Chapter one- The New Girl All Alone

Every year since I was a baby, we have been moving from pack to pack. Sometimes we would stay for only a few months but never more than a year because our lives were in danger.

My kind was being hunted down for being   different. I'm a werewolf, yes. My father, my mother and I have the ability to shift in to wolves but there's something else. We are the healer pack. In our pack, every wolf was born with special powers to heal and once the pup turns 13 and shifts for the first time, they are sent for training until they reach the age of 16 before being placed in a new pack to be a healer.

Now, my pack was attacked. By who? We don't know yet but the aim was to kill us all. My father, the alpha, tried to get as many healers as possible but many lives were lost. The thing is, we can use our powers to do harm but my father, the alpha is against it. So instead, the warriors trained to guard us tried to fend off as many attackers as possible while we all ran. 

Yes, werewolves cowardly ran away from a fight.

The healers and children that were saved were placed in different packs, that's why we had to move every year. Placing one healer, making sure they are settled and moving on. Some packs got two healers in the form of an adult and a child but now it was just my parents and I, traveling from pack to pack.

I would turn 18 this year, which means we will have to travel again, to quickly find my mate if he is not in this pack so I can settle down and be safe. Even though that's a priority, the main priority right now is my very pregnant mother, who wants me to be her healer and help her deliver this baby.

I've been trained since I could speak so healing is not a new thing for me. The pressure of being an alpha healers daughter, the first born and at a time, the only child, was put on me from a young age and even though I was good, I was scared to be the only healer that would bring forth another life, my sibling.

Fast forward to today, where I start at a new school. Same as every year, I'm the new girl. I haven't been able to make lasting friendships because of the moving around the country and like most teenagers, I haven't had the typical teen fun and mischief. I've always had to be responsible, alert at all times and ready to leave a pack at any moments notice. 

Yes, I am always packed and ready to be on the run again because my alpha blood is still being hunted for whatever reason. 

"Hey kiddo, thanks for breakfast. I'm off to work now so I hope you have a great first day. I'll talk to you when I get home tomorrow morning." My dad says through the door as I'm getting dressed.

"Bye dad!" I say as I hear footsteps walking away from my door.

Now that we are in a pack that is not ours, my dad was hired as an ER doctor that has crazy hours and my mother will be practicing traditional medicine here at home for anyone that wants to go the old school way.

My father was born from the alpha of our old pack so he had lost a great deal during the attack. His home, where he grew up and all that he has ever known. He lost brother's, friends and pack members that he grew up with. My mother was born from another pack.

Her mother was the mistress of the alpha there. Healers are known to give an amazing sexual experience and like my grandfather, other alphas also used healers for sexual pleasure and when they were too tired to   have sex, healers could practice what they were in the pack to do. 

It was always safer for a healer to mate with a healer, because if the other is not a healer then they're bound to be addicted which could kill them. The alpha from my mother's pack used my grandmother until she fell pregnant and because he could not hide it, he had to tell his luna, who was luckily understanding and raised my mother as her own. My grandmother unfortunately did not survive childbirth and my grandfather blamed himself for a very long time because if it wasn't for his insatiable need to fuck her all the time, she wouldn't have had an early labor which required my grandmother to choose to save the baby instead of herself during the birthing process.

As soon as my mother's brother was old enough to take over as alpha, my grandfather disappeared. Overtaken by depression and the loss of his only drug. This broke his mate who later died from loss of contact, distance from her mate. My mother's siblings banished my mother from the pack, blaming her for the loss of their parents and lucky for my mom, she met my dad, who took her in immediately.

My father was not alpha yet but because my mother was her mate and also a healer, she quickly found a home in the pack and they grew up together. Eventually my grandfather returned to his pack and had his children make peace, which is what happened but as soon as he died, they went back to hating my mother. I don't blame them really for trying to find someone to blame for the loss of their mother but my mother is an innocent victim. They were just too scared of their father to blame him for the mess he made.

Anyway, even though my mother was banished, she was warmly welcomed in to the healer pack and well taken cared of. For being my father's mate, she had a good life up until the attack.

The attack happened after my first shift, which had me thinking that the attack has got something to do with me and my abilities. I can heal without losing my wolf strength because my wolf is her own entity and I am me but we work better together. When I heal, I drain my human body and then Xena, my wolf replenishes my body with the desired amount I need to go on with my life until my body heals. 

