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My mate rejected me. My own brother didn't believe me.

I never thought being a rogue would be something I enjoyed this much. The wind flowing through my fur. Feeling the life leave my prey as I snap their pathetic necks. I even enjoy the feeling of the cold morning dew coating my silver fur every morning.

Sometimes I like to think back to the day I was rejected by my good-for-nothing mate; Damen. He was the coveted Alpha-to-be and I was just the Beta-to-be's fat and ugly little sister. My brother, Jacob, pushed me away, it felt like being rejected all over again; twice in one day. Then there was that w***e of a sister that I have. If I ever see her again I vow to snap her scrawny little neck. That was the worst day of my life. But in a weird way I'm glad that day happened. Without it, I would never have become what I am today. I would have never found the man who taught me everything he knew. And I would have never fulfilled my destiny.

I left.

I'm gone.

I'm happy now.

And now I am the most powerful creature in the woods.

My name is Cassidy Knightlock and This is my story.

******

Let me take you back a year and a half ago.

It is my sixteenth birthday: where everything went wrong. The day I was finally able to find my mate.

I woke up like every other day. My room was dull; tan walls, four post bed, dresser, closet and mirror. The only plus to my old room was my own personal bathroom. I was the youngest of three and I was mommy's little girl. My mom knew everything about me because I didn't have any real friends. You see, everyone in the pack thought I was pathetic because I didn't turn out to be a female shifter like my older sister - Briella. I wouldn't want to be like her at all though; I think every boy and man of the pack's key has fit that lock, if you know what I mean.

In the werewolf world, it is rare to be a female shifter. This makes every single female shifter coveted by packs all over the world. In my pack, the Shadow Pack, we have three known female shifters. I say known because they don't know about a fourth; me. I learned to keep my scent hidden from the rest of the pack; I only smell like a non-shifter. The other three include the Luna of the pack, my w***e of a sister, and a little four year old girl who is already figured out how special she is. Let's just say she is already a handful for her parents, I really don't envy them at all. The Luna is not as stuck up as the other two but she still walks around like a stick is stuck up her as s.

As I woke up that morning I picked out my favorite green plaid shirt, that accented my eyes, blue skinny jeans and grey vans. I even left my hair down for once instead of pinning it up in my usual messy bun. My red-brown hair hung down in it's twisting natural curls. I had a streak of blond that ran down the left side of my hair, making it pop in the contrast with the red-brown. I applied a little bit of mascara to my already obnoxiously long eyelashes, and gave myself a once over. I knew I wasn't the prettiest of the pack. I had a little bit of fat around my stomach, I had the occasional zit, but my eyes always managed to stand out, in the best way. They were a striking green. My mom told me it was the color of the dewy grass in the early morning. I gathered all my school supplies and made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

As I arrived my mom pretty much tackled me into the ground.

"Oh my baby girl can finally find her mate!" My mom had tears of joy in her eyes. One could easily see that I was her favorite of the three of us. In second is the oldest, my brother Jacob, followed by my older sister Briella. Mom never really liked her after she found out about all the men she has slept with. My mom was a big believer in waiting for your mate, and so was I, and secretly Jake was also.

"Okay mom, don't want to kill the birthday girl do you?" I laughed at her enthusiasm. My mom truly was my best friend. People said I looked just like my mom. Same nose, same smile and same hair. The only things I seemed to get from my dad were my eyes and temper. My dad was a terrible mate to my mom. He cheated on her with almost all the females. I think that he though my mom never knew but it wasn't hard to tell when a different female had her scent mixed with his the next day. The worst part about it was that my mom could feel it every time he slept with another woman. She said it felt like someone was stabbing your heart with a hundred needled repeatedly. She also told me that the only reasons she was putting up with it was because my father was beta of the pack and could be kicked out if she spoke up, and for me. I've also come to the conclusion that Briella takes after my father- with the whole sleeping around thing. I never usually saw Jacob with any girls because I knew he secretly wanted his mate to be his first, not some w***e.

