Sheryl; Alpha Ashton's Beloved Mate

"You stupid mutt! I told you to clean my room, what have you been doing? Huh? Answer me!" James slapped Sheryl with every sentence that came out of his mouth.

She kept her head down to avoid eye contact because it would only anger him more. The more she tried to justify herself, the more beating she received, in the end, she chose to keep quiet and take the beating.

"Answer me!" His voice boomed in the little closet room they were in.

Permitting to speak, Sheryl took the chance to explain herself.

"I-I-I w-was washing the dishes alpha." With her head still bowed, she stuttered and rushed out her words as best as she could.

"Is that more important than listening to me?" He questioned quietly, but the venom his voice carried scared Sheryl.

"No Alpha." She answered quickly.

"Okay." He finalized, making Sheryl think the torture was over. But it was far from over.

She tried to leave, but James was not having it. He held her back by her arms, making her flinch. She knew exactly what was to come.

"You know what will make me happy?" James wore a sinister smirk on his face, scaring Sheryl more into submission.

"What alpha?" She had an inkling of what he was demanding, but she wasn't ready for that, her question seemed to invoke James's anger though.

He tore her a slap, unsuspectingly.

"Get on your knees and take care of me like that slut you are." He smirked.

Sheryl couldn't talk, she simply nodded and got on her knees.

While James was indulging in forbidden pleasures, Kelly, his self-imposed mate was looking all over for him in the pack house.

Kelly was the typical applied Beta's daughter who was ready to get James, the only Alpha's son to herself. She could never bear the thought that he was with other women, so she hoarded him every moment she got.

"Have you seen James?" Kelly asked her friend, Ginny who was busy talking to her sister about a guy they found interesting and hot.

"Oh yeah, I saw him holding the pack maid by the arms earlier, maybe she pissed him off," Ginny answered and Kelly was out of there like a lightning bolt.

She continued to search for them, but couldn't find them, so she went to wait for James in his room. She had access to it.

After James was satisfied, he let Sheryl go, with the feeling of shame and disgust bubbling in the pit of her stomach.

"What do you say?" He asked, taunting her.

"Thank you alpha." She bowed, extra low, just to expand his ego to leave the place fast.

She walked with shame cloaking her figure, with every step she took, she felt disgusted with herself and tired of everything together. But, she still hoped that a miracle would happen to her, to change her life.

Little did she know.

The walk to her parents' house was long because she took the longest route to reflect her her activity for the day and to ask the Goddess for strength for whatever tomorrow has to offer.

"Let them be asleep." She muttered under her breath from her place at the front door.

Sheryl's relationship with her parents was bit the best, they didn't love her because she was useless to them.

When her mates were getting their wolves at the age of 15, she remained Wolfless till she was 22. She couldn't even begin to think of what 23 will hold for her and her birthday was in the next day.

Instead of her parents being supportive of her, they turned against her and maltreated her every chance they got like it was her choice to remain wolfless.

Her hope shattered when she saw them sitting, holding each other on the couch.

"Father, mother." She acknowledged them, moving to go straight up to her room.

"Get started with dinner right away." Her father spoke, not bothering you to look her way.

"Yes Father, I'll do that after I take a shower." She replied, going on her way, but her father was not having it, he stood up and was beside her at lightning speed.

"What did you just say?" He looked straight into her eyes, making her gulp.

"I just want to take a quick shower Dad." She answered, not quite meeting his eyes.

Before she knew the next thing, a slap was delivered unto her right cheek. It was beginning to sting, with the amount of slaps she had been dealt that day.

"Father!" She exclaimed. Her father was a very verbal person and only hurt her with words, she was surprised he was getting physical.

"Get. Into. That. Kitchen. And. Get. Started. On. Dinner." With gritted teeth, her father gave his orders, before going back to his seat.

Sheryl looked at her mother, hoping she would say something, but she only kept looking at her palm, not capable of meeting her mate and husband's eyes either.

She listened and went into the kitchen, but before she finished it was already midnight and her parents had gone to bed.

"So, they've eaten?" She asked herself quietly placing the food someplace safe.

She then retired to her room to take the shower she wanted.

"What a great way to start a new age." She cried in the shower, holding her aching heart.

It was hurting more than ever, she thought of ending everything, but something clicked inside of her.

"Is that you?" She thought inside of herself, thinking it was her wolf.

It was not.

Just her heart dropped at the hurt she was going to continue to endure as long as she remained wolfless.

With a heavy heart, Sheryl went to bed.

Then, came the dream, it was a happy dream at first, then she found herself pushed inside a body of water, she was drowning, flailing her arms, calling for help, but no one came.

"Wake up bitch!"

Except it was not a dream, it was reality, and she was indeed drowning.

It was Kelly. And the look on her face was not nice. It was menacing. It was scary. Water was poured upon her, wetting her alongside her bed.

