Chapter 1: Ice-cold

Growing up in Crescent Park, people used to look at me differently. It was as if I wasn't meant to be in the park. Some would treat me awfully while some would try as much as possible to be nice to me while still not being able to completely hide their negative feelings for me.  

I didn't know exactly why all that was happening to me but I believed it was because I was different from anyone else in the park. Imagine being 18 already but yet to shift for the first time. Let's not even talk about mind-linking, I couldn't do that either.  

Sometimes, I used to wonder if I was what I thought I was. I mean, I didn't possess the characteristics of a lycanthrope. I was more like a normal human living her life in a community where everyone was a werewolf.  

My dad, Adolphus, was the Alpha of our pack. He was a very strong wolf. And even though he was strict, he could be nice too. The whole pack loved him and nobody had ever gone against his judgment. He was believed to be the most knowledgeable and oldest Alpha the Crescent Park had ever had.  

My mom, Ulva, was the Luna. She was kind to everyone but cold to me. I didn't know exactly what I did to her but it was obvious she didn't like me. Nevertheless, she would always try to be kind when she speaks to me in the Alpha's presence to avoid being yelled at by him.  

Uncle Dolph was the Beta, he was my uncle and a highly regarded member of the pack. He was strong and nice, but unlike the Alpha, he wasn't strict. His mate was Rudina, and the two had a daughter named Rieka together. Rieka was my best friend and we were very close to each other even though I was three years older than her. Well, as the saying goes, age is just a number.  

Crescent Park had been one of the peaceful parks that had not experienced any breach or war for the past 15 years. It was a remarkable achievement for my dad, and he had achieved that only by making peace with the neighboring packs.  

My dad truly believed in peace and tranquility, he would only opt for war when war becomes the last resort. People believed he was the bedrock of our modern-day pack and had often speculated that if he died, our pack would likely fall apart.  

Well, it was obvious the fact that I was the only child he had and it wasn't as if I was suitable to be the next Alpha. Even if I was suitable, I knew most of the pack members would not accept me as their Alpha since she-Alphas were rare and no she-wolf had ever ruled our pack before.  

Uncle Dolph however was the perfect person to lead the park after my dad, but certainly not for long since the rule of our pack stated that a Beta can only rule over the pack for a short time in the absence of the Alpha.  

Anyways, since my dad was silent about the matter despite his old age, I believed he had a better plan for our pack ahead of his demise. Perhaps an Alpha-prince from another park would be summoned to lead us or someone from the council members. Who knows?   

Buzz… buzz… 

My phone vibrated, it was a text message from Rieka telling me to hurry up and meet her and Dave on the main street. The duo had already prepared for school. We normally used to go to school together because we were in the same department and also studying the same course, mythology.  

Mythology wasn't the course I intended to study in the first place, but Rieka convinced me to. She had right from her childhood loved listening to mythical stories and also reading about them. Meanwhile I, on the contrary, was more interested in animals. Sadly I wasn't allowed to keep any at home as pets.  

After preparing for school, I went downstairs and met my mom preparing breakfast in the kitchen. There was no time for me to wait and eat hence, I told her I was ready for school.  

"Mom, I'm leaving!" I announced. 

"Okay? Watch your back" she said in what seemed like a whisper. 

"I will, mom" I huffed and left the house.  

While heading towards Dave's car in the main street, I saw my dad discussing with some of the council members in front of the pack's conference building. I waved at him from afar and he also did the same to me with a smile on his face.  

The council members, however, glared at me with so much hatred written all over their faces. I quickly averted my gaze from them and continued walking until I was finally at Dave's car. I pulled one of the backseats' doors open and quickly hopped in, "Hello, guys!" I shut the door. 

"Hi, Emily!" They chorused, "Was just about dialing your contact again" Rieka added. 

"Oh, well here I am. So, can we go now?" I said staring at my wristwatch, "We are almost late for the first lecture"  

"Sure!" Dave started the car and quickly put it into motion.  

Dave's father was one of the council members and he was very close to my father. His mother, Teresa died six years ago. She was severely ill and there was nothing our pack's doctor could do about it to save her. It was a terminal illness.  

It took Dave almost half a decade to finally get over the pain of losing her. He had been living alone with his father in their house ever since. He was a year younger than me and two years older than Rieka. Somehow, he had a special bond with Rieka. 

The duo's closeness had made people wonder if they were mates. To be certain about it though, the two had to clock eighteen first. Dave would be clocking eighteen next year while Rieka would have to wait two more years for that.