1

"You're unbalanced sis." My brother teased.

I sighed and flashed him an annoyed look as I drank my water. He still had that stupid grin on his face, I was tempted to slap it off. However, I placed my water down before turning back to the training field.

My brother soon joined me, rambling about his fiancé, Kayla. I ignored him though, I was more focused on beating the crap out of this punching bag.

"Joe, are you even listening?" He whined.

I sighed, "If you didn't have a dick you could pass as a girl with your whining."

"Bitch."

"Is that supposed to be offensive?"

"Whatever."

I chuckled and delivered another punch to the punching bag, grinning when it almost snapped off of the chain. I spun around and kicked it, allowing my wolf to give me some more strength. I watched as it broke off and slammed into the wall, a smile on my face.

My brother just rolled his eyes at me, mumbling about me being insane. I just shrugged it off, not my fault I have so much anger in me. It's that bastard's fault.

Ever since I rejected him I've changed, I'm always angry, I snap so easily now. I have no idea why, maybe it's because I was angry at myself for being so weak. I'm an alpha's daughter, I should have been able to handle him. But I couldn't.

I now train non-stop, refusing to ever allow another wolf to hurt me. I was stronger than all the warriors in my pack, but I still didn't feel as if I was actually strong. I was disgusted with myself, disappointed. I shouldn't have been so naive as to trust my mate.

"Uh, Jolene, you're breaking the counter top."

I blinked a few times to see myself in the kitchen, gripping on to the counter top as if my life depended on it. I growled before ripping myself away and storming upstairs.

"I'm taking a shower." I grumbled.

I walked downstairs to see my parents talking with my brother and younger sister. My sister had a disappointed look on her four year old face, her eyes watering.

"Sophie, you can't go. It's not for you, Aunt Lacy wouldn't have a problem babysitting you. Besides, you would get bored quickly." My mother reasoned.

"What's not for her?" I questioned, stepping into the conversation.

My parents snapped their heads up, my father released a sigh. "The alpha meeting you are coming to."

"Oh, yeah, Sophia you would hate it. A room filled with alphas who have egos bigger than the US." I smirked.

My father frowned, "I do not have a big ego!"

"Of course you don't." My mother chuckled as she patted him on the shoulder.

My siblings and I chuckled as our father slumped in his chair with a pout on his face. My mother rolled her eyes at him, mumbling about him being a big baby.

"Oh and Jolene, you need to control your temper with this one." My father spoke softly.

I frowned, "Why?"

"Well...they have alphas from Europe coming and-

"Alaricas is one of them." I cut in.

My father sighed, "I'm afraid so."

I gritted my teeth, that asshole is going show up in my life once again. Six months. I've been free from him for six months and now I have to see his face again. It's not that I'm afraid of him, I'm afraid of the nightmares. They'll come back as soon as I see his face, I'm sure of it.

I forced a small smile and nodded, "I can handle it."

My mother frowned, "Are you sure? You can skip-

"No, mom, I'm fine. I have to suck it up and be a big girl eventually." I said, cutting her off.

She nodded, but I could see the concern and doubt lining her eyes. I ran my hand through my hair, my mind racing with thoughts.

What will I do when I see him again? It's not like I'll scream and cry, but freezing up and refusing to speak could happen. Matter of fact, it will happen.

Calm down, Jo, no panic attack. I scolded myself.

I sighed, "I'm going for a run."

"I'll come with you, my wolf is begging to be let out." My brother sounded.

As we shifted and ran through the forest I felt some of the panic leave me.

"You okay, sis?" My brother mind-linked me.

I whined a little, "Not really."

"I'll be by your side every step of the way. Kayla will be too, along with mom and dad."

"I know, but I don't want to see him again. Six months isn't long enough."

"I know, but you got this. You're the strongest alpha female I know."

I licked his cheek, telling him thank you. I then picked up speed and barked happily, challenging him to race me.

I skidded to a halt as we reached the river, my ears pricked up as I sniffed around. Once I found my favorite spot I laid down, waiting for my brother to fall into the water. He does it every time.

I almost laughed in wolf form as he attempted to stop but tumbled into the cold waters. After two seconds his head popped up and he paddled over to the banks. He pulled himself out of the water and shook out his fur, he then scowled at me.

"Could have reminded me." He grumbled.

"Why would I when it's hilarious to watch?"

He growled a little before laying beside me and sighing. He rested his head on his paws and closed his eyes.

While he slept I just watched the forest around us, sinking into my thoughts. Silently torturing myself as I thought about the multiple beatings I had received when I was there.

"How long is the plane ride?" I asked as I glared at my brother.

Kayla chuckled, "Like two hours."

"I'm going to die of annoyance then."

"Hey, I'm not annoying!" My brother whined.

Kayla rolled her eyes, "Baby, I know I'm your mate and all but...you're annoying at times. Like, really annoying."

"Take my sister's side then." He pouted.

We both laughed, Kayla continued to tease him as I just shook my head. When my brother had announced that he found his mate I thought I would hate her. I grew up watching him and Maria walk around, kissing and all. Even walked in on them almost doing it when I was a little younger. But when he walked in with Kayla I relaxed and decided against being a bitch.

Turned out that she was pretty awesome and now we're like sisters. We always team up and tease my brother, it's my revenge for all those years that he messed with me.

It was funny as hell to see Maria giving them dirty looks from across the field or whenever she visited the packhouse. Once I explained her and my brother's past relationship to Kayla she made sure to piss Maria off. Now, ten months later, they finally marked and mated. Of course she isn't pregnant though, my parents and her parents would kill my brother if she was.

I sighed and looked out the window as we took off, my thoughts drifted back to Alaricas. I don't understand why we couldn't just be normal mates and love each other. Deep down I did wish that Alaricas could have been mine, but fate hates me. But the night I had rejected him he looked so different. Acted different.

Every other time I had tried rejecting him he would hit me, but that time he just seemed broken. Something about him had felt different as well, I was more drawn to him. It's almost like the mate-bond had finally decided to work its magic on us. However, I was too far gone by then. I just wanted out.

"Please, let me explain!"

His words played through my mind like a broken record, his voice was so desperate and pleading. As if he truly meant he was sorry, that he truly wanted me to stay. I shook my head, I'm just being that naive girl again.

I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes, willing myself to go to sleep.