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I have been locked in this hole for three years... just because I attacked my Alpha. I hate the stupid Juvenile system. I had to wait here until some other Alpha either accepted me or took down my other one. I talked to at least three alphas so far, some who come to try and help reform the men and also see if their beta\'s had a mate here. But for me, I have had no such luck. But today is my 18th birthday... and I am being set free because I can officially become a rogue and my past is now behind me. Two years ago when I first shifted they gave me an hour to run around in my wolf form. I was a light brown and had an all-black muzzle and two black paws diagonal from each other. \"Prisoner 003234, Alpha Greg of the Full Moon Pack is here for you.\" \"I get to decline Hunter, I am out and a free wolf in about, 2 hours.\" I smiled at the guard and he glared. \"Until then Paxton, you are still in here. Now get up, get dressed and come with me.\" He threw some jeans and a white shirt at me and I glared at it before complying. If I fight back now I might not be released today. I flipped the light in my room off and knocked on the door signaling that I was done. Hunter opened it and slammed the silver cuffs on my wrists and pushed me towards the visiting area. I walked in saw an Alpha and his Luna and felt confused. No one had ever brought another female here, especially a Luna. \"How can I help you?\" I asked sitting so they would feel free to as well. \"We want you to join us... our daughter is going down a bad path. I heard about you, how you stood up to your other Alpha. I have also heard you are the most disciplined around here.\" Alpha Greg spoke and I was about to speak when the Luna came towards me. \"Please. Reese, I know today is your birthday, and I know you are going to have a clean slate after you are released but wouldn\'t you like to know that a pack excepts you knowing who you are? We are ready to do that with just a little bit of your help.\" She begged and it was always hard to refuse a Luna who is begging you. \"I accept.\" I tried not to mumble but I hated the thought of being under another Alpha. \"Thank you.\" The Luna hugged me tightly and my hands were still restrained so she pulled back when the cuffs touched her. \"They have silver cuffs here?\" She asked appalled. Honestly I don\'t feel the pain anymore, regardless of the red rims around my wrists right now. \"Get these off of her!\" Alpha Greg shouted in his Alpha tone and I just looked down while they explained that until he officially claims me into his pack they can\'t take them off. \"Alpha if I may,\" I waited until he was done glaring at Hunter. \"In two hours I am being released anyways. If I promise to come to your pack on my own, in doing so, I gain your trust, can you leave me here and expect me?\" I asked knowing this might be my only shot to be free, even for a moment. If they claim me now I will be held here until they have the ceremony prepared for my pack acceptance. \"Paxton! You can\'t ask that of an Alpha!\" Hunter shouted at me and I bit my lip from shouting back. \"She can ask that of her future Alpha.\" The Luna shouted at him and I hid my smile. I think I am going to like this Luna. \"Reese, we live quite a way away... we would feel better if we could just take you once you get out.\" The Alpha set a hand on his mate and addressed me. \"I have been here for three years\' sir, I really only got an hour in my first and only shift... I was hoping that a small journey would be good for me.\" I told him politely but I think I just angered the Luna more. \"You have only shifted once!? What kind of prison is this! That is inhumane! Well sort of! Every wolf must get the privilege to shift a day!\" I winced when I heard the other guards coming through the door thinking that I must have done something to anger the Alpha and Luna. I was suddenly pushed to my knees and I knew I had had enough. I snapped. I stood back up as quick as I could and turned around slamming my fists into the guards face and he screamed and the others turned to grab me but I used the cuffs to burn them. None of them were wearing their special gloves. I growled lowly and heard a gasp from behind me where the Alpha pair was. \"They said you were the most behaved.\" \"I am. Sorry for wasting your time.\" I nodded and looked towards Hunter who was peeling himself off the ground. \"Come on and take me back.\" I told him and went to wait by the door. He glared at me and I shrugged not looking back as I stepped through the doors. An hour later I was told I was still being released because I was only defending myself against the guards and also since the Alpha and Luna demanded it of the \'alpha\' of this place. Instead of waiting another hour they released me then and there and gave me 100 dollars for food and a pat on the back, not really. I had a bag of clothes as well and once I was outside I shifted, not caring about the ripped clothes. \"Oh and Paxton.\" I heard Hunter shout and I turned back to him in my wolf form. \"That Alpha pair still wanted you... they said that they were located over 120 miles east. If you were still interested.\" He told me and I contemplated it. I stopped for a minute and just relished in the feeling of being in my wolf form. \"Hey! Pup! Where are you going?\" I heard someone whistle behind me but I kept running through the woods, finally free. After about 80 miles I was feeling tired and hungry, not to mention it was getting dark out. I stumbled on a small town and dressed myself before heading into a small diner. I ordered a coffee and a small sandwich. I paid and then went back into the forest and shifted before curling up in tall grass and fell asleep. I woke up again and headed east still. If they really wanted me then I would try and make it work. I knew that I could never make it as a rogue unless I did something about my past. Maybe if I gain the trust of the Alpha he can help me take down my other Alpha. I made it to the border of their land and looked for a patrol or someone but when no one came I knew I couldn\'t just step on their land. I laid down and waited. It was still sunny out and it was making my fur warm. I was taking a nap when I heard a deep growl and I jumped up and got down in a defensive stance. The wolf was older than me, by at least 20 years. He wasn\'t that much bigger than me, but just as any male wolf would be, he had some grey fur around his face giving away his age. He growled again and then snapped his teeth, I knew he was telling me to stay where I was. He went behind a tree where I noticed a basket had been put and shifted and clothed himself. \"Shift Rogue!