Chapter 2

Ayla’s POV

Mason is such a jerk! My anger was insanely high when I returned to my room; my hands shook. He thinks he’s the goddess’s gift to women. I wish I could wipe that smug look off his face. Who does he think he is? Acting as if he would tell the Alpha that I was out! If he did, I’d say about when he was in his dad’s office with a she-wolf, when his dad was away on Pack business.

The Alpha had been so good to me my whole life; he acted as if I was his child. The Luna, Laura, was lovely to me too, but she was more prone to siding with her obnoxious son over me on many occasions. I wasn’t going to blame her, though, he was her son after all, and frankly, he had a weird hold over every female here, except for me, and it annoyed him to no end, the sheer fact I would not bend to his charms. I can’t help but smile as a memory of pissing Mason off popped into my mind even though I paid for it later.

I love my room. It isn’t anything overly special, but it was mine. My room was on the house’s third floor; it was a good size with a double bed and an old-fashioned wooden wardrobe that had seen better days. For some reason, though, I couldn’t part with it. I had my bathroom off to the left; it was perfect. Anyone who visited my room could never understand how I lived in such chaos. I liked to think of it as organized chaos. It may look like a jumbled, busy mess to everyone else, but I knew where everything was, and that’s how I like it.

I had thrown my drenched coat over the door leading to the bathroom; it was currently creating a pool of water directly under where it was hung. I had kicked my broken, useless trainers off the minute I entered my room. It was pointless keeping them now, but part of me was reluctant to let them go. I sighed; exhaustion was beginning to win.

Slumping down on my comfy old faded armchair, I let my wild hair out. I had had it tied back all day, giving me a headache. My brain felt like it was trying to smash its way out of my eye sockets.

Part of me wishes I had never gone to watch the meeting tonight; another part is grateful to be armed with this information. But mostly, I wish I was the same as everyone else.

My life in the pack house was fine except for Mason, but he can’t do anything when his parents are around. Life at school wasn’t quite as easy, but I was getting through it.

I had known my whole life that I was different and adopted into the pack by Michael and Laura. It was never hidden from me, and I was honestly okay with that.

Mason was already three years old when I turned up, and he was unhappy about it. He didn’t want another child around the house, let alone a girl and one that wasn’t even born into this family. He liked to make sure I knew it as well. He was always careful around his parents; he was as lovely as anything to me then. I knew it was all a ruse to keep up the appearance that he was the perfect son, the ideal Alpha in waiting.

What am I meant to do? Am I supposed to get up in the morning and carry on like normal? How do I do that? I have a ticking time bomb on my head. My birthday is coming up, literally days away. If things go like the Alpha says they might, I will lose everything I have ever known.

Leaning my head back over the chair, I run my fingers through the tangled mess of my hair. I hear footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Ugh,” I huff, knowing it was Mason. He always had to annoy me when I didn’t have the patients for it. His rooms are on the second floor – apart from when we have guests, then he stays in his room on the third floor; yes, he has two rooms – so there was no other reason for him to be up here other than to bug me!

Being a werewolf has its perks; I can hear incredibly well, and if the wind is blowing in the right direction, I can smell a person’s scent before seeing them. That’s precisely what is happening now. The window in the hallway was open slightly, and the wind caught Mason’s scent and sent it slamming under the door and right to me. I wrinkled my nose; I didn’t like him or even like his scent. At least I knew it was him and could prepare for it.

“Three, two, one,” I sigh.

“Oh, Ay Ay, someone has been a naughty girl tonight! And got themselves caught in the act,” Mason snarls at me. There was way too much joy in his eyes, and a smug look was plastered across his face.

“What do you want, Mason,” I say, not even bothering to look at him. He hates it if you don’t pay him your full attention. I feel his glare burn into the side of my head.

“I’m your future Alpha; show me some respect, you unwanted wretch,” he spat; I just rolled my eyes; having been here many times before, I know exactly how this goes.

