the lake cabin for him and his friends to celebrate. It’s his last ‘hoo-rah’ before taking over the Alpha’s responsibility fully when he returns.

What I originally planned for was to go to my old house and go through the last of my parents things. It was time to let go of the past and move on to what I have planned for my future.

In all honesty the only thing I need is my mothers necklace around my neck. It’s the one thing I couldn’t leave home without. That, and I made sure to take my parents quilt that my mom hand stitched herself. I hardly ever use it, but it helps me on those hard days. I am glad that I didn’t pack it with the things I shipped to my home, and I was able to bring it with me just in case on this trip. I know, what 18 year old clings to a blanket? Well, when it’s the last thing my parents gave me, I cherish it like it’s my life line.

I tried getting out of going this week to spend time with people who could care less that I was there.

However, as per usual, Olivia has other plans, and was able to convince me that this is what I needed. As Olivia told me before, “It’s a chance to unwind and relax after graduation. PLUS THERE MIGHT BE CUTE GUYS.” I am looking forward to relaxing and unwinding, but I hope the guys will leave me alone and focus on the soon-to-be Alpha’s sister.

Olivia is right though, I need this week to spend with others. This is my weekend to spend time with old pack members and to, unbeknownst to them, say goodbye before I leave and become a rogue.

The only problem is during this week I need to figure out a way to get Noah to reject me from the pack. Seeing as how I “barely” remember my old crush, I see no problem with this.

My wolf rolls her eyes ‘yeah right. From what I can remember you could barely form words with him around’ Willow barks in my head.

Stupid wolf. She doesn’t know what she is talking about. Noah has never had a hold over me, besides I am just one of hundreds of girls from our pack. I don’t even want to think about how many girls he has been with.

The heebie jeebies hit me hard as I shudder at the thought.

I just need to keep my head clear and focus on my future and what I want with my life.