Sunlight glares at me from behind my eyelids, and I shiver beneath my blankets. I must have fallen asleep thinking about how I first met Snow. I open my eyes and see that someone had been in to open my curtains.
How rude.
I shiver beneath my blankets, and I can feel the warmth leaving me. I pull the blankets tighter around me to try and trap in the heat, but it doesn't help.
I sigh and hurry and jump out of bed before running to the bathroom and turning on the shower to its hottest setting. I look at myself in the mirror as the water warms up. My dark brown hair is tangled and knotted from tossing and turning. My skin is normally a pretty, medium brown, but today it looks slightly paler than usual, probably because I didn't sleep well. I also notice some slight bags under my eyes, and the normal golden brown with hints of blue seems slightly duller than usual.
Just as I'm about to pull my shirt off I hear a knock at my bathroom door.
"Yes?" I ask as I open the door an inch or two.
"Sorry to bother you Lady Winter, but you're mother sent me to let you know that she wants for you to meet the family for breakfast in about 20 mins." An omega tells me. I'm pretty sure her name is Lana, but she is a newer servant in our home, so I haven't gotten to know her yet. She is very pretty, but terribly shy, I've tried to joke with her a few times, but she always just seems shocked. It makes me wonder if she has been abused in the past for being an omega. I know that used to be very common, but my mom has done a lot of work to end the mistreatment of lower pack members.
"Okay, thank you, i'm just going to take a quick shower, and then I'll be down." I tell her with a smile. She gives me a timid smile back and nods, before turning to quickly grab my dirty laundry, leaving my room as silently as possible.
I undress quickly and hop in the shower. The water burns my skin, and I can feel it washing away the cold that I could never get to completely leave. I wash my hair and body, and then just stand under the hot water for a minute or two before turning it off and hopping back out. I wrap my fluffy towel around myself and head out into my room to find clothes. I notice that someone had been in here while I was showering and restarted my fire, the room is already starting to warm up.
I walk into my closet and grab an oversized navy blue shirt that reaches down to just below my butt. Its long sleeves are perfect for covering my cold hands. I pull on a pair of warm leggings, and some fluffy socks. I towel dry my hair and leave it to dry the rest of the way in its own. No matter what I try to do to my hair it is always as straight as an ironing board, so i never put much effort into doing it. When it's dry I'll just pull it into a ponytail so that it will be out of my way for training later.
I look at the clock and realize that it's time for me to head downstairs.
As I walk into our dining room I feel my stomach rumble.
"I'm starving," Snow says grumpily. Apparently she didn't sleep any better than I did.
"I know, me too," I respond. It smells like pancakes and sausage, my favorite breakfast. The table is covered with pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, syrup, whipped cream, sliced strawberries, and raspberries.
"Looks yummy, what's the occasion?" I ask as I take my seat on the left of my father, across from my mom. My sister, Aiyane, sits next to me, and our younger brother across from her.
Aiyane would be next in line for Alpha after me if I was to fail as our packs leader. She is 8 years younger than me, only 14. Our brother, Ahanu, is only 7, but he is the most mischievous little thing I have ever seen. He is always getting himself into trouble.
"Just enjoy the food for now, we can talk after we have all eaten," my father, Alpha Lakota, says with a smile.
I eye his smile suspiciously before turning to look at my mother, but she only gives me a smile while she sips her coffee.
"Aww, come on, can't you just tell me?" I plead playfully as i reach for a raspberry. I pop it into my mouth, and it's deliciously tart, but Snow growls in annoyance.
"I don't want fruit, I want MEAT," she demands. I reach for a piece of sausage to please her. I hear her grumble something about wanting fresh, raw meat, but she still settles down as soon as i take a bite. I'll have to let her out to go hunting for lunch.
"No, I'm afraid you will have to wait just a few more minutes," my dad chuckles. "I promise to tell you, just eat your pancakes first.
"Fine," I say, rolling my eyes.
I place a pancake on my plate, and add some strawberries, syrup, and then some whipped cream. I also grab a few pieces of sausage, and an egg. I ask the omega attending us to fetch me a cup of milk and some water. When she returns with my drinks I dig in.
After about 10 minutes Aiyane can't stay quiet anymore.
"Okay, I'm done, just tell us what is going on!" She demands. My dad chuckles as he sets his fork down. His plate is clean, and so is my mothers. I quickly pop my last bite into my mouth, and we all turn to look at Ahanu. He has barely even touched his food, he appears to be more focused on turning hit pancakes into a tent with a syrup moat around it.
"Okay, fine. In a week we will be hosting a Meeting of the Packs. We are inviting all of the Pacific packs highest ranking members. They will be staying in a second pack house that we are having built on the east side of our lands, and while they are here I expect all of you to be on your best behaviour. If any of them need help with anything make sure they get the help that they need or report it to me. I'm also sure that they will be bringing unmated packmates to hopefully find their mates, so tensions might be kind of high," my dad tells us.