"Okay, well let me know immediately if you meet him today! I cannot wait to meet my soon to be son-in-law!" She was never this excited for Jacob or Briella to find their mates. I guess that is another way you can tell who her favorite is. Jacob has been searching for his mate for the last few years with no luck. I know not being able to find her is eating away at him. Being the beta-to-be he has a certain reputation to uphold.

"Like Cassidy's mate would ever want her." Briella muttered under her breath. She then gave me an almost knowing like smile. What was that about? Jacob and I were the only to hear it with our enhanced hearing. My mom didn't even notice.

"Well off to school you three!" She motioned for Jacob, Briella and I to all leave. Jacob drove us to school everyday. He was a senior, Briella was a junior and I was supposed to be a sophomore but I was in all AP classes so I was moved up a year. So I am technically a junior also. Briella was not to happy when I was moved up a year. Another thing to add the the "Why Briella Hates Me" list.

The car ride was just uncomfortable. Jacob had the worst taste in music- some form of metal-rap or something. All Briella did the whole car ride was talk, or as I like to say yell, into her cell phone. God who would want to listen to that high pitched mess of a voice?

When we arrived at school Briella rushed out of the car and headed to her group of friends, the ones she was coincidentally just "talking" to on the phone. And by friends I mean the other w***es who are afraid of what Briella might do to them, so they pretend to be "besties!" I know for a fact that each of them hate her. I don't blame them either, she is stuck up and snotty. Even her outfit screams "easy." That day she was wearing a short black leather skirt, a see-through black lace top, and black heels. Her obviously dyed, fake blond hair with dark brown roots showing through, was straightened to the point where I thought it looked greasy and the gallon of perfume she put on at the house burned my nose. I didn't know how any of them could stand it! Even my eyes were beginning to tear up, and I was a good hundred feet from her! I was also just trapped in the car with her for ten minutes. I should have just walked to school. At least then I wouldn't have a headache from that vomit-like smell.

I got out of the car at the same time as Jacob. Jacob and I had an okay relationship. We didn't not like each other is how I liked to think about it. Jacob cared more about his reputation then he did me or Briella. Of course, Briella was popular on her own though, the whole shifting thing. Sometimes I like to wonder what my life would have been like if I had just admitted I could shift. Only my mom knows that I am one. She was the one who helped me through my painful first shift when I was seven. I made her promise not to tell anyone. I did not want to get all that unwanted attention. As Jacob and I were walking up to the school entrance I saw him. My mate. Actually I smelled him first. He smelled like apples and freshly sanded wood. It was mouthwatering. I looked around the campus until I found him.

He had that sexy messy looking hair; brown. A little button nose. Muscles that I knew one day I would get the chance to run my fingers all over. I was already p**ving him and I didn't even know who he was. As my eyes met his, it was like my world stopped. His deep blue eyes held mine for what seems like hours. Then it finally hit me. I knew who my mate was.

Damen Michaelson. The alpha-to-be.

I whispered "Mate," Jacob shot me a look that said "what did you just say?"

Just at that moment my w***e of a sister walked up grabbed his face and roughly kissed him. She even went so far as to jump up and wrap her legs around his waist. His hands even caught her, grabbing her fat as s.

The worst part was that he didn't even attempt to stop her. He kissed her back. Knowing full well that I was right there.

My heart was already shattered.

###Chapter 2: Broken - 01

I was seeing red. I was fighting my wolf for control. She wanted nothing more then to get over there and rip her diseased little hands off of our mate. Who knew what she caught while sleeping around! Knowing she was meant to be a Luna was really getting to my wolf's head fast I think. She was extremely possessive at this point, not that I could I blame her. How could he let her even touch him after he finally found me?! Wait.....

His sixteenth birthday was a year ago.... He was a junior like Briella and I.... He would have known I was his mate. Why didn't he say anything? Tears came to my eyes. I knew why.

I "wasn't" a shifter like my sister. He didn't want me. He is going to reject me.

Jacob grabbed my arm and I instantly knew I was going to have a bruise, not that it would last long with my werewolf healing, but a bruise none the less. I had to close my eyes because by now my eyes would have turned completely black with the amount of control my wolf had. I had to rein her in and get my act under control. No one could figure out what I was. At least not yet.

"What did you just say Cass?" Jacob had a look that was between shock and humiliation with a little anger under the surface.

"I said mate Jake! Damen is my mate! I knew it the minute I saw him!" I turned to Damen who had now ended his little suck-face session with Briella and said, "Tell him Damen! I'm your mate."

I saw panic cross Damen's face but he quickly masked it. His normal cocky smile reappeared on his perfect face. "Like you would be my mate! That's rich! I need a strong alpha female for my pack, preferably a shifter. You Cassidy Knightlock are neither. You aren't even pretty. If you were my mate, not that you are," No please Damen don't say it! I thought. "I would reject you." he finished. He even went as far as to grab that w***e again and plant another lingering kiss on her lips. Both of us knew exactly what he was doing when he said those final words. No one else knew the severity of them; no one knew that their pack just got weaker because the alpha-to-be just rejected his luna.

My heart shattered. It felt like someone had ripped out my heart and burned it. My wolf was calling out to his, pleading with his to make it right before it was too late.

"I'm sorry about my sister Damen. I don't know what has gotten into her." Jacob was apologizing to Damen for me? My head snapped up and my wolf was furious.

"My own brother doesn't believe me?!" I practically yelled.

"Cassidy don't make a scene! Just get to class. You have done enough today." His eyes met mine and they were stone cold. He was ordering me now? Tough luck b***h, or should I say mutt.

"I thought that at least you of all people would believe me Jake." I felt my eyes tear up again, his figure visually softened, and his eyes were pleading with mine. He just wanted me to listen. He didn't actually care about me. "I thought that my big brother, the one who was supposed to always be there for me, would actually believe me. But I guess it's asking too much. You care about your reputation that bad? Fine I'll make it easier. I'm gone. Goodbye Jake." And with that I turned my back to him and headed home. Little did Jake know that he was the last tie that was keeping me here, and now that he severed that tie - I was gone. I ran the whole way. Being a shifter does have it's benefits- running without getting tired is a plus, especially in this situation.

I heard Jake call my name. He was pleading for me not to leave. I guess my dramatic exit doesn't exactly help his reputation now does it? Who like a guy who makes his own sister cry? I sure wouldn't that's for sure.

As I finally arrived back at the pack house I slowed my pace. The pack house came into view and I just stopped. I needed to take a mental picture of it because I didn't think I would be returning anytime soon. It was the classic log-cabin in the woods house, with its river stone chimney, aged wood exterior and wrap around porch littered with Adirondack chairs. Basically a home-y log cabin like you see on the label of a maple syrup bottle. Well, that is if that cute little cabin were to take steroids, seeing as the house was four stories high, and the length of a bowling alley. But it wasn't the house itself that I would miss the most, but the beautiful forest around it. The creek where I had learned to swim, the first tree, of many, that I had climbed. Don't get me wrong, I'm not usually this much of an emotional person, but after a day like today, no one could blame me for getting a little teary eyed.

I walked up the porch steps and as I was about to turn the handle of the front door my mom beat me to it. How she knew I was coming home I didn't know and right now I didn't care. That was it, I broke down right there on the porch. My mom pulled me into her arms and I cried for what felt like hours. In reality it probably was hours too. She didn't even say anything or ask me what was wrong. She just held me and comforted me.

My wolf was even crying inside. She was broken and didn't know what to do. I felt some of her pain by I know she took most of the blow from the rejection, she was in more pain then I was. She was trying to soften the blow for me. I wish I could repay her somehow for that.

###Chapter 3: Broken - 02

When I had finally calmed down my mom ushered me into the house, I couldn't really tell where we were going but as soon as I smelled fresh brownies I knew we were in the kitchen. My mom put the pan of brownies in front of me. I couldn't even bring myself to eat any of them. The smell was even making me nauseous, and brownies were one of my favorites! I just looked from the brownies to my mom. Her face was laced with worry and pain. That pain could have been from seeing me how I am or my father screwing some pathetic bottom-feeder.

