Settle down and line up!” the guard yelled, snapping me back to reality. I glanced around the lobby of the Tri-River Transition Center, and I saw a gray bus pulling up. The other “graduates”, as they like to call us, and I were headed to the Clear Creek pack to begin our new lives. Tri-River Transition Center or TRTC was where pups with no living or willing relatives were sent until they found a career in one of the Tri-River packs. Pack life is common here for Shifters. Werewolves aren’t just things of make-believe, we are real. Living normally, well for the most part, in the safety of our pack towns spaced away from human civilizations. TRTC is on a patch of neutral territory at the center of three packs within the Tri-River alliance, Clear Creek, Cedar Falls, and Red Rapids. I felt the warm stale breath wisp past my ear before I heard him. “Gonna miss you around here Isla…you could always come to stay with me,” Kyson said in a breathy whisper. Yuck. “Yeah, that will be a hard pass

“Isla, hun, we’re here” Mr. Andrews spoke softly as he tapped my shoulder. Stretching my arms up as I yawn, I take in my surroundings. Outside the bus is a massive building, which must be the packhouse. This packhouse was far more elegant compared to the packhouse I grew up in. This place looked like a fancy hotel. Three stories, stonework from the ground up, rich wood doors and windows. Wow, I thought to myself. Glancing down, my shin is all healed so I grab my satchel, and make my way off the bus. Standing out front of the packhouse was a statuesque blonde-haired man. He must be a ranked member by the size of him and his muscles. Well if I’m going to live here, at least the sights will be nice. His lips curled up in a smile that showed his white teeth that contrasted against his lightly tanned skin. “Welcome to Clear Creek! I am Beta Grayson and we are so very happy to have you here. I’ll take you inside, show you around the common areas and get you set up with your pack sponsor

Sitting at a table with Kyle, Steve, Suzie, and Grayson I cannot stop myself from staring at Alpha Zac as he addresses the pack. I thought Grayson was delicious-looking, but fuck he was just a snack compared to Alpha Zac. He is built like a sex god. He was at least a foot taller than me, with chocolate brown hair that was perfectly tousled. Longer on the top, short on the sides. Piercing blue eyes, the same color as the rivers around us. A slight bit of scruff was neatly outlined on his sharp jawline. I could see every budging muscle under his dress shirt. Corded forearms were showing as his sleeves were rolled back. He wasn’t an Alpha that stayed inside behind a desk, no, his skin glowed with a tan that had to be earned from working in the sun. I’d like to climb him like a tree. I shake the thought from my head. Who am I kidding? Like he would ever be interested in me. I attract weirdos like Kyson… and Kyle apparently because he is sitting across from me waggling his eyebrows

I don’t even remember falling asleep when I am jolted awake by the blaring of my alarm clock. Today is my first day of training and after that encounter last night, I better be on my best behavior. I can’t believe my nerve of Kyle. Who does he think he is, trying to answer for me and at that making it seem like we were involved? He was the last guy I’d want in my room. Turning the knob of the hot water in the shower on, I strip down. I catch a glimpse of the light pink raised keloid scars on my back in the mirror. Trouble is the last thing I want to be in today. Reaching in and testing the water, it's perfect. I step in, letting my body relax as the warm water wraps me up and I close my eyes. My mind starts to wander back to what I saw last night…Alpha Zac’s huge appendage was out on full display. I didn’t realize he had a girlfriend, couldn't be his mate, they weren't marked. His rock-hard cock consumes my mind as my hand trails down to my wet slit. I didn’t get to look long but

The last few days have been a blur. I have spent so much time on calls with The Great Council getting as up-to-speed on Isla’s dad as I could be. My wolf and I were still so angry at the thought of Isla being beaten almost to death. Who does that to a child, their child, a child with no wolf to heal her? It does answer the question of her scarring. I get chills thinking of all those scars. Each scar was an everlasting reminder of a beating she took, the pain she had to bare. Did it go on for years? Did Alpha Damon know? Surely he didn’t. What kind of sick fuck would let that go on in their pack? I have not yet had to hand down any severe punishments in my pack but I know that for certain I wouldn’t have stood by and let that happen. I have Grayson reviewing all patrol schedules to ensure there are no week spots in the coming future. Alpha Garret said he would let us know the day of transport, but due to security measures he couldn’t give more advance notice. We were going t