"Morning Erin."

I smile politely at the women cooking in the kitchen. The smell of the soup on the stove has me taking in deep gulps of air just so I can get a taste.

"Smells delicious as always ladies." They smile and laugh while continuing to chat with each other probably talking about the latest pack gossip.

Rolling my eyes I make my way to the door but a voice stops me.

Turning I see Gloria, a pack cook. She has greying hair and wrinkles on her face from laughing. She was the first person to welcome me to the pack besides the Alpha of course.

Not everyone accepted me when I came to the pack. It took me years to prove to people that I wasn't going to bring weakness to the pack and even then not everyone liked me. Gloria was of the few that I liked. She gave off a motherly caring nature and I've always looked up to her.

"Erin, the Alpha is looking for you." Smiling gratefully I thank her and leave the bustling kitchen. Instead of going left to go to my room I turn right and after a few turns I finally reach the Alpha's office.

I knock loudly and when I hear his voice telling me to come in I enter and wait for him to look up from his paperwork and acknowledge me. While I wait I study his hunched form.

Alpha Dave is a good looking man at the age of twenty five. He saved me when I was abandoned in the forest close to the border of his territory and was found by the patrol. That was eight years ago and he took me in. He was only seventeen as he had to become Alpha at a young age after his father died in a rogue attack.

I'm nineteen now and I am very grateful to him for taking me in and making me part of his pack. Women of the pack fall at his feet but he doesn't give them the time of day. He is faithful to his mate, Luna Lexie. He met her when he turned eighteen. She is quite a beautiful woman and women understandably envy her.

Luna Lexie never really liked me. The first time I met her was at the ceremony where she was being introduced to the pack as the Alpha's mate and the new Luna. Alpha Dave introduced me with a smile and I thought I saw something flash in her eyes.

I thought I was imagining it until it happened again and again. Anytime she sees me with Alpha Dave she's there giving me the stink eye. Recently I have noticed she's making it more obvious and not bothering to hide it at all. I don't understand her disliking of me. I haven't done anything to warrent it.

Alpha Dave looks up and grins showing his perfectly straight white teeth.

"Alpha you asked to see me?"

"Ah yes Erin thank you for coming. Take a seat."

He points to the chair in front of his desk. I quickly make myself comfortable as he situates himself so he is sitting in front of me, leaning back on the front of his office desk.

"It's Lexie and I's seven year anniversary next week and I need a woman's opinion on what to get her. Unfortunately I'm hopeless at this kind of thing but I want to make it special."

I beam at him already thinking of ideas.

"Of course! I'll think of something and get back to you. I already have ideas." His face shows relief at my words.

"Thank you Erin. I don't know what I'd do without you."

We say our goodbyes and I quietly leave his office leaving him swamped with work.

~~~~~~~~~

The next few days I spend in my room thinking of ideas for presents that I think Luna Lexie would like. I also think of ideas on what Alpha Dave should do or where he should bring his mate on the special day.

I hope my mate loves me as much as Alpha Dave loves Lexie.

Writing down my last idea I walk to the Alpha's office to tell him what I have come up with. He's delighted with them making me sigh in relief and he ends up taking the list so he can look through them thoroughly and pick the perfect one.

He lets it slip that Lexie has been acting weird and sort of distant recently so he wants to make sure everything runs smoothly and make it memorable for his mate.

Alpha Dave dismisses me with a thank you on all my help. I was just glad I could help on something so special.

I find myself so lost in my thoughts that I don't realise that my feet are carrying me into the forest towards the empty clearing behind the pack house or that I'm being followed.

~~~~~~~~

"Sneaking around with my mate again." A voice sneers. I recognise it immediately and spin around wide eyed.

"Luna no-" I shake my head but she cuts me off angrily.

"Shut up! He is my mate! Not yours so stay away from him!"

She doesn't understand. She thinks there's something going on between her mate and me! Oh my gawd!

Her face suddenly changes and a sinister smile takes over her face. I step back not liking the way she's looking at me.

"I'll make you pay." She whispers with such venom that I visibly flinch.

With my werewolf senses I can hear approaching wolves and my wolf tells me one is the Alpha.

I watch Lexie in confusion as she walks up to me. I have to stop myself from backing away but I do bow my head in submission.

"Bring out your wolf." She states with authority. My confusion annoys her causing her to snap at me viciously. She repeats the command and unfortunately I can't refuse.

My wolf comes to the surface making my eyes change colour and my nails to lengthen to claws. Before I can transform any further she grabs my wrist with a iron grip. I struggle but she just shoots me a venomous look.

"What are you-?"

She brings my claws close to her face with a smirk. I try to pull back not liking where this is going. What is she up to?

"Stay still!" She shouts. My wolf falls to her command.

She slowly drags my claws down her cheek making me gasp in shock.

"Stop! Are you crazy?!"

She let's go and I thankfully catch myself from falling onto the ground. When I look at her I'm shocked at what I see. Three deep claw marks on the side of her face. Blood is dripping down her cheek and all I can do is stand and stare.

That's when she does the unthinkable. She screams in pain and throws herself to the ground clutching her bloody cheek. That's when I notice the tears mixed with the blood.

I stare down at my hand watching my claws retract leaving the blood still on my human nails and on my hands.

I look to Luna Lexie feeling my heart is about to beat out of my chest.

"No...."

"What is going on here?!" I gasp in terror and turn to see Alpha Dave storming straight for me.

~~~~~~~~~~

New book whoop!

Tell me what you think!

Sinead xx