Part 2:

It was a lovely day, the sun was out, the sky was bright blue and the clouds looked fluffy and friendly. Days like this were my favourites. It never failed to put a smile on my face. It also reminded me a lot of my father. He too loved days like this and he would make sure we were always out doing something.

It could be something so simple like a bike ride or going out to the lake for a swim. He would make sure it was a family day for us. It was usually just dad, Tom and I but we didn't care. We always enjoyed sunny days out with our father.

He would then buy us ice cream at the local ice cream shop and we would sit there eating our ice cream and share jokes. My father owns a mechanic shop and often is busy in the shop but he always manages to find time for us.

He would come home all greasy and we didn't care because we haven't seen him all day so we would rush to give him hugs. We loved our father. He was the best.

We usually spent the weekends, especially Sunday's when the shop is closed to catch up. Mum usually went out with her friends on Sundays. Now days she's always gone.

Remembering what we use to do in days like this made me want to go out for a walk. So I did.

I finished my homework for the week so I didn't have much to do another than clean the house. Since I clean the house every two days, there wasn't much to do other than wash the dishes and put away Tom's clothes.

The house went to my brother so did the shop and he works to pay the bills, I have to do all the house chores which means cooking, cleaning and fixing. I don't mind doing it, it's not a big deal for me. I think it's fair. It is a lot and keeps me busy during the day.

My brother pretends I don't even exist. There are times I try to talk to him but he just ignores me and literally pretends I'm not there. The only time he speaks to me is to order me to do something like iron his shirt.

I don't know how a grown man can't do a simple thing but that's my brother. Perhaps he can do but he's finding a way to make my life harder.

People have seen how hostile my brother is to me and they started to treat me differently too. He is the future beta so if he's doing something then that surely that must be right.

It hurts. I'm not going to lie. It has been almost six years and every day I think I'm going to get my brother back. But I'm not.

Part of me wishes I just told him the true then I remember the look on my father's face. The disappointment. The hurt. The betrayal. I quickly change my mind.

I already decided that there isn't much for me in Redwood, after I graduate I will got to college. I would do anything to get me out of here. School is not really my thing but I'm decent at it. I just need to get away. From this town. From these people. From my brother's hateful eyes. From my mother's knowing eyes. From the hurtful words people in this pack throw at me.

I need a change. I need to go somewhere far away from redwood. I might come back but I feel like I can't be who I want to be in this town. I feel like I have been categorised in this box that isn't me and no matter how much I try to get out of it, I'm just pushed in. I'm starting to believe I'm what they say I am.

Weak. Loser. Unwanted. Snake. Rat. Lame.

The list goes on and on.

I spot a figure sitting on the bench I always find myself sitting on. Sometimes I just want to be away from everything and come to the park to sit on the bench. I don't read anything but just stare and take in my surroundings.

When I walked closer to the bench I knew exactly who it was and my heart started acting up. Which was weird but not surprising because it always got like this when I'm around him. Since we were younger. I can't help it.

It's not like I have a crush on him or anything. It's just his presence. It oozes power and makes me cower away.

He looked up at him when he felt my presence and I just stop in my step and stare down at him.

"I'm sorry. Am I in your usual seat?"he asked.

His voice is deeper than I remembered. It always finds a way to surprise me. It was soft yet deep. Calming.

His eyes glistened under the sun making it brighter the usual. His eyes are hazel, with a ring of green and hint gold around the pupils.

It's eyes were my favourite part of him.

Not that I should ever have a favourite part of him.

The fact is that he is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. His brown hair looks silky and framed his beautiful olive skin face, I always want to brush few strands of his forehead and away from his unforgettable eyes.

I know I definitely sound like I have a crush on him but I don't. I'm not stupid even though many claim I am. He's out of my league. That's just a fact.

It's not even about his looks, it's the fact that he's the future alpha.

He cleared his throat and I remembered that he was talking to me. I shook my head to clear my thoughts away.

"Umm yes"I finally answered.

I was so awkward. I felt bad that he even had to witness it.

"Sorry about that"he replies getting up but before I knew it, I was opening my mouth to stop him. Sometimes I just wanted to punch my mouth.

"No it's okay. The bench is big enough for both of us"

Great now I have to be in his presence longer than necessary. He gave me a smile that didn't reach his eyes and made space for me to sit.

We both stared at our surroundings and not saying anything. It was quiet. Peaceful. Comforting.

I have known Calvin, the future Alpha of redwood for years. He is my brother's best friend after all. I use to follow him and my brother everywhere but I haven't seen him around much in awhile.

If I'm being honest, we never truly had a conversation before nor did we ever sit beside each other like now. He had always kept himself to himself and I had done the same.

He wasn't talkative and from what I could remember he had never been. My brother spoke enough for both of them. Calvin could say a lot using his eyes. He had never been rude to me or anyone in the pack. He was respectful and was liked by many. He is the only child yet he wasn't spoiled. He wasn't arrogant either from what I know of him.

"Are you excited that you're going to be an Alpha soon"

Why do I have to open my mouth for? We were sitting down in peace. Why did I have to start a conversation that I didn't really truly want to be part of?

Because you can feel the tension radiating from him. He seems like he has a lot on his mind and you thought he might want to share it with you.

He didn't reply to me which makes me shrink down in disappointment. I don't know why I was even surprised. I have know Calvin almost all my life and he has never said more than 10 words to me in my life. Okay maybe he said more but still. I didn't think he disliked me.

