Chapter 5 - Three More Days

Chapter 5 - Three More Days

The shrill sound of my alarm clock has me leaving my dreams to face a cruel reality

‘Another day in hell.’ I think as I fling back the covers and try my best to deal with the stupid alarm clock Blue gave me. When I hit ninth grade and started high school, he realized that I had a habit of sleeping past the ringing of my usual alarm clock and sleep in past my first class. It’s why he gifted me this amazing alarm clock—note the sarcasm.

I hate this thing. In order to turn it off, I had to enter in a passcode, and my semi-awake mind rarely got it right on the first try. After what I assume to be three minutes and ten attempts at turning the device off, the stupid alarm stops, and the clock left me with silence.

Did I mention that I hated this thing?

With a sigh, I knew I had to start getting ready for school. Surprisingly, even though I slept in a lot during grade nine, I had managed to pass that year with an eighty percent average, and since then kept my grades up. Now, I’m finishing my last year of high school and heading towards my next steps in life. I take in the room before me, a small smile gracing my lips. The renovated attic has been my room for almost seven years now as well as my personal hideaway. The once-princess pink room now was a deep purple in the shade Chakra. The princess bed was now queen-sized, and the remaining things on my walls were posters of my favourite bands, from EXO and U-Kiss to Nickelback and Black Veil Brides. Everything else had been packed away and placed in the very same trailer that held everything from my childhood home, and was ready for me to move out in three days.

Three days from now would be my eighteenth birthday, a day when a wolf would be considered fully grown and ready to move out on their own, either into the pack house or in their own home, and take on a role in the pack system. I was ready to take over a Tracker position—hopefully, a top position—and put my skills to good use. The thought of finally being able to rule my own life away from the pack house and start living on my own with a job I’ve been working hard to have made my small smile grow into a wide grin. I step out of my warm bed with renewed happiness and rush to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day.

With a towel wrapped around my body, I rush around the room, picking out what I would wear for school. I was lucky to have been graced with a similar build as my mother. The constant running through the forest and my training as a Tracker helped me maintain a similar hourglass shape. My skin is a constant tan that compliments my figure, thanks to long hours in the sun on pack duty and training sessions. The only thing that concerned me was the heavy chest and thick, firm booty I was endowed with. Sometimes they were more a hinder than help when patrolling the borders and tracking down rogues in human form.

Coming to a decision on a pair of black, skinny cargo pants with chains hanging from the belt loop, a white crop top, some black fingerless gloves and my long, flame-red hair pulled back into a messy bun on top of my head, I make sure that the outfit is complete and that I’m ready to start my day. This weekend, I’ll be busy with homework and pack duties, so being organized from the very start of my day makes things easier for me. I take a quick look at all of my plants sitting just beside the large windows, making sure they were watered, and stop at the large desk in front of the picture of my parents.

“Well, I’m off, mom and dad.” I smile, kissing the tips of my fingers and pressing them to the glass of the picture frame. I missed them so much and knowing I would be graduating high school and possibly finding my mate soon made the loneliness without them grow. With a sad smile, I turn away from their happy gaze and grab a pair of black sneakers and my studded leather bag before heading out of my room and making my way down the five flights of stairs.

I was lucky to have the top floor of the pack house to myself as it was the attic once upon a time. It was a place that only Axel, Serena, Blue, and I had keys to and became my solace when Blue, Axel, and the other top members of the pack were away. After an incident that left a scar on my back, Blue made sure to change the locks and only those that I personally trusted were allowed a key. Having a place to hide away and avoid wolves in my generation became normal for me as the years flew by.

"Good morning, Blue." I greet the Alpha cheerily as I walk past him, sitting at the kitchen Island. Marie, the cook in the pack house, smiles at me as she sets a plate for me full of bacon, eggs, and pancakes beside where Blue sat. I grab a lunch bag and pack my lunch for school. About five years ago, I stopped calling Blue Alpha since he had taken on the responsibility of raising me. He has become a father figure in my life, and I looked to him for advice when I needed him. But even after seven years of raising me, I could never bring myself to call him dad or father.