\" He shouted at me and I bowed my head. He was the Beta. I showed him a bag that I had when he was about to throw me a shirt and shorts. I walked behind a tree myself and took deep breaths. \"Alpha Greg and his Luna came to the Juvenile center two days ago, they said that I was still welcome here if I wanted. Is that true?\" I asked coming out and looking him in the eye. I wouldn\'t submit unless it was. \"So you\'re the little girl who took down five guards with silver handcuffs?\" He asked and looked me up and down not believing it. \"They weren\'t wearing their special gloves... it burned them just as much as me.\" I told him honestly and waited for him to answer the question. \"You are still welcome, come with me.\" His voice was gruff and he waved me across the border. I walked behind him and saw that there were other wolves running around with things in their hands and smiles on their faces. I kept my head up and met everyone\'s eyes. Everyone started to stare and whisper, asking who I was, what I was doing here... why I looked like I did. But I kept my head held high and walked through the lands towards the pack house. I knew I reeked of being an outsider, and that is how I drew a lot of people\'s attention. 2 I walked into the small office and saw the Alpha and Luna sitting on the same chair. The Beta cleared his throat and they turned towards us at the same time. "Reese." The Luna addressed and stood up coming towards me. She pulled me in for another hug and this time she didn't get hurt. I didn't hug her back through, I have gone three plus years without contact and this just felt wrong. "I see you got our message." Alpha Greg nodded at me when the Luna finally pulled away and smoothed down my hair. "Just before I took off, yeah." I nodded and looked away from his eyes. "It's a good thing we counted on it getting to you and you accepting. Since it is the middle of September and some of our pack, including our son, went off to college just last month, we are calling everyone back to accept you in. Our daughter is still in high school. Her name is Genevieve. Our son is Ian." He went on to explain a little bit more about what his daughter has been doing and I knew what I could do to get her to stop. I just had to convince her that what she was doing would mess her up in the end. "Did that institution school you?" The Luna asked and I opened my mouth and then thought about it. "I am still supposed to be in school, I have most of my senior credits but not all of them." I told her and she huffed and nodded to me. "Is that a problem?" I asked slightly worried. "No Reese, in fact, that means you can go to school with Genevieve." Alpha Greg told me and I just nodded and stood there. "Oh, right, come with us." He walked past me and the Luna wrapped one arm around my shoulders and pulled me along. "The Beta's name is Samuel, he likes to me called Sam." She told me and I nodded. "His mate is Caroline and she is actually a teacher at the school you will be going to." She informed me that she was the cook at the hospital near by. I listened and tried to keep up with the way we were going so I could find it on my own later. "We have this room set up for you, it is right next to both of our kids... our son isn's around so I doubt that you will see much of him. He just started his third year of college and wanted to get out of the pack house for the last year." "Don't see why." I saw the mother part of the Luna come out as she crossed her arms and looked longingly to his door. "Our daughter is still at school, detention, we will all have dinner together." He nodded at me and I felt like he was my father, demanding me to come out of my room at dinner again. "I have a few questions..." I told them looking between the two. "What are they?" He asked looking concerned. "Will I be able to contact my family?" I asked bit the inside of my cheek and they both looked confused. "You have a family? Are they still in your old pack?" I nodded at both questions and they gave each other a look and I knew they were using their mate bond to talk to each other so I waited. "Do you think that they would join us as well?" The Alpha seemed to gruff out the question and I shook my head. "The only one who might even consider it is my younger brother, but I haven't seen him since the whole, take her away and lock her up." I said shyly and they both nodded. "You can talk to them over the phone or by email or regular mail... what ever you want to do." The Luna nodded at me and I smiled. "Thank you, both of you." I nodded and the Luna hugged me again before smiling and pulling away. "Come with me. I have a surprise for you." She pulled my hand and went into the room and then let me go before turning back to me and opening a double door that had racks of clothes. "We kind of had our hearts set on you, and we got all the measurements and I sort of went a little crazy. I wanted you to feel safe and comfortable here." She told me pulling me into the walk in closet. "Do you like it?" "I - I don't know what to say." I whispered looking around. For the past three years I have had two options, green jumpsuit or sweats. There were so many shoes and a lot of makeup and hair accessories and stuff I didn't even know what it was. "We don't just want you here for Gene... we want you to stay here, and hopefully now that you are 18 you will find your mate." "I don't want a mate Ms. Luna." "Rebecca." She told me and came towards me. "Why don't you want a mate dear?" "You know my story, if my mate is anything like my father... why would I need him?" I asked her almost silently. "Not every mate is the same. Greg would do anything to save me, to take away my past pain, but there is nothing he can do about it... your father and mother's mating will not be what yours will be. You might end up with a mate that never lets you wear half the things in this closet, or maybe he will never let you leave his side around unmated males, or maybe he won't care because he trusts you so much... but maybe he will kill any male that dares touches you like mine basically did until I let him claim me... I don't want you to think that nothing good comes from having a mate. I have had two wonderful children and such a happy life." She cupped my cheek and smiled at me and then moved some of my hair out of my face and smiled at me. "Rebecca, we have that thing to do remember!" I heard Greg shout and she smiled at me. "You can have a shower, nap if you want. But I will come back up here for you in about 3 hours, okay?" She asked and I nodded. She seems to really care... my mother never seemed to care, she was too depressed. Luna Rebecca hugged me one more time before leaving me in the huge closet. I grabbed a pair of dark blue jeans and a black and grey long sleeve before a change of underwear. I walked into the bathroom smiling, this would be my first shower in three years without other around and without guards just outside the see through curtains. I turned on the hot water and realized I would rather take a hot bath. I plugged the drain and waited for it to all fill up before stripping and stepping in. I saw the scars on my legs and felt the ones on my back as I washed myself. I drained the tub before filling it back up with water as hot as I could stand it. I leaned back and relaxed and got out once it was cold. I dried off and wrapped my hair in a tight braid before going to lay on the bed. I could smell that they were new, no one had ever spend the night in these soft sheets and they had never been washed. I didn't get in though, that would be saved for when I actually went to sleep tonight. I laid down though, and I napped. I woke up before Luna Rebecca came for me so I started to look around the room again. I opened a dresser and saw a wrapped box and put it on top. I guess they didn't know something was in here. I decided to just hand it over to Rebecca when she got here. I went back into the closet and slipped on some socks and a new pair of vans before hearing a knock on the door. I grabbed the box and opened the door. "Hi Luna, I think someone left this in the dresser... I don't know who it belongs to." I tired to hand it over but she pushed it into my hands. "It's yours Reese, a birthday gift, sort of." She told me and smiled. "Go on, open it." She urged and then linked her arm with mine. I undid the bow and lifted the top and saw a phone. I pulled it out and saw a few numbers already programmed into it and saw that it was the Alpha families names. "I don't think I will really need this." I told her and she shook her head. "You don't have any rules here. You don't have to just come home after school each day, you can find a job, or explore the towns, or go into the city... you'll make a few friends here, I know it and you'll want to talk to them all the time. It's a gift and the Alpha and I are not going to take it back." "Thank you Luna." I bowed my head and turned my neck, showing her the most powerful form of gratitude. "It's Rebecca unless we are in the presence of another pack, okay?" She told me and I nodded. "Good, now just wait here and when I know everything in the dinning room is set up I will call for you to open the door okay?" She asked leaving me in front of a double door entrance. I nodded as she walked away. I could smell the entire pack on this floor, of course they must have all ate at different times so all scents are still strong and lingering. I heard a faint call of my name and opened the left door only and then saw some lights on a table. I heard faint singing and started to back away but the door behind me closed and the lights turned on dimly and I saw the room packed with other wolves all singing and smiling. I smiled slightly seeing the Alpha and Luna both smiling and waving me forward. I walked closer as the singing stopped and blew out the 1 and 8 hearing the loud cheering around me. "So you are Reese right?" I heard a female and saw that she was at least 17 or 18. "Yeah." "I'm Milly." She held out her hand and I shook it. I shook a lot of hands that night, and I realized none of them belonged to Genevieve. 3 The night ended when all the cake was gone and I had eaten enough to satisfy the Alpha couple. I found my way back to my room and took out the braid and got into bed. Luna told me that she was taking me down to the school and registering me tomorrow. So I laid out clothes for tomorrow. It was black jeans, a grey sweater type shirt and some heels. I realized that a lot of the females around here wore them... I always thought I was just a short female but I guess I'm not. I laid in the bed, the sheets were cold but oddly comforting even though they were still so stiff, but as I laid there, sleep didn't come. I eventually passed out of pure boredom and staring up at the ceiling. I woke up to a knock on my door. "Reese, are you awake? We are going to make breakfast! Be down in 20 minutes." I heard the Luna through my door and I raised from the bed and got dressed as fast as I could. I walked out and heard a door behind me slam shut and I looked seeing no one in the hall, meaning someone went into their room. I shrugged and started heading down to the kitchen. I walked in seeing Milly from last night along with Georgia. "Hi, Milly and Georgia, right?" I asked making sure and they both looked up with smiles and nodded. "Are you going to school with us today?" Milly asked and I opened my mouth. "Luna has to registered me, but since I have most of my credits so I might only end up taking a class or two." I told them and they both nodded. "So what classes are you going to have to take?" Georgia asked and I told her about how there wasn't any history teachers and the math teacher didn't really focus on the teaching part, more the do this and do that. "Oh, well, I am good with History." She told me and I smiled. "I am bad at math... so I guess if you need help you are going to have to ask another girl, I know one who is really good at math, and also when Ian get's back, since he will have to accept you, I know he is really good at math." Milly winked at me and I just nodded. "You know, word is, he is looking for his mate... that's why he wanted to move out." Georgia told me and I just nodded. "Well, I am not in the market for a mate. I still have to graduate and then move on with my life." I said and heard chattering in a room before a door opened. "Hey there girls, hope I am not interrupting. Reese, will you come in here?" Luna asked and I nodded smiling at the girls before entering the room she was ushering me into. "Good morning Reese, this is our daughter, Genevieve." Alpha told me and I nodded looking at the 16 year old and seeing makeup caked on her face, a tube top not covering everything, and I could see a lot of leg hanging out of a skirt or shorts. "Hi." I nodded at her and she gave me a once over, a snarky look, and then rolled her eyes. I gave her a look before correcting myself. "Gene, you will do whatever Reese here tells you to do. If she tells you that you are to be home 10 minutes after school, you better run as fast as you can here. Do you understand?" Alpha Greg was using his power over his own daughter and I heard her try and deny it before her wolf made her give in. "Now you better get your up them stairs and change before you leave." Luna told her and Genevieve huffed before getting up and leaving. "Don't be scared to be strict with her. I don't want you thinking that you will get in trouble for telling her what to do. We put our faith in you Reese, you do what ever you can to make sure she stops acting like this." Alpha Greg ordered and I nodded. I just didn't want to do anything in front of them. They told me to sit down, eat and they told me that they got the fax of my school records and that they had another surprise for me just outside. We walked out once everything was done and I saw a car with a bow on it and I felt the Luna pressing keys into my hand. It was a nice black jeep that I actually liked, and it was nice and shiny like it wasn't driven up the dirt road. "Oh, I can't take that." I said trying to hand them back but they both shook their heads. "I really can't I don't know how to drive." I said trying again but they shook their heads. "I am going to teach you, but since it's still new, those are your keys. We have our own pair just in case, but once you get your license, you have a car." She told me and then waved me forward. "Wait, just a minute." Alpha said when we started walking towards the car. He went inside and I saw the Luna look a little confused but then when he came back out with a black purse and handed it to me. "It's sort of a back pack. I put a few pens and pencils with two notebooks. Just so you are ready for school if they want you to start today." He told me and I smiled. "Thank you." I whispered taking it gently from him and then holding it in my hands. "Have a good day." He told me and I smiled slightly and then got in the car leaving the Luna to kiss her mate goodbye. I waited a few minutes and she was in the car and we were on our way to the school, which was actually really big. I was waiting in the office for my schedule and the Luna was telling me all about the school, how she went there as did Greg. When I got the piece of paper she showed me to the class and hugged me goodbye. I had two classes, and she would be here at lunch to come and get me. It was Friday and tomorrow would be my ceremony so she was planning a huge spa day, or something like that. I would be getting my hair done, my nails done, and then she was taking me to get a dress. I didn't want to decline since she was doing this out of the kindness of her heart but I didn't want any of this. I mean it is just an acceptance.When we did this at my old pack, those who wanted to attend attended, those unmated females that were desperate always went to the males, but most of the males didn't go to the females. I introduced myself to the class, I told them that I had just moved in with my aunt and uncle and that was it besides my name. No one but the other wolves in the pack said anything to me but I didn't have long conversations. It was a 'welcome to the pack' and then a 'thanks' before I walked away. I was waiting out front when I heard a phone ringing, I was the only one around so I shifted and pulled the phone out of my back pocket before seeing it was the Luna calling. "Hello." "Hi Reese, I am running a little late, but should be there in the next 15 minutes." "That's fine." I told her and she sighed. "I might be your Luna Reese but you don't have to be so accommodating." I heard the Luna laugh lightly. "Now, are you hungry?" She asked and I thought about it. "I will take that as a yes... we will get something to eat before your hair appointment, okay?" She asked and I agreed. "What are you in the mood for?" "Well... that is a hard question, I haven't had any fast food in three years but I really want a burger." "I know the perfect place, it's my sons favorite place to eat when he is home." She told me and I said it was fine. "I'm almost there." She said and we hung up. I waited another 8 minutes before she showed up. I got in the car and she started asking me about my two classes, something right out of a TV show... like a real mom would do. I answered all of her questions without really going in depth and I knew she realized what I was doing but didn't say anything. We got tot he place she wanted to take me to and I noticed that a help wanted sign was out front. "Do you think they will hire me if I apply?" I asked her pointing to the sign. "They might, I can put in a good word." She smiled and I nodded holding the door open for her so she will walk in first. She walked up to the counter and took off her sunglasses before calling someone named Jack. "What can I do you for Luna?" The man with the Jack name tag asked with his order pad ready to go. "Three things... I want my usual then what ever this girl wants, and also, I want you to give her a job." She told him outright and he looked over to me and eyed me close. "This the new wolf my uncle was talking about? The one from juvi for Wolves?" He asked and narrowed his gaze. "Yeah, she was there for sticking up for herself against her alpha, now give her a job." "Okay, you can start tomorrow. I really need the help." He nodded at me and I just nodded. "Tomorrow Jack? Really? She has her ceremony tomorrow." She informed him and he was about to say something when I stepped closer. "It's fine. I don't think the job will interfere with that since everyone is supposed to come. Besides, I won't have anything else to do tomorrow since you said I couldn't see what was being set up. Might as well be away from the house." I told her and she bit her lip adn then looked ot Jack. "Okay, fine... but if I drop you off Jack has to take you back to the pack house." She stated and then looked at the man and he just nodded. "I can do that." He nodded and then turned to face me fully. "What would you like?" He asked nodding towards the menu above him. "Cheese burger no onions and a strawberry shake." I said and rocked back and forth on my heels. "You sure you can eat that much?" He asked seriously looking me up and down. I knew I was really skinny. Back in Juvi they don't want you too full, because the more full you get the more energized you get. We had no way to use that energy other than to fight so we were given small amounts. "I'm sure." I told him and he nodded. "I will bring them to you soon." He nodded and the Luna called me over to sit with her. I hadn't noticed she moved away. "I hadn't asked, but how come you did choose to join us?" She kept her voice soft like I was going to run from the question. "I thought about what you said, I would rather have a pack accept me for my past than think there was nothing in it." I explained and she smiled widely at me. "Greg will have to answer a few peoples questions, like why we are taking you in tomorrow... since they do know where you came from." She told me and I shrugged. "I am not ashamed of where I was. I stuck up for myself and my family and no one has done a thing to the Alpha who openly admitted to doing what he did." I shrugged not being able to say it. I didn't want to think about it before eating anything. "Here you ladies are. And Reese, this is your uniform." Jack said placing a dark red apron on the table beside me. "You can wear anything else but the apron is mandatory. I will try and get you a name tag as well." He nodded before leaving. "Be here for the breakfast rush, say, 8am." "You have people here for breakfast?" I asked and he smiled. "We have a breakfast menu." He told me and I just nodded and agreed to be here at 8. "Jack's dad was the one who owned this place. When he died Jack dropped out of college and kept this place up and running." She told me eating a couple fries while getting her burger ready. I just lifted mine and dug in. She went on to tell me that Jack is Ian's best friend, that they usually always hang out here when Ian comes home. Jack will most likely become Ian's beta... it was like she couldn't shut up about her son because she was so proud. I made me sort of hate her kids in a way. I hated that she loved them so much. We ate the lunch while she kept talking about her wonderful life and I felt like I was becoming bitter. We got our nails done. I had white claws basically. I liked the way they looked. But my ring fingers were a dark purple with a black curvy line with some small jewel. My hair was washed and cut just a bit so I no longer had dead ends, which I had very little of. And then we went shopping. I looked around, not really caring about how I looked, and Luna Rebecca kept handing me things and asking me to try it on. When it came down to it she and I picked out one good dress that I actually liked. It was a blocked dress, it was purple and white with black sheer sleeves. She got me the same color purple pumps and when we got home she taught me how to walk in them. "Get some rest, you have a job to get to tomorrow." "Thank you Luna, for today." I nodded and she smiled. "Hopefully you will be able to do this with your own daughter soon." I told her and she smiled wider and then turned to walk somewhere else. I took off the pumps and held them as I walked up the stairs. I heard crying and looked around trying to focus on where it was coming from and I heard it clearly when I walked closer to the door I knew it was behind. Gene's. 4 I went towards her door and knocked making the crying stop. "What do you want?" She asked on the other side of the door. "Open up." I demanded, she still had to do what I told her. She opened the door and kept wiping her eyes. "Let me in." I pushed the door open and she walked into her bathroom leaving the door open. She turned on the water and I waited standing. I closed her door and she walked back out. "Why are you crying?" I asked and she went right to her bed and hugged a pillow tightly. "You wouldn't understand." She whispered and curled up a bit. "Try me, I wasn't in a prison for chopping up roses." I told her and started looking around. "I didn't do anything bad... it wasn't even my fault." She ground out and I looked over at her. "What does this have to do with?" I asked and moved closer to her. I had looked around her room but never really saw anything. She had family photos and homemade stuff and she was probably sniffling about a boy. "My mate." "You aren't even of age to have a mate." I told her and she sat up. "Don't you think I know that? But when someone you know says that they think that is what is going to happen you think about the possibility." She shouted and then started crying again. "What? Is your mate a little nerd at your school people will make fun of you for?" I asked not hiding my tone from her. She had some nerve to talk about her mate that isn't even hers yet. "No! But like I said, you wouldn't understand!" She shouted and then turned her back to me and I just sighed. "Then tell me what this is about." I told her moving to look out her window. "He already rejected me. He pulled me aside two days after my 16th birthday. Told me that his wolf was telling him to claim me, and I was happy, but it went down hill when he said he could never do that with me. That I would never be the mate he could want." "So you became the opposite of what you were." I nodded finishing off her story and she bowed her head and nodded slightly. "That won't help." I told her knowing that if someone didn't want her just how she was it was something going on with them. "How would you know?" She sneered and I smiled. "My older cousin's mate did the same thing... all she had to do was show him what he was missing out on. Don't change who you are Genevieve, be who you are because that was who the moon goddess made you to be for him." I told her and she huffed. "Who rejected you?" "Doesn't matter." She whispered and I gave her a look. "Please don't make me tell you." She begged with a soft whisper and I sighed. "Fine, but please stop trying to be bad . No offense, but when you gave me a look earlier at breakfast the only thing that held me back from punching you in the face was your parents sitting there." I told her and she gave me a small shy smile. "Sorry. I knew they brought you here to deal with me... and I didn't want you to be around me because I just wanted to be who I was becoming." She shrugged and I smiled slightly. "Who you were becoming wasn't you. How about you meet me at work tomorrow. I will set up a plan for you to vent out this aggression you have towards your mate. Who knows, you might learn to live without him." I told her and she looked down at her toes. "If I could switch places with you Genevieve, I would. I don't want to have a mate." I told her trying to cheer her up a little bit. "Why not?" She asked looking up at me and I sighed. "Do you know why I was in the system?" I asked her and she shook her head. "When I was 15, my alpha was maybe 49, and he still didn't have a mate. He tried to kill my dad in a rage for my mother... and I stepped in when my father was just going to be submissive and hand her over. I attacked the alpha and he can't mate my mother now because he would be taken down... I saved my mother when my father didn't. And he was her mate. A mate like that isn't someone I want. I would rather never have a mate than have the chance of someone doing that to me." I told her and she gave me a couple pity looks before getting up and walking towards me. She hugged me close and I patted her back. "You'll do just fine... and your mate won't ever let anything happen to you." She pulled away and I refrained from telling her that I would rejct my mate. Seeing her crying about how her mate has already rejected her made the mate topic off limits. "Go back to being the old you... I don't know that girl but I can bet that she is better than what I saw this morning. I will help you get the anger out." I told her and she nodded before going to her bed. "Thank you Reese." She whispered and I nodded before walking out. I flipped her lights off for her and headed right to my room. I showered and got into bed with a loose braid in my hair. I fell asleep easier tonight than the night before. But it still took some time. I woke up around 7 and grabbed everything I needed for the day and then proceeded to walk down stairs in some PJ pants and a tank top. My hair was still in a sloppy braid and I didn't care. I walked into the kitchen seeing Gene there and I smiled. "You are up. I was wondering, you told me to meet you are your work but you didn't tell me where you worked." She said and I noticed she was giving off a totally different vibe. Yesterday was a ' you, go away' and today is like a 'Hi how are you, please hug me hello' type of vibe. It suited her. It really did, her huge smile and blonde hair made me think about those bimbos in movies who were always happy. "Oh, I work at your brother's best friends burger shop... Jack. I am guessing you know who I am talking about." I shrugged as I walked towards the fridge to get an orange juice. "Yeah, I know who he is." I heard something in her voice and when I turned back to her she was glaring down at her plate of eggs before stabbing at them. "Take it you aren't a fan. I have to admit if he assumed anything about me yesterday instead of me telling him why I went to the juvi in the first place." I told her and shrugged. "Yeah, he calls me kid and Ian's baby sister and I hate it." She growled and I just thought about how irritated I would be if I was classified like that. "Well, why don't you just call him your brother's best friend when you see him, or one of Ian's friends... when he realizes that you hate the name calling he'll stop to make you stop." I shrugged and she sighed before agreeing to try it. "So when are you planning on coming in?" I asked and I saw her hesitate. "Maybe around lunch, my brother should be here by then so Jack will be distracted and you can talk to me for a little bit." She said and I nodded. "Well, I will see you then." I nodded at her and grabbed my bag I had brought down with me. "If your mom asks where I am, can you tell her that I have already left. She said she wanted to drive me down there but I think I need a run." I told her and then opened up the back door before running to the closest tree to strip and then I took off with my bag between my teeth. I got to the burger place. I changed behind the dumpster and got dressed before running towards the door. It was 7:55 and I didn't want to be late. I walked in tying up my apron when I walked into a hard wall. "Early huh?" I heard Jack and I backed away. "Well it's not like I am half an hour early. Besides, I would rather be early than late." I said and waited for any instructions. "Okay... here, there are 5 burgers and these are the short hand versions. The shakes just have the beginning letter of the flavor followed by an S and then you see the short had for size of fry." He handed me a lamented paper with everything I had seen before going into the system. "Why are you still staring at me?" I asked looking up at him, he was giving me a narrowed gaze and it was irritating me. "You do know how to talk with costumers?" He asked seriously and I bit my lip and crossed my arms. "I wasn't born in solitary confinement. Nor was I raised there. In my old pack we all had to have jobs and I worked at a diner. Now, how about you tell me which section around the restaurant will be mine and then open up the diner." I crossed my arms and glared at him. He wasn't Beta yet, so he was just another male who thought he knew something about me. "Left side. Sabine will take the right." He huffed out turning and walking away. "Sabine?" "Yes?" I turned to see a girl walking in, she had glasses and I could tell by the scent of her that she was already mated. "Sorry, Jack said your name and I didn't know who you were. My name is Reese. New waitress." I held my hand out for her and she finished tying up her hair. "So you're the wolf we are welcoming tonight? You're really pretty." She gushed and shook my hand enthusiastically. "Thanks I guess." I pulled some hair behind my ear and she kept smiling at me. "So I guess you are taking the right and I am on the left." I said and she held her hands up. "Zack likes to mix people up. That is the left," she said pointing to where I thought the right was, "and this is the right." She said pointing towards the windows. "Okay then. Glad we got that figured out before this place filled up." I told her and nodded. "Don't be nervous. Mostly wolves come in here so you might meet most of the pack today." She touched my shoulder and walked past me. "Oh and if my mate sits on your side just ignore him... he likes to investigate all the new wolves." She smiled and then walked in the back. "Her mate... and I know exactly who that is." I muttered and looked around before sighing. What am I even doing here? 5 I walked around the restaurant smiling and being nice, and I knew I was meeting most of the pack. They all told me thier names as they ordered and told me that I would love what they were doing for my ceremony. I heard a squeal and turned towards the door seeing Sabine throwing herself at a very familiar guy. I didn't shink back but I didn't advance. I simply kept staring, I couldn't believe it. "Come here I want you to meet Reese, she is the new wolf." Sabine grabed his hand and he looked up and right at me before growling and pulling her to a stop.b "Reese." He growled out. "Dean." I said simply and I heard Sabine asking how we knew each other. "She attacked my sister in juvi." I heard gasps and rolled my eyes. "Claudette attacked me first and I defended myself. How many times have I told you that?" I growled and dropped the empty tray when he lunged for me. He had wrapped one hand around my neck but when he started to squeeze I let my claws come out and as I clawed at him with one hand my other came around and popped his wrist and he pulled away Jack came out and helped Sabine calm him down. "I think I better take you home now." Jack nodded at me and I just glanced at him, then back to Dean. "This isn't over Paxton, when they ask who doesn't want you tonight I will stand up!" He growled harshly when Jack pushed me to go out back. "Go ahead and try, I didn't ask to join this pack Harper! I was asked. Tonight it just a formality." I kept shouting until the door was closed up tight and I heard a growl. "Get on the bike." Jack ordered and stuffed my hands with his only helmet. He swung his leg over the bike and waited for me with a hard expression. I stuffed the helmet on, it was a little big, but I knew it would do the trick. I swung my leg over the back of the bike and put my hands on his sides and he revved the engine. I heard a shriek when he pulled away but when I turned back I saw Gene and some guy hugging a few girls, must be her brother. Gene was basically stomping into the place and I wondered what her brother did to tick her off. The ride to the pack house was short because of how fast he was going. I got off the bike as soon as he put his legs down and tore the apron and helmet off before shoving both in his hands. "Are you quitting?" He called after me once the engine cut off. "Aren't I fired?" "No, you were defending yourself. We all know Dean is a hard . I just didn't think he would ever put his hands on a female. What did you do to his sister anyways?" He got off the bike and came towards me throwing the apron back at me. "It was my first day there, I was still healing since I didn't have my wolf yet,and she kept kicking me, and elbowing me, anything that hurt me more than normal since I was still bleeding and bruised. But once she started whispering all the things I must have done to get there, she hit the spot when she said I attacked the alpha... and I lost it. I shifted a week before my birthday and attacked her." I shrugged and started backing up. "You shifted a week before your birthday?" He asked and I nodded. "Most of the time only Alpha's can do that." He told me like I didn't already know that. "I was pissed off." I said as an excuse and I just turned and kept walking. "I expect you at work tomorrow morning." He called after me before I even opened the door. "Fine." I waved him off and walked in side. I could hear a few people around but I walked towards my room up the stairs. I smelled a new scent and it was defiantly male, and I could tell it was Ian. I walked right into my room and saw that a couple things around it had been moved a bit and I smelled the alpha family. I followed the Luna's scent to the bathroom and saw all the stuff she was planning on doing to me in a few hours. There was a pack of huge curlers and also a straightener and so bobby pins. There were a lot of makeup and my dress was hanging up near the toilet. I walked back out and into the closet and saw a pair of shorts and just shook my head, I went for yoga pants and a light tank top. "Oh, your back! I saw Jack in the kitchen and I didn't know if that meant you were here or not." I heard the Luna and I walked out with a new pair of converse. "Yeah..." I nodded at the alpha couple seeing them walking in. "We noticed that Gene was back to wearing her old clothes." Alpha Greg Said and I nodded. "And she was actually happy to see us this morning, even cooked all of us breakfast." Luna added and they were both looking at me and waiting for an explanation. "I had a small talk with her last night. She didn't tell me exactly what was wrong but she said that she didn't want to be herself... I told her that she shouldn't hate herself because someone else didn't like it. I told her that if she only did this to get her anger out towards this person or group of people to meet me at the burger place today and we would come up with a way to vent it... but there was a small problem." I shrugged and slipped on my shoes. "Who was making fun of her?" Alpha Greg asked and I shrugged. "She wouldn't tell me. And she begged me not to make her. I think that it is best if she just forgets about the person who is making her feel bad about herself, that she just moves on." I told him and her and waited for a response. "If you think that is best." The Luna nodded and I sighed. "What do you mean there was a small problem? What happened?" "I do have some history with one of the pack members that showed up there." I told the Alpha and he just raised an eyebrow. "A male or female?" He asked and I cleared my throat. "Male... Dean Harper." I stated and they both shared a look. "What did he do?" "It doesn't matter. He was sort of in the right in his mind anyway." I shrugged on a jacket and stuffed my hands in the pockets. "What did he do?" The Luna asked softer and came towards me and moved my hair out of the way. "Did he choke you?" She asked and I backed away and moved my hair back. "When I first got to juvenile hall I was still healing... his sister Claudette kept bugging me, hurting me, and I had enough when she kept asking me what I did to get in there. I transformed a week before my birthday because of her and I attacked her in rage. She almost died." I stated and took deep breaths before turning my eyes away from both of them. "What happened to her after that?" "She has life in there." I told them and they nodded at me. "He found out that it was me and since he was visiting his sister he asked to see me. We were between the 3 inch glass stuff all families had to do and he was threatening me." I shrugged and licked my lips. "Does he know what his sister was doing to you?" "I don't know." I said honestly and Alpha Greg nodded. "Am I in some sort of trouble?" I asked when they both sighed and seemed like they were trying to hide something. "No Reese, you aren't. Dean is." I shook my head. "He shouldn't be. Not because of me. I can handle myself." I almost begged. "Fine, no one is in trouble, but we will tell him to stay away from you." Alpha Greg huffed and turned around bringing the Luna with him. I went to walk out behind them dead set on taking a run around the grounds in my human form. "Nothing can happen to her Greg, nothing. We need her for Gene. After that- she can go." I heard the huff and then a groan. "I have a headache now." I ground my teeth and walked back into the room I was so graciously given and looked around for a paper. I grabbed the bag the Alpha had given me and then pulled out a notebook before reaching for a pen. Dear Rowan, I'm finally out, and in a new pack. I was asked to join because the Alpha's daughter wasn't behaving well, and they wanted me to come here and fix her. I think I have done just that. But I need to stick around here to make sure she is better. I just overheard them saying that after their daughter is fixed I can leave if I wanted. I know you are only 16 now... how was your first shift? What does your wolf look like? What did momma and daddy say? How are you and all your friends? How are you in school? I don't blame you for not coming to see me, I know mom and dad were forbidden as were you. I was just wondering if you even wanted to see me. I guess when I am done here I can look around at another pack. Maybe find one and join, and if you wanted to get away from Alpha Diaz you can come and stay with me. Just a thought. I miss you. So much. Love your older sister, Re Re. I guess I have to leave when I get Gene back to normal. Once she realizes that a mate does not define you, then I can go. And stop giving the Luna headaches. 