PROLOGUE

Virginia POV

I have always believed that my life was supposed ot be ona different path.  Since I can remember I have felt out of place in this world.  My mom always supported whatever beliefs that I had.  We had a very close bond, that was until I turned sixteen.  I never knew who my father was, he was never in the picture and my mom never talked about him.  It had always just been the two of us.  When I was eight my mom met my now stepfather, Neil Carrington.  At first he was awesome, always treated my mom wonderfully and included me in almost everything they did.  We had road trips, andventures, family meals it felt like an actual family...finally.  So when Neil asked my mom to marry him and asked for my permission, I jumpd at the chance to have someone in my life I would be able to call dad.

Unfortunately I was unprepared for how wrong I was about Neil and his intentions.  about six months after my mom and Neil married she was on her way back from a business trip with the company she worked for.  She worked as a traveling Pharmesutical Representative for Titanium Pharmesuticals.  She had been gone about five days and was trying to hurry back home for my birthday, that she promised not to miss.  It was my sweet sixteen and she had a special surprise for me.  I was super excited for her to return but worried when she was traveling.  I always had an uneasy feeling while she was gone and it would not go away until she was home safe and sound.  I have learned to listen to my feelings, kind of like animal insticnts.  Normally the uneasiness would just be a dull ache unless something was really wrong but that rarely happened.

I woke up form a terrible nightmare covered in a cold sweat.  My heart was pounding out of my chest and the uneasiness just felt more real than the dull ache.  My nightmare felt so real, like an omen of what is about to come, I just couldn't shake it.  I tried my hardest to push down those terrible thoughts but failing miserably.  I quickly grabbed my phone off of my nightstand and called my mom to talk to her, I just needed to hear her voice to help me calm down.

She picked up on the second ring.  "Hello?  Rae-Rae are you okay? You don't normally call me this early in the morning." 

I could hear the concern in her voice.  I quickly cleared my throat.  "Sorry, I just wanted to hear your voice, especially after the nightmare I just had!  When will you start heading home?"  I couldn't help the tremor in my voice.

There was a short pause before my mom spoke again.  "I will be heading to O'Hare International Airport in about an hour then the flight will take roughly about three hours so I should be home in time for you birthday dinner."

I smiled at that despite the unshakable feeling I still have.  I just hope that I am being paranoid.  "Okay mom I wil llwt you go and can't wait to see you later.  Have a safe drive and flight.  I love you."

Mom just chuckled. "I love you too Rae-Rae."  With that she hung up the phone.

My smile started to fade and then disappeared all together when I heard Neil moving around downstairs.  Mom doesn't know this but lately I have been getting a weird feeling when I am around him.  When he looks at me he has an almost preditory look in his eyes that just set my nerves on edge.  He keeps his wondering gaze in check when mom is around but when she isn't he openly ogles me and I stay holed up in my room until she comes back just to keep my didstance from him.  I usded to go and hang out with my friends but that came to a stop when he insisted on being present.  He said that it was for my protection since I was just a young teenager and there were preditors out there in the world just waiting for the opportunity to pounce on an unsuspecting teenage girl.  

I thought his reasoning was a load of crap and clearly my friends had the sme thoughts but they went along with it just so we could all hang out together.  The first couple of times we all just kind of ignored Neil but by the third time he started to make Paulette, Mandy and Cheyenne very uncomfortable with his behavior towards them.  He would find excuses to touch them all the time, he would make passive agressive comments to them when they would see boys from school.  They just couldn't take it anymore so all we do now is text or facetime when we aren't at school.  We had majority of our classes together so it wasn't so bad, now the only one he made uncomfortable was me.

I quickly showered adn was in my closet looking for something nice to wear that wouldn't show too much skin so Neil wouldn't find an excuse to stare at me.  I was so lost in thougth that I didn't hear my bedroom door open or hear the footsepts of Neil walking to where I was.  I had already discarded my towel into the hamper just inside of my closet as I always do so I was completely naked.  I had just grabbed a cute light blue blouse that came down to just above my belly button.  As I bent down to get a pair of black low rise bootcut jeans I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

I spun around and gasped to find Neil staring at me from the doorway of my closet.  He didn't hide the lust evident in his eyes.  He licked his lips as his heated gaze ran up and down my body.  The look alone gave me the creeps but the atmosphere made my skin prickle with goosebumps.

