Born of red

Wen's POV I had lived in the same packhouse my whole life, my father calling it a den. Me? I called it a prison. I turned too soon, at the age of 13. That was 3 years too soon. My father had been terrified. My older brother Liam and I had been playing in the yard. He had turned that same year at the age of 16. We wrestled, he always tried to get to me and I never let him. I always won over him even if he were three times the size. I just had a knack of learning things and I saw all the different counter attacks at the same time, as if I always had a back up plan. Suddenly he punched me, nothing unusual. We sometimes didn't think when we wrestled and sometimes hurt each other. It was out of love and fun, normal siblings s**t. When I suddenly got angry, like really angry, so furious I felt like tearing his face off. Liam recognized that anger and his face was filled with fear, fear for my safety. When I started screaming he mind linked our father for help, as he kept a good distance from me. He had not only been scared for my sake, but that fear had also been directed towards me. The pain, oh that first pain. It felt like being rolled over by a steam truck and then tossed into a furnace. I was burning and my bones were cracking. My father told me that intense pain came because I turned before my body wasn’t fully grown, in other words, I had been too young. I never really felt like that was true, but I trusted my father and my alpha, but something just didn’t feel right. My wolf was now, 6 years later, twice the size of my brother’s. Mine was glorious, my fur shining bright white, shimmering, casting off any light from it. It blended into darkness, to sunlight, even into grass. It was as if my fur itself was alive, copying the surroundings. After my first turn I wasn't allowed outside. If and when I turned, I did so in an inclosed area. Mostly in our backyard. Now we lived in a mansion and were surrounded by three meters high walls. My prison was set. Whenever we had guests they were only dealing with my father and brother. Me and my cousin Lulu, who also were my only friend, were locked inside my room and kept by my small group of guards. I had told Lulu that she didn't have to be with me. She always just shrugged and ignored my arguments. I loved her for it. Without her I wouldn’t have been the person I was today, but furthermore I would have been an extremely lonely person. My brother was also my best friend, but he was next in line to be alpha. He had a sense of purpose and took his fate very seriously. Me? I was a woman, I couldn't be alpha. Perhaps Luna to some other alpha..not that my father would let me. It was a fact that I despised because I was a female Alpha after all, but I finally accepted that. All I wanted instead was to run in the woods once in a while. After my change, a lot of things happened to me physically. My hips formed tight and my butt was rounded. My boobs got bigger, almost-in-the-way-big.The shiny blonde hair I had before turned platinum white and almost shimmered sometimes, just like my fur. My golden eyes turned red. It happened that when I looked at myself in the mirror I even scared myself. I looked like a ruthless killer b***h. Then Lulu would poke me and I would giggle and the reflection would get a goofy smile. The little dork that I was would comfort me and remind me that I was not my skin. The pack knew that I existed, but hadn't seen me since I was a little girl. Few knew me. Only family and the closest to my father, like his beta or my guard knew me. I quickly realized if anyone else saw me they would mark me as a monster and hate would be my only compliment.Those around me gave off a scared and disgusted look sometimes, which had given me a tough exterior, except around Lulu. Without Lulu I would become that ruthless killer b***h in the mirror that I feared so much. "Wen!" Lulu pushed me and threw herself from me. "That's not fair! You know I'm no match against you!" She pouted in anger. Which made me giggle amused. "Well you started it!" I teased her. "I just mentioned that you might be mated to somebody next week considering you're turning 18 tomorrow." She sighed and combed her hair from it's ruffled state. "Pfft." I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "I don't need a man. I have enough to take care of. And can you see me oblige some stuck up wolf boy?" I chuckled and Lulu looked at me and frowned in displeasure. "No." She sighed and I gave her a winning smile. "Oh Wen I love you for eternity, but my dear you need to realize you're a woman." She patted my shoulder in comfort and I lifted an eyebrow at her. "Well, I know you don't have your mother and she was really great. Poor alpha. We all pray for him, but I've done my best trying to turn you into a woman." She sighed and I gave her a thankful smile. I had always loved my Mother, even if I had known her for only four years. She was killed when my father had refused the Alpha King's order. My father hated him for it, which was fair considering he took his mate from him. The King's son didn't seem to be any different either. He was the new king. My father despised royalty and I couldn't agree more. They were all stuck up and arrogant ruthless killers, caring only for money and power. The king was the worst one. I had heard tales of him raiding and slaughtering packs for a simple disobey. "I know and I love you, Lulu. But it's obviously a man's world and I won't stand by