Queen in the Making

My name is Skylar Redfin and I'm turning 18 this weekend. It also happens to fall the same weekend the Alphas' decided to have a meeting regarding some smaller packs that are mysteriously becoming extremely sick. My dad has kept me in the loop more than mom would like but as his only child my father wants me to be able to step up into the Alpha position instead of my mate, whoever he may be. My parents aren't really my parents, they found me almost 8 years ago now. I was raised with a group of rouges who treated me horrible. I was a slave to them for as long as I can remember, as soon as I was old enough to do small chores and they grew from there. I was single handedly taking care of whatever run down house they found for us to stay in by the time I was 10 years old. They would beat me daily for the stupidest things. I could breathe too loudly and I would be beaten and starved. Two days after my 10th birthday, I was locked in the cold and unfinished basement after my most recent beating. When I heard this loud commotion coming from outside. I could hear all kinds of snarling and screaming but I couldn't see a damn thing because there were no windows in the disgusting place. After being locked down here over and over again with nothing but my thoughts, not even a blanket to keep warm in the winter, I've become used to the dark. The smell is not really that pleasant, which is my only saving grace from continued beatings after being thrown in here. Now isn't the time to focus on that though, I creep slowly to the door to see if I can hear what all the screaming as about. Just as I reach the door there a loud bang like something being thrown against the door. I quickly and quietly race back to the other side of the basement where I can hide in the dark. This is my favorite spot to be when they decide they need me to come back up to clean and cook for them. I never stop fighting them, which is probably why they are so harsh with me but what the hell do they expect when they treat me like s**t. I crouch down in the corner preparing myself for when they come in. I'll kick, punch, bite, scratch anytime they come near me. As I'm sitting, waiting and listening to the sounds going on around me they start to lessen. I start to hear what sounds like lots of stomping and doors being opened and shut. I stay quiet just in case it's one of the other rouges, well even if it isn't what is going to happen if someone worse just killed them all. That is what all of that sounded like now that I think about it more. Finally I start to hear steps getting closer to the basement door. I hold my breath waiting for what is going to happen next. I can hear two men talking, but I'm too far away to actually hear what they are saying. Next thing I know the door is being broken down. I whimper as pieces going flying and then "did you hear that noise? Is someone down there?" " I don't know but these guys were pretty f*****d up, throwing slaves at us to save their own hide so it wouldn't really surprise me. Like they could actually get away" the other man said as he shook his head. I could slightly see from my hiding spot that one man was very tall and handsome with a very serious face, dark hair, and a muscular build while the other man while also tall and handsome seemed more laid back with his blonde hair and medium build. I hoped that they wouldn't venture far into the basement and discover me because while the one man didn't seem so scary the bigger man was definitely intimidating and I'm not sure what they would do if they found me. They begin to walk further in as I shrink as small as possible in my dark spot. "Hello is there anyone down here? Maybe some ghosts?" The blonde one said and the dark haired man shook his head. "What this place is creepy as hell and smells horrible! If something was living down here it would have to be equally as terrifying as this place!" "Will you shut your trap for a damn minute! Look around and tell me what you see!" The dark haired man said while massaging his temples, seemingly exasperated with having to deal with such nonsense. As they separated to look around I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess that they wouldn't find me. Unfortunately, my prayers weren't answered because as soon as I finished my prayer I noticed the dark haired man was getting very close to my hiding spot. A few more steps and he'll be right next to me. Suddenly he stopped as if he sensed me sitting right in front of him in the dark. "We're not here to hurt you. The rouges that were living here have been dealt with so you have nothing to fear. You can come out of hiding and we'll make sure to take you somewhere safe." The dark haired man said to the darkness in front of him. The blonde man walked up to him and said "Man who are you talking to I don't see anything down here." "well, maybe if you shut your mouth and used your other senses you would feel it." I stared in wonder as to why he can tell I'm there and not the other, but before I can fully finish my thoughts, he suddenly turns and stares into the darkness as if looking directly at me. He slowly gets down to a squatting position and says " I promise it is safe for you to come out. Don't let this grumpy bear scare you ok? We will not let anything bad happen to you." I wasn't sure if I could trust them so I started running through options in my head. They are in my way of reaching the door. So either way I have to go out there. I can pretend that I am really weak and slowly come out, my healing has always been a little better than the other wolves I've been around so after two days of being down here I'm healed enough that I can distract them and make a run for the door. I slowly start to limp