The Black Alder Series

"Elena", a voice came from behind me. I'm standing in the middle of the most beautiful garden full of rose bushes and white dandies. I turned around and saw a young woman approaching me. She seems to get more beautiful with each step she takes.

" Who are you and how do you know my name, I asked. " Mom always told me to ask these questions to strangers?

" I am a friend child", she replies with a smile on her face.

Her hair is the most beautiful color, silver and white blended together. She is dressed in a silver dress with beautiful curves, but what draws me in the most is her eyes. They are the bluest blue eyes I have ever seen and feel at peace. Her aura of power is pouring from her in waves and suddenly, even with me being 4 years old, I know she would never harm me.

" Your beautiful miss" I replied with the hugest smile on my face.

" Thank you darling", she continues, " Child, I have come to tell you something terrible is about to happen to you."

" What do you mean?" I said, getting scared. "What will happen?"

She sits on the ground and puts me in her lap.

" Danger will come to you from all sides, my child", She says, stroking my hair. " You must be patient and have courage." You must never give up, even when it seems like all hope is lost, my child".: You will be tested, but you must have faith in yourself. Never lose it.

She strokes my hair lightly and I get sleepier, her voice is starting to fade. I'm struggling to keep my eyes open, to remember her words.

" What will happen, I ask?", as my eyes began to close.

"Remember my words" is all I hear before everything fades

I woke up with a sweat. The dream I just had, seems so familiar as if I've had that dream before, but in my dream, I was only 4. That was 10 years ago.

Is that when I first had this dream, I wonder to myself for sure, but a warning for what, and who is she? I can hear my mom and dad talking downstairs, making breakfast for me and my older brother Lynx. It is an average day here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here the weather is always humid with limited chilly days. People in my pack hate the weather. I love it.

By pack yes, you guessed it. We are all werewolves here. Our pack is known as the Black Sun's pack, one of 15 packs in the whole state. A wolf king and queen ruled each state. Our king does not live on our parkland though. Most of us have shifted, some of us have not like me. The shifting age isn't until 18, but you can get your wolf conscious a little earlier than that. It's different for everyone. A wolf consciousness is like a voice in your head that is you, just a more animalistic version of you. They feel what you feel, see what you see. When you shift, they become you, and you become the voice in their heads, but you are still one. I cannot wait for mine.

I get up, make my bed, and go to the bathroom. Today is my first day at Black Sun High and I'm anxious. Black Sun high is the high school everyone in Charlotte, North Carolina goes to. It was filled with werewolves shifted and unshifted, and humans. Humans don't know about us, and we prefer to keep it that way. Humans knowing about the supernatural can get them killed very easily, so we prefer to stay by ourselves. I glance at myself in the mirror as my messy brown curly hair falls over my face. I can't help to think about how my body looks so much different than all the other girls. I'm 5,5. I have medium-length curly hair and deep blue eyes. My body is underdeveloped compared to all the other girls. Where they are toned in the stomach, I am chubby. Where they are thin and lean, I am short and fat.

I don't look like either of my parents, but my dad says he has family members with my eyes and hair color who are special, and he believes I am too. I never worry after he tells me this. I am also plus sized, but no one ever says anything to my face about it. Probably because my dad is the gamma of my current back and any insults towards me are an insult to him. My dad is very overprotective of me, which is something I love very much. I am closer to my dad than my mom or brother, as he seems to be the only one who cares about me. Dad never lets me train, so all the carbs tend to stick. The only exercise I can get is walking to school.

My brother is the opposite of me. He has blonde hair and green eyes, the same as my father, and they are both tall. I would say they both average around 6 and a half feet, with my dad being a bit taller. My brother and I have a strange relationship. He isn't mean to me, but he isn't nice either. It's like he only tolerates me because our dad does. Sometimes he acknowledges me if he is in a rare mood. He always has this bored look on his face other than when he is with his friends. My mother's influence is rubbing off on him. Speaking of "Mothers".

