Chapter 1

PRESENT DAY

"Grace!" Papa's voice boomed from downstairs, "Hurry up, you're going to be late."

She danced round the room, as she dressed herself pulling on her skinny jeans along with a black and red floral top. She quickly slid into her boots, she did not want to tie her hair up today, leaving it curly and loose. Snatching her bag from the bed, she raced down the stairs taking them two at a time and doing a small but excited jump at the bottom two steps. The smell of bacon fills the air, and a smile finds its way onto her face, it was her birthday breakfast. Walking down the hall she stepped into a large kitchen, seeing a plate full of food on the counter, with sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, beans, black pudding and my favourite papa's fried bread with a ketchup smile, her stomach instantly growled.

"Happy Sixteenth Kiddo." A tall man with dirty blonde hair, muscular arms and hazel eyes, picked up a plate and placed it on the dining table, his smile caused the corners of his eyes to wrinkle with age as he pours her some orange juice and hands it to her.

Grace sat down beside him at the table, it was just the two of them but they sat at a large dining table that could easily fit twelve people.

"Thanks Dad." She had a huge grin on her face.

After they had eaten, he handed her a large party bag.

"This is just a few things before I have to head out to run some errands." He smirked. There were around ten items in the bag all wrapped up in sparking pink wrapping paper. At the top of the bag lay a card on top of the presents, she opened it and took the money out before reading the message inside. She thanked her dad embracing him in a hug before opening the presents. The first, was a necklace, and the second matching earrings. Then there were some art supplies, some expensive paint and brushes.

Shortly after there was a knock at the door, Grace only had a few cards to open from her adopted family, her adopted aunt and uncle and grandparents had given her dad the cards from them, even his best friend got her a card. Her dad had gone to answer the door, she smiled looking at the cards in her hands. "Grace..." Her dad called to her from the hallway, "Come here, I've got a surprise for you." She raced into the hallway, leaving her chair untucked, the moment her eyes met his, a huge grin spread across her face.

He was her childhood best friend, standing in the middle of the huge hallway of their mansion. "Hey Gracie." His green brown eyes sparkled as the smile spread to his lips.

"Kyle?" Her breath hitched as she whispered his name, he opened his arms wrapping her in a warm hug. He wore a black suit, with a white shirt but no tie. She stepped into his embrace.

Not only was today her birthday but her father had arranged a party, for her coming of age. It was to secretly introduce her to the other packs, to inform them that he has a daughter because she was changing schools, one of which had two different packs within it. It was a mixed, human and wolf school even a few of the teachers were wolves. It was thought to be a private school with a great reputation.

"Grace, Kyle is going to be your personal bodyguard from now on. We thought it would be a nice surprise for you if I hired him on your birthday. He will be taking you to your appointments today while I run some errands and collect your grandma from the airport. Your party starts at five, Kyle has the address and you can pick which car he drives you in." As he finished his last sentence, Grace's smile widened. He knew exactly which car she wanted, the car she loved because of its, 'Batman doors' as she called it.

"The McLaren?" She asked with a cheeky grin and a sparkle in her eye. Her father nodded in approval. "So, Kyle... you wanna see my dress? We have to go pick it up, we need to find you a mask too." She grabbed her purse off the side table in the hall and headed to the door, her dad was already waiting outside so he could lock the door. He handed Kyle the keys to the McLaren and gave Grace a kiss on the head before walking to his car. Grace climbed into the passenger seat of the McLaren with a smile on her face.

"My nails, eyelashes, hair and makeup are all done by the same makeup artist, then we have to go to pick the dress up but I can just change into it there. We have to pick a mask each too." Grace looked over at Kyle who started the car up.

"How long is this gonna take." He ran a hand through his hair.

"My nails about an hour, my eyelashes about an hour and a half, my hair I'm getting highlights and it put in an updo so a couple hours and then my make up shouldn't take that long. So about four maybe five hours, but you get drinks and cookies." Grace explained the details of each appointment. "My dress is on the way to the party anyway, it's red so I'm getting red to black nails and then I've got a selection of black masks to choose from. So we could match and you could wear a red mask to go with your black suit." Her brown eyes sparkled so brightly he couldn't bare to say no, and it was her birthday.

He rolled his eyes but smiled as they pulled onto the road that was fifteen miles away from her house. It was an hours drive to the shops, two hours to get to the city. The venue was in the city but the shops were half way there. "So birthday girl, are you looking forwards to meeting some of your new classmates? You know because your dad's invited some of his colleagues to celebrate."

Grace sucked in a nervous breath, "It wasn't my idea to change schools." She answered, "I have to say hi but I'll be spending time with my friends and my aunt and uncle, i need to talk to Uncle Cyrus." She smiled, her uncle Cyrus was her favourite uncle, when he was in town last time he'd took her out of school early for a game of lazertag and then went to the beach for ice cream. He'd bought her her first phone when she was younger too.