out of my hiding spot and as I make my way out I circle to the side so as soon as I'm clear I can book it out the door. I watch their every moved as they stand off to the side with hands up in a surrender position. I look quickly towards the door and back at the men. The dark haired man seems to catch my eye movements and says "Look I know you have no reason to trust us, but we really are here to help. You can bolt out that door and run away trying to find somewhere else to go but it is dangerous out there for a child. We would really like to help you. We can take you back to our pack and get you treated, cleaned up and fed." I look back at him with a questioning gaze. Why would he be nice to someone he doesn't even know? "Why?" I ask him. He looks at me if that is a stupid question and says. "Why wouldn't I? You are a child and obviously here against your will. I'm sure your parents must be so worried about you. We can help find them for you too, we know a lot of neighboring packs." I stood there for a minute debating his offer. They were waiting patiently, which is a nice change from the impatient rouges. I thought through my options and figured what could it hurt? I mean they couldn't be as bad as the rouges I've been with and if they were then I would endure until I could escape. Its not like I wouldn't fight back if needed. Seemingly coming to her decision she looked up at the men and simply nodded. The men looked at each other a little perplexed with her demeanor but decided to save any questions until she has had time to heal. The ride to the pack wasn't too long. It looks like the rouges took us to a house about a hour car ride from what did the man say…. Oh right, the Red Dawn Pack. The dark haired man said he was the Alpha of this pack and his name is Damon Redfin. The blonde man said he was the Beta and his name is Anthony Matthews. The Beta said he had a son around my age although I haven't told them how old I am. Once when someone asked about why a little girl was doing all the cooking and cleaning, I overheard the rouges saying I must be about 5 or 6 and since I can use something to stand on to see over the counters, why not have me do all the work so they don’t have to. I picked that day to be my birthday and I've celebrated it by myself every year since. We finally crossed pack borders and as I looked around I couldn't help but stare out the window and admire how nice the houses and shops were all around. We finally pull up to what looks like a mansion out of a magazine I found laying around in one of the many houses we took refuge in. My jaw was dropped as I took in the beauty of this place. Suddenly the door opened and a beautiful woman with light brown hair and gorgeous blue eyes comes out and down the steps to the Alpha. The Alpha picks her up swinging her around and peppering kisses all over her face. "Get a room you two, that's disgusting and definitely not for little eyes" The woman looked over at the Beta and stuck her tongue out at him, which caused me to giggle. Suddenly, everyone turned and looked at me. I gulped and looked down. " and who do we have here?" the woman said as she knelt down in front of me. I continued to look down and play with the hem of my shirt I was wearing for fear of being beaten if I were to look her in the eyes. She stands and walks over to the Alpha and as he says. " we found her in the basement of the home those rouges took up residence." I had peeked up through my eyelashes to see what her reaction would be and was surprised when she looked sad. She turned my way and I quickly looked back down. She slowly walked over to me and knelt again. Slowly her hand reached out, she went to touch my cheek and I flinched. She pulled away slightly then slowly brought her hand towards my face again. I didn't flinch this time sensing she wasn't going to hurt me. As she caressed my cheek she slowly lifted my head so that I was looking her in the eyes and said " my name is Luna Ann Marie, but for now why don't you call me Ann Marie. I'm so sorry for everything you have been through. I can see it here in your eyes, all the hurt you have been through in the past. But I promise you now that I will never let another person hurt you again." I don’t' know why but I felt as if I could trust her and believe in her words. At the thought of never having to be hurt again a tear slowly started to roll down my cheek. Ann moved slowly and wrapped her arms around me to pull me into a hug. I wasn't sure what to do I've never had a hug before but I've heard of them. She seemed to sense my unease and slowly let me go. Although not for long because she then took my hand and started leading me inside. Leaving the Alpha and Beta dumbfounded as to what just happened. Beta Anthony looks over at Alpha Damon and says " did she just basically unofficially adopt her?" Damon looks to Anthony and says "well we still have to see if we can find where she came from, but I have a feeling if she has no one then Ann Marie will be claiming her", he laughed out and shook his head as he followed his wife inside. I am always quiet and observant around the packhouse. Taking everything in and learning the way of pack life. Luna Ann and Alpha Damon have been teaching me things too and taking time trying to get to know me but I don't like to think about my past so I tend to avoid the topic. I have told them the name the rouges called me and what age they said I am and that I've been with them for as long as I remember. Alpha Damon said they needed this information to try to find my parents. It's been two weeks since I was rescued and brought here and I'm definitely happier here. I don't have to cook or clean and most importantly I don't get beat. Hell, no one even says