Stef’s POV

Six years old

“GIVE IT BACK!” I screamed jumping up to get my teddy. My brothers were holding it hostage. “nope.” Ryan laughed trying to tear his head off. Kicked over the chair he was on. “HAND IT OVER!” I growled at them. they froze and handed it over stiffly. “Thanks.” I said skipping off with it after checking it for bombs. Or something my dad stared amazed. “Stef come here baby.” He told me. I skipped over to him. “yes daddy?” I asked him. “I think you’re the next alpha angel. smiling I sat on his lap. “I got teddy back. All by myself. Isn’t that great daddy?” I asked him as my mother sat down next to us. She smiled at us and I rested my head against my daddy. “You are exactly like your mother.” He sighed. “And that’s a bad thing?” she asked him. he froze. “Not at all?” he asked her making me giggle.

thirteen years old.

I played black ops with my brothers beating them yet again on the DS. I jumped up and bowed slightly. I had to kill them each ten times without dying ten times. They chased me around the house. “DADDY!” I yelled when he opened the door from his conference with another pack’s alpha. “Save me daddy!” I cried jumping in his arm. “What’s going on here?” he asked us. “They’re being sore losers!” I told him as mom walked over and smacked them on the back of the head. “you boys forgetting something?” she asked them holding up her cell. Rayne had promised to fix it for her. I smirked as she dragged them off. “This is my daughter Stef, Xavier. She’s the next alpha.” He told him proud of me. “My son is at prep school getting ready to be the next alpha. Maybe they’re mates. maybe not.” I shook his hand. and closed my eyes. And then I’ll get some more hunting land. His thoughts came into my head. I passed them onto my father. He nodded stiffly. “I’m afraid if my daughter is your sons mate we won’t join land. Or packs. I’ll simply have her brothers run it.” he told him. I smirked. “How?” he asked, “One of the Peterson mysteries.” I told him waving. And ran up to my room.

Sixteen years old

“give it back!” I yelled chasing Ryder as he ran around with my cell texting my friends. “Ryder!” I yelled as he disappeared on the other side of the club house. I took a few steps back and jumped over it landing on top of my brother. Hand it over or I will kill you. and bury you body in the back yard big brother.” I threatened. He gulped and ran off after handing me my cell and texting my friends that my brother had stolen my cell and apologized for everything he might have said.

Nate’s POV

Six years old

I ran holding my mother’s hand not looking back at the burning motel building. Dad ran over to us and held mom in his arms. And kissed my forehead. “I thought I lost you.” he whispered to us. “This wouldn’t be the first time.” mom reminded him. I don’t know why but no matter what happens I almost get killed on my birthday. Dad put me on his shoulders and asked if I was hungry. I nodded and played with the pocket knife he got me. mom sighed looking at it and pulled something out of her pocket. “here Natey.” Mom said handing me a necklace. I held it confused. “Necklaces are for girls.” I told her. she giggled. “Nate that necklace is for your mate honey.” She smiled and put it on me. as dad fingered his bracelet. “What’s a mate?” I asked them confused. “When your older.” Dad told me. I sighed and looked at the little heart necklace. And stuffed it in my shirt.

Thirteen years old

I sat on the couch watching TV and smiled at my mother as she collapsed next to me and used me as a pillow. “Tired?” I laughed. She nodded as I fingered the necklace she gave me. “Well its your fist full moon after your thirteenth birthday.” Dad started and I smiled. I’d be able to find my mate soon. I smiled and relaxed in my seat. “How do you feel?” he asked me. “Nervous. I mean I have no idea who she’ll be. But I already love her.” I told them smiling as I turned the TV off. dad reached in his pocket and pulled out a fifty. “Here to start saving up for her ring. I’ll take you to play poker with me next week so you can get some more. I know your good.

