Chapter 1
I slammed the door of my room and hurriedly took off my boots and socks. They were soaking wet after training in the rain. I sighed and hurried into the bathroom to take off the rest of my clothes. I hate training days in the rain, and it's been raining all week. Anywhere else a bad weather day would mean cancelling training, but at my Pack, Full Moon, no matter if it rains, snows or hails, training doesn't get cancelled. We have to be prepared to fight in any kind of weather. I understand that, but that doesn't mean I like it.
I quickly got under the shower and let the hot water wash all the mud off my hair and body. When I finally got the warmth back in my body, I got out of the shower, put on some jeans and a jumper and left the room. After training all morning I was starving, so I headed to the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.
On the way to the kitchen, I could see several people moving around getting everything ready for this afternoon. This afternoon the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack, one of the largest and most powerful packs in the country, was arriving. As I have learned, the Blood Moon Pack Alpha was on the brink of war with several nearby packs, and their pack was also facing a problem with rogues.
Blood Moon Pack has turned to us because they are looking to improve the training of their warriors. Although we are not a large pack, the agility and skill of our army's warriors is becoming increasingly known among American packs. My brother Marcos, the Alpha of our pack, has taken advantage of our growing fame to set up a business to help support the pack financially. Marcos offered the Alphas of other packs our best warriors to train members of their packs or to join their warriors to defend their territory. That is, in exchange for a hefty sum of money.
When I entered the kitchen, I found my brother Lucas cooking. It smelled great. Lucas has many talents, but without a doubt the one I like the most is his culinary gift. I have four brothers. The oldest is Marcos, Alpha of the pack, then there is Lucas, Beta of the pack, Juan and Nicolas, who we call Nick. Lucas and I have always had a special relationship, as he is the only one of my brothers who sees me as more than just the little sister who must be protected at all costs.
-What are you cooking?" I asked as I sat down in a chair.
- Hake with vegetables," Lucas replied with a smile. "Do you want some?" he asked. I nodded vigorously; I was starving.
- Is everything ready for the arrival of Alpha...?
- "Alpha Kayden"
- "Yes, that one"
- "Marcos is finishing the last details. He's the best client we've had so far, and he wants everything to be perfect. By the way, he's asked me to tell you to please behave yourself."
- "Me?! I always behave"- I exclaimed as I waved my arms exaggeratedly, pretending to be offended.
Lucas laughed. – “Cat, you know exactly what I mean."
I growled as I shoved my food into my mouth. Of course I know what he means.
There are many things that make me angry. I admit that I have become an irascible person in recent years, but if I had to point out what makes me most angry in this world, it would definitely be the haughty and smug attitude of the Alphas. Week after week they come to our territory to ask for our help, but they always look down their noses at us, as if we were scum. If we are such scum, and they are so great, they shouldn't come to ask us for help, let them fend for themselves by getting their Pack out of trouble. But no, every week my brother Marcos welcomes them with a smile, thanks them and pretends not to listen to their derogatory comments about our pack.
The problem is that I find it harder to pretend that I don't care about their arrogant attitude. Especially when that attitude is directed directly at me. I occupy one of the highest positions in our army, and I can say with confidence that I have earned it on my own merit. Hardly any of my team-mates can say that they train as many hours as I do. It is also true that I have nothing better to do, but that is not the point. The point is that every time those testosterone-fuelled males with no brain cells get to meet the warriors to choose which of them they want to hire, they look at me with a smirk on their faces. Not only that, but some of them have the nerve to make comments like: "You've got a woman in here", "Can someone as small as you fight?", "How nice to have an Alpha brother who will give you a good position in the army" or "If this is one of your best warriors, I don't want to see the worst ones".
To say they make my blood boil is an understatement. And the truth is that I don't mince my words when it comes to replying to this bunch of smugs. After all, at the point in life where I am, I have nothing to lose. The only problem is that my attitude infuriates Marcos to an unimaginable extent, which usually results in me getting punished.
- “Maybe they're the ones who need to learn how to behave," I commented, picking up the conversation with Lucas.
- “I agree with you," Lucas replied with a laugh. "But remember to be on time tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock, in full uniform, at the training camp. Alpha Kayden said he wants to see how you guys fight before he chooses which warriors to hire for his pack's training."
I nodded. It shows he's smart, a lot of the Alphas choose which warriors they want based on looks alone, and that's a big mistake, because being big and muscular doesn't always make you better in a battle.
- “Marcos has also told me that he doesn't want anyone to bother Alpha Kayden and his companions, so try not to cross paths with them until tomorrow. They said they would be arriving between 7 and 8pm."
I sighed but nodded again. Even though Marcos is my brother, he is still the Alpha of our pack, so I have to obey his orders, even if I don't like them.
-“Very well, then I'll go and spend the afternoon with Cas, and I'll go to bed early, so I can be at the training camp tomorrow, at 7 o'clock, with my clean uniform" - I answered him, mockingly imitating him.