"NEIL! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?!"  I screamed at him as I tried to hide my naked flesh from his gaze.  He has NEVER done something like this before so I was utterly shocked at his audacity.

He smirked at me.  "I came to see if you wanted to go out for breakfast since today is your...special day."  I didn't miss the underlying message from him.

My heart started to pound in my chest.  "Neil, you could have waited until I headed downstairs to aske me.  You need to leave my room...NOW!"  I calmly said, trying to keep the fear at bay.

He continued to stand at the doorway, staring at me.  He looked like he was contemplating on what hsi next move will be before he moved to my bedroom door.  "Fine, I apologize for making you uncomfortable.  I was just trying to do something nice for my...stepdaughter!" 

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him.  He always had a way to make me feel guilty for my actions.  I heaved a heavy sigh.  "Just give me ten minutes to get dressed then we can go get breakfast, and NEVER come into my room without permission!"

He walked out of my room and I quickly slammed the door and locked it.  I decided that I HAD to tell my mom about this, this was highly inappropriate for him to do this.  I took a little extra time getting dressed to get my nerves under control.  When I reached downstairs Neil was already waitng by the front door with his car keys in hand.  He looked at me, appreciating my outfit.  "Are you ready?"

I involuntarily shuddered.  "Just putting my converse on then my jacket."  I quickly say without looking at him.  I can feel his eyes on my every movement.  Once my jacket and shoes are on I finally look at him.  "Okay, I am ready to go."

He opens the door and stands back waiting for me to exit the house first.  Normally I wouldn't be hesitant but the mischievious look in his eyes gave me pause.  "After the birthday girl."

I quickly walk passed him while plastering a tense smile on my face.  "Thank you."  As I near him he manages to place his hand on my lower back, making me bristle at the contact.  I quickly step away from his touch and head down the stairs to his black Ford Raptor truck.  As I neaared it I heard the clicking of the lock being disengaged.  I quickly open the passenger side adn climb into the seat adn buckle up as he reaches the driver side.

We say nothing as we pull out of the driveway.  I have no idea where we are going and I really don't want to talk to him so I just look out the window until we arrive to our destination.

"Here we are."  Neil says as he exits the truck.

I look around and realize he is taking me to my favorite place to eat, IHOP!  I love the breakfast options, and plus side Neil can't do anything inappropriate due to all the eyes around him!  I smile to myself as I exit the truck and follow him into the building.

The hostess eyed us as we were seated, well she eyed Neil more than bat an eye at me.  He shamelssly flirted with her then quickly stopped when he saw that I was glaring at him.  She noticed the interaction as she handed us the menus.  "Sorry, I know that he was taken."  She quietly whispered to me.

I look at her with utter disgust on my face.  "My STEPFATHER was just trying to be polite I am sure."  I couldn't help but emphasize that he was my stepfather and nothing else.

As she scurried away from the table I saw Neil lear at her arse as she practically ran away then he turned to glare at me.  I looked at him with an eyebrow raised, daring him to make a scene.

He looked away and pretended to scan the menu.  I rolled my eyes and did the same.  I always get the same thing, it's my comfort food and since today has been challenging to start with I could use some comfort.

A young woman came up to our table.  "Hello, my name is Maggie adn I wiill be your waitress.  Can I get either of you something to drink while you look at the menu?"

I smile at the very innocent looking young woman.  She looks to be no more than nineteen, with jet black hair and peircing blue eyes, rosy cheeks and olive skin tone.  Her hair was thrown into a messy bun on the top of her head.  She reminds me so much of my best friend Cheyenne.  "I will an unsweetened iced tea, thank you."

She nods her head in acknowledgement as she faces Neil.  "And you sir?"

"Sweetheart I will just have a coffee."  He lays the flirting on thick.

"I will be right back with your drinks."  She smiles as she walks away.

