Ch.03

TIA POV “Good morning, birthday girl.” Beta Miles' voice sang when I entered the shared kitchen on the Alpha floor. He was far too cheerful this early morning, so I shot him a glare and poured myself a cup of freshly brewed coffee. “Where is everyone?” I asked, taking a sip and leaning my back against the counter edge. “Uh— they already ate and headed out for the day.” I looked at the time on my phone. “They already left? It’s a little early for them, isn’t it?” I knew he was hiding something. I watched as Beta Miles rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and looked around. “Look, Tee—” I raised my hand and stopped him before he could continue. “What is wrong with me now, Miles?” I could see he didn’t want to have the conversation with me. I liked Miles. Despite everything he had been told or witnessed about how I was with others, he was always nice to me. I was known as the Ice Queen for a reason. No one got close. Ever. With a sigh, Miles offered a small smile. “I can’t say for sure, but they discussed how they would let the Ravens' Peak pack know that you didn’t shift into your wolf yet. They seemed to be concerned that the pack might cancel the arrangement between you and Delta Allan Price. I'm pretty sure your father and Simon are in the office trying to smooth things over on the phone. Your mother and Hilary were stressed, so they went out for some therapy shopping.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. They were too predictable, but it worked in my favour. I didn't want to get married, and I knew that pretending to be wolfless was our best chance of that. I took another sip of my coffee. “Did you make this?” I asked, breaking the silence between us. I watched Miles' face transform from a concerned furrow to a proud smirk. “Sure did. You know, only you and Sarah appreciate my fine java expertise.” I laughed. Not the cold and calculated one I’ve practiced for years, that I offer everyone else. No, it was a genuine laugh. It earned me a big, accomplished smile in return. Miles was a fierce Alpha male wolf, but his goofball side was adorable. It confused me how he and my sister were true mates. It made no sense. Then again, who was I to question the divine powers of the Goddess? I read hundreds of testaments and ancient texts, and they all claim that mate bonds are about balance. Everything was about balance, but your true mate was your soul's counter-balance. You learn and grow from one another. I genuinely hoped that Hilary learned from Miles, not vice versa. I would hate for him to lose this playful demeanour. He was the only thing I enjoyed about my sister's visits. I kept my affection buried, but I cared deeply for the man before me. “Do you think he’ll call it off now that I have no wolf?” I finally asked, turning the relaxed energy back to a serious tone. “I’m not sure. I don’t see why it should matter. My favourite aunt is wolfless, as is her youngest son. It doesn’t make either one of them weak. Did you know there have been discussions about the wolfless becoming enhanced despite the lack of shifting abilities if their true mate marks them?” I knew what Miles was trying to do, but it was unnecessary. I didn’t want to be married off, anyway. If Delta Allan Price called it off, I would be secretly overjoyed. I didn't need my feelings coddled; I wasn't sad, but I couldn't tell Miles that. Not yet. “We both know that the Delta of Ravens' Peak pack is not my true mate.” Miles nods in quite agreement. I finished my cup of coffee, and it was too good not to pour another. Miles really does make the best morning brew. “When do you guys leave?” I asked the question I have been dreading the answer to. “This afternoon. Ty wants to get back as soon as possible to be with Sarah. But, Hilary asked to stay for a few more days. She misses your mother.” Of course she did, I thought bitterly to myself. Goddess forbid I get some peace and quiet away from her antagonizing snippets. Everything Hilary did always held a patronizing undertone. She enjoyed undermining me with the omegas, which meant I had to become more demanding to be taken seriously by them all. It only reinforced the Ice Queen persona for the world. I stopped caring a long time ago. “Sorry, Tee.” Miles pulled me into a big, warm hug, and I melted into his chest. I buried my emotions deep down, as I often did. “I meant to tell you last night that you looked stunningly beautiful in that dress, but you slipped away. Baby blue has always been your colour. If I had known, I would never have worn the silver accents on my suit.” I offered Miles a genuine smile. He was the only person to tell me I looked beautiful in my dress, and although it shouldn’t matter, it warmed me. “Thank you, Miles.” I looked up at him while pulling away from his body. I focused my attention on rinsing my mug before leaving. “I am going to miss you when you guys leave.” “You too, Tee.” he pinched my chin playfully, before breaking into a big laugh at my scrunched expression and displeasure. “You know you can always call us. You'd best call Sarah this week. She’ll be ravenous if you don’t. She beats us, you know. Absolute tyrant, that one.” Again, laughter flowed. I both loved and hated how Miles forced my crack in my icy demeanour with his silliness. Sarah was the gentlest Luna I’d ever met; he was ridiculous with his elaborate stories of abuse. One more quick hug, and I left Miles to head back into my wing of the Alpha floor. He went to find where Alpha Tyson was hiding—most likely the training grounds. That man loved to test his strength in warrior combat whenever he would visit. The