Chapter One

Again?”

I pant from my position on the hard ground, small stones digging into my bareback. I force myself into a sitting position and adjust my sports bra as I stand. I face off against my opponent, my hands raised and ready to deflect. Dorin lashed out quicker than I could react and his fist caught me in the mouth, my lip splitting and the smell of fresh blood invigorating the onlookers.

Whoops and hollers are heard from the circle of spectators in the training room as Dorin Cash, Beta of the Richmond Pack kicks my ass. The others jeered as I swung and Doring dropped to his knee and jabbed me in the ribs. I let out a grunt and reacted quickly by bringing my knee up and clipping him in the jaw. I quickly backed up, squaring off against him again.

“You’re getting sloppy Kara! You’re too slow, pick up the pace!” Orso yelled as he watched the fight, circling the both of us. Dorin smirked at me and charged me, spearing me center mass and knocking me to the ground. I let out an oomph as the air was forced from my lungs, and grunt as my back hit the ground again.

I growl and pull myself to my feet, frustrated and angry, I turn to face Dorian, ignoring Orso at my back. He growls at me, a slight timbre of his alpha aura laced with it. My skin prickles as I fight the urge to submit to it. I grit my teeth and swing at Dorin with my left fist, feinting last second and landing a solid kick to his ribs. He bares his teeth at me and charges. I duck under his arms and get behind him, kicking him in the back. He turns quickly before I can react, grabbing me and throws me over his shoulder, slamming me into the ground and pinning my arms to my body so I can’t gain leverage. I snarl and lift my legs, locking them around him and pushing to try and loosen his grip.

“Better Kara! But not good enough. Finish it, Dorin.” Orso calls, smirking as he stops his pacing and watches us. I’m momentarily confused, before Dorin slips out of my grip and grapples me, quickly pinning me face-first into the ground, hands behind my back and his weight holding me still. Dorin growls in my ear and bites the nape of my neck, demanding my submission. I snarl and kick, struggling to get out. Realizing I don’t have the strength to overpower him I go limp and accept defeat.

“She can be taught ladies and gentleman, she can be taught.” Orso mocks as he claps. Dorin pressed his weight into me before getting up and dusting himself off. I quickly roll to my feet and wince as every inch of me hurts. We’ve been training since dawn and it’s now noon. “That’s enough for today. Those that have rounds, get to them. Those that are coming off nights, get to bed.”

“Yes, Alpha.” the room thunders with acceptance of the command. Quickly it clears people as they all head off to their designation. I stumble to the bench and grab a towel, whipping off my sweat and taking a much-needed gulp of water as I absentmindedly watch the rest of the pack.

Some are meandering about, talking to friends, cleaning. They, like me, are not yet 18 and don’t have official postings in the pack. We’re known as floaters. We go wherever an extra set of hands is needed. Today my job happens to be the laundry so I’m just waiting till everyone’s gone so I can grab the towels in peace.

Once the room is empty I get up and collect the discarded towels around the room. I was so wrapped up in my own routine, I didn’t sense I wasn’t alone in the room. By the time I realized it, it was too late, and he was much too close. I stiffened as his smell hit me and I could feel him behind me. I let out a low growl to warn him to get away, the only response was a deep masculine chuckle. I felt his hands on my hips, his grip automatically tightening so I couldn’t just pull away.

“Still going to deny me Kara?” he murmured as he held my back flush to his chest and skimmed his nose along my ear, his breath warm against my skin. I jerked against him and growled, trying to get out of his grip.

“I will always deny you, Orso. You have a wife and Luna.” I spat as I elbowed him in the ribs and stepped away, quickly facing him so I’d be prepared if he decided to do anything. He bared his teeth at me and stepped into my space.

“You owe me your life, little girl. The only reason you’re alive is that I made them spare your life. You would have died just like the rest of your pack if it wasn’t for me.” he growled, his Alpha voice thick with every syllable. My body shuddered as I fought not to give in and submit. It got easier the older I got.

“Just because you spared my life does not mean you are entitled to my body. You have a mate, regardless of her not being your fated mate, you still chose her and marked her. Other she-wolves may be fine to help you cheat on a bonded mate but I refuse.” I spat with derision. It was disrespectful and disgusting how he treated his Luna. Ava may not be the nicest person but even she didn’t deserve that. Orso narrowed his eyes and stalked towards me, only stopping when he was towering over me.

“I will have you soon enough Kara. You won’t refuse me forever.” he gave a low growl before turning away and leaving the room.

I growled in frustration and wheeled the full cart of towels to the laundry room at the back of the training facility. I honestly liked when laundry came onto my chore rotation. It was easy and oddly relaxing. The best part about it is that it’s solitary. I preferred to be alone.

I became part of this pack almost 8 years ago when I was 10. I belonged to a pack that no longer exists. The Richmond Pack, led by Alpha Orso Rolins, attacked in the middle of the night when only a small unit was on patrol. They came in and slaughtered everyone. No one was spared. No one, that is, except for me. Richmond took over the land and doubled its pack size.

I always suspected that the only reason I was left alive was that I had managed to stab Orso. I surprised him by coming up behind him and plunging a silver knife into the meaty part of… well… his ass. I was small and it was all I could reach. After that, he took me with him and left his oldest son and half of his pack behind to take over what was left of my home.

Orso brought me to his pack and I was lumped with all the other orphans and rogues that he takes in and trains to add to the ranks of his strong warriors. So from 10 till now, it’s been endless training, all day, every day. Plus side is that it means I’m strong enough to have a decent standing in the pack. If I couldn’t fight and defend myself, I’d be anybody's meat, the lowest of the low, which means the pack could do whatever they wanted to me. Orso doesn’t tolerate weakness so the weak wolves are treated like slaves.

I worked hard for my position in the pack. Once 18 I could finally be a pack warrior instead of the odd jobs we orphans are given. Orso does it this way because the majority of the orphans are kids whose parents were pack warriors and had died in a battle, or whose parents lost a challenge to raise their position in the pack. He says that they’re no better than those that were weak enough to die so maybe they’ll get stronger through hard labour.

He’s a tyrant. One would think that since we physically have demanding jobs we’d be exempt from the gruelling training schedules, but no, we still have to train like crazy. Hours of training, before hours of work. At least it didn’t give you time to wallow in self-pity.

“Kara, you back here?” a voice calls from the training room as they make their way closer.

“Yeah in the laundry room.” I call out as I switch stuff from the washer into the dryer. I look up as Clementine walks in. I raise an eyebrow in surprise as this is the last place I’d expect to see the Beta’s daughter. She smiles at me and walks closer, leaning against the folding table.

“My dad asked me to find you. There’s a big meeting happening at the packhouse and the Alpha wants you there to take notes.” she explained with a bored tone. I look at her with a confused expression.

“Why me? Isn’t that normally your job?”

“Normally. But I have a date I have to prepare for. Plus this is with a few allied Alpha’s so they want someone who is a warrior, just in case.” she shrugs, her blonde curls bouncing with the action and turns to leave. “My dad said to grab a quick shower and head to the board room. Now.” she throws over her shoulder as she leaves through the training room.