"LOOK DOWN," My wolf, Thea, whispered in my head. I broke eye contact and dragged my gaze from the angry face of the pack's alpha.
"You're still as defiant as you were when you were a pup," He snarled. He turned to look at a thin woman standing behind him. "Katlyn," He called and the woman stepped forward. "I expected you to have broken her spirit by now. I am disappointed."
Katlyn was the head of omega-ranked wolves in the pack. She collapsed at Alpha Jake's feet and put her head to his toes. "I will redeem myself, alpha. Please give me more time."
Alpha Jake lashed out with his leg, striking Katyln across her ribs. "I want it done before her eighteenth birthday." With that he walked away, slamming the door shut behind him.
Katlyn gathered herself from the floor and stood up, if looks could kill, I would have been very dead as she stared daggers at me.
I knew what was coming. She was going to transfer all the anger gotten from alpha Jake's treatment to her on me.
"You..." she growled. "You made me seem unworthy in front of the alpha." She walked up to me, I could hear sharp gasps of breath with each step she took. The alpha had hit her really hard. I kept my gaze on her feet, studying her cracked toenails.
"Look up at me when I'm talking to you!" She yelled.
With a smirk on my face, I looked up. She slapped me hard across my face. Warm liquid filled my mouth. I recognize the coppery taste of blood. I spat it out, intentionally on her feet.
She looked like she was going to rip my head out, but I knew she wasn't going to. Alpha Jake needed me alive, his instructions to her were simply to break my spirit - whatever that meant.
"You insolent bastard!" She raised her hand to strike me again, but seeing as I didn't flinch, she drew her hand back. "After your time in the coolers, you will be on bathroom duty until your birthday." She clapped her hand twice and two huge men came into the small wooden shed. They grabbed me by my arms and dragged me out.
The coolers were a special type of prison for rogues and other hated enemy wolves. It was built underground. It was dark and cold. The only air supply had little bits of wolfsbane in it. Breathing in the air wouldn't kill you, but the wolfsbane made the lungs sore, making each breath feel like thousands of knives were stabbing you at once.
Katlyn opened the cage and tossed me in. "See you whenever I see you!" She snarled, slamming the doors. "Don't give her any breakfast!" She told the guards as she walked out.
Alone and in darkness, I allowed myself to break. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I crawled to a corner and hugged my knees. I closed my eyes, imagining myself to be back in time. The happier times.
I am Adrienne Hale, the only daughter and second child of Claude Hale, Beta of the North London pack. Or should I say, former Beta of the North London pack.
From the age of 5 when I shifted for the first time, I had had a funny notion that the goddess was playing games with my life.
My parents died 9 years ago in a fatal accident, and it was my fault.
Every once in a century, a special wolf is sent directly from the moon goddess. This wolf spreads destruction and chaos wherever it goes, she is called the blood wolf. It used to be a funny legend and bedtime story that was told to us in the nursery to make us keep our mouths shut, but not until I woke up one night to blinding pain in my head. I cried out and my parent rushed to my bedroom, it was expected from every pup that had the werewolf gene to start shifting around that age, so this was a very welcomed happy surprise for my family.
But the happiness gave way to horror when red fur sprouted from my back. That should not be a good reason to make me think I was the blood wolf, but all wolves in the pack were either gray, white, black, or brown not crimson red like mine.
My parents exchanged fearful glances and turned to look at me. My father's eyes glowed yellow as he stared into my eyes and said, "Receed. Go back. Do not shift!" He was speaking to my wolf, and out of obedience, my wolf went back.
They hugged me, telling me that it was nothing to be worried about, but I knew they were lying. I don't know how, but news went around the pack that I was wolfless, and my misery started.
In middleschool, when shifting happens, new friends are made. New societal hierarchies are formed, and the wolfless ones are the bottom feeders. I was a bottom feeder.
Thinking that life couldn't get harder, the moon goddess played another game with my life 3 years later. Our pack was attacked by rogues. It was a well-coordinated attack, hitting all our bases at once, but the North London pack was strong and we did a good job of sending them away.
I remember that night like it was yesterday. It was the night my parents died as a result of my carelessness. I did not even know we were being attacked, and I had walked out of the house, drawn to the full moon and airy night.
(Flashback begins)
"Adrie!" My 11-years old brother Finn snapped from his door frame. "Where are you going?"
I ignored him and went out. When I realized we were being attacked, it was too late, as I had a pair of sharp fangs at my neck, ready to bite down. The rogues had used me as a hostage, Alpha Jake stepped back, ordering his warriors to fall back and let the rogues take what they wanted as long as they let me go.
The leader of the rogues pulled me by my neck and went to our supplies store. They depleted our supplies before pulling me to the borders, my pack followed at a safe distance, and then they let me go.
Mum and Dad rushed forward, snuggling me to check that I was okay. There was a small bite mark on my neck where I had been pulled by. Then Dad growled and launched at the rogues in anger.
