Chapter 5 - You kept me waiting, again

Ciara's POV 

I opened the garage door to the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. “Goooood afternoon my big sexy daddy. Did you miss your baby girl?” I sing to my shiny dark blue custom-made Yamaha sports bike with all the latest accessories. I purr at it as I run my index finger down the center of the bike to the sleek black leather seat.

‘CJ, there is something definitely wrong with you.’ my wolf, Ember, shakes her large furry reddish-brown head in disgust as she turns to lay down near the back of my mind. I laugh as I straddle onto my bike. I love it when Ember calls me by my nickname—CJ for Ciara Joy.

I slid my full-face helmet over my head because safety first, then I put on my aviator sunglasses because awesomeness second. I popped the switch and let the engine roar to life between my thighs. The vibrations of the engine fill my entire body with joy. My thighs tighten around the leather seat bringing a giddy smile to my lips. I let out a soft moan, kick the kick-stand then head out of the driveway to zoom my way towards the packhouse.

For the next twenty minutes, I allow the feeling of freedom to wash over me. Yes, I am content in my life, but I am also bound to the limitations set by the Alpha and my father, the Beta, just like a cage.

I was not born in the Crystal Lake Pack nor is the Beta family my birth family. I originally was The Dark Alpha’s pet. Number 399.

“My pet.” The deep laugh of the Dark Alpha still haunts my dreams. My time in a lab, the sounds of machines beeping as it tracks the rhythmic beating of my heart, the sting of the injections in my arms and legs, even the pain from the beatings I endured remain with me at all times. The endless screaming from other shifters, then the sudden sound of silence when the experiment went wrong, still haunts my nightmares. Shivers run down my spine as I think about those long-ago memories.

Over the years as the Dark Alpha’s pet, I became a scientifically and magically altered therianthrope. A multi-shifter. Wolf, bear, owl, mouse and fox. The blood from the original animal shifters and their animal counterparts’ souls are laced into my DNA alongside my Wolf, Ember, infusing them together.

The Dark Alpha created the perfect controllable weapon to conquer other races and anoint himself as Alpha King. However, his untimely death by the hand of Alpha Radar brought an end to his reign.

I park my motorcycle in the warrior designated parking lot off to the side of the Packhouse. The four-story building is designed like an old log cabin resort. The Alpha family live on the fourth floor. The second and third floor are guest rooms and suites, but the rest of the building is like a rec center for the pack. Pack members can enjoy a meal in the dining hall, watch movies or play games in the media center. Attached to the packhouse is our ballroom where pack meetings and special events are held. My favorite place is the library that’s located near the back of the building close to the woods.

I enter through the front oak double doors and greet a few of the Omegas’ dusting and sweeping the main entrance. Omegas are in charge of the day-to-day work like cooking, cleaning and maintenance of the pack so the Alpha and Luna can handle more important things like training and education.

I look around and see Luna Rosaline is sitting in the lounge area in one of the big comfy couches with a book in her lap, reading to a group of small children who are sitting crossed legs on the carpet all around her. I smile at the scene. She is such a kind and beautiful Luna. Her flawless, tanned skin and cat-like eyes give her that 50s Hollywood movie star look.

She must be reading Treasure Island. I say to my wolf as I take a moment to peek in and listen. Luna Rosaline is holding up her arm as if she’s holding a sword and reading the words in her best pirate voice. The kids are completely glued to her every word. Several of the little girls squeal nervously while the boys puff their chests out to show no fear when she gets to the part where Jim is hiding in the apple barrel listening to Long John Silver’s evil plans.

“Don’t keep him waiting, Miss Callaway.” Luna Rosaline must have sensed my presence even without lifting her eyes from the book.

I roll my eyes and head towards the Alpha’s office, but not before I make a quick detour for the kitchen for a water bottle and some sort of salty snacky goodness.

‘I saw that eye roll…’ Luna Rosaline mind-links me as I am walking away.

‘Sorry, Luna.’ I mind-linked back. I swear she must have eyes in the back of her head. There is no way she saw that!

I walk into the large commercial kitchen where all the pack’s meals are prepared and grab a snack. Several Omegas eye me wearily. “Just grabbing a snack.” I say, but they just return to their work without a word.

Through the passthrough doorway, I see someone sitting in the bar lounge. I take a peek in and find the Gamma’s daughter, Hazel Summers, perched on one of the metal bar stools with her laptop open to what looks like Luna ceremony etiquette. She’s sipping a glass of iced tea as she looks at the screen.

“Hi, Hazel.” I say as I come over and sit down next to her.

She turns her gaze to me with her bright blue eyes and award-winning smile, then frowns after eyeing my appearance. “O…M… G… Girl… What are you wearing?! You look like a 1980s Muppet wanna-be.” Her voice echoes through the empty bar.

“Better a Muppet than a Barbie.” I tease. After a split-second pause, we both half smile at each other like this is a normal everyday greeting between us. We grew up together and have always been polar opposites, which doesn’t really affect our semi-cordial banter. We aren’t really friends, but we aren’t enemies either and we are definitely not besties. We are kind to one other and get along fine during important pack meetings, just like the Beta and Gamma daughters are supposed to.

Hazel flips her long blonde hair over her shoulder before returning to her work. Her bright pink manicure nails tap and scroll over the keys with a clicking noise.

I take in her outfit of the day—a hot pink skin tight halter top dress that fits her runway model body to perfection. It shows off what male wolves go crazy over—perky boobs and tiny waist. The dress ends right below her butt, leaving her long legs exposed for all to see. At 5 foot 10, she doesn’t need any more height, but she still wears 5-inch heels to accentuate her lean body, which what I wouldn’t give to add a few inches to my 5’5 inch height.

She may be a high-maintenance and a mommy and daddy’s spoiled little girl, but looks can be deceiving. At 17 years old, Hazel is one of the most loved, soon-to-be high-ranking she-wolves in our pack. She is the Valedictorian of her senior class this year and was voted the most likely to succeed she-wolf in school. She is on the debate team, editor of the school newspaper, and even on the student council. She is the picture-perfect Gamma’s daughter. Her sweet and caring personality is like a magnet for everyone she is around. She even volunteers her time to help Luna Rosaline when she’s busy with other pack duties.

“Um, Hazel?” I ask timidly, looking over her shoulder in curiosity as I rip open a small bag of potato chips. “Whatcha up too?” There were stacks of Luna ceremony dress magazines and colorful swatch books scattered all around her. A jumble of different colored cloth napkins, business cards from vendors, and a book about table dinner settings were haphazardly strewn behind her laptop. She even wrote out a list of different types of flowers and their meanings according to the moon cycle. Why is she looking at Luna's ceremony stuff? I wonder. She’s not even 18 for a few more days! Nor does she know who her mate will be…

She continues to tap on the keys as she scrolls through the page without looking at me. “Don’t you have a meeting with the Alpha and Beta?” she asks, completely ignoring my question.

“Shit!” I whisper as I sprint out of the bar and down the long hallway to the black wooden door of the Alpha’s office. Before I could knock, I heard the deep booming voice of Alpha Radar behind thick wood. “You kept me waiting… AGAIN!”  Alpha hearing… for goddess’s sake… Starting the meeting on the wrong foot already. Go ME!!! I sarcastically cheered at myself.