“Happy Birthday Tee!” Layla’s scream jerked me awake. I groaned as my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the day. When I looked up, Layla is holding a small cake and smiling so broadly. I would have sworn I locked my door last night. How did she even manage to get in?
I forced myself to sit upright, then glance at the clock beside my bed “Oh my goodness,” I quickly jump out of bed, knowing I’d be in deep shit today. Its almost nine A.M and Miss Anna would be so mad at me, I’m sure I’m going to be given extra work and punishment today.
“Thank you, Layla,” I say dryly and grab the cake from her, setting it aside on the table, then I give her a small hug.
She furrows her brow “I know you don’t like birthdays, but can you sound a little bit excited at least?” She groaned.
“I am excited,” I lied “and thank you for the cake, but I have tons of work to do,”
“I can plea on your behalf so you take the day off, everyone gets a day off,” Layla says and I roll my eyes at her. Much as I would like to have the day off, I’m not so keen on spending the day in this room, wallowing in self-pity and thinking of the many good ways my life would have turned out if things had gone differently on that night twelve years ago. I think I would wrap myself up in all the dirty work that needed to be attended to at the pack house and take all the insults that come with today. It’s not like anyone would remember it’s my birthday except Layla.
“I want to do all the work, we could eat the cake later in the afternoon when I’m done with Beta Leo’s laundry,” I suggest. Beta Leo is Bella’s father and I’m supposed to be cleaning his house at the moment. I promised Miss Anna I would be there to do it first thing this morning.
While Bella tries to make it a living hell for me, her father on the other hand is super nice to me. He is the alpha’s brother, that makes Jayce and Jordan his nephew’s but not once did he blame me for Jayce’s death. He gives me gifts sometimes and apologizes for all the pack behavior, unlike his wife and daughter. He has a son too, but he has been away for a while now, no one really knows where he is. When it’s time for him to take up his father’s position as the Beta of Eclipse pack, he would be back. Not like I care anyway.
Layla grabs my hands and shoves me in front of the mirror. I didn’t see that coming, so I just turn to her and raise a brow.
“Look at yourself Tee, when last did you even take proper care of yourself? Is this how you wanna live the rest of your life?” She asks, getting agitated.
I look in the mirror, and I realize I have lost more weight than the last time I checked. My thick black hair was in disarray all over my face and back, begging for me to put a comb through it. My hazel eyes looked dull and I still had eye bags. I didn’t get to sleep early last night. I can still feel all the backache from all the scrubbing I did yesterday but I would feel better once water touches my skin. I didn’t look so bad if you ask me, I just need a little more weight and peace of mind.
I shrug “I don’t need a day off, and I’m not going to get it even if I wanted.” I say.
She shook her head. I’m about two inches taller than Layla who stands at five feet and five inches but you wouldn’t easily notice because of her body type. She has more weight than I do. She’s not fat or skinny, just the perfect size but she would complain and fret about how much she wishes we could fit into the same clothes.
“You are just going to keep all this beauty locked up in those hideous clothes of yours. I wish I was half as beautiful as you are, I would have all the boys at my feet, especially that Logan,” she whines and I can’t help but laugh out loud this time.
Layla is beautiful but she takes every opportunity to tell me I’m prettier than her. She’s just so dramatic. Before I can respond, the door bursts open, and in comes another face I don’t enjoy seeing.
“You moron, what are you still doing in here?” Miss Anna whines.
“Give her some rest,” Layla defends but I quickly cross my hands over her mouth to prevent her from saying anything further.
“I’ll be at Beta Leo’s in fifteen minutes, ” I assure her with a smug smile. She looked me over, then turn to Layla, eyed her, then hissed.
“If you don’t get there in fifteen minutes, you would be sorry,” she walked away. Layla flung my hands away from her face and mimicked Miss Anna.
Miss Anna has been in charge of cleaning this pack since I have known her, which is all eighteen years of my life. She is without a mate and people say that is the source of her bitterness.
“Please, Layla. I don’t want any troubles today,” I plead, giving her my puppy-dog eye. I know she wants me to be happy on my birthday, she always wants me happy, but I’m not in a jolly mood right now.
“Okay,” she agrees “Let me know as soon as you are free so we can eat the cake together. I’ll bring drinks too,” she says before leaving, still not impressed. I sigh and rushed to take my bathe. Layla is a sweet girl, she’s the only one I have, and I wonder how my life would have turned if she wasn’t in it.
