The Alpha's Lost Daughter

Chapter 1

Katarina wakes to a loud banging on her door, and a voice shouting “Hurry up before it gets cold!” and then footsteps on the thinning carpet of the long hallway. She groans, rolls over and kicks the thin blanket from her body and sits up. She stretches her sore muscles from the closing shift at the dinner the previous night. She rubs the sleep from her eyes, and shovels a mess of ginger curls from her face. She stands and walks to a small dresser that looks as though it may collapse from a small gust of wind. She pulls out clothes for the day and begins dressing into one of the three total outfits she has. She gets ready for the day, and tames her unruly curly hair into a messy bun. She checks her appearance one last time in the small broken mirror hanging on the wall. Her skin is pale, except for the dark circles under eyes and speckled in orange freckles, her bright copper hair out of her face, and her green eyes that don’t seem to sparkle. She sighs at her reflection and then turns to pick up her bag and heads out of the door. A moment later, she returns and unplugs her phone from its charger and pockets it before leaving once more.

She walks down the stairs and enters the dining room where she joins several other teens at a long table. A shiny varnished homemade picnic table that is at least ten feet long and seats many people. She drops her backpack next to an empty seat and sits down. She looks up and sees what qualifies as breakfast this morning. Platters of bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage. She takes a small amount, knowing the eggs are powdered and made of soy, and the bacon is turkey and the sausage is processed meat. She knows that she will get better food on her meal break later during her shift.

“Is that all you’re going to eat?” An older woman asks with derision in her voice.

“I am not very hungry this morning, Mrs. Stanton.” She replies, keeping her eyes on her plate and chewing slowly.

“You’d think that you would show some gratitude for the work and expense this took to feed you.” She remarks coldly.

“Thank you, Mrs. Stanton.” She replies before getting up, putting her backpack on her shoulder and takes her plate to the sink. All the while knowing it was the state that pays her to care for children, and she buys the cheap crap that barely qualifies as food and pockets the rest.

As soon as Katarina walks outside and closes the door, she feels somewhat better. She is at least out of the house, and walks the short distance to her high school in peace and quiet.

She gets through her morning classes easily without any drama, which all ends when she walks into the cafeteria for lunch. Until Heather Blackburn, the daughter of the richest man in the county and their entire family live on some private compound.

“There she is, the orphan who stole my father’s name. But, you aren’t a Blackburn, not the kind that matters anyway.” She says loudly and to the approval of her friends judging by the laughter. Katrina absorbs the harassment, knowing that engaging in any way would not go well for her. She knows silence will get her through the day at least.

“Six more months, that is all. Then I can leave this place and Heather Blackburn and her ilk behind.” She mutters under her breath. She gets her lunch, and walks outside to find a quiet spot. Half way through her meal, she senses a presence and turns to find her best friend Talia Collins.

“I saw that with Heather. Are you ok?” Her friend asks as she sits down next to her. Katrina sighs, “Yes, I am fine. I am used to her. Just six more months.”

Talia looks at her for a long moment. “You shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

“Everyone knows there is something about those families that live on the Blackburn compound. I don’t want a problem before I can age out and we can disappear.” Katarina says. “I know it’s best to keep our heads down and one foot in front of the other. But, it’s hard to watch you be treated so badly.” She says, sounding dejected.

“Come on, let’s head to class. We’ve got money to make later, another closing shift.” Katarina says getting up and carrying her tray to a trash can and empties her trash inside and sets the tray on a shelf above it before they walk away and into the school.

Time seems to go by slowly as Katrina attempts to get through her last two classes of the day. Her last class of the day, History and to her dismay one of Heather’s flying monkeys is sitting right behind her.

While the teacher is lecturing about the lines of succession to the British Royal Family. Suddenly, “Well, that is something that Katarina the orphan will never need to be concerned with.” Is heard from the seat behind her. Then a chorus of teenaged laughter can be heard. Katarina’s face goes hot with anger, but she smiles and pushes it down. ‘Only six more months.’ She silently says to herself.

“That will be enough, Morgan.” The teacher says without much conviction.

As soon as the bell rings signalling the end of class, she shoots from her seat and bolts for the door. Once in the hallway, she finds Talia at her locker.

Talia looks at her friend who looks like she is about to issue a challenge to a duel. “What happened?”

“Morgan Carter.” She says organizing her books for homework and stuffing them into her backpack. “Let’s go to work.” Katarina says slinging the bag over her shoulder and nearly speedwalks out of the school.

“What’s the hurry?” Talia asks practically jogging to keep up. “I expect them to team up and I want to be safely away before so.” Katarina replies.

They quickly get to Talia’s car and get in. She turns the key and the engine roars to life. She shifts it into gear and drives away towards the exit just as Heather Blacburn and her gang of degenerates walk through the school doors.

“Why didn’t anyone stop that orphan trash?” Heather shrieks. “How would we know they would run like cowards?” Morgan stammers. Heather lets out a low growl from her wolf as a warning. “Let’s go home. Scare the Omegas. That’s always good for a laugh.” She says flipping her hair and giggling softly.