Elena POV
By the time I make it out of the doors of the high school, I see Quinn waiting for me in her car with the windows rolled down singing loudly and very off key to some song by Billie Eilish, which makes me laugh. I slide into the seat of her BMW, thankful that Caleb and his posse weren't in their usual spot outside.
"You ready to shop until your feet fall off?" Quinn says raising her eyebrows.
I groan, "I thought we were just going to pick out a dress and then come back home? I have an essay I have to submit for one of my scholarship applications and I want to get started on it as soon as possible," I say hoping she lets me off the hook.
"Come on, young grasshopper," she responds, "let me teach you my ways! Or at least let me dress you up like my own personal barbie doll. I have been dreaming of the moment you would finally let me do this!"
What a weirdo, I think to myself as a smile splits across my face. "Fine," I say rolling my eyes. It's always been hard to say no to Quinn, not only because she is my best friend but she just has that kind of personality that makes it hard for people to say no to her.
"So I am thinking something in a deep purple shade to make your eyes pop," she says as her eyes grow large and her hand flourishes on either side of her face, breaking me from my thoughts. She looks like a blowfish when she does that and it makes me giggle.
"Whatever you want, O great one." I respond deciding to just trust her to dress me and get me ready, one less thing I have to worry about.
Luckily the shop is on pack lands, which means not only am I allowed to go but it also only takes us about 10 minutes to get there. Once inside, Quinn convinces me to try on dress after dress until finally she finds one she likes.
As I step out of the dressing room, she almost spits her water back onto herself and I can't help but laugh at her again as she struggles to find words, her mouth opening and closing.
"You look like a goddess!" She finally manages to say.
"You think so?" I ask.
"Are you kidding!? That's the dress, hands down. You're getting it."
I turn to the mirror and can't help but gape at the person staring back at me. I look like a woman, mysterious and wild, and I can't help but feel sexy. For once, I'm thankful to Quinn for dragging me out shopping.
Two hours later, we're finished with our shopping. She dragged me store to store picking out shoes, hair accessories, and some makeup before dropping me off at my house. I run to my room to put everything up and then go downstairs to make myself some coffee before I get started on my scolarship essay.
As I begin making my coffee, dad walks in looking angry.
"Where have you been and why didn't you tell me where you were going?" He says, almost yelling, face becoming ruddy with anger.
I look back at him shocked at his outburt, "I just went to pick out a dress for the alpha ceremony."
"And who were you with?"
"I went with Quinn! I'm always with Quinn," I say raising my voice, "since you don't let me have any other friends!"
"Next time, I expect you to text me and ask me permission before you go shopping. I could have had one of the omegas pick up something for you. There's no need for you to be anywhere but school or home."
I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. "Dad, I can't be kept prisoner here for forever. I'm going to turn 18 soon and you won't be able to stop me from having freedom."
"You are my daughter. It doesn't matter how old you are or where you go or who you're with, you belong to me and you will do as I say! Don't make me chain you downstairs again, I would have thought you'd learned your lesson by now."
I open my mouth but now words come out. All my carefully constructed walls start closing in on me and I can't take a deep breath to calm myself. He turns on his heels and walks out of the room, slamming the front door closed. I run up to my room, coffee forgotten, and scream into my pillow.
Great, another panic attack. Something that happens more often than I care to admit. They seem to be getting worse and they always leave me feeling out of control, numb, powerless, and trapped all at the same time. Memories from the last time he chained me in the basement surface.
The first time it ever happened, I had gone for a walk in the woods and gotten lost. It took them all day to find me and when they did Dad threw me downstairs in the basement for a whole day with nothing to eat. It's his favorite thing to do when I don't listen to him. 7 more days I tell myself, 7 more days. I keep on repeating to myself over and over, until it becomes a chant and I start to calm down.
I daydream about what my life will be like at the end of this prison, how it will feel to be truly free. I fall asleep dreaming about running free in my wolf form, far away from here.
