Chapter 1 - The outcast

Amara POV

My blood was unique and for some reason it was the only substance that could help cure

Catherine’s rare heart disease.

It’s the only thing they valued about me, I knew it…even as they at times take it forcibly.

Today the entire pack was to celebrate the news that only I was dreading.

The news that my sister would be named as the future alpha of the pack. It would be a grand

ceremony, enough money had been thrown into it, a night fit for the princess that she is.

A night the pack will never forget.

All would attend, it was expected by the alpha and luna.

All but me.

I was the illegitimate daughter, the one my father wishes to forget. My sister, Catherine, is to be

the next alpha. Yet, I am older than her…I was meant to be the heir.

She would be the one to inherit my lands, inherit my title…and he would do it in front of everyone

to prove the point, yet keep me away. He was in charge; he was the big scary alpha of the Mystic

Hallows pack. Nobody dares defy him, not even me.

They were all celebrating…yet I was numb.

They had forgotten that today was my 19th birthday, ironically Catherine turning 18 only last

week. Not one person has wished me happy birthday, not one person has shown affection…but

why am I surprised, it’s been like this for as long as I can remember.

Nobody celebrates the weak, the undeserving, the outcast. I remain in this pack’s community

but only by the gracious clemency of my father, mainly keeping to the fringes of society.

I had been born prematurely; my mother dying in labour. I think that’s why I am weak, powerless.

My wolf presented herself to me as a teenager, but the connection hadn’t been strong enough to

shift, to try and bond fully with her. She has never come forward enough to answer me, to

shift…I suppose how could I be an alpha, when my wolf is defected.

Catherine had the exact opposite first time with her wolf. Only two days after I had failed, she

shifted perfectly for the first time. A seamless shift, that many would be envious of, myself

included.

What better wolf than to lead the pack than a strong white wolf that emulates strength and

nobility.

The alpha house became a cold residence for me, I wasn’t welcomed…they just didn’t express it

verbally in public. Behind closed doors was a different story; piles of dirty clothes, stacked high

dishes that were left for me each night; showed me where my place was within the alpha family

home.

He had been downgrading me to an omega all along. One dirty plate at a time.

“I can’t believe it, of all the nights…Catherine really didn’t deserve for that to happen.” My ears

perk up at the mention of my sister’s name as I attend to the dishes that the cook had ordered

me to do. I may not be at the celebrations, but I’m expected to still contribute in some way.

“She was fuming, did you see her face…” I recognise the voice of the house maid, her tone

holding humour at some kind of commotion that happened at the celebrations. I press my ear

against the door, trying to hear more when I am pulled by the scruff of my neck backwards.

“What are you doing?” The cook roars at me, as she flings a tray of dirty plates into the sink. The

suds and water splashing all over me.

“Nothing…I was just…”

“If I catch you slacking again…goddess help me.” She grips my wrist, forcing it into the dirty

water before storming out through the back door towards the pack hall.

I grit my teeth as I try to endure the pain. As soon as she has gone, I pull my wrist out, pain

radiating up my arm from the open wound. It was bleeding again, the bandage soaked through.

That sickly sensation of panic spreads through me, I reach for a clean cloth, tearing the wet one

off me to discard it. I can’t afford to get an infection…they will punish me. I don’t think the pack

would even care if they knew what happened behind closed doors, this secret is the reason my

wound never has a chance to heal.

The secret that I believe is the only reason I am alive today.

The pack aren’t allowed to know, not that they would stop it…they respected their alpha, they

wouldn’t dare go against him for some lowly, unknown, pathetic omega daughter of his.

Not when I was the one that kept Catherine alive. They won’t let me die because Catherine had

a heart attack when she was 13 years old, and she needs my blood to survive.

I don’t know why she suddenly got sick, why her heart gave out. But from that day onwards I had

become a personal mobile blood bank to my own sister.

By the time I had completed the chores in the kitchen, I was beat…exhausted. I didn’t care it

was my birthday anymore, I just wanted to sleep.

I lay sprawled out on my bed, not even bothering to remove my scuffed shoes. I reach for the

bedding, wrapping it around me loosely as the call to sleep becomes all too powerful. As soon

as I shut my eyes, they fly back open from a loud knock on my door.

Jason, it must be Jason…he hasn’t forgotten my birthday after all.

A smile spreads out onto my face as I take one last look at myself in the mirror before opening

the bedroom door. I looked a bit scruffy after such a long day, but Jason was used to me like this,

he knew how many hours I worked.

I open my bedroom door with excitement, only to be disappointed. It was the house maid.

“Quick, the Alpha is asking for you, and I couldn’t find you.” She reaches for me, flustered.

“What?” I yawn out slightly, my eyes casting on the clock in my room. 11.30pm, I had thirty

minutes left of my birthday, surely, he wouldn’t be cruel enough to give me one last chore to

complete.

“Just tell him you couldn’t find me.” I whisper out to her, trying to close the door on her.

“What and be reprimanded, not a chance…come.” She was little older than me yet pulled my

sore wrist in her hand…my hand snatching away only for her to grab my other one.

I could see the sweat across her brow, hear the panic in her voice and sense her dread at having

to return to him without me…yes, I couldn’t put her through that. When it came to Father’s

demands, nobody ever dared delay.

Standing by the door, I steady my nerves with a deep breath in before placing my hand on the

handle. Whatever greeted me on the other side was never a pleasant experience.

I push the door open, Catherine and Stepmother sitting in the office by a roaring fire.

Stepmother’s eyes cast upon me with disdain as she holds a sobbing Catherine by her side.

“You wanted to see me, Father?” I ask, bypassing her glare only to find another in the room.

It was the rogue that I had pleaded with Father to save at the border the other night. He turns at

my arrival, his cold eyes locking on to mine…sending chills down my spine. His eyes were

amber, perhaps the only warm thing about him.

“I need you to do one thing.” Father’s deep low voice drags my attention away from the rogue

and on to him.

“Okay…” I nervously respond, trepidation overwhelming me as I try to hide my hesitation.

“Since you’ve been giving Catherine blood transfusions it would appear your scents have

become similar….”

“I don’t follow.” My gaze turns from my father to my sister, who remained huddled next to her

mother on the sofa.

“With Catherine being the future alpha of the pack, it would be highly scandalous for her to be

mated to a rogue.” My eyes dart back to my father, not missing the way the rogue’s jaw tenses,

his eyes remaining on me.

“You need to switch your mate with Catherine!” Father commands at me.