CHAPTER 1 PILOT
THE STEAM OF THE HOT SHOWER FOGGED THE MIRROR. THE WATER TURNED OFF AND EXITED THE SHOWER A TALL WOMAN. WIPING THE VAPOR FROM THE MIRROR THERE SHE STARES AT HERSELF. NOTING IN EVERY DETAIL OF HER BODY. DISGUSTED BY HOW MALNOURISHED HER BODY EXPRESSED.
EVERY PART OF HER BODY WAS COVERED IN BRUISES AND HEAVY SCARRING. SHE HATED BEING AN OMEGA. TIRED OF FEELING SICK, AND HER IMBALANCED DIET TOPPLED HER NAUSEA EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY. SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS EATING THE CORRECT AMOUNT AN OMEGA WAS ALLOWED.
SHE SCRUNCHED HER NOSE IN DISGUST NOTING THAT HER SPINE, RIB CAGE, AND HIP BONES ARE UNDOUBTEDLY NOTICEABLE. WITH THAT, SHE SNATCHED HER TOWEL WITH PURE HATRED AND DRIED HERSELF OFF HARD. SHE WANTED TO SCRAPE HER SKIN OFF HER BODY.
REMINDED HOW LIZARDRY GOOSEBUMPS IT WAS. SHE ASKED FOR MOISTURIZER BEFORE, BUT HER PARENTS DID NOT WANT HER TO USE ANY UNTIL SHE WAS OF AGE. THE MOTHER TOLD HER IT WAS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT BOYS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER. KATE UNDERSTOOD. SHE DRESSED HERSELF IN BAGGY CLOTHES. DESPERATE TO HIDE HER INSECURITIES.
PUTTING HER HAIR UP, SHE WAS READY TO GO TO WORK. WALKING UP THE STAIRS OF THE PACK HOUSE. SHE ENTERED THE KITCHEN AND STARTED THE FIRST BATCH OF BACON, EGGS, AND SAUSAGE. WHILE THOSE WERE COOKING, SHE STARTED ON THE PANCAKE MIX. AFTER BREAKFAST WAS READY THE ENTIRE PACK HOUSE CAME INTO THE DINING ROOM AND TOOK THEIR PLATES.
NOT ONCE HAS SHE EVER HEARD A THANK YOU. SHE DIDN'T MIND, THOUGH. FEELING INCREDIBLY ILL, SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO MARCH THROUGH THE DAY NO MATTER WHAT. IN CAME ALPHA'S BREAKFAST BELL. KATE ROLLED HER EYES AND GATHERED EVERYTHING UP ON THE PLATE AND MADE HER WAY TOWARD THE ALPHA'S DEN.
WALKING UP ON THE PATHWAY, SHE CAN HEAR A WOMAN GIGGLING. IGNORING THE SOUND SHE KNOCKED ON THE ALPHA'S DOOR AND WAITED. THE DOOR OPENED AND STOOD THE HUSSY OF THE PACK. CATHY, WHO WAS ONCE THE BEST FRIEND OF KATE'S. HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT LAST LONG AFTER SHE IGNORED KATE WHEN THE ALPHA FOUND CATHY AS THE NEW TOY FOR A FEW MONTHS.
CATHY THOUGHT SHE MAY BE THE LUNA NEXT IN LINE, BUT KATE KNEW DAMN WELL OF THE LIES ALPHA TOLD EVERY GIRL IN THE PACK JUST SO HE COULD GET A PIECE. "OH, WELL WELL," CATHY CHIMED. "I'LL TAKE THE ALPHA'S PLATE FROM HERE ON OUT, WEAK PUP."
AND THERE SHE SNATCHED THE PLATE FROM MY HANDS AND SHUT THE DOOR IN MY FACE HARD, I FELT A WHOOSH COMING WITH IT.
KATE HAD TO HANG IN THERE A LITTLE LONGER. KNOWING THAT HER BIRTHDAY WAS JUST AROUND THE BEND OF TOMORROW. THE MINUTE SHE BECOMES HER TRUE FORM THE MOMENT SHE CAN ESCAPE THIS HELL WHOLE. AFTER THE DAILY MORNING CHORES SHE DECIDED TO TAKE A BREAK AND WENT TO HER USUAL SPOT BY A SMALL WATERFALL AND BEGAN DRAWING OUT HER FANTASIES.
