Chapter 1
Astraea
My name is Astraea Fiora, third child of Alpha Magnus Fiora and Luna Gloria Fiora. You may be thinking that being the only daughter to the alpha would come with certain privileges and in other packs, you might be right…but not here…not with my parents. My oldest brother, Ares, was worshiped by our parents. My brother, Apollo, is the middle child and while he receives less attention than our older brother did, he’s still considered a prized possession simply for the fact that he’s the right gender. Then there’s me, the useless daughter, a wolf with alpha blood that serves no purpose because a female can never become alpha and since they already have their sons, they have no need for me. I don’t know why they named us all after Greek gods and goddesses when they felt that only one of us was fit to be worthy of their unwavering love and affection.
I’ve spent my life being raised by the house staff at the packhouse and for the first twelve years of my life, it was actually not that bad. Everything changed the day of my thirteenth birthday. My birth wasn’t something that my family or pack celebrated because, as my parents love to remind me, I wasn’t meant to exist. My parents consulted a seer when they found out my mother was pregnant with me, hoping to find answers as to how she came to be with child since they hadn’t mated since Apollo’s birth. They were told I was a blessing, a gift from the goddess, but the second she told them they were blessed with a daughter, they had the seer put to death, believing she must’ve been a witch and that she had used her ‘dark’ magic to somehow cause my mother to fall pregnant. They saw me as a curse, not a blessing.
Anyway, the change in my boring, yet not awful, life began, as I said, on my thirteenth birthday. Since my birth was never celebrated, I had gone to the meadow in the middle of the forest to let my wolf run. I had run there many times before and my wolf, Vira, loved it there. That afternoon, she ran for hours, but we lost track of time. By the time I had shifted and gotten dressed, the sun was already beginning to set. It seems my presence actually had been missed because my parents sent Ares out to find me. He barely made it to the center of the meadow where I was standing before dropping to his knees, a silver arrow sticking out of his chest and blood running from the corner of his mouth, slithering down to his chin. His last word to me, a word that haunts me to this day, was spoken on a soft, shaky breath…‘run’.
I did exactly as Ares instructed, I ran and didn’t stop until I reached the packhouse. I was screaming and crying, not stopping until my parents and Apollo came storming downstairs to see what the hell all the noise was. I told them what happened and they all took off for the meadow. I sat on the back patio for an hour before I saw them walking back and my heart broke when I saw Ares cradled in my father’s arms. I knew he was gone because I felt his soul leave as I ran from the field, but seeing the pain and agony on my parents’ faces made my heart ache unbearably. I wish I had known that it was only going to get so much worse from that moment on.
From that day forward, I became a metaphorical and literal punching bag for my parents and Apollo. I was blamed for Ares’ death and was punished daily for it. Apollo was forced into alpha training, yet another thing I was blamed for. Why they blamed me for the fact that they neglected to prepare their second son for the possibility of becoming alpha is beyond me, but that’s somehow my fault too. Apollo is definitely not as strong as Ares was, nor as skilled at combat. He’s the lesser version in every way and our parents never let either of us forget it.
I’m honestly amazed that I’ve survived all the beatings I’ve taken, but I know the only reason I have is because of Vira. She always told me we were stronger than anyone knew, that we’re meant for something more than this life, but it wasn’t until today that I learned that there’s a lot more to us than I ever realized…like the fact that I shifted for the first time at the age of ten, but I didn’t know that wasn’t normal. I’m sure my parents would’ve made sure I was well aware of that fact if they had actually been around me enough to even know I got my wolf eight years early.
Today has been a day where I’ve learned many new things…like the fact that I’m not the only wolf who hates my parents. You see, one of my many punishments is my servant duties. I’m responsible for ensuring the alpha suite and my father’s office are cleaned daily. Usually, there are no documents on his desk or anywhere within sight, so I’m able to easily dust and vacuum then leave. Not today. Today it seems he left his office in a hurry and he failed to put away the stack of letters on his desk…more accurately a stack of formal complaints that have been filed with the high council. Now I find myself more grateful than ever that Ares taught me to read and write. It seems Alpha Asher is coming for a visit to investigate the claims on behalf of the council.
Yes, I read the letters and yes, I’ve read all about Alpha Asher and his violent, brutal nature. Everything I’ve read about him states that he’s a great alpha, one of the greatest, but I suppose it’s more his personality and the brutal way he resolves conflict that’s left him with such a distasteful reputation. The letter’s say he’ll be arriving today and I know I’ll be instructed to remain out of sight, but my curiosity is a cruel beast. My father’s hasty exit from his office now makes sense. I bet Asher’s already here. Looks like it’s time to do some investigating of my own!
I rush through the last of my chores then change into clean clothes, you know, the typical black leggings and a black shirt so I can hide in the shadows…or try to anyway. With my black hair pulled into a messy bun, I pull on my black extremely worn out slip-on shoes and head out the back door. Finding the unfamiliar scent is easy, but for some reason it’s so much stronger than I would’ve expected. Are all alpha’s scents this strong? I follow the scent toward the main part of our little town and easily catch up with them as they’re walking between two of the shops.
“As you can see, my pack members are very happy here and are treated very well.” I roll my eyes at my father’s blatant lie, but it’s not like Asher or my dad can see it.
“If it had been a single complaint, I wouldn’t be here, Alpha Magnus. We received dozens, not one, but many. That being said, as much as it inconveniences you, you’re stuck with…what…this isn’t possible…” Wait, what’s my dad stuck with and what isn’t possible?
“Is something wrong, Alpha Asher?” I hear heavy footsteps on the gravel between the buildings and try to quickly move around the back of the building, praying to the goddess that I don’t get caught.
