Chapter 1

Three Years Later 

The mattress groaned under her as she stretched, she didn’t need the alarm; the discomfort roused her from her dreams. Well, they were nightmares, they were always nightmares. Unfortunately for Alissa, when her eyes were open, the nightmare continued. She checked the face of the alarm clock and groaned again. Why did the spring in the mattress poke her in the back at five am? She turned over, maybe an hour extra sleep would help her back and her mood. 

Her fathers’ voice drove through her mind ‘We must be strong, my Inlustris, our strength comes from our pack never forget that, dear one.’ Tears pricked at her eyes, it was the words he always left with before going for his duties or leaving their packland. He was loyal, the epitome of strength in Alissa’s eyes. He was protective, the care he held within his emerald eyes was felt by everyone he knew. If Alissa had inherited any of it she’d never know, her loyalty lay with no one, she had little energy to care for those around her. She hadn’t even inherited the pack she was born into, bred into, grew up in. She was an outcast. 

She forced herself out of bed a little earlier than necessary, a shower was on the cards and she couldn’t be bothered with a beating so early in the morning for taking care of her basic needs. Well, her human basic needs. She didn’t have much else anymore, her pack had taken care of that. She wished she hated them, she wished she hated every fibre of their every being. She didn’t. She craved acceptance, she craved her best friend to look upon her how she used to. She didn’t. She craved her brother to hug her, protect her. He didn’t. She desperately wanted for her Alpha, her father figure, her dad’s best friend to kiss her hair and accept her, allow her wolf free, he wouldn’t. Not now, not ever. 

Slaving away over the stove she cooked as quickly as she could. Sure, she couldn't magically make the sausages cook any quicker, but she could rush the rest of it and makes sure there was no washing up to do at the end. 

The cast iron sizzled with the bacon while she checked on the hashbrowns. They were so close, almost golden brown. She grabbed a sausage (that was done) with a fork, quickly eating in order for her to get any form of breakfast. Alissa scrubbed the workbench after finishing breakfast for the pack. Heaps of sausages, hash browns, black pudding and toast made the table sag under the weight. In human terms it was enough to feed an army, in wolf terms, maybe nine, ten at a push. It would be plenty for the seven that lived within the house. Not including Alissa of course, she’d eaten during cooking or else she’d get nothing. 

It had taken six days for her to work out if she didn’t sneak food she wouldn’t get any. Alpha Cain had dragged her from the room when she tried to sit for the pack meal, when she tried to eat in the kitchen after he’d broken her eye socket. Unfortunately, she’d still been a cub; not yet transformed, so the break had taken over a month to heal, the bruises remained for weeks. He still didn’t believe her, still believed she’d transformed that fateful day. He ignored her pleas that she’d be healed if she’d transformed; if her wolf were within her. Did he listen? Of course not.

 Hearing movement above her signalled Alissa to scurry from the kitchen, she didn’t want to see them. Seeing equalled fist or boot to some body part of hers. “Games room’s dirty.” The familiar voice sent a trickle of ice slithering down Alissa’s back. 

She bowed her head, “Kristan,” Alissa whispered “How are you?” Alissa continued, she just wanted the girl she’d grown up with to acknowledge her for anything but what she’d become. 

“Father doesn’t like it when you talk to me,” she replied stonily. “Oh, father also stated Luca is coming home. The whole house needs to be spotless.”

“When’s he-?”

“Words are for pack members, mutt.” His voice cascaded and swelled the room, his power and authority smothered every inch of the hall. Alissa cowered on instinct. “Run along, darling.” He smiled sweetly to Kristen. 

“Yes daddy.” She smiled back and disappeared into the kitchen.

“What have I told you?” he growled threateningly to Alissa. 

“I-I’m sorry Alpha,” she breathed in fear. “I only wanted to ask when your son is returning… S-so I know whe-when the house is to b-be ready, Alpha,” she stammered, tremors invaded her body. Her insubordination would cost her, she just didn’t know when. She swallowed, her emerald eyes identical to her father’s fixed on a mark she’d clean later on the walnut floor. 

Alissa jumped when his snarls were next to her ear. She cursed her wolf for disappearing deep within the recesses of her mind, if her wolf was there she’d have heard him approach. “What happened the last time you spoke out of turn, pup?” 

Alissa stopped breathing, terror punched her square in the gut, winding her. “P-please I’m sorry,” she whined. 

“Good.” He grasped her wrist tightly and pulled her down the corridor. 

His hold was painful, she winced, her fingers instinctively going to pry his fingers from her wrist. “Alpha,” Alissa gasped, tugging her wrist in an attempt to free it from the strongest man within their home. 

He dragged her further down the corridor and she knew where they were going. She didn't want to go in his office. What he did in front of the pack paled compared to what he did in the office. He was cruel, mean, terrifying