My mom, Diane, has an olive tone skin color with black hair and hazel eyes that always seem to narrow at me when I am around her. I do not know why but she just seems to get annoyed with me quickly, like I did something to her. She yells at me for the smallest stuff when dad isn't around. It's always like she is trying to punish me for something, though I've yet to figure out what that something is. I have just learned to stay out of her way. My brother, however, is the apple of her eye. He knows how she treats me when dad is not around, but he does not say anything. She has never hit me or anything, just yells and calls me names when I make a mistake. Dad knows something is up though. I can sometimes hear them arguing when he catches her yelling at me when she thought he was not looking. I know I am slowly coming between them, and I hate it.

I ran to the bathroom to wash up and get ready. I decided to go with a white-collar shirt, some skinny jeans, and white forces. Better to keep it casual. I climb downstairs greeting both parents. My dad kisses my head with the daily glare from mom.

" Morning sweetie", he says. "Ready for school?"

"Yes, daddy". I tell him. I can hear mom grunting something but, as usual, I ignore her. So does dad.

"Are you ready for your birthday next week"? He speaks

" Of course, silly," I told him. I have been looking forward to my 15th birthday. I feel like this is when my wolf comes.

" I'm walking with Jen today", I let him know. Soon as I tell him this my best friend Jen and her brother Marcus come in. Jen never knocks on the door. She always barges in as she lives here, but my family never minds. She is our betas daughter and we have always been close growing up. She is super sweet but also can be a bitch to anyone who messes with her or me. I am so happy to see her, as I have not been able to see her all summer due to her being at her grands over the summer and she has changed. She used to be short and chubby like me, but over the summer, I can tell her blonde hair had gotten darker and she wears it straight now instead of wavy. Her eyes are also blue but more of a light sea blue. She lost a lot of weight, which tells me she has been training over the summer. Her figure has brought out her hips and her waist are thin. I must admit I'm a bit jealous of her. Marcus is her male twin in every way, with blonde hair and green eyes, even though he is older.

I always seem flustered whenever he comes around and he knows it, giving me a wink as they sit down. As l can remember, I have always had a crush on Marcus. He is always nice to me. He and I do not really talk much as he is always spending time together with my brother, but when he sees me, he gives me his lady killer smile and I just swoon. All the girls do. He is a popular jock of Ban River High. One of the top three. My brother is also one of the top three, hence why they are best friends.

" Sup girl, are you ready?" Jen says.

" Coming," I tell her.

" Take some toast with you," my dad says.

" Of course, daddy, I love you".

" I love you too," he says.

"My dad yells to my brother that Marcus is waiting for him. They usually carpool together but Jen and I walk to school since it isn't far.

As I grabbed some toast off the counter, I could hear my brother coming downstairs. His blonde hair is tousled, and he is wearing all black with a leather jacket as it's part of his bad-boy vibe. As soon as he is downstairs, he locks eyes with Jen and growls. Marcus stands protectively in front of his sister as the whole kitchen gets tensed. My dad tells him and Marcus to go to the living room. Jen and I are laughing as we are leaving.

"Wonder what that's about?"

"Is it just me or is your brother getting hotter with each passing day?" she says.

" Ewe Jen," I tell her

She throws her hands up " I'm just saying he can growl at me any time " and twirls her hips.

"Your brother can growl at me too', I told her, thinking about her sexy brother Marcus. She knows I've been secretly crushing on him since we were small.

We are both laughing and catching up on her summer as we get to school. Our high school is made of wolves from different packs in the neighborhood. 9/10 people find their mates by senior year. All the boys are taught to control their shift starting the first year as guys, especially alphas and betas, tend to shift as early as sophomore year. Girls must wait until they are eighteen to shift or they shift when they find their mate. Lynx, Marcus, and the Alphas' son David are pulling their motorcycles around the same time as we reach the school.

David completes the top three. He is your typical Alpha's son with black hair and green eyes. He is taller than my brother by a few inches. Just like my brother, he dresses in dark jeans and leather jackets as it is his signature look. He is overconfident and arrogant. All the ladies love him, hoping to be his mate. I would hate to be mated to someone like him. I was told he bullies and beats up random people here. They can't fight back since he is the alpha's son. I will be doing my best to stay out of his way. I also hear he sleeps with a different woman each day, and they just give themselves to him. He always has this bad attitude and is short tempered, which he gets from his dad, our alpha. Thanks to my dad, I have never been allowed to be in the presence of our alpha. My dad says it is because my alpha is a nasty piece of work, and if our alpha ever disrespected me, he would most likely get himself killed.

