I Am Not Your Victim

MAKING ENEMIES ALREADY

MAKING ENEMIES ALREADY

~ Harper's POV ~

Gabriel left me standing with this guy in the middle of the dining hall. His sudden departure left me feeling cold. I understand his need to do other things. He is the alpha’s son. Deciding I need to get to know the members of my new pack, I tried to loosen up.

“Um… hi, sorry my name is Harper.” Tearing his gaze from Gabriel’s form disappearing up the stairs, the guy turned to me.

“Nice to meet you Harper, my name is Tanner. I am Gabriel’s Beta.” I smiled and shook his outstretched hand. Tanner was as tall as Alpha Gabriel, and well built. The type of body structure you would expect a Beta to have. Although handsome, Tanner wasn’t as attractive to me as Gabriel. He had a nice personality. He had golden hair; buzz cut like something you would see in the military. His eyes were like a navy blue. His face was round, but still suited his toned body. “The food smells good, were you planning to eat?”

“I was, yes. Just a little uncomfortable being in a new pack.”

“Allow me to keep you company then.” Pitching me a big smile he offered me his elbow. I stepped out of my comfort zone and accepted his elbow and he led us to the food bar. We passed by pack members, they were all so nice and greeted me with a smile. At the bar, my hunger was pulled back to the front of my mind. This is the first time since Alpha Thane had held me prisoner that I have had an appetite to eat. There is steak, potatoes, steamed vegetables, and desserts galore. Tanner laughed at my full plate. It was filled so full, it looked like food was going to fall off if I wasn’t careful. He led us over to a window seat near the beautiful white ceiling to floor length drapes that I was admiring before. “So, do you know why Alpha Gabe is acting so uptight?” Tanner asks.

“I don’t, he seemed fine when we left Alpha Titus in his office. He brought me straight here after the meeting.”

“It’s probably got something to do with all his new responsibilities. He is preparing to take his father’s place. It is a heavy weight to carry for one 19-year-old.” I Gave Tanner a sympathetic smile.

“I imagine it is very hard for him preparing for everything.”

“That is why Alpha Titus and Luna Mae are pressing Gabe to find a mate. They don’t want him to carry the entire weight of this pack on his own.”

“I can understand their reasoning there.” I just hope whoever Alpha Gabriel chooses as his mate makes him happy. It is so unfair to Alpha’s and Luna’s like him to have to make decisions based only on what would be best for the pack. It’s as if his own happiness is not as important. Once we arrived at our table, I turned to look out the window I pausing to appreciate the beautiful view that greeted me. Even though we were in the middle of the wilderness, there was a large flat plot of land which surrounded this side of the packhouse. I saw lush green grass, and full green trees. Beautiful rose bushes, and other miscellaneous and colorful plants lined the walkway next to the packhouse. The colors of purple, yellow, and blue was a pleasant distraction from everything. I realized that I was being rude to Tanner by not talking to him.

“Sorry Tanner, I was admiring the view. It’s so pretty here. I can’t wait to explore the rest of the area.” With a mouth full of food, he had a funny looking face which he didn’t care to conceal. I giggled and waited for him to finish chewing his food.

“Oh… It’s no problem, I understand. It is a beautiful sight if you are just now seeing it all. I’ll help you explore later if you want.”

“Yeah, that would be great. I want to get myself officially settled into my room first. Then you can take me exploring.” He gave me another bright smile before taking another huge bite of his steak.

“So, tell me about yourself. How did you find your way to our pack?” Tanner asks.

“The circumstances surrounding my being here is a long story. I am just happy to be here, and I do everything in my power to be an asset to this pack.”

“You are already an asset to this pack. We don’t deserve such a beauty like you.” I felt a blush spreading over my cheeks.

“Thank you, Beta Tanner. You are handsome as well.” I shifted awkwardly in my chair.

“So, what is your wolf’s name? Mines name is Maze.” Tanner looked at me waiting for my answer.

“I haven’t gotten my wolf yet. My 18th birthday is four days from now.” Tanner coughed, seemingly to get strangled while taking a sip of his water.