Pulling up outside the nail and hair salon Kyle exited the car first, he walked around and opened the door for Grace, helping her out the car before locking the doors with the clicker. "Thanks." Grace smiled up at him, she was 5ft'3 while he stood 6ft tall. He answered her with a slight wink, as they walked into the building, there was a black sign with pink swirled writing, it read 'Beauty With Faye'. Faye was a friend of her fathers she did Grace's make up and hair for every event, and even came along to the events herself.

"Hi Gracie." Her chirpy voice called out at the sound of the door chime. "Are you looking forward to the party?" She came out through the tasles on the doorframe of the back room. Her long bleache blonde hair was pinned straight, she wore a white cami top and black jeans, she had an orange tinge to her skin from the fake tan, with her full thick eyelashes and dark green eyes, she gave off a shiny happy aura.

"Hi Faye, Yeah it's going to be great." Grace smiled back at her, her brown eyes held excitement within them. "I love a good pamper day." She walked over to the desk chair where Faye was sitting.

"So what colour nails are we thinking today?" Faye's sing song voice asked.

"Red and Black ombre please." Faye's eyes drifted over to the bodyguard, her gaze lingered on him for a while before she spoke.

"You can sit down you know?" She called over to him. "Do you want a drink? Amber!" She called out to the girl in the other room.

A dirty blonde haired girl raced out, in a body con black dress, before Kyle could respond. "I'll just have a water please." He answered.

The girl nodded and walked back behind the tastles to fetch a glass of water for Kyle. Once Faye had finished putting the acrylic nails on Grace's fingers, she moved onto her eyelashes. Grace went to lie down on the masseuse bed so that Faye could do her eyelashes. Sticking each lash on individually it took over an hour, but between them they chatted throughout. When she opened her eyes, they were pouring with water, it took a while before they stopped watering, once they did she sat up and the three of them went behind the tasles to the hair salon section of the store.

Taking a seat infront of the mirror she explained that she wanted some lighter brown highlights, a caramel colour so that her hair appeared to have layers in it. She had naturally thick hair and it was easy enough to do. Once the dye had been rinsed, Faye dried Grace's hair and plaited some of her hair before she pulled it up into a curly bun, adding some red gem flower pins throughout the bun. "Amber." Faye looked over to the girl who was sat at the desk, "Could you grab my make up bag please?"

Grace was extremely happy with the outcome of her makeup she had smokey eyeshadow, to acompany her eyelashes and matt red lipstick to match her dress. Standing up she looked at herself in the standing mirror, she had a few strands of hair loose in curls, a huge smile spread across her face. "Thank you." She spoke, reaching out to give Faye a hug.

"Anything for the Birthday Princess." Faye smiled. "Now go on you don't want to be late for picking your dress up, and I have to get ready now too."

When Kyle looked up from the seat he was sat in, slight shock filled his expression. "You're beautiful." He said before covering up his shocked expression with a serious one.

"Thanks." She replied pulling him to his feet. Her father had paid before hand so she could get whatever she wanted. Stepping out of the shop she made Klye and Grace maid their way back to the McLaren. He opened the door for her, shutting it once she was seated, before he walked around to the drivers side.

It did not take long for them to drive to the dress shop, Grace's excitement had started to peak, in an hour and a half they would be at the party.

She would be having fun with her friends and family and some strangers but she was excited to see her friends and her family.

On their arrival, the dress maker greeted them with a smile. "Hello my dear, Grace isn't it, let's get you, your dress." He waved his hand for her to follow him into the back room, there hung a beautiful dark red princess ball gown. It was an off the shoulder sweetheart dress, with laced flowers. He carried the dress into the changing room on the left and hung it up on the peg. "It's in there for you to put on." He smiled.

Grace entered the room and locked the door, once she was in the dress, she needed help to fasten it at the back. The dress maker assisted, the dress fit perfectly. "Do you have any masks?" Grace asked after doing a twirl in her dress. She stepped back into the main room where Kyle was waiting for her.

"And here I was thinking you couldn't get any prettier." He looked her up and down in awe. She put her jeans and top in her bag and made her way towards the masks. She picked a black glittery lace mask, she picked up another mask, this one was red and black, she held it up to Kyle's face. She pursed her lips together in an adorable pout before speaking, "I think it suits you." She smiled then turned to put the masks on the counter. "Well take these as well please."

It had been two years since Kyle had last seen Grace, he didn't realise at the time but now he was back, it hit him hard that he had missed so much. He payed for the masks himself as her father had already prepaid for her dress, and they made their way back to the car. Opening the car door for her once more he helped her into the car, her beautiful dress filled the seat. She put her bag on the floor by her feet. She put the radio on quietly, so that she could still talk to Kyle but when there was silence it was not awkward because of the music. They spoke about school and how much he had missed while he was gone. It wasn't until they were half way there that she gasped. "Oh no. I forgot to bring my shoes." She only had her shiny black docmartin boots.

