Chapter 1

Kara

One year, 365 days. That is all I had before I was to be claimed by another captor. But what can a lowly omega expect but to obey her superiors? The only exception is my family, who rescued me from a lifetime of horror, but even they were powerless to stop this.

I had one escape from my fate to find my mate. But as each day passed, the grain of sand falls ticking off the days I had left. I searched in all the packs and human cities to find my mate, with no luck. Now I have hours before he will come for me. 

Currently, I am back home in the Silvermoon Pack my twin sister has just had her first baby, and he is the cutest chubbiest little angel I have ever seen. I couldn’t miss seeing him before fate claimed me. His name is Luca and I rock his sleeping form in my arms for the 15th time today. I want to soak up all of his cuteness before I go.

“Where was your favourite place you went to?” Aurora, my sister asks me. I smile. No one wants to mention the elephant in the room and I’m glad. I just want one more day of normalcy.

“The Eclipse pack I think it’s a beautiful place, and I got on really well with their luna,” I answer truthfully, but still it is hard to enjoy something when you aren’t fully free. Not that I ever will be. My wolf and I have a strained dynamic. She came a whole year early when I was 17. All wolves come on your 18th birthday. It’s not her fault, my biological father was the one who forced her out. After what we have both endured, she is wild. He was also the one who made this deal that I found out just after my sister killed him. When I believed I was truly free from him. But it seemed he still had one more parting gift for me. 

Aurora gives me a bright smile. There was a time I thought she was an angel for saving me and she is, but she suffered in her own way too. The conversation changes as we all sit in the large lounge of her mansion she has with her mates, yes mates, as in plural. I don’t know how she handles four alpha males, but she does. They also happen to be my step brothers too. Don’t ask, this is the normal part of my family.

As I look at them all together, I pray one day I will have the same, but it seemed after what happened to me my hopes of finding my mate is an impossible task. I still bear the mark on my neck, a curse binding me to my tormentor which I believe is blocking my ability to find my mate. Perhaps the moon goddess forgot about me? I sigh. Who would want me anyway?

Luca stirs in my arms and I rock him once more. He is so perfect. “Theres been another shooting, more wolves are being killed,” Caleb announces, my gaze snapping up as he pulls my sister into him protectively, as if the shooter is right here in this room. I frown slightly it’s another reason I came home early not just because of my nephew more and more wolves have been dying mysteriously. “Is there any more information?” Ethan asks as a worried tension settles over everyone.

“There is a rumour that Evander Liot is behind it but he keeps denying the accusations,” Caleb adds as Sabastian lights up a cigarette leaning back in the chair unphased by this news. Evander Liot is a notorious arms dealer who will create and sell anything to the highest bidder. As werewolves, we are rather resilient, but we have enemies and silver bullets are one of them. The problem with the ones Evander Liot is selling is that they fracture on impact, hitting your blood system. There is no way to heal or survive after that. It could be the end of our species if these bullets are in the wrong hands.

“Gabriel, do you think there is a cure for this?” my mother asks. She is an omega like me. I know she is hopeful that this is not a threat the rest of us believe it to be. Gabriel is the head doctor at our pack investing his time for advanced medicine and cures for werewolves. We heal well on our own, but there are some things we don’t heal from. He also happens to be my favourite brother. I like to tease him no end knowing he gets so wound up. I watch as he clears his throat, his brow furrowed as his long red hair falls around his face.

“It’s possible I’m sure but I need more time this type of weaponry is unlike anything I have seen before but there is always a way around these things,” he reassures my mother as she nods patting Matthew her mate and the man I consider my real father on the leg. This last year I travelled with them and it was the best year of my life. I had always wondered what my mother was like. She didn’t disappoint me.

The conversation moves on to something far more light-hearted, and Luca actually gives me an enormous smile. We are all playing a monopoly and Sabastian is winning by miles. Aurora seems to be cleaned out by her mates. “Sabastian, must you put another hotel on there? Can’t I get mates rates?” she pouts, handing over her last one hundred-dollar bill. He swipes the notes from her hands, pecking her lips before giving her a wink. “Not a chance, kitten,” he purrs seductively at her and her cheeks go red.

Dad still isn’t comfortable with their relationship, and I see him looking down at the board game to avoid the tension growing between them. I just smirk, as does Gabriel. We have our own little game where we bet how often dad gets uncomfortable with their PDA. There is one rule and Gabriel isn’t allowed to participate or he would cheat. So far, Sabastian and Caleb are the worst, Ethan rarely gets handsy with her and I think that is why he and dad get on best.

I mouth the words, ‘One point to me,’ at him as he shakes his head. Sabastian is my favourite for this game. He doesn’t give a fuck and secretly I think he enjoys annoying his dad. Gabriel pulls out a £5 note and slides it to me. I chuckle, looking down at Luca as I waft the money in his face before pocketing into my jeans. “Can we just finish this game? Luca will need to sleep soon,” Dad snaps the vein on his forehead popping as Aurora breaks away from Sabastian’s gaze, standing taking Luca from me to feed him. I give him one last kiss on the forehead as she leaves the room. It’s not like any nudity is an issue with us werewolves, but I think it’s giving dad a break from Sabastian winding him up.

I roll the dice, scoring a double as I make my way round the board. I roll again two fours and give me a measly £10 to mum for landing on her property. When I roll again, I get another double, just my luck. “Three in a row. You know what that means,” Dad teases, giving me a wink as I nod my head with a sigh. “Sure do,” as my silver car piece gets moved to jail. Ethan lifts the dice about the roll when the doorbell rings. It’s late, meaning there is only one person who could be at the door. My heart skips a beat as mum and I exchange a look as Caleb slowly stands heading for the front door as the bell rings again.