1: Mate?

CAMERON

I yawned, shutting my eyes, and stretched my tired self. The day had barely begun, but I was so ready to jump back into bed. It wasn't surprising, though, since my fourteen-year-old sister and I are basically the slaves in the Green Hill pack.

“I hate my life,” my sister Juliet groaned beside me in the small bed we share.

“Tell me about it,” I scoffed, getting off the bed and opened the small tattered curtain hanging on our almost non-existent window. I looked outside through the small opening and the sun was already out, which meant it wouldn't be long before someone came checking why we weren't in the kitchen yet, preparing breakfast for the warriors.

I turned to my sister who was still in bed with a reassuring smile, "I promise once I turn eighteen we will leave this hellhole behind forever.” I had been planning on running away for a while, but I wanted to be of legal age first, to ensure I get a good footing in the human world. “Now get up before someone bursts in here,” I shuddered to think what turn our day would take if that happened. It always begins with lashing and more work would get piled for our 'lazy bones', as everyone named us, even though we do work equivalent to five adults in a day.

“I wish our parents hadn't died,” Juliet whimpered, making me remember how easy life was when our parents were still alive. It was true no one loved us even then, but our father never missed an opportunity to spoil us rotten, claiming that we were his greatest treasure and that one day he will take us to a place where no one will ever bully us again. Too bad he kicked the bucket before he could.

“I wish for that too, Julie,” I confessed truthfully. There is no day that goes by I don't miss them. “But they are dead, and we need to get moving before these animals send us to join them early.” That got Juliet out of the bed fast. She quickly spread the worn-out bedding and followed me out of the basement and into the main hall.

“Watch it,” one of the maids who work for the Alpha bellowed when she bumped into Juliet. I quickly grabbed my sister before she could retort and possibly earned us a punishment.

“What's the fuss about anyway?” Juliet grumbled, falling in step with me. I looked around warily and once I was sure no one was within an earshot I leaned to murmur.

“The Alpha's son turns eighteen today.”

Juliet, who cared less about the happenings in the pack, perked up, training her gorgeous almond-shaped eyes on me. “Carlos?” She asked hopefully.

“Yeah,” I responded casually, opening the kitchen door and held it open for her. Juliet stepped in, turning to look at me with displaced excitement. “He isn't so bad,” she said, mostly to herself. “He might treat us better than the sitting Alpha.”

“Yeah, sure.” I sneered with an eye roll. I didn't believe anyone in this wretched pack could treat us any worse. After all the years of abuse, not once did anyone come to our defense. Not even the supposed Alpha to be. “Keep hoping,” I grumbled, turning to begin my chores.

Like every other day, we began by placing the big pots of porridge on fire, before starting on the sausages, eggs, and beef wraps. We were expected to prepare enough food for thirty-seven men who packed average food of eighty men, claiming that as warriors, and they needed to eat a lot. We had barely got anything done when the kitchen door opened to reveal a disheveled Carlos. His eyes zeroed on me as he scented the air frantically.

“You!” He bellowed angrily, sprouting a disgusted look on his face. “It can't be,” he whispered to himself, but his shocked gaze didn't leave my, I am sure, confused face. I frowned in return, wondering what the hell I had done now.

“What do you want?” My feisty sister snapped without caring that it was the Alpha to be she was regarding so casually.

I was frozen on the spot to scold her. Something in Carlos' eyes held me still. And for some weird, unknown reason, I found the Alpha to be somewhat… good-looking.

“Hey,” Juliet calls again, drawing Carlos from whatever haze he was in. He looked around the room in a panic, unable to explain himself before he turned and hightailed out of the kitchen. I turned to look at my sister, “what the hell was that about?”

“Beats me,” Juliet shrugged with a frown. We went on with our chores, ignoring the enigmatic Carlos' bizarre behavior.

However, no matter how much I tried, I

couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change in my life.

And boy, was I right!

******

Many hours later, my sister and I were ready to head to bed after yet another tiresome day. As you would have expected, we were not allowed anywhere near the pack festivities, so we didn't even get to see Carlos taking over as the Alpha. We had barely made it past the main hall when we bumped into the said Alpha. He appeared like he was specifically looking for us, if the relieved sigh he let out was any indication.

He grabbed my hand without a word and dragged me in the opposite direction. My sister attempted to follow us, but Carlos growled firmly, “I mean him no harm.”

Juliet scoffed ready to fight tooth and nail for me, but I was quick to assure her I would be back shortly, before I let the domineering drop-dead gorgeous and newly appointed Alpha drag him to his room. Luckily, everyone was in the arena enjoying the party, so no one saw the shocking behavior from their Alpha. I am sure it would have sent many tongues wagging.

“What the hell?” I growled once Carlos shut the door behind us. Instead of answering, he trained his hot gaze on me and there was no mistaking, what it was, he wanted. I shivered fearing what he might do to me against my wishes, but I can't deny there was a little excitement in the way his eyes raked over my flesh hungrily. He took an intended step closer, and I took one back instinctively. The back and forth game went on until he cornered me against a wall. He gripped my face in his palms, and without bothering to explain himself, he kissed me. I expected that to happen, but it still surprised me to feel his firm lips nudging my own demanding entrance. A surprised gasp tore out of my throat. That momentary distraction is all Carlos needed to shove his tongue in my mouth. I moaned deep in my throat at his expert assault on my mouth. And then I felt it. His hard cock pushing against my lower abdomen. I instantly panicked and pushed him off me with a squeal.

Carlos looked at me with his hooded eyes before he cursed under his breath, turning his face away from me. “Why did you kiss me?” I asked, dabbing my mouth with the sleeve of my old sweater, as if that will erase the action ever happening.

“You are my mate!” Carlos growled distastefully. My breath hitched as I stared at his back. There was a palpable silence between us for a minute before I busted out in a bitter laugh.

Carlos turned abruptly, and gaped at me, wondering which part of the situation sounded funny. Not that there was.

“Who would have thought?” I scorned angering Carlos fast. “A mighty wolf like you getting a scum like me for a mate,” Carlos' eyes flashed gold. His Alpha wolf didn't like the challenge. “Is this the part where you reject me, or should I make things easier and do It instead?” I knew rejection was the only fate awaiting me, and I wasn't going to let him think that I am bothered by it. I should be used to the heartaches by now, I thought grimly.

“Cam…” he groaned, pinching his nose.

“And he knows my name.” I spat venomously. No one in the pack has ever accorded me or my sister the decency of referring to us with our names. We are either termed as half breeds, scums, slaves, or occasionally orphans.

Carlos was tongue-tied for a second. He sighed a million times, looking at me helplessly. I didn't like the pity I saw in his eyes. “Go ahead, mighty Alpha, let's get it done with.” I provoked and apparently, it's all he needed.

“I, Carlos Stanford, reject you, Cameron Walker, as my mate.” A softly spoken statement, which carried a lot of weight. Though I was only seventeen and couldn't feel the bond yet, I did feel my wolf retreating at the back of my head, howling in pain. Putting on a brave face, I muttered. “Good riddance!”

I stepped past him to leave but stopped by the door when I realized I hadn't done what was expected of me.

“I Cameron Walker, accept your rejection.” I smiled through pain, giving a mock bow and stormed out of the room like my ass was on fire.