I walk out of my room to the kitchen, hoping to catch my mother before she goes for her morning walk.

"Good morning mother!" I happily say at the sight of my mother and her huge belly. I kiss her forehead before pouring myself a cup of coffee.

"Hello pumpkin. How was training?" She asks and I smile back at her.

"It's always amazing. I can't believe I get to be trained by a fully grown wolf inside me." I say and my mother chuckles.

"Well, animals grow faster. Thanks for breakfast once again." Mom says as I gulp down all my coffee.

"Well, I love taking care of you and dad, it's the least I can do. Especially right now with my brother on the way and dad working the craziest hours, only I have the energy to do it and again, I enjoy it so quit feeling guilty." I say before grabbing my keys then rubbing my mother's belly.

"I'll see you later, wish me luck!" I say before running out to my car to avoid another talk from my mom about how I'm the child and they are the parents.

The drive to the new school was short but it was the driving in to school grounds that made me feel alone. Kids hugging each other after not seeing each other for so long, kids laughing as they share tales and couples walking together. Seeing them all together, in their little cliques or mini packs made this newbie thing that much harder because I have to infiltrate all of that. I have to talk about my past once again to get people to know me and everyone is always fascinated by a healer.

By the end of the day, I'll be known by everyone and that's worse because I'll only know by the end of the day if it's a bad or good thing. Will the boys want me for my looks? My body or because I'm a healer? Will the girls hate me because of the attention I'll get from the boys?

I will only know later. 

Healers are extremely beautiful creatures because everyone likes to look at a beautiful specimen to feel at ease or whatever. Healers can also be known as sorcerers. We prefer the term healers because we use our powers to heal ailments and to bring peace in the pack upon the alphas order.

Our kind only came about when witches and werewolves went to war. The wolves won of course, but one wolf saved a little girl and couldn't find it in him to kill her. He took her in as his own, with his son who was the same age. The two kids grew up to fall in love and create a new hybrid species that everyone now knows as the healers.

Our looks can be used to deceive, lure men and women in to whatever. Looks make it easy to lure men in to mating and naming them addicted. That is why mating with a healer can be addictive for a non healer. 

I walk to the office, looking to get my schedule for the year and to sign up for whatever extra curriculars they have. A very short, round faced woman was sitting at reception and smiled at me as I walked in.

"You must be Jeannie Weston? Here is your schedule and since you ran track and played volleyball, I signed you up for those. You will see them on your schedule. You will also be joining the math club since your grades were so good, here's hoping they stay that way. Welcome to Red Eagle High School, enjoy your day and the rest of the year." She says and gets back to her computer, not sparing me another glance so I take that as my cue to leave.

My schedule says we have assembly today so I try to find my way around until I see a beautiful girl waiting in the middle of the senior hallway looking at me.

"I'm Sue. As part of my detention I was tasked in showing you, a nobody around for a week but I'll only be doing it for a day. We have similar classes and activities except for math club because that's just overly geeky and I need a social life. You can follow me to every class and volleyball practice but I don't want you anywhere near me on lunch break okay? I am popular and I will not be seen with a nobody like you. Also because you're so pretty, we can't be seen together. Can't have you taking the spotlight from me so walk behind me everytime and don't talk to me, if you have any questions, well write them down and ask a teacher. At assembly, sit far from me." She says as she quickly walks to the assembly hall in high heels and I try to keep up in my sneakers.

We walk in to the hall and Sue leaves me without looking back to go sit with her friends. I stay back, waiting for all the kids to pick their seats before I find mine, which is next to a very tall, brown haired guy. 

"Hi, sorry, is someone sitting here?" I ask and he shakes his head no with a smile and I smile back at him before sitting down.

"Off newbie, this is my chair." Another tall guy says to me seconds after I sit down. He had blonde hair and very long hair, it looked so soft.

"Oh be a gentleman for once Wesley. I'm sure you can find another seat right?" The first guy says and Wesley quickly nods his head.

"Yes Damian." Wesley responds and leaves us alone to go find another chair to sit on.  Damian is the alpha's son and fuck.

"Oh no! I'm so sorry, I had no idea. Your friend can come back, I'll find somewhere else to sit." I say with eyes bulged out like a deer caught in headlights.

"Don't sweat it. I don't mind it and how could you have known? Sue left you all by yourself." Damian says to me and I smile sheepishly at him.

Assembly takes about an hour with the headmaster making announcements. I was so focused on what was happening in front of me that I didn't see Damian leave the assembly and see  Wesley take his place.