SKETCHING TWO WOLVES MAJESTICALLY LEAPING INTO THE AIR TOGETHER. READY TO TAKE FLIGHT AS THE WIND SCURRIED BY AND FLOWED SMOOTHLY WITH THEIR FUR. SHE STOPPED QUICKLY AND LOOKED AROUND HEARING TWIGS SNAPPING. AFTER A FEW HEAD TURNS, THERE SHE SPOTTED HIM. THE ALPHA JUST STANDING THERE.
ALMOST LIKE HE WAS TAKING IN THE VIEW AND ENJOYING THE FRESH AIR. SHE KNEW SHE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT HIM. BUT HIS BEAUTIFUL MUSCULAR PHYSIQUE COULD DRAW ANY WOMAN IN. SHE ALLOWED HERSELF TO STARE AND THEN AN IDEA CAME TO MIND. SHE BEGAN SKETCHING.
TAKING EVERY DETAIL SHE COULD AND PLACED IT ALL ON PAPER. REMEMBERING HOW SHARP HIS JAWLINE WAS, THE SMOOTH LINES OF HIS CHISELED TORSO. THE V IS RIGHT ABOVE HIS PANTS. THE SCARS ON HIS BACK. BEFORE SHE COULD SKETCH THE LAST DETAIL AS SHE LOOKED UP, SHE NOTICED HE WAS GONE.
NO LONGER STANDING THERE. ALARMED SHE LOOKED AROUND. LEFT AND RIGHT THEN STRAIGHT AHEAD AGAIN. IT WAS ONLY THEN SHE NOTICED WHEN HE MADE THE FIRST SOUND. SHE DIDN'T NOTICE HOW CLOSE HE WAS, RIGHT BY HER EAR. THE WARMTH OF HIS BREATH ON HER NECK SENT SHIVERS DOWN HER SPINE, BUT SHE HAD TO KEEP HER COMPOSURE.
NOT WANTING THE ALPHA TO NOTICE THE DELIGHT, BUT THE FEAR HE BROUGHT HER. "WHERE ARE YOU WATCHING ME?" HE TEASED. UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER SHE DIDN'T PICK UP ON THE TEASING TONE HE USED. TOO FOCUSED ON NOT TRYING TO DIE, SHE LOWERED HER HEAD AND ADMITTED THE TRUTH. ONLY THAT SHE WAS SKETCHING HIM BECAUSE IT'S A HOBBY AND SHE SKETCHES RANDOM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
HOPING THE ALPHA DIDN'T CATCH HER IN THE ACT OF LYING, SHE KEPT HER FORM STIFF AS POSSIBLE. WAITING FOR WHAT'S TO COME NEXT.
HE SIGHED IN APPROVAL AND BACKED AWAY, "IF YOU WANTED TO SKETCH PEOPLE NEXT TIME, JUST ASK." HE SAID. SHE TOOK MENTAL NOTE OF THAT. AND HE LEFT AFTER. ONCE SHE WAS SURE HE WAS GONE, SHE LOWERED HER HEAD TO HER KNEES AND HUFFED THEN SCREAMED. HE WAS SO CLOSE, THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER HE WAS SO CLOSE. SHE TOOK A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THE DELIGHT OF HIS SCENT, THE SPACE HE LEFT BETWEEN THEM, THE SOUND OF HIS VOICE.
SHE HAD TO SHUT IT OUT FAST.
JUST THE THOUGHT OF THAT CLOSE EVER AGAIN WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. THE EXPERIENCE SHE JUST WENT THROUGH WAS ONCE IN A LIFETIME. WITH THAT THOUGHT SHOVED OUT OF MY MIND. SHE MADE HER WAY BACK TO THE PACK HOUSE AND BEGAN PACKING HER THINGS. KNOWING SHE'LL NEED TO FEW NECESSITIES FOR HER TRIP THE MINUTE SHE FORMS. BEFORE DUSK CAME AROUND.
ALL PACK MEMBERS TO THE PACK MEET, PLEASE. I REPEAT ALL THE PACK MEMBERS TO PACK MEET. THANK YOU. ROLLING HER EYES, SHE LEFT THE ROOM AND WAS THE LAST PERSON IN THE BACK. THERE, THE ALPHA STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM. HIS VOICE BOOMING ABOUT TOMORROW'S EVENTS. I NEVER CARED TO LISTEN KNOWING I'M TAKING OFF ANYWAY.
