Chapter 1 Anyone but Noah Brinx

Hello, I'm Raven Volkov, the youngest daughter of Emma and Zurac Volkov. I live somewhere in Siberia within my parent's Bella Luna community. I have two older brothers, Aiden and Yutu, and one older sister, Nicole. She's already mated to Sven Thompson and expecting a pup. Oh right, we're all werewolves. As any young adult child of wereparents knows, they are all hyped up about finding out their child's mate and getting them hitched. Hence the reason why I'm currently sitting here rubbing my amber eyes waiting for Circe the Ash tree nymph, who was just about to inform my mom and me about my mate (she could see the future). She raises her boney arms and starts her low groans.

"He's the offspring of a close friend, very dark within but bright on the outside and you keep him level-headed with your blood bond," she had mumbled with a croak. The image of Abby's son flashed within my mind's eye and I shuddered. He was my mom's best friend's son. Noah Brinx was also my best male friend. We had grown up together and he still sported the scar on his chest where I stabbed him with a fork when we were little. We swam naked together, he rode my wolf through the Siberian forests. He lightened my hair, I trimmed his, and we had even double-dated, both of us losing our v cards to others on the same night.

"Do you find him attractive?" My wolf, Adira, asked, interrupting my busy mind. My brow creased and my bottom lip stuck out as I thought about his tall form and lean muscles. His sharp jawline, and straight nose. His white as snow hair fell haphazardly over his pretty clear blue eyes. Noah looked like a real-life anime character. I answered, "yeah, he's alright, he is the light to my darkness." She sighed that he didn't have a wolf so was unworthy of us. I snickered, mumbling that he was a demon too and my mother glanced down at me with her stern look.

"I had hoped that once your maturity had come and you experienced it for a few years that your mate would have changed to Igor or Rodion. They both are descendants of the actual Rasputin and might be hung like…oh nevermind," my mother sputtered. I had already heard about Rasputin and his thirteen-inch weiner. I wasn't a pristine primrose like my mother thought. I had been corrupted by my dearest friend Noah's debauchery and had not minded in the least. I also didn't believe a huge penis was something I was interested in since my first time was painful and not enjoyable and his size had been average. My mother hugged Circe and told her to enjoy the rest of her day. It was harvesting time so all the men were out clearing the fields while the females were canning and preparing food to be stored for the bitter winter that would be coming in a few months. Oh, how I disliked the winter and hoped I could convince my father to ship me off to stay in Vegas with Noah's parents. They owned and ran a hotel called the Relruz. I'd been doing that for years now and just because Circe says he's my mate doesn't truly make it so.

"Should I pack for Vegas?" I asked my nervous-looking mother. She glanced over at me and said,"I must speak with your father first and see what he thinks." I laughed internally knowing my dad would be thrilled.

"Noah lives in his own home and not at the Relruz. Plus he has a girlfriend, Della, who has been staying with him," I added to my case. My mother's forehead creased as she looked at me.

"Has Noah ever shown any sexual interest in you, Honey?" She asked me and I shook my head.

"No Ma, we act more like siblings. I've seen his junk and he's seen mine but that was when we went skinny dipping. He's never even touched me inappropriately," I said softly and she made an ahh sound. I curled my lip in bitterness, not wanting her to feel sorry for me. I wasn't narcissistic but I knew I was cute looking with my long wavy light auburn hair, thin frame, and big amber eyes. Noah had even said so himself numerous times. I rolled my eyes as my mom continued her pity look.

"Maybe you should dress more provocatively," she suggested and I balked.

"Ew, no way," I growled menacingly and pulled at the bottom of my graphic tee. My mom chuckled softly and told me to go pack as she had a word for my father. I hugged her tightly and dashed off to my room. I dragged my suitcase out of my closet and rummaged through the items hanging up in the walk-in room. I was twenty by human standards and my fake id said that my birthday was on October 31st meaning once again I'd be gone from home for it.

"Noah's already twenty-one because your mother insisted on making you younger longer," Adira whines.

"She and I discussed that and you know very well she simply didn't want her last child to grow up and leave her. She didn't know mated couples were only allowed two births to not cause overpopulation of their kind," I replied and she huffed in my head.

"You're excited to see the male demon," she accused me and I laughed nervously.

"I haven't seen him for the entire summer and last time that happened, he'd grown a foot and got more handsome," I giggled softly hearing my wolf groaning.

"Maybe he grew soft and bald or the golddigger he's with murdered him," she chuckled and I scowled. I had briefly forgotten about the perfect female demon that took Noah like a paid expert. I exhaled deeply cursing to myself.