I packed my hair into a not-so-tidy bun and dressed up in my work clothes before leaving. As usual, I received the scornful glares from people that saw me. I just stared down and continued to the pack house where the beta stays.
After Jayden died, I resolved to training on my own. I wasn’t allowed to train in the pack so anytime I was free, I would wander away to train on my own, without anyone watching. I wanted to learn to fight not just to defend myself but to be able to help others. If I knew how to fight, maybe I wouldn’t have just stood there, screaming, while rogues devoured Jayce. I know I was barely six years old, but I could have done something.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t have a wolf still. I’m eighteen already, and many times I felt the presence of another being in me, hoping it was my wolf, but I’m convinced now that it had just been my imagination. I don’t have a wolf still.
It is the only thing I had been looking forward to today but apparently, it’s not going to happen. Most werewolves have their first shift at the age of sixteen or some as early as fourteen, but the longest I’ve seen is at age eighteen. I was hoping I would shift today. That’s one of the main reasons I worked till 2 A.M. this morning because I was hoping to. I went out under the full moon, but I didn’t feel anything. Even the moon goddess hates me, that is why I don’t have my wolf yet.
“Watch it, scumbag,” I had mistakenly bumped into someone, who shoved me away with irritation on his face.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter. He didn’t pause or respond, he just keeps on walking.
“Moron,” I heard him mutter under his breath.
Luckily for me, when I get to Beta Leo’s place, his daughter was not around, and neither was his wife. Just the Beta,”
“Tiana,” he enveloped me in a full hug and I smile at him.
“Good morning Beta Leo. I’m sorry I’m late, “
“Ha, nonsense, I’m aware it’s your birthday today. Happy birthday,” he pulled out a small rose and hands it to me and I chuckle. I’m not even sure how he knows it’s my birthday, but I’m pleased.
“Thank you, Beta Leo,” I smile at him. He’s always super nice to me and I like him.
“You are welcome. You know I can let you off easy today, spare you all the chores,” he starts to trace his fingers down my jawline and I don’t think I like the sound of his voice. I take a step back.
“That’s not necessary. I don’t have anything planned for the day. I don’t mind,” I tell him.
He smiles “You see it’s just the two of us here, and you are of age now. Perhaps we can make each other happy?” He cocks a brow.
“What do you mean,” I ask.
“You’re not a baby, and you know you are beautiful. I can make all the pain go away, no one has to keep treating you in this manner, if only..” his voice trails off and when I look behind me, I see Bella standing there. I have never been pleased to see her before but right now, I’m glad.
I spent the next few hours cleaning for Beta Leo and his family, with Bella scowling at me and making my job harder. I think she may have heard what her father was saying but I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes about spreading news that she had caught me trying to seduce her father. That disgusting prick! I always knew he was up to no good with all the lustful glances he keeps giving me but I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt and he proved just how much of a jerk he is. Bloody pedophile! I’m his daughter’s age mate, does he not have any shame? And I honestly thought he was a good man! He was just nice to me because he wanted to get under my skirts? Ewww. I hurried with what I had to do there and left, ignoring Bella’s scowl as I did. I don’t think I would want to be doing any of their chores again. I would have to complain to miss Anna to assign someone else there. Not like she would listen anyway. I’m the freaking gamma’s daughter. How has everyone forgotten about that? I’m su
I swallowed my saliva and take one step backward, but he takes a longer step towards me, bringing him even closer to me. I haven’t seen Jordan in a long time and I always try to avoid him, because he said once that I reminded him of the incident, and he would rather not set his eyes on me.Jordan is two years senior to me. Oh goodness, that means he has known about me being his mate for the last two years and he said nothing about it. He was scrutinizing me, staring down at me with loathe, and his nose scrunched up.“Why did you bring me here?” I ask him, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.He doesn’t respond immediately, apparently enjoying my discomfort. I’m here thinking of the many ways he can end my life right now and no one would know about it. He didn’t just bring me to his brother's death scene this time in the night just to hang out here.He starts to walk around me in circles, sniffing me as he did.
