TWO

"Aah, I'm drowning!"

I sat up straight and wiped the dripping water off my face before noticing my glaring mother at the foot of my bed with her favourite signature "wake up Annabelle" red jar. I groaned and internally gagged at the after-smell of alcohol in my mouth and the way I literally smelled like a liquor shop. I looked over at my mother who looked more angry than usual when she woke me up in the morning.

"Drowning won't be the only thing you're doing if don't get out of bed and help with the chores." She yelled at me with a scrutinizing look that always managed to make me feel guilty but I get over it quickly since we always did this every morning.

"I wouldn't be going back to sleep when my Sheets are now wet," I replied and ungracefully got out of bed.

"God, get your bathroom to use." My mother ordered and pointed at the door to the bathroom. She scrunched her nose and glared at me.

I shrugged and walked to the room right after my mother uttered her last words before exiting my room. "You really have to find your mate soon."

I turned on the water and calmly waited for the bathtub to fill up, I would normally get in because I easily got impatient but right now my mind was flooding with different thoughts. My mate is really taking his precious time especially since most of the werewolves around my age have found their mates. Being twenty-one and mateless is really not so wonderful especially since most of the males in my age range have probably found their mates and most of them stay away from any girl who is not their mate so it is very hard to get laid around here unless you call Lucas the Jerk.

I sighed when the bathtub was finally filled and stripped from my clothes that were covered with the horrid stench of alcohol and sweat. I got in and shuddered when my skin made contact with the cold water; I took hold of my shampoo and washed my hair before grabbing the pomegranate-scented soap and washing the horrible scent off of me. I finally stepped out of the bath when I was done and wrapped the huge white towel around my body and walked to the little sink to brush my teeth. I took the last spit and was about to walk out of the bathroom when my mother's voice rang through the walls and pierced my ears.

"I swear if you don't get out of there Anna, I am going to open the door!" she screamed.

I rolled my eyes, her threat only motivated me to stay in the bathroom longer and take my time but I am not a daredevil and would rather not have her screaming in my ears so early in the morning and give her another chance to add something to Annabelle's list of mistakes actually a book by now. I opened the door and walked out of the bathroom and gave my mother a look that would decipher between, "did you have to terrorize my room" and "I was already done when you decided to knock my eardrums dead".

She scanned me from head to toe and shook her head. "Wear something presentable, Alpha Colton is downstairs." She informed me and walked out of the room.

Unlike Lucas, I had great immense respect for his father because he was respectable and upright totally controversial to his son. The man always had this smile that also made me smile when I saw him and he just had something about him that made me see fuzzy bunnies.

I quickly wore a teal knee-length dress and wore my black flats before running a brush through my hair and going downstairs. There were silent muffled voices as I stepped down the stairs coming from the living room and thanks to my hearing I could sure as hell hear each word. I stepped down on the last stair and smiled when I saw Alpha Colton seated on one of the seats. I went over and greeted him before giving my father a lopsided smile and he smiled back.

My father and I always understand each other when it comes to mother, when mother did something to me I would always complain to my father and then we would badmouth her over some ice cream and hide the can so that she would not find out; ah, those wonderful father-daughter moments at the expense of your mother.

"Ah, you get taller and prettier each time I see you." Alpha Colton commented and I could not help but smile and blush a little; curse me and my inability to take a compliment without looking ripe.

"That's probably because she's finishing all the food in my house." My father commented and I glared at him before retracting my glare because of my mother's glare.

Alpha Colton chuckled. "Haven't you found your mate yet, Anna?" he asked and I shook my head. "Well that's a pity and I would have really loved it if you were my son's mate." He added and I almost spit out the water I had just drunk.

The entire thought of even having Lucas close to me grossed me out but luckily his father did not know that. I smiled at him and joined my mother who was now in the kitchen.

"I'm going over to the Kamden's," I informed my mother and grabbed a strip of bacon on one of the plates which earned me a scolding look from my mother.

"Is Vera's mother still as bitter?" she asked even though she knew the answer.

It was not just a father and daughter ride in the house; believe it or not my mother and I also had something in common which was despising the Kamdens except their daughter of course because she was sweet and a wonderful melon to be around. Mrs Kamden could definitely qualify for the most hayed Kamden because she was very boastful and thought she was better than most of the people around her.

"That woman won't grow sweet even if a full truck of candy fell on her," I replied.

My mother shook her head and smiled. We both walked back into the living room and found Alpha Colton about to leave.

"Thank you, Maxwell." Alpha Colton said and shook hands with my father. "I have to visit a few more families and you know the rest of the alpha duties." They both chuckled and I shook my head. I did not get what was funny, he literally said he has duties and how is that supposed to be funny?

"It was wonderful having you, Alpha." My mother voiced out with a smile and he smiled back.

"And it's always wonderful to give your family a visit." He replied.

I was standing awkwardly in the middle of the room as they exchanged polite replies until the last part of their goodbyes caught my ear.

"He's a very persistent man and please do make it for your own good." Alpha Colton said and walked out of the door.

Who is the persistent man and why did his statement seem more of a threat or a warning? It could not be Lucas since he is more of a joke and a jerk than a persistent man that would carry out a threat and sure as hell could not be any of the elders of the pack of the Alpha himself. Our pack was known as one of the most peaceful packs in the east and I do not have any idea of a person who would carry out a threat in our pack.

I looked at both my parents with a "what was that about" look and they both looked at each other and they were probably sharing a conversation through their bond sadly I could not join in since they were mates so I kept on staring at them and what looked like they were having a heated conversation on what to do.

"Are you guys done yet?" I asked when I got tired of waiting and being ignored.

They both turned to me with half-smiles. "The Alpha came to invite us to an event that the pack is holding." My dad said but I knew that was not all of it. "Every werewolf in this pack is expected to be there." He added.

My mother just had to comment, "So no sneaking out for parties."

I rolled my eyes and looked at my father and told him to go on. "Most of the Alpha's from neighbouring packs are gonna be there." He said.

I still did not get the whole essence of holding this event. Was it some sort of peace treaty and if so why would the whole pack have to endure a ton of alphas in one place trying to show who is the most dominant?

"Why are they even holding this "event"?" I asked.

"Alpha business probably and all those treaties." My mother replied quickly and I narrowed my eyes at why her voice seemed panicked.

"Then who is "HE"?" I asked and put on a large and husky voice.

My mother and father shared a look before turning to me. "Alpha Jaxon Ryker."

Cue one of those horrible thunder noises in movies when something horrifying is mentioned because I just wet my purple undies.