They pulled up outside a huge country club hotel venue about half an hour later. There were a group of men stood outside the building with cigarettes, there was a woman with short blonde hair cut into a bobb, Kyle walked round to open the car door for Grace, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. "My uncle's over there... in that group of strangers..." she whispered to Kyle and nodded her head slightly in the direction of the Men. As Kyle handed the valet the car keys the blonde haired woman plastered a huge smile on her face and walked over.

"I didn't belive him when he said he had a daughter." She stopped standing in front of Grace, looking her up and down, her eyes wrinkled slightly at the sides as she smiled. "So you're the girl that's been keeping my Damien from me. Is your mother here?" Her tone was sickly sweet with a hint of accusation within it. She wore a tight fitted sparkly white dress.

An arm slung over Grace's shoulder and she instantly relaxed at the sound of Kyle's voice. "So what if she is Krystal?" He laughed. "Grace your uncle's just there why don't you go say hi. I need to speak to Krystal." Kyle pointed to her uncle, she did not need to be told twice. She walked to the group.

"Uncle Cyrus." She called out as she reached the top step. He instantly excused himself and walked towards her wrapping her in a big hug. "I forgot my shoes." She whispered while she was in his embrace.

"Never fear, your Aunty came prepared. She always packs extra shoes. They're in our room, you can take your pick." He pulled back and smiled wide. "You look beautiful. Have you grown? You're getting so grown up..."

She twirled before they walked into the building together, a balloon arch led them down the hall. There were hundreds of balloons. There were so many people inside, her uncle put his mask on and they headed through the crowd. They made there way to the stairs. "Are you excited for your new school?" Her uncle asked.

"I'm nervous." She answered honestly. "What if I don't fit in? What if I don't make any friends? I'm happy where I am..."

"Your the most loveable girl in the world of course you'll fit in." He said pulling his keycard from his pocket as they stopped infrony of room 108. "You'll do great you have nothing to be worried about." He smiled as he pushed the door open, he held it open for Grace to walk in.

"Who has nothing to be worried about." The soft voice of her aunty called out from the bathroom. She walked out into the bedroom. "Happy Birthday my Darling." She smiled, opening her arms and squeezing Grace as tight as she could, knocking the ait from her lungs.

"Thanks Aunty Sonya. I've come to steal your shoes." Grace breathed, and pulled her dress up to show off her Doc Martins.

Her Aunty let out a soft chuckle, "Now there's nothing wrong with those." She had a sparkle in her eyes as she smiled. "But I do have the perfect shoes to go with that dress, my black sparkly heeled sandals." She said picking up some shoes from her suitcase. She passed them to Grace and they fit perfectly, it was a good job her and her aunty were the same shoe size. They added an extra two or three inches of height to her as well.

"They're perfect thank you." She smiled and twirled. Her aunt wore a dark blue ball gown with silver sequence, she wore silver glittery heels. Her light brown hair was tied up into a bun and she had silver and blue butterfly hair pains keeping it in place. She picked up a matching silver and blue butterfly facemask and placed it on her face. "You look beautiful Aunty Sonya." Grace smiled in awe.

"Thank you dear. Now. Shall we head down, your father should be making his announcement any moment." She held out her arm for Grace to link with her.

They walked out the room together and down the stairs. Cyrus walked slightly ahead of them. When they reached the bottom step, they raced to the dance floor, The Chainsmokers Don't Let Me Down was playing. "Save a dance for me." Cyrus called after them as Sonya dragged Grace to the dance floor. There were a few people on the dance floor already but most people were seated at the table. The lights to the stage turned on and Grace's dad stood in the centre infront of the DJ.

"I'd just like to make an announcement." His voice boomed down the mic. "So as you know were here to celebrate my not so little girls Sixteenth birthday. Where is she? Where's my girl?" The spotlight searched the room as Sonya and a couple of Grace's friends cheered and shouted. "She's here." A smile of confidence filled her fathers face as his eyes landed on her. He continued on with his speech, about how much she had grown as he showed off some pictures of her childhood. There were pictures of her and her friends on some of the decorations too. "There is an open buffet so please help yourselves, and feel free to come and say hi and have a chat." He handed the mic back to the DJ and made his way off the stage, suddenly Kyle appeared next to her.

"Hey Princess." He smiled, "Can I have a dance?" He asked, grabbing her arm so she could do a spin. Her best friend Hanna was dancing with her boyfriend Matt, next to them. Half an hour later Matt and Kyle gave up and sat at a table close by watching as three more of Grace's 'girl' friends joined to dance with them, a huge group of people joined in when the cha cha slide came on, including her dad with some of his business colleagues. After that dance, Grace and Hanna couldn't find Kyle or Matt so they sat at a table with Grace's Uncle. He appeared to be having a conversation with the man beside him, two boys around the same age as Grace were sat at the other side of the round table.

