Chapter 1

Lily’s pov

It’s always busy at the packhouse, but especially tonight. I am the fifth child out of six. My father Alpha Edward Burton has always wanted a big family and so did my mother, Luna Katherine. My parents decided after having two girls they really wanted a boy, but it took them 4 more tries. My thirteen year old brother Edward the Second, or Eddie as we call him will be the alpha of our pack one day. While we have to wait to find out mate. It feels really outdated that we can’t start our lives or careers before meeting our mate.

My parents always hoped that our mate will be a Beta or Alpha from another pack, like with my older sisters. I just hope whoever my mate is, he will be kind and get me out of this pack. I love my family, I do. But I am not like the others, my sisters are all gorgeous and smart. They honestly look like models. And I lack their elegance and good looks.

Maybe I am being too hard on myself, but it’s hard not to compare yourself. Especially in this family where winning is everything. Everyone needs to be the best in school, win every fight and look their best. And I am an average looking girl, with brown curls and big green eyes. I am not as skinny as my sisters or as tall and I don’t have their sleek blond hair. I don’t pay much attention to my looks, I usually just wear my hair in a braid or ponytail. Anything to keep the curls down. No-one in my family has curls except my grandmother. She was the only one that made me feel special, but sadly she passed away last year.

Every once in a while an unmated Alpha or Beta visits our pack to see if one of  Alpha Edward’s daughters is their mate. No-one usually pays attention to me, I am not even of age yet. Besides people often assume I am not one of the Burton sisters since I look so different from the rest. Tonight is one of those nights, the packhouse is full with three Alpha’s and their Beta’s who are looking for their mate. And I am stuck next to the most awful Alpha ever. It’s not his looks that are awful, but that look of arrogance and boredom on his face. He’s actually pretty good looking if you look passed that arrogance. I don’t even know his name, but I can tell he’s an Alpha by his strong commanding aura. He is tall, dark and handsome like my grandmother would say and he has a big scar across his forehead clipping his eyebrow. He looks like he can kill a man with one punch. I guess that’s why the seat next to him was empty, most people would feel fear in his presence. I’ve tried talking with him, but honestly I don’t even think he’s listening to me. I assume he’s not listening, because he has not said a word the whole night. My sister Angelina just turned eighteen a couple of months ago and my nineteen year old sister Emma is still unmated, so every unmated wolf of importance is coming by to see if they’re a match. It honestly feels like a strange way to find love, if you’re meant to be you’ll find each other sooner or later right? 

After dinner finished the guest headed to the lounge area for some coffee and tea. This was usually the time I would go up to my room, I was in no mood to socialize. When I walked out into the hallway I heard two men talking.

“Why are we still here? They’re not my mates,” said a deep sounding voice.

“Alpha Osiris, just stick around for a bit. It will be good for our pack to have Alpha Edward as an ally. The Moon Stone pack isn’t large, but has great resources to offer.”

I could hear Alpha Osiris sigh “Fine, Beta Riker. But why did they place me next to that girl?! She was talking non-stop.”

I guess he did hear me, just choose to ignore me. Alpha Osiris, I’ve heard that name before. My father had mentioned him when discussing potential mates. Alpha Osiris has the reputation of being one of the most brutal Alpha’s around and he has one of the largest packs.

Beta Riker answered “that’s one of the Burton sister’s I believe.”

Alpha Osiris laughed “of course they sit the ugly duckling of the family next to me.”

There was that arrogance again. I decided to walk right passed them and gave them both my most deadly look. It wasn’t polite to look an Alpha in the eye, especially not one as important as Alpha Osiris.

But right now I didn’t care, I strutted past them and looked directly at Alpha Osiris “the ugly ducklings name is Lily Burton by the way” and I walked to my room.

As soon as I was out of sight I ran as fast as I could, my bravery slowly fading every step I took. This was really stupid of me, I shouldn't have said anything. My parents always said I was a bit too mouthy. It probably didn't matter anyway, it was not like I was going to see either of them again after tonight. Alpha Osiris seemed to have no interest in staying here, that much was clear.