Book 1: Chapter 4

The next month and a half are the worst of my life. Any motivation I ever had is gone now. Instead of just breakfast and dinner, now I make lunch too, and I'm still on pantry duty. Every moment of my day is filled with work from the time I wake up until the time I crash in my bed.

Thank Goddess for Lex. She keeps me going. Lex convinces me to enjoy the time that she and I get to spend together, which is when I'm cooking meals.

I find I actually enjoy cooking while Lex is with me. No one comes to bother me, so we get to have great conversations without interruptions. In the end, I have created something people will enjoy. I even found a couple of recipe books in the back of one of the kitchen cupboards and taught myself some new techniques and dishes to make.

Everything else in my life is complete shit. Alpha Graham allows pack members to hit me and verbally abuse me and they take full advantage at every opportunity. He comes to my room multiple times a week to beat me and berate me for imaginary offenses I haven't committed. Sometimes Ryan comes and watches. A couple of times he even gets the whip for his father, but he never actually hits me. I swear I see him smiling while he watches. Lex tries to convince me to fight back, but that would be a death sentence for both of us. If I fight back or even worse, if I shift, I'm certain I'd be killed on the spot.

Lex keeps telling me everything will change when I shift. She keeps saying we are a daughter of the Moon Goddess and we are her warrior. She is frustrated that I submit instead of fighting back. She is angry at me for keeping her a secret. She says doing so is making her weaker.

"Okay, Lex, a couple of problems with all of this," I try to tell her for the millionth time after we plop in bed. "First, I have no idea when I'm going to be able to let you out. I'm up and working every day from five a.m. until after midnight. Secondly, if the Alpha finds out I have a wolf at all, he might banish me and kill me or just skip banishing me and straight out kill me. Lastly, we are a slave, not a warrior. We aren't even an omega."

"Kas, we are not just a warrior. We are a child of the Moon Goddess. She is our mother."

I just roll my eyes, "Okay, okay. I don't know when I can let you out, but at the first opportunity, I will take it, Lex. I promise."

This seems to satisfy her. We keep having the same argument about werewolves all being children of Moon Goddess versus being an actual child of the Moon Goddess. She doesn't understand the difference. I think she actually believes the Moon Goddess is my mom, like, in the literal sense of the word mother.

Every night, I'm completely exhausted by the time I get back to my room. It's an even longer day if I'm visited by Alpha Graham. Lex has been the best friend I could ask for, even if she is frustrated and getting weak. She is always supporting me and pushing me to not give up. I feel guilty that I can't support her in return.

One day, Lori, Alpha Graham's personal omega comes running up to me while I'm making lunch and tells me the Alpha wants to see me in his office right away.  I drop what I'm doing and hurry to his office.

I knock on the door quietly in case he's busy.

"Come in." He calls from inside. I pull open the door and peek inside.

“You called for me, Alpha?" I ask as quietly as possible. The easiest way to get away from him is to use as few words as possible and ask as few questions as possible.

"Don't just stand there, come in." He snarls.

I rush inside and close the door behind me. I stay as close to the door as possible in case I need to make a run for it.

"Kas, we have a delegation coming from the Blood River pack next week. Twenty wolves in total, all of the ranked members, their mates, the heads of their security and guards, and security detail for all of them. If all goes well, we'll be forming a pact with them. They must be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. Bring lunches to the conference room every day and make a formal dinner every night next week, keep their pantries stocked, and stay the Hell out of the way. Got it?"

I look up from under my hat, still keeping my face low enough that he can't see my eyes. Yes, even after almost two months, he still hasn't noticed that I have purple eyes. Or if he has, he hasn't pointed it out. He also hasn't said anything about my silver hair. Which is just fine with me.

"Yes, Sir."

"Everyone will be here on Monday. Except for the Alpha, who is coming Tuesday. We'll be having a party after dinner to welcome him. Make sure there is enough food for the party. Give Sam the information for the additional food you need to make. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. We need to keep the Alpha happy. If not, I won't hesitate to let him kill you. Do you understand?" He stands up with his hands leaning on the desk, looking very intimidating.

"Y-yes, sir."

"Now get out of my sight," he points to the door behind me.

I scramble out of the room as fast as possible to find Sam. Sam is in charge of ordering supplies for the packhouse. He should be in his office right now. My mind is already churning through the special foods to make and the groceries I need for them. I also need extra supplies for the guest suite pantries. I wonder what kind of foods the Blood River pack likes?

Blood River is the largest pack in the northern region with my pack, Silver Moon, being the second largest. Alpha Graham says Blood River is vicious and strict. Most of their pack has served in the military at one point or another. They employ dark magicians and witches to help them keep power over neighboring packs. I wonder if they are going to bring any dark witches here. I hope not. I also hear their Alpha kills pack members who fail training tests because he doesn't want weak wolves in his pack. Definitely a guy I don't want to cross paths with.

I get to Sam's office and knock on the door. I can hear noises coming from inside, but he doesn't answer. I knock a little louder. What a jerk. He has to know I'm here. He knows my scent. Just tell me to come in, already.

“I don't like this guy, Kas. He's creepy. He stares at your boobs," Lex complains.

“Well, we don't have a choice but to work with him, Lex. He's the money man.”

“Ugh. Fine, but let's make it quick.”

I knock again. More impatiently this time.

"What is it?" He finally growls from inside.

I open the door to find there's a mostly naked female wolf with long blond hair sitting on his desk. Her legs are wrapped around his waist. She hides her face in his chest. I can't see who she was, but there is no denying whose scent it is. Sam is not wearing any pants and he is sweating.

"Get the fuck out, Kas! I'm busy here!"

I stand there wide-eyed, jaw slack for a moment. I can't be seeing this. Sam is having sex in his office...WITH THE LUNA.

"GET OUT, KAS!" He yells louder.

I come to my senses and slam the door closed. I run back to the kitchen as fast as I can. I can feel the blood drain from my face. If anyone finds out what I just saw, I am dead meat. Holy crap Holy crap Holy crap Holy crap.

Lex thinks it's hilarious. She laughs in my head throughout lunch preparation. I'm just trying to erase the scene from my mind.

I'm about to take the platters out to the dining room when Sam comes charging into the kitchen. He makes a beeline at me, grabbing me by the throat, and pinning me against the wall. He hauls back and punches me square in the face. The back of my head slams against the wall so hard I see stars. I can feel blood dripping from my nose as I slide down the wall with a groan.

"You didn't see anything!" His eyes are pitch black as he growls at me. I can feel his claws extending into my neck drawing blood, "You understand, you little bitch!"

I'm paralyzed with fear. I can't answer. I can't even nod. Suddenly I feel like I'm falling backward in my mind. I blink quickly a few times. It feels like I'm looking out of someone else's eyes.

"Let her go!" The voice comes from me, but it isn't my voice. It's Elexis. Her voice booms and sounds almost ethereal. The dishes on the counter shake as she growls deeply at Sam.

I watch helplessly, as my hands glow violet and grab Sam's wrists. As I grab him, his eyes widen in fear and he starts howling in pain. A sizzling sound comes from where my hands connect with his skin. He quickly releases my neck and we both fall to the ground.

"How are you doing this? What the Hell are you, Kas?"

I stand up feeling much taller than my five-foot-tall frame. Lex’s voice booms from me, "I'm a warrior child of the Moon Goddess. If you tell anyone what has happened here today, I. WILL. KILL. YOU."