Elena POVThe rest of the week passes by in a blur and luckily with alpha ceremony preperations, I don't see much of Alpha Caleb and his band of brats. I giggle to myself at the nickname.I wake up the morning of the alpha ceremony with a splitting headache. I struggle out of bed, my eyes watering from the sunlight pouring through the windows and try to make my way to the kitchen so I can grab some tylenol for my headache. After taking two pills, I go to lay down on the couch until my headache starts to subside and I feel like I can actually function again.The house is empty as usual, and I am going back into the kitchen to make myself some coffee when I hear a knock at the door. Once open, I see Quinn standing there with Starbucks and a huge smile splitting her face with what looks like an army of people behind her. It gives the whole, 'I'll have my people call your people' kind of vibe."Quinn, you do realise the ceremony isn'
Elena POVAfter hours of being shaved, plucked, waxed, pinned, and tucked, hair, and make-up finished, I am finally done. As I look in the mirror, I feel overwhelmed by the person looking back at me yet again. My eyes seem to glow more brown than green under the smokey eyeshadow. My lips are painted with a deeper pink that accentuates my eye shadow and golden skin. My hair is smooth and curled, falling in soft waves down my back. I think my favorite part though is my dress. It's a deep purple color and is made from velvet which pools around my feet like a liquid lake of the purest amethyst with a slit on both sides running up to my hips. When I walk it waterfalls around me in the most beautiful rhythm. It also has a halter neckline which has a cuff around my neck and drops into a low back that rests right above my low back. It hugs my body perfectly and accentuates all my curves."You look like an amazon," Quinn says from behind me.She
Elena POV As we pull up to the venue, I'm overwhelmed with how many people are here. Most of those in attendance are alphas and their betas or families. Usually when a new alpha is initiated, many alphas will come from all over the country to show their support and sign treaties or trade agreements. Once the ceremony is done, all the alphas will meet over the period of a week to discuss the terms of the agreements, peace treaties, and other contracts. It also gives them a reason to have more parties- the more extravagant the better since it shows other packs how well an alpha can provide for their own people. Alpha Caleb has earned a bit of a reputation for being arrogant and prideful. He isn't considerate of other packs and he is only interested in taking for himself. There are rumors that a lot of the alphas are hesitant to sign a treaty or trade agreement with him. I do feel bad for the pack since a lot of their businesses
Elena POVI try to take a steadying breath but I can't seem to get my lungs to work. This whole time we continue to stare at eachother through the mirror. When he reaches behind himself to lock the door, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.He growls loud enough to make the stall doors shake, breaking me from my shock and causing me to take a step back, pressing my back into the counter and clutching onto the edge to try and keep myself upright.He takes slow steps towards me, stalking me like prey and reaches out to slowly curl his fingers around my throat, cutting off my air supply. Sparks shoot down my neck where his skin touches mine and my breathing grows shallow. He starts to squeeze tighter before suddenly shoving me against the mirror on the other side of the room, shattering the glass.I crumple to the floor, unable to stand at the sudden movement. My hand flying to my face when I feel a dripping sensation. I look back at
Elena POV I try to yell as I see him lunge, but he covers my mouth with his hand. I bite down hard and flinch when the coppery taste of blood coats my tongue. He grunts in pain, "You bitch!" he screams. I continue to kick and fight hoping someone will hear me but his fist connects with my face and my vision goes a little fuzzy. He hits me two more times, effectively silencing me. I'm trying not to let the darkness pull me under. Trying not to slip from consciousness or stop fighting this monster off of me. As I feel his hand start sliding up the slit in my skirt, bile rises in the back of my throat and I can't stop the terror from sliding over my skin. I hear a rip as his hands continue to move up my dress and he starts biting and sucking on my neck, leaving marks. The length of his desire pressing into my thigh. I feel a rough tug on my hips and hear another rip when the realization dawns on me that he just ripped my underwear of
Elena POVThe sound of beeping makes me stir, pulling me from consciousness. I open my eyes and sink further into my pillow, the bright lights causing me to blink rapidly. I try to cover my eyes with my hands but stop when I notice all the tubes preventing me from doing so.My room is huge and there's a window spanning the length of the wall to my right. I have the idea to get up and try to make sense of my surroundings when a low growl breaks through my reverie making the windows vibrate.I freeze, covers half thrown back and look into the corner of my room where the sound came from. I can't tell what the man looks like since he is hidden in shadow, all I can see are his long legs peeking out but I'm hit with a strong desire to know what he looks like."I wouldn't do that if I were you, you're still hurt," his voice comes from the darkness sounding like sin. It's low and screams danger, but all I want to do is get closer. I need
