Prologue

Zipping up the last of her bags, Runa let out an exhausted sigh. She has packed for five straight hours and was tired. She thought about what would happen once she gets to the Annual Ball but more importantly who was going to be there.

“Milo, do I have to go?” She says to her best friend who was packing his stuff as well. They shared a room.

“Yeah. Alpha wants us to go plus your old pack is crazy as hell.” Milo referred to the rumors of how her old pack turned so south. “Plus I want to find my mate, you know this only happens once a year.” Last year she didn’t go, too afraid of seeing him.

The Annual Ball of the werewolves was to begin tomorrow night. They were supposed to leave earlier but there had been problems with her current pack right now. Runa’s mind slowly traveled to him. The mate that rejected her five years ago.

Shaking her head, she made sure she had everything packed and when she did she made no mistake to turn back around. “Finally ready?” Her alpha, Alpha Killian, says as he pats her head.

“Yes sir.” She said noticing Milo was behind her.

“Alright then let’s leave shall we.” Alpha Killian said then walked away.

Runa kept herself busy as she got into their SUV. About twenty of them heading to the town that was strictly for werewolves and this event. There were over millions of werewolves so they had to make sure there was enough room for everyone.

Runa felt nervous as she began picking her fingers, something she always did when she was nervous. Was she truly going to be fine? She felt Milo holding her hand tightly. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll be with you every step.” He reassured which she smiled and nodded.

She had changed. Yet why did she feel so overwhelmed and nervous? Shaking her head, she saw one of her superiors enter the car. “So are they there?” She asked him, his name was Frank and he was kinda like a butler that everyone close to the alpha gets.

“Yes, they are. Your father and mother and your siblings are all there.” Humming she nodded. “Also he-

Cutting him off she glared. “Please don’t.” After that, Frank just obeyed and started the drive.

-

After the long-awaited drive, morning had set and they were finally in the packhouse they were assigned to stay at for the six months of their time.

Frightened they step out of the car, Milo holding her hand tightly. He knew how much seeing the mate that rejected her would feel so he always supported her. Though the thoughts of her old pack never left her mind.

Stepping out of the car she hears her name called and she looked up seeing her sister and brother, Dante and Molly. They ran up to her and hugged her so tightly, Runa felt like the wind was knocked out of her. “We missed you so much Runa.”

“Can’t breath...” She said sarcastically which they loosened their hold and then stepped away. Runa got a good look at them.

Moly's hair has now grown and it’s still its same dirty blonde. The same color as their mother’s. And then Dante with his same curly hair but his height inched a few and his voice had become deeper.

“I wasn’t expecting you to come here. Not after the last five Annual Ball meets.” Molly said with a sad look.

“Same here,” Runa said with a smile, pulling them both in another hug telling them how much she missed them dearly. Their tears and cries are heard and that made Runa’s held back tears pour.

Runa then heard a small gasp, looking up she saw her mother. The same blonde hair from years ago, the young face that she has, she never gets old and she always stayed so beautiful. “Runa my baby.” Her mom said, running up to Runa and slinging her arms on her.

Hugging her back Runa says, “Mom, hi.” Runa feels her mother stroking her hair which Runa missed dearly. “I miss you so much.”

“I missed you too. Where were our calls? Why did you leave us? Why?” Her mother bombards with questions, her siblings just becoming mute since they wanted answers as well.

Choking her tears away, Runa pulled away. “I’m sorry. We can talk about it later.” Her mother simply nodded, lifting her hand to her cheek and squeezing it a bit.

“Well, let me get a good look at you. You’re still as beautiful as ever.” Blushing she shrugged and gave into her mother’s affection. She then heard a small but manly throat clear, it sounded familiar.

Looking to the side she sees her father with a grimaced smile. “I think it’s my turn now Mars,” he said, referring to the nickname he has given her. Her real name was Marley.

Hugging Runa dearly, he lifted his daughter from the floor as if she was still a little girl but she wasn’t. “Oh come on dad, I’m not a little girl anymore, I’m twenty-two now.”

“Don’t care.” He teased, letting her go and giving her one last hug. He sets her down and looks at his daughter. She looked completely different than five years ago.

But it was good. After the events that had happened. “How are you dad?” Runa asked with a smile.

“Oh you know, werewolf things. Not that it’s important, I would love to hear what you’ve been up to for the past five years.” Her father asks with a determined look.

“I’ve been... training with a new pack.” Just the mention of a new pack made her mom and siblings whimper. Even her dad that was always so tuff looked defeated. 

She looked around noticing another member of her family wasn't there and she sighed,  “Now where is Vinnie?” She asked, but she felt a hard glare on her body and she turned around and saw her older brother, who is the beta of this pack, giving her a look.

“What the hell.”