morning flew by fast. After making the last of the suggested changes, I sent my finished manuscript to my editor. This will be the fourth and final book of my book series. I love a good murder mystery. Add a sexy mountain-shifter, bad boy recluse with a dark past and a lot of love to give, and I am all in. And apparently, so are my readers. I envied other shifters. Cats and bears didn’t need packs to be happy. Some cat clans kept groups small, like lions, which had small clusters of pride. Tigers travelled in groups of no more than three or four, and Bears, although they had clan options, were often spaced out for territory aggression issues. What I would give for that option. Lone wolves rarely survived. There was a fine line between a lone wolf and a rogue. I was born of a pack, which meant my odds of disbanding from the Cherry Ridge pack and going lone wolf were unlikely. The more likely option was that my scent turned rogue, and I would become hunted. The problem was, I didn’t trust wolves enough to want to be part of a pack. I was stuck. I know it sounds absurd, but it was true. Ever since my kidnapping, I haven’t been able to let my guard down to any wolf. The closest I have ever been was with Beta Miles and Luna Sarah. I also don't mind Alpha Tyson, but even then, it was minimal doses. I knew they knew I was hiding, but they never pushed for more. I appreciated the respect. Instead, I poured my pain, wants, and self into my pages. My family had no idea about my writing career. I am sure they’d consider it beneath the family status. I have been writing for a few years now, and what started as online blogs for short stories somehow worked into a publishing deal and genuine income under my assumed pen name El Henry. Most people assumed I was a man. Let them think what they wanted as long as they bought my books, I didn’t care. I always knew that if I were married off as planned, I wouldn’t be allowed higher education or a career, so writing was something I could hide and keep to myself. Watching Beta Miles and Alpha Tyson drive away this afternoon was disheartening. It was time to raise the walls and put my armour back on. I had no more allies within the pack. The only two I had driven away, returning home to a peaceful place. Only my father and brother were with me to see them off. My mother and Hilary were still out enjoying their therapy together. “Did you get your wolf yet?” Simon finally asked after the SUV containing my only allies disappeared from sight. “Nope.” I popped the p to punctuate the response. “Useless!” Simon scoffed and stormed inside, leaving my father and me alone on the front step. “I always enjoy our sibling affection,” I mumbled. I heard my father sigh. “Tia,” he began. He sounded pained at the mere idea of having to address me. That hurt, but again, I push it away. “I know this is hard, but you should be aware of the pressures this puts on us. The Ravens' Peak pack offered us a great alliance for you. You aren’t the warmest of females; this is your best bet to gain a mate. After all, I doubt your true mate would accept someone so—cold and distant.” I hated it when my father was political with his approach to me. It felt disingenuous when he did. “So, because I have no wolf, is the Ravens' Peak pack pulling out of the agreement?” I asked bored. “They are considering their options. That is all we know for now. You must let us know if you feel any pressure to shift. It would greatly help the pack if you could shift, even once.” I turned to look at the man who was meant to be my father. At this point in my life, he was nothing more than a distant acquaintance. “Alpha Markus, if I could shift for you right now, I would. I don’t feel any signs of having a wolf, and I suspect I won’t be any time soon. I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause you and your ambitious endeavours, but you can’t bleed a stone.” I watched my father's face tighten at my words. I addressed him without warmth or familiarity; it was simply a polite and neutral response. It revealed my lack of affection towards him as a family member, only recognizing him as my Alpha. I watched as his wolf flickered in his eyes. I knew his wolf recognized me as his pup; it was just unfortunate that the human side did not. His human vessel was the reason for our discord, not his wolf. “Perhaps we should see one of the healers? See what is wrong with you.” He suddenly suggested. “I already have, Alpha. She suspects that what was done to me while kidnapped had taken away my wolfen spirit. With the injections given, it most likely killed her before she was fully developed. Perhaps if you had taken me to a healer for a check-up earlier, we might have saved her.” My answer was simple and logical. I was injected with serum, but it didn’t kill my wolf. It was designed to advance my puberty, starting it to develop much earlier in life. That was why I had curves and a desired hourglass figure early on—another reason I have had to maintain the icy exterior. I will not allow myself to be used by unworthy males and their despicable desires. “f***k!” My father cursed as he ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair. “Very well. Let me know if there are any changes, and I will try to smooth this over with the Ravens' Peak Pack.” I watched my father offer no more conversation or an attempt to comfort me. I had just reminded him of my torment, but he only saw what he was losing. However, I was used to this—the stain no one wanted to discuss. With that, my father turned and walked away. Heading inside, most likely to update Simon on my failed presence.