Chapter 1
• Cleo •
The moment Lydia’s shrill voice pierces through the walls of my room, I know today’s going to be another test of my patience. It’s like living with a hyena, her voice just grates on my nerves. I glance at the photo of my mom on my nightstand, her smile a bittersweet memory. Ever since she passed, it’s been a circus in this house, with my stepmother, Linda, and her daughter, Lydia, playing the starring roles in the drama that is my life.
I’m already dressed, wearing the top I snatched from Lydia’s closet. It’s a small, spiteful victory, but in a house where her theatrics constantly overshadow me, I take what I can get. Plus, the fury on her face will be so worth it. My father’s voice echoes from downstairs. He’s a good man, but the weight of his expectations feels like a rope around my neck. Today, he wants me at the Council meeting—a display of family unity or some such nonsense; just another way for him to teach me the ropes for when I take over the pack.
Another door slams downstairs, and I wince, bracing myself for my father’s wrath as I hear him stomp through the house. His lumbering steps echo from downstairs as I rush to finish getting ready for the meeting I do not wish to attend.
“Cleo!” he yells from the second floor. “Get down here, now!”
My blonde hair falls in soft waves over my shoulders and the deep blue blouse. I twist, checking my black faux leatherpants that hug my curves in all the right places. I take one last glance in the mirror. The blue blouse and black pants might be a far cry from the glitzy dress code of the City Ball happening alongside our meeting, but they’re more ‘me’.
Even after getting dolled up for the City Ball/Council meeting, I can’t quite summon the excitement. I sigh; I should be in a dress, attending the ball. Instead, I’m in work clothes, though I must admit, I do love this top. I snicker, knowing my stepsister Lydia will be furious when she realizes I stole it. I can already picture the look on her face.
“I’ll be right out!” I call back to my father. Hastily doing up my heels, I rush to the door and the stairs. Stepping out of my room, I brace myself for the inevitable clash with Lydia.
My heels click on the hardwood floors. As I make my way down the stairs, Lydia stands impatiently by the front door, perfectly coiffed and dressed to impress in a slinky red number. Too bad her personality is so horrid because no amount of makeup would ever hide the inner troll she is.
Lydia smirks when she spots me. She no doubt wants to boast that she’ll be the belle of the ball. Like I care if I even do attend, I’ll likely stay put, lurking in the shadows. That is, if I even get a chance to leave this stupid Council meeting on time.
“About time,” she sneers, pushing off the wall she is leaning on. She eyes my top, her eyes squint, and a look of outrage crosses her features.
“Wait, is that my top?” Lydia screeches, taking in my appearance as I reach the bottom of the stairs.
“Not anymore,” I mock, and she goes to say something when my father cuts her off, appearing in the hall.
“We don’t have time for this, girls,” my father chides, steering us out the door, tension radiating off him. He’s got a lot riding on tonight’s meeting, especially with Alpha Zayn attending. The man’s a walking challenge to my father’sauthority—too young, too brash, and apparently, too good at getting under Dad’s skin.
Lydia’s gaze roams over me, taking in my appearance with obvious disdain.
“You look plain, as usual,” she scoffs, knowing better than to start a fight in front of my father.
“Thanks, Lydia,” I reply sarcastically, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. “At least I don’t need to layer on makeup to hide what a troll I am.”
“Cleo, enough,” my father scolds as Lydia folds her arms across her chest, a smug look on her face hearing my father tell me off. Dad tends to pick her side to avoid upsetting his mate, who unfortunately is my stepmother.
“Can we go now?” My father interjects impatiently, his stern expression warning me not to start another argument with my stepsister after our cat fight earlier, where I smashed her in the face with my drink bottle. Oops. The bitch deserved it for tripping me on the stairs.
With a resigned sigh, I try to follow him out the door and to the waiting car, mentally preparing myself for the night ahead of pure boredom.
“I can’t believe how long you both took to get ready,” my father growls. “We’re running late.”
I roll my eyes at his words, and he grabs my arm in an iron grip, dragging me down the steps when I don’t keep up with his long strides. I wince, stumbling in my heels to keep up as he marches us to the car. This meeting with the other Alphas means everything to him and to our pack. For me, it’s just another reminder that my fate has already been decided.
Climbing in the car, my father shuts his door a little too hard, signaling he’s in a ripe mood and I shouldn’t push his buttons. He jams the keys into the ignition and starts the car, muttering to himself as he pulls out of the driveway and headsinto the city. As we drive, I wonder about this Alpha Zayn. I’ve never met him, yet by the way Dad talks about him, you’d think he was the devil incarnate.
“I swear, if Alpha Zayn is late to this one.” I glance at him, and his words cut off with a growl as he glares out the windshield. My father can’t stand the new Alpha in the city. Always complaining that he is too young, cocky, and arrogant. I’m yet to meet the man, and if my father’s opinion is anything to go by, I probably won’t like him, either.
As we drive toward the City Ball and the meeting that is being held at the same venue, a growing sense of unease fills me.
The city is packed, even with so many attacks lately. Having all these gatherings is like posting a neon sign saying, Attack here! My father’s words from earlier echo in my mind: ‘Once you get your wolf.’ This serves as a reminder that my yet-to-emerge inner beast is a constant source of anxiety, knowing once I get my wolf, I will have that target on my back. I will constantly be scrutinized by everyone over everything, and not just by werewolf society,also the human governments that help govern the city. We may be Alphas, but we, too, have rules we must abide by.
Furthermore, with the date of my impending shift looming closer, it seems to put a strain on my relationship with my father. Alphas rarely get along with other alphas unless mated to each other, so four living in one house will be horrendous. Lydia is also of Alpha blood. She is already a pain in the rear. I can’t imagine how much more insufferable she’ll be when the pack is handed down to me.
However, Lydia is the least of my worries. My father is a bigger concern. It seems like no matter how hard I try; I can’t live up to his expectations. Honestly, I can’t wait for the break to end so I can go back to university and live out my last semesterin peace and soak in those final few months before I am forced to step up and take over the pack.
We spend the rest of the drive in tense silence. I stare out the window, longing to be anywhere besides here. I’d rather be sitting by the lake with Deacon, laughing, or sneaking into the new club that opened. Not stuck at some stuffy political event where my only purpose is to be shown off like a prize pig and watch as they all argue.
