Chapter 1

Goldie’s POV  

My nightmares are always the same. I have them whenever I’m stressed. Which is a lot lately.

It’s like I’m an observer watching the worst day of my life unfold. I was 7 years old when it happened. I’m now 17. That’s how long I’ve had these nightmares.        

It was a lovely sunny day. My mom and I are sitting on a blanket in the middle of a wildflower field.        

I watch the younger version of myself chasing butterflies, smelling the flowers. My mom’s angelic voice called to me, “Maria, come and eat.” My mom always called me by my proper name. Dad would call me Pumpkin or Sweetheart or some other endearing name. The young girl turned and ran into her mother’s arms. I watch as my mom strokes her hair and kisses her forehead. Even in my dream, I remember how much I loved her touch. I wish I could be held by her one more time.        

I continue observing as they sing nursery rhymes together. Then my mother tickled the girl, causing her to squirm and laugh at the same time. “Mommy stop.” She cried out through her giggles. This is the last happy memory I have of my mom. My dream gives me a small burst of joy before my nightmare begins.    

The sky turns black. I looked over to the edge of the field and I watched as three brown-furred rogues approached.

“Run,” I screamed at the pair, playing happily. They can’t hear me. “Run,” I screamed again, knowing that it was pointless. But that would never stop me from trying.        

One of the wolves growled. That’s when my mother and I noticed them. Mom froze for a second. “Run Maria. I will buy you some time. Run to the dark forest. Daddy will be there soon.” My mom tells the child version of me, before she shifts into her wolf, preparing to fight the rogues.   

I know now she wasn’t fighting to save her life. She was fighting to save mine. Giving me a chance to get away. She sacrificed herself for me.

I know how this nightmare ends. Because this was never a nightmare. It’s a memory. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, fearing that something was chasing after me.

The day ended with me running as fast as I could to our safe place. Our tree in the dark forest.  

Mom would tell me that people have an irrational fear of the dark forest. They don’t like the smell or that it’s dark. But it’s safer there than in the regular forest since there are fewer predators. “It affects their senses.” Mom would tell me. “The dark forest is swarming with small critters and bugs that the predators can hear, but they can’t see. That combined with the damp smell and the lack of light. It makes a predator feel like prey, and they don’t like that. None of which you should fear, Maria.”         

Mom would take me for walks in the dark forest, which is where we found a tree that we were making into a treehouse. It was going to be our special place.

That’s where I stayed until my dad found me. He brought me back home, and we mourned her death together. My mom was gone forever. Neither my dad nor I were ready to acknowledge that reality and acted like she had simply gone shopping.        

Although they were chosen mates, they loved each other so much. It ripped him apart when she was killed. Seeing me was a daily reminder of what he lost. As we looked so alike. Green eyes and light blonde hair that shone like gold in the sunlight. I was a daily reminder of what they had together. She had been the love of his love life.       

That’s how I got my nickname, ‘Goldie’.   

When Alpha Stan felt Dad was up to it, Dad started traveling to pack meetings with him. I stayed with Luna Fran while he was away. It was when he went to one of these meetings that Dad met his fated mate, Kellie.        

Kellie had a 6-year-old daughter called Shannen. Shannen resulted from Kellie having casual sex with a pack warrior. Shannen never had a father figure in her life and she was overjoyed to finally have a daddy. Kellie was all smiles at first. Happy to have found her fated mate. Happier that he was a ranked wolf. Happiest that her wolf was happy.          

I was young and thought I was imagining it when I kept seeing her scowling at me. It didn’t take me long to realize I wasn’t imagining it. But who could I tell? Who would believe me? I would have simply looked like a child angry at her stepmother replacing her mother. She was never directly nasty towards me, at that point anyway.  

Once Dad marked Kellie, her attitude towards me changed. But only when we were alone. She told Shannen to be mean to me as well. Kellie despised the fact that my dad loved my mom. I was a product of that love.   

When Kellie fell pregnant, both she and her dad were ecstatic. But when Dad wasn’t around, Kellie took to the couch and made me and Shannen do everything for her. As the older of the two, I was expected to do more chores.       

It was at that point that Shannen started receiving similar treatment to me. Not as bad as I got it, but Kellie was pretty nasty to her. This was when we started bonding as sisters.     

After Samuel was born and the novelty of the new baby wore off, Kellie insisted I care for him frequently. She was worse when Dad was away. I was 9 years old, a child myself. “He’s your baby. You look after him.” I shouted at her one day when she got me out of bed to care for him.      

“You ungrateful brat.” She yelled at me. As she slapped me across the face,

“I’m telling Luna Fran,” I yelled at her.     

“Go ahead. She won’t believe you. It’s your word against mine.” She said, folding her arms. Stupidly, I believed her. I should have told Luna Fran. I should have told Dad. But I didn’t want him to be unhappy again.    

That night, I ran away. Over the years, I have run away many times. Too many to count. But that was the first time.   

I run to my tree; I run to my friends’ houses. I run anywhere I can. Anywhere is better than being under the same roof as her!   

That was also the day that I realized I needed to train. I need to learn how to fight. I needed to learn to protect myself. I will not be prey. I will be someone that predators fear. I will also be the daughter my mother wanted me to be. Fair and just.     

I am expected to go to Beta Academy when I turn 18. But Kellie doesn’t feel that I am worthy enough. This has caused many arguments between her and my dad.

I really hate her. I think Dad does a little too. But the mate bond is a blessing and to be respected. Hopefully, I can keep out of the way until my birthday. Hopefully, then Dad’s life will be better. I want him to be happy.