Slowly I turn my head and look at him. “Better,” I say

He growled low, but I could still hear it as clear as day. I watched as he stalked into my room. A slight bubble of anxiety popped into my belly. Even though I was used to the way, Mason treated me. It was still hard to take when he got physical. I know I have excellent healing abilities, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still bloody hurt at the time. I should have learned to be careful; I shouldn’t have run my mouth tonight, as Mason would say. But I was in such a crap mood I forgot, so now I have to deal with this.

When I was nine, Mason had gotten so angry at me that he had broken my arm. He was twelve at the time, and his strength was starting to kick in. Michael and Laura believe I had fallen off the swing in the back garden, but Mason had slammed my arm down on the ground as hard as he could. He grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me off the swing. That had hurt enough, but he wasn’t satisfied with that. He wanted to cause me actual pain. That was all because I refused to give him the bag of sweets Michael had bought me. He had already finished his.

I jump up from my chair and back away from him. I was watching as he advanced through my room.

He was taller than me; I only came up to his chest. Usually, this didn’t bother me as I love taller guys, but not Mason. He uses his height against me, and I do not have as much space to get around and away right now.

“What do you want, Mason? I don’t want any trouble tonight; I just want to go to bed” I try to sound like he didn’t bother me in the slightest.

“You don’t seem to learn, do you, Ayla.” He growled, “You need to learn your place; when I’m Alpha, you will know your place” he was so close that I could feel his breath on my face.

I staggered backward, hating how he loved my fear. I wanted so badly to show him he doesn’t scare me, that he has no control over me, but we both know that’s a lie. My back comes into contact with the windowsill, and I grip the ledge for support.

Mason’s eyes glow Icy white. His wolf is staring back at me; I take a shaky breath. Waiting for the pain, knowing it was inevitable. I had angered him by pushing past him and not paying him attention. I should have known he wouldn’t let it drop. Why would he? He had nothing exciting to do tonight. His dad had ordered him to stay at home, as well, which had annoyed him to no end. There was no way he would let this slide, not tonight.

His hand snapped up and encircled my throat. His fingers slam down and start to squeeze. His lips are at my ear now, and I feel his hot breath on my cheek.

“If my father wasn’t so infatuated with you, id have killed you by now,” he growls “learn quickly, Ayla, you are not wanted here, you do not belong, and I will eradicate you as soon as I can.”

The downstairs door slams

“I’m home” Michael’s voice travels through the house, ringing out clearly.

A low growl escapes Mason’s lips as he snarls at me. Reluctantly he releases my throat. My hands fly to my neck, and I take a few deep breaths. He steps back and rakes his hand through his hair. And looks at me.

“Keep your dirty mouth shut, you hear me” he warns

I nod, fully understanding the repercussions of telling on him. It hadn’t gone well the last time I did, and I don’t intend to repeat the experience.

As my door shuts softly, I slide down the wall and hug my knees; Goddess, I hate him. Why does he still scare me so much? I wish I could stand up to him and show him I’m no pushover. But right now, I can’t; he’s a full werewolf, and I have not had my first change yet. I haven’t met my wolf.

I heard Michael’s voice. He was talking to Mason; he sounded close too.

“Hi, Dad,” Mason’s voice reaches my ears.

“Hey son, what have you been up to this evening?” he questions him

“Nothing much; I spent some time chilling with Ayla; other than that, not a lot,” he answered, the lying bastard.

“Ah great, well-done, son. I do worry about her as I never see her having friends over or going out”. He praised him

“I know, I worry too; she’s like a sister to me; I don’t want her to be lonely” I could practically hear him smiling at his father, knowing all too well it was crap.

Footsteps were ascending the third flight of stairs.

“Shit, he’s coming in here,” I mutter. Jumping up off the floor, I practically ran as quietly as I could to the bathroom and slammed the shower on. I heal fast, but not fast enough to hide the bruises left by Mason’s hand just now.

“Ayla, are you in there, sweetheart” Michael calls.

I pretend not to hear him being in the shower. Even though I would still be able to hear him through the noise of the water, if not slightly muffled. I didn’t have the strength to face him right now. I couldn’t look him in the eye. Not just because of his dickhead son, but what I have learned tonight. I need some time.