Lynx seems upset about something as they walk to the building, but Marcus just has a beautiful smile on his face as he waves our way and I blush immediately.

" Ugh, I wish I would end up being your brother's mate," I tell Jen, but her gaze is not focused on me. It focused on their direction, specifically my brother. The school bell rings, signifying the start of the day.

" Earth to Jen we got to go," I tell her, tugging on her shirt. I will ask her about what just happened later, I say to myself. I'm ready to get today over with, but somehow, I can't shake this uneasy feeling that someone is watching me. I turn around briefly but because I don't see anyone watching me, I keep walking and I enter the building. As Jen and I get our school schedule, I still feel like I am being watched, but I keep my focus on my schedule. I have no classes with Jen, as she is in a higher grade than me. I do see though, that I have the same lunch period with the juniors and seniors. Neat. I am looking forward to drooling over Marcus.

School is going by as fast I hoped. My gamma classes are advanced but that was never an issue for me as I am an A student. My dad will expect nothing less. Here I am sitting at a lunch table by myself since Jen is taking beta junior classes and I do not associate with anyone else other than her here. I am sitting here eating an apple when suddenly David and Marcus decide to sit at my table. I looked around, wondering why they chose this table. My brother must still be in his classes.

David is looking at me with an annoyed look in his eye and Marcus is looking at me with his usual smile and beautiful blue eyes. David makes an annoying sound with his mouth and my eyes trail back to him. I looked him straight in the eye. He was letting off his alpha aura to try to intimidate me, but it was not working. I only assume it's because I don't have my wolf yet. Once he realized I would not lower my head, his eyes widened for a second with what looked like shock and he went back to being annoyed.

" Move Bitch, you're sitting at our table," he says.

" I was here first", I told him calmly. I was not trying to be a bitch, but he wouldn't intimate me this easily. Usually, people would just cower and leave, but I am the gamma's daughter. There isn't much he can do to me without my dad finding out. " There are many tables in here, so you can choose from them and leave me in peace". I can hear the gasps from some people around me. Wolves who do not mind their own business.

Marcus starts to laugh, and I swear it's like music to my ears. I cannot help but smile a little and blush. Why is he so damn handsome?

David, however, is fuming and stands up. Everyone in this café is quiet now and starting at us. I looked him in the eye as I ate my sandwich.

" How dare you disrespect your alpha, you fat slut. Get the fuck away before I make you", he threatens me, using his alpha voice. Fat Slut? Coming from the man whore? This is rich. I should have chosen this moment to walk away. I did not.

I stand up too.

" I don't care if you're an alpha, I was here first. I have never done anything to you, and you come to MY TABLE and disrespect me. So how about YOU move to another table and LEAVE ME ALONE. " At this point, I am almost fuming, and he staggers back for a second as if I just pushed him. However, he is an alpha and even as that last word comes out of my mouth, I know I am in trouble. Marcus has not said a word this entire time but keeps looking at me with what looks like pride.

David started to growl though making himself look terrifying and I admit I sat down after a little while, afraid but holding my ground. David has already gotten his wolf, so what I just said is messing with his alpha nature. He shakes his head and whispers something to Marcus which wipes the smile off of Marcus' face. Before I can realize what's going on, David is behind me and running down the hall at his speed, which is blind to human eyes, with Marcus right behind him. I kicked and screamed for him to get off me. I started to panic even more since I realized that we had just entered the boy's restroom.

"Hold Her Down", I heard David growl using his alpha voice. Marcus has no choice but to listen, but he tries to change David's mind over whatever he is about to do.

"Don't do this, she is the gamma's daughter, " Marcus said. His deep voice makes me slightly calm, but I'm still screaming for help. David shoots him a look that clearly says shut the fuck up.

