CHAPTER ONE: MEETING THE ALPHA

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be the original family disappointment? The black sheep? The rejected? The hated? The bullied? Well, I’d be the first to let you know that it sucks. Big time.

Being the daughter of Whitefang pack’s former Beta, you’d think that I’d have a life of beautiful roses and twinkling stars in my night sky. However, all I’d ever gotten was abuse, torment and literal hell. I guess it was easier to bear when my father was alive, he used to protect me from the taunts of the mean kids in my class. He protected me from those who laughed in my face for being the only she-wolf in Whitefang pack who couldn’t shift, even at the age of 19. He comforted me even more when I’d found out that I also happened to be the only she-wolf in our pack who wasn’t blessed with any form of magic from the moon goddess. Father had been my solace, my safe house amidst the storm of bullies. However, just like every other good thing in my life; he didn’t last long. He died nine years ago, leaving me in the hands of Ivy Rynders, my step-mother - also known as, bitch from hell.

I rolled my eyes bitterly and just the thought of Ivy left a sour taste in my mouth. I hated her with every bone in my body. And sometimes, the lines between hatred and fear blurred. However, ironically, that had never stopped me from going against her annoying orders. Maybe that would explain why I was here, at the West Crescent Unity Banquet, even when Ivy had specifically warned me to stay home and scrub the floors till her reflections were clear on it. Call it rebellion, but everything I did at this moment stood for spite. Spite for the cruelty she’d served me in these past few weeks.

However, above spite, I wanted to be here. The Unity Banquet only happens once a year and it was one of the few times West Crescent Valley could be brought together in one place. I’d longed for this moment for years now, the very time of my life when I could walk into these same banquet halls where my parents had met years ago. Dad used to tell me so much about it. He’d delve into the charming details of the beautiful skip of his heart when he saw my mum for the first time. On how he asked her to dance and how, he knew in that moment, that she was the one for him. I wanted to be here because it was on these grounds that my parents found love. 

For the nth time in one night, I adjusted the red and gold elegantly designed dinner gown I’d stolen from Winnie’s closet. I’d picked red cause it went well to accentuate my fiery red hair and hazel eyes, and because it was the only dress Winnie never seemed to wear. She was Ivy’s daughter and my stepsister, and hell knows she’d skin me alive if she saw me in her dress. 

As agreed, my best friend - Renee Walter - waited for me expectantly by the entrance door of the grand banquet hall. Her mouth fell open on spotting me. 

“Damn girl! You look like a freaking queen in that dress.” She pulled me into a hug and I returned it with a genuine smile. I hardly ever see Renee cause Ivy had placed a ban against me seeing anybody - well, specifically Renee, seeing as I had no other friends. 

“Well, I’d be a dead one if Winnie sees me tonight,” I responded as we walked into the glittering banquet hall. My eyes grew large at the expensive suits, gorgeous dresses and pieces of jewelry being worn by all sorts of respectable wolves from the three packs that made up West Crescent Valley. The hall was buzzing with music, champagne and laughter. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

“I still can’t believe you’ve never been to one of these before, and close your mouth, I swear you’re drooling.” Renee nudged me with a laugh and I shut my lips instantly, embarrassed.

“Not all of us are privileged enough to be the Alpha’s daughter, Renee. While you get to be the princess of this pack, I get toilets to wash. Everyday.”

Renee laughed, her green eyes sparking up. Perhaps that’s what I loved about her, how easy it was for us to get along although she was the Alpha’s daughter and one of the most important wolves around here. 

“Luckily for you, my sweet sweet friend, tonight you get a jail-free card to be anything you want.” Renee had navigated us to the food table. We stuffed off our mouths, trying out different meals we’d both never had before and everything else that came after that point was a blur. We laughed, giggled at our silly jokes and danced our worries away with the buzz of the music. For the first time in a while, I wasn’t looking over my shoulder to know if someone was going to shove me to the ground or call me useless or even laugh mockingly at me. I felt free and alive and happy.