How Kelly made it to her room was totally beyond Sheryl, but she knew she had to stand up for herself, or the pack spoiled girl would take her for a fool.

"What are you doing?" Sheryl shouted, looking at Kelly with hatred in her eyes.

Kelly and her minions were shocked.

"What did you just say to her?" Ginny spoke first, holding up Sheryl's chin by her palm. The said girl swatted the hand away and looked straight into Kelly's eyes.

"What are you doing in my room? This is my personal space, you have no right." Sheryl Tru stood up, but Jenny pushed her back into bed, annoying her even more.

Without thinking, she pushed Kelly out of the way and got out of bed forcefully. The spoiled girl scoffed.

"What were you doing with James last night?" Kelly asked, making Sheryl stop in her tracks.

"No no no." She started to chant inside herself. The last thing she wanted was to let anyone find out, that would mean her end, because James would deny everything, blaming her in the process.

"N-nothing, the alpha just wanted me to clean his room." She answered, avoiding Kelly's eyes.

"Uh uh, the same room I was in till late last night?"

"I don't know!" Sheryl shouted her answer and ran into her bathroom before any further questioning.

"Hey! Open the door, you slut! I said open up!" Kelly banged on the door with all of her might, with the force of anger bubbling inside her, one could tell her intentions were not good.

"Let's go girls." She said to the alpha and walked out of Sheryl's room majestically.

"Oh, Kelly darling, you're here." Sheryl's mother had a big smile as she greeted Trish.

How someone could switch personality overnight was a miracle.

"Hey Auntie, good morning," Kelly replied with a big smile of her own.

Sheryl's birth mother didn't even bother to ask about her child, whether she was still around or was hurt, she couldn't care less.

As the three girls walked back to their daily spot, Ginny asked, "Are just going to let her talk you off like that?"

"Oh don't be naive, of course not, she will get what is coming to her." In that tone Kelly, an underlying threat laid.

"Of course I trust you bestie." Jenny smiled sinisterly, hugging Kelly as they parted ways.

Kelly knew just the thing to do to make Sheryl pay for being seen with her man.

The Shadow Lake Pack was the lowest of all lows, they were the brute that the alphas often used to carry out dirty work, but the brutes are often available to everyone. They stayed deep in the forest, just near the borders of the Pack.

Kelly walked confidently through the forest towards the hideout of the brutes.

"Is anyone here?" The door creaked open as she pushed it.

"Hello!" She called out again, walking deeper into the house.

It looked rough and not exactly where she wanted to be, but a greater sacrifice for the better good.

"Is that our food?" A sinister voice sounded from everywhere in the house. It sent chills down Kelly's spine.

"No I am not your food, I am here because I have an assignment for you." She replied as confident as she could.

"Ohhhh, an assignment? Did the alpha send you?" The voice that answered prolonged the 'oh'.

Kelly thought they wouldn't answer her if she spoke the truth, "Yes, the alpha sent me." So, she lied.

"What do you want?" This time, the voice sounded from her behind, she turned around so fast, she could get a whiplash.

"I want you to take care of someone for me." She posed like a queen as she spoke.

"Take care? How?

"I don't care, just take care of her." She was losing her patience. Being in a crooked house would do that.

"Okay." The brute's leader couldn't reject it. They made an offer with the alpha in exchange for their stay within the pack borders.

After giving the brutes the necessary information they needed on Sheryl, she left as confident as she came there.

"You'll get what's coming to you now." She promised with a smirk as she retired to her room, patiently waiting for what the next day would bring.

After doing her chores for the day, Sheryl was able to finish early and fortunately for her, she stayed clear of James for the whole day, which was strange, but she was thankful for it.

She walked back to her parent's house in high spirits, hoping that whatever luck worked on her birthday to make her evade James would help her evade her parent's cruelty as well.

Unknown to her, she was being followed.

By none other than the brutes. Their leader and two other members.

They traced after her carefully, wanting to be discreet till they were out of ear and eyeshot.

From the pack house to Sheryl's, there was a little forest she was supposed to pass, the brutes planned on tackling her there.

The moment she made it to the beginning of the forest, she heard footsteps behind her, she was shocked. Usually, it was only her at that time of the night, so she walked faster.

The faster she walked, the nearer the footsteps sounded. Sheryl became nervous.

Even if she wanted to fight back, she couldn't. That was the first time she regretted never having a wolf. A lone tear escaped her eyes.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of her, shocked, she stopped, "Who are you?" She asked, never having seen the face around the pack house before.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here. A sweet thing for us brutes to enjoy." A chuckle resonated around her.

"No, please no." She begged, but they neared her anyway.

"What is going on here!?" Landon, the head warrior's voice boomed across the little forest, as he rushed over and held down Sheryl.

He also happened to be the only person who tolerated Sheryl enough to be friends with her.

"Nothing warrior, move along now, we're simply carrying out the Alpha's order." The leader spoke.

Landon was shocked to say the least, because if at all the alpha needed the brutes, he was usually the one the laoha would send to call them. And they knew too, but they were simply trying to indulge in their pleasure.

"The alpha?" Landon scoffed, "I don't remember the alpha sending me to call you brutes out."

"So what are you going to do about it?" The leader asked, trying to flex his muscles.

"Why don't we take this straight to the alpha?" Landon threatened while Sheryl shook her head profusely, knowing that would cause more trouble for her.

The alpha was known for his ruthlessness, the brute couldn't bear being at the bottom of his wrath, so they disappeared as quickly as they came.

"You can have her all to yourself then." With a last chuckle, they retreated into their hiding at the edge of the pack borders.

The moment they left, Landon rushed to Sheryl's side, "Are you okay?" He questioned, looking over her body for any injuries.

"Considering the hell I've been going through? I think I'm dandy." Sheryl sassed, earning a smile from her friend.

"Yeah, you're right, you strong woman." Landon praised her while helping her up. "I'll walk you home."

The two held hands and walked together towards Sheryl's house.

As Landon tightened the hold on Sheryl's arm, she flinched. "Ouch!"

"What is it?" Her shout alerted Landon immediately.

"I think I hurt my arm." She couldn't finish her statement before another throes of pain coursed through her.

"I asked if you were okay..." Landon got worried, lifted her off of her feet, and rushed to her room.

He rummaged the whole house to find first aid but was surprised to find none.

"Why is there no first aid here?" He questioned her and she chuckled.

"What do you think? I'm the only one that's yet to shift, Werewolves don't get sick, now do the math." It was only with Landon that her sassy side came out, she just couldn't help it.

"Okay, stay here while I rush down to get it for you." He rushed out of the room, but she stopped him.

"Oh, you have it? But, why?" She was genuinely confused why anyone would have that in the pack, not that it was a taboo, but it was odd.

"Because of you, duh." Landon rolled his eyes and moved again, but not before whispering one last sentiment. "Oh, happy birthday Sheryl."

A little gasp escaped Sheryl, she was pleasantly surprised that he remembered, no one ever remembered her birthday.

"Thank you, Landon." She whispered to the closed door, feeling a rush of emotion.

She let it out by crying. And that was how Landon met her.

"Does it hurt that much?" He rushed to her side.

"No." She replied, quickly wiping her tears away.

"Oh, come here." Landon sat in her bed and pushed her into his embrace. "It's okay, it's okay." Patting her back, he reassured.

When he moved back from the hug, he looked straight into her eyes, and that was a mistake on his path, for her eyes called to him.

It was the perfect shade of sapphire, but with tiny gold outlining in them, they were beautiful, so pretty that Landon could not resist leaning in.

Before Sheryl knew it, Landon's lips had descended upon hers, her eyes widened and she didn't think twice before pushing him off of her and the bed. It snapped Landon out of whatever truancy he was in.

"Sheryl, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen." He quickly apologized, but she was not having it.

"Is that how you see me too? Is that why you've been my friend? So you can have your way with me when I'm vulnerable? You are taking their word? To enjoy me all by yourself? Is that what it is?" Anger flamed her eyes, annoyance coated her demeanour and Landon knew he had better not talk at that moment.

"Answer me!" Upon being permitted to talk, he did.

"No Sheryl, it's not all that, I am your friend because I just am, and I don't see you like that, I swear by the Goddess, believe me."

"Believe you? Believe you?!" Her scream made another jolt of pain happen, and she winced.

"Sheryl lay down let me tend to your wounds." He moved to lay her down, but she took the opportunity to land a slap on him.

"Get away from me, you pervert!" She shouted, Landon knew her voice wouldn't be coming down any time soon and it might alert her parents, getting her into more trouble, so he listened.

"I'll go, but don't forget the ball preparations early tomorrow morning." He looked at her with so much pity.

He wished she was his mate, he was yet to find his mate too, and hoped it would happen at the ball. Sheryl deserved more than she was getting and if he could he would get it for her.

"Whatever, leave!" The venom in her voice scared Landon, he never wanted to jeopardize their friendship, but it seemed like the only thing he was doing at that moment.

After Landon left, Sheryl took care of herself and slept early to wake up for the ball preparations.

The night of the next day fell quickly, their guests from the neighbouring pack were rushing in, seeming to enjoy the decorations, courtesy of Sheryl, not that anyone would thank her.

It was then time for the special guest to hop on to sit next to the Alpha and Luna of the Shadow Lake Pack.

It was the alpha, the ones everyone has heard of, but never seen. He had a reputation to uphold, and that didn't involve mingling in everything.

All the ladies were busy fawning over his handsomeness, his cold but good-looking face and body, but his mind was on one thing, which was strange, but still a delight to him.

"Mate!"