the sidelines to be some porcelain doll for a horn dog." I shrugged at Lulu. "And you're not standing by the sidelines now?" She questioned and looked at me with her judging look. I didn't answer and she knew she was right. "All I'm saying is that you need to stop loosening up, get in your head in the game and play your cards right. Maybe then you get what you want." She said and the statement hung in the air as she brushed her hair. "Whatever. I'm heading to the gym." I sighed and looked at her. "Ehh." Lulu waved me off in disgust. I grinned at her and jumped over the sofa. She was a lady and according to her, Ladies shouldn’t look buff. "See you later, bitch." I said before I slipped through the door, I heard the bump of the brush against the door. I chuckled for myself and then headed to the gym. The estate had a public gym where everyone trained and the other one was in the mansion where the highest ranking lived. I changed and put my long hair in a tight braid. When I entered the gym my brother Liam and my father's beta, Rolf were training. They immediately notice me coming in. "Sis!" My brother grinned and greeted me with a chest bump. "Windira." Rolf greeted me and smiled. "Roff." I nodded, he hated that nickname as much as I hated my real name. "Are you going to spar?" My brother asked me excited, I smiled at him, "Hm. If Rolf wants to?" I said and turned back to Rolf. "Well, let's see if princesses have learned anything from last time?" He grinned and Liam chuckled. I shot him a dark look. I was no princess. "Sorry, sis but if Rolf finally gets to kick your ass I’ll enjoy it." Liam grinned. "Maybe you should take his place then, brother?" I challenged him with an amused smirk. "Uhm no, I don't think my nose has fully healed since last time." He blushed and scratched his neck. "Dude, it was a year ago. You got to face your fears sometime?" I shrugged and nudged him. "I'd rather have my pride intact." He argued and I scoffed. ´Pride, huh?´ I mind linked him and he pouted at me in anger. "Princess?" Rolf taunted. "Say that again and I'll break your face next." I warned him and he got down in the attack position. "Come at me, little girl!" He mocked me and I threw myself forward in stupid anger. I knew it was dumb as it gave him the upperhand. He easily parried me and kicked me in the stomach. "You gotta do better than that, little girl. Control your anger." Rolf warned and I took a controlled breath. This time I launched from one way, but kicked him from another. The man faltered before getting his balance back and launched back. I parried, grabbed his wrist and threw him over my shoulder. I knew he would be ready for that but he was not ready for my left foot high-kicking him in the face, he stumbled. I took the opportunity to sweep his feet under him and he fell to the floor. My hand stopped in his face. "Are you okay? Old man." I grinned down at him. "Maybe I am getting old." He chuckled and I pulled him back on his feet. "Damn, sis." My brother clapped his hands and high fived me. "Want to help out?" He gestured towards the weight gear and I nodded. "Then I'll be out of your hair. Don't need to see you wrestle anymore. It's just embarrassing." Rolf said. "Well, you could join in. Help my poor brother. Who always loses!" I mocked and leaned on Liam's shoulder with one arm, who scoffed and frowned down at me. "As much as entertaining that would be, I have a meeting with your father." Rolf explained. "Need me?" Liam asked with a serious voice, the alpha voice. "No, alpha Liam. It's nothing of the matter. But you two have fun." Rolf smirked and disappeared up the stairs. "Ready, bro?" I nudged him and he pulled his gaze back to me. His concerned frown turned into a smile. Lulu was unpacking boxes when I came back two hours later. I had my water bottle in hand but almost dropped it when I saw the mess in my suite. "Luu!!" I exclaimed in shock. Her head poked out of the closet. "The dresses for the mating ceremony arrived." She chirped. "Lulu, I won't go. You know that." I sighed and chugged water. I was sweating profusely and only longed for a shower. "You don't know that. Your father might change his mind." She said, repeating the same thing she said for weeks now. It sounded as she tried to convince herself more than me. "Maybe." I said with a smile, not really caring. Knowing my father, it was definitely not happening. "Yeah?" She said excitedly. "Oh I have ordered so many dresses. I'll send each one back I promise. Except the one you're going to have." She continued. "Oh, but you need to take a shower before you try them on. You stink!" She sniffed the air and frowned. I rolled my eyes, but gladly disappeared into the bathroom. I took a long warm shower, the steam filling the room. My tensed muscles relaxed. When I was done I walked back out to Lulu who had tidied up a little in my room. "So hit me with it." I said and she gave me a wide smile. I loved her fashion sense and it took years before she started to rub off on me. Now, I had developed my own sense of fashion. Lulu had a more girly younger style with bright clothes and colors, while I loved dark colors and more mature style. There were five dresses. One tight long with a shimmering color of green. Another was bright pink with a wide skirt. "No." I growled as I saw the pink one. "No pink." Lulu sighed, but nodded. She took the dress away. The third was dark blue satin with a wide chest and a split skirt. It looked sexy and