Sixteen years old

I pulled my mother up into the bed of the truck dad was driving and looked at the pack that’s been trying to kill me my entire life. I looked ahead and saw more in front of us. Dad took a sharp right turn flipping the truck. “RUN! THEY WANT YOU NOT US!” dad yelled tossing me my bag I looked around and kissed my mother on the cheek telling her I’d be back for her. I took off running and looked around me I saw and ally and ran into it hopeing I could lose them. all hop was lost when I saw a wall in front of me a guy ran into me a back over his should holding a young girls hand. “MY packs coming right now.” I warned him he groaned. “so is the rouges I cheated money out of.” He groaned and saw a dumpster and told the little girl to get in it. “Fight our way out or run?” I asked him. “Fight.” He said tossing the girl our bags and took up a fighting stance3 the rouges got there first. They were easy to take down. I looked at the pack they were a small set of fighters. But dad was hurt and mom was sick. And I couldn’t take them alone. So we ran. I pulled out my duel blade sword and closed my eyes. tossing one to the guy I just met. It took us ten minutes to fight our way out.

after they were gone ten minutes after the fight the guy went and got our things and the little girl out of the dumpster. I grabbed my bag and bolted back to where my parents were the guy right behind me. I froze when I saw my dad sobbing over my mothers limp body. And fell to my knees next to him knowing what was coming next. He handed me his bracelet. I saw a tan line from it because he never took it off. mom made it for him the day they met. it was leather braided together. he smiled at me and pulled out his pocket knife and hugged me. “Go. You don’t need to see this.” He told me. I knew he was in pain. “Please. Don’t. dad. I need you.” I cried as the guy that helped me earlier dragged me and the little girl away.

when we had walked for about an hour he stopped me and sighed. “I’m sorry about your parents bro. I’m Alex and this is my sister Anna.” He said pulling the girl closer to him. “I ran away with her because our pack was abusive towards woman. My father killed my mother right in front of me and that’s when I knew I needed to get my sister out. I’m not like them there are a few men in that pack who find there mate and nearly die watching other men rape and beat them. so they kidnap their mates and run.” He told me. “Nate. My parents pack where bloodline royals they were enemies and my dad mated my mom.” I told him holding in my tears.

Wrong choices

Nate’s POV

I leaned against the wall of the party. I saw Alex dancing a drink in his hand. my clothes were all black and I stayed in the shadows watching them a guy smirked at me. “Hey you we need one more player!” he said I looked him over and nodded “what for?” I asked him. “Strip poker.” He told me I smiled and headed over.

by the end of the game I had only lost my shirt. girls were practically drooling. I didn’t care none of them were my mate. I grabbed my shirt and left passing a drinking game. I smiled. for once I’m just going to let lose. I thought and started drinking shot after shot.

The next morning I woke up half naked in Alex’s bed as he stared at me. “What?” I groaned. “You sure can hold your liquor.” He shook his head. “Hu?” I asked him confused sitting up. “Dude you were the life of the party when you passed out half the people left!” he sighed shaking his head. And I looked at him confused. I smiled. thinking I didn’t have a single upset angry thought in my head last night after the drinks. No hate towards my family’s packs. No worries that they’re going to come and kill me. I smiled and relaxed as Alex stared at me. “You okay?” he asked worried as his little sister skipped in the room a thing of roman noodles on a tray. “Alex told me you were sick Nate.” She said handing it to me I smiled at their innocent five year old. It’s only been six months since my parents death. I ate the half cooked noodles and asked Alex if he could get me some beer. “Dude do not try and drink your problems away! Drunks are not always the best people. My pack! look at what they did! He yelled at me referring to his sister’s scar it ran from her jaw bone to her chin. It was thick and deep. Alex said you could see the bone. And the scar was a purplish color. “I know what happened and I promised I’d protect her if you ever got hurt!” I yelled at him. as Anna walked in with a piece of paper. She handed it to me. I smiled at her and looked at it. it was a drawing of me her and Alex. I smiled stuffing it in my pocket. “Thanks. I’ll keep it forever.” I told her and hugged her kissing her forehead. “I’ll be out.” I told them and walked out of the room and went to buy some cigarettes.

I sat on an empty park bench and light one up and pulled Alex’s flask out.

When I got home Alex and Anna were packing up. “What’s going on?” I asked them. Alex sniffed me and punched me making me stumble. “Hand the pack and flask over.” he ordered. I growled and pushed it at him making him fall on his ass. Anna looked scared. I squatted in front of her and pulled her in a hug. “I’m sorry sis.” I told her and picked her up and helped Alex up. “See. All better.” I told her and Alex pulled her into his arms glaring at me. “No more or we’ll leave. both of us.” He said I nodded and hugged him.