Chapter 1
MYA
I’m living in hell; that’s all I can say.
“Mya, we need to get up,” says Anya, my wolf, through our mind link.
I sigh; I slide up the bed and rest against the headboard.
“Do I have to go in?” I ask her, feeling defeated at the thought of facing Laura and Libby’s bullying every day.
“I know you don’t want to, but Jamie is taking you today,” she says as she looks at me with her purple eyes.
I grunt. “Why is he taking me, anyway? He never does,” I say.
I’m a 17-year-old werewolf living on her own, but I have an older brother and an absent father who visit now and then.
I look towards the photo on my bedside table, the only one I have of her as the fire took the rest. The woman looking back at me was my mum. She died in a house fire six years ago. I was the one who was with her. I even got the burn scars to prove it, and they go up both my arms.
I look down at my arms and see the heightened scars going up my arm. They look hideous. I always wear long-sleeved tops to cover them. My wolf tried to heal them, but she couldn’t. I needed medical help, but no one came. No one did.
A tear slides down my face.
“We will be ok, Mya. We got each other,” she says as she sends some love through.
All werewolves first shift when they are ten, but I shifted earlier than that when a rogue came onto the pack land near our home and went after my mother. My mother was weak and in pain due to what my father did. The rogue was about to slice her throat, but I shifted into Anya right in front of him. She killed him instantly. I remember when I shifted back, my mother, looking stunned, told me never to show my true wolf form unless I have to.
Anya and I normally shift late at night when everyone is asleep. Living on your own does have some perks.
I slowly get out of bed and make my way to the bathroom. I had a quick cold shower, as that is all I have, and dressed quickly in a pair of black skinny jeans, a long-sleeved top, sneakers, and an oversized hoodie.
When I headed down the stairs, everything was still black and burned after the fire. I still live in the house since the fire. My father and Jamie tried to move me into the pack house, but my room was in the basement. My father told me I was not worthy of a bedroom in the house. I kept running away until they never came searching. They both knew where I was. They never bothered.
I look around and notice I have nothing to eat again.
I sigh. I’m getting used to this now, but I know I got to work after school for two hours while all the other wolves are training. I clean the offices in the pack house, which are only three of them, but there is a lot to do. I don’t stay for over two hours. Otherwise, people will taunt me, even my father. Jamie used to, but he cared a little over the last three years.
I grab my school bag and head to the door. Only Jamie is standing there with a smile on his face. “Hey Mya, you ready to go to school?” He asked me while taking my bag from me.
I say nothing but nod. I never talk to anyone.
I turn to close the door, but Jamie suddenly remembers, “Oh wait, I got some more clothes for you. Some of the other wolves were throwing them out. You should have a look and see what you like. Some might be nice on you,” he says. He places the bag through the door and looks around like he usually does.
When he steps out, he looks at me. “You should stay in the pack house. It’s getting darker, and it would be nice to have you there for your birthday tomorrow,” he says. I look at him.
I have never celebrated my birthday since my mother passed away. No one bothered to celebrate, not even Jamie. I had nothing from anyone, not even Jamie or my father. My birthday is tomorrow.
I shake my head and move out of the way. I head to the car.
Jamie closes the front door and opens the driver’s side as I reach the passenger side. He starts the engine and drives. It is only twenty minutes up the road to the school, and this is my final year.
I can sense Jamie looking at me. “Mya, please, come to the pack house for your birthday. You will be 18, and we want to celebrate it.”
I completely ignore him and look out the window.
Jamie never really bothered with me for the first three years after our mother died, but lately, he started to. I don’t know why and he even got me my job as the cleaner in the office.
The car was silent till we get to the school. I can’t help but look at the other kids walking in, and then I spot them.
Laura and Libby.
I wait till they go into the building.
Jamie looks over at me. “Well, you need to go in,” he says.
I open the door and head towards the front of the building.
“We got this, Mya,” says Anya, looking through my eyes. She seemed so confident, but I certainly wasn’t.
I knew I had a class with Laura today, which was the first lesson.
I go to my locker and place some of my books in, but grab the one I needed now. But before I could even close my locker, I am shoved by force into the side.