However, it didn’t last long cause the second I stepped away from Renee to get us both a glass of wine, I walked into a part of my life that I couldn’t take back. It was the beginning of my ruin.

I picked up the glass of drinks from the waiter, after dutifully letting him know I was 19 and of age to indulge in alcohol. On returning to find Renee, my eyes trailed over to the group of show-stopping gorgeous girls that stood by a corner, gracefully dressed in class and prestige. Just a glance at their remarkable stance of superiority was all I needed to know that they were from Silver Dawn pack, the most advanced and strongest of the 4 packs in West Crescent Valley. Well, excluding the Black Bane pack. Rumors have it that those monsters rival Silver Dawn in strength and numbers. But that was a story for another day.

Too glued to my thoughts, I’d lost track of my surroundings and where I was going, leading to me bumping carelessly into a solid wall - or man? I lost my footing and almost fell right there on my butt, if not for the strong set of arms that snaked instantly around my waist and pulled me away from my own eternal embarrassment. My drinks spilled on his immaculately white inner shirt, before crashing to shattered pieces on the marble grounds. Everyone turned to stare at the unfolding chaos. 

“Oh my god, I’m so so sorry!” I was quick to say, allowing my eyes to trail up the defined body of this man that smelled so intoxicatingly good.

The second our eyes locked, a clash of hazel brown against icy blues, time stood still in the banquet hall. Something that burned fiercely and electrifying surged straight into my body from the spot he had his hands on and into my heart, where it ignited a strong feeling of passion in me. It was beyond anything I’d ever felt before. 

His face was carved out from granite, perfectly chiseled and impeccably attractive. I had to remind myself to breathe the more I stared into his shades of blue. Stern as they were, something about their intensity invited me in. I was captivated, hooked beyond comprehension and had my heart skipping a beat for this domineering man standing tall before me.

“Mine,” he whispered, yet it felt like a strong vibration through me. His voice was deep and even though I’d just heard it for the first time, I wanted to listen to it forever. 

We stayed like that for a while, before the clearing of a hoarse throat yanked me painfully back to reality. That was all it took to make me realize that the entire banquet had their eyes on us. On me. 

Instantly, I pulled away from him, making my skin itch for his warmth again, and his words from earlier sank in finally. Mine? My eyes grew wide and my heart began to race. Mine, as in, he was my mate? 

“Alpha Alexander, is there any problem?” The equally noble-looking man who’d cleared his throat earlier questioned, subtly throwing me a disdainful glare. 

Alpha Alexander.

My heart stopped for the nth time in one night as realization smacked me painfully on the head. I took in the intimidating aura of the man that stood before me. From his perfectly tailored suit, that I’d now tarnished with the drink stain, to his polished brogues and expensive cufflink and wristwatch. He looked every bit of how you’d imagine the authoritative leader of Silver Dawn pack would look. Like a god. 

Alpha Alexander Ashford was my mate.

“Hey! Were you blind or just stupid? How dare you-” The other man began, taking threatening steps before me while I staggered backward, heart racing.

However, Alpha Alexander, in all his compelling glory, yanked him backward in what looked like irritation and instead, placed himself before me. His blue eyes, clear as the ocean, searched mine intently. Much to my surprise, he lifted his fingers and caressed my cheeks softly. 

“What’s your name, Red?” He demanded.

I opened my mouth to speak, but words failed me by the second. I was aware that everyone was staring; speculating and judging. My eyes drifted through the crowd until they landed on furious brown eyes that I knew so well. It belonged to no other than Ivy, my stepmother. She disintegrated me with the bitter glare in her eyes and that was all it took to steal every nerve of confidence I’d felt for the evening.

My heart pounded into my ears and I didn’t waste another second before I pushed the Alpha off with everything in me, before sprinting through the crowd and getting the hell out of the banquet. But I knew my fate was sealed already; Ivy was going to kill me.