"Mom-" my voice cracked. I cleared my voice and took a deep breath before continuing, "Mom, he rejected me. My mate rejected me. The worst part is he was Damen. The alpha-to-be! It feels like the whole pack rejected me. Even Jake didn't believe me! All he fxxking cares about is his reputation! I am fed up with all the s**t that goes on here! Mom I don't know if I can stay any longer."

My mom gave me a small smile. "Honey, if you needed to leave I wouldn't stop you. I understand your pain to some degree." She was talking about my good-for-nothing dad's betrayals. "I will even help you pack. But you have to promise me something if you are truly bent on leaving." She looked me in the eyes sternly and said, "You have to promise me that you will find some way to keep in contact with me. Even if it is just to say you are still alive."

I ran to my mom. I relished in the comforting feeling I got while she hugged me. "I promise mom. I promise to keep in contact. I would never leave you if I thought I could live through this anymore. But mom, you have to promise me something in return." I pulled away a little in the hug. "Mom, you cannot tell anyone, even after I leave, that I am a shifter. Damen didn't want me like I am now, so he doesn't deserve me because I am one."

My mom gave me a proud smile. "Your secret is always safe with me. Besides it's not my secret to tell. It's yours to tell when you know the time is right." My mom brought tears of joy to my eyes. I am going to miss her so much. I hurts me to leave her like this. "Lets go honey, you need to pack."

She led me upstairs to my room. She grabbed a duffel bag that I would be able to sling over my neck while I traveled in wolf form, and started packing all my clothes. I added a few personal care items, a picture of our pack, a family photo, and I even wandered into Jake's room to steal the picture of him and Damen from his wall so I could have them both with me. I would use that picture as a reminder of why I left and why I am not going to return. At least not anytime in the near future.

When we finished my room looked like no one had ever lived in there. I mean in a way it was true. I haven't ever really lived. I have been quiet and tried to remain hidden my entire life. It was time to step out of the shadows and into the light. Didn't someone say it's always darkest before the dawn? Well consider today my darkness and tomorrow my dawn.

I walked to my bag and dug out some paper. I sat down on my bed and wrote a final letter I knew Jake and Damen would find. Briella and my father, along with the rest of the pack, wouldn't care that I am gone. My mom knew I was leaving, so the only people I had to say goodbye to were them. After a hour of on and off crying and writing I finally finished the letter and left it on the pillow of the bed I wouldn't see for a while. Leaving hurt but sticking around hurt more.

I made my way down the steps Jake used to chase me up and down. I passed the dining room table where I had countless fights with Briella and my father. It was also where my mom and I would spend hours. We would just talk and talk. We never ran out of things to talk about and I would miss that too. I walked through the kitchen. I had to let out a laugh at the memory that surfaced - my mom and I trying to make my fifth grade science project. We had been trying to make one of those volcano things and the moment we set it off Briella had walked into the room. Needless to say she was covered, head to toe, in red-orange hot and sticky gew. To this day there was a small stain on the ceiling where it wouldn't come off. As I turned and walked to the front door I saw my mom was waiting for me.

I gave her a small smile. "I will miss you mom. I'm sorry I have to leave you here with dad and the w***e I call a sister. Don't be mad at Jake. I know me leaving him will hurt him as soon as he realizes what happened and that I wasn't lying about Damen being my mate. Tell him I love him. Tell them, if they even decide to look for me, that they won't be able to find me where I am going." I pulled my mom in for a final hug.

"I will, my sweet baby girl." My mom ran her hand down the side of my face affectionately. I knew she was doing exactly what I was doing; we were trying to memorize eachother's face, so we never forget it. After all today may or may not be the last time I see her.

"Goodbye mom." I had tears streaming down my face at this point.

"Goodbye my baby." I took my duffel bag from her and walked down the porch steps and into the thick trees, towards the pack's boarders. I had to wait until I reached the creek to change into my wolf, so the pack wouldn't smell my scent change. I didn't want them actually finding me or following me.

I turned around one last time to look at the pack house. My mom was still at the porch. I kissed my hand and sent her a wave. She returned my gesture.

This was it. I was leaving.