Chapter One

Sitting in my tiny room at the orphanage wondering why I was blamed for the death of the Luna. My bruised and broken little body can’t handle this pain. I try to stay on my side with the wounds on my back still bleeding.

My name is Ella Morrighan and I’m the human slave in The Red Blood Pack. I was found in the woods as a baby. Werewolf packs don’t kill baby’s or pups(werewolf children). So I was sent to the orphanage. The orphanage mother is cruel and leaves the twin omegas in charge.

In the werewolf world there is a hierarchy. The Alpha who is the leader and their word is law. The Luna is the Alphas mate and like the mother to the pack. She calms the Alpha. The Beta or second in command helps the Alpha. When necessary he can run the pack if the Alpha isn’t there. The Gamma trains the pack and is the Lunas protector when the Alpha isn’t around. Some packs if larger in size have Delta’s who help protect the pack, train warriors or whatever needs to be done. There are regular pack members and at the very bottom you have omegas. Omegas are very rare. They are treasured in most packs because they have a calming aura. In Red Blood Pack the twin omegas, Ashley and Austin have taken care of us in the orphanage since they were 15. Their parents were killed in a rogue attack. They are my protectors. I keep moving as Ashley tries to clean and wrap my wounds. I can’t help it , it burns really bad. My punishment as the Alpha called it for killing his Luna was 3 whips on my back. The whip was silver. Werewolves can’t heal from silver . Being human it just takes longer to heal.

*Flashback 3 weeks ago*

Ella, Ella time to get up birthday girl!! I just wanted to sleep. Wait did she say birthday girl? I’m up let’s go! Austin always makes me my favorite breakfast. Pancakes with strawberries and chocolate chips with whipped cream. At lunchtime every year on my birthday Luna Sara and her pup, Mike comes to have a special birthday picnic. She always brings me gifts. Last year she brought me a beautiful blue dress with pink flowers. This year Luna said she had something very special to give me. I can’t wait to see what it is? My only hint was it was with me the day I was found in the woods. We also don’t know what my actual birth date is so Luna Sara made it the day I was found in the woods. I run to the bathroom to do my morning routine and Ashley gets my clothes out. It’s mostly hand me downs or the clothes Luna Sara brings me. Ashley fixes my hair into two French braids. It’s beautiful I love when she fixes my hair. Now I’m starving and it’s summer break so I don’t have to go to school. I run to the kitchen and wrap my arms around Austin’s leg. “Thank you so much for the pancakes.” “Happy Birthday Ella go sit so you can eat.” Hmmm this is so good. “Are you excited for your birthday picnic later?” “Yes I can’t wait to see what Luna Sara is bringing me! We can sit in the field behind the orphanage today. The flowers are very pretty and I can’t wait to pick one for Lunas hair.” “Do you want eight small candles or just one big candle for your cake tonight Ella?”,Austin asks while smiling at me. “Just one big candle please I’m a big girl now. Big girls get a big candle Austin.” “I know sweet girl but it doesn’t hurt to ask he says smiling.”

After breakfast I go to my comfy spot in the corner to read my favorite book. Little Red Riding Hood. Luna Sara got it for me on my 6th birthday. Ashley read it to me for the first few months but now I can read it on my own. Sometimes I wish I was a wolf so I would be stronger, faster and would heal like the wolves. But I haven’t shown any signs yet. Alpha Ralph doesn’t like that I’m human. He tells Luna Sara not to get attached to me but she comes around anyways. A few hours later I put my book on the shelf and go to my room to freshen up before Luna Sara and Mike get here. I have a yellow shirt with butterflies and my butterfly leggings. I throw my shoes on and go wait in the living room.

Ashley and Austin have the picnic basket ready when the front door opens. “Happy Birthday sweetheart!” “Thank you Luna Sara , you are very pretty today. Can we sit in the field today for our picnic? I wanted to play tag with Mike.” “Happy Birthday Ella.” I know my face is as red as a tomato. “Thank you Mike.” His smile is nice and he keeps the other kids from bullying me in school. It doesn’t stop them but they won’t pick on me if he’s around. “Before we go outside Ella let’s sit so I can give you your gift.” “Yes Luna Sara we can go in the living room.” Luna Sara hands me a beautifully wrapped box. I tear it open with excitement. It’s a beautiful necklace with a wolf howling at a sapphire gem moon. On the back of the wolf is writing. Ella Morrighan, my beautiful moon wolf, love mom. This was from my mother. “This was around your neck, Ella. I took it off and put it up for when you got older. I didn’t want it to get ruined before you could take care of it.” “Thank you so much Luna Sara, it’s the best gift ever.”