“Morning, Am. I’ve meant to ask, but what do you want for your birthday?" Blue greets me, a smile on his own face as I catch him stealing a pancake from my plate.

‘My family.’ I think as I turn to put the lunch in my bag to collect myself. It was the same wish I made on every birthday candle since their death. But the reality was cruel, and the only family I had now was Blue, Axel and Serena. I had gotten used to the scorn my so-called siblings gave me and the ridicule I face from them and their friends. Even the wolves my age waited for the leaders of the pack to be gone before they tormented me.

"How about a shopping spree?" I ask as I turn around with a wink. Blue knew how much retail therapy I did – which was nada, zero, zilch! Serena practically had to drag me to the mall in the city to shop, especially when she fell pregnant last year. She had me up at six in the morning just to drive all the way to Toronto and Brampton to help pick out her pup’s nursery, from paint to furniture and then clothing for us to twinsie with the pup, when we found out she was having a girl. Now, I am Claira’s babysitter when Axel and Serena need a date night, and I would not trade having that little spitfire in my life.

"We both know Serena will be dragging you to one later next week.” Blue chuckles as I grab my plate and begin to eat while standing opposite of him. He was right, though. Serena was already planning a girl’s day for me, her, and her pup, Avery.

“Well, I know how much you want your own place, so how about I give you enough money to buy one," Blue says out of nowhere, my jaw dropping with shock. I’m so surprised, I nearly drop my plate of food. Amusement flickers in his eyes as he sips his coffee before the weight of his words has me realizing he was serious.

"That would be amazingly awesome!" I practically shout in excitement as I put my empty plate down and hug him, nearly knocking over his coffee mug in the process.

“You deserve it, Amberle. You work hard for the pack as a Tracker while still in school. Not many wolves can do what you can. Besides, I know you’re eyeing a higher Tracker position.” His voice holds pride as he hugs me back. I felt my heart swell, knowing I had done a good job and have proven that I was not useless like most wolves thought I was. Blue was proud of me, and that was enough right now.

"Thank you, Blue." I was grateful for everything he had done for me. Blue only had Leo as his one pup before his mate was killed in a rogue attack years ago. Everyone knew he had a soft spot for pups, considering how much he wanted Leo to grow up with siblings. I was lucky to have been raised for the past seven years by him.

Even though I had my own part-time job at the café in town and had saved up over a hundred thousand between tips, paycheque, and birthday money over the years, Blue knew I was reluctant to spend it. I was constantly debating using that money to go to college or university or even buy my own house just outside of the pack line, maybe a small place in Sauble Beach to get away from the pack every now and then.

Only Blue knew about my secret bank account. He knew the situation I had with Mia and Zack. If Mia or Zack knew I had money, they would immediately take it away, and I would be left with nothing.

"Why do we hear joy from a little slut?" I bristled at her voice as Mia comes into view, wearing her usual outfit choice: a crop top that was mostly a bra and the shortest pair of short shorts anyone could find. Mia was the definition of the pack whore. Easy and sleazy. She was a stripper at the new strip club built in the city two hours away, and I always felt bad about her circumstances. Part of me knew it was because she used her body to get attention from wolves, but she could have gone down a path our parents would have been proud of.

"Mia, that’s enough." Blue’s voice is laced with authority, and I smirk from behind him. For years, Mia would find fault with me, from the way I walked to the way my hair was combed. She blamed me for the death of our parents and always played the victim when I stood up for myself. She had most of the male wolves our age wrapped around her finger and many more between her legs, which always confused me. Where I inherited my mother’s looks, Mia inherited my father’s looks, including his big bone structure. She looked manlier than most of the females in the pack, especially since she was almost flat-chested.

Zack knew better than to say something around Blue about me as he walks into the kitchen and makes his way to the coffee maker. I could feel his glare as he sips on the bitter liquid, knowing that if looks could kill, I would be dead already. Zack rarely interacted with me. I could see the hate in his eyes whenever we crossed paths in the pack and knew he was doing everything to not kill me.

