Chapter 3

  Ebony's POV

  

  "Where have you been? I need to talk to you about something." My mom asked me as I walked through the front door of our apartment.

  

  "I was at Kate's. I have to get ready for work," I told her and started walking to my room to put on my uniform.

 

I went to the bathroom to freshen up. I locked the bathroom door and brushed my teeth. Then, I put on my uniform and returned to my room.

  

  A young guy was sitting on my bed when I entered my room. He had to be about twenty. 

  

  "Hello, pretty girl! I'm Chad's son Ryan" He said, looking me up and down lustfully, making me feel sick from his nasty gaze.

  

  "Mom" I screamed, not going any closer to that guy Chad.

  

  "What," She asked, annoyed.

  

  " Why is he in my room? I walked in, and he was here," She asked.

  

  "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Ryan, here is a soon-to-be tracker of the Silvermoon Pack. He is Chad's son." My mom said

  

  "Is this her, father?" he asked Chad, standing by my mom. 

  

  "Yes, she is gorgeous right?" Chad replied.

  

  "Come here, Ebony; I need to talk to you," my mom said, and we headed to her room. She told me to sit down.

  

  "Look, Ebony. I'm just going to get to the point. We are broke because I made some bad investment decisions." She said and paused for a minute.

  

  "Ebony, you are sixteen now and a young woman. Ryan is twenty-one years old and is very wealthy. He has taken an interest in you." She said

  

  "What do you mean, mom?" I asked her.

  

  "I told him about you, and he is interested in you," She said

  

  I looked at her with a confused expression.

  

  "I told him you were a virgin, and he wants to change that. He wants to take your virginity," She finally finished.

  

  "What! No, mom, I don't even know him." I told her and stood up and was about to leave

  

  "Yes, you will!" She shouted at me, and I just looked at her

  

  "I owe him some money. He owns a club, and I Borrowed some money from him. He will hurt me if you don't do this, Ebony." She said

  

  "I kept you and lost my mate. You are the reason we are living like this. I need you to go back in there and let him do what he wants with you. I'm sure he will be gentle. If you are good, he will keep you." She said

  

  I couldn't believe my mom would do that to me. She is trying to sell my innocence. 

  

  "I will give you five minutes, but after that, I need you to go back in there." She said and walked away.

  

  Once she was gone, I thought, how is she, my mother? A mother doesn't sell their daughter. I knew I was not going to let him take my virginity.

  

  I got up and walked out of my mom's room. They were all talking in the kitchen.

  

  "She just needs a few minutes, and then she will be ready," I heard my mom say

  

  "She better! You owe me a lot of money from all the drugs you've received from me and the gambling you've done at my son's club. He's been waiting to take her for a year; now it's time." Chad said

  

  "Yes, I'm not waiting anymore," Ryan said

  

  I went to my room in a hurry. I got my purse and phone. I went to my closet and took the money I had hidden from my mom. I opened my window and ran out of there.

  

  I was already late for work but decided to go anyway. I had to walk because I missed the bus. I would call Kate and tell her to have Derek pick me up. There was no way I was going back home. 

  

  I didn't understand why my mom would sell me like that. he wasn't my mate. I would feel the bond since I was sixteen now. So why did he want to take my virginity? What did they mean he had been waiting a year for me?

  

  I was also upset because my mom had lost all the money doing things she shouldn't, like drugs, and blamed me for her bad decisions. She borrowed money to gamble with when we had no hot water or heat. 

  

  I finally made it to the Cafe.

  

  "I'm sorry I'm late. I missed the" I started to say and was hit with the scent of pine and mint. It was so relaxing.

  

  I looked up and was shocked; Keith was sitting in a booth by the window. "Mate," I heard him say, looking straight at me. Then, he stood up to come to me.

  

  "No," I said and ran out of there as fast as possible.

  

  How could my mate be the one person that has hated me for so long? He has made my life a living hell. 

  

  I walked for a while, went to the woods, and changed into my wolf.

  

  My wolf is different than most. She is all white with a bit of black fur by her eyes. I first changed into my wolf a month before my twelfth birthday. You usually change at thirteen. 

  

  Another different thing about me is that my clothes stay in place when I change. Everyone else I know clothes tear off them. Only some people know about my wolf.

  

  I was in the woods with Kate and Derek the first time I shifted. Derek made Kate run to get their parents. Once they arrived, they were shocked to see my wolf was white. They were also surprised when I turned back, and my clothes were still on. 

  

  Uncle Michael said we couldn't tell anyone else, not even my mom, because it could make me a target. So I usually change where Alpha Michael told everyone else was forbidden. He did that so I would have a place to shift.

  

  Once close to the pack house, I shifted back and started walking the rest of the way. 

  

  I mind-linked with Kate and told her I was on my way and needed to talk to her parents. I had to tell them about my mom. She had gone too far and tried to sell me.

  

  Someone grabbed my arm, causing me to scream.

  

  "Ebony, it's me." I looked up and saw Keith. Tingles were shooting all through my body from his touch.

  

  " Why are you here?" I asked him

  

  "You know why!" He said, staring deep into my eyes. His green eyes were beautiful. I couldn't look away from them. He seemed to be in the same situation. 

  

  A car's lights broke the trance, and I saw Uncle Michael, Aunt Lisa, Kate, and Derek in the car.

  

  Derek and Uncle Michael got out of the car. 

  

  "What a surprise, Keith; how's your father? Is anything wrong?" Uncle Michael asked

  

  "No, nothing is wrong, and he is fine. I need to talk to Ebony," Keith said

  

  "No, you don't! Leave her alone!" Derek said and tried to pull me behind him.

  

  "No, she is mine!" Keith growled.

  

  His eyes were turning black, and his wolf was taking over.

  

  Derek tried to shield me from Keith, but Uncle Michael knew what was happening.

  

  " Derek, take your hands off her before Keith loses control." Uncle Michael said

  

  "He will hurt her," Derek said

  

  "No, he won't, son, trust me," Uncle Michael said

  

  Derek let me go hesitantly, and Keith came to me. I flinched but calmed down once he started hugging me. 

  

  The tingles were going everywhere through my body. It felt good, perfect. I actually felt the one thing I never thought I would say around Keith. I felt safe. I felt safe in his arms, like he would never let anyone hurt me. 

  

  He put his face in the crock of my neck and sniffed. "Mine," he whispered in my hair, sending chills throughout my body.

  

  Kate stepped out of the car in shock.

  

  "Oh my goddess, they are," She began.

  

  "Mate's," Derek finished, also looking shocked. 

  

  "Come, let's go in to talk. We should also have your parents come over, Keith." Uncle Michael said.

  

  "I already mind-linked them. They are on their way." Keith said, still holding me.

  

  "I will shift with Keith since there's not much space in the car," Derek said.

  

  "Why can't me and Ebony shift," Keith asked.

  

  Everyone was quiet for a moment.

  

  "Is it because her wolf looks different? She is gorgeous," Keith said. 

  

  We all looked at him in shock. He must have seen me shift. 

  

  All shit!