Chapter 1

"You will do as I say, Helena!"

My eyes widened in shock. "But, Dad—" I couldn't finish my sentence because Dad had backhanded me, and I flew off the chair, across the room.

"Are you talking back to me, Helena?" He growled threateningly, ready to throw another slap on my face.

I held onto my throbbing cheek and slowly shook my head. “N-No, Dad...” Silent tears slid down my cheeks and my whole body shook.

"Dave, leave the poor girl alone!" I heard my Mom scolded him.

"I would! But, she never listens to me anymore. What am I supposed to do with her? What am I supposed to your daughter?"

"Alpha... Luna... The Alpha from the Red Rose pack is asking for permission to enter our land. Should we give it to them?" I heard one of the fighters call out.

"Of course, of course! Let them in!" My Dad said excitedly.

"Why is he here?" My mom mumbled.

"He's here to check our daughter out, don't you remember? I told you that these two are going out tonight." Dad emphasized the last three words.

I continued to silently cry in the corner.

"Alpha, Luna, you both can leave. I'll have Helena ready for the date." I heard one of the pack moms whisper to them.

"Oh, yes, please. She needs to look absolutely stunning," My Mom snapped. "I want to her to be the most beautiful woman tonight for him to like her."

"Yes, Luna, I will make sure of it."

And to think that werewolves find their own mates, not to be forced into finding them. I can't believe my parents would do this to me. Is this how parents treat their own daughter?

"Helena, dear, please come here!" It was Sandra. She was probably one of the few pack Moms, who weren't to fond of trying to get rid of me. When she saw that I made no attempt on getting up, she walked over to me and gently took my hand in hers.

"Dear, everything will be fine. . .The Alpha and Luna will come to their senses." She smiled warmly.

"But, Sandra, how long will I be forced into finding a mate? I'm so sick of this!" I cried out. "I want to be free—to choose on my own—to decide for myself."

Sandra quickly wrapped her arms around me and engulfed me into a warm hug.

"It's okay, Helena, you will find your mate soon. It always takes time." She whispered so softly. She pulled away from the hug and wiped away the tears that kept sliding down uncontrollably.

"It's time for you to get ready for this date. Come on." She clapped, smiling at me and lighting up the atmosphere.

Even though Sandra frowned upon me being forced on dates to find my mate quicker, she obviously had to listen to her Alpha and Luna.

I grudgingly sat on the chair and Sandra got to work. I almost fell asleep. Two hours and thirty minutes later had Sandra clapping her hands like an overly excited walrus.

"You look absolutely stunning!" She squealed. She turned the chair and faced the mirror.

She was right. My long brown hair was in perfect curls. My makeup was simple, yet elegant and the dress she had me slip on was perfect.

A little bit too perfect...

"The Alpha will go crazy looking at you." Sandra winked. I forced myself to chuckle.

"Is Helena ready, Sandra?!" I heard my Mothers' voice call out. "Hurry up! Hurry up!"

Sandra winced and my eyes began to water.

"Yes, Luna. Helena is ready!" Sandra called out.

When my Mom walked in, she frowned at Sandra. "The last time I asked you to get me ready, you made me look like a witch. Why do you have to make this girl look good?" My mom hissed. I bit down on my tongue to stop from crying and screaming at my Mom.

To think that a mother should express her love to her children.

Sandra frowned upon my Mom.

"What a wicked bitch your mother is!" Sandra sent through a mind link. I held back a chuckle, and looked back at my Mom. She looked completely beyond pissed.

"I'm talking to you!" She snapped.

"Sorry, Luna." Sandra mumbled.

Mom waved her hand dismissively and left the room.

"God, how do you and your brother deal with her?" Sandra hissed. I just shrugged my shoulders.

There was a rapid knock on the door and it swung open.

"Helena, your brother has told me to send you a message." One of the pack members whispered.

"Yes, what is it?" I asked, standing up from the chair.

"You are to meet him outside the diner before your date with the Alpha," he told me. With that, he waved us off and quietly closed the door.

I turned to look at a scowling Sandra.

"What did your brother need now?" she asked me, brows furrowing.

"I don't know, but I think I should head off.

She nodded her head quickly and went to grab my purse and heels.

"Here you go. Hopefully, you'll enjoy this date!" Sandra winced.

I gave her a quick hug. "Hopefully I won't!" I winked at her and left the room. I heard her chuckle even when the door was shut.

"Are you ready?" One of my guards smiled.

I nodded my head and started to walk down the steps. When I reached the last step, I saw a couple of members crowded around the door.

"Hopefully, the Alpha will like the bitch and take her away." I heard one of the pack members say to another.