" Shut up bitch", David says, and punches me in the stomach. I hunch over but Marcus holds me back upright. David then grips me by the throat, and it feels like he is crushing me.

" You think I care that you're the gamma's daughter? You think you're better than me whore", He tears my shirt, leaving my bra exposed. " Your nothing but a stupid fucking human who doesn't know her fucking place", he follows with a punch to my face. "Drop her" the alpha commands Marcus, and Marcus lets me go and I fall to the following. I can see blood coming from my nose. He kicks me while I'm on the floor, back-to-back, as I cover my head until I hear Marcus stop him, yelling that's enough and pulling him off me.

David gets on the ground and pulls my face towards him. " You tell anyone about this, and I'll fucking kill you," he says. He then picks me up and carries me through the empty gym out the back door and tosses me on the ground. I can feel my vision fading as my head hits the concrete and the last thing, I'm able to get out is a small HELP as I look at Marcus, but he gives me a sad look and goes back inside the building with David. Then everything goes black.

I can see the goddess from my dream of last night. I can see her mouthing words, but I can't make them out.

I suddenly opened my eyes, looking around me, and it looked like I was in a bedroom. My bedroom. I look at the clock and I see school is still happening. My body is in so much pain and I can't speak. My throat hurts so much. I see our family doctor Laura at my bed. Once she sees I'm awake, she starts to ask me questions about who did this to me. I remembered David's words and I started crying, shaking my head as I was unable to answer her.

"Okay, we will try again later," she says. I look at her wanting to know how I got here but unable to ask. Luckily, she knew." Someone from school found you lying on the ground behind the gym. They took you to the school nurse who patched you up and brought you home. I've just let your father know you're awake". I hear dad rushing upstairs and the door flies open with relief on his face.

"Baby girl, who did this," he says with his eyes flashing black. I can tell he is trying to contain his wolf.

"She can't talk right now," Dr. Laura says." Her throat was gripped tight enough to damage her vocal cords. it may be a while before she can talk again."

" Fuck this, I'm contacting Alpha Ned. " My eyes open wide, and I grip his hand and shake my head. Even though I knew the Alpha wouldn't punish his son, I knew David would carry out his promise and kill me.

" Why not Elena?" My dad booms. I started to tear up and his face softened. " Okay sweetie, but you will find a way to tell me later, okay". I nodded my head.

" I will be back to check on you," Dr. Laura says. Dad kisses my head and I feel myself falling back to sleep and let I allow the drowsy take me.

I can see the goddess and she is closer now. The meadow is just as beautiful as it was earlier. "Stay strong Elena, remember you are strong, and your time will come. Be patient," she says and turns around and walks away.

" Wait, what do you mean" I yelled after her. I feel like this is a warning, but I couldn't seem to move my feet to get to her as I saw her turn into the largest white wolf I've ever seen, and she looks back at me and howls.

I was shaken awake by someone who was shouting. It's Laura.

" Wake up Elena, we are being attacked by rouges," she says, panicking. I dart out of bed still in a lot of pain, but I know I'm not safe. I limp downstairs and I see my father half shifted in his wolf form, fighting off the rouges attempting to come in." Dad" I try to yell but I am still not able to talk. 3 other pack warriors are trying to kill the rouges, but I can tell my dad is taking the most damage since the other 3 pack wolves look like they are about to give out. A rouge gets past and injures Laura. I grab a knife from the kitchen and toss it to kill it. It went straight through the rouge's head. I didn't even know I could do that. My dad leaps back and looks at me and nods a thank you and gets ready to go back to the fight but then looks over to my other side and runs over to kill the rouge I didn't hear sneaking up on my other side. I jumped out the way just in time and my dad caught it mid-air in the throat before it almost got me. However, dad breaking rank on the other side with the 3 warriors caused the rouges to push through. My dad shifted back to human form.

" Hide Elena," he says. " They are coming for you," he tells me while fighting rouges with this spear. Dr. Laura points to a huge cabinet and I run to it.