ELENA POV I jerk out of bed to the sound of my alarm clock blaring and the sun shining brightly in my face. There are a few more minutes left before I really, really have to get up so I decide to lay back and stare up at the ceiling for a bit trying to compose my thoughts and take a few moments, just for myself before the day starts. It feels like any other day, normal and unassuming, but it isn't any other day. Not "just another week." This is the last week of my high school career and tomorrow I'll be turning 18. Not to mention that after graduation all the she-wolves would be undergoing "the reaping." It sounds worse than it actually is. You can thank centuries-old werewolves for naming a mating ritual something that sounds like it should be run from... at high speed. Every year one pack is picked to host the ball and packs from all over the country send their unmated she-wolves and males. This year my pack- the Silver Moon pack wou
ELENA POVAlpha Caleb.As I stare at him, my face flushed, I see nothing but contempt flash in his eyes. Shaking my head to clear the fog, I'm instantly nauseous at my reaction.Of course he's absolutely gorgeous as most alpha's are with his dark blonde hair, green eyes, muscular build, and serious height; but he's also arrogant, rude, and a complete bully. I have no respect for someone who is supposed to be a leader preying on those that are weaker than him.Instead of backing away, he shoves me off of him and sticks his foot out causing me to faceplant like a starfish in the hallway, while my books go flying across the floor. Rather than give him the satisfaction of getting mad or reacting, I choose to ignore him. But when I try to stand Alpha Caleb's girlfriend, Stephanie comes around the corner in time to kick my hands out from underneath me causing me to face plant again and laughs.Ugh. That high pitched nasal laugh ma
Elena POVThe sound of beeping makes me stir, pulling me from consciousness. I open my eyes and sink further into my pillow, the bright lights causing me to blink rapidly. I try to cover my eyes with my hands but stop when I notice all the tubes preventing me from doing so.My room is huge and there's a window spanning the length of the wall to my right. I have the idea to get up and try to make sense of my surroundings when a low growl breaks through my reverie making the windows vibrate.I freeze, covers half thrown back and look into the corner of my room where the sound came from. I can't tell what the man looks like since he is hidden in shadow, all I can see are his long legs peeking out but I'm hit with a strong desire to know what he looks like."I wouldn't do that if I were you, you're still hurt," his voice comes from the darkness sounding like sin. It's low and screams danger, but all I want to do is get closer. I need
Elena POV I try to yell as I see him lunge, but he covers my mouth with his hand. I bite down hard and flinch when the coppery taste of blood coats my tongue. He grunts in pain, "You bitch!" he screams. I continue to kick and fight hoping someone will hear me but his fist connects with my face and my vision goes a little fuzzy. He hits me two more times, effectively silencing me. I'm trying not to let the darkness pull me under. Trying not to slip from consciousness or stop fighting this monster off of me. As I feel his hand start sliding up the slit in my skirt, bile rises in the back of my throat and I can't stop the terror from sliding over my skin. I hear a rip as his hands continue to move up my dress and he starts biting and sucking on my neck, leaving marks. The length of his desire pressing into my thigh. I feel a rough tug on my hips and hear another rip when the realization dawns on me that he just ripped my underwear of
Elena POVI try to take a steadying breath but I can't seem to get my lungs to work. This whole time we continue to stare at eachother through the mirror. When he reaches behind himself to lock the door, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.He growls loud enough to make the stall doors shake, breaking me from my shock and causing me to take a step back, pressing my back into the counter and clutching onto the edge to try and keep myself upright.He takes slow steps towards me, stalking me like prey and reaches out to slowly curl his fingers around my throat, cutting off my air supply. Sparks shoot down my neck where his skin touches mine and my breathing grows shallow. He starts to squeeze tighter before suddenly shoving me against the mirror on the other side of the room, shattering the glass.I crumple to the floor, unable to stand at the sudden movement. My hand flying to my face when I feel a dripping sensation. I look back at