I straightened my rumpled shirt on my body. I didn’t even realize it was rumpled until I got here. Well, I don’t know anything anymore, it’s like I’m a walking corpse. I don’t feel anything, I don’t see anybody relevant and when I stepped out this morning to the usual snide comments and insults, I didn’t feel the usual uneasiness that I would normally feel, just coldness. I’m standing close to the alpha’s office, his guard questioning me like I wasn’t a part of the pack and had no right to see the alpha, but I soon realize I came at the wrong time. The alpha had two guests in his office but I was so determined to see him that I have been waiting for the past three hours for this meeting to end, and this ugly moron that prides himself as being the alpha’s dog takes the opportunity to interrogate and taunt me. “He’s not going to be pleased to see your face,” he snarled and I glared back at him. I have been reduced to this level, even the guards have no regard for
Layla broke down into uncontrollable tears as she watched me pack my things. I feel overwhelmed really. All the times I envisioned leaving Eclipse, I didn’t ever consider leaving in this manner, not to be given out like some piece of overused dress.I didn’t have much to pack, and even if I did, I don’t want to take much from this place, I do not want to be reminded of this place, so I just threw a few clothes inside my backpack.I haven’t told Layla I found my mate and got rejected on my birthday because that would make her feel worse. I was trying to be strong myself, I know I believed anywhere was better than here, but I’m beginning to doubt that now.The news is that the western wolves which is an aggregate of twenty four packs, of which Eclipse pack happen to be one of them have never been in the good books of the royals. I don’t know exactly what the story is but the hatred has been passed from generation to generation.
It was pretty dark when we got to our destination. My back ached from sitting upright and my butt hurts too. I’m really hungry now. We didn’t get to eat all through the day and we did not stop throughout the journey, except for when we needed to fill the gas, and right now I feel like my bladder would burst open anytime soon. Alpha Simeon did me dirty no doubt. I bet they are happy right now, they finally have the leech out of their skin. I wonder what Jordan is up to at this time. I was no longer close to him since the incident so I can not predict. It’s a relief I don’t have to see him henceforth, maybe that would help mend my pain. I shook my head, I don’t want to think of him or Eclipse pack. The door to the truck was flung open and it was time to come out. I sighed loud, then shook Rose who had slept for most of the journey and we got out. We had to come down at the gates for searching. My first sight of the royal palace left me staring in amazemen
The night went by too fast and now we are ready to meet with the royals. I’ve been tensed since I woke up this morning and I think Rose feels that way too. In the short time with her, I have noticed she doesn’t really talk much. I took out time to wash my hair and Sadie helped me straighten it out, leaving a small parting at the side with more than half of the hair falling to the right. When she was done, I marveled at how long and beautiful my hair is. It fell to my waist and Sadie couldn’t stop running her hands through them with an occasional “wow” I would love to dress in my usual jeans and t-shirts but we were provided with gowns that were ‘befitting’ to meet the royals. They made it clear that we were to dress with class around here and we were to be of utmost decorum. We would not be meeting the king today, he is a very busy man and he just lost his father a week ago so he is still not in his best mood. I kind of felt relieved after I learned that. Muc
I opened my eyes to a pair of green ones staring down at me and I forced them close almost immediately, my heartbeat picking up again. I’m not sure where I am or what time it is and the air surrounding me is almost suffocating. Pull yourself together, I tell myself before forcing my eyes open again and I’m met with the same green eyes one more time. This time, he has a smirk on his face. Seeing him up close made it even harder to breathe properly. My cheeks were instantly flaming hot at his close proximity. He’s the cutest thing ever, and I could keep staring into those eyes forever and get lost in them. “She is awake,” a particular female voice says and I whip my head to see the princess and Petra on the other side of the room, looking down at me as if they were too scared to come close. I blink severally as the thoughts of what happened came flooding back and I look away in embarrassment. Just one touch from Prince Ryder and I literally passed out. He didn’
I didn’t get too far, or should I say I didn’t get anywhere at all. I had barely taken three steps out of the room when a bulky man blocks my path. I didn’t see him coming, so I bumped into him and let out a yelp, like a thief who had been caught in the act.Looking up at him, I quickly concluded I do not like him. He’s so large, with his muscles popping out everywhere and his hard face looked like a trained assassin. I could see a muscle twitching in his neck as he held my eyes with a wicked stare.“And where do you think you are going?” He says in a deep voice and cocked a brow at me but to my surprise, he smiled.“Out of this place,” I answer him with a deep frown, my eyes still locked with his. I realize then that I wasn’t scared of him one bit. He may be all broad and mean-looking but I didn’t feel threatened by him. For someone who had lived most of her life serving others and was told never to sp