seducing, not what I wanted right now, but I really liked it. "Hold on to that." I said and pointed at the blue dress. "Got it boss." She nodded with a smirk. The fourth was black. The top had a deep cleavage and the skirt was big and fluffy. It was beautiful. "I love it." I said and Lulu clapped in excitement. "That one it is." The last dress was nothing compared to the black, but it was a very elegant dress. A white long dress with an extra hem of train and a heart shaped chest with extra fabrics on the shoulder. "I like that too. Keep it." I said and Lulu smiled. "Damn, girl I hate that you know me so well." I sighed, which made her chuckle. "Well maybe it's because we're like sisters and I know you better than I know myself?" She said and smiled. "Yeah maybe you're right?" I pulled her in a hug. "What would I do without you?" "Walk around in shorts and a tank top." She chuckled. "Wouldn't that turn my father angry." I laughed and Lulu agreed with a nod. "Want to watch a movie as I get this sorted?" she asked. "Eh, leave it. By the way you can keep the last two dresses, they're more your style." "Really?!" She exclaimed in excitement. "Yes of course. It's a gift for always being here for me." I smiled at her. "Oh you're the best Wen!" She pulled me in a tight hug with tears in her eyes. She had always been more emotional than me. "I am aren't I." I grinned and she punched my shoulder. "Try them on." I said. "And you try yours." She ordered back. We tried the dresses and it was really nice to just be a goofy teenager. She looked pretty in the pink one and ravishingly in the green dress. Her chocolate brown hair and her blue eyes were a perfect match to the dresses . She was crazy beautiful and elegant. “You should wear the green one at the ceremony.” "Your turn." She said and helped me put on the black dress. "Wow." She sighed when I turned around. "What?" I said puzzled, terrified that my looks had ruined the dress. "You look absolutely fierce. You're terrifyingly beautiful, it's almost hard to look at you." She said with wide eyes. "Don't be ridiculous." I scoffed and turned to look in the mirror. "There's no such.." I froze. In the mirror a red eyed queen looked back at me. She looked terrifyingly beautiful. All I could do was stare. "You're going to make everyone jealous at the ceremony." Lulu chuckled and clapped her hands. I gave her a wide smile. “Try the rest on!” She exclaimed in excitement. I had been right about the blue one, it was extremely sexy and complimented my eyes. The white was almost as stunning as the black one, but I looked older in that one. My hair looked like a wail against the dress. My eyes stood out against the bright white fabric and I knew I might never wear it, but I still kept it. When Lulu left for the night I tried the black dress again and smiled at my reflection. I felt even more confident in that one. My mate wouldn’t be there, but he wished he would. The next day I was woken up by somebody banging on my door. I growled loudly and pulled a pillow over my head. "Wen!" My brother yelled. "Let me in!" "Go away, t**t!" I yelled back. "I've got presents." He told me with a lighter voice. It piqued my interest enough to get out of the bed. I grabbed my robe and pulled it around me. "Happy birthday!" Liam said with a wide smile and handed me a present. It was a thin wrapped box. "Thank you." I said surprised. I actually thought he had been lying about the present. "Well open it." He said and walked inside my room. I closed the door after him and sat down back on my bed. Liam sat down next to me. Under the wrapping there was a velvet box. I opened it and inside there was a silver necklace with a half moon pendant, inside there was a howling wolf with blue eyes in tiny rubies. It looked expensive, fancy, and beautiful. "It's stunning." I sighed and felt tears block my view. I barely cried, the reaction was unusual and shocking. I took a deep breath and pushed the tears away. "It's clearly not silver. It's titanum. I want you to have it to remind you of me and Lulu." He smiled and looked at me with his deep blue eyes. "I love it, Liam." I said sincerely and pulled him in a tight hug. "If anything ever happens to us I just wanted you to have something to remind you of it." "Why would anything happen to you?" I asked, suddenly filled with concern. "I don't want to concern you with such dark things on your birthday." He said with a small smile. "Promise to tell me soon then." I ordered and he nodded. "Well, help me put it on then." I teased and he chuckled as he helped me put the necklace in place. It was cold against my skin and lighter than I thought it would be. "As incredible as my, so called, stunning sister." He teased me and I pushed him away. "See you down in the gym before breakfast." I demanded and Liam nodded with a chuckle as he left. My brother could be really sweet from time to time, but most of the time he was a real jerk. I got dressed and headed to the gym. Liam and Will were in the gym when I entered. "The birthday girl herself." Will exclaimed and spun me around in a big hug. He was as huge as my brother. They were similar by nature. Goofy, annoying and muscular. He was my brother's best friend and future beta. The both of them were ready to take their roles with both seriousness and humor. "What are you boys doing?" I asked, plopping my bag on the floor. "Boys? Honey, we're men." Will joked and waved with his hand, trying to play feminine. "Dude, don't get your panties in a twist, but you're no man yet." I mocked. "Well you're certainly man enough for me. " Will said and leaned closer. Liam gave him an angry growl as a warning. He was apparently stepping over the line. "Yeez, chill bro." I scoffed and walked past him. Will chuckled behind me. The three of us did a quick work out for an hour and then got ready to eat breakfast with my father. We always made sure to celebrate birthday-mornings together. "My daughter. 