I can feel the pain hit me full force in my head. I try to move, but a hand pushes my head into the open locker and holds me there. “I told you, bitch, not to come in today. You are disgusting,” she snarls in my ear.
I can feel eyes on me.
I don’t cry; I do not in front of her. I know it is a sign of weakness if I do.
I can feel something wet slide down my face, and then the smell hits me—blood. I’m bleeding.
“Well, if you not going to listen to me, then I will tell your daddy to,” she says and laughs; everyone does.
My father gave me a beating two weeks ago outside the pack house in front of everyone. Gamma Stan told him I stole from him after cleaning his office. Everyone laughing and pointing, but Jamie did nothing.
I stare out of the corner of my eye
“I think you made your point,” says a girl with a snarl. “It is time to get to class.”
Laura lets go of me and turns to the person. “Who the hell do you...” but she is soon cut off. “If I were you, Laura, I would close my mouth, or I will notify your father that you disrespected a member of staff. Now leave,” she says.
Laura glares as I turn around. She stares down at the woman and then turns to me. “See you around,” and pushes me into the locker again.
Once she is out of sight, the teacher looks at me and smiles. “Don’t worry, you not going to class today. You will work with me. I’m new. I came here to teach some students about supernaturals. Your alpha Aaron thinks it is beneficial to the students, but no one has turned up. I will leave soon to go back to my pack, as it is not working out. I am leaving tomorrow,” she says. She lifts her hand to my head and looks at it. “Let’s get you to my office and clean you up.”
I grab my things and head straight to her office. “Oh, I forgot, my name is Stephanie. Just call me Steph.”
I give a small smile.
We headed into her office, and she cleaned up the wound. I was with her all day, and she even got me gave me some of her food.
That reminds me, I have to steal some apples from the pack house after work.
The day ends, and I wait for everyone to head to the training grounds as I make my way to the pack house to clean.
I say nothing to Steph and leave. I know she’s being nice to me, but it won’t last; it never does.
********************************
STEPH
I watch her leave. I can’t believe the abuse she is having.
I had to stand by and watch her get beaten up by her own father; no one helped. Not even her brother. The alpha and his son stood on the step, looking at the Gamma.
I was told not to do or say anything. But I did video the whole thing for him to see. Well, I know they all saw. I have been watching for the last three weeks.
I know her birthday is tomorrow, he told me. I have to get her out of here. I dread to think about what they got planned for her.
I headed out of the office but stood outside was Alpha Aaron, with his hand in a fist, ready to knock on my door. “Ah, Stephanie, can I have a word?” He asks with a smile on his face, which I would love to punch so much, especially for Mya.
I give the best fake smile I can muster. “Yes,” I say.
I open the door for him to come in, which he does, and he turns around to face me. I close the door and look at him. “What can I do you for Alpha Aaron?” I ask.
“I got word that you stopped a little disagreement with the gamma’s daughter and my beta’s daughter,” he says. I place my hand in my pocket and press the record on my phone; I need to get this.
“Yes, I did. The girl was bleeding really badly, and there were children not listening and going into class, so I thought I would break them up,” I said, sounding professional.
He smiles. “Thats ok. I just wanted to make sure no one was hurt, that’s all,” he says. “So when are you leaving to go back to your pack?” He asks. He has been asking me this question for the last few days like he wants me to leave.
“I will leave tomorrow evening. I have a car coming on the territory at about five pm to collect me,” I say.
He nods. “That’s a shame. The beta’s daughter will have a birthday bash the day after tomorrow, and we will place her in her rank during the celebration. It is a shame that you will have to leave,” he says. I notice the hint of happiness in his voice.
Mya’s birthday is tomorrow, but why would...
They think she is 18 the day after tomorrow. They don’t know her true birthday. This might work out in my favor, after all.
“It is a shame,” I said. “She is an amazing student.”
He nods. “Well, I best get to the training ground, and it was nice to meet you and have you in the pack. I hope you come back soon,” he says as he opens the door and leaves.
I wait a few more minutes and grab my phone out of my pocket. I stopped the recording and dialed his number.
He picks up the phone after the first ring. “I have a plan, and we are getting her out of here tomorrow,” I say to him with a smile as I turn around and tell him my plan.
