Chapter 1

Mother was in a tizzy. “Clean the shelves and tables. Get the ceilings and walls too.” She had shouted all week. Not to me. I was hidden away in the cottage attic, as I usually was anytime a potential new mate was coming to see one of my sisters. She was yelling at Marianna, her now only eligible daughter. I was just watching the drama unfold from a little hole I had created on the attic floor that led to the cottage living room. When I put one of my eyes on it, and closed the other one, I could see everything very clearly.

“You are not to move. Talk. Or even breathe when Kent is here.” My mother said to me when she found out Kent, a werewolf with the biggest clan, was interested in seeing Marianna.

“Mama, I cleaned all the china, and swatted the sofa. You won’t find any of our wolf hairs or real hairs. Can Jezebel and I go out now? She hasn’t been out since the incident.” I heard Marianna, my light, my love, my sister, ask my mother. Only her red hair was visible to me but I could almost imagine her pink button nose scrunching up as it always did, as she talked.

“No, she is to stay here till my dying day.” My mother yelled. “And I suggest you focus more on getting yourself prepared for Kent. Did you bathe in the aroma enchanter I got from the shop? The lady told me that for the best results you should use it every day for a week.” From my peephole I could see my mothers salt and pepper eyebrows raise up.

“Yes, I’ve used it everyday.” Marianna sighed. “Now can we go? Jezebel is going to help me pick out a gown from the shops for Kent .”

“Jezebel is still injured. She will not leave until she is healed and even then I might consider keeping her locked up for the act she pulled. No one told her to go into the Unclaimed Forest and get herself attacked by a werewolf.”

I looked at the white bandage on my left arm which hadn’t stopped bleeding since I got hurt. However I felt no other symptoms. Even the constant bleeding hadn’t rendered me weak.

The whole thing was silly, really. I had just decided to go out for a stroll. Yes, it was night time. Yes, it was a full moon—a time when mother doesn’t even let me sniff the air outside let alone leave for a stroll. However, I couldn't help it. I needed to bathe in the moonlight. I know. I know. I wasn’t a werewolf like my four—yes four—sisters were, but I was still a daughter of a werewolf. The only female Alpha in Astoria no less my mother was. I had to have some of her tendencies. Nature vs nurture and all that.

So I broke the attic window, and climbed down the pipes. Then my brain yearned to be in water. Unfortunately, the only way to get to Flower Moon river was to cross the Unclaimed Forest. So I did what I had to do. Who would be in the forest at three in the morning? Right, Werewolves—because like I mentioned it was a full moon.

Fortunately, I only ran into one. Usually werewolves don’t attack humans. And although I don’t really know what I am, at first glance, to most, I am human. So he shouldn’t have attacked me as It’s part of our—their—code. However, this skinny, thin furred creature may have had to prove something to his Alpha because as soon as our paths crossed his light brown eyes turned black, then he pounced. I am not sure how I escaped. I remember yelling stop. Then I blacked out. All I remember was the wolf running away from me. Like he was the one who was scared.

“It’s already odd that he asked for your hand. All your sisters have married a beta. You're the only one who’s even had anyone of this caliber come see you. I won’t let you mess it up.” My mother’s voice brought my attention back to my peephole.

“I know. I heard his castle has a hundred rooms, and his whole clan can fit in there. Even though he does have a village where he houses his clan families.” Marianna said.

“And you can be queen of the castle and his village. Just don't mess this up.” My mother’s already strong jawline got stronger with the gritting of her teeth.

“I won’t. But you know Jezebel helped all the sisters pick out a dress and each one of their mates now said they loved what they wore the first day they met them. Jezebel just has an eye for what attracts a werewolf.” Marianna nodded. My mother’s face contorted into something I couldn’t recognize. Worry. Fear. Probably both. Then she sighed, hard.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Alright. But I want you out for no longer than an hour, and back before the nightfall. Don’t take the Unclaimed forest to get into town. And don’t let Jezebel wander alone. And as always, if any one ask—“

“Say Jezebel is the help.” I had run down to meet both my sister and mother in the living room, and got there just in time to finish my mother’s usual warnings. “So I can go out?” I asked hopefully.

“Yes, but Jezebel, please, for the love of the moon gods, be careful!” My mother warned. I always hated how all her wrinkles showed along with her concerns. I always felt guilty because I thought —maybe—I had put them both there.

“Mother. You worry too much. I am fine.”

“You're still bleeding.” Mother pointed at my arms.

I rolled my eyes. “You know mother, soon it’s just going to be the two of us. We are going to have to learn to get along. You're going to have to learn to hate me a little less.” I meant it as a joke, because of course my mother doesn’t hate me. She just hates the fact that she loves me even though I have proven to be very useless.

The joke didn’t land. My mother’s already strict expression became stricter. At least the worry was gone, along with the wrinkles. I guess I could take credit for making those disappear as well today. “You know Jezebel, one day, you're going to find out just how much risk I took to keep you safe, then you won’t be able to say the things you say to me. Back before the hour is up.”