Chapter 2

Both looked at me sniffing the air, and I knew they were werewolves and high-ranking ones.

"Alpha Ezra requests your presence at the packhouse immediately," the man with dark hair that was shaved on the sides says.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, and by the authority oozing off him. I could tell he was a Beta. His eyes darted to me for a few seconds, and he looked me up and down. A strange look on his face. Was he angry? I couldn't tell, but whatever the look was on his face, he masked it quickly.

"This is your daughter?" He asked, not even trying to hide his dislike as he spoke; I guess I saw anger then.

"Yes, this is my daughter Katya, and I am Derrick," my father says before holding out his hand.

"I didn't catch your name," my father says, drawing the man's attention away from me. The man grasps his hand, giving it a quick shake.

"Beta Mateo, this is Alex, one of our Gamma's," He says, introducing the other man; he was around the same age with blonde hair that hung in his hazel eyes. Both of them were huge, around the same size as my father.

"I hear you used to be a Beta at your old Pack," Mateo says, and my father nods.

"Good, we could use some help training some of the pack members if you're up for it?" He says, and my father nods before introducing my mother to him.

"This is Shirley, my wife and mate."

"Nice to meet you," my mother says before shaking both their hands. The Beta's eyes kept darting back to me, his anger gone now, but he looked confused every time he glanced in my direction.

,

"If you follow us, we will escort you to the packhouse, so we can place you with someone until the property is available," Mateo says before turning on his heel and getting in his black BMW. We hop back in our car before following him through the sleepy town.

"See how nice they are? This will work out; it has to," my mother says a little too enthusiastically. Clearly, she missed the look the Beta gave me.

We followed their car all the way to the end of town before pulling down a road that went into the forest. Following it for another ten minutes. We stopped on the horseshoe driveway in front of a massive sandstone mansion.

 There are three levels of windows with bushy green hedges out the front. It had huge arched windows and vines that grew along the stone walls to the roof. I hop out of the car, looking up at the packhouse. It was definitely more lavish than the one back home.

Beta Mateo led us up to the white door before opening it. Inside had white marble floors; a hallstand sat along the wall near the entryway with a big expensive-looking vase. My mother looks around in awe. Two staircases led to the landing above that overlooked the floor.

We walk toward the door between both stairwells; I see some bench seats next to it, and Mateo knocks on the door before I hear a deep voice telling him to enter; that same voice sent a shiver up my spine.

Beta Mateo slips through the door, closing it behind him before returning and telling my mother and father to go in and for me to wait in the foyer until called. I waited for what felt like hours before my mother came out sitting next to me. The packhouse was pretty quiet, and we saw no one walking around.

"He is just speaking with your father. Then he will want to speak to us individually to make sure our stories are the same," my mother tells me.

"What story? They banished us because of me," I whispered to her. He was going to find out; he was going to find out and kill us or, worse, make me leave without my parents.

"Shh, calm down. Everything is fine. He probably won't ask you much because you're our child," she says, trying to calm me down. I could feel tears brimming, and I quickly wiped them away.

"What did you say?"

"Just that they were going to banish us. It's not lying; it's the truth. The Alpha doesn't need to know why, and he doesn't need to know you don't have a wolf, Kat. She will come. You'll see," my mother tries to reassure me. I nod, knowing there is no point in arguing with her.

"And if she doesn't?"

"She will," my mother says, and I hang my head. I would be the biggest disappointment, which made my stomach twist painfully.

My father steps out and nods to my mother; she wipes her hands on her jeans before getting up, walking into the office, and closing the door behind her.

"He will just initiate you into the Pack. It isn't so bad, you just need to drink his blood, and you will feel the pack link snap in place," my father says.

Gross, I think to myself. "What about the old pack?"

"That will hurt a little once you pledge to him, like a migraine. I won't lie to you; it even brought me to my knees," he says, and I hear my mother suddenly cry out. My father jumps to his feet, head snapping toward the door. I listen to soft murmurs before seeing the silver door handle jiggle before the door opens. My mother stepped out, clutching her head. My father was at her side, instantly helping her to her seat.

I take a step back, not wanting to endure whatever she just did. "Kat, you need to go in," my mother says, pulling herself together with her fingers gently rubbing her temples.

I shake my head, scared. My mother was the strongest woman I know, and if it hurt her that badly, I knew it must be painful.

My father comes over, grabbing my arms. "Kat, we did this for you, moved for you. This is the only choice we have to remain together, so I need you to do this for us," he says, holding my gaze.

"Is everything alright out there?" I hear the Alpha call out. I look to the door in a panic.

"Please, Katya, once it's done, it's done. It stops, I promise. "I let out a breath and nodded. My father steers me toward the door. My hand trembles as I grip the door handle and push the door open, keeping my head down as I close it behind me before looking up at the Alpha.

The Alpha was looking at some documents at his desk. He had dark hair longer on top and shaded on the sides. He looks up, and I freeze. He sniffs the air slightly, a growl rumbling from his chest as he grips the desk so hard his knuckles turn white. His caramel eyes flicker to the beast that resides within him.

He was very handsome, a five o'clock shadow, full lips, and a strong jawline. He smelled nice, like the forest after it rained a strong woodsy scent. I would guess he was around his mid-twenties by looking at him.

His body relaxes slightly, and I notice claw marks on his tabletop where his fingers were. He beckons me closer, and I force my feet to move, his eyes watching my every move.

Shit! could he smell I have no wolf? Does he know I am basically human? The tight set of his jaw clenching and how he was watching me made my blood run cold with his flickering eyes. He knows, and he is going to kill me.