I decide not to comment on his  behavior, it is my birthday after all.  I go back to looking out the window and wonder how my friends are doing.  I haven't spoken to them since yesterday at school.  I am pulled out of my thoughts as Neil's words  shock me.

"So I don't think your mother should know abotu what happened in your room earlier."

I turn to look at him and see that he is still staring at the menu.  "And why should I NOT tell her.?"  I can't believe the nerve of this man!

He slowly puts the menu down and turns hus unwavering gaze at me.  "Well do you think that she will believe you anyway?  I mean you just turned sixteen, your hormones are reaking havoc on your emotional state and I think that your mom deserves to be happy since she works so much!"

I am now openly gaping at him as his words try to make sense in my brain.  Did he really just blatantly say that I  am emotionally unstable?!  I was just about to yell at him when Maggie, our waitress arrived with our drinks.

"Here are your drinks, have you guys decided on what you want to eat?"  She asks as she sets my iced tea infront of me and his coffee in front of him.

I was about to get up and walk out but before I could do anything Neil spoke.  "My dear, sweet step daughter will have a Hame and Cheese omelette, extra ham and cheese, add mushrooms, a side of bacon adn pancakes.  I will have the Steak and Eggs, medium rare adn over easy on the eggs with a side of bacon as well and A-1 Sauce please."  He smiled at Maggie.  She was just about to leave when he spoke again.  "Oh and Maggie, can you tell the cooks to make hers extra special since it's her birthday today?"

She grinned widely at that.  "Absolutely sir."  She then looks at me.  "Youu are so lucky to have a dad like that!"

I was completely speechless!  What the hell just happened?!

He smirked and had this cocky look on his face as he leaned back in his chair.  "So, Ginny, what are you going to do?"

I hate the nickname he gave me.  "My name is Virginia, not Ginny, and I will not be blackmailed into not tellying my mother!"  I was seething at this point.  We sat in a tense silence until our food arrived.

Maggie smiled at us.  "Enjoy your meal and please let me know if there is anything that I can get you."

"Thankk you."  I maybe in a bad mood but her smile had a calming affect of me, she was definately made for this job!  I made a mental note to leave her a generous tip.  I may only be sixteen but I am not blind to needing to work for what you need.  My mom was a single parent for almost a decade and never complained once!

I looked down at my food as she left and contiplated whethere I wanted to attempt to eat or take it to go when my phone rang.  I looked at the caller ID, hoping it was mom.  I tried to hide the look of disappointment from my face but noticed that Neil saw it.  His smirk was growing as he shoved a slab of steak into his mouth.  I ignored his as I connected the call.  "Hello ladies!"  I tried to put on an air of joy in my voice as the voices of my besties greeted me.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BITCH!"  Cheyenne all but screamed throught the phone.

I could hear Paulettes voice come to the phone.  "Sorry about Chey, she has already been celebrating your birthday!"

I look at the time and notice it is only 10:00 AM!  "Pauly, why has she been drinking this early?" 

She snorted through the phone.  "What are you talking about, she started last night!"

"Oh my, what the hell Chey!"  I said more to myself.  I could hear muffled shoutsen Mandy's bubbly voice rings in my ears.  "Happy birthday Rae-Rae!"

I chuckle to myself.  "Thank you guys."

"Did you wanna hang out today?"  Many asked hesitantly.

I sighed. "I would love to but mom arrives tonight so I wanna be home when she arrives."

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot!  Well we love you and say hi to mom for us."

I smiled.  "I love you guys too and I will.  Take care and for the love of my sanity please get some coffee into that girl!"

I hear laughter in the background then chaos.  "Sorry got to go, Chey is now streaking up and down the hallway!"

I hear the click and laugh to myself as I put my phone back into my jacket pocket.  I love my crazy friends, they always know how to brighten my day!  I decide that I should eat something as my stomach makes its presence known byt loudly growling.  I ignore the weird looks fro mthe other patrons of the restaurant.  I savor the first bite of my omelette then proceed to inhale the rest and most of my bacon.  When I get to the pancakes I am too full to even take one bite so I get a to go box.

Maggie arrives with a box in her hands and gives it to me then gives the check to Neil.

I look at her confused.  "I already have my to go box."