“You mean your birthday falls on the same day as the solar eclipse and summer solstice?”

“Yeah, it's not a big deal though I am looking forward to meeting my wolf.”

“Are you kidding me? Haven’t you heard the stories that our ancestors told? Maybe you didn’t in your old pack. It is rumored that any wolf obtained on the same day of an event such as a solar eclipse would have an unfathomable amount of power. Any mate that is taken by that wolf has to also be unmatched in strength. Otherwise, the more powerful wolf would kill the other by mistake. If the mate of the wolf born on the day of a solar eclipse and summer solstice is born first on a regular day than he or she will obtain their power once marked by their mate. It is also said that there is a reason for a wolf with this strength to be born. It is to fight against a great evil rising up out of the depths of darkness. Such evil is said to be able to cause devastation worldwide. No pack would be safe, and lots of blood is said to be spilled. This rumor is just an ancient tale passed down from our ancestors.” Beta Tanner now forgetting about his food was waiting for me to reply.

“I have heard the stories. I don’t believe them though.” I laughed. “Trust me, there is nothing special about me.”

“Well, you look special to me. If the stories are true, maybe I should mention that I believe im your mate.” Tanner was smiling at me. I could tell he wasn’t being serious. He was just joking with me because of the story told by our ancestors. I laughed out loud at him.

“If I am an almighty, she wolf, I am sure you will be my mate who also wields an immense amount of power.” We both laughed at our joke as we continued to eat our food. I was having a pleasant time, I got to meet pack members. Everyone seemed to welcome me, and it all made me feel right at home. I randomly glanced toward the corner of the dining hall, back toward the stair way. There was a tall girl standing with two other girls who had their backs facing me. The tall girl, however, was drilling holes into my skull. She had blonde hair that was straight and shoulder length in color. Her skin was slightly tanned, it made her look like she was fresh from the beach. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she obviously was in a bad mood. Why was she staring at me? Maybe she is Tanner’s girlfriend. Not wanting to make enemies so soon, I decided to ask Tanner.

“Um…that girl over there is looking at me. She doesn’t look happy, is she something to you?” he didn’t even turn around to look. In the middle of scraping his plate clean he ask,

“Does she have blonde hair?” Curiosity hit me, not understanding if we were talking about the same person.

“Yes, how did you know?” pushing his plate back he continued,

“Is she tall and slim, with two or more girls next to her? I bet she has her nose stuck straight in the air, that’s how stuck up she is.” stifling a laugh.

“Well… that could be anyone really, but I guess you could say that.” Tanner turned his whole body in his chair to look in the direction of the girl, not caring if she saw him looking. She gave him a look of pure hate and scorn.

“Yeah, that is Samantha. She and I have a past, but we broke up when I realized she had a thing for my best friend. You might know him; his name is Gabriel.” He looked at me with a grin. Understanding his joke, I smiled and nodded my head urging him to continue. “She feels entitled and lets everyone know it. Her parents have always catered to her every want. They don’t hurt for money, and they are close family friends of Gabriel’s parents. She has hated me ever since I called her out on how selfish and pacified, she is. She stays uptight unless she is near Gabriel, always putting on an act.” I covered my mouth to conceal my laugh threatening to escape my mouth as he pretended to be her “oh, Gabe! Baby, this, baby, that.” Throwing his hands in the air in a dramatic way to exaggerate his imitation of Samantha. Not able to hold it in any longer, I burst out laughing. Not at her, but at how much he tried to act like her. I don’t believe in judging other people before I have a chance to get to know them. Not that I don’t believe Beta Tanner about the way she is. I think maybe she has a good reason to be this way toward Tanner. Maybe there was a big misunderstanding. “Don’t get me wrong, I tolerate her. I don’t dislike her because she is my ex, she just won't take no for an answer from Gabe. He is constantly avoiding her, going so far as to take the back stairway from his hallway to avoid running into her. His father has made him invite her to a few Galas and that only made her worse. He is nice to her though; Gabe is always a gentleman when it comes to women. He is just not interested in her that way. Her parents have begged the current Alpha and Luna to let Samantha be betrothed to Gabe. Once Gabe found out about what they were trying to do he lost his sh*t. He is a nice guy, but when he is mad you can tell he has alpha blood in him. The guy spews authority and he is only nineteen years old. Gabe’s mother and father would never make him take a mate that he wasn’t happy with. I know some packs still do that kind of thing though. That is one thing that I can say about our pack. Our Alpha and Luna run a tight ship, but they are great leaders, and they care about their pack members. Everyone is treated equally from humans, to Omegas, and Warriors to wolves with higher rankings like me. The only difference is the authority. The Alpha and Luna always give respect, but they also demand it in return. The only family who act like they are on the same level as the alpha and Luna is Samantha and her family. For some reason they still believe that Gabe will be mated to her.” I swallowed back a hint of jealousy that tried to rear its ugly head. I am not going to become territorial over a wolf that I hardly know. Sure, I am attracted to alpha Gabriel. He is hot as h*ll. I am not here to play with boys. I am focused on me and proving myself worthy of being part of this pack. I would not interfere with Gabe and Samantha’s relationship. After finishing our meal, we cleaned our table. Not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do. Just because there are people to keep up the dining hall, doesn’t mean you should skip helping when you can. I silently admired Beta Tanner’s courtesy to wolves ranked lower than him. This was a trait that I always found attractive. Someone who was nice even when it was inconvenient to them, was proof of a big heart.

