Chapter 1
The nook I’d wedged myself into wouldn’t have held me if I was a normal size, truth be told even at this size I should probably be in some kind of pain, but I was immune to it at this point. I stood with my nose pressed to the wall, breathing in shallow gasps as I waited. His voice was strong, deep and angry. He was answering in short, sharp words and seemed to be getting angrier. I couldn’t see him from where I was, but I could feel his emotions radiating through the empty corridor. I heard the click as the call ended and tried to take a deep breath.
If I didn't do it now, I never would. I had gathered all my courage in the days and weeks leading up to my 18th birthday to do this. I had even stolen money from my mum to buy clean food in the hope it might bolster my inner strength, even if it risked more injury. I could feel the same tremble in my fingers now as when I had lifted the money from mum’s purse. She always kept a stack of notes on her in case the twins needed or asked for something. It always surprised me at how casually she threw money at them when every penny she’d had to spend on me was repaid by a scar on some part of my body.
He was alone in the corridor calming down after taking the call, his voice held so much authority while he was dealing with business that most of his 'friends' couldn't be around him without bowing to the pressure in his voice. He ended the call with a cold look of fury in his eyes and I almost chickened out. There was something about them, a strength I didn’t understand, their friend group seemed to be comprised of people who wanted to be them or be with them, but no-one was actually friends with them, not in the way I’d seen people be friends before. Their relationships more closely resembled, Idols and worshippers than friends but what did I know.
I could feel my heart rate accelerating in my chest the longer I waited to make myself known. The faster it went the more beats I could feel it skipping, I hated when it did that each beat missed caused a rolling in my stomach and more dread to climb up my throat. I knew I was close to a full-on panic attack or passing out, neither would be anything new for me but both were acutely uncomfortable experiences and not ones I’d ever planned to have in front of either of my Pack Alphas.
"Pup, I can hear your breathing and your heartbeat, come out, please?"
The 'please' was uttered as an afterthought through slightly gritted teeth. Rogan didn't have a lot of patience for people, but he could be helpful if he deemed the cause worthy enough of his attention. I was clinging to straws in my hope that he might deem me a worthy cause, because it really was my last chance.
"I have asked you to come out!"
He issued the sentence as a command, his tone expecting immediate response as was befitting his station and power. Had I been anyone else I would already be on my knees in front of him, full surrender and terrified but for some reason the twin’s commands had never had much effect on me. Maybe because I didn't really feel like part of the pack or maybe because my sisters were correct and I really didn't belong here.
I emerged slowly from where I had been concealed in the wall gap, ignoring the dull flash of pain it caused in my recently broken ribs. I made my way towards him, cautiously, trying to gauge his mood as I moved. He looked curious but bored, he always looked bored. The tilt to his head suggested he suspected me of being another member of one of his or his brothers fan clubs. I imagine he thought I didn't know which of the identical twin Alphas I was talking to, just happy for the opportunity to speak to one of them while they were on their own.
I might be one of the few, but I did know. While both boys were intimidating and commanding, I feared Rogan far less than his brother Rio. I had tracked Rogan all day, waiting for an opportunity when he wasn't surrounded by people to speak to him. I couldn't speak in front of others, and I wasn't allowed to speak at home. The only problem now is actually gathering the courage to say the words.
"Alpha Rogan, I need help"
I'd done it, I'd actually spoken, albeit it way too quickly and quietly but I had said what I needed to! I was so shocked with myself I barely noticed Rogan's surprise. I suspected his stemmed from either my use of his title which other students never used whilst in school or because he was surprised that I knew which twin he was, but he recovered his normal facial expression while I tried to muster up the strength for the next part.
"Well?"
He prompted me to talk, and the words were gentler than I’d expected them to be as he tried to make eye contact with me. My words died in my throat as he looked at me. There was a weird mix of emotions happening on his face causing his eyes to swirl in colour as he observed me. He looked a little frightened, concerned maybe.
I braced my brain and my breathing and with the last sliver of my courage, I tore the sleeves of my worn, second hand, school jumper off, exposing the skin between my elbow and wrist. I held my breath as his eyes moved questioningly from my face to my left arm. His eyes which had been slowly returning to their normal, warm, rich, chocolate brown colour switched immediately to pitch black. I could almost see my own arm reflected in the darkness of his Iris. His breathing had become pants, and he was swearing in an endless stream.
“This is so wrong, so fucking wrong, they will pay, what is the meaning of this?”
He stared long and hard at my arm, a growl building in his chest as I began to tremble. I'd seen reactions like this before, and it usually meant I was about to experience pain. I tried desperately to control my breathing, but I made the mistake of looking at his face, the black eyes were being joined by fangs and a snout. I stopped breathing completely, the look on his face was murderous and my courage and lungs gave up completely. Not for the first time in my life, I passed out cold.