Grace reached for her uncle's drink, without looking he knew she was going for it so he picked it up and moved it slightly out of her reach. "Now what would your father say if I let you drink?" He turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Would he know?" Grace smiled, and batted her lashes.

He glanced at her friend. She put her hands in the air in surrender. "I won't tell, Uncle C can I have some too?" She grinned.

He sighed, "what do you want?"

"Rum and Coke?" Grace asked.

"Any cocktail..." Hanna smirked in victory.

Cyrus and the man he was sitting with walked to the bar and continued their conversation. The boys sat opposite them one of them was starring at Grace. "Hi. I'm Grace." Grace spoke breaking the silence.

"Hi, I'm Daniel..." The blonde haired boy spoke, the other boy remained silent as if he were in some kind of trans, he just sat there starring at Grace.

"I'm Hanna." Hanna chirped up.

Grace picked up her uncle's cup and took a sip. It was awful. She passed it to Hanna after making a face. Hanna smirked and took a sip. It was a mistake she ended up having a coughing fit the taste was that bad.

Daniel smirked. "Awh what's the matter girls? You don't like whisky?" He chuckled to himself. The sound of his voice appeared to snap the other boy out of his thoughts. "This is Bentley." Daniel nudged him slightly.

"Hi." He said, his eyes still rested on Grace.

Cyrus and Bentley's father returned to the table and handed the girls their drinks. Hanna was given a bright pink cocktail.

"So Grace, your uncle tells me your moving to my sons school." He nodded his head slightly to his son. "Daniel goes there too." He informed.

"Yeah, I'm a bit nervous to be honest. My dads said I have to have my bodyguard in every lesson." Grace smiled nervously and took a sip of her drink.

"Your dad's a smart man." He smiled.

"Does your son have a body guard too?" Grace asked.

Her uncle and the man shared a look and laughed before he answered her. "No my son doesn't have a body guard. He causes the trouble. Don't you Ben?"

Ben smiled arrogantly, "Always." He replied.

"Have you seen Dad?" Grace asked her uncle. "I feel like he's avoiding me."

"Go dance. Your grandma will be here soon. I'll find out why your dad's been avoiding us both." He smiled giving Grace a kiss on the head before he walked off.

Hanna and Grace finished their drinks then made their way to the dance floor to find their 'girl' friends, Matt and Kyle.

Over at the table Bentley and Daniel sat talking with Bentley's father. "Someone's in love." Daniel teased, "Couldn't even tell her your name could you? You definitely creeped her out, you just sat their starring at her, you were practically drooling."

Bentley grunted in response but said nothing. "What's the matter son? Can't you speak?" His father laughed along.

"Awh puppy love..." Daniel teased.

"Whatever." Bentley retorted, as he scanned the room looking for her. She was mesmerising, he didn't want to stop looking at her.

"We heard your conversation you know. It was laughable." His father smirked. "What happened to the lady charmer..."

Bentley's patience had ran out, he stood up angrily. "Enough." He said turning around.

"Son." His father stopped him. "Don't forget. Alpha Blood doesn't want her to know about us. She can't know what we are." He reminded, before his son walked away. He stood from a distance as he saw her dancing with another guy. Her eyes caught something at the door. He followed her eyes to the commotion outside. Her dad and Cyrus were having a heated argument. She nodded to her friends who dragged the guy off to dance and she quickly made her way through the crowd.

"She has a right to know." Her uncle hissed. "If she's in danger she should know the danger. You can't keep this from her."

"She is my daughter. You can't tell me what I can and can't tell her." Her father retorted angrily.

Her uncle acted on impulse and threw the first punch in anger as Grace stepped out of the room and into the hallway. He father punched her uncle in retaliation which knocked him down. He flicked his leg out and dragged her father onto the floor with him, fists and elbows were thrown. They were both oblivious to the fact that Grace was there, she was stunned.

Bentley grabbed her by her waist and pulled her back out of the way as they got too close to her. He was scared of her getting hurt. She stumbled when he grabbed her but he held her upright. "What the hell is going on here?" An authoritative voice boomed.

"Grandma." Grace tried to run towards her but Bentley held her in a tight grip, she was unable to go anywhere.

The woman glared at the two men, who had now stopped fighting and were straightening their shirts. She then looked at Grace and her face softened, she walked towards her and opened her arms. Bentley finally released his grip and let her go to her grandma. "Happy Birthday Gracie." She smiled. "I'll see you in a bit to give you your presents. But first, I need to speak with these two idiots." Her tone changed as she spoke about her son and son in law. She then looked at Bentley. "Would you mind taking her for some air?" She asked motioning a hand to Grace, though it was more of a demand.