I had to keep myself calm, I could not let Ethan see that I was a bit afraid. Any sense of fear from me and he would exploit it. I couldn't let that happen.
"What would your father, your pack, think of you if they find out you took advantage of a minor and not just any minor but an Omega of your father's former rival for that matter? As the next Alpha of this pack, that's a stain on your reputation." I needed to keep him distracted, long enough for me to find a way to escape.
He chuckled and shook his head. "It's my word against yours little one. No one would believe you over the heir of this pack. Now how about you make this easy for me and get on the bed. Don't worry, I'll be gentle." He winked and I nearly gagged. He covered the distance between us in two steps and gripped my chin with his fingers.
"I'm warning you Ethan, if you lay a finger on me, you will regret it. I swear on my parents life. You. Will. Regret. It!" I growl.
"We'll see." He shrugged and wrapped his fingers around my neck, tight enough to keep me in place but not tight enough to choke me. Just as he was about to forcefully kiss me, there was a loud knock on the door. He paused to make sure he heard right. There was another knock and then a voice.
"Elise! Open the the door, it's Mark!" I sighed in relief. I've never been so happy to hear his voice. Ethan let out a silent growl and let me go.
"Not a word." He threatened and took a step back. I nodded and walked to the door.
"What took you so...." He paused when he saw Ethan and bowed. "Alpha, I'm sorry, I had no idea you were in here." Everyone referred to Ethan as Alpha because in three days, his Alpha ceremony would be taking place, the same day I'd be turning eighteen. I really couldn't wait.
"It's alright. I came to warn Elise to never disrespect my father. Next time, he won't be so lenient with his punishment."
"I apologize on her behalf Alpha. It won't happen again. "
"It had better not. As the head of the Omegas, you should know how to keep your workers in place. If you excuse me." Ethan cleared his throat and walked out.
"What did you do this time!" Mark growled and gripped my arm.
"Nothing." I shrugged innocently and he narrowed his eyes at me.
"You better not be lying." He murmured and walked out. I sighed deeply and plopped down on my bed. Three days, just three days and I'd be out of here.
THREE DAYS LATER....
Everywhere was buzzing with activity because it was Ethan's Alpha ceremony, the day he would officially be known as the Alpha of the Grimfur Canines Pack. The moment Ethan takes over from his father, this pack would be forever doomed and it would make it so easy for me to take my revenge.
it was also my birthday, I had turned eighteen and would be getting my Wolf anytime soon but no one in the pack knew. To them, I was just a worthless Omega minor. Soon, they would know they made a mistake underestimating me. Soon, they would know who my parents truly were and what lineage I descended from.
"Happy eighteenth Birthday Iris Antonio Conte Winchester. Soon you'll be out of this hell hole and when next you come here, it would be to take your revenge." I took out a picture of my parents that I had secretly stashed away and kissed their foreheads. "I miss you so much Mama, Papa and I promise you both that I will not rest until Cray and his entire pack pay for what they did to you and our home. For every blood that was shed on that day, they would pay. I swear it. Everyone would know that the Winchesters still live, through me." I balled my fist and bared my teeth. "They will all pay!"
I stashed the picture and head out of my room. Time to make the Alpha ceremony, the most memorable for Ethan.
It was seven pm and the guests had started to arrive. I was so worried because the day was almost over and I hadn't gotten my Wolf yet. I had planned my escape and I needed my Wolf in order to do so. If didn't get my Wolf, I. wouldn't be able to escape and I doubted I'd get an opportunity like this again. It was either today or nothing. If I didn't receive my Wolf anytime soon, I would have to escape without it.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't look at where I was going and ended up bumping into something hard.
"Ow!" I shrieked and rubbed my forehead. I looked up to see what I had bumped into and found myself face to face with the last person I expected to see. "YOU?!" I shrieked with a huge scowl on my face.
He côcked his head to the side, a devilish smirk curling up his lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Well, well." He chuckled. "We meet yet again, Witch."
"I am not a Witch, you punk! What the heck are you doing here anyway? This is a private ceremony that requires an invite!"
"I was invited." He smirked. "What are you doing here anyway and why are you dressed like one of the servers?" I was dressed in a black dress with a white napkin tied around my waist.
"Maybe because I am." I murmured dryly.
His eyes widened in shock. "You work for Alpha Cray?! You're a member of the Grimfur Canines Pack?!"
"Why do you say it like it's a bad thing?" I arched my brow.
"Nothing, it's nothing. I need to get going." He murmured and turned around to walk away.
"Wait." I called out and he stopped in his tracks. "For you to have been invited to Ethan's Alpha ceremony means that you're someone of a high status. Who are you?"
He turned around to face me.
"Why?"
"I just want to know, if you don't mind." I muttered.
"I find it shocking that you still do not know who I am. You're the first person to ask such a question. How can you be a member of the Grimfur Canines Pack and still not know who I am?" He côcked his head to the side as he silently assessed me.
"Can I trust you? I know we barely know each other and all but I really need someone to talk to and you seem like the right person." I didn't know why but I felt I could trust him. There was some strange connection I felt toward him but I couldn't explain it. There was just something about him.
"Sure you can. I'm not the gossip kind." He nodded.