"Hello newbie.. like taking what's not yours?" Wesley asks and I roll my eyes at him.

"Hmm you are lucky you are beautiful. I have a weakness for pretty girls and you are by far the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life and trust me, I get around." Wesley says as he smirks at me.

"And that is supposed to impress me?" I ask making him chuckle.

"I have my looks for that. The getting around part is for my enjoyment. I always get my way." He says to me as students start to walk out, a sign that assembly was over.

"Won't work this time sailor." I say before getting up and walking out of the hall. Wesley runs after me laughing.

"I like it when girls play hard to get. I love a good challenge newbie." He says and this time, I chuckle.

"Oh Wesley.. this is no challenge. It's a no for today, tomorrow and for however long you plan on pursuing me." I say. I follow Sue but maintain a distance from her, as her friends steal looks at me with Wesley. 

"Oof that hurts newbie but I don't give up and as much as I'd like to keep flirting, AP Physics is not where I go. See you later beautiful.

Wesley walks away from me as I enter the class to lock eyes with Damian. His eyes go from red for a split second and changing back but I don't miss it. A gasp escapes my mouth as I freeze in place, not understanding what I did to anger his wolf.

"Settle down everyone. We have a new student in class so take your seats and let her introduce herself to the class. Jeannie, I'm Mr. Smith, please tell us about yourself." The teacher says to me.

Every year, I'm asked to introduce myself. I don't get nervous anymore, just annoyed that I have to do this at every school, every damn year.

"Hello everyone. My name is Jeannie Grace Weston and I'm 17 years old. I'm from New Dawn and I am a healer. I run track and enjoy playing volleyball. Any questions?" I say looking around the classroom making sure to make eye contact with every student.

"Why'd you leave New Dawn? Were you banished?" Sue asks and I chuckle.

"Do I smell like a rogue?" I ask and she shakes her head no.

"You're 17." Damian says and I nod my head yes.

"Why aren't you stationed yet? Don't healers move to a new pack at the age of 16?" He asks me.

Damian was so handsome right now, all I want to do is walk up to him and kiss him. 

Whoa. 

"With most healers on the run, I figured I'd live my life instead of giving it away to a pack only to die. I will go to college and travel the world instead of giving my life only for it to be cut short." I say. Damian nods his head in understanding.

"You do know that it is not up to you?" Mr. Smith asks and I turn to face him.

"It is up to me. Packs have hospitals now and are practicing human sciences. They call our traditional medicine that has worked for centuries, old school and outdated. Why should I stay only to be an alpha's concubine? You all forget that healers are stronger but we practice peace." I say and Mr. Smith nods his head with his hands up in the air.

"Thank you for the introduction Jeannie. You may sit." He says and I do, followed by a long 45minute lecture.

I had to introduce myself in every class, in front of all the learners and Damian was in every class, watching me closely. When lunch time arrived, I was drained from having to answer questions about myself and my capabilities.

Sue walks up to me as I'm packing my books.

"Look, Wesley is off limits and don't forget to stay away from me. I want you far away from me, okay?" Sue tells me and I smirk.

"If you left me alone, I wouldn't be anywhere near you and I don't want Wesley. You can have him, I'll never want him." I say to Sue before walking away from her. I make it to the cafeteria where I find a vacant table to sit by myself but the glory is shortlived as Wesley finds his way to me. 

"Ahh newbie. Haven't made any friends yet?" Wesley asks me and I take that as my cue to walk out of the cafeteria and to the library for some peace and quiet, which I get.

I find a corner, select a playlist on my phone and plug in my headsets. I spend my lunch break listening to music with my eyes closed but after some time I feel eyes on me which starts to make me feel a little uncomfortable.

Upon opening my eyes, I come face to face with Damian, who was standing so close to me, I can't believe I didn't feel him breathing on me. His scent hits my nostrils and I find myself liking it, not too manly but musky enough to get the ladies going.

His eyes turn red again before he stands up straight and rushes out of the library without a single word to me. My mouth hangs open, shocked at what just happened and confused about his closeness.

"It seems our future alpha has found his mate." The old librarian says to me.

"What? I'm not 18 yet." I say and she chuckles at me.

"Well he is and he clearly wasn't planning on meeting you so soon. It's a shame really, with his wolf wanting to claim you and his human side having big dreams to leave the pack to go to college before he has to be alpha." The lady tells me and I remain silent.