I hide in the cabinet while trying to not cry from how much pain this is all putting me in. I peak out of the cabinet, only to see Dr. Laura being killed from a blow to her head. I can see my mom sitting on the couch like nothing is even going on. Is she not afraid? She catches my eyes, and they widen. " Come on mom" I mouth trying to get her to come in the cabinets with me. She eyes me with a wicked gleam and suddenly I am afraid and confused. A rouge comes from behind her and surprisingly walks past her

"There is the bitch right there' she says pointing at me. I can see the rouge look at me and growls. He comes at me and luckily dad was there just in time to injure his legs before it got to me. He at my mom in horror as she is smiling at him and suddenly everything happens in slow motion. As he is walking to my mom, the rouge whose legs he injured hopped up on his hands, jumped on my dad's back. My dad held the rouge by its arms and flipped him over his right shoulder, while midair the rouge twisted off dad's head from his body while at the same time my dad tore out its heart. Dad's head rolled to me as it was twisted off. I tried to scream but I could only make a small sound as I stared at my dad's head. I saw my mom's head snap to the side as if she heard someone and ran to the rouges telling them to retreat.

They did it instantly. However, my focus was on the father's head as his eyes were still open and looking directly at me. The 2 warriors left turned around but were not fast enough as my mom tore out their hearts. I watched the gruesome sight. The rouges took their dead and my mom sprayed some sort of spray before making her claws come out of her left hand. She stepped over my body and picked up my father's head and yanked me out of the cabinet. I tried to fight her off, but I was powerless against it. My body was still sore from earlier and I was helpless. I closed my eyes ready to join my father, but my mother shoved me to the grown instead. She then took her claws and clawed herself across the face as well as her stomach and shoulder and fell beside me putting my father's head right beside me and smirked. Not even 10 seconds later our Pack Alpha Nate came busting down the door with David, Lynx, Marcus's dad Jed, and Marcus. My mom started panting as I tried to get away from her.

" She... Shifted...And ...killed her dad...the warriors....and scratched me" mom said

I shook my head and pointed at my mom, trying to tell them she set this up

They looked at my dad's decapitated head, the guards, my mom, and then back to me and everyone's expression turned into horror. My mom knew I couldn't defend myself due to my throat. It was at the moment I knew no one would ever believe me. I look to Marcus pleading with my eyes to know I didn't do this, but his dad steps in front of him, eyeing me with a nasty glance. I expected the Alpha to kill me without delay, but instead, he said the words that would forever bring my life further into hell

TAKE HER TO THE DUNGEONS!!

It's been almost a week since the attack, and I've been in the dungeons. I got my voice back, but I don't use it. Tomorrow is my birthday, but I wish more than anything that I was dead. The cells here smell like piss and shit. All you hear all the screams of the ones being tortured down here. I try to tune it out. I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is my dad's head. My dad......It's my fault he is dead...I didn't attack him, but he died protecting me... Fresh tears come to me as I try to stay silent.

The first few nights in my cell, I was visited by Lynx, who beat me severely, asking me why I did it. I tried to tell him I didn't. It was mom, but it only pissed him off even more. On another night, David came to taunt me, saying if he was the alpha, I would already be dead. Even slapping me around a few times to prove he can.

Jan only came once. Her visit hurt the most. I was so happy when I saw her, but she looked at me so full of hatred. She punched me in the face and called me a traitor to the pack. I attempted to explain that my mom set it up, but she didn't have any of it. My brother joined her, putting his arm around her, threatening me to stay away from his mate. Wait...his mate? I tried to smile and tell her I was happy for her, but they kicked me in the stomach. The servant brings food out right after they leave barley enough to survive on. I always push it to the side. I can't eat it. The alpha comes into the cells after they tell him I'm not eating and forces it down my throat. My mother is behind him smiling as if she is getting some sick thrill off of this. It's at that moment when I realize just how much I hate her. I vowed to myself to seek revenge for my father. My silent threat must have reached her when she looked into my eyes because her smile vanished. She came in and kissed the alpha, and he left her alone with me in the cell. As soon as she sees he is gone, she smiles again.

" Look at you, exactly where you belong" she taunts. I spit at her

" You Bitch", I told her. "You had my father killed and blamed it on me. For what. To be the alpha whore". She comes up to me and takes her hand and slaps me across my face, but I don't even feel it. All I feel is hate and this feeling is slowly building up.

" Watch your fucking mouth you little shit. He wasn't supposed to be there, YOU were the target". I remember her saying that rouge to get me.

" Why," I ask. I've done nothing to you.'. She slaps me again.

" You've done EVERYTHING to me `and you will pay. My rouges may not be able to reach you right now, but I will find a way to hand you over and get you out of my life for good' she spats

" Why mom, " The anger is now reached its peak and starting to come out. It gave me strength.

She must have sensed it. She smiled and backed away.

" Oh, dear child, YOU WERE NEVER MY REAL DAUGHTER."

I knew she was telling the truth. She never felt like a mother to me, and we never had a connection. She saw the realization come to my eyes and laughed. She walked away, leaving the cage. When she got to the door, I laughed, she turned around and narrowed her eyes. It was a cold laugh, full of no emotions. Scary, lifeless, powerful and I swore I saw a massive dark aura come around me. She must have seen it too and continued to back away. I spoke

" Hear my words, whore. One day, no matter where I am, or how many years it will take, I will find you, and I will rip your heart out as a tribute to my father, but before I do, you will know the true definition of pain and fear, and you will suffer a thousand deaths before I allow you peace. Head me, mother. Tread carefully. I make this promise to you. The last face you will ever see will be mine."

I was pulsating this dark aura and my mother felt it. She knew I wasn't playing around, and she was scared. However, she played it off with a smirk and walked out, leaving me alone. I realized how quiet everyone had gotten in the dungeon, as if they were hanging on to my every word, but I didn't say anything else. Yet it stayed silent. The guy in the cell next to me spoke.

"What are you?" he asked.

" What do you mean? "

" You have a powerful aura around you, yet I don't sense a wolf," he says. I sat quietly for a while since I didn't want to think about it. I just felt myself getting weaker and weaker. Eventually, I couldn't keep myself awake, and darkness overcame me

It's now been a full week since I've been down here in the dungeon and today is my birthday. My scars are healing up slowly thankfully. My mom has not come back. My brother comes back now and then to hit/kick/slap/burn or whatever he needs to do to let off his pent-up anger. The guy in the cell next to me has been nice. He listens to me when I do talk, but even then, I don't have much to say. Instead, he allowed me to listen to him. Turns out his name is Mark, and he was captured and jailed for hiding money from the alpha to keep the money to feed his family. He told me how the alpha would bring his fated mate to the dungeon and rape her while he watched them chained up. I used to think our alpha was nice, but after what he did to me, and listening to Mark's stories, I can understand why his son David is the way he is. As soon as he told me that, many of the prison mates started telling their own story and I found myself getting attached to these prisoners and their sad stories.

No one asked about my story. Everyone down there heard about the girl who decapitated her father. They also heard my mother's confession, so they all knew I was innocent. It was nice to have someone believe me, even if no one else did. Everyone was silent as they heard the alpha approaching. He stopped at my cell, and stared at me, opened it, then grabbed my arm to walk me out. He was not gentle, and my legs were wobbly from not being able to walk often, so he was dragging me out. One cellmate yelled "Be Strong My Queen'.

Alpha Nate growled at him.

" Kill them all" He ordered a pack warrior and all I could hear were the screams of pain as he was continuing to drag me up the stairs. I could tell we were headed to his office. He dragged me past some pack members, some had cruel smiles on their faces, some with complete disgust. My once best friend and brother were among them. Once we reached his office, he tossed me onto the chair. He goes behind his desk to his computer. I decided to stay quiet. I could feel his alpha aura pouring off in waves, but it wasn't doing anything to me. He paid me no attention and we sat like that for about 10 min until his eyes glazed over mind linking someone. A few minutes later, a servant came into the room with grey t-shirt and grey slacks. The outfit of the servant. She gave the clothes to me.

" You know what to do" was all he said. She tugged on my clothes, telling me to go with her. I followed. As we walked through the halls on the way to the servant's quarters, I felt a tug in my head. Like someone trying to get through. The pain in my head was searing. I saw the servant about to mind link Alpha when I suddenly asked her not to.

" Please miss," She said, "you need a doctor and I'm on a tight schedule," she said.

"What's your name," I asked her.

"I am Serene, miss," she said.

"Just give me a second please Serene," I asked her with a smile,

I somehow knew that wasn't it though, but the pain was starting to let up as I realized I should give in to the pain and that's what I did. I was suddenly feeling better. Better enough to walk. The pain didn't come back, and I just assumed it was from finally seeing a lot of light after being in the dungeons for a week. We arrived at the servant headquarters, but it seemed like we were headed further than that.

"Where are we going, Serene," I asked her.

" Alpha does not want you sleeping in servants' quarters. He has another room to be given to you". I followed her to what looked like an empty room with a ladder that looked like it led upstairs to a secret shack. She led me into that room. It looked like some sort of small attic with cobwebs all around. It had 1 flatbed on the ground with a thin blanket. I guess this is going to be my new quarter until the alpha kills me.

" Miss, take a shower and then get dressed. I will wait for you" Serene said, climbing down, leaving me to it.

I saw the small bathroom downstairs and decided to hurry up and shower. The shower was small, and the cubby was wooden, but that didn't matter to me. The water seemed to wash away what felt like years of sweat and blood. I felt great when it was done. I followed Serene for the rest of the day as she showed me how to clean the bathrooms in the packhouse, makeup beds, cook, and scrub the walls. Even though I was in the packhouse, I was happy not to pass any of my family.

Though that didn't stop the occasional glares or the laughs when someone " tripped" me. I learned quickly thankfully and kept my head down. I met the other servants, some who were nice to me, some glared at me, and had terrible attitudes. While serving dinner, some members thought it would be hilarious to throw some food at me. I almost retaliated but I heard someone say no, not yet. I looked around but couldn't pinpoint the voice. I decided to shrug it off. It didn't make it any easier than my "mom", Lynx, Jen, and Marcus, were all there watching my every move. They were all laughing at me too, other than Marcus. His eyes looked like they kept switching between annoyance and .... pity?

I'm not sure, but I decided it wasn't wise to stay and find out, so I left and retired back to my attic. I was so tired. I slouched on my little mattress. It wasn't comfortable, but it was better than the dungeon. Serene gave me clothes to sleep in since I had none and an alarm to keep time. Luckily, my room wasn't too close to one, so it gave me privacy. I laid down and prepared to go to sleep. All of a sudden

You have been through some shit lately.

I got up and looked around, but no one is there. "Who Are You," I asked out loudly.

I am your girl.

My wolf.......

Yes, my name is Snow. I tried to reach out to you, but I had a tough time getting through, almost like I had to force my way through a block.

Nice to meet your snow, I'm Elena. Also, yes, I could feel you trying to get through. It hurt terribly.

I know love. Your body is weak but I'm here to help you heal. I saw what happened, and I am sorry.

I get quiet, not sure what to say. In my mind, it all still floats in my head as if it just happened in that second and I feel myself tearing up.

Don't cry love. You are so strong; you have no idea. I am so happy to have been paired with you. Unbelievably, I've known you way longer than you think. I know mother moon goddess chose well and when she told me about you, I had to come at once. I've been waiting to be your wolf for a long time!

You spoke to the Moon Goddess?

Yes, my love, but we will talk about that later. For now, sleep, and tell no one about me. You don't want to give off your strength and trust me, we are strong. No one here is to be trusted after what happens. The only person we will wait to tell is our mate when we find him on our 18th birthday.

Mate won't want a weak thing like us, I tell her. I don't want to get her hopes up.

Our mate will want us. Have patience, my love. I will be here to talk to you every step of the way.

I smiled at that. Can I see how you look Snow? I'm hoping to see her in my head, but I am weak right now, so I know I can't

You will see when the time comes. I promise. Now get some sleep and let me work on healing you.

Thank you snow, I told my wolf and I feel myself getting sleepy.

You're welcome my love. Oh, and Elena

Yes Snow

Happy Birthday