I looked around to make sure we're not being heard and dragged him to the side. "The truth is...." Before I could finish my words, I felt a sharp twang of pain in my chest. "Ahhh!" I shouted and doubled over in pain.
"Are you okay?" He asked. I could hear the worry in his tone.
"My chest, it.... It burns. It hurts so much. AHHH!" I fell to the ground but he caught me by my waist and led me to a serene spot where no one would see us. I pushed him away and fell to my knees, my fingers gripping my chest. Seconds later, I started to feel my bones begin to snap, lengthen, and pop through my skins and back into place. I let out a loud shriek that I'm sure would have caught the attention of the people at the party. I looked at him to see him looking at me in horror.
"What's.... What's happening to me?" I asked through gritted teeth. It hurt so much.
"You're.... You're changing." He murmured. Changing? Did that mean my Wolf was coming? No one told me it would be so painful. I felt another one of my bones break and I screamed. "Make it stop!" I yelled. "Please."
After minutes of screaming and writhing on the ground in pain, everything suddenly became dark, like a switch was flipped and then I heard a feminine voice in my head. "Hello."
"Hello?"
"I'm Kayla, your Wolf. It's so good to finally be able to talk to you. I've been through your memories and I know what you've been through but I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again. You're safe now."
"Kayla?" I couldn't believe it, I finally had my Wolf, I could escape and could finally get my revenge. I couldn't remember the last time I was so happy and excited. "You're really here?"
"Of course I am and I'm not the only one."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you see that pond over there? Walk to it and look into it." She said, evading my question.
"What pond? I can't see a thing."
"Open your eyes Iris." I did as told and saw him staring at me in awe. From his reaction, I knew I was no longer in my human form. My eyesight was also very sharp. I could see things clearly that were miles and miles away. I looked down and saw white paws instead of hands and feet.
I padded to the pond and looked into it. Kayla was the most beautiful Wolf I had ever seen. She reminded me of my mom's Wolf. But where my mom's Wolf was white all through, mine had black stripes and was twice the size of a normal Werewolf.
"You're so beautiful." I murmured.
"I know." She giggled. "But I can't say the same about my brother."
"Your brother?" I côcked my head to the side.
"Yes, I'm a twin. My brother is Kayden, he's... Not like me."
"What do you mean, not like you?"
"Well, he's a different kind of Werewolf. More vicious, more frightening."
"I am NOT!" I heard a low growl in my head. The voice extremely deep compared to Kayla's soft, melodious voice.
"Is that...."
"Kayden? Yes."
"He's here!" I shrieked.
"Of course. He's my other half. I'm not complete without him. Together, we're one."
"Is it possible for a person to have more than a Wolf? I've never heard of such."
"That's because you're an exception Iris. Do you know who you really are? Did your parents ever tell you?"
"Of course I do. My parents were the Alpha and Luna of the Wildclaw Guardians Pack. They were the strongest people I had ever met. I was the one to take over as the Alpha of the pack before the incident."
"There's more to your lineage Iris. You are more than just an Alpha."
"What do you mean?"
"Would you like to meet Kayden?" She asked instead, avoiding my question yet again.
"Yes."
"But I must warn you, he's pretty hideous." A second later, I felt a burning sensation in my chest. My bones began to stretch if that was even possible but trust me, it hurt like a bítch! Every part of me felt like it was on fire and then it stopped. I looked into the pond and what I saw was the most hideous thing ever. I've never seen anything so ugly. I was a Wolf but like Kayla said, not like any Wolf I'd ever seen.
"What.... What are you?"
"I'm what you would call a Lycaon." Kayden responded.
Lycaon? I'd heard of them. They were very rare and were revered and feared by the other Werewolves. They were known to be the strongest, biggest and the most vicious kind of Wolves and the best part or the worst, they were in humanoid form. They could speak, walk and run like humans. If I had a Lycaon as a Wolf it could only mean one thing.
"That means...."
"Yes." Kayden nodded. "Your father was a Lycaon. Why do you think Cray feared him so much?"
"Why didn't they ever tell me?" I whispered sadly.
"They never got the chance." Kayden sniffed the air and paused. "Seems you're not the only Lycaon here."
"What do you mean?"
"Behind you."
I turned around to find him looking at me in a shocked manner, like he had just seen a ghost. A second later, I was back to my human form.
"You're a Lycaon." He murmured, still in shock.
I nodded in response. "Yes, I am. Who are you?"
He covered the distance between us and gave me a knowing smile then stretched out his hand. "Liam Alvarez, Lycaon King of The Bloodmoon Manes Pack."
Bloodmoon Manes Pack?? Lycaon King of the Bloodmoon Manes Pack, the strongest and most feared pack in the whole of the United States?!!! How could I have been so clueless. I knew he looked familiar, I just didn't remember where I saw him, now I did. Alpha Cray feared him and his pack a lot, I'm surprised he hasn't made an attempt to wipe them all like he did to my pack.
"I'm Iris. Iris Antonio Conte Winchester of the Wildclaw Guardians Pack." I decided I could trust him and if he tried anything funny, I'd just end him.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Iris? You're alive?!"
I frowned in confusion. "You know me?!"
Before he could respond, I caught a whiff of my favorite scent; chocolate with a hint of cinnamon. "Mate!" I heard myself say and Liam frowned.