NOBODY WILL NOTICE IN THE END ANYWAY. "I WAS FORETOLD A PROPHECY THAT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT TO MY ATTENTION A FEW HOURS BACK." HE SPOKE. I WAS HALF LISTENING WHILE THE OTHER HALF WAS FOCUSED ON GETTING OUT OF THERE. "TOMORROW WILL BE THE DAY WHEN I KNOW AND SHE WILL KNOW THEREFORE WE ALL WILL KNOW WHO THE LUNA WILL BE BY MY SIDE AS YOUR LEADER AND MY MATE." THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION, BUT WHO WAS I TO CARE?
I WAS GETTING THE HELL OUT OF DODGE ANYWAY. WHAT DO I CARE WHO HELL CHOOSES AS HE SEES FIT TO BE LUNA AND LEAD THE PACK? NOT THIS GAL, NOPE. "HOWEVER, THE PROPHECY INVOLVES A LOT OF YOU." HE LOOKED MY WAY, BUT HE COULD BE LOOKING AT THE WOLVES IN FRONT OF ME. I BRUSHED IT OFF, NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD.
"THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DEATH, BUT THAT DEPENDS ON THE CHOICES WE MAKE TO PREVENT THAT." NO DOUBT, THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION FOR SURE. FULL SCALE OF EARS AND EYES ON HIM. TOMORROW ON MY BIRTHDAY, ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING?
WHY AM I JUST REALIZING THIS? GAH! HOW CAN I BE SO FOCUSED ON LEAVING INSTEAD OF WHAT'S TO COME TOMORROW? I BETTER HEAD TO BED TO GET SOME SLEEP ONCE THIS IS OVER.
AFTER A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SOME MAJOR LONG QUESTIONING. KATE EVENTUALLY GOT TO WORK ON PACKING AND HEAD STRAIGHT FOR BED, SETTING AN ALARM. SHE TOOK ONE LAST LONG HOT SHOWER AND PUT ON SOME BAGGY CLOTHES.
HEADED TO BED SHE MADE A MENTAL NOTE THAT THERE WON'T BE TIME TO CHANGE. A FEW HOURS LATER, HER ALARM WENT OFF. FEELS HER SENSES HEIGHTEN AS SHE KNOWS ONLY A FEW HOURS LATER SHE'LL BECOME HER TRUE FORM. SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE FOR THE SAFE PLACE OF THE EVENT WAS TO HAPPEN.
SHE GRABBED HER BAG, SLOWLY SNUCK OUT THREW THE WINDOW, AND KEPT HER PACE STEADY AND QUIET AS SHE PATIENTLY WAITED FOR THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE PAST THE GUARDS. BEFORE SHE COULD GET TO THE TREE LINE. A SCENT HIT HER LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. SHE NEARLY FELL FLAT ON HER BACK BUT CAUGHT HERSELF. THE SWEET MINT OF THE SCENT WAS ENTICING ENOUGH THAT SHE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION.
LEAVE NOW OR FIND OUT WHAT THE SCENT WAS. KNOWING THE SCENT WAS SOMEWHAT FAINT SHE DECIDED TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE. USING HER HEIGHTENED SENSES, SHE BOLTED THROUGH THE THICK OF THE TREES AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL SHE WAS AT LEAST OVER A HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM THE TERRITORY.
THAT SWEET SCENT PUNCHED HER NOSE AGAIN. THIS TIME KNOCKING HER DOWN. SHE BECAME FRUSTRATED BY THE SUDDEN SCENT, BUT SHE HAD TO FOCUS ON THE GOAL OF HER LOCATION. SHE SOON FOUND THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR.
ENTERING THE CAVE SHE SPRAWLED HER THINGS OUT AND LEFT SOME FOOD OUT IN THE OPEN KNOWING SHE'LL PROBABLY BE HUNGRY AFTER HER TRANSFORMATION. SHE COLLECTED SOME KIN-LING TO MAKE A FIRE AND SAT HERSELF DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAVE. JUST A FEW MINUTES LATER AND THE SCENT WAS SO FAINT, BUT SHE TOOK NOTICE OF IT.
