My Precious Mate

A Dip In The Lake

{Amari's P.O.V}

I finished my chores for the night and decided to go for a swim in the pond near the Packhouse. No one ever went there so it was the perfect place to escape to. As I made my way to the pond the scent of gardenias filled my nostrils. It was one of the only things I loved about these grounds, and there weren't many. When I finally made it to the pond I found a nice boulder to set my belongings on. I undressed and put my hair into a bun. The water was freezing but I didn't care, plus it helped that I was a werewolf even if I didn't have my wolf yet. I laid back and looked up at the sky, admiring its dazzling beauty. The stars danced and the moon shone bright. I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer to the moon Goddess. Just as I was finishing up I heard someone giggle. No. I heard 3 different voices. s**t. I opened my eyes and to my unpleasant surprise there stood the she-wolf from earlier, Brianna Donavon, and Diane, Lance’s Fiancé. Just what I f*****g needed. As I made my way out of the pond I realized all of my things were gone.

“Very funny girls. What are we in preschool? Where’s my s**t?” I said in an unamused tone.

“What? These old rags?” Brianna said, raising my clothes up as if they were some kind of trophy. She looked at her minions and smiled. “Alright, you can have them back. But you have to swim for it,” she said with a smug look on her face. Just as I was about to take a step she launched my clothes in the pond. The girls all started laughing and high-fiving each other. Seeing them laugh and celebrate as if physically harming me was something to celebrate did something to me. I couldn't take it anymore. I was the one hurt. I was the one in pain and they're laughing? As if my pain was nonexistent. I clenched my fist, walked up to Brianna and punched her, knocking her to the ground. Screw the consequences. Her two sidekicks looked at me in shock. I looked in shock. I barely ate, I didn't workout, and I've never been in a fight. How did I have enough strength to knock an alpha's daughter to the ground? The shock was replaced with fear once I saw blood streaming down her bottom lip.

"Oh you're going to regret that," she said, getting up, shooting daggers at me. I looked in the direction of the woods, they were behind her. "Don't even think about it," said Diane. They got into a tackling stance. I pushed past them and ran to the woods. "After her!" I heard Brianna scream. I didn't know what would happen to me if I got caught, but it would be bad. No, I can't get caught. I didn't know anything about the outside world, only that it was full of harsh unforgiving supernaturals. And much worse, humans.I didn't know what I'd do if someone came across me. The realization of me being naked finally dawned on me and I got even more scared. What if someone saw me?! I looked down at my body. I hated it. It looked starved and it was covered in marks and bruises. At least I still have my good looks. I had long curly dark brown hair with almond eyes like pools of honey. I was short, not even 5 feet. A round nose and big pouty lips. And even though I was skinny, I was curvy. My skin was tempered milk chocolate. I quickly cleared my head and focused on running. As I ran deeper in the woods I could no longer hear the screams or footsteps of angry she-wolves. I came to a halt when my surroundings became completely unfamiliar to me. I couldn't even smell the packhouse anymore. “Never go deep into the woods. That’s where the night biters are,” I said quietly to myself. “If you can’t smell the packhouse you know you're too far,” a saying Lance and Brianna’s grandmother said before she passed. Grandma Donovon was the meanest woman alive. But she was so sweet to me. She used to sneak me candy and she would sing the most beautiful songs to me. When she died it felt like how I assumed it would feel to lose a mother. It hit me hard. Before she died she gave me a locket, but that b***h Brianna took it saying it should’ve gone to her and Grandma D made a mistake. I tried to scan the area but without my wolf it was hard to see in the dark. There wasn't a star in sight, it was literally pitch black. Just then I heard a twig snap. My head quickly snapped in its direction.

"Who's there?" I questioned. I heard the snapping of a few more twigs until it came to a stop.

"Well what do we have here?" An unknown voice asked. It was deep and raspy, definitely a man. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing out here after dark? You do know where you are right?" I didn't know what to say but I thought it would be best to lie and say as little as possible.

"Of course I know where I am," I said in a matter of fact tone.

"No you don't. Because if you did you wouldn't be here," he was right. I didn't where I was but if I did I'd definitely steer clear, it was creepy as hell.

"You're in the Blackwoods," he stated plainly.

"The Blackwoods? Like the one from the legends?"

"Ah so you've heard?"

"A little," Grandma D used to tell me stories about the Blackwoods. She was obsessed with it and knew everything about it.

"You need to go back home. You stay at Red Moon I'm guessing, since that's the only pack around here."

"Yeah something like that," I stated plainly.

"Are you running away?" He asked, so I decided to change the subject.

