Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I don't remember a time from before. I know how I got here based on what I was told. I was wandering in Ridge Creek Forest alone, crying for help. They say when they found me, I was on the brink of death. I was dehydrated and malnourished. Barely living. My parents brought me home with them that night. They made sure I had everything that I would ever need or want. My parents are the Alpha and Luna of Silver Ridge pack, the top ranked pack outside of the royal family of course. They hunted for my home pack. When it was determined that I had been abandon the Alpha Council and Royal Family gave their blessing for me to be adopted.

I was raised as one of the family. I was given all the training, schooling, and responsibility as anyone in an alpha family would receive. I ran programs that maintain children who are orphans or the elderly and widowed. I was ranked 12th among the warriors in my year. I have my place. I don’t really care much about the before. Everything I need the moon goddess has provided to me when she gave me to these people. My family.

Now being the top ranked pack and closest ally to the Royal family, we see them often. My dad and Uncle Luke have been best friends since they were 5. My mom and Aunt Casey met after she mated with Dad, everyone just kind of clicked and their friendships are strong. Uncle Luke and Aunt Casey have two sons, Anthony and Elijah. Anthony and Max are the same age, and Elijah is two years younger than me. Anthony is next in line to be king, and Elijah will be his beta. Everything among us as children had been amazing! We were the four amigos. We did everything together. Sports, training, games, just everything. As we grew up, everything started to change.

On the day of my 17th birthday, mom and dad decided to throw me a party, so friends from school and many others who were friends of my parents came. I saw the guys talking and walked over to join them overwhelmed by the crowd that had come. As I walked up on them, I overheard Anthony, “I wish she would leave us alone. I don’t know why she thinks she can just be around us all the time.’ I immediately turned around and ran to hid in my room. I knew it was rude and I couldn’t hide long but I needed to get myself together.

I never meant to be a problem or a burden to them. I thought I was over these feelings about being a burden but apparently, I wasn’t. I texted my best friend Penelope to come to my room. She got there and we just cried together. She understood how much those boys meant to me and how much it hurt for them to wish I wasn’t around. Her response was simple; we kick everyone’s ass. Future kings be damned. This is how she became my person. So, I gave myself 10 minutes to be upset, to fix my face, and go back out.

Nothing was the same after that. Now I am 25. The Royal pack has sent out invitations for their Mating Ball. This has been a tradition for the last 300 years. Packs from all over the country. No matter the size or power. The top packs come of course; the lesser packs are put into a lottery and are invited if they are chosen. I was hoping to find my mate. Hopefully from a pack not too far away so I could still be close but far enough that I could escape him.

Anthony. That day I overheard him talking to my brother and his, I realized how truly in love with him I was. I had always found a way to be in his orbit. He was where I found my center and my safety so when “the incident” as I like to call it happened; I avoided him at all costs. Our parents got together once a year, every year for a trip, different packs and places we had never been. Anthony and Max went to college that year and were too busy to join us on the trip that next year. The following year I graduated from high school at 18 as the Valedictorian and I was ranked 5th among the warriors now. 

When I went to college, I threw myself into my studies, I double majored in medicine and business. I knew I wanted to help people but also wanted to be able to contribute to my future family. I never went on vacation again. I graduated college with honors 3 years later with my double major. When school finished, I came back to the packed and worked in the warrior division. I stayed on the front lines for 2 years. Travelling the world aiding packs being attacked by rouges. I stayed behind after helping to rebuild and heal the wounded. I had built my own life. Avoiding the man I loved at all costs. I know he graduated college with a master’s in engineering and business when he was 21. I know that he has been slowly taking over his responsibilities and learning the ins and outs of every position and level in their pack and in our region.

None of that mattered. I was back for the ball to find a mate at my mother’s request and to show my support before Max takes over the pack. Penelope was elated I was back. She had recently found her mate who would also be my brother’s future alpha, Jasper. Their wedding would be happening right after the 2 weeklong circus event that was this Mating ball.