She smiles at me.  "This is your birthday dessert."  She grabs his credit card adn heads to the register to pay for the meal.

I know that he never tips so I leave a $10 bill on the table for her and thank her for her service.  I don't even wait for Neil to finish signing for the meal as I head to the truck.  I am still livid with him adn just want to go home and wait for mom to arrive.

Once we are in the truck and on our way home he tries to talk to me but I just ignore him by putting my earbuds into my ears and turn up the music on my phone to drown him out.  As I am listening to Fallout Boys the uneasy feeling comes back ten fold adn wont go away.  As we near our home, my stomach is churning so bad that I am afraid that I will vomit right here in the truck.  I open the door adn run up to the front door before the truck comes to a complete stop.

"What the hell!"

I don't stop to pay Neil any mind as I unlock the door adn fly up to my bedroom and straight into the bathroom.  I barely make it to the toilet before my breakfast reintroduces itself to me.  Once I am sure there is no more to throw up I peel my clothes off and head to the shower.  I get in and let the hot water just soak into my body.  I really need to pull myself togetherr.  I my just be paranoid for no reason.  Mom should be on the plane on her way here adn when she lands she always calls me to let me know she will be departing from the airport.  I decide t otake a nap while I wait for her phone call.

I towel myself off and put on a tank top adn a pair of shorts and crawl under my comforter.  I have had an emotional day so far and it's only noon!  Within seconds of my head hitting the pillow I am asleep.  I dream of darkness and terror.  It feels like only seconds that I have been asleep when I am awoken to my phone ringing.

I slowly blink, slightly confused before reality hits me and I dive for my phone that is still in my jacket pocket.  I see that mom is caling.  "Hi mom!"  I say slightly breathless.

I can hear her laughter.  "Don't tell me you were sleeping!"

I scoff at being caught.  "Would I really be sleeping this late in the day?!"  I lie.

She laughs harder.  "Well I was just calling to let you know that I should be home in about an hour, I love you and Happy Birthday,honey."

I smile slightly not able to shake the growing dread.  This is so weird, why can't I get rid of this feeling? "I love you too mom and please drive safe."

"I will and I'll see you in about an hour."  She hangs up the phone and I decide to distract myself so I get dressed into a pair of sweats and head down stairs. I  head to the living rom and sit he couch and turn on the big flat screen Neil splurged on last year.  I  don't know what I want to watch so i put on Criminal Minds and lay down to try and relax.

I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until I am jarred awake with the feeling that something is terribly wrong.  I look at the time on my phone and realize that mom is way overdue.  She was supposed to arrive home an hour and half ago.  "Hey, Neil did mom call to say if she was going to be late?"

I am met with silence, weird.  I go and look for him, I start with the kitchen but he isn't in there.  I go to his bedroom and nope not there iether so I fianlly arrive at his study.  I lightly know on the door and wait for an answer.  I am about to know again when the door is flung open.  "What do you want Ginny?"

I cringe at the nickname and realize that he has been drinking and from the smell of the whiskey on his breath he's been drinking a while now.  "I was sondering if you have heard rrom mom?  She was supposed to be here a while ago."

He scoffs at me.  "Don't you think taht you are being a little over bearing?  She is an adult and can be as late as she wants!"  He goes to shut the door but pauses then turns toward me again.  "Of course you could always hang out with me...if you are bored!"

I don't like the look in his eyes and the closeness of his body to me.  I was about to politely decline when there was a knock at the front door.

He rolls his eyes.  "Oh goody, she must have forgotten her key, see you were being paranoid for nothing!"

I just turn and head towards the door, the knock was louder this time.  The dread and fear are running rampant through out me as I reach for the lock and open the door.  I am met by two men dressed in business suits adn black trench coats.  One is mabye 6'6" with short blonde curly harir and icey blue eyes and a chiseled jawline.  The other is maybe 5'10" wiht spikey dark brown hair and warm chocolate brown eyes and tan skin.

The giant one hold his hand out to me.  "Good evening, may we speak to the two of you inside?"

I am speechless for a moment then realize that Neil was a little too close behind me.  He reaches from behind me to clasp his out stretched hand.  I quickly step aside so I am not within Neils reach as easily as I was.

