Chapter 1
*Miskasha's POV*
"Kasha?"
"Kasha, get up!"
I grumble, feeling the weight of my body wanting to sink deeper into the mattress beneath me, and yank the covers over my head.
"Fine, miss your first day of placement." Ana says, "I'm sure Father will accept whatever excuse you have for him."
I remove the blanket enough to glare at her. She stares back expectantly.
"Whatever, be that way." She chirps before shutting my door.
I groan, as the sound of her foot steps fade away, and throw my blankets aside.
I get up, walk over to my chest of draws and pull out a box that I had refused to open.
Avoiding the contents of the box like the plague.
I stare down at the box, with it's white bow, taunting me.
I already knew what it held inside, everyone did.
Here, in the Silver Valley pack, they believed each pack member is to be utilised to the best of their ability, thus bettering the pack and the way it functions.
Our pack is one of many who, during the Great Mergence, allowed the union of mixed supernatural species to mate and live in harmony.
There was quite a bit of fear and resistance, in the past, when welcoming this change.
People were afraid that hybrid species would disrupt the natural balance in different supernatural races, werewolves were especially nervous of this due to their rigorous need for a packs social hierarchy tendencies.
So, a placement and transfer system was put in place.
Any hybrid, born within a super natural community, is to abide and contribute to the wellness of this community to the best of their ability.
If they don't?
Well, in a pack, this is where the transfer system came in to play.
If any hybrid doesn't wish to fulfil their placement or their given role in the pack, they are transferred to an allied pack.
In hopes they are more suitable in a different environment.
Between you and me this, arrangement, is exploitative at best.
My pack is full of hybrids, particularly witch/warlock and werewolf hybrids.
I'm no exception.
My Father is a werewolf and my Mother, a witch.
My sister, Ana, and I are Hybrids, both bosting wolves and an affinity with magick.
Unfortunately, being a Hybrid, this hinders just how strong and diverse our ability to perform magick is.
In my opinion, we are merely wolves with perks hardly worth enslaving us for, until the day we die.
Luckily, for Ana, our alpha agreed.
To anyone who was unaware, Ana appeared to have missed out on any magick from our mother.
While she has is able to charm other wolves into doing her bidding, they are by no means compelled to do as she says.
So, Alpha Zander, unsure of what to do with her and her gift, has deemed her to find her role within our pack like any other wolf would.
I, on the other hand, inherited the gift of healing.
I can tap into a wolf, or any other supernatural being, and heal almost any illness, disease, wound or ailment, inside and out.
A healer is incredibly valuable to any pack, clan or coven.
Thus, sealing my fate.
I knew what the contents of my placement box would be, from my very first shift, when I was 14.
I slowly untie my box's ribbon, the box unfolding outwards as the ribbons tension is released.
I refuse to move, my heart beat pounding in my ears, as I stare down at the white scrubs with a matching cap, a brand new stethoscope and a wrist stop watch.
"How classy" I mumble to myself "It's the 21st century and I have to wear.. that.. everyday for the rest of my life."
"I don't know why your complaining, its giving sexy nurse." Ana replies from my side.
I gasp and stumble to the side, her presence taking me by surprise.
I must have been so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't even notice her come in.
"ANA!" I shriek, turning to her.
"What are you- When did you-" I try to question her, but my mind is clouded from the realisation that I was destined to be the pack healer, for the rest of my life. My shoulders sag and I turn my body to lean on the wall behind me.
"I wanted to make sure you weren't actually going to stay in bed." She says cooly, her eyes studying me.
I don’t respond to her comment, looking back down at the boxes contents.
I'm officially a glorified nurse.
"Don't be so cynical, there is more to us than your placement" My wolf, Reign, chides.
Ana shakes her head "Surely you knew Alpha was going to make you a healer?" She asks, putting her hands on her hips.
I glance at her, knowing it wasn't a genuine question.
"It's really not that bad, Kasha." she groans, rubbing her hand down her face before looking at me and her voice softening "Who knows, you might even like it."