"Well, I’m off to school. Are we going to the coffee shop as usual?" I ask Blue, ignoring the two wolves I no longer consider family. Friday outings had started off as a way to cheer me up. Blue would take Leo and I out to town. We found this coffee shop by accident, and instantly it became our go-to place. Leo had no choice but to join us even though I knew he hated me. His hatred only grew when rumours of me taking over the pack instead of him started to surface two years ago. It’s the reason my once-best friend was the mastermind behind my torture at school.

Most of the pack respected me to a degree, considering who my backers were, but I was Cinderella to those my age when the leaders were gone. I thought it was normal, considering I was an orphan, and my siblings didn’t want me. But one day, Blue came back early due to another pack wanted to visit and walked in on Mia and Leo beating me up with other pack members. I was weak from hunger and tired from not only training, but also having to do seven other wolves’ chores. All I remember was the fury Blue held before I found myself waking up in the pack hospital hooked up to machines. I broke down and cried about all the things I was put through when no one was around to stop the younger generations, and since Leo was the future Alpha, no one went against his rule. Only Maverick—Blue’s nephew—stood up for me. He would even visit me and send me get-well gifts when I was in the pack hospital or recuperating in my room. Sometimes, I secretly hoped he would be my mate since he has yet to meet his. After that incident, Blue sent Leo away for training for two years. When Leo came back, I was unfortunate to learn he did not attend the rest of high school and wouldn’t be in my grade due to this.

My eyes linger on Zack and his mate Abby who enters the room with a toddler in hand. I smile as Zack’s eyes light up—something I rarely see—and his arms reach out to hold his three-year-old pup, my niece, in his hands. This kind and caring Zack is the brother I knew and missed.

“Yes, you and Leo will both be meeting me at the coffee shop.” Blue answers, grabbing another pancake as Marie gives him a pointed look, breaking my gaze from the quiet scene before me. Blue was a sucker for pancakes, and I could not help but roll my eyes at his childish behaviour as the big bad Alpha before me tries to fit a whole pancake into his mouth. With a small wave, I grab my bag and head out the side door to the garage. I sigh with the prospect of another day at school and hop onto my bike. I had my driver’s licence, but I liked riding the black mountain bike through the back trails to school. It was the closest thing I could get to running in wolf form when I was unable to shift. The ride was short-lived as I reached the forest's outskirts and saw the school building between the leaves. I reluctantly lock my bike up on a tree, the metal frame hidden by bushes away from the school as I walk the rest of the way. Around my neck were heavy-duty Bluetooth headphones blaring music.

“Hey, bitch, where do you think you’re going? I told you to do my paper." I sighed and turned to glare at Leo and his jock posse that hung out by his fancy new Jeep. Arrogance radiates from the wolves in waves causing the lesser wolves to flinch. But I had strong blood and stood my ground against them.

"I had my own paper to do, the same one you had to do since we are in the same class," I said, using the tone I use for children. This answer seems to piss him off as he stalks towards me, fists swinging at my face. I smirk and duck, watching as his momentum brings him crashing into the flagpole behind me, leaving a dent in the metal and an expression of pain on Leo’s face. It was clear he broke a bone or two as his eyes simmer with rage.

"I have class, and so do you. Blue said he would take away your toys and ground you if you failed another class. Guess what—you're failing." I say with a chuckle as I turn to head into the building, making my way to English class. I made it a habit to be early for English. My teacher has this thing about being late without a note, and if you were late, not only would you have detention, but she would make you reorganize the classroom until she was satisfied. With a nod from her, I hand in the paper and take a seat at my usual desk in the front row. I know everyone complained that the front row was where the nerds sat, but I preferred the front row. It meant that Mrs. Marrywind rarely called on you to answer her questions. The back two rows were where the jocks sit, and they were almost always called on and rarely got an answer right.