"Please excuse my stepdaughter, she had no manners sometimes."  Neil lays his chamr on nice and thick.  "Please come inside, would either of you like some coffee or water?"

I just roll my eyes at him as I step away from the door and follow both men into the kitchen.  Neil, the oh so gracious host!  It's almost laughable the way he acts lately.  As he does his host thing I eye both men suspicously as my fear that something happened increases.  I can't keep my curiosity at bay so I can't help but ask.  "Who are you guys and why are you here?"

Spikey guy clears his throat.  "I am Detective Dan Stevens adn this is my partner Detective Ian Williams.  Do either of you know a woman by the name of Betsy Carrington?"

My fear intensifies as I hear Neil reply.  "Yes, she is my wife and her mother.  Why do you ask?"  I can't believe at the calmness in hsi voice, just like it's any other day.

Detective Williams speaks this time.  "Well we regret to inform you that she has been involved in a tragic fatal accident."

My heart stops as the word "fatal" slams into my mind!  NO no no no, this can't be happeneing!  "Please don't tell me that she is the one that died!  I look at both men pleadingly.

Detective Stevens looks at me with pity.  "I am sorry."

Neil walks to his study and comes back with the half empty bottle of whiskey that he has been drinking.  "What happened?"

"Mr. Carrington, I don't think that your daughter needs to be present for this."  Detecitve Stevens says.

"She is my STEPdaughter adn it's up to her if she wants to leave of not."  Neil doesn't hide the irritation in his voice.

I simply stare at him, surprised at his words adn tone.  Who the hell is this man?! I shake my head and push away that thought, there are mroe pressing matters at hand.  "No, I NEED to hear this!"  As much as I don't want to I know that I have to.

Detective Williams comes over to me and places his hadn genlty on my shoulder.  "Are you sure you want to hear this, sweety?"

I hesitate briefly before gulping down my fear.  "I don't WANT to, I NEED to hear this for my own sanity!"

"How old are you?"  Detective Stevens asks.

"I am sixteen...today sir."  I say in barely an audible whisper, wrapping my arms around me.

They both look at each other before looking back at me.  "Sorry we have to ruin your birthday, sweety."

I nod but wait patiently for them to continue, bracing myself for the information I am about to be told.

"It appears that your mother left the airport presumably on her way here when she was struck on the driver's side by a semi truck.  The driver of the truck was suspended from operating his rig due to a DUI a few months ago.  He was drunk when he swerved into he rlane, apparently not seeing her.  She was pronounced at the scene and the driver of the truck died at the hospital due to a lascerated spleen."

My mind and body go numb.  I am having a very hard time processing everything that has been said.  I go to sit on the couch, lost in my grief.  I am unaware that both Detective Williams and Detective Stevens have already left. I am also not even aware that Neil has entered the living room until his voice startles me.

"WEll, it looks like I don't have to worry about your mom finding out about my intentions with you anymore!"

I stare at him with utter shock and fear on my face as he slowly nears me, like a predator sizing up his prey.  Happy fucking birthday to me!  I have a feeling that my life is about to become even more difficult!  Yep my name is Virginia Rae Elliot andnd welcom to the hell that is my life!

Braxton POV

Today is my eighteenth birthday and I am supposed to find my mate.  I am also the soon to be Alpha of my pack.  Today is the ceremony that will make me the new Alpha.  I am really excited to finally be able to take on being Alpha and also to find the one that the Moon Goddess made for me, the other half of my soul.  My wolf, Jackson, is anxiously pacing inside my head giving me a headache. 

Dude, can you please stop pacing!  You are making my head hurt.

Sorry, I am just really wanting to find my mate, normally we would have had an inkling at the age of sixteen if our mate was in our pack.

Traditionally most Alphas can already tell who their mate will be if they smell them on their sixteenth birthday.  On my sixteenth birthday my mother invited every single she-wolf in our pack, hoping I would get lucky and find a mate from our pack.  She was more dissappointed than I was when we didn't find her.  She has been planning my eighteenth birthday celebration since then and she has invited every single she-wolf from all of the surrounding packs whether we have an alliance with them or not.  She seems really desperate to find me a mate.  I am just putting my tie on when both my parents enter my room.  My mother comes up to me and helps me finish doing up my tie and runs her hands down my suit, straightening it.