Taking his elbow once more Beta Tanner led me toward the stairway. He probably thought I was ready to get to my room, and he would be right. I am so tired not only physically but mentally. I could use a long nap. As we got closer to Samantha and the other girls with her, I realized just how ugly it was as how she let her mood and personality reflect onto her face. If she would only soften her features, she would be a pretty lady.

“Who is this?” Samantha asks Tanner. Not stopping to talk.

“Didn’t you get Alpha Titus’s announcement through you link? This is Harper, she became a part of our pack only this morning.” Turning to look at her so I could properly greet her caused Tanner to stop walking.

“Hi, it is nice to meet you. Tanner told me your name is Samantha.” With a friendly smile I extended my hand expecting her to shake it, but she didn’t! I thought with a frown that I didn’t let reach my eyes. Straightening my shoulders and clearing my face of all emotion I was prepared to find out what this girl’s problem is with me.

“Hahaha, it’s another rogue who has wondered into our borders. Another puppy that alpha Titus has taken in. Please, try not to drag the pack down. It is a shame that this has been a constant in this pack. Taking in a rogue only reduces the funds that are supposed to be used for real pack members only.” Laughing and looking to the other girls with her, she was seeking their approval of the shade she had just thrown at me. Heat flooded my face, this time I was blinded by my anger. Wolf or not I will tear her head off! I stepped forward with my finger pointed straight in her face about to give her a piece of my mind. Before I could get started, large arms wrapped around my waist and dragged me toward the stairway. I heard Samantha’s wicked witch laugh the whole time Beta Tanner was dragging me to my floor. He finally let me go. Gathering myself and adjusting my clothes I stood straight and glared at Tanner. He had a smirk on his face. I know he was just amused by me. I am little but, I can handle myself. I started to calm down as I stared at Tanner, his amused look never leaving his face.

“I tried to keep walking; I knew she was going to say something like that. But I didn’t expect that reaction out of you. It looked like you were about to explode and spit lava all over her face!” bending over Tanner’s laugh filled the space of the hallway. His reaction finally got the best of me, and I giggled at him.

“I guess it is a good thing that you drug me up the stairs when you did. It would be a real shame if I lost my temper my first day here.” Tanner raised up, his face red from laughing so hard

“Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see you give her a piece of your mind. But Sam is one of our strongest female warriors. She is a lot taller than you. I really don’t want to see you get hurt. Plus, she is only acting that way because you are prettier than her. She is afraid Gabriel is going to show someone else more attention than her.” I stared at Tanner. I was shocked that he would write me off so quickly, before even seeing me training. I decided against telling him just how easy I could knock Samantha down a few feet. I would just show him when the chance is given to me during training. “I bet her huge ego won’t be able to handle you the day of the eclipse celebration. It is formal wear only. Sam will stroke out when she sees you all dressed up. You are beautiful anyway, but I bet you’re a stunner all dressed up.”