“You…come here.” And…shit. I keep my head lowered, only giving myself a view of his perfectly polished shoes and the black slacks covering his long, thick legs. I know there’s no point in running now, but goddess how I want to!
“What’s your name?” He moves closer, but now there’s another set of feet standing not far behind him.
“Astraea! You were told to stay in the house and tend to your chores! Need I remind you what happens when you disobey me?!” I know better than to point out that he didn’t actually tell me to stay in the house this time because I know what the result would be.
“No alpha. I’ll return to the house right away.” I swear, Asher’s scent is intoxicating and it’s making my mind foggy, but answering my father is an automatic reaction after all these years. Hell, I could probably provide the expected response in my sleep.
“No, she’s going to stay right here. Look at me, little one.” Asher’s large hand raises up and gently grips my chin, sending electrical surges through me as he forces my head to rise until I meet his deep blue eyes with my pale green ones. It’s not possible. My mind tells me there’s no way it could be, but then there’s my wolf who’s throwing a damn party in my head and shouting out her one-word chant on constant repeat, the single word playing like a broken record…mate.
“I think I’ve seen enough for today. It looks like we have another matter to discuss, Alpha Magnus. Perhaps we should go to your office?” I can feel my father’s fury and I have no doubt that the minute he can get me alone, I’ll be feeling it full force…for several days. I keep my head lowered as we all walk back toward the packhouse, but my mind, rather than focusing on the punishment I’ll surely be facing once my father can get me alone, is running through all the information I’ve ever read about Alpha Asher and the warmth I can feel radiating from him as he walks beside me.
‘Vira, you know the stories about him, how he executed his mate for treason, so how the hell can he be our mate? The goddess doesn’t offer second chance mates to wolves who harm or reject their mates!’
‘Perhaps there’s more to his story than what we’ve read. All I know is that he’s definitely our mate and that means we can get away from this awful place!’
‘If his first mate was so terrible, why would he even want us?’
‘Oh, Astraea, we’re a gift from the goddess, just like that seer predicted! He’ll see that, surely he will.’
‘But what if he doesn’t? What if he rejects us?’
‘He won’t, but if he were willing to disgrace the goddess by rejecting such a gift, we’ll run. I’m done letting you suffer at the hands of those monsters. I feel something coming, Astraea, and I just know we’re meant for so much more than this life. Have faith in the goddess’s plan and have faith in us.’
‘I’m trying, Vira.’ I won’t lie, the fact that he executed his last mate, even if it was for treason, is a little nerve wrecking. Of everything I’ve read and all I’ve learned, there was very little written about his first mate and aside from stating that she had committed treason, there’s no details of what that treasonous act was. My thoughts stall out as we step into the packhouse and make our way to my father’s office where, once inside, the doors are shut behind us.
“Alpha Asher, might I ask what brings us back here before our tour was concluded?”I can see it in his eyes, he knows…and he’s afraid. Surely, he’s thinking that if Asher were to accept me, I might tell him about my father’s abuse and mistreatment of not only myself, but our other pack members as well. He’s right to fear what I might reveal…what I would happily reveal for the sake of this pack.
“Well, Alpha Magnus, this is a very unexpected situation we find ourselves in. It seems the goddess has been hard at work behind the scenes. It seems she deemed it necessary to give me a second chance mate…your daughter.” Okay, so he doesn’t exactly sound happy about it, but maybe he’s just in shock?
“My daughter…is your mate? I must admit, that certainly is…unexpected.” By unexpected, my father means infuriating, but his poorly veiled anger has Vira laughing, feeling highly amused by the whole mess.
“I must say, I wasn’t aware you even had a daughter.” I’m not surprised, not in the slightest. I wasn’t wanted by my parents, so why would they go around telling others about me? They would probably see such a thing as them exposing their shame to the masses.
“Yes, she’s a very shy and timid child.” Oh, he’s funny! There’s not a shy or timid bone in my body and he doesn’t even know how powerful and wild Vira can be.
“Well, as my mate, I’m sure you understand that she’ll be returning to my pack with me when I leave in two days. Until then, I would like to spend some time getting to know her in the evenings and we can focus on the investigation in the earlier part of the day.” The fact that he’s openly declared that he’s taking me with him must mean he’s not planning to reject me and while part of me is happy, the other part is terrified of what that means for me.
“Of course, Alpha Asher. Shall we continue our tour? My luna needs to speak with our daughter. She wishes to congratulate her on finding her mate and help her to start packing her things.” Asher gives a stiff nod then turns toward me, his entire presence seems to demand attention, though I’m forcing myself to look down, to not meet his eyes.
“Astraea, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner this evening?” I…wasn’t expecting this. He wants to have dinner…with me? Just the two of us?
“Yes, alpha.” He does that thing again, he gently grabs my chin and tilts my head up until my eyes meet his and he just…stares at me? Why’s he looking at me like that?
“Please be ready to leave by six. We’ll be traveling to Auburn to have dinner.” I don’t even have to look at my father to know he’s not happy with this, not at all.
“I would feel much better if my daughter remained on our pack grounds, Alpha Asher. It’s not safe for her to be traveling without her guards.” guards? What guards? What the hell is he even talking about? Since when do I have guards?
“Are you questioning my ability to protect my mate and keep her safe, Magnus?” I definitely don’t miss the way he fails to address my father by his title…and my father doesn’t miss it either.
“Not at all, Alpha Asher. Astraea, your mother is waiting for you in her study.” My eyes are still locked onto the deep blue eyes of my mate, wondering what the hell he’s seeing when he looks at me, even more so when I see his eyes narrow slightly before he lets go of my chin and takes a step back.
“Best not keep the luna waiting. Remember, six o’clock.” I nod in acknowledgement before hurrying out of the room. Now to face my mother and I hope like hell the fact that I found my mate will be enough to keep her from punishing me today.
