Chapter One

I gazed into the cracked mirror, pursing my lips. It didn't matter that it was cracked right down the middle. There wasn't much to look at anyway. I wasn't ugly just plain. Plain, unnoticed and unwanted.

"Runt," the Luna's piercing shriek split the crisp morning air. "Runt," she screeched louder.

Runt. I wasn't worthy of a name. 

I yanked my limp, mousy hair into a messy top knot and dragged my aching body from the floor. 

The future Alpha turns 18 in three days. The celebration started two days ago and I was the one who had to do all the cooking and cleaning and decorating. I attended to the pack's every need. It's how I earned my keep. I guess I should be grateful. Some rogue and lost wolves are abused or killed by the pack who finds them. I'm ignored when I'm not needed. Unless they want something I don't exist. 

"RUNT," the Luna barked.

"Coming, Mistress," I squeaked rushing across the hall towards the shrill shrieks of the pack's Luna. 

My toe caught on the door frame as I rushed into her room sending me crashing to the floor. I landed hard on my knees. Luna Lucy growled her displeasure at my clumsiness. 

"Yes, Mistress?" I said pulling myself to my feet. Blood seeped through my worn jeans. I ignored the nagging stinging in my poor knees, keeping my gaze lowered. Only Betas and Gammas are allowed to look the Luna and Alpha in the eye. I'm not even an Omega. I'm nothing. Unworthy of a place in the pack. 

"I will take my breakfast in bed this morning."

"Yes, Mistress." 

"The Alpha and my son are out hunting You will leave their breakfast in the dining room ready for their return."

"Yes, Mistress." 

"The other packs arrive today. Once you've seen to your usual duties you will assist the Omegas in preparing tonight's feast." 

"Yes, Mistress." 

"The Omegas will be let off their duties tonight. You will be serving drinks at the feast and making sure everyone has a good time. The Alpha and I think it's only fair the Omegas celebrate the coming of age of their future Alpha." 

"Yes, Mistress." 

"And Runt?"

"Yes, Mistress?" 

"Find something clean to wear." 

The words came as a snarl. I would bet my last dollar, if I had a dollar, if I peeked up her cute little button nose would be curled in disgust.

"Yes, Mistress." 

"Leave." 

I shuffled backwards, waving my hands behind me so I didn't hit the door frame again. You don't turn your back on your superior. Don't look at their face, don't turn your back and always show respect. Anything else is considered a challenge and the punishment for challenging an Alpha or a Luna is death. 

I used to dream about challenging them. About ending the dull monotony of my life. If it was a quick painless death I would have followed through but it wasn't. A challenger is taken to the woods and hunted by the challenged. When they're caught a bloody fight to the death ensues. The challenger is shredded alive. Claws tear at their skin, ripping it off in ribbons. Fangs sink deep into their flesh. 

If the challenger wins they take the place of Alpha or Luna. But that's never happened. Luna Lucy told me as a pup when I growled at Aaron the future Alpha while we were playing. No challenger has ever succeeded. They all died a gruesome and bloody death and then their pups were slaughtered and their wife demoted to Omega, if she was lucky. I was put to work that day. I don't know how old I was but I remember I couldn't reach the kitchen counters without a stool. 

My chores were the same day after day, week after week, month after month. Every morning I prepared breakfast for the Alpha and his family, checked the bathrooms were fully stocked, opened the blinds and windows, made the beds and swept the floors. 

Every other day I did laundry. Once a week I changed the bedding and tended to the garden and once a month I deep cleaned the kitchen and bathrooms. 

Today was an easy day. Normally I liked these days. My chores were always done by lunchtime. The Alpha and the Luna were usually out so I got to go the woods. I'd sit at the top of the cliff overlooking the clearing our pack lived in. 

The rest of the pack refused to stray that far into the woods. Rumours of a rouge Alpha slaying entire packs had plagued the forest packs for years. Most people believed the rouge lived wild and free in the forest killing anything and anyone who crossed his path. They blamed the rogue for the slaying of the White Wolf pack, the last direct descendants of the moon goddess herself.

I didn't believe the rumours. If the rogue Alpha really did slay the White Wolves he had to be ancient by now. Those wolves were wiped out 18 years ago. Besides, White Wolves were the most powerful of all the wolves. No lone rouge was capable of wiping out the entire pack. All except one. Princess Serena, the great, great, great, great-granddaughter of the moon goddess herself. Destined to become Queen of the Wolves, Luna to all, the most powerful wolf living, they never found her body. Some believe the rogue kidnapped her, forcing her to live as his Luna, others think he ate her in a vain attempt to consume her powers and take them as his own. Whatever he did, he didn't do it alone that's for sure and if he did exist, I'd never seen him in the forest.

I sighed, placing the broom back into the utility room, which also served as my bedroom. No peace for me today. I have a feast to prepare.