anything mean to me at all. The Alpha has asked for me to join him and the Luna for lunch to talk about what he has discovered so I am currently getting ready. I throw on a pair of jeans and a long sleeved shirt to help hide some of my scares and head downstairs to the Alphas family dining area. They told me they usually eat with the pack members that come to the pack house to eat their meals, but the wanted to talk privately so we'll use the dining room they typically use for small dinners with family. I enter the room and see Alpha Damon and Luna Ann seated next to each other and a chair with a plate in front of it across from them . As I sit I look around and realize Omegas are bringing in our food already. The meal started off kind of awkward as we sat silently eating and looking back and forth between each other. After what seems like forever Alpha Damon clears his throat and says "Skylar I have spoken to all the surrounding Alphas and even the Alpha King, but we have not been able to find any information about a missing girl. I'm still going to explore all leads, but as of right now there is nothing to be found." I'm sure the look on my face was one of disappointment. I had kind of gotten my hopes up about the possibility of finding my parents and getting to experience what it would be like to be part of a family. Luna Ann Marie watched seemingly waiting to see if I would have any response, then she said something that shocked me. "Skylar, how would you feel about living here with us?" I sat there looking back and forth between them as I said "You actually want me to stay with you?". Luna Ann Marie looked at Alpha Damon then back at me and said "Darling we would love nothing more. You see Alpha Damon and I are unable to have any children of our own. We have so much love inside to give to our child but we don't have a child to give it to. So I see it this way, we have a parents' love to give with no child and you are a very special child with no parents to give you the love you deserve. If you would like to stay here with us… we can become like a family. I've always wanted a little girl." The look in her eyes show how sincere she is and how much she is hoping I will say yes. I continue to look back and forth between them and tears slowly start to build in my eyes. A family? I can have a family? They really want me to stay here with them? Afraid I would break down and start bawling if I tried to form words, I simply nodded my head yes. Luna Ann Marie was so excited with my answer that she jumped up out of her chair and ran over to me, wrapped her arms around me and hugged me. As she held me I slowly wrapped my arms around her to, return the hug. As soon as my arms were wrapped around her, well as well as they could be given the position I was in, I noticed that Luna Ann Marie's body was shaking. I pulled my head back slightly to see why and I could see that she was crying. Thinking that maybe I had hurt her somehow I quickly pulled away. Luna looked over at me as soon as she could tell I was pulling away. It seems she's already pretty good at reading me because as soon as she saw my face she said "these are happy tears my dear, there's no need to worry. I am very happy that you have decided to stay here with us." I looked up at Alpha Damon who has been silent this entire time. He had a smile on his face as he watched us and once he saw me looking at him his smile widened and he winked at me. That seems like so long ago. It took year before I finally came fully out of my shell and opened up completely about all the things I have been through. The Alpha and Luna adopted me 2 years after I came to them once we realized we were not going to be able to find any information on my biological parents and shortly after I started calling them mom and dad. Luna Ann Marie cried the first time I called her mom. She said always wanted a little girl she could dress up and do girly things with and when I said I would stay with them, she was so excited thinking we would do all that together. But, it seems I'm more like my dad. I tend to stay to myself and observe everything and everyone around. I love to read especially History. I train with my dad everyday and have become one of the best warriors we have. I can even put Beta Anthony on his a*s now. I promised myself a long time ago that I would never be weak enough for anyone to use me ever again so I asked dad if he could train me. His eyes lit up and he asked me if I was sure. I told him my reasoning behind wanting to train and to be strong, his response was "I will always be here for you and protect you, but if this is really something you want to do then I am willing to teach you everything I know. You just have to convince your mother first" that was no easy task to accomplish. She was dead set against me doing any type of fighting but once I explained my reasoning, her face softened and she finally relented. Although, she did warn dad that if anything happened to me he would be sleeping in his office for the unforeseeable future. As I got older and showed more interest in all the things an Alpha does, dad started letting me shadow him. Now, I am included in all Alphas meeting, I help strategize mock battles, I train all the younger children and my duties seem to grow everyday. But, I wouldn't have it any other way. Dad is polishing me to take over for him as Alpha when he retires and I want nothing more than to follow in his footsteps and make him proud. Mom thinks I should find my mate and let him become Alpha but that's just not who I am. I am strong enough and smart enough to be an Alpha and I will be, it doesn't matter if I ever find my mate or not because I will be Alpha and I dare anyone to try to take it away from me.