Elena POV As we pull up to the venue, I'm overwhelmed with how many people are here. Most of those in attendance are alphas and their betas or families. Usually when a new alpha is initiated, many alphas will come from all over the country to show their support and sign treaties or trade agreements. Once the ceremony is done, all the alphas will meet over the period of a week to discuss the terms of the agreements, peace treaties, and other contracts. It also gives them a reason to have more parties- the more extravagant the better since it shows other packs how well an alpha can provide for their own people. Alpha Caleb has earned a bit of a reputation for being arrogant and prideful. He isn't considerate of other packs and he is only interested in taking for himself. There are rumors that a lot of the alphas are hesitant to sign a treaty or trade agreement with him. I do feel bad for the pack since a lot of their businesses
Elena POVAfter hours of being shaved, plucked, waxed, pinned, and tucked, hair, and make-up finished, I am finally done. As I look in the mirror, I feel overwhelmed by the person looking back at me yet again. My eyes seem to glow more brown than green under the smokey eyeshadow. My lips are painted with a deeper pink that accentuates my eye shadow and golden skin. My hair is smooth and curled, falling in soft waves down my back. I think my favorite part though is my dress. It's a deep purple color and is made from velvet which pools around my feet like a liquid lake of the purest amethyst with a slit on both sides running up to my hips. When I walk it waterfalls around me in the most beautiful rhythm. It also has a halter neckline which has a cuff around my neck and drops into a low back that rests right above my low back. It hugs my body perfectly and accentuates all my curves."You look like an amazon," Quinn says from behind me.She
Elena POVThe rest of the week passes by in a blur and luckily with alpha ceremony preperations, I don't see much of Alpha Caleb and his band of brats. I giggle to myself at the nickname.I wake up the morning of the alpha ceremony with a splitting headache. I struggle out of bed, my eyes watering from the sunlight pouring through the windows and try to make my way to the kitchen so I can grab some tylenol for my headache. After taking two pills, I go to lay down on the couch until my headache starts to subside and I feel like I can actually function again.The house is empty as usual, and I am going back into the kitchen to make myself some coffee when I hear a knock at the door. Once open, I see Quinn standing there with Starbucks and a huge smile splitting her face with what looks like an army of people behind her. It gives the whole, 'I'll have my people call your people' kind of vibe."Quinn, you do realise the ceremony isn'
Elena POV By the time I make it out of the doors of the high school, I see Quinn waiting for me in her car with the windows rolled down singing loudly and very off key to some song by Billie Eilish, which makes me laugh. I slide into the seat of her BMW, thankful that Caleb and his posse weren't in their usual spot outside. "You ready to shop until your feet fall off?" Quinn says raising her eyebrows. I groan, "I thought we were just going to pick out a dress and then come back home? I have an essay I have to submit for one of my scholarship applications and I want to get started on it as soon as possible," I say hoping she lets me off the hook. "Come on, young grasshopper," she responds, "let me teach you my ways! Or at least let me dress you up like my own personal barbie doll. I have been dreaming of the moment you would finally let me do this!" What a weirdo, I think to myself as a smile splits across my face. "Fine,"
Elena POV I gather what is left of my books and make my way to class. When I get inside, I slam my books on my desk, sit down with my head in my hands, and let out a hough of air. "Woah, what happened to you?" a voice says as I lift my head up. I look up to see my best friend Quinn staring at me with worry. We've been friends since the 1st grade when our current alpha, Alpha Jaxon, adopted her... which makes her Caleb's sister. Despite how close we are though, Quinn and I are total opposites. She's a girly-girl, who loves to shop, dress up, paint her nails, isn't the least bit interested in school, and has been dreaming of her mate since she even knew what dreaming was. Where I like to dress more casual, read books, spend all my free time studying, and have been dreaming about tasting the freedom of running in my wolf form more than meeting a mate. "Nothing I can't handle," I say back to her, not wanting to relive the horror
ELENA POVAlpha Caleb.As I stare at him, my face flushed, I see nothing but contempt flash in his eyes. Shaking my head to clear the fog, I'm instantly nauseous at my reaction.Of course he's absolutely gorgeous as most alpha's are with his dark blonde hair, green eyes, muscular build, and serious height; but he's also arrogant, rude, and a complete bully. I have no respect for someone who is supposed to be a leader preying on those that are weaker than him.Instead of backing away, he shoves me off of him and sticks his foot out causing me to faceplant like a starfish in the hallway, while my books go flying across the floor. Rather than give him the satisfaction of getting mad or reacting, I choose to ignore him. But when I try to stand Alpha Caleb's girlfriend, Stephanie comes around the corner in time to kick my hands out from underneath me causing me to face plant again and laughs.Ugh. That high pitched nasal laugh ma