Black’s Mate

I had one day before I turned twenty-one then I could leave the hell-hole I called pack and live as a lone wolf. At eighteen, wolves are considered adults but lone wolves are a rarity as living without the ties of a pack can drive a wolf to insanity. Our laws prohibit wolves under the age of twenty-one from living solitary lives to keep the rogue population in check.

“Tomorrow, Rena, you and I will leave this hell and find a real home.” I stroked the fur of the stray black wolf that became my friend a year ago.

“What are you doing lazying about?” A sharp voice cut into the serene air behind the pack house. “Do we keep you here to waste our air?” I hurried to my feet as Felicity approached me. “You article of no commercial value!” My face snapped to the side and I stumbled as her palm connected with my left cheek in a resounding slap.

“I am on my break.” Indignation rang in my tone as I cradled my cheek. “I deserve to rest after working nonstop for twelve hours –“ Another slap cut me off.

“This filthy bitch!” She screamed, red in the face. “How dare you talk back at me?” She stepped closer but paused when Rena growled low in her throat.

“Rena, back off,” I warned my friend. She had suffered enough cruel torture for my sake yet every time I pushed her to leave, she came back to me.

Unlike me, Rena was an ordinary wolf and not a shifter. I could not tell if she understood me when I told her to leave the pack, to find somewhere else or to stay in hiding. She always stood beside me and it always ended in her getting hurt.

“You and this your stupid mutt,” Felicity grumbled, eyeing Rena who kept growling, the intensity of the sound rising the more time passed. “Whatever,” she rolled her eyes, pretending the sounds coming from Rena’s throat didn’t terrify her. “I am reporting you to my father.” With that, she brushed past me, her shoulder hitting me hard enough to make me stumble.

“Rena, no –“ Without looking back, I knew what would happen next. Rena charged at Felicity, claws sinking into her arm as the other girl tried to shift. “Get off her. You’ll get in trouble!” My eyes scanned the place. I couldn’t hear anything but with the scent of blood rising in the air, people would soon be here.

“Rena –“ I cried in a voice choked with emotions. “Please –“ If she could understand me, she showed no sign. She fought Felicity like a rabid dog. The Alpha’s daughter shifted to her brown wolf but she lacked the murderous intent to combat Rena who fought like a crazy animal ready to kill.

“Felicity!” A voice thundered from behind me. Turning, I faced Kade as he ran over to the battling wolves. Two others came with him and they separated the fight in seconds.

“What did you do?” The expression on Kade’s face made me gulp, cowering backwards. He glared at me with red eyes, taking a step forward while I stepped back again.

“Kade,” Felicity cried with a wretched sniffle as a man put his coat over her. “She set that violent wolf on me.” She pointed a shaky finger in my direction.

“That’s not what happened. She bumped into me on purpose and Rena defended –“ I jumped to argue for my friend.

“Enough.” I flinched at the icy venom in those words. “Why can you not stay a day without causing trouble?” He growled in my face. “What will you gain from hurting Felicity?” He put a hand around his sister, hugging her to his side.

I would say something in my defence but no one ever believed me. My words held no water against Felicity’s. In truth, if he came to see her pummeling me to the ground with only a scratch on her face, it would be my fault. Felicity was the precious daughter of the Alpha and a beloved member of the pack while I was the wretched omega daughter of the Beta, the wicked child that killed her mother. These treatments were not new to me. I spent all my life trying to earn their love but now, I gave up. Their hurtful words did not faze me anymore. After dealing with them for twenty-one years, one last day meant nothing to me.

“I am sorry.” I bowed my head, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. The entirety of Silver Moon had seen enough of my tears. They didn’t deserve the satisfaction of seeing me broken one last time.

“Be sorry for the wolf you just killed.” My blood ran cold at those words spoken with hostility and hard eyes. “Chop off its head.” He gave the command to the men standing at alert behind him.

“No, not Rena! It was my mistake –“ I screamed, unable to hold back the tears as I heard Rena’s whines. Two hefty men pulled my friend away while she fought. “It was my mistake.” I tried to run after them, to help Rena with my useless hands but Kade stopped me.