Chapter 2

AYLA (20 years later)

“Ayla, thank you for helping, but do not be late,” Mom tells me and gives me a hug.

“It is okay, they said they don’t need me today. And told me to rest before we have to start organizing the moon ball.” I Tell my Mom, Anne.

“Oh, that is good. I am proud of you for taking an interest in helping the pack. I know it is not easy.” She says.

“Even though I do not have a wolf, the pack is my home. I feel bad that some see me as a shame. I never want to bring that to our family. Especially not when you have cared for me all these years, loved me as was I were your blood.” I tell her, and she smiles.

“How can we not? You are a beautiful, strong, good-hearted girl. And u always were. Your father and I do not care about the rumors or others' disrespect. You are our little girl.” Mom tells me, and we hug again.

“I will go to town today, find a dress for the moon ball. So I have it done.” I tell her.

“You be safe, okay?” She always worries when I leave the pack.

“I will, I promise,” I promise, I tell her before I leave the house.

-

My name is Ayla, and I am twenty years old. I live in the supernatural world with werewolves. My Dad, Thomas, is the Beta, the Alpha’s right hand, the second in command. My Mom was the same when Luna was still alive. Now she works together with the Gamma's mate and plans all the official events when the Alpha needs them to. William is their Son, and he is next in line, first Beta. He never liked me and always told me I didn’t belong here.

I am adopted, or rather, I was found in the forest by Anne and Thomas. And as a rogue had damaged Anne, so she couldn’t have more kids, they decided to take me home. The Alpha had allowed them to keep me, but only because of a note that was found with me. It had said

Hello, whoever finds precious little Ayla. For a reason that cannot be said, she has been left here, hoping that someone can give her a good life. She is half a wolf, and needs someone who can show her this world. Ayla was born on April 27th. Please treat her well, show her what love and family are. Best wishes, a friend.

That was all it had said. Was it a friend or a family member? If I were so precious, why was I left the way I had been? My parents had from the date on the note that I had been about six months old when they found me. They had taken me back to the pack and showed Alpha the note. And he had told them as I was half wolf, I could stay. Anne and Thomas said they loved me from the moment they saw me. And they have always treated me well.

William is another story. In the beginning, he did love me, I think. And he and his two best friends, Jaxon, the Alpha's son, and Landon, the Gamma’s son, and Emma, Landon‘s sister, became my friends. Until I turned thirteen, and I didn’t show any signs of getting a wolf.

The first time we connect with our wolves happens on the thirteenth birthday. They cannot shift until they turn seventeen, but for four years, they can talk and connect with their wolves. Nothing happened when I turned thirteen, and my parents said sometimes for half-bloods, it happens later. So they told me to be patient, and I was.

But still nothing happened when I turned fourteen or fifteen. And that’s when my parents told me I might not have a wolf, but they loved me regardless. The same could not be said about my friends and brother.

Only Emma told me it did not matter, and I was still the same person she called her best friend. The boys they began treating me differently, telling me they could not hang out with a wolf-less girl. And that is where the bullying started.

Emma always did her best to protect me, and I loved her for it. But I felt bad that she was looked down on because of her friendship with me.

Jaxon became my worst bully and would call me names like wolf-less, human, or disgrace. He would push and shove me out of the way whenever he felt it. But the worst was when he openly talked with William about how sorry he felt for him. That William must hate that his sister was a worthless piece of nothing.

And then there is Lily, my adopted sister, my parents' birth daughter. She is two years younger than me and just turned eighteen. She never liked me and always complained that I got all the attention. And she was upset when Jaxon didn’t turn out to be her mate, as she was deeply in love with him.

I kept to myself and to Emma, and stayed out of their way as much as I could. It didn’t help that I got a mate when I turned eighteen, two and a half years ago. The packmembers looked down on me, said I didn’t belong in the pack.

But sometimes I feel the heightened senses a wolf has, like the hearing, my heightened smell, and last, the strong sight I have, even in darkness. And it makes me believe I do somehow belong in this world.