CHAPTER 1

CLAIRE FISCHER

“HE WAS SUCH a good man.”

I scoffed inwardly as the smallish man draped in a black cape shuffled past me. Everyone becomes a friend at funerals, even people who had been vehemently against the person when he had been alive.

I looked around and saw many of those types of people. Dressed immaculately in black suits and dressed with black sunshades to match. Some were even graceful enough to drop a tear or two for my father.

I sighed and wrapped the black shawl tighter around my shoulders as I moved forward. I stood over the grave, taking care not to rustle the long root of dew vine that circles the dug-out hole. “Goodbye, Dad,” I muttered under my breath. I scooped up a bit of sand and tossed it in. I felt a fat, lonely tear run down my cheeks, but I smashed it away. He would now have wanted me to be sad and cry. My father, Alpha Bronn Fischer of the Moonshadow pack, was easily the best person in the pack and definitely the best person I knew. He loved me even with my “disability.”

I sighed, feeling a chill breeze wash over me. I rubbed my arms. I could really do with some emotional support now. I looked around, expecting to see my fiancé, Logan’s handsome face pop out from the crowd and smile at me. But Logan was nowhere to be found. Even my mother was nowhere around, too.

Was that normal? I wondered. She was supposed to be here to give a final farewell to her husband.

The men at the head of the grave were looking at me expectantly. I was the highest in command now, and seeing as my father did not have any other children, I was the first choice to be the next alpha. That is if my disability is not used against me. I have managed to keep it a secret from most of the pack for 20 years.

I looked at the men again and nodded curtly. “Cover it up,” I said in what I hoped was a strong voice. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat before I continued, “We will do the last rites when the moon comes up.”

They nodded in response and immediately got to work as everyone else dispersed in preparation for tonight. I tried to avoid any contact with anybody, but I couldn’t escape the small man who blocked my way.

I bowed respectfully. “Alpha Olsson,” I said. “I appreciate your presence.”

He stroked his beard and nodded, “He was such a good man.” He said, repeating the sentence he had said earlier before. “One of the best men I knew and one of my best friends.”

While I could agree with the first part of his sentence, I was tempted to remind this man what he had been at odds with against my father, especially at the Alpha’s council meetings. And it was not a friendly banter. I nodded dutifully in respect as I tried to hide the scorn from my facial expression.

“It is a pity, though,” he said in a low voice.

I frowned. “What is a pity?”

“You know… the situation that the pack is in right now.” His voice was in a conspiratorial whisper.

I was getting more confused by the second. What on earth was this wily old man talking about?

“The situation concerning who is going to be the next alpha to the pack,” He said. “Your father does not have any male children… none that we know of anyway.” He chuckled.

I frowned. “That is not going to be a problem,” I said. “I am going to be -”

He scoffed, cutting me off effectively. “A girl can’t be the alpha.” He muttered. “Not unless she gets married to an alpha and merges the packs in unity.” He reached out and stroked my hand, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Eww! I snatched my hand away and pinned him with a hard glare. “Alpha Olsson,” I said through clenched teeth. “I suggest you keep your hands to yourself and focus more on your pack. Leave the issues of the Moonshadow pack for us to handle.”

There was a flash of anger in his eyes but he did not say anything. “You do not have many options like this… with your… disability.” He snarled.

I kept my face straight, trying to hide my shock. It was supposed to be a secret. “You don’t have to wait for the final rites, Alpha Olsson.” I said in a firm voice. It was a not-so-subtle way of telling him to leave.

He glared at me for some seconds, then he stormed away. I watched him go before I released a heavy breath of relief.

Such nonsense! I scoffed. Even though Alpha Olsson was right. I could not be alpha on my own, but for him to suggest I marry him? That was just ridiculous. He was almost my father's age, he has a mate and I have a fiancé… a fiancé whom I am still yet to see today.

My frown deepened as I continued my search for Logan. I got to the pack house, maybe he was there, waiting for me.

But as I entered, I instantly regretted my decision because I saw the last person I wanted to see. My mother.

She looked up from the cup of coffee she was making. Her eyes shone with pure hatred and malice. Sometimes I even wondered if she was my real mother, but she is.

“Hello, Mother,” I said to her as I walked by.

She took a sip from the cup, ignoring me.

“You did not come to the funeral,” I said, trying to make a conversation. “Dad would have wanted you to be there.”

“Well, your father is not here anymore, is he?” she asked. “And he went with all the privileges you enjoyed too. Now, you will be in your rightful place.”

“My rightful place is here, in the pack house, as the female alpha.” My voice was shaky as I said it.

She cackled. “That is a nice dream. I suggest you wake up!” she placed the cup on the kitchen counter and leaned forward. “A werewolf without a wolf spirit is nothing and doesn’t belong here!”

There it was. My disability. She enjoyed rubbing it in my face, and I always had a hard time pretending it didn’t hurt.

“Logan, your fiancé, will be the alpha. You will have no business doing that because you are so useless-”

 Unable to take it anymore, I rushed out the door. I could feel tears brimming up my eyes as I made my way into the woods behind the pack house. I did not want anyone to see me like this. I crashed into a log and sat down, wiping the pent-up tears from my eyes. I sniffled to calm myself, but then I heard some strange noises.

I stood up, immediately on alert. I whipped out the small knife that my father had given me for my 18th birthday when I didn’t shift. I was trained in self-defense. I carefully approached the direction where the sound was coming from, until I came upon a small hidden cabin.

I kicked the door open and saw my fiancé, Logan, the one I had given my heart, pounding fast and hard into my best friend, Fiona, who was gripping him tightly and urging him to go even faster.

I felt my legs buckle beneath me and a wave of nausea washed up my throat. I gagged and rushed out of the cabin. They were so caught up in their sexual ecstasy that they did not even notice me until I left.