When I continue to stare at the box, she sighs, turning to leave.
"You best be getting ready, Father will want to see you off." She mumbles over her shoulder, once more closing my door behind her.
I stand against the wall for a moment more before stepping towards my placement uniform, picking it up and heading towards the bathroom to get ready, for my first day as a trainee pack healer.
I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
Loose, mousey brown waves cascade down behind my shoulders and settle just above the small of my back.
My mothers yellow, green eyes stare back at me.
I used to love the fact I shared her eyes, now they are the reason my father wont look me in the eyes.
After my mother passed, my father has been a shell of himself.
They were fated mates and when she left, a part of him did too.
He was witty, vivacious and full of life.
He would come to life when he was with my mother. There was nothing that man couldn't have achieved, with her by his side.
As a Witch, my mother had to follow a similar protocol to placement and found herself in charge of helping integrate hybrid transfers into our pack.
She loved her job and she was good at it.
She was patient, kind and maternal, she also had the gift of empathy and could read and manipulate people's emotions and outlook on situations. She could diffuse even the most high strung supernatural's.
Every pack transfer, she would see to it that they felt welcomed and she aided them in adjusting to their roles in our pack.
Some transfers weren't happy to be here though and ultimately this was her demise.
One night, when new transfers were arriving, a young warlock, wolf hybrid was behaving erratically and out of anger he started lashing out at anyone near him. He was a high value Hybrid and Alpha Zander wanted nothing more than to utilise him in our pack's rankings.
A weapon, most likely.
My mother was doing what she did best, and tried comforting him and reassuring that he would be ok.
In his rage, he killed her where she stood.
I wish I could say it was sudden and that she went quickly, but she didn't.
His magick granted him the gift of telekinesis. He strangled her, slowly, without even lifting a finger. No one could release my mother of his invisible force. No one saw the transfer after that. There are rumours, of course, some say he was executed that night or that he escape. While other's theorise that he wasn't what the Alpha says he was and that he was sent here to assassinate the Alpha and his family, rendering us all rogues. It wouldn't be the first time in super natural history that this was done.
I still remember being startled awake that night by my father crashing down the hallway, howling in pain, I can still hear his cries. Pleading to the moon goddess that it wasn't true and that she couldn't take his mate from him.
Ana and I, didn't see him leave his room for weeks, much less speak to us.
It wasn't until much later that my friend and the alpha's son, Nikolai, told Ana and I what happened to our mum that night.
I blink rapidly and try to shake the thoughts of my mother from my mind.
The white nurse cap on the basin catches my eye and I scoff.
There is no way in hell I'm wearing that.
I search the draws for my stash of headbands, settling for a white one. I put it on, pushing my hair behind my ears and out of my face. Smoothing down my scrub dress, I give myself one last look in the mirror before heading back into my room to grab a coat.
I'm slipping my black raincoat on as I head into the kitchen. I spot my father at the counter, staring into space. A half smoked cigarette sits on the counter top, his head resting in his hands. His coffee mug is sitting next to its coaster, untouched and his hair looks unkept and slicked back like he has been running his hands through it all night long. His old grey cardigan clings to his now slim frame and permanent creases adorn his forehead.
"He used to be such a fierce wolf" Reign whimpers sadly.
"One of the best warriors, Silver Valley had ever seen" I murmur to her.
"Hi, Dad!" I call to him.
He continues to stare aimlessly, refusing to acknowledge my existence.
I muster up the courage to try again "I'm headed to my first day of placement Dad" I chuckle half heartedly "To say I'm nervous would be an understatement, wish me luck!"
He mutters something that resembles a good luck, still not looking at me once and I decide it's time for me to leave.
Bye dad.
I turn and shuffle out the door, before I can try engage with him anymore. Closing it swiftly behind me and sighing. Its a gloomy day, dark clouds blanket the sky, there is a decent breeze and a light blanket of fog lines the tops of the rolling hills surrounding this side of the pack's territory.
