Chapter One: He Hates Me

Iris’s POV

Easton Andersen, the future Alpha of the Silver Peak Pack, my big brother, will be back home today. I was informed by Noah, the son of our Beta David, also Easton’s close friend.

Hmm..Of course, I don’t believe he is here for Olivia’s birthday party, that’s my mother, not his.

When I last saw him was 2 months ago, and the last words I got from him were" Fuck off".He hates Olivia, and he hates me, even though I thought he loved me three years ago.

Stupid girl.

"Miss Iris, your father is calling you, he is at the study."

We are hiding our identity and living in a small town with humans, some have been invited to join the party as well, so the maids from the pack calls me Miss instead of Princess.

"Thanks, Aria."

I step down the hallway, open the door without knocking and yell loudly "Papa, heard you are missing your little girl?"

"Behave." Jade, the Alpha, commanding but smiles"Easton is here, you two haven’t seen each other for a long time, you must have lots to share."

"Oh, welcome back my dear brother." I pretend just found him here. Dr. Reid is next to him, he went to visit Reid first again.

Moon Goddess knows I scent his existence at the beginning.

His curly brown hair shows a little messy with the dark emerald eyes. His skin is much more tanned than the last time I saw him and more muscles all wrapped by the simple white T-shirt and jeans. I need to remove my eyesight to slow my heartbeat, my heart is almost pumping out.

Damn, he is sexy as usual.

"No need, we don’t have much to talk about." His voice is deep and cold.

Fine, he is being an asshole as usual.

Jade is silent for seconds" Little girl, go and check if the cake is ready, you know I can only trust you."

I nod and sneak out, seriously, the air is frozen inside the study, no one would like to be there.

But I do need to check the cake, the most crucial thing of this party, which was designed by me for Olivia.

Olivia, my mother, the Luna of the Silver Peak, is the second mate of Alpha Jade.

Easton’s mother Elaine is the first Luna and mate of Jade. She died 17 years ago, killed by a rogue in the Maze of the Moon Goddess in front of Easton.

How cruel for a 5 years old pup.

Jade was in great sorrow, however, he find his second mate Olivia only after one month after the tragedy.

Easton hates Olivia, even though Olivia is the kindest, tender and most beautiful person I’ve ever seen, he still hates her.

That doesn’t affect the whole pack and human neighbors love her and will come to celebrate her birthday.

I could understand Easton’s hatred, he thinks Olivia an intruder, stole the perfect life which should belong to his mom. But I don’t understand why he pretend he was my big brother and protect me from every bad moment in the previous 14 years and now acting like a monster, an asshole, is that a kind of revenge from him?

He doesn’t know the sinful feeling I had and having about him. If he knows.....

"Oops, I don’t want to bother your illusion time but why do you still not dress up?" Sherry, my best human friend suddenly ghost behind, I was so drowned in my mind.

"I need to ensure everything is in a good place." I gave her a big hug, she moved to LA a month ago after the ceremony of our high school, and we could only do phone chat these days" You know how much I miss you, sweetie!"

She hugs me back tightly "When will you start your gap year in LA? "

"Olivia hasn’t said yes, so..."

"My parents will convince Olivia, the good news is around the corner." Sherry winks at me and pushes me to my room" now, you only need to worry about your dress."

Sherry chose a pure white silk sundress with some hollowed-out designs on the chest for me. Paired with a set of silver necklaces and earrings, decorated with Amethyst. And helped me plated my hair to bare my neck which is the most gorgeous part I believe of my body.

Look at the girl in the mirror, Sherry is always good at finding the balance between sexy and delicate.

She nods satisfied "you will slay tonight!"

The last guest arrived a bit late, it was almost dark when the party started. A moonless night.

The maids have prepared everything well under my guidance, food, wines, flowers, and illumination. Everyone is gathering in the backyard. Olivia and Jada sitting with Sherry and Sherry’s parents at the central table, the two empty seats are reserved for me and Easton.

Noah and his parents sitting at the next table, other guests are scattered around other tables.

I didn’t join them, standing in front of the back door to check the cake more easily.

"Miss Iris!" I heard Aria calling and turn around, accidentally bumping into someone's arms. A burst of light pine wood aroma, a little bit bitter.

Easton, why is he always moving without any sounds. Okay maybe it’s my fault, my wolf hasn’t awake, I’m just like a normal human.

"What?" I notice he is staring at me, I glare at him back and ask impatiently.

"Nice dress," He raises his eyebrow "What a waste."

"Excuse me, brother. You are on my way" I don't want to quarrel with him at this moment, Papa is mind linking me, it’s cake time.

When I was ready and push the cake out, Easton was no longer by the door, and he was nowhere to be seen throughout the yard.

Forget it, I tell myself.

I carefully guarding this rose-themed cake, the fondant roses on top of the cake took me two nights.. Jade said that Olivia used to like roses the most. It might seem absurd that the daughter needs to learn through her father what her mother's favourite flower is.

Everyone stands up and applause. Except for one, Olivia.

"Mom?" I put the candle in and signal Olivia to make a wish.

Olivia's face grows paler and she waves off the cake knife on the dining cart and whispers, "I won't make a wish, won't touch this cake."

The cake knife fell on the grass with a muffled sound. It's like the knife is stuck in my heart.

People around don't know what's going on. Jade bends over to pick up the knife and says "Olivia is so happy with me that she doesn’t need to make a wish!"

After that, he takes Olivia’s shoulder, holds her hand and cut the cake together. Everyone starts laughing, cheering, and wishing Olivia a happy birthday.

Sherry squeezes beside me in the chaos and whispers with a worried face "Iris, are you okay?"

I can’t hold back the tears for more seconds, smile at Sherry reluctantly and answer in low voice. "Can’t be better, please help my papa, I need to go to the bathroom, my bras are naughty."

Olivia never loves me. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, she never smiles at me for one second.

Sometimes I even wonder if I was really her daughter? How could a mother treat her little girl who loves her so much with such indifference?

When I enter the house, my tears finally run down, at the same moment whole house powers off.

I heard papa telling guests not to worry in the yard, Noah said he will go to check the circuit.

I really don’t want others to see me like this, decide to go back to my room to calm down first, but hearing a sad growl from the other side of the hallway, It’s Easton’s room.