"Claude, No!" Alpha Jake yelled through the mind link.
But it was too late, 5 rogues smashed into Dad. Giving him fatal wounds before baring their teeth at us and running off into the night.
He struggled for the next 5 days, going in and out of consciousness within those days. We were allowed short visits once in a while. On one of the visits, he grasped my hand weakly, "Adrienne..."
I crouched next to his bed.
"Remember, you are special." He gasped through his life support. "No matter what, do not let them break you. Your mother is the daughter of an alpha, you have alpha blood running through your veins. You have power. Always remember that!"
I nodded, tears streaming down my face and not understanding what he was saying. The next day, he died.
The whole pack was shaken to the core, my father was a very integral member, and he made most of the decisions in place of the alpha. My mother was the most affected by his death.
At school, we had been taught the effect of losing one's fated mate, but I never for once imagined that I would see it firsthand. I watched my mother's health deteriorate fast after my dad died. A week later, she was dead too.
Alpha Jake demoted me. For some strange reason, he blamed me for the rogue attacks. My brother, Finn, was treated a bit better because he was a werewolf. From what I heard, he was being trained to be a warrior. Alpha Jake barely let him visit me.
I had been subjected to many demeaning duties. Kitchen duties, toilet duties, and many others. During that time, my wolf emerged from my subconscious. She started speaking with me, and although she made no intentions of wanting to take control, it was slightly comforting knowing that I had her with me.
I will be turning 18 in a few days, and I can't wait. Not because I might find a mate. In fact, I do not want a mate. Not after seeing how it made my mother weak.
At 18, I will be legally allowed to leave the pack and become a rogue by myself. Alpha Jake has no idea of this plan, I am sure he has some evil plan for me on that day, I have tried to think of what it might be, to no avail.
(Flashback ends)
The sharp pain of wolfsbane cutting into my lungs brought me back to the present. I whimpered and hung my head lower. I recited my father's last words to myself and almost chuckled at the irony, it is his best friend and alpha that is trying to break me.
A soft chuckle from the darkness startled me. I squinted trying to see amidst the fog of wolfsbane that hung in the air. But I didn't see anybody.
"Who's there?" I asked in a low growl.
"Nobody special," A male deep voice replied. "That little quote you were saying... it is inspiring." He chuckled.
"Don't make fun of me!" I snapped.
"Maybe you should stop your delusion and face reality. You are in a prison cell, and the earlier you break, the better for you." The voice countered.
"Who are you?" I asked again. There was something familiar about this strange man, but I could not put a finger on it.
"As I said before," the man said again. "I am nobody important."
I knew that was a lie. This person was a strong enemy, or else Alpha Jake would have just put him as an ordinary omega slave, not locked him in a cooler.
I could feel this man's aura through the wall that separated us, and strangely, it gave me strength. He was an alpha too.
"HAVE HER READY in 5 minutes," Katlyn snarled at the two omegas beside me. They both bowed and nodded. Then they hosed me down. Literally. Using a hose, the sprayed me down to wash off the dirt and muck from my body before using a soapy sponge to scrub my skin till it was clean and sore. While I was being prepped for the alpha's sick plan, my mind drifted back to my fellow prisoner that I had met a few days ago. Since that night, I had not heard anything from him. It was almost like he wasn't there, but I knew he was. I heard his wheezing cough slightly once in a while."Ouch!" I turned to look at the omega who had run a comb through my tangled hair. She sneered down at me and yanked the comb out, taking out patches of my hair. It was like they thought treating me bad was going to gain them favour in the eyes of Katlyn or Alpha Jake. I chuckled inwardly, ignoring the pain that radiated from my scalp. Suddenly the two girls stopped what they were doing and bowed. I turned to see my b
"AS YOU CAN see... she is looking alright," Alpha Jake said. "She can be your servant or even your mistress." The guest scoffed. "Mistress? I don't think so. She is not my type." He looked away from me and accepted Alpha Jake's handshake. I heaved a sigh of relief. I leaned closer to Finn and asked, "Who is that?" It was Trixie that replied me. "That... is Alpha Ezra from Scotland." She said. "And you're going to be one of his sex slaves." She giggled. "Father is selling you off." I turned to Finn, he simply shrugged as if to say "there's nothing I can do about it." I looked at Alpha Ezra, he cast an intimidating figure. He was physically bigger than Alpha Jake with a thick bushy beard and brooding eyebrows. He had on a thick fur coat around, making him even larger. There was a gentle chatter in the hall as different mated people got familiar with each other. I cocked my head slightly, trying to get what Alpha Jake and Alpha Ezra were talking about. "Does the deal still stand?"