"I have no chance wolf, I lost my virginity and sex sucked, it hurt and I'm supposed to compete against a chick that can suck a golf ball through a garden hose?" I mumbled sourly and sat on my bed.

"Maybe I should just stay here for the winter," I added and Adira agreed. I dragged my suitcase back into my closet and headed downstairs to the living room. My brother Yutu still lived here and was laying on the couch so I jumped on him. He huffed and shoved me to the floor as I laughed out loud.

"Better get your crap ready for the Brinxs'. Dad told me they're flying here to pick you up today," he said through his yawn. I eyed him oddly and asked if Noah was coming too and he chuckled.

"Why haven't you both announced that you're in love with each other and do your mate marks," he mumbled sourly and I pinched his arm.

"Noah has a girlfriend and has been with her for years now, he's not interested in me," I snapped back and he just smiled brightly at me.

"I'm staying here for the winter," I added as I crossed my thin arms and sat next to him. Yutu glanced over at me and whistled.

"You're going to freeze your scrawny self. Plus Noah needs his yearly blood from you. Are you going to make him stay here? That's so cruel of you sis," he laughed heartily and I grinned slightly thinking that maybe I should. Noah and I were blood bonded when our pack was attacked by soldiers from the golden blood project. A select few of us actually carry the gold blood in our veins. Both Noah and I, along with my mom, dad, and brother Yutu. Noah had gotten injured and needed some of my blood to heal. Because we were mates it bonded him to me and he needs to feed once a year or he'll go crazy like his grandfather Mortas. Mortas killed hundreds of humans during his rampaging.

"So what's there to do in the snow?" I asked curiously and Yutu shook his head and said I'd stay inside and stay safe. I sat back and growled, "boring." I heard the front door open and the murmuring of Abby. I leaned over and saw Noah's mother standing in the foyer with my mom. Yutu smiled seeing the pair and watched me as he spoke.

"Raven wants to stay home for the winter, so Noah can stay in Aiden's old room during the season," he said clearly. I glanced over at Abby and my eyes narrowed seeing the white-haired man peeking over at me with utter shock in his blue eyes.

"Sounds like a great time, doesn't it Della," he mumbled softly and I gritted my teeth seeing his demon girlfriend grinning up at him. I sat back and looked at my brother.

"Thanks, butt wipe," I growled bitterly and he smiled, showing me his pearly whites.

"That's fine. Raven go show him and his girlfriend where they'll be staying," my mother ordered. I rolled my eyes and scooted off the couch to approach the pair.

"Act natural, don't do anything stupid," my wolf growled and I smiled happily looking up at Noah's now red eyes.

"Come on losers, I'll take you to your humble abode," I mumbled sourly and felt Noah pull me to himself and hold me against his tall frame.

"I've missed you brat, an entire summer, and not even one call, you're slacking," he scolded me and I was grinning like a fool. When I looked up I told him I was sorry but was learning about farming. He shook his head and said,"no excuse, sweetheart." My eyes narrowed at him calling me that and I glanced over at Della who looked pissed.

"Enough with your odd flirting Noah, grab your bags and follow me," I said firmly and he laughed and grabbed their two suitcases and followed me up the stairs to the room right next to mine. I noticed that he looked at my room and bit his lower lip.

"I thought Aiden's room was across the hall?" He mumbled softly and I shook my head and told him that was my parent's room.

"Guess you'll have to fuck quietly," I said sarcastically and shocked Noah. I opened the door and told them both where it was and turned to go back downstairs. Noah told Della to go on inside and ran after me before I started down the stairs. I felt his hand on my shoulder and turned towards him.

"What's going on Raven? You're acting really oddly," he mumbled softly.

"I think you better get to Eureka, I mean Della before she gets upset," I said bitterly and sighed and told him sorry.

"I wasn't expecting any of this," I said sincerely and patted his smooth cheek before turning and feeling jealousy brewing within my gut. I cursed internally realizing that he looked so damn hot.

"Why do his eyes always turn red though, his blue eyes are so pretty," I mumbled softly to Adira and she growled saying she wasn't certain. I hadn't realized that the time was so late. My parents were having a cookout with Noah's parents and all my siblings and their families.

I was sitting on a bench when the bear alarm went off.

"I got it, dad," I said firmly and stood. I headed towards the brush and stripped to shift to my fire wolf (my father, Aiden, and I have demon wolves that are created with flames). I sniffed the air and could smell the large grizzly. I headed towards it and nipped at its legs as I chased the creature away from our pack. I sat on my haunches and watched the bear run off. I scented another unfamiliar scent of Sulfur and turned too late as my head was covered with a large bag. I started to howl as loudly as I could in hopes someone would hear before I was hoisted up and being carried away.