Chapter 1

Viola's POV

At twenty two I should have already found my mate. Most of us find them by the age of 15. I put that to the fact that I had yet to meet my wolf. An anomaly. That’s what I really was. 

Other than my dad, my family had no interest in me, I was supposed to be an heiress to Shadow Pack. 

My father was the alpha, Alpha Drake the rest of the pack called him. His eldest beta was Max, Drew’s father. I hated Drew. He was always itching to find a way to get me on my ass. Then there was his sister, Evie, the total opposite of Drew and my best friend. She was a witch/werewolf hybrid. One of the very few that existed.

The only reason any of this lot scared me was because I didn’t have my wolf yet. I am supposed to be this powerful person, and yet I am the pain of my mother’s existence. My father doted on me but I knew he was weary from my lack of a wolf. That and my inability to protect myself. 

It was prophesied long ago that he would have an heir that shook the world to its core, someone powerful. Well the goddess really got it wrong that time. They hadn’t had another child after my younger brother died in a car accident mere days before he should have had his wolf.

Typically our 5th birthday is when we meet our wolf.

“Viola!” Mother screamed. “Viola come here, we are going to be late!” 

Ah yes, my first day in the training rooms. They put off my training due to the lack of a wolf, but today that all changed. I needed to learn to defend myself before other packs started visiting in two months. We had an increasingly large rogue problem and my father had called a meet with the other 8 alphas. 

“Coming!” I yelled back. I ran a brush through my shiny black hair quickly and pulled my favorite jeans on almost tripping down the staircase as I buttoned them. When I reached the bottom my mom huffed and handed me a black bag.

“A change of clothes and some gloves.” She said and waved me out the door.

“Thanks.” I mumbled quietly as I passed her. Strangely, her natural woodsy scent seemed more so today. That was odd.

When I got outside the sun was blinding me off of the snow. I quickened my pace to get to the training rooms before I ended up with a migraine. That would have been just lovely to start my sessions with.

“Finally you’re here!” Evie whispered urgently when I walked in the door.

“What’s wrong?” Everything seemed so wrong today, my stomach was churning and all of the smells were more than nauseating. I had never smelled or heard anything this well before.

“Someone else died.” She pulled me by my hand taking me to the other side of the room. I was shocked to see Brent, a wolf/human hybrid, dead. The metallic smell of his blood had me holding my breath.

This was the first time that someone was killed inside of the pack’s territory. Other bodies had been found outside of pack lines, the rogues were getting bolder. I quickly went to the bathroom area not sure if I was going to be sick or not.

Footsteps sounded outside of the stall I ran to, thinking it was Evie I opened the stall door. 

Ah, oh, not Evie, her brother, Drew.

“I bet they’ll pick out the weakest first now that they moved into Shadow Pack territory.” His voice was like ice. “I bet it’ll be you.” He smiled as if it were a threat. He scoffed. “I’ll even help them find you if they want. You don’t belong here Viola.” He looked at me with a sneer before leaving.

My body started shaking almost like it was convulsing after he left. My breathing quickened and I went to the sink to splash water on my face. It helped with the fear. I had always been terrified of Drew, he hated me. Not that I knew why. 

“Are you ok?” Evie asked quietly shutting the bathroom door behind her.

I scoffed. “Define ok.” Gripping the sink I peeked at myself in the mirror. My violet eyes were brighter than usual, and my black hair was sticking to my sweaty face. “How long do I have to be the token wolf-less girl that everyone despises?” 

Evie linked her arm through mine. “Now that is just silly because I adore you, wolf or no wolf.” She pushed hair from my face. “And our alpha adores you, he only smiles when you’re around V.”

I sighed and allowed her to drag me from the bathroom. “Is training still happening today after Brent?”

She nodded and her face squished up. “If anything they want us training harder now.”

Everyone was paired off with a sparring partner, most of the time the pack utilized their wolves for an actual fight. But sometimes there were instances where that wasn’t an option so hand to hand combat was the tactic today. Clearly Brent hadn’t turned to fight off an attacker or his wolf would have been laying there instead of him.

  “Weapons have been in play since the middle ages.” Our instructor was the other beta of the pack, Derek. He was only a few years older than I was and certainly something to look at. His hair was opposite of mine with a blond that was intense, and he was tall, even for a were. Given my 5’ 3” he easily passed me by a foot and a half. 

“Today we learn with swords and spears.” His voice easily carried throughout the large room echoing off of the walls. And then everyone started sparring. 

Being paired with Evie made today less embarrassing. Though short-lived as I landed on my ass multiple times. Trying to block a tap from the sword to trying to land a blow all somehow ended with me on the ground.

“It’s your form.” Derek strode to me after falling on my ass for the 15th time. “Here.” He offered me a hand up and grabbed one of the practice swords. “Grab this like so.” He placed both hands on the sword knowing I couldn’t hold it up with one hand. Yet more evidence of my uselessness to our pack.

He handed it to me as he stepped behind me guiding my feet to the stance I needed to be at. Guiding my arms up in front of me he stood with his chest and torso against my back and held it up with me. 

“Now with your feet shoulder width away and your right in the front take a swing. Bring it back like this.” He moved with me slowly so I was able to get the feel for it. 

Then it happened again. All of the scents becoming unbearably strong, accompanied by everything getting louder.