The Beginning

If I had learned anything from my father it was that family was above all else. No matter the situation it is your honour to protect and cherish your blood. As a packwolf that responsibility falls to the rest of the pack. The pack is your family. The pack is your home. Until of course rumours spread and soon you are in the doghouse.

And that brings me here. Alpha Woods’ office. Having his penetrating gaze critiquing me and probably debating whether to suspend my privileges or stick me on night patrol for the month.

I hadn't don't anything. I simply existed. Which of course meant the odd comment about my training for the Beta position to turn sour in my packmates minds. I had dismissed the odd rude comment but what that male Warrior said was by far out of line. He mocked my father who had died defending the border from vampires. It was an honorable death and not one to be mocked.

Alpha Woods exhaled leaning back in his chair, “Why must you press this issue?”

I bristled biting my tongue preventing myself from saying something I would regret. “He insulted my blood.”

“So you decided to publicly humiliate him by beating the daylights out of him?” He raised a brow crossing his arms.

I rolled my eyes, I did not publicly humiliate him. I just beat him in combat in front of the entire pack. I guess he was a sore loser. I may of been a tad harsh with my fists though. “He disrespected my blood and mocked me. That gives me full right to kill him. He should be thanking me for sparing his life and teaching him his place in the pack.”

Alpha smiled, “I would of killed him.”

“If he does it again I won't hold back.”

“I know.” He stood stretching, “I still need to give you some form of punishment. I don’t tolerate unnecessary violence, you know this.”

I bowed my head looking to my lap “Yes, Alpha.”

“That is why you and your sister will be guarding Kayla at the mating ball tonight.”

Kayla was his daughter. The future Alpha of the pack and in no way, shape, or form needed protecting. Kayla could protect herself just fine. I leapt from my chair clenching my fists, “That isn't fair! Vivian had no part in this.”

He opened the door motioning my dismissal, “If you do well I will appoint you both Beta tomorrow morning.”

I left seething as I stalked down the hall of the Packhouse searching for my twins room. We had lived at the Packhouse since our father was killed, one of the many things we had to thank our Alpha for. Vivian would be far from happy, she had been looking forward to attending our first mating ball and finding herself a mate. This would crush her.

Reaching her room I barged in slamming it shut. Vivian was surrounded by a pile of dresses caught between red or blue. She let out a short yelp at my entrance her sharp emerald eyes zeroed in on me. “What in goddesses name are you doing!”

“Don't bother with a dress. We’re not going.” I uttered leaning on the door huffing in frustration.

Vivian gaped at me in disbelief, “This is our first chance to attend, I’m going.”

I shot her a look the temperature dropping. “Alpha promises to grant us the Beta position if we do well tonight.”

Vivian rolled her eyes scrunching up her face, “It’s always about that bloody position to you isn't it? Why? It’s just a title!”

I closed my eyes counting to ten, “Father was the Beta. A great one at that. But he has joined the stars Viv, the pack needs to move on. I need to move on. It is in our right as his blood to be first in line.”

“Father wouldn't want you to do this out of blood honour.” She started picking at the dresses placing them back in the closet. “We are powerful, more powerful than we can even imagine. As a Beta we would be in the spotlight. Wolves would watch our every move, they would find out about us.”

She was right. Our packmates were already attempting to sabotage our chances of achieving the position. Like vultures they were constantly waiting for a flaw or secret to pop up where they would then latch on for dear life. “Nobody suspects.” I murmured.

She snapped her head to me, “We are different. I can summon flippin' flames from mere thought! For crying out loud, you can summon ice and freeze over the entire town! We aren't children anymore we need to leave before we are discovered.”

“Alpha wouldn't harm us.”

“Really?” She exclaimed flames sparking in her irises, “He loves our strength, can you imagine what he could use us for? What he could have us do? He could use us as weapons to conquer other packs or worse. He could use us to make offspring for more gifted wolves.” She spat the words venomously.

I averted my gaze, she had a fair point. “Father wouldn't of wanted us to run.”

“Valerie, father is dead. He did not even know of our powers!”

My heart pricked at the memory. He was on patrol when the neighboring clan of vampires attacked. He was one of many who had not survived along with a handful of our good warriors. I took it upon myself and hunted each vampire down skinning them alive out of spite. I doubt they would return for a while. It wasn't pretty, but it was satisfying.

“Just this once. After the ball if you still wish to leave I will join you.” I ran a hand through my blonde hair in exasperation.

Vivian huffed giving me a once over, “Fine. I don’t care if we are guarding Kayla, you are not attending like that.” She took in my boots and leather fighting attire dragging me to her closet.

This would take awhile...