Chapter 2

(Alexandra's POV)

I quickly made the journey downstairs. Just as I rounded the last corner I discovered my older brother, Joshua. He had a dangerous look on his face that told me if I wasn't careful I would surely regret my decisions. I cautiously descended the rest of the stairs and came face to face with my brother.

"Hey... I was taking a shower, I'm so—"

I suddenly felt a searing pain across my cheek. I didn't have to look in the mirror to see that my face was already starting to bruise.

"Make us breakfast now, slut," he spat at me.

My brother had brown hair, blue eyes, and tan skin. He was much taller than my 5'4" stature, standing proud at 6'3". He and I used to be really close—at least before my mom died. Shortly after she died, Josh joined the ranks of tormentors that caused me daily pain.

"Yes, Beta," I replied. Because I was an 'omega' I had no choice but to address the upper wolves by their ranks. Today was supposed to be a good day. It was my 16th birthday after all. Today would change everything. If my mate rejected me then my wolf would shut down for a period to grieve the loss of our mate and to heal. In that period we would be at our most vulnerable state.

Of course, for the female, it was worse because you couldn't phase until you found your mate, and you didn't find that until 18. A mate is the one to hold and love you until you die. Or if you are immortal—forever. Mates are supposed to love each other forever at least that is what I was told. There is such a thing as being rejected by a mate, but it's very rare. Pups are taught from a young age what happens when they're rejected by their mate. If a mate rejects another, the inner wolf shuts down and closes itself off from the world, almost never to return.

Not only does the rejection affect the inner wolf, but it affects the human too. To the regular humans, it would seem like the human lost the will to live. In many cases, the human dies of a broken heart. It is very rare to survive being rejected by a mate. If a mate didn't reject another, the wolf would shift with the help and guidance of their mate.

I was so lost in thought I didn't realize I had finished making breakfast for the pack elders and their families. I made French toast: four pieces for everyone except the pups—I gave them two pieces. Two pieces of bacon and one sausage for everyone. I put the syrup and ketchup in the middle of the table and proceeded to clean up my mess from breakfast. This time I remembered to grab a piece of toast for myself. The pack sometimes thought it was okay to make me starve. It was no surprise to anyone that I was so small.

I went back up to the attic, where my room was. I quickly put on skinny jeans, an oversized sweatshirt, and my black converse. I put my frizzy black hair into a bun. I went downstairs only to stop short. They were all laughing and eating. Like a family. The feeling of isolation slowly crept into my bones. 'It doesn't matter, Alex. We have to go now.'

They truly made me sick. I heard my father and the alpha laugh. My father was the Beta and Josh was the future Beta. He would take over the position on his 18th birthday, making way for the new generation. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs behind me, which only made me snap out of my trance and run for the door. My brother was coming down the stairs and I did not want to know what he had in store for me.

Once I was out the door I quickly ran to the forest. It didn't take me long to reach a clearing in the woods. Here I would wait for Tom. He was my best friend and confidant. Roughly five minutes later, I heard rustling in the trees, and out came Tom. His dark skin contrasted his baby blue eyes. It was very rare to see a person of color with those eyes, but they suited him. At least they would if he was well-taken care of. Now his vibrant eyes were dull and lacked any life, much like my own.

"Tom! You ready to do this thing?" I said, trying to sound happier than I felt.

"Hey, no not just yet." It was then that I noticed he was hiding something behind his back. He slowly brought out a cupcake and a small bag. I don't know what expression crossed my face at that moment because fear took over his features as he brought his hand back.

"I-I know that you said you didn't want anything but I t-thought since it was your b-birthday, I-I couldn't resist." Rambled Tom. He didn't have a chance to say anything else because I pulled him into a big hug. He didn't react at first. I don't think he knew how to react. Hell, I don't blame him. This was the first gift I had received since before my mother died. Going 11 years without any kind of affection was a long time, and it had been even longer for Tom. Yes people fed us, and they gave us a place to sleep, they gave us clothes for our back. But after a certain point, they just stopped caring and the only people we had were each other.

"Thank you, Tom," I replied, genuinely meaning it. I carefully took the gift bag.

As I was about to open the gift, Tom frantically said "Stop! You have to blow out the candle first!" I watched in amusement as he pretended to pull out a match and light a candle. He sang Happy Birthday in the most out of tune way possible.

If we had been back at the Packhouse, this would not have happened. But the wolves of our pack didn't venture this way into the woods. If you went any farther you'd come to the cliff that my mother died on. Needless to say, the pack avoided this side of our territory. It, however, worked for us. Since no one came out here, it gave us the opportunity to be as loud as we wanted. Not that we were or anything. Years of abuse caused us to be shy and meek no matter where we were. So to hear Tom singing as atrociously as possible was as good a birthday present as whatever lay in this bag.

Once Tom was done singing, I wasted no time opening up the bag. Inside was a handmade bracelet made of butchers twine and other threads that were intricately woven together.

"It's beautiful Tom. Thank you." I told him, tears streaming down my face.

"You like it?'

"I love it." Slowly we walked towards the school. I glanced at the time and saw we still had half an hour before class started.

Tom and I started to pick up speed. I can't phase but I still have all the higher senses of a real wolf. The females have to wait for their mate, but the males phase when they are thirteen. Tom rarely did it because the first time he did, he was captured by the pack and they shaved off his fur. They left him outside for days chained to a pole. When they were finally done using him for sport, he was severely frostbitten and had a case of hypothermia. When the frostbite left his body it only made way for a more terrible monster. Pneumonia ravaged his body for weeks, and for a while, I thought he was going to leave me just like my mother. But he survived, and he was very different.

Long gone was the innocent child who hoped for love. In its place was a boy scarred and broken, waiting for the onslaught that was sure to begin once the sun had risen the next morning.