Chapter One:

Alley POV:

It was another day at the White Crest pack. The second biggest pack in our area. Our pack

may only be the second largest, but we are the most respected. My dad has made allies with the

packs closest to us to ensure everyone's safety from the rogues. It's always better to work together

in larger numbers than it is to work alone and be outnumbered. Here lately the number of attacks

has been higher than usual, and no one has been able to figure out why. They weren’t always so

vile, most of them were born into it and don’t really know anything other than that, while the others

turned rogue when they lost their mates or were banned from their packs. Once that happens, they

turn crazed and demented. Some say it’s because they barely have a soul left.

They finally figured out that they move better in packs, but no one knows who is in charge

of them. Every pack has an Alpha, Beta and Delta. They attack for power and to make other people

suffer the way they have; it's never worked. No one wants their mate killed or be abused, but they

are too far gone to think otherwise, but we can't stop living our lives and constantly be scared. If

we did that then we would give them exactly what they wanted. Everyone is as miserable as them.

We make our warriors train every day so that we are always prepared. Some of our neighboring

packs have gotten attacked, but they've never needed assistance. So far, the rogue pack is very

small compared to ours, but they could always grow, and even though the alphas in each pack

didn’t want to admit it, they were nervous. We still moved on with our day to day lives though. 

Each year a pack holds a "Wolf Ball" where everyone who attends can mingle with one

another and some do meet their mates. I have always dreamed of finding my mate. I just turned

18 a couple of months ago and I have yet to see any sign of my mate. We have always heard

about the good mates and the bad mates, and I pray to the moon goddess that my mate will love

me for me. I've often dreamed about what he would look like, what his wolf would look like and

how he would treat me. We've been taught since we were pups that when mates meet it's normal

to mate and mark that same night and that we as women need to save ourselves for them. Most didn't listen to that, but I have, and I wouldn't mate or mark the first night. I've always said they

need to deserve it mate or not. I need time to get to know my mate and not just give it up because

he would want it.

 This year it is our pack that is hosting the wolf ball, so my family and I have been

running around when we are not training to make sure everything is perfect for the event. Yes,

even the Alpha’s daughter trains even if it is against my father’s wishes. I never want my pack to

think that I could not protect them in any case if a war were to break out. They trust us to protect

them and respect me for training alongside them. They look up to us to do the right thing. My

mother isn't much of a fighter, but she is a perfect Luna. In any case she has made sure every  woman and child were safe. She’s always told me, "Without the pack we are nothing," and it's

very true.

Since we are hosting this year, my mother has overseen literally everything, and she is

the true definition of a perfectionist. She's up before anyone and goes to bed after everyone. I've

never seen someone who had such talent in doing the things that she's done, and no one is

exempt from helping in setting everything up no matter how hard some of us may try to hide.

Between training and helping her I've been truly exhausted.

I just got back home from shopping with my best friend Leia. We had to get our

dresses for the ball, and I didn't want to go last minute because I had training to do during the

week and I'm sure my parents want me to help get everything ready. I knew my mom would

want to see my outfit as soon as I got home, and my brothers and dad would have to approve of  it. They tend to be a little overprotective, but I've never minded it. I was the only daughter of the

alpha in any pack which doesn't happen very often from what I was told. I was like a rarity and

so was my wolf.

 When I got up to my room, I hung my dress in the bathroom and placed my shoes

under it.

 "Alley, open your door and let me see your gown!" my mother yelled. As I opened my

door, my mother along with my two older brothers came barging in.

 "It better be appropriate, Alley, or so help me I will make you return it," Jackson, my

eldest brother, huffed.

 "It's just a dress," I replied with my typical eye roll. Jackson will take the Alpha

position when our father steps down.

 "You are our little sister and no little pervy wolf will use you as eye candy," Tye my

second eldest brother said.

 "Could you two not start today," I huffed glaring at them and in return they glared right

back.

"Boys, I am sure she has a beautifully appropriate dress, besides your father would not

let her step out in anything less than what he approves of, especially on such a big night," my mother replied to my brothers. 

 I ran to my bathroom and put on my beautiful light pink maxi dress. The top was a

halter top that went around my neck leaving my back a little exposed, but the front went into a

small V that stopped just before my breasts. It hugged my waste but flowed at the bottom. It had

two layers; the bottom was silk while the top layer was lace. Truth be told, it made me feel like a

princess. I had picked light pink shoes to match with the diamond necklace that my father gave

to me on my 18th birthday.

 As I stepped out, I saw my mother’s eyes swell with pride. My brothers both just stared.  "Oh, my beautiful Alley, I couldn't have picked a better dress for you!" my mother  said.

