Chapter 1 NEW HOME

Amber's POV

The hot sun beat down brutally, its rays threatening to burn my skin as my father’s jeep drove into the Everbite Pack. My family, consisting of my parents, my elder brother Daniel, and me, had set off on this adventure to join a new pack after I got admitted into a popular college. But it wasn’t just any ordinary move; we were werewolves, and our pack, the Woodland pack, had also declared us outlaws.

Being an Omega and the daughter of a cleaner in the packhouse, I had always struggled to fit in with the other werewolves and fought insecurities that gnawed at my self-esteem.

The werewolf society was challenging, and I longed to escape the borders of the old pack and chase my dreams of becoming a famous perfumer. Against all odds, I had been accepted into the most prestigious university known among the packs. It was a chance for a new beginning, a chance to leave behind the prejudices and embrace my passion.

As we pulled up in front of a white-painted mansion, from the outside, the house looked luxurious. It had been built with tan stones and had marble decorations, with small triangular windows.

The golden door shone in the sunlight, and a smile touched my lips. I couldn’t wait to see what the inside looked like.

I stepped out of the car, my heart pitter-pattering against my ribcage. "I can't believe we are here," I remarked with a smile, looking forward to what this new pack had to offer.

Daniel, my protective brother, stood beside me. He was about six feet two inches tall, with light brown eyes and a rough charm that drew attention wherever he went, and compared to him, I looked like a child in comparison.

His company always reassured me, and he flashed me a warm smile, revealing his dimples. "Lovely, why are you staring at me?" He teased as we began unloading the luggage from the trunk.

Lovely was what only he called me; it was my nickname, and whenever I heard it, I knew it was him even without seeing his face. "Nothing," I responded, my voice sounding tired. "I’m just lost in thought,"

My eyes drifted to my parents, who were both engaged in a quiet conversation, their faces filled with concern and worry. My father was worried about something, and my mother, with her long, wavy hair, had a serious expression on her face.

Confusion wrinkled my brow, and I was forced to ask. "Dad, what’s with the holdup? Aren't we going inside?" I questioned.

"Not yet, sweetie," he replied, his brow creased with worry. "I need to contact my friend, Mr. Martin, to bring us the keys to the house, he promised to meet us here."

"Mom, I thought we already had the keys. Why didn't we get them before coming here?" I inquired, unable to understand what was going on.

"Oh, honey, sometimes things don't go as planned," she commented, her voice soothing. "But don't worry, we will sort it out."

But Daniel wasn’t having it, he had already started pacing back and forth, his face painted with frustration. "Shit, Dad, I never trusted that man. Didn't I tell you he would do something like this?!" His words exploded with anger.

"Let me handle this, son," Dad declared. "He will be here soon," he added as he placed his phone to his ear, trying to reach out to his friend, who wasn’t picking up the call.

A rolling sigh escaped my throat, I tipped my face to the bright sun, and it hit my face, and my eyes shut.

The sun beat down on us with merciless strength. Sweat slicked our brows, and the air vibrated with heat, but we endured it—our skin didn’t burn, though every instinct screamed to find shade before we overheated.

"Why did we have to move on such a hot day?" I complained.

"Because school starts tomorrow, honey," my mother reminded me as excitement added shine to her eyes and polish to her cheeks. She let go of the handle of her luggage and rested against the hood of the car.

We waited for what felt like a million years, with the sun still burning our skin, and finally, Mr. Martin, or whatever his name was, approached us. He was a he-wolf from the Everbite pack and also my father’s only friend here.

The air around us seemed as thick as the ocean. The asshole walked over to my father, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

"What took you so long?" Dad demanded, his voice filled with anger.

"Um, I…I was on my way here when I received a call from the house owner," Mr. Martin replied, his expression serious. "They want their house back, they don't want to sell it to a family from the Woodland Pack, especially one of the Omega ranks. I am sorry, I tried to talk to them, but there was nothing I could do."

"What do you mean, Omega Rank?!" Daniel’s voice rose with anger until he was yelling as he confronted Mr. Martin, only to be held back by our father.

"Stay out of this," Dad warned, and Daniel reluctantly backed off, his face contorted with barely contained fury.

"What about the money we have already paid for the house? Aren’t they going to refund us?" Dad's voice resounded with anger.

Mr. Martin's response cut through the air like a slap. "I will return your money by next month," he said casually.

Unable to control his anger, he grabbed Mr. Martin by the collar, drawing him closer with an aggressive glare. "Next month? You have got to be kidding me. Where do you expect my family to live?" he growled, and it was as if his wolf was in control.

Mr. Martin avoided his eyes. "I-I wish I could help, old friend, but there is nothing I can do," he stammered.

Daniel stepped forward and pulled out something from his pocket, and my jaw almost hit the floor at what I saw. It was—it was a fucking gun, a handgun. Before I could come to terms with what was happening, he fired a shot into the air, then pointed the gun at Mr. Martin’s head.

"People never do the right thing until they are forced to," Daniel commented, his teeth bared, revealing his fangs.

Mr. Martin trembled, his legs like jelly, and he almost peed his pants. "Here... here is the key," he stuttered, pulling it out of his back pocket.

We all watched him in stunned disbelief as the tables turned. Daniel snatched the keys and turned on the safety of the gun before shoving it back into his pocket.

"I…I thought you were my friend, you heartless jerk. Why would you do this to me?" My father’s voice trembled with disappointment and betrayal.

Mr. Martin's response held a bitter truth. "I am sorry, I was overcome by greed. I was going to receive payment from two families and keep one for myself," he confessed before fleeing with his briefcase.

"Better run!" Daniel shouted after him, kicking the air in frustration.

"Dad, you always seem to have the worst luck with friends," Daniel commented, shaking his head as he dragged his luggage toward the house.

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I wanted to know how and where he got the gun, but it seems my parents already knew about it, so there was no use asking. We followed him as he unlocked the door of the mansion and pushed the doors open.

We stepped into the thick darkness. I fumbled for my phone and switched on the flashlight, its light cutting through the dark. My mother found the light switch and turned it on, the light illuminated the surroundings, and we all sighed collectively.

The house's living room was a total mess, with white clothes strewn about and garbage scattered. It was also filled with dust and cobwebs, the complete opposite of the home we had pictured.

"Come on, kids. We have a lot of cleaning to do," Mom said, her voice determined as she gathered her wavy locks into a bun.

Daniel suggested we tackle our rooms first, pointing out that the house had three bedrooms, perfectly accommodating our family, and that Daniel and I each get our own room.

"Okay, Dad," I agreed, following him up the grand stairs, dragging my luggage along with me.

I entered the first room I came across, pushing the door open and rolling my luggage inside. The room was painted in shades of green, with a small window allowing a sliver of sunlight to filter through.

A queen-sized bed occupied the center, its plushness inviting luxury, and a little chandelier hung from the ceiling, offering an air of elegance to the room. It was as if the family that lived here before us were royalty.

I opened the wardrobe, finding it empty and ready to be filled with my belongings. There was another door opposite the bed, and as I opened it, a strong odor assaulted my nostrils. the bathroom was a mess and not different from a porta-potty.