Chapter One

I could barely keep my eyes open as I rested my head heavily onto the palm of my hand. My cheek going slightly red from the impression my fingers and palm had made.

My brain barely took in the words my English Literature teacher was relaying, my mind unable to comprehend the information she was providing.

What I did hear seemed to follow straight through one ear and out the other.

My absence of attention or care was due to a lack of sleep and exhaustion. I hadn't gotten home until past 1am last night, and for a reason unknown to me, I could barely get an hour sleep.

My wolf had been scarce, she had moved further into the back of my mind since my parents passed but lately, she had made her presence more known.

I had thrown myself into border patrol shifts, doing more than 4 night shifts a week and the occasional double shift. It was a distraction and it allowed me to grow stronger and stronger.

Something the Beta of my pack, Julian, had agreed with. He would encourage me to take more patrol shifts ever since my wolf turned up on my 16th birthday. The date a werewolf finally gets their wolf.

That was nearly two years ago, and I only had two months until my 18th birthday.

Julian had been a close friend to my father before he died, he had promised to look after me. My father had been a pack warrior which was why Julian had been tougher on me lately.

My wolf was a pack warrior and with the reputation my father had, I needed to be up to par. To follow his footsteps.

When my dad died, my mother took her life shortly after. He had died while protecting his Alpha, rogues had attacked them during a visit to a pack up north.

The pain was instant, my mother's heart and soul left the moment my father took his last breath.

She couldn't bear the thought of being on this earth without her soul mate, the person who shared half her soul.

A mate connection is so delicate and precious that the moment you see the person who holds half your heart and soul, time stops.

Only werewolves have the ability to identify who their soul mate is. Unlike a human, they can sense their mate from touch, smell and eye contact. To a werewolf, a mate is their entire universe and more, they complete you in every way.

It was because of that, that I understood my mother's reasons for taking her own life. I watched her become a shell of a person, a lifeless soul who walked with no purpose or value.

I had grieved for a long time, but Julian and his mate Grace helped ease the pain. They took me into their home and had looked after me since. Taking me on as their responsibility and I was more than grateful.

"Miss Jackson?"

The sound of my name rolling angrily off Mrs Bennett's tongue had my attention moving from the window to the direction of Mrs Bennetts voice. Her slim tall figure standing in front of my desk only a few feet away from me.

I removed my hand from my cheek before looking up.

Her scowl was evident as her eyebrows furrowed, clearly unimpressed at my lack of concentration. "To prove that you were listening, please repeat what I had just told the class." She requested, her eyes never leaving mine.

Her request made my face scrunch up in distaste and I simply stared straight back at her. My eyes blank hoping she would catch onto my answer.

We both knew I hadn't been listening, my focus elsewhere.

Thankfully, she turned around, walking back to her desk to sit down before telling me to turn my book to page 156 of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin.

"Please read for the remainder of the lesson, once the bell rings you may leave class. I have lots of marking to do for a class this afternoon so read quietly."

Everyone followed her instructions except two girls at the back, a desk behind me. They were both from my pack and they whispered softly, gossiping about a house party on the neighbouring territory.

It seemed to be the hottest topic of conversation the past week, everyone wanted to attend.

"Alpha Gabriel turns 18 next week and he's invited everyone from our pack to his party next Saturday. I'm definitely going, are you coming with me?" Chelsey questioned excitedly.

"Yes!" Amber replied enthusiastically. "Of course, everyone is going to be there. I'm not missing out."

I tuned them out after they began giggling, whispering breathlessly about what they were going to wear.

The bell soon rang loudly, echoing throughout the classroom signalling the end of lesson. Students quickly packed up their belongings, throwing their books into their bags, heading straight to the door.

I filtered myself through the halls, the heavy crowds of people compacting the hallways, blocking lockers from being accessed. I decided to head straight for the canteen, my stomach rumbling from hunger.

I passed both humans and werewolves, since this was a mixed school both werewolves and humans occupied the hallways. Obviously, the humans didn't realise that werewolves were among them, unless they had a mate.

Hearing my name being called, I immediately looked in the direction of where my friends and I sit in the canteen. Chloe was stood up, her eyes shining brightly from the grin she was giving me.

"Away with the fairies today?" She teased as I approached, receiving an eye roll in reply.

She laughed, giving me a further grin before passing me my lunch. She had owed me from when she forgot her lunch the other day. I told her not to worry about it, but Chloe didn't listen anyway.

Within a few minutes our friends arrived, the spaces on the table quickly filling up.