Minutes later, the other wolves filed in, the stragglers making it just before the first bell rang. The school was called Wolf High, an elite school for werewolves. It was located in the town just outside three bordering packs on neutral territory, so all the young wolves from those packs went here. It made for a great opportunity to create allies and maintain a balance in the area since we wolves could see the strength each pack possesses. I had a few friends I could rely on at school, but none were in my pack.

The lesson for today started, and Mr. Marrywind is going over the book we just finished writing a paper on when the door opened, and Leo walks in. His injured hand is wrapped up, and he hands a note to the teacher before taking his seat at the back. He just barely got away from detention, but I could tell Mrs. Marrywind was not happy with him.

“Someone pissed off the teach,” Kent whispers to me, causing me to stifle a laugh as Mrs. Marrywind waddles over to Leo with her hands on her plump hips and demands his paper that was due. Kent is one of my friends from the neighbouring pack, Harvest Willow. His twin Kevin sat just behind me as we sat back to watch the spectacle unfold. Leo should have just stayed in the nurse’s office instead of coming to class; we watched him make excuses after excuses before he ending up with detention during lunch today and for the next week afterwards.

After English class, the school day went smoothly. I was lucky to have passed all my classes in school the previous years and have my last period as a spare. It meant that my friends and I could go grab something in town since it was a neutral zone before I have to head home and get ready to meet with Blue and—unfortunately—Leo at the coffee shop.

Satisfied having changed into a blue sundress with white heels, I drove my father’s cherished Mustang to town once again and parked in my usual parking spot. Blue’s Truck and Leo’s Jeep were already here, so I make my way inside the shop and greet the waitress, Opal.

"Do I want to know what happened?" Blue asks as he stares down at the bandaged hand that Leo was sporting. It did not take a genius to figure out that he has a broken bone if it has taken this long to heal.

"Leo got into a fight with the flagpole at school. The flagpole won." I say in a singsong voice while taking a seat at the table, catching the death glare thrown my way by a very irritated Leo.

"Speaking of school, your English teacher called. Good work as always, Amberle. Mrs. Marrywind suggested that you take advanced classes in university if you decide to go." At that moment, Opal came and took our orders while Blue finishes praising me. I knew that the teachers always gave an update to the Alphas in the area on how their pups were doing since many were next in line to take over. Once Opal left to place our orders with the kitchen, I could not help but roll my eyes at Leo checking out her ass. Poor girl would not stand a winning chance if he decided to pursue her. There was a long pause as Blue sighed and turned to look at Leo. The look of a displeased parent who was disappointed in their child crosses his face, and I knew Leo was going to get it.

"You, on the other hand, have to get your work done and grades up. Until you do, Leo, your gaming systems, TV, and laptop are mine, as well as your car. You can have them back when you improve." He was in father mode, and I just sat there waiting for my deluxe hot chocolate and New York-style cheesecake with white chocolate drizzle. If only I had it now, so I would be able to enjoy it while Leo gets ripped into for being a moron.

"It’s not my fault. If Amberle did my homework like I-" Leo starts accusing me like it’s my fault he’s failing.

"You’re doing his homework?" Blue cuts in to stare at me with both shock and disappointment.

"No, I have my own to worry about. Besides, the teachers would know if he was cheating." I state proudly. At that moment, our orders arrive. I dig into the cheesecake, keeping silent as more death glares from Leo are sent my way. He is not happy that I refused to lie for him, and why should I lie? We were nothing to each other. I can tell that Leo wanted to tear me apart for being, in his eyes, disrespectful to him just because he’s the future Alpha of this pack. Too bad Blue will have his hide if Leo tries to do anything.

"So, now your bank cards are mine, and you're grounded for three months." Blue is holding back his anger as he takes a sip of his coffee, knowing full well he cannot show his strength in this café, with too many humans around. I can’t help but roll my eyes as Leo tries to persuade his father that he needs his car to go to school—Blue would drive him. He needed his bank cards to buy clothes—Blue retorted that he would be stuck at home and would not have anywhere to go with said new clothes. He would not be able to go to his friends’ houses to study—which Blue said he has a perfectly good study at the pack house Leo could use and that wolves from our pack could come to the pack house to study.

