Personal Assistant

Nyx

It had been two days since I got slammed against the wall, but the students wouldn't stop laughing and whispering as I walked to my locker. It didn't matter if I was the Beta's daughter, teenagers could be assholes, especially werewolves who believed strength was everything.

"Hey girl." Mira waved at me with a wide smile. Well, at least not all teenagers were cruel.

"Hey Mira," I said, closing my locker.

She linked her arm through mine and dragged me excitedly into an empty classroom, not caring about the girls staring daggers at us as we walked past.

"How's your preparation for the Crimson Hunt coming? I really hope to find my mate that day. What if he's a Lycan?" Excitement beamed in her eyes.

"You know I can't go. My mother won't let me," I said, sitting on an empty desk.

"Uh, so what? You're the Beta's daughter."

I rolled my eyes. A butler's daughter had more rights than me. Besides, I'd never understood why she-wolves fought each other to be claimed by monsters. I'd seen a Lycan's beast form, and that didn't look like something any normal girl should have been fighting for. So what if the Lycan population was thinning? They should have found other ways instead of sitting and watching females struggle for positions they barely got.

I pulled out the sandwich I'd stolen from the kitchen this morning and bit into it while Mira continued.

"I wasn't able to find my mate last year on my seventeenth birthday, but I have a very strong feeling I'll meet him at the hunt. Plus I'm turning eighteen two days from now." She sat beside me. "You know, I heard the Lycan prince is extremely handsome and he'll be claiming his mate this year."

Her face twisted into a fake pout. "But he's reserved for Alpha females or strong Beta females. Like Vesper."

Yeah, Vesper was one strong she-wolf. Her father, Alpha Gerald, treated her like a trophy. She's mean, but even I couldn't help but admire her. She was everything I could never be.

I nodded along, half listening to Mira's never-ending tale about her dream mate. Something about his height and the feel of him. All Alphas with unmated daughters had the opportunity to be connected to the Lycan family, to expand their political power. That was why Alpha females trained as hard as males. Not me. I couldn't walk two blocks without gasping for air.

The school bell rang and we headed to our separate classes. I loved Mira, but my ears were beginning to ache from all her talks.

I didn't see her again 1 the rest of the day. Maybe she'd already left to prepare for the hunt. I guessed I was on my own for the next two weeks. At least her sister and her minions wouldn't be around for a while. That left me with the less mean girls.

When the final bell rang I didn't waste a second getting to my bike. The wind brushed through my hair as I rode home. My phone beeped inside my backpack but I decided not to check it yet. Probably another rejection from Crescent University. Who would blame them, it was an elite school and maybe they'd figured out how much of a nobody I was. But deep down I hoped I was wrong. A scholarship was my only way out of this hell.

The pack house came into view and my shoulders dropped with exhaustion. I parked my bike in the cramped shed I generously called a garage and headed inside. The servants were busier than usual, hauling boxes and bags through the hallways. I walked past them to my room, too tired to care.

I tossed my backpack onto the nearest surface and stepped into the bathroom. The cracked mirror reflected a pale stranger with green eyes that had seen too many sleepless nights. My red hair could be richer. Before showering I double-checked the door lock. I wouldn't want my stepbrother "accidentally" wandering into my room.

I showered quickly and changed into a tank top, denim shorts and an oversized shirt thrown over it. I picked up my phone to check my notifications when a loud bang on my door stopped me.

Perfect. Nothing said "welcome back" like someone hammering on your door. I just wanted five minutes before making dinner. Apparently that was too much to ask. I opened the door and my heart sank.

Cullen's gaze raked over me like I was something to eat. His gray eyes lingered on my chest. I thought he'd already left for the hunt.

"Get ready. We're leaving." He said.

Before I could process that, my stepmother's voice carried from down the hall. "Why take her? She'll be completely useless there."

I looked at Cullen. He was already impatient.

"What?" I said, completely lost.

"Did I stutter?" He dragged a hand through his hair. "Calix and Vesper are already waiting. You have two minutes. And if you're not out by then, you'll get punished."

I swallowed hard, knowing exactly what kind of punishment he meant. He turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the doorway with confusion written all over my face. 

Oh no. I sighed as my fears came to life. I'd never been to Quicksilver pack. I'd never been to any other pack.

Before I could pull myself together Cullen came back, his expression darker this time. He didn't let me speak before grabbing my arm and dragging me with him. I struggled against his grip even though I knew it was useless. My father and stepmother were already standing beside the car in silence, their distant expressions telling me they were mind-linking. They both turned to Cullen when we reached the car. Not that I was expecting a warm welcome.

"Why take her? She'll only be a burden," my stepmother said.

"I need a personal assistant," Cullen said flatly.

I huffed. Personal assistant. Was that what we were calling servants now?

"I really don't mind staying back." I looked at my father. He didn't spare me a glance. Maybe he didn't want me to see the guilt in his eyes. If he felt any.

I stood there watching the happy family exchange hugs and kisses. How sweet.

Cullen opened the car door and shoved me inside before going around to the driver's side. My phone pressed into my back pocket. I pulled it out just as he started the engine.

"Cullen, you don't have to take me with you," I said.

"Why?" He glanced over at me. "So you can sleep with every guy in school while I'm gone?"

My stepmother was a crazy lady but I felt safer with her than her psychopathic son.

We barely passed through the iron gates before his hand shut out and grabbed my hair, yanking me toward him.

"What's with the rumors of you having a boyfriend?"