6 When I was done with my run, the Luna was waiting for me, with Gene beside her. "Glad you are back. Come on." She waved me on and I smiled slightly at Gene. "I heard what happened." She said and nodded towards my neck. "Not a big deal." I told her and kept walking with her beside me. "Dean is an ." "He has every right to be." I told her and shrugged. No matter what Caudette did to me, I shouldn't have almost killed her. She was in a coma for months after what I did. Now she has scars down her neck and back along with chest. "No he doesn't." Gene protested and I shook my head. "What I did to his sister was unforgivable. I heard later on after what happened that she only had a brother, which meant that I almost took his only living family away from him. He has every right to hate me. I overreacted, it was my first shift and I couldn't control myself." I told her and left it at that. I took a shower at the Luna's orders and when I was done I grabbed the robe and wrapped around me she came in with Gene at her side and started on my hair. Gene smiled at me and started doing my makeup. When Gene was done it was just the Luna and I, and I decided to speak up. "You don't have to be nice to me Luna, you can order me around and get mad at me. I won't be a thorn in your side or a headache after your daughter has complete confidence back." I told her and kept my eyes on myself even when she paused. "Reese that wasn't- if you heard me earlier I am sorry." She whispered letting my hair fall. "It doesnt matter. I am part of your pack, not the other way around. You can feel anyway about me that you like. I am just telling you that once your daughter is confident again I will be gone." I told her and she sighed. "I have a letter for my little brother, the alpha rips up any of my letters and I was wondering if someone else could mail it." "Reese..." She stopped and made me look at her in the mirror. "I'll mail it." She nodded and I thanked her before she continued on my hair. Once she was done she walked out saying that she had to go get dressed. I slipped on the dress and heels and walked down stairs. I was in the kitchen warming up some water for some tea when I felt a presence behind me. "My Luna told me that you heard her talking earlier, I didn't realize that eavsdropping was on your wrap sheet." Alpha Greg said moving to stand on the left side of the counter. "Well it's not eavesdropping when you are walking out behind a couple that just left your room ready to go for a run now is it?" I asked not looking his way. I started pouring the hot water and he sighed. "She has a lot on her plate right now. Our daughter is acting out and when we found our son this morning he was in your room." "My room, why was he in my room?" I asked turning to him now and he shrugged. "But two hours later he told us he smelled a faint alluring scent, told us that he thinks it is the calling of a mate." He said and I shrugged. "I guess I am happy for him. I haven't met him yet." I shrugged and blew on my tea cup before he laughed. "I can tell... anyways. We are almost ready outside." He knocked on the table and I nodded towards him. "My mate didn't mean to upset you Reese. I want you to know that. She just hates trouble in the pack." "Well, it's not like I can change the past." I told him and he nodded. "I don't blame you for what you did." He told me and I nodded setting my cup back down. "Give us two minutes and come outside." He told me and walked away. I didn't know what to think about the Alpha couple. They might be playing nice just in case I don't help their daughter, or they can be genuine. Either way I waited until I knew it was my time to walk out. I kept my head high passing the pack around back before coming into the parted area. There were white flowers linked on the sides of green grass and it led up to a small patio. I saw Alpha Greg in the middle and focused on him. I walked right to him and he addressed the pack, said my name and age. My status and which pack I had come from. "I have asked her to join this pack. I accept her. And if I accept her, we all accept her!" He ordered looking towards one part of the left side and I knew he must have found Dean with his eyes. He ordered my palm and I gave it to him. He sliced it just enough for it to bleed before slicing his own. He placed his on mine and said the acceptance oath, and I repeated it. Not once did my eyes move from his unless it was on the crowd. The Alpha family all moved forward and I was hugged from the Luna who held me for a lot longer than nessesary. She moved and Gene hugged me tight and finally Ian moved forward. Our eyes met and his started to glow as he pulled me closer. I couldn't breathe, this wasn't supposed to happen. Not at all! He gave a huge smile down at me and I tried to pull away making the smile falter. He nodded and just pulled me in for a hug I almost melted into. He never let me move too far from his side after he pulled away and his father named me part of the pack. In fact once the Luna told everyone there was something to eat in the dining room everyone walked away and it was just the two of us on the stage still. "Why didn't you let me claim you were mine in front of the pack?" He asked lightly but I still didn't look at him. "I reject you, Ian-" "You will not finish that sentence." He wrapped one hand around my mouth and was glaring at me as he moved closer. "I forbid it." He ground out. I pushed him away roughly before turning and running back towards the house. He wasn't that far behind me but I was still ahead of him. I fake smiled as I passed a few familiar faces and I heard someone shout his name before calling him over. I didn't look back to see if he went towards hte guy, in fact I booked it up the stairs and right into my room locking the door right behind me. I didn't want this day to be true. How can two things that hurt so much happen in the same day? I had always felt quilty about what I did to Claudette but now that I know her brother lives in this pack the guilt intensified each time I had to explain why he hated me. And now I had a mate...