Raised For The Alpha

Note

Present day

One more year. I have one more year of this and then I'll be old enough to leave the pack. I can find another pack. Nobody notices me or knows I exist so it won’t be difficult to escape. I’m a ghost, invisible. Not worthy of looking at.

I stand by the sink, close my eyes and blow the bubbles from my hands as if they were a candle. Happy Birthday, Bonnie. The sound is much deeper than the voice in my head. I open my eyes with confusion and find a cupcake with a lit candle in front of me.

Looking to my right I see the wide grin of Oisin as he holds the cupcake. ‘Make a wish Bon Bon’ he says as I blow out the candle. I break the cupcake in half and offer him the other half as he leans back against the sink, his legs crossed and the widest smile on his face. ‘You know. You don’t need to share the cupcake with me. It’s for you.’ He says as he continues to chew the cupcake he gave me.

I just grin and bat his arm, before Hazel enters the kitchen with a cough. We aren’t supposed to be seen together and Oisin isn’t supposed to be in here, by doing so, he puts us all at risk. He places a note in my apron pocket and looks at me to ensure I saw him do it, dips his hand in the bubbles in the sink and blows them at Hazel. She rolls her eyes at him, twists the tea towel in her arms and whips him with it as he laughs running away.

Hazel has been there all his life and he looks up to her as a mother. I wish I could say the same, and although she has always been kind to me, the Alpha built the wall in our relationship from the get-go. I went along with it because I knew that if it ever came down to it, she wouldn’t choose me. I don’t want to get swept up and trust someone I can’t.

Hazel walks over to me and pretends to help me was h the dishes. ‘You need to stay away from each other.’ She whispers. When I don’t respond she shakes her head. ‘Bonnie, this is serious. The other house staff have been gossiping.’

I stop what I’m doing and look at her through furrowed brows. ‘Making bets on whether there will be a great love story like Romeo and Juliet with forbidden love and ending with death.’

I look at her puzzled. Who is Romeo and Juliet? I don’t know who they are but I have no intention of creating forbidden love or dying. ‘It’s easy to see you like each other. The longing looks, the smiles, the way he notices you, the effort he makes to clean up after himself when you’re around so that you have less to do.’ She looks at me with a raised eyebrow, questioning me.

I shake my head. I don’t know what she’s talking about. ‘He’s kind to me. That’s all.’ I reply in a whisper. Hazel knows I can talk but I don’t speak with the others. As far as I’m aware, she hasn’t told anybody. She taught me to read and write and every night I read books out loud so that I can practise speaking in case I decide I want to.

Hazel chuckles and shakes her head. ‘Sweetie, you’re so naive.’ She brushes my arm and I flinch. She knows I don’t like being touched. ‘Just stay away. In one year he’ll find his mate and they will leave together to go training for a few years. When he comes back, he will be the Alpha and take over from his Father.’ I know all this, why is she telling me this?

‘Sweetie, in one year, you’ll be Luna and mated with his Father. Falling in love with Oisin will break your heart. You want to lock your heart away and never let anybody in. Build your walls so high that nobody can ever get in. You’re going to need it. Numb your body until there’s no feeling. Please, you need to protect yourself.’ She says and I can almost hear the worry in her voice before she stiffens and walks away, replacing the mask.

I should listen. I really should, but I don’t.

Once we have set up and the party is in full swing I’m able to retire to my room. I’m exhausted and I can’t wait to sleep for a few hours before we go back down for cleanup. Laying on my bed I reach into my apron and retrieve the note Oisin placed in there earlier.

You never get to celebrate. My father is going away tonight and he won't be back until late evening tomorrow. Please come and celebrate with me after my party. You deserve to celebrate your birthday and have fun. I want to show you that there’s more to the world than what we have in this pack. So much more, let me guide you and help you experience something new.

I begin to shake with fear. I’ve never got in trouble before. The first time he gave me a cupcake I was called to his father's office and I can remember being terrified. I know it wasn’t because of the cupcake but my fear always takes me there. What if it’s a set-up? But what if it’s not? I may never escape. I may never experience anything out of these walls and the control. This could be my only chance, and if I die then I die. What else do I have to look forward to anyway?

I race to the bathroom to shower and scrub my body so hard that I’m clean. I don’t know how we are celebrating or where we are going but I don’t want to smell like a maid. As I’m walking over to my wardrobe the realisation hits me. I don’t have anything to wear. I have no clothing to wear out of this house. I open my wardrobe hoping that there’s something new in there I’ve never seen before. Maybe I can throw something together.

I step back in shock when I find new clothing and shoes. Do I have magical powers or something? Did I just conjure them up in my mind? I never stay for the party but I see the guests and the clothing they wear. Sometimes I admire their outfits and other times I don’t, so I know that I have some sense of style.

There are a few different outfit options. Black leather trousers, a sequin mini skirt, a red tight dress made from a stretchy material, and a white satin blouse which has long sleeves but is low cut. It would look cute with the sequin skirt, and a red top which is backless and has thin straps which I think would look nice with the trousers. There’s a pair of black sandals, some closed-toe shoes which look like ballet slippers and some heeled shoes. I’ll skip those as I don’t know how to walk in them.

I spot a note attached to the leather trousers

I think you would look amazing in these but I bought a few options for you. Be ready and I’ll come to your room when Father has left.

He’s assuming I’m going with him even though I haven’t replied to his note. I don’t know if it’s obnoxious of him or if I like it. I can’t decide.