One

Scarlett POV

If you asked my parents to describe my older brother, they’d say he was a born leader. Brave, fearless, the kind of man destined to command armies.

And if you asked about my sister, they’d go on and on about her kind nature and selfless heart.

But me?

There’s only one word they’d ever use for me: human.

You probably wouldn’t think “human” could sound like an insult, but somehow, I’ve spent my whole life carrying that word like a mark of disgrace. When I arrived at my Alpha father’s doorstep at twelve, he told the pack I was there because of my human mother’s mistake. I was thrown into the wolf world literally but being the only human made me an outsider from the start. I couldn’t run, fight, or shift like the other kids. 

I’d never find a mate or experience that instant, overwhelming bond wolves talked about.

Yes, I was still the Alpha’s child, and that might’ve protected me from outright bullying, but it didn’t make me belong. The werewolf world was nothing like the human one, and in their eyes, my humanity was a flaw.

My father never outright said he was ashamed of me, but I could feel it anyway. It lingered in the air whenever he referred to me as his human daughter or explained that I came from a brief affair with a human woman eighteen years ago.

My stepmother, his true mate, did make an effort to include me. She was everything a Luna should be: gentle, graceful, kind. But even then, I could sense her discomfort. If there was ever proof that her perfect family wasn’t flawless, I was it. Every glance she gave me was a reminder that her mate had once betrayed her.

No matter how hard they tried, we were never the picture-perfect family. I’d lived in my father’s home, in his pack, in this world for six years and I’d already accepted that I would never truly belong.

Or at least, that’s what I thought.

Even though I had plans to escape to go to college as far away as possible from the pack that never wanted me my life was about to flip completely. Something… or rather, someone… was about to make sure there was more than enough space for me in the werewolf world.

Dear Scarlett Darwin.

After carefully reviewing your application, we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you admission into the University of Florida at this time. We appreciate the effort you put into your application, but due to the high number of applicants this year, we have limited spots available.

We are confident you will succeed in your future academic pursuits and wish you the best moving forward.

Best regards,

Dean of Admissions

University of Florida

I read the rejection email at least five times, my eyes scanning every line like I’d somehow missed something. But there was nothing hidden between the words. Just another generic rejection. Another school that didn’t want me.

Senior year was almost over, and despite applying to countless colleges, I’d only received three rejections and one waitlist so far.

Most of the schools I applied to were average state colleges, nothing fancy. Honestly, I didn’t care about prestige, I just wanted distance. Somewhere far enough that I’d have a valid excuse not to come home on weekends… or holidays.

Living in cold, rainy Washington, Florida’s warm and sunny weather would’ve been perfect not to mention far away. But clearly, that wasn’t happening.

“Scarlett!”

My self-pity session was interrupted by Lily shouting my name. I barely had time to close my G***l tab before she barged into my room without knocking.

“Scarlett, I’ve been calling you for the last five minutes,” she sighed, leaning against my doorframe. “What were you doing? Watching another trashy reality show or just ignoring me?”

Even though we were half-sisters, Lily and I looked nothing alike. She was tall, fair-skinned, with long blonde hair that never seemed messy. She and Sebastian both inherited my dad’s bright blue eyes hers especially striking, like they could see right through you.

“Sorry, I wasn’t ignoring you, Lil,” I said. “What’s going on?”

Her sharp gaze lingered on me for a second before she let it go. “Dad wants us. There’s a big meeting at the pack house tonight. A lot of people are coming.”

I frowned. Pack meetings weren’t unusual, but I was rarely expected to attend. As the only human in the Blacktooth Pack, I wasn’t exactly involved in pack affairs. I couldn’t shift, which meant I couldn’t patrol or fight.

“Why does he want me there?” I asked.

“No idea,” Lily shrugged. “He just told me to get you. I’m sure there’s a reason Dad wouldn’t include you if there wasn’t. Come on.”

She didn’t wait for a response and walked out.

Even the golden child doesn’t know what’s going on, I thought. This must be serious.

I followed her downstairs, both of us quiet. Our house was one of the biggest in the pack: high ceilings, polished hardwood floors the kind of place that screamed Alpha family privilege. Pictures of Lily and Sebastian lined the walls like achievements on display: baby photos, football games, prom nights.

Just like I expected, Dad, Sebastian, and Grace were already in the living room. Dad lounged in his recliner like it was a throne, Grace sitting comfortably on his lap, while Sebastian stood near the fireplace.

“Ah, girls, there you are,” Dad said, his deep voice filling the room. “We have a pack meeting tonight, and I need both of you there.”

Even in his forties, he didn’t look older than thirty. Same light hair and blue eyes as Lily, sharp features, broad build he looked every bit the Alpha he was.

Sebastian matched him in height, though his chestnut hair came from Grace. Grace Luna Grace to everyone else was my dad’s true mate and the mother of my siblings. She completed the perfect family image my father had built.

“Why is Scarlett coming?” Sebastian asked, glancing at me. It wasn’t meant to be harsh just honest. Like me, he knew I usually had no role in these meetings.

“We’ll discuss that there,” Dad replied, standing up with Grace. “Is everyone ready? It’s about to start.”

We nodded.

“Oh, Scarlett, dear,” Grace added gently, “are you sure you don’t want to change? That outfit might be a bit too casual.”

I looked down at my jeans and plain black shirt. Nothing fancy, sure but no one else was dressed up either. Sebastian wore shorts and a t-shirt, and Lily had on a skirt and blouse.

“I think I’ll be fine,” I said.

She nodded, though her eyes lingered on me for a moment longer.

It’s not like I’ll be noticed anyway, I thought. The elders will focus on Dad, the warriors will be staring at Lily, and the girls will be all over Sebastian.

If I was lucky, I’d disappear into the background which was exactly what I wanted.

“Let’s go,” Dad muttered, taking Grace’s hand.

We followed behind him, walking in silence. I took a moment to take in the surroundings.

Our pack lived in a secluded, forested community. Most places like the pack house were within walking distance. Houses lined the roads, and if you walked far enough, you’d find the pack’s grocery store or infirmary.

Members could leave whenever they wanted, but everything was set up so they rarely needed to.

And even if you did try, the guards at the borders made sure it wasn’t easy.

The residential area was only a fraction of our land. Most of the territory was forest open space for wolves to run, shift, and roam freely.

For them, it was perfect.

For me?

Not so much.

I wasn’t exactly an outdoors person, and living an hour away from the nearest town wasn’t ideal. I wasn’t trapped but sometimes, it felt that way.

With guards everywhere, coming and going wasn’t simple. And unlike my siblings, I couldn’t just shift and disappear into the woods whenever I needed space.

Whether I liked it or not…

I was a human living in a wolf’s world.