I turned my head and sent a sharp glare. That made her shut her mouth but I knew she so badly wanted to talk more shit about me.

I picked up my pace and reached the door way. One of my guards came to my side and opened the door.

I walked out of it and soon walked into a black SUV.

"Helena, we'll first drop you off to your brother." The driver had said. I nodded my head and looked out the window.

I would always remember the excitement that used to roll off this mansion. But now, all everyone wanted to do was to get rid of me.

The drive to the diner was agonizingly slow.

My mind kept wandering to thoughts of why my brother would call me. I had tried to mind link with him but he kept blocking me out. That made me worry even more.

"We're here." 

I looked out the window and sure enough we were right outside the door of the diner.

"Where is my brother?" My eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

"He's right there." Someone pointed out.

I quickly opened the door and walked over to him. I grabbed onto his arms and looked at him.

"Why the hell have you been blocking me out?" I growled at him.

He ripped his arms away from my hold and dragged me to a corner.

"Helena, listen to me closely." His tone was serious, something that usually never showed in him.

I waited for him to continue but he looked hesitant. "Felix, what is it? You're worrying me." I whispered to him.

"I heard Mom and Dad talking. They want to get you married as soon as possible. They don't care if it's your mate or not!" He growled, teeth greeted in anger.

I wasn't shocked about knowing the fact that they didn't care if I was going to marry my mate. I was just shocked that they wanted me to get married right now.

I had just turned 20 not so long ago.

"How could they want to get rid of me so quickly?" I asked him.

He shook his head and his eyes turned black.

I placed my hand on his arm.

"Calm down, Felix!" I told him.

He opened his eyes. His heart beat was irregular but his eyes shifted back to his green orbs. When he moved aside, that was when I noticed the two backpacks by his feet.

My eyebrows pulled down in confusion and I frowned.

"Why do you have two backpacks?"

"Do you trust me Helena?" He asked.

"Should I?" I tried to joke but he didn't even crack a smile. I quickly shut my mouth and nodded my head.

"Then you need to trust me with everything I tell you right now." He bend down and grabbed the backpacks.

He took my hand in his and started to move forward.

"Where are we going?" I asked completely frightened.

I saw two black Jeeps pull up in front of the diner and saw the Alpha walk out of one.

"Shit!" Felix hissed. He held onto my hand tighter and pulled me along with him.

He started to run dragging me along with him. Running in heels isn't the best choice I had made. He continued to run until we were surrounded by trees.

I pulled him back and stopped. My breathing was going crazy. I placed my hand over my heart and took big deep breathes. I kicked off the heels I was wearing while Felix took out a pair of Nike shoes and socks and threw them at me. He then took out some sweat pants and a hoodie and threw those as well.

I hadn't seen it coming so it hit me in the face. I looked up at him and growled at Felix while the idiot smirked.

"Go, change!" He ordered.

"Not until you tell me why the hell we just ran away from the diner!" I yelled.

"Because I don't want you to fucking get married to someone that doesn't deserve you!" He yelled back.

I looked up at him and my heart broke.

Our parents had forced him into a marriage with one of the pack members, and it hadn't worked out so well.

His mate had ran away from him to a Rogue. She said that she had found her mate and left Felix. Just like that—No warning, nothing.

Felix finally started to love her, but she just left him.

"I don't want what happened to me, happening to you." He smiled sadly.

I walked over to him and threw my arms over him. I gave him a tight squeeze.

"I love you. Take care of yourself, always." I whispered.

"I love you too. Now, go change." He gave me another squeeze.

I pulled away and went behind a big tree and quickly slipped out of the dress. I slipped on the sweatpants and hoodie. I put the socks on and wore the Nike shoes.

When I came back, I saw that he had changed into shorts and a sleeveless hoodie.

"What are we going to do now?" I asked him. I placed the dress back inside the backpack and looked up at him.

"If we run for a couple of hours, we can be far away from this territory." He suggested.

"Are you suggesting we run away from our pack?" I asked him shocked.

"If you don't want to stay here anymore, then yes, I suggest we leave."

I turned around and in the distance I could see the outskirt of the plaza we just ran away from.

Felix was part of the few people that loved me.

I turned around and faced him again.

"Where are we going to go?" I asked him.

"I've made some arrangements. But, we need to move fast. It won't be long till they'll realize you never showed up for the date." He went to pick up both bags and he started to run.

"Felix, we won't be able to get too far in our human forms." I called out. I ran after him.

He turned his head but kept running.

"We can't shift. The places we'll be passing will be full of humans. It's too risky!"

He slowed down a bit and matched my pace.