"You look very handsome my dear."  My mother gushes at me.

"Thank you mom."  I lean down to give her a quick kiss on her cheek.

"You look like an Alpha should look, son."  My father says as he gives me a hand shake.

I smile at him with a thank you, then school my features to professionalism.  My father is one that will always show professionalism at all times, made it hard to figure out what he was thinking most of the time.  I always feel like I have to always make him proud of me because I am never told that he is proud of me but my mom always says that his is he just doesn't say it.  At first it bothered me alot but I soon became used to it.

"Have you decided who is going to be your Beta and Gamma?"  Dad asks me.

I nod my head.  "Christian is going to be my Gamma and Rollings is going to be my Beta." 

He nods appreciatively.  "Those excellent choices son."

Rollings is the son of our current Beta and my best friend who is always there to keep me in line when he needs to and always has my back when I need him.  He has already save my life more times than I can count.  He has yet to find his mate but I'm pretty sure that he will find her very soon.  Christian and I have been friends since high school, he is originally from our neighboring pack, Red Claw.  His parents were killed when he was a yound teenager by his former Alpha.  He severed all ties with his pack and pledged his loyalty to our pack and my father severed his alliance with Red Claw when he found out what had happened.  When Rollings and I first saw him something just clicked and we have been as thick as theives since.

BOYS ITS ALMOST TIME, YOU HAD BETTER BE READY! I mind link both of them.

WE ARE ALPHA.  They reply in unison.

I cut the link and head towards the door before my parents stop me. 

"Braxton we need to talk to you before we head to the ceremony."  My mother tells me, timidly.

I know that voice, she only does that when she is about to say something that is going to piss me off.  I straighten my back and slowly turn to face them.  "What is it that you want to talk to me about?"

My father is quick to answer knowing that he can deal with my temper better than his mate can.  "Well first of all happy birthday and second of all we have decided that if for some reason you do not meet your mate tonight then you will only have until your twentieth birthday to either find your true mate or choose a mate."

Both my wolf and I are immediately up in a rage!  "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN?!"  I can tell that my eyes are black when my mother immediately shrinks back away from me.  My father is in defense mode and his wolf, Rains, is bristling for the attack if there is any.

"BRAXTON! Son, you need to calm down do that we can discuss this in a calm manner."  My mother is pleading with me.

My chest is heaving so badly with the amount of control I am trying to use.  I don't want to attack my parents, what kind of Alpha will I make if I do that.

Jackson, dude we need to calm down and listen to them. I am trying to get my wolf under control before the shit hits the fan.

I will not take a chosen mate I will only have my true, moon goddess given mate!

Me either dude, please just cool off, we will go for a very long run after the ceremony I promise okay?

Fine.  He slowly recedes the back of my mind and sulks.

I take a deep calming breath and when I open my eyes again I know that all my parents see is my dark grey eyes staring back at them.  "Jackson and I both agree that we will not take a chosen mate we will wait for as long as it takes for our one true mate."

Both my parents shake their heads.  "Braxton, you have duties and responsibilities to the pack and your people.  This is not up for debate, if you do not have a mate by your twentieth birthday then I will take back your Alpha title!"

I barely had Jackson under control with this new threat!  I knew that my father was stubborn and he would do as he says with out hesitation but I also know that if I prove myself to the pack and my people then what he says no longer will be a threat.  That thought was my only light at the end of this diming tunnel I found myself in.

"Then if that will be all, we still have a ceremony to attend." I say through gritted teeth.  "Unless you have already changed your mind and not make be Alpha?"

Both my parents head towards the door and school their experessions into prfessionalism, yet again.  "We have not changed our minds."

They head out first then I take a little extra time to get better control over Jackson.  I take deep calming breaths and decide that I will speak with Rollings and Christian about what just happened after I let my wolf blow off some steam.  Are you ready for this Jackson?

Our parents aren't going to know what hit them, and I'm looking forward to finding our mate!  Let's do this!