One

I sighed softly as I heard a twig snap somewhat close behind me, knowing perfectly well the only people who'd find it amusing to attempt to sneak up on me out here. Choosing to ignore their childishness, I kept my head down, focused on looking for more of the small, dark green shoots I sought.

This particular patch of shaded forest, not all that far from the pack house, was one of few places they grew. They were plentiful here though, and I was grateful for it, given they were the only thing that seemed to prevent the severe migraines that had happened all too often, for as long as I could remember.

I was equally grateful for my mother's skill in herbalism, since no one else here could prepare the unusually shaped roots. We were something of an oddity, her and I. Not Lycans, like the rest who lived here.

Including the twins. They were the Alpha's and Luna's boys, about the same age as me, and well-loved by most, despite their arrogant attitudes. I'd always assumed that was a privilege of being born into rank, and of being conventionally attractive, too, I suppose. Their shaggy blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and pretty faces had most of the pack females fawning all over them, regardless of how poorly they treated most of them.

I sighed again as their soft sniggers brought my attention back to them trying to creep up behind me, the sound of their amusement giving them away even more readily than their careless footsteps. These two would never make good hunters, that much was certain.

I reached down, carefully pulling another of the small plants from the ground, then straightened and turned calmly to face them, just as they came within arms reach.

Their looks of disappointment were just as obvious as their actions had been. "Oof.. so close," Matteus teased his brother, Tyler, who'd been a short step closer. Tyler rolled his eyes, then grinned at me sheepishly, and I raised an eyebrow at the two of them.

"You know.. most of the pack grew out of playing children's games long before they became teens. Aren't you two supposed to be adults next week?" I asked, sounding impatient.

Tyler's amusement quickly drained from his face. "Whatever.. weirdo," he said with a sneer, and a look down his nose as he raised his chin. Clearly I had offended his pride. "Was just trying to have some fun," he continued as I rolled my eyes and turned my back to them again.

Dismissing them in such a way was a bad decision, judging by the way Matteus suddenly moved behind me, shoving me into a tree and holding me there, the basket full of roots tumbling to the ground. "Hey now, little nitch, don't be rude," he said threateningly, his face so close to my neck I could feel his warm breath.

'Nitch.' I hadn't heard that in a long time. It was the cruel nickname I'd had to live with for most of my childhood, and the twist of anguish it brought hadn't dulled any.

Mama was a witch, see. One they kept in magical cuffs to prevent her casting anything without permission, but a witch all the same. She could be useful, if they allowed it. But me? I'd never shown even slightest spark of magical talent, and they'd tested for it every year.

So, I was a witch with no powers. A 'nitch.' Entirely useless. Though they kept me in the same cuffs, just to be certain, and put Mama and I to work, serving the pack to pay off our debt. Though no one seemed to have ever mentioned just how long that would take.

It was my hope that it was only as long as we chose to remain here, under their roof, and with my own birthday also approaching soon, I didn't plan for that to be much longer. I just had to stick it out for another nine days.

That shouldn't be too hard, I'd long learned to keep silent, when targeted and antagonised by any of the pack kids, and did the same now. But Matteus only pressed himself closer, his chest against my back as he wrapped a hand roughly in my thick, dark brown hair, forcing my head to turn towards Tyler.

"You should apologise to my brother," he said, twisting his hand tighter. I winced, my voice strained as I met Tyler's eyes, "I'm.. sorry," I said, my eyes beginning to water. Tyler moved closer, giving me a gentle smile, though the look of mischief in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Aww, it's okay, Ava," he said, his voice only holding the slightest of mocking tones, "I know you weren't trying to be mean," he continued, then grinned at his brother as he stepped closer again.

Matteus loosened his grip on my hair, but I couldn't help but tense as Tyler moved beside him, both of them now crowding me against the tree. "I.. no, I wasn't," I said nervously, "I should get these back to Mama." I nudged the basket full of roots with my foot, and tried to push between them.

They stopped me, pushing me hard up against the tree trunk again, with playful sounding laughs. "There'll be time for that," Matteus said softly against my ear, his voice oddly husky all of a sudden, and I gasped as one of their hands grabbed my ass, squeezing it firmly.

"Mmmm," Tyler said against the other, "You're not done helping us," he continued, as another hand joined the first, on the other cheek. "Helping?" I gasped, and he laughed softly again, "Yeah, helping. That's what you do, isn't it? 'Help'?"

Matteus chuckled at his brother's comment, "What else can she do? She can't fight, or hunt, or use magic.." one of the hands trailed lower, edging down between my thighs, and I tried to push my way out from between them again.

But they held me firm, the wandering hand starting to rub between my legs, the movement obvious through the thin fabric of my old leggings. "I can think of a few things.." Tyler began, using one hand to grab my wrist, pinning it behind my back

I gasped, and Matteus grabbed the other, doing the same, one large strong hand holding them both as he hushed my sudden protest, "Ssshhh.. you don't want everyone to see that you're a little whore, now do you? You know what they'd think if they found you here with both of us."

"And who they'd blame for it," Tyler added, as I began shaking my head and pleading with them, "Please, just stop it.. " I whispered, as I felt fingers slip into either side of my waistband, "You've made your point, I won't be rude to you again, I swear.."

I fell suddenly silent, and the hands froze their movements, as a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, coming from the direction of the pack house. The twins tensed, turning towards it and moving quickly, Matteus holding my wrist and dragging me with them.

I yanked it free, turning back to grab the basket from the ground, and only just managed to grasp it before Tyler grabbed the other arm, his face pale, and looking oddly.. concerned? For whoever the scream came from, I told myself, though Matteus kept pace beside me too, giving me the same look as they led me along with them.

They slowed as we reached the edge of the forest, crouching down and keeping quiet as we came up to the treeline, trying to see what had happened before we stumbled right into it.