 “Thank you, Mom, I am so relieved that you like it." Both my brothers gave

compliments, but the room fell silent as my father walked in.

 "Hi, Daddy! I was just showing them the dress that I got for the ball next Saturday.

What do you think?" I did a small twirl to show it all and held my breath when I saw his

expression.

 "You look beautiful. I do approve of the dress if you wear a shawl to cover some of

your exposed back. You will be the prettiest young woman there besides your mother." He

smiled and gave my mother a wink and she blushed.

"Guys really, we are right here!" Jackson huffed making us all laugh. I went back to

my bathroom to change back but took one last look in the mirror.

 "He is right, you know, we do look beautiful," Rose my wolf said through our link

making me smile. 

 Rose came to me when I first shifted at 16. When she showed me what she looked like

I was stunned. Maybe I'm a little biased because she is my wolf, but she is beautiful. She stands

tall and proud; she is bigger than a normal size wolf. Her coat is solid white. I thought it was

strange at first and she's never told me why she has pure white fur, but she was beautiful. No one

has a solid white wolf like I do so it made us stand out. She's made me stronger in a way, pushed

me to fight better and helped me when I felt insecure. She will forever be a part of me, but she

can be a bitch most of the time. She is very protective and doesn't take any crap from anyone and

sometimes it is hard to keep her at bay, but I know when she starts to come out or she does come  out she means straight business and will stop at nothing.

Over the next few days, I spent my days like I normally did, woke up, showered, had

breakfast and went to training. Today was combat to combat practice and I was paired with the

strongest fighter we had. I warmed up with my eldest brother Jackson who made sure I stayed

focused. Duncan was the strongest warrior and would be tough to take down, but I was fairly

confident I stood a good chance.

Tye walked to the middle of the mat with Duncan and I facing each other.

 "Alright you two, I want a clean fight but don't make it easy, no cheap shots either am I

understood?" he asked. We both nodded, not taking our eyes from each other.  "Look for a weakness, Alley, we can take him," Rose told me and I silently agreed with

her. Before I knew it, Duncan lunged at me with his right fist which I easily dodged. Duncan was

calculated, I knew that much by watching him, but his weaker arm was his left. I lunged back at

him aiming for his left side when he caught my arm and threw me down.

 I let out a grunt as my back hit hard on the cold mat, but I swung my legs around his

neck and threw him back and got to my feet quickly. While he was getting up, I took the

opportunity to swipe his feet out from underneath him flattening him back on his back as I

pressed my forearm on his throat holding him down. He used his fist and jabbed it in my side

making me let out a gasp for air. I had not been expecting that when he took a cheap shot to my  jaw line.

 "I said no cheap shots, asshole!" Tye yelled out. By then I was pissed. I can't believe he

took a cheap shot at me! How dare he? He turned to me and smirked and that did it. We both

charged each other, but my fist connected first and as I grabbed his arm and twisted it landing

him on his stomach on the mat and pressing my knee on the back of his neck letting out a deep

growl.

 "I give!" Duncan yelled out and I let him up. Still pissed that he took a cheap shot, but I

turned to say something when he shouted.

 "You are nothing more than a weak link in your family! The weakest link in my

opinion!" I felt Rose take over and punched him square in the face breaking his nose. My brothers ran over to pull me away while Jackson yelled in Duncan’s face about what

an ass he was and how dare he speak to me that way. Duncan stomped off without saying a word and not raising his head. I hope these bruises go away before the ball or that will really make me

mad.  

 "Are you okay? Dad is going to be pissed…" Tye muttered.

 "I'm fine. I'm going to go shower and I will see you later," I replied as I walked off to

my room to shower.

 As I walked through the house, a voice stopped me.

 "Whoa, Alley, what happened?" my dad asked as he stood in front of me.

 "Combat to combat practice, Duncan took a cheap shot at me. I still beat him though.

Jackson and Tye chewed his ass," I spoke.  

 I could feel my dad's anger grow as his aura started to spread. My mother ran quickly

to him to calm him down.

"Go take a shower, dear, and relax. I’ll bring you some ice to help with that swelling,"  my mother said. I ran up to my room hoping that my face wasn’t swelling too bad. When I got to my bathroom, I looked over at myself, there were now dark bruises and

minor swelling along my jawline and along my ribs, great that's exactly what I needed before the

ball.

 "I will heal it before then don't worry I've already started," Rose said. I rolled my eyes.  I knew she was right, but still they shouldn't even be there to begin with! The ball is

literally tomorrow night. I can only hope Rose can heal it before then if not I will have to apply

more foundation than I want to. I took a quick shower and laid in bed to relax a little. I grabbed

the book and ice off my nightstand and started reading before I found myself in a deep sleep.