18." My father smiled and kissed my forehead when we entered the dining hall. "Happy birthday, my beautiful star." "Thanks, dad." I smiled back. "No presents?" I pouted. "What you get is a run." He said and I just looked at him, puzzled by his words. I must've faced out because my father shook me. "Windira!" He growled and my eyes fluttered as I got back to reality. "I get to run?" I said, baffled. "Yes, but I am starting to regret it." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sorry, father. I'll promise to behave." I told him with a firm voice. My inner wolf howled in excitement. We were going to run in the forest for the first time. "Now, eat and you can head out." He told us and shot a dark look at my brother. My brother nodded. My father had clearly told him something through the mind link that I wasn't allowed to hear, but for once I didn't care. I was going to run through the forest, run free.n We talked and laughed as we feasted on the breakfast. I made sure to eat a lot to be able to run for a long time. "Ready?" I turned to my brother as I finished. He was still eating. "Not really, but let's go." He sighed. We headed to the back and my usual guard joined us outside. I took a deep breath and sighed. Of course it wasn't going to be just my brother and I. As long as I got to run I was fine with them tagging along. "One last thing, Windira." My father said behind me. "Have the link open so I can know exactly where you are." He ordered. "Yes, father." I nodded. "Have fun, but don't stray far and keep within the border." He ordered with his alpha voice and I nodded back. "Now you can go." I was already shaking with excitement. I didn't care about undressing. I had no time to hide from my guard. I stepped away from them and quickly turned, my sweat pants and t-shirt exploding into small fabrics on the ground. My wolf was ready to run. The rest of the guard and my brother started to undress and when they were naked they slowly turned. The bones snapping loudly under their skin. There were few werewolves who could turn fast. Usually just alphas could turn into their wolf as fast as me. I guessed it was because of my father. My brother's dark brown wolf came up to me, nudging his snot at my shoulder. He was almost as big as me. "Let's go." I mind linked him and sent a thank you to my father in the link to show I kept it open. Then the guard formed a half circle around me, with my brother next to me. Their wolves were big and ready for any threat. However my wolf was massive compared to theirs. A fact that always made me curious. How could I be so much bigger than everyone else? Only my brother and my father reached close to my size, but only because of their alpha genes. I wondered if it was the same with me? We were ready and the gates to the world outside of the mansion compound opened. We flew through them and I felt the power inside of me explode. My back legs pushed me hard and quickly forward and soon I started to gain distance from my guard. "Calm down, Wen." My brother mind linked me and ran up to me as he was the only one being able to keep up. "You don't want to test our father." He told me and I realized he was right. I slowed down and kept with my guard. I didn't want to tire them out too soon either. We ran for what felt like five minutes, but were closer to two hours. We followed the border and rounded the territory two times. It felt amazing to feel the air in my fur and the scents of the forest around me in my nose. I loved running, being free. I was jubilant and howled in excitement, my guards howled as a response and suddenly I could hear every turned wolf on our territory, howling with me. My brother laughed and howled with me. If the pack didn’t know I was outside they knew now. "Time to come back." My father mind linked me. "Just a few more minutes." I pleaded. "Now, Windira." He growled as an order with his alpha voice and I sighed, but turned back towards the mansion. A few people stood outside the mansion. They had clearly figured out that it had been the alpha's daughter who had howled, considering my howl held a different power than theirs. Another annoying thing with a connected mind link through the pack. They were curious to finally see what I looked like. I could hear gasps as we trotted forward. I clearly heard the whispers. "That's her?!" "She's massive." "She's incredible." "She's terrifying." They whispered. My brother growled one time as a warning to the crowd and they immediately silenced. I thanked him in the mind link and soon we were through the gates and I was back within the walls of the mansion. I could still feel the pack in my mind. Shutting them out I went to change back into a human somewhere else. Lulu came out of the mansion and followed me to a secluded area. I quickly turned back to human and she handed me my clothes. "The pack is stunned by your beauty." She mocked and I rolled my eyes. They sure were stunned, but I wasn’t confident about it being a good thing.