*KINCAID*"FUCKING HELL!" KINCAID snarled. He had suddenly woken up and found himself bound with thick chains. After an hour of struggling hard, he knew it was futile so he resigned himself to his fate.He knelt back and sat on his heels, his hands were held by the chains and they were hung up. He took in sharp short breaths, the wolfsbane in the air cut through his nose and burnt his lungs, but underneath the scent of wolfsbane, he scented another... it was a pleasant smell that reminded him of Roxanne. He closed his eyes, not wanting to go down that memory lane, but he knew he couldn't help it. Even after all these years, Caer, his wolf was still in immense pain. The brutal loss of one's fated mate was not a trivial matter. He is Kincaid Stuart. Future Alpha of the High Moon pack of Scotland. Unlike many other wolves, he had found his mate very early. She was a sweet, soft-spoken girl called Roxanne. She was a healer wolf, who specialized in the traditional use of herbs. He wasn't
*ADRIENNE*I WOULD HAVE expected being cooped up with the intimidating Alpha Ezra to be scary, uncomfortable, and awkward, but it was not so. It was almost like he wasn't there and he encouraged me to rest before we got to Scotland. I looked out the window as the landscape flashed by. "We are finally escaping," Thea muttered. "And not as rogues.""Then as what?" I asked. "A potential part of the pack," Thea answered.She might be right, or not. I don't know what fate or the moon goddess has in store for my future, and based on what has happened so far, I am sure that whatever waited for my future was not going to be good. I glanced at Aloha Ezra, his gaze was focused on a large newspaper. I closed my eyes, and just before I drifted away in sleep, I made a promise to myself. "At any sign of abuse in this new pack, I will break my bond and leave. I will become rogue." Thea purred in agreement and I finally allowed myself the much needed rest. I was awoken by the force of the car sl
"GO AND WASH up, son" Alpha Ezra said to Kincaid. "I will be coming to speak with you soon. Maybe you will tell me what you were thinking when you were caught by North London patrol."Kincaid snorted. His mother rubbed his cheek fondly with her hand and herded him into the house. "I could ask the same of you, bringing the girl here," Luna Amelia said, coming to stand beside her husband. "Jake was eager to sell her off to me. Even if she was going to be my sex slave," He muttered."What?" Amelia gasped. Her hands covered her mouth. "But why? Wasn't she part of his pack?""She was part of his pack, but I do not know the reason she was being mistreated." He shrugged off his thick woolen coat and hung it on a rack. "I am going to see how she blends in with us, and maybe I will think of inducting her to be part of us.""I think she would like that."Ezra chuckled. "I don't think she would like anything. Besides, I hope Kincaid might pick a fancy in her, she is a beautiful girl, and well
*ADRIENNE*I lay on my bed for a while, trying to go to sleep, but my mind was worried. I still didn't know what I was doing here in Scotland, and my scar kept on tingling.After a few minutes, I gave up trying to sleep and instead, I went to the bathroom to wash away the dirt and grime from the travel. I hoped the warm showers would calm my nerves and make it easier for me to sleep.When I got out of the shower, there was a folded pile of clothes on my bed. I picked one up hesitantly and looked at it. It was a large hoodie. Certainly bigger than my size, but just how I liked it. I put it on and slipped on a pair of jogger trousers that were exactly my size."Who had brought these in?" I wondered as I packed them and tucked them in the built-in wardrobe. Just as I was done, a small knock sounded on the door and Alpha Ezra came in.I immediately bowed, surprised that he did not summon me to his office, instead,
*KINCAID*"FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" He cursed as he shifted back to his human form. "I can't even enjoy a solitude run again!" He snatched up a pair of pants from the floor and put it on. The pack had designated places where clothes were kept in the woods for shifting back."Just when I was starting to enjoy myself!" He snarled, marching back to the packhouse. As he broke out of the tree line, he saw a silhouette standing underneath an oak tree and waiting."Shit," He cursed under his breath."I can hear you, Caid," the voice rang out in the darkness as the person stepped out from underneath the shadows. It was Lucy, a girl who desperately wanted to be his girlfriend and future Luna of the pack."Hello Lucy," Kincaid said, walking past her. She matched his stride and walked beside him."I was wondering when you would come and see me," She replied. "I heard you got back this afternoon.""Word sure travels fast in this pack,"
*ADRIENNE*THE BRIGHT RAYS coming through my window woke me up. For a second after I woke up, I was back in North London and in the underground dungeons. I took a deep breath, expecting to be choked out with the gaseous wolfsbane, but instead, my lungs were filled with fresh air. I opened my eyes slowly and remembered that I was now in Scotland amongst the High Moon pack.The sounds of chirping birds filled the air, I went to my window and looked out. The pack was bustling with activities. I could hear a ruckus coming from the downstairs kitchen and dining room. In the front yard, groups of wolves were going about their morning duties. I hurriedly went to the bathroom and washed up before putting on another of the clothes that had been given to me yesterday. I packed my hair in a tight ponytail to keep it out of my face and walked downstairs slowly. I didn't want to draw any unwanted attention to myself, so I kept my head down, not meeting anyone's eyes.