Chapter 1

Alice

Winter had arrived without mercy, so I took the only thick coat I had to step out of the aging cabin where I lived. I put on some gloves and also my fleece hat. Then I went out to confront the fierce snowfall that was battering the town of Beltone in the Southern Pack.

In doing so, I immediately felt my bones numb from the cold, so I took a deep breath and focused on walking as fast as I could to our Alpha's house to carry out my daily tasks. I did it under the scrutiny of the other members of the pack, who looked at me as if I were an insect that needed to be eliminated.

For the supernatural world, especially for werewolves, I was an abomination.

For me, being a hybrid of werewolf and human had turned out to be a curse that I wished would end that very night on my birthday. I had hoped that upon turning eighteen, I could become a she-wolf; it was my only chance for some acceptance, and if that didn't happen, I would flee to a place where the purity of the species wasn't such an issue. What was utopia because in any corner of the world there would be comparisons.

Hybrids turned out to be a rarity of nature, something that no race assimilated very well because purity was the banner for preserving species. That's why I was despised and hated by my pack, like in that moment when my walk seemed to be the perfect opportunity to be bothered.

"A pure she-wolf would never feel cold," said an Omega girl walking behind me. "She is a clear example that hybridization is synonymous with defect."

Those who were close to the Omega girl burst out laughing, and I ignored them because if I responded, it was highly likely that I would get a beating that would leave me with bruises that wouldn't go away easily. The problem was that other Omega wolves decided to walk just inches behind me with the sole purpose of harassing me.

"If it hadn't been for the benevolence of the late Luna Karin, she would have ended up dead in the street like the whore of her human mother," said a she-wolf with disgust, and I held back my anger.

The story of how my mother was a prostitute in human territory was well known. What no one expected was that my mother would leave me at the borders of Beltone to be found by the wolves of the Southern Pack and taken to my father. There was only a note of apology in which she begged them to take care of me.

Three days after that, my mother was found dead a few kilometers from where I was left, and my father was not only questioned for getting involved with a human, but he was also punished by being assigned to guard the most dangerous border of the pack. Years later, my father was one of the first sent to the front lines in the war against the vampires and died in action. Everyone in the pack used those sensitive topics to bother me.

"Shut your mouths and find some work!" shouted the only woman confronting the Omegas from across the street.

I turned to see Bianca, the daughter of Beta Louis, the right hand of Alpha Savio, and one of the people who cared for me in the village. Bianca crossed the street with elegance, showcasing her height as she took firm steps that highlighted her strong character. That made the wolves move away from me, and finally, my friend approached with a furrowed brow.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, Bianca, I'm fine," I said with a smile.

"Are you still sick?"

I denied it so that Bianca wouldn't worry, but the truth was that I was feeling worse every day. I hated getting sick because I needed to work so much to save every penny.

"No, better tell me something interesting while we head to the mansion; there's a long way to go."

Bianca nodded, and then her eyes lit up, as if she knew the juiciest gossip of all.

"The son of the Alpha is on the way."

Hearing Bianca say that made me stop in shock.

"That's impossible."

"It's true; my brother heard the night watchmen discussing the topic. They say Stefan will arrive before noon," Bianca replied calmly as she adjusted her black curls. "The guardians say that Stefan is coming before the scheduled day for his birthday party because the council has summoned him."

"That means that Alpha Savio has gotten worse."

Bianca nodded with a serious expression, and I understood the truth: Alpha Savio was dead, and the pack needed its heir. The news made my body fall apart because I didn't know what could happen to me. My place in the pack was determined by Alpha Savio, and that could change with his son in power. 

The little I knew about the son of Alpha was not good.

Stefan was arrogant, domineering, and adhered to many of the old customs.

Stefan had left Beltone after a heated argument with his father due to his problematic behavior. What was later learned about him was that he was learning from more lethal warriors because his ambition was to be the strongest wolf.

"You shouldn't be scared; nothing is going to happen to you; the new Alpha is not going to be interested in your position."

Bianca said it nicely, but the reality was that the purity of the species would always be a priority in the pack, and the position of a young mixed breed didn't matter. El Alpha Savio had accepted me because the Luna Karin had been very benevolent towards my situation, but everyone thought it had been a mistake.

With that dreadful thought, we arrived at the Alpha's mansion.

Upon entering the house, we realized that the Alpha had died. The wolves moved back and forth in disbelief at the news, then we approached Bianca's father.

"Our Alpha has gone with the Goddess," the Beta reported with some pain, and they called him.

When he left, I didn't know what to say; I just felt adrift.

Bianca hugged me and stayed with me in complete silence for a few minutes.

"I think the best thing is to go to the kitchen," I said with some fear. "I have work to do; I'm sure we need to prepare a special menu, so go help your father with whatever you can."

At that moment, Beta Louis walked to the center of the room and looked at everyone.

"The son of our late Alpha Savio is arriving, so stop what you are doing and line up according to your rank and position in the pack. We need to receive it as a united front. We will offer our condolences and offer our services," ordered Beta Louis, and everyone nodded in agreement. 

I swallowed hard because I knew very well what my position was; the best thing I could do was to go unnoticed.

In the midst of the chaos, I saw a luxury truck park outside the house, and from it emerged some tall, muscular men dressed in black jackets, all with similar haircuts. Everyone had a tattoo of wolf claws on their necks; I found that curious until I heard one of the Omegas make a comment.

"They are the men of the Elite that Stefan created; they follow him everywhere and will likely be his close guard when he takes the position of Alpha. The tattoo they share makes them brothers, and it is said to be done under a powerful spell."

Beta Louis seemed uncomfortable, so I assumed he was thinking about his fate. When I turned my gaze, I was completely shaken to see that Stefan got out of the truck much taller, more mature, and with a serious expression.

He looked handsome and, at the same time, terrifying.

He was no longer the slender teenage boy; Stefan was now a muscular blonde, and the Omegas immediately sighed. I was frozen in place when he walked towards the formation and the icy breeze carried his scent to me.

Smelling it was like all my senses had awakened.

I felt like I couldn't control my pupils; my mouth watered, and my heart started to race too fast. When the scent of man and mint flooded my entire body, the she-wolf that had been sleeping deep within me awoke from her slumber.

"Mate! Look for it!" shouted my she-wolf in my mind, and I was left in shock.

It was the first time my she-wolf was communicating with me. I felt confused; it was only when I saw him walking towards the garden that I reacted and dared to take a step.

However, the head of the Omegas who worked in the Alpha's house forbade me to pass and looked at me with disdain. Her husband had left her for a human and had fled to a distant territory, so, because I am half human, she held resentment towards me. I used to avoid her, but at that moment I couldn't do it and just lowered my head in a sign of respect.

"You have nothing to do here; from now on you will no longer work on this property," said the head of the Omegas, and I looked at her in surprise at such an assertion. "We don't want hybrids, so get lost; your services are not needed."

"But I—"

"Are you deaf?" the head of the Omegas asked mockingly. "Because that's what you lack, being so insignificant that you can't even listen to an order properly."

"My work—"

"You don't have a job," said the head of the Omegas with anger, and that made my she-wolf growl in my mind. "If I see you here again, I'm going to give you a beating you'll never forget; get out!"

I looked at the other women and they all started to surround me.

None of the people who noticed what was happening intervened; all the wolves were more interested in the new Alpha, which is why I searched for Stefan with my gaze, hoping he would recognize me. I realized that he was too far away to catch my scent, so I nodded in a gesture of peace and walked away from the mansion.

For me, that wasn't what mattered.

The only thing my mind could repeat on loop was that I had found my mate and it was none other than the Alpha himself.