“Wait, formal celebration?” This was my first-time hearing about it.

“Yes, Alpha Titus has been planning it for months now. We are paying tribute to our Moon Goddess. It is a huge party, all the of our ally packs are expected to be here.” Said Tanner with excitement in his eyes.

“Oh, I hadn’t heard.” I thought about ways to get out of going to such an event so soon after being accepted into this pack. It would be a really great way to meet pack members though. I just don’t have a dress for such an event. I hugged Beta Tanner and thanked him for keeping me company for the last few hours. I opened my door, before I walked into my room, I turned to give him one last smile. He briefly smiled back at me, it looked as if he was communicating with someone through the mind link. It is normal to us but would be confusing still to humans who don’t know that werewolves are real. I shut the door to my room. With my back pressed up against the door, I let out a long sigh. It was almost like a breath that I had been holding. I looked around the room…my room. I knew I wouldn’t be a prisoner to Alpha Thane forever, I would escape through death if I had to. Right now, standing in this room realization hit. I was on my own. Sure, I have a pack again, and they are all nice and welcoming. This is me on my own for the first time. I am not captive, and my parents are no longer here to support me. It is up to me to take care of myself. I let the tears finally fall, remembering the loss of my parents was so hard but I must grieve to heal. If I didn’t live and thrive for myself, I will do it for them. If nothing else, it almost feels like not letting Alpha Thane win. That had me smiling. With tears still falling, I straightened my shoulders and allowed myself to accept this room. By accepting my room, I was also accepting my new pack….my new life.

My room wasn’t huge, but it was the perfect size for me. The walls were beige with thick white crown molding. The carpet beneath my feet was white, soft, and fluffy. I made a mental note to always take my shoes off at my door. There was a modern bedside table with a lamp and clock positioned neatly on top. My bed was full sized, with white crisp and clean linens neatly placed making the bed look newly made. Housekeepers must have freshened things up. I hope they don’t bother themselves every day. I am more than capable of doing my own housekeeping. Both the bed and bedside table were arranged against the far back wall from the front door the bed positioned vertically. In the far-left corner was a long modern window spanning from the ceiling to the floor. There wasn’t a place to hang curtains over it. I wouldn’t want to cover that view anyway. There was lush green grass covering the property that had a slight roll in the landscape. Even though it wasn’t flat, the way it was arranged made it like looking at a picture rather than out of a window. Following the long length of the property, I could see the view of a beautiful lake. The sun was starting to set and there was a red sunset that reflected on the water. I was on the fourth floor. I had to strain to see straight below me. A walkway that looked just like the one I saw while I was in the dining hall was below me. Again, lined with beautiful miscellaneous flowering bushes and greenery. I would take this view over a painting any day. That walkway must travel around the entire packhouse. Taking another moment to drink in the beautiful view of the sunset, I realized how fast today went by. My meeting with Alpha Titus and Alpha Gabriel must have taken hours. To say I lost track of time today was an understatement. On the left wall from the front door of my room was the entrance to my bathroom. To the right of my bathroom door was a white wardrobe positioned for clothing and storage conjoined with a small desk that butted almost right up against the window in the corner. I walked and stopped in the entryway of my bathroom. The walls were the same color as my bedroom. The shower was standing in the far-right hand corner of the room. It was a huge walk-in shower that was constructed with a white modern looking stone tile. A shower curtain wasn’t needed as there was a permanent wall built out of stone to keep the water from running into the bathroom floor. The shiny white tile floor was so complementary to the room. In the closest corner to the right of me was the toilet. Looking to my left was a long marble vanity that took up the full length of the bathroom wall. A single built-in sink was located to the left side of the vanity and a chair was positioned to the right side of the sink. It’s the perfect place to apply makeup. The mirror attached to the wall above the vanity, fill the rest of the space on the wall. It ran all the way to the top of the ceiling with lighting conveniently aligned in a rectangle running around the entire edge of the mirror. Between the sink and the chair was a built-in set of drawers for storage. A linen stand was placed near the shower. It had crisp white towels and cloths neatly folded and filling its shelves. Looking around everything was so neat and convenient. The white furniture, linen, and stone on the floor and in the shower made everything feel so clean. I walked back into my bedroom and fell back onto my bed. Wow, I didn’t realize how soft this bed was last night. Appreciation was swelling in me, and I was feeling thankful to the Moon Goddess for leading me here.