"Go on now. The bell is about to go off and I have freshmen coming in." She tells me and I leave the library.

As I walk to the ladies, earphones still playing music, I feel a hand that pulls me in to the boys bathroom.

A hand goes over my mouth and I lock eyes with Damian.

"You are so beautiful. So so beautiful." Damian says before removing his hand over my lips.

"I'm sorry but I have to do this." He says and my eyes bulge out as he crashes his lips on mine, my body melting in to his as I return the kiss. Not knowing what has gotten in to me and I don't question it in time before he pulls away.

"I Damian Rivers, of the Red Eagle Pack, reject you, Jeannie Grace Weston as my mate and luna. I'm sorry." He says as my eyes fill up with tears and he kisses my forehead before walking out. Walking out on me.

I was supposed to be the new girl today. Not the rejected new girl. As the tears fall on my face, my legs give out and I'm on the floor of the boys bathroom crying. My heart hurting so bad, I don't even know this Damian but I was hurting. 

Had he asked me, I would've waited for him. Heck, I wanted to go to college and not live the typical pack life but here I was, rejected and all he knew about me was my full name and that I'm a healer.

I feel my heartache even more as Xena howls inside me, desperate to go out for a run but I can't let her. Who knows what she will do, who knows what we will do?

I get on my feet and run out of the bathroom, racing to my car trying get as far away from this school as I can. I jump in to my car and race home, not a care in the world about school right now and if my mom asks me, I'll be honest. She will understand, my parents will understand why I can never go back to that school, I can't face Damian ever again.

I get home to find our house in flames. I rush out of my car, keys still in the ignition and I run towards the house. I find my dad on the ground without a pulse and I start to cry only to be interrupted by a deafening scream inside the house which has me on my feet running in to the house, following the sound.

My mom was on the ground holding her tummy as she bled out. When we lock eyes she gestures for me to come closer as Xena leaves my body to look around the house or nearby for anyone that was responsible for this and I let her.

"You have to get....argghhhhhh" My mom screams out in pain. I try to hold her hand to take the pain away but she pulls away from me.

"Xena is gone and you need to use your abilities to take your brother out. I'm dying, there's no saving me Jeannie. Save your brother and give him a chance at life because he will die inside me." Mom says to me and I shake my head no.

I can't lose my mother too. Not my mother.

My mother grabs both my hands and places them on her belly. I feel movement as she nods her head at me. I really look at her, at what happened to her and I see the amount of blood she has lost. If she's bleeding this much externally, goddess knows how badly she's bleeding inside of her. Mom was right, I have to save the baby.

"I can take the pain if it means you save your brother." Mom assures me and I nod my head before running to the kitchen to get a knife and vodka. I rush back to my mom, who was slowly losing consciousness.

I sterilize the knife before slicing her open as she screams in pain. I scream too just hearing her screams of agony but I don't stop. I continue with my one job at saving my brother. I gently remove him from my mother's belly, using my powers to help him breath as mom and I wait for him to come to.

Seconds pass before we both hear his cries and I let out a breath of relief as I cover him in towels. I hand him over to my mother as she holds him with the last bit of energy she has left and I take in the blood all over this room. I could hear people outside but I stayed on the floor crying as I looked at my mother holding on to my brother. 

Xena returns with her midnight black coat wet and sticky with blood. I didn't ask and she didn't tell me as she entered my body and the feeling of revenge taking over me, which tells me that's all Xena's thinking. 

"Jeannie Grace Weston, you are this child's mother now. I'm sorry you have to do this alone but you will soon find your mate and he will carry the burden with you. I love you so much, your father and I love you but it's time for me to go to him now. Take your brother." She says to me and I gently take him from her as I watch her struggle to breath until she finally gives in.

As the last breath leaves her body, I let out a loud howl. Xena and I sharing the pain of losing our parents. I find the strength to stand on my feet and walk out of the house, to find a lot of people standing outside.

One of them being Damian.

We lock eyes for a brief moment before I quickly look away. I had just lost the love I knew, he was the least of my worries but who was I kidding? I was also hurting from his rejection.

I was all alone now.

Damian made sure of that now.

I turn around to look back at the house I called home for only two weeks. A house that my parents died in.

"I'm so sorry." I say as I sob, falling to my knees watching the house burn with my parents in it. Just today I made them breakfast and in less that 24 hours, I lost them. 

I lost them all...