NEVER WOLF

One

Lauren

Lauren let out a sigh as she crashed onto the floor. The scene before her weakened her to the marrow. Eggs, batter, water, and other ingredients were messily slathered across the countertop, and pots and dishes were piled high. Stephanie, her step-sister, had caused her extra work for the departing party. She wouldn't be getting any sleep that night.

It wasn't the loss of sleep that bothered her; it was the thought of not seeing her kind-hearted Josh. His smile got her through each painful day of being a slave to her own family.

“You bastard, never wolf!” the familiar voice of Lauren's nightmare interrupted her thoughts. “How dare you sit idly when there's so much to do?”

Lauren sprang up and turned around just in time to see Claudia pick up a wooden ladle and fling it at her. But she miscalculated and the ladle caught her in the face.

Blood began to trickle down her nose. Tears stung her eyes, though she couldn't tell if it was from the pain in her face or from the careless use of the word “bastard,” especially coming from Claudia. She wasn't even mated to her step-brother yet. It wasn't Lauren's fault she was born from her father's infidelity.

“Claudia, I just—” Lauren trailed off, realizing how unthoughtful it would be to try to convince her of anything.

“What did you just call me?”

“Luna,” Lauren corrected. Claudia was so obsessed with being her step-brother’s Luna that she couldn't even hide it.

She flipped her hair dramatically to the back and let out a sigh. “It is your stepsister's night tonight,” she began. “She's going to be the Luna Queen of the whole Lunaria. She wants to earn our pack recognition in the royal pack. Don't you think she deserves a proper departing party?”

Lauren almost rolled her eyes. Stephanie wasn’t going to be Luna Queen yet; she would have to be tested first to see if she could earn the title, even though she hoped that she would be chosen. Stephanie was another thorn in her flesh. “Yes, she does.”

“So why don’t you ensure that by running your chores smoothly and taking some of the fresh apple juice to the table?”

Lauren nodded and made her way to the juice. She wiped her nose on her apron. Josh would be sad if he saw the blood stains on her clothes.

“And do stay there until the last wolf leaves. I can't be running around all day to look for you or one of those bastards.”

Lauren's heart sank, but she nodded again. She had hoped to find a small window of time to see Josh at his lair.

At the table, nearly all the wolves who had been in attendance since morning were now dispersed. Only the council members remained seated. She served the juice and had no choice but to stand back and listen to their conversation.

“The royal pack has requested fifty more warriors from each pack again. They are going into The Grim once more,” Gamma Riz informed.

“We can't afford that, can we?” Beta Cayden replied. “We're down to our last men.”

“We have to. The alpha king ordered it, and he also decreed that noble wolves be taken if they do not possess warriors to give. I don’t think anyone here wants to venture into the grim depths of The Grim just yet.”

Silence filled the room.

“I really hope he finds the special one to mate as prophesied, and that they find a way to end that death trap together. The Grim has cost us all a lot,” Trisha, the beta's mate, broke the silence.

“I hope my sister becomes his Luna, even if she isn't the special one. She could form an alliance for us, and we wouldn't be disturbed as much. I hear he doesn't bother the Shadow Fangs pack because his mother hails from there,” Alpha Thomas, Lauren's stepbrother finally spoke.

“She’s going to be. According to the prophecy, the alpha king would mate with a special wolf,” Elder Dunaway said. “We all know Stephanie is a special wolf, the only of her kind I've seen in my time. Also, according to the time runes, the special one shall emerge from our pack.”

“Yeah, the time runes don’t lie,” She-Beta Trisha chimed in, and they all nodded in agreement.

“Riz, ransack the houses of the rankless wolves and get some to send to the royal pack,” Thomas decided. “Also, we need someone we can trust to keep us updated on what’s happening within the royal walls. Stephanie will be under watch, so she can't help us. Do you think one of the warriors might take on that role?”

“No. These warriors are not my warriors. I can't trust them. Besides, if you need to monitor Stephanie, you need someone close to her. Warriors shouldn't be found with honorable she-wolves,” Riz responded.

Silence ensued, and Thomas's gaze wandered around until it landed on her. His eyes glinted.

“How about a maid?”

No, no, no...

“A maid?” everyone chorused.

“Yes, a personal maid brought here by Stephanie herself.” They all nodded at the idea, but they hadn’t yet caught on to what the alpha was really playing at. “A maid who won’t be watched or questioned… like Lauren here.”

“Oh.”

“Good.”

“Nice.”

They all chorused again.

They turned to Lauren. “What do you say, child?” Elder Dunaway spoke first.

“I can’t…” Lauren trailed off.

“Why?” Thomas shot her a glare.

Because Josh wouldn't be there!

Lauren had no tangible reason to give at the moment, so she remained silent.

“Then it is decided. As your alpha, I order you to follow Stephanie to the royal pack.” Thomas’s voice was firm.

Tears burned in Lauren’s eyes. “Thomas, please. I’ve found someone willing to mate with me here.”

Everyone gasped.

“You are a never wolf. Mating you is a curse. No one would dare mate you,” Thomas fired back.

Lauren knew her stepbrother hated her, but she didn’t know it was this much. “But there’s someone. Please, I might never find anyone again if I lose him.”

For a moment, Lauren could see pity on their faces—everyone’s, except for her stepbrother’s.

“Child,” Elder Dunaway spoke again. “If indeed what you say is true, we shall grant your wish. Let the man come forward and claim you now if his intentions are genuine. Who is he?”

Lauren’s heart danced. “Josh. The guard at the servant’s quarters.”

“Get him here,” Thomas ordered.

They waited in silence until Gamma Riz left and returned with Josh. Her Josh. Her heart churned at the sight of him.

Lauren flashed him a smile, and he returned it. He would be so happy; he had always craved the day he could announce his intentions to everyone. Today was that day.

“Son,” Elder Dunaway started again, “this other child here claims that you both have intentions to mate. If it is true, you shall have our blessings right away. Do you want to be her mate?”

“My lord,” Josh began. Lauren had never seen him so serious. “She is a never wolf. Mating her would invoke a curse on whoever tries. She must have mistaken my gestures. I can’t mate her.”