Walking over to my wardrobe I picked up my backpack. The one I packed up in a hurry when I was planning my escape from Alpha Thane. Opening it I pulled out my diary. In it I had what few pictures of my family I had left. Pulling out one of the pictures I stared with tears in my eyes. My father to the left, me in the middle and my mother to the right. I was around sixteen years old when this picture was taken. Posing for the picture, my parents had me wrapped up into a tight hug. It was a fun day in a park we stopped at coming home from a family trip. A nice lady, graciously offered to snap our picture. My fingers traced over my mother’s long chocolate brown hair. Looking at her beautiful emerald green eyes, I didn’t need to be reminded where I got mine from. My dad’s black curly hair was always too long for my liking. It was down to his shoulders. I know if he ever cut it, he wouldn’t feel like my dad anymore. Tears fell onto my bed, as I looked at their smiling faces. I placed the picture back into my diary and shut it closed. I slid my diary into the drawer of the bedside table. I continued to empty the contents of my backpack onto my bed, being careful not to let my backpack touch the blanket. It was dirty and torn from my time running through the wilderness. Once empty, I tossed my backpack into the trashcan next to my door. Turning my attention back, what little I had left of my childhood home I took my only change of clothes which were my favorite gym outfit I used when I trained. It was a cute peach colored twist back sports bra and leggings. I unpacked an extra pair of shoes. They weren’t the same color as my outfit, but they still matched. I wore them only when I trained. I neatly folded my outfit and tucked it away neatly inside a drawer. Below that drawer was another where I placed my training shoes. I already unpacked my toothbrush and makeup this morning when I was getting ready for my meeting. The last thing to be put away was the most important item in my bag. It was my mom’s blanket. It was Light gray in color with patterns of white lilies covering it. It was a light blanket, not too thick. It still smelled like my mother. I pitched the blanket in a way that it would flatten out. Smiling at how it complemented the blanket already on my bed. I am lucky I got away with that blanket. I don’t think Alpha Thane knew about it, if he did, he didn’t say anything. I packed it along with my clothes wanting to have a piece of my home with me when Alpha Thane took me. Happy with having my things put away, I walked back into my bathroom. I slid out of my clothes and stepped into my shower. I washed my body and hair, scrubbing my scalp and skin a little too hard. Remembering how Alpha Thane touched and looked at me, made me feel like I could never be clean again. Stepping out of the shower, steam followed me as I side stepped to pick up a towel. After drying myself and wrapping my hair up tight I brushed my teeth and picked out some comfy clothes that Kelly left me. A long-oversized tee shirt and what looked like boxer shorts. I turned the covers to my bed down and climbed in. I snapped the lamp next to me off. Once my eyes adjusted, my room was dark. The only light came from the window. The moon light shined through producing a soft light that covered my room. My mind wandered to Alpha Gabriel. Remembering his face in my mind. I thought about his possessive silver eyes. They were dangerous, but invited me in. His tossed black hair gave off that sexy bad boy vibe. I thought about his beaming bright smile, and that heated smirk that he gave me today. Then his body…The way his muscles were hardly contained beneath his shirt. I thought about how his ab muscles must be well defined. I would love to run my fingers from the base of his neck to the top of his pants. Feeling heat rise onto my cheeks for the hundredth time today was making me question myself. Why was I having such a reaction to him today? His scent cedar and pine. I have heard people talk about their mate having a unique scent that only they can smell but I still don’t have my wolf. I can’t have a mate yet. All I know is, I have a strong attraction to him. I don’t plan to pursue him, but I can appreciate such a snack from a distance. I wonder where he is right now. With that though, sleep took me….