This was why everyone thought I would be the next Alpha because Leo found a way to disappoint Blue as heir to the pack at every turn. Once Leo finally stopped trying to appeal his punishment and failed, he sits there moping and staring out the window like a child. Blue turns to me.

“So, what project do we have this weekend, Amber?” He asks as I finish my cheesecake.

“We have to read half a book and write a report on the first half due Monday and have the report for the next half of the book due next Friday,” I answer, taking a sip of my hot chocolate and rolling my eyes at yet another glare from Leo. I was starting to wonder if glaring silently was his favourite hobby.

"Good, both of you can read in my study tonight. Which book is it?" Blue asks, staring at Leo, who shrugs and turns away.

"Leo doesn’t know it because he spent the first half of class getting his hand wrapped up from losing to the flagpole. It’s Pet Cemetery by Stephen King. I told her I had that book and read it already. She just smiled at me." Blue laughed at my response as I stole a cookie from Leo’s plate. He wasn’t eating it, so why would I let it go to waste.

"I would like both of you to be in my study tomorrow so that you can read the book, and I can make sure Leo is doing homework. I also want to know how Leo lost against a flagpole," Blue states, looking once again at the bandaged hand his son sported.

"But I have plans this weekend." Leo whines, glaring at his father. His plans were the football game tomorrow night that he had to play in.

"No buts, Leo. I told your coach to bench you until your grades are up." Blue states the bombshell as a look of shock crosses Leo’s face. I needed more treats while I watch this drama unfold.

"You can't do that." He growls out with frustration, and I roll my eyes. It was just a stupid football game. It’s not like it was the end of the world. But knowing Leo, he would continue his melodrama at playing the victim and having to miss his football games. He would probably find a way to blame me even though it was his fault—stupid jocks.

You see, Leo is our star player. He scored most of the goals and brought our team to the championships three years in a row. With him benched, it meant the other football Neanderthals had a chance to outshine him now. I could just imagine the look of despair as Leo sits on the sidelines, unable to do anything while his so-called friends steal his limelight.

"As your Alpha and father, I can. Being your father is my job, and that means doing that which will prepare you as my heir." Leo stayed silent the rest of the day while Blue asks me about art club and garden society. The only benefit to Leo in all of this is that his father considered him as his Heir still. We left shortly after, Leo taking a ride with his father because Blue had the pack's mechanic tow the Jeep away.

We spent the rest of the night and all weekend in Blue’s study. You could see the reluctance on Leo’s face as he is forced to read Pet Cemetery. My paper for the first half was already done by Sunday morning. Blue went over the tracking route with me while also helping Leo with his homework. I knew that Blue had a soft spot for the idiot he calls a son, but I could not help the envy that lingered in my heart. I wished I had my father with me helping me along.

“You ready for tomorrow, Amberle?” Blue asks as I continue to read over the routes. Tomorrow is Monday, and I would be turning eighteen.

“Not really,” I mumble, letting my hair down from the usual messy bun.

“Why not? Don’t you want your mate so he can take you away from my pack?” Leo retorts back tauntingly. Today he seemed more agitated than usual, and it was starting to annoy me.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ll find my mate. It may be my birthday, but I just want my own house.” I shrug, turning away from his glare as Blue sighs and directs his son to focus on his paper. I continue to look at the routes and report before stretching. Finally, I say good night to the two of them and head out for a run.

I’m worried about tomorrow if I had to be honest with myself. The possibility of finding my mate had my heart beating with excitement, but if I told Leo that he would ridicule me

With my limbs stretched out and mind clear, I head back to the pack house and into my room. I had slowly been packing everything inside it until only a few clothing items, and my bed remained. I’m planning on moving within the next few days into a nice house I found close to the pack border. With a smile, I set aside the outfit I wanted to wear tomorrow for my birthday and climb into bed.

Tomorrow, I will be eighteen, and I had a feeling something big is going to happen.