He is one of the the few people that haven't treated me differently since my father's disappearance and Tom's hostile behaviour. Not that he was ever friendly with me to begin with. In fact, I don't think he has ever been anything to me. I think he is just indifferent to me. Like he doesn't care whether I was there or not.

Which is why I was shocked when he asked "You coming to my party?"

My mouth dropped open for a second.

"I-I"I strutted.

His beautiful eyes fell back to me.

"I didn't know you were having a party"I lied so I didn't have to answer his question.

The day he was getting his title to be an Alpha was the same day my brother was getting his title to be a Beta.

So yes I knew about the party. I also knew my brother didn't want me to be there so I wasn't going to go. That day was going to be so special and the last thing I wanted to do was piss him off and seeing me would do just that.

He looked away, he grunted then replies "my father is giving me the title this Saturday. I did turn 21 last month."

Saturday is my birthday I wanted to tell him then but I stopped myself. I was sure he wouldn't care.

"Congratulations"I said instead.

He just grunted again not looking happy that he would be the leader of this pack.

"You don't look very happy"I voiced my theory.

He took a deep breath and looked at me. His eyes looking intense. He glanced away biting his top lips before shaking his head.

"It doesn't matter."he said getting up.

"I will see you at the party?"he voiced this as a question.

I blinked at him.

"Actually I don't think I'm going to be there"

His eye brows furrowed and he gave me a strange look and I understood why. He was wondering why I wouldn't be there to support my brother.

"Parties are not my thing"which was kinda the truth.

I liked people...they just didn't like me. At least not in this pack.

No one knew the truth and I guess that's my fault. I kept it to protect my brother but sometimes I think I made the biggest mistake ever. Maybe it was better if I had told him rather than keep the truth to myself.

It's just that truth hurts people. My brother is attached to my mother, the reason for that I didn't know. She wasn't ever a good mother. She never hit us or did anything to harm us, she was just distant. At least to me. She was a bit warmer to Tom.

My mother's one true love was power and she knew Tom was going to be the future Beta as soon as she introduced him to Calvin.

"You can come to just help out. You don't have to join the party. You loving helping out, this way you can still support your brother"

Well Tom can't say no to that.

I gave Calvin a big smile then it quickly faded when I realised I didn't have anything to wear.

Was I suppose to wear a uniform?

"I don't know what to wear"

He looked thoughtful for a second then spoke.

"I will send a dress your way. Ever attendee has to look nice, including those who are helping out"

"Okay"I whispered grinning.

He didn't smile back. He just nodded and walked away.

I couldn't help but let the smile grow on my face.

Did I just get invited to one of the most important parties?

I wanted to jump up and start dancing but I didn't. He wasn't far enough and people were around. The last thing I wanted was for them to have something else to bully me with.

---------

After many attempts of doing my homework, I got up and walked downstairs. I don't know what I was doing or what the hell travelled in my mind to think it was going to be normal of me marching downstairs.

I mean what the hell was I going to do? Demand for them to shut the hell up? As soon as my foot touch the wooden floor. All the heads turned to face me and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me.

I froze in my step. Feet stuck in place and my heart beat increased in speed. Straightaway my new braveness up and left leaving me in the room alone. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I didn't have to look at my brother's eyes to know he was annoyed. We have an understanding when his friends come by, I shouldn't even show my face.

The loud room was gone and the silence in the room was deafening. I think the only thing you could probably hear was the sound of my heart beat and my shallow breaths It was beyond awkward, beyond painful and I was beyond embarrassed at the moment. I felt uncomfortable as everyone stop and looked at me. Keeping in mind that there were around 8 people there in the room. Including Tom's best friend, Calvin.

"Good thing you're here"the soon to be alpha broke the ice by speaking.

The rest of the room looked at him like he grew five extra heads. Like I might have mentioned before, people don't usually talk to me, especially not Calvin. This was a lot, he spoke to me yesterday and then.

"Pardon me sir.. Alpha?"

"I got you the thing for Saturday"he said holding out a package for me.

At first I was confused like everyone else but then I remembered when he said he would get me the dress to wear.

I quickly walked up to him ignoring my brother's glare and took the package from him not before thanking him.

"What? She's coming to the party?"asked one of the girls.

"I thought you'd do better" chuckled one male earning a slap from another male but the same male chuckled as well.

I felt really uncomfortable and wanted to explain.

"What are you out of your mind?"another girl said.

"What you need her for?"a boy asked.

I didn't know all of their names even though they sometimes come to my house.

"Will you all shut up?"Tom spoke out.

I really thought he was going to say more, to defend me but he didn't. Not that they really said anything bad. They didn't straight up insult me but still, they were being a bit rude.

Everyone seemed to obeyed him. Silence filled the room. Everyone's eyes were either on Tom, Calvin or me. I looked down to my feet. Avoiding the looks I was getting.

I felt like I needed to say something, clearly there was a bit of misunderstanding.

"I'm going to help out"I said avoiding the glare I was receiving.

It was clear the girls were jealous that I was attending and they clearly won't. I felt like if I told them why I was going they would cool their glares.

"Of course that's the reason. I mean why else would anyone invite you"one of the girls said.

"Shut up Soph. No one asked you to speak."Calvin said in a bored tone rolling his eyes.

I wanted to smile but I knew it won't help the case so I did inwardly and dared myself to look at Sophie.

Sophie looked embarrassed as her cheeks grow as red as a tomato. I almost felt sorry for her, that was up until she sent me one of her mean faces. This one read '

The hell did I do?

"Well I'm going to get back to my homework. Thanks again"I said meekly.

I span around and walked as fast as I can to upstairs, ignoring the little comments the girls made.