We live on the outer skirts of our packs lands, which are nestled in a secluded area of a town called Screebe. In a quaint , 3 bedroom, sandstone brick house. I inhale deeply, savouring the faint scent of the nearby ocean dancing in the crisp morning air and start heading to the church, that is now remodelled as our pack hospital, in our territory's centre. As a hybrid healer, this will be my place of work and my contribution to the pack.
The closer to the church that I get, the more wolves I come across, getting ready for their day; pups are running around, chattering on their way to our pack's school while their dishevelled mothers trail briskly behind them. Warriors are coming back from their night patrols, while others are headed to training. Our pack bakers and coffee shop are firing up for the day, the smell of coffee wafting over to me, my feet involuntarily leading me into the café.
"What can I get for you miss?" a familiar face asks, snapping me from my morning haze.
“Good morning, Nikolai.” I greet him warmly. Nikolai was only 6 months older than me, we were best friends growing up. He was the Alpha’s second son and soon to be the packs Beta, leading beside his brother, Kenneth.
Nikolai was devilishly handsome. He was 6′2 with sun tanned skin, sandy blonde curls and pale blue eyes, he was a total heart throb and I had had a crush on him since we were young. I was disappointed, for a really long time, after finding out he wasn’t my fated mate. Neither of us had found our mates and on my 19th birthday, he asked me out and we had started casually dating. He was kind, driven, disciplined and yet, I have felt my feelings fading over time.
"Or maybe those feelings never existed at all." My wolf butts in with her input.
He was always attentive and we were inseparable, that was up until two months ago when he let it slip that he was planning to marry me one day. I felt something in myself withdraw from that moment on. Don't get me wrong, I have love for Nik, but I'm not sure if I'm IN love with him. My wolf is particularly indifferent towards Nikolai, as well. Which doesn't help my case. She is insistent on waiting for our mate. At 21 years old now, I am starting to get used to the idea that, I may not meet my mate. If I'm being honest, I'm ok with it.
I think.
My wolf scolds my thoughts as I flash Nikolai a smile.
"Just the usual, please, Nik. I start placement today." My voice tappers off, ever so slightly, towards the end of my sentence.
"Oh, Kasha" Nikolai mutters as he rushes around the coffee counter and envelops me in a hug.
"I'm so sorry. I should've realised, you are in scrubs. I'm sure it wont be as bad, being a healer, as you think it will be. I know you'll be great at it!" He sympathises with me, patting my hair and nuzzling into the cook of my neck. My wolf cringes in my head. She gave up trying to get me to reject the idea of Nik, or anyone for that matter, a long time ago.
I had toyed with the idea of settling down and seeing where our relationship could go. But, when he mentioned marriage and talked about us being chosen mates. I couldn't help but feel my mind and soul recoil at the thought. As a pup, I had always dreamed of meeting my fated mate. When I realised I was destined to be tethered to this pack, where my mother died in service to them, I secretly wished my mate and mate bond would be able to whisk me away from this place. Being mated to one of the alpha's sons, and future beta of the pack, further ties myself to this place and my soon to be life long servitude.
My wolf whines, as I subconsciously bring my hand to where my mate's mark would go one day, or Nik's. Nikolai gently raises his head and stands to his full height studying me quietly. His eyes flash with an emotion I don't recognise when he sees my fingers lingering on my neck. He opens his mouth to speak at the same moment that the chime of the pack's church bell rings down into the streets of the pack's centre.
"Shit!" I gasp, "I need to get going, I'm going to be late!" I hurriedly remove my body from his embrace, running my fingers through my hair and flipping stray strands back over my shoulder.
"Ill walk with you." He says warmly, reaching for my hand.
I am about to decline, not wanting to encourage his outwardly affection, when my sister's voice rings out in the little coffee shop. "Nikkie!" she screeches, rushing over throwing her arms around his shoulders causing him to stumble backwards from the impact.
He looks flustered and shooting me a "help me" look. I give him a tight smile and shrug apologetically at him, letting him fend for himself against my wily sister.