NOT WANTING TO LEAVE AND INVESTIGATE SHE STAYED AND WAS READY FOR THE WORST TO HAPPEN. BONES POPPING AND CRACKING OUT OF PLACE, REPOSITIONING THEMSELVES AND HER ORGANS REARRANGING. FUR SPROUTED OUT OF HER SKIN, HER NAILS INTO CLAWS. TEETH INTO RAZOR-SHARP FANGS. HER SENSE AT MAX, SHE SCENTED FOR THE SWEET MINT AGAIN.
THIS TIME INVESTIGATING WHAT IT IS THAT MAY BE FOLLOWING HER SHE FOLLOWED IT. TRACKING IT DOWN AND LISTENING FOR ANY NEARBY DISTURBANCES. DOWN THE PATH, PAST A FEW TREES AND BUSHES. THERE THE SCENT STOOD. A TALL SILHOUETTE OF A MAN. IS MUSCULAR BUT SCRUMPTIOUS ENOUGH TO DEVOUR.
READY TO TAKE THE LEAP, STOPPED HERSELF. HE TURNED HIS HEAD AROUND AND STARED RIGHT AT THE BUSH I WAS HIDING. TAKING IN THE FEATURES TO DETAIL OF HIS FACE. I NOTICED IT WAS THE ALPHA FROM THE PACK I LEFT. SHIT, HAVE I BEEN FOUND OUT? FEAR TAKING OVER, I BOLTED STRAIGHT FOR THE CAVE. HOPING I LOST HIM I HID BEHIND 2 GIANT BOULDERS.
I STAYED THERE FOR ALMOST A MINUTE AND A HALF AND THEN I HEARD. CLAWS GRAZING ALONG THE CAVE FLOOR. HE SHIFTED, SHIT. WHY IS HE AFTER ME ANYWAY? I'M JUST AN OMEGA THAT NEVER MATTERED TO THE PACK. LOST IN THOUGHT I DID NOT NOTICE HIM PEEKING AROUND THE CORNER. STARING ME DOWN.
I JUMPED AND TOOK THE MOMENT TO BOLT OUT OF THE CAVE AND HEADED STRAIGHT FOR THE LAKE. KNOWING HE'LL LOSE MY SCENT THERE ONCE I CROSS IT. GOING TO THE GIANT ROCK THAT WAS SHAPED LIKE A RAMP, I RAN AS FAST AS MY LEGS COULD CARRY ME AND JUMPED INTO THE WATER AS FAR AS POSSIBLE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE AS FAST AS I COULD. I SHIFTED BACK TO MY HUMAN FORM.
AND SWAM FAST WITH MY POWERS UP TO THE MAX. I FINALLY REACHED THE OTHER SIDE. THINKING I LOST HIM, I SMILED AND FEELING VICTORIOUS I STARTED DANCING. KNOWING I'M NAKED, I DID NOT CARE. I RAN BACK TO THE CAVE AND PUT SOME CLOTHES ON. THE MINT SCENT WAS STILL THERE, BUT I REMINDED MYSELF THAT'S BECAUSE HE WAS JUST HERE.
IT WAS FAINT, BUT IT WAS THERE. I ATE SOME OF THE LEFTOVER DINNER I PACKED MYSELF TO CALM MY NERVES. FEELING LIKE MYSELF AGAIN, I LAID DOWN SOON SLEEP TOOK OVER.
A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THAT SWEET MINT TANGLED WITH MY NOSE AGAIN. IT WAS HELLFIRE, THE SCENT WAS STRONGER, TOXICALLY CLOSE. I DID NOT BUDGE WAKING UP. TOO EXHAUSTED FROM THE TRANSFORMATION AND THE CHASE I ENDURED I NOTICED I DIDN'T FEEL ANY THREAT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING.
I FELT WARMTH WRAP AROUND ME AND LIFT ME UP. I THOUGHT I WAS DREAMING. NEVER BOTHERED TO THINK ABOUT IT. THEN AND ONLY THEN THE GROUND FELT SOFTER, SMOOTH AND I SUNK INTO IT. THE SCENT WAS STILL NEARBY. CLOSER THAN EVER.
AND THERE I HEARD THAT FAMILIAR VOICE. "MINE."