"Do you know how I can get back to Red Moon? As you can see I'm clearly lost." I wasn't really going back but I had to get out of The Black Woods and lose the creepy raspy voice guy.

"Once you enter The Black Woods there's no escaping," he said in an eerie tone. I gasped. "I'm kidding jeez. Head West and you'll be heading in the direction of Red Moon," he said. I noticed the tone in his voice change from eerie to pleasant and started to relax a bit.

"Thanks. And West is…?" He chuckled.

"Literally right behind you," he seemed amused. "Oh and one last thing. Where are your clothes?" I couldn't tell him what really happened so I quickly said…

"A few friends pulled a prank on me while I was taking a swim in the pond, they stole my clothes," I said trying not to sound suspicious.

"Mhm well you need new friends. Take care," he said. And just like that he was gone. I let out a deep sigh. Who the hell was that guy? I know I'm not supposed to be here but was he? I put those thoughts to the back of my mind and started to walk West. I just needed to get back to Red Moon woods, then from there I can get the hell away. As I walked further West I noticed everything was getting brighter. I guess that's why they called it The Black Woods, it was literally pitch black. The closer I got the more I was able to smell the packhouse and its surroundings. I tried to avoid getting too close so I could avoid the unwanted attention. I'm pretty sure by now Brianna told her parents what I did, they'll want my head. I stopped when I felt like I was close enough to Red Moon and far enough from The Black Woods. I was a naked, broke, teen runaway, with no last name or any idea where I came from. How the hell was I supposed to explain that to someone? I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize I was being surrounded.

"Well would you look at that? She actually made it out of The Black Woods," a spiteful Brianna spat, walking towards me with her minions in tow. The 3 had me completely surrounded, there was no running now. Diane pushed me from behind, making me stumble towards the she-wolf from earlier.

"Hit that b***h Layla!" Diane hissed. Layla, the she-wolf from earlier, slapped me, making me clutch my cheek. The 3 she-wolves began throwing blows and punches in all directions, making it impossible to stand. When I was knocked to the ground it didn't stop. They began kicking and spitting. Every inch of my body was not completely covered in horrible gashes and bruises. Why me? The moon Goddess must hate me, I thought. Kick after kick, blow after blow. I felt myself losing consciousness. This was it. This would be how I die. No wolf, no mate, no family. Tears started streaming down my bruised swollen face.

"You're not going to die," I heard a voice say. It was soft and came from within. Could it be?

"Are you my-"

"Yes I am your wolf, Islette." I couldn't believe it, my wolf was here! Then that would mean…

"Is today our birthday?" I asked.

"Yes. I'd say happy birthday but I don't that's appropriate right now," she was wrong. Today was my birthday and I got my wolf. Who cares if I was getting the living hell beat out of me.

"Amari, we are going to get out of this. Do you trust me?" Even though I've only known my wolf for a short time I knew I could trust her. Grandma D once told me that your wolf is your counterpart. They're the only other being, besides your mate, that is perfect for you. I knew I could trust her.

"I do."

"Good, now let me take control." I felt myself letting go, and letting Islette take control. It was like watching myself from a distance. I could still feel everything and I was aware of what was going on, but I wasn't in control. Islette let out a loud growl. It was so loud that it shook the trees and made the ground shake. She was terrifying. If she was like this without even shifting, imagine how she'd be in wolf form. The attack stopped. Islette rose off of the ground, and with Grace might I had. The 3 she-wolves stepped back.

"What? That's all you got? I thought you were supposed to be an alpha's daughter?" It was official. My wolf was a badass.

"How the hell are yo-"

"Still alive? How could I not be with those weak ass hits?" My wolf chuckled. Brianna gritted her teeth.

"Get her," she said. Layla and Diane looked at each other unsure of what to do next. Brianna stepped closer to them. "GET HER!" she commanded. Diane was the first to step forward.

"I see we have a bold one," Islette smirked. Diane threw a punch. Islette dodged it with ease. In less than 2 seconds she had Diane by her throat, dangling in the air gasping for life.

"Bri help," Diane pleaded between gasps. Brianna stood there mouth agape. Islette threw Diane into a nearby tree, knocking her unconscious. Islette charged towards Layla, knocking her to the ground. She got on top of her and ruthlessly began to pound her. I should've said something, told her to stop. But I couldn't, she deserved it. Seeing Layla's blood brought me immense satisfaction. It wasn't until you could hear Layla's heart stop beating that Islette stopped. She rose to her feet and walked painfully slowly towards Brianna. Brianna staggered back, shocked, unