“I’m Alexa.”

I stare at the unfamiliar face staring back at me in the reflection of the mirror. The girl that stares back has her face covered in a thick layer of bandages but the indigo eyes are bright and clear enough. Those indigo eyes should feel familiar to me but where there was warmth in them once, there is now mischief and trickery that hides a deep layer of anger and pain. I don’t recognize this face now and I won’t recognize it either when the bandages come off.

“How you feeling now?” I turn to Sue, “I’m okay I guess. When do the bandages come off?” “Four weeks.” I nod. When Sue doesn’t say anything, I turn back to find her still staring at me. “What?” “You are the only person I know who would change their face and return to their pack to take revenge. It is all so extreme.” Two months ago when I realized that I was betrayed by my pack, I decided to take revenge on them, fueled by an anger I’ve never felt before. The plans had started to form then but Sue raised an issue I hadn’t even thought about. How do I take revenge on the pack when I couldn’t even get close to them? Almost two weeks after she asked that question, I came up with a solution that made me realize I would do anything to get my revenge.

“It’s the only way Sue. Besides, I don’t feel like my old self anymore so it’s only fitting I get a new identity.” Sue nods like she understands but I’m not really sure she does. It occurred to me that this mysterious woman who saved me all those months ago, nursed me back to health and helped me plan my revenge had become my saving grace and I didn’t know why. “Why are you helping me Sue?” Sue stares out the window. “Let’s just say I know how it feels to be betrayed by the people who you trusted the most.” “Sue…what happened?” She smiles sadly and shakes her head. I don’t ask anymore.

The four weeks pass by fast for me and soon enough I am ready to begin the path of revenge. I’ve gone through a lot to be able to have plastic surgery to change my appearance. I had to wait till I was healthy enough for surgery and then I had to take herbs that weakened Ida and slowed my healing abilities enough for me to be able to be operated on. Finally, it was time, the time I had waited so patiently for. “I’m ready to go Sue.” “Wait! Wear this.” She hands me a white bracelet. “What’s this?” “Did you forget? It’s not enough that you change how you look, pack members typically remember the scent of other pack members. This will make your scent unfamiliar and also made Ida unrecognizable to them.” She waits till I put it on then continues, “Remember, the path of vengeance is a long and dangerous one, you may get your revenge but you may also lose yourself. Be careful.” I nod. “What will you be called now?” I smile. “I’m Alexa.”

I was almost at the pack when I spotted the cave where I last saw the green eyed masked man. I stopped as I thought about him. Where was he now? Did he survive that night? “You can’t think about that now. If we are to get out revenge we have to leave Genevieve in the past.” Ida was right, I didn’t have time for distractions. Without another look, I continued to the pack settlement. I had sent a letter to a family in the pack to foster me and they had agreed so I was going to be staying with them.

When I arrived at the pack, I thought was going to be hit by nostalgia but I felt nothing. The pack itself hadn’t changed much in two years but I felt no connection to the pack anymore, all that remained was bad memories, anger and pain.

“Alexa! Is that you?” A woman approaches me with a huge smile on her face. “I’m Martha, you’ll be staying with us.” “Hello.” “This is my daughter Hope.” I say hello to her. She looks my age. “It feels so good to get a foster sister. Come on, we need to get ready. Alpha Derek has an announcement to make so we need to be in the hall soon.”

I’ve been exploring the pack for the last thirty minutes and realized that nothing has changed in the last two years. The buildings are still the same and from the familiar faces I’ve seen, the people are still the same. The only thing that was different was the house my parents and I lived in. it looked abandoned and the walls were covered in different curse words and offensive words. A large poster with my face –Genevieve’s face on it saying wanted was placed on the door to the house. It was the only thing not vandalized in the house.

“Who are you?” I freeze at the sound of Derek’s voice. I turn and come face to face with his ice blue eyes. I ball my fists and Ida growls, then my face breaks out in a huge smile. “I’m Alexa, I live with the Whyte’s.” those cold blue eyes study my face but my smile does not shake. “Their new foster.” He says finally. “Yes.” “You should stay away from here.” Then he walks away.

As I watch his retreating back, I’m tempted to stab him with the tiny silver dagger Sue gave me. “No, that will be too merciful, he deserves a long, painful suffering.” “You’re right Ida.” My attention returns to the house. The urge to enter the house is overwhelming so I take a step into the house and past the rusty gates. I take another, and another but collide with someone coming out of the house. I’m about to fall when strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me flush against a hard body. “Are you okay?” I’m about to answer when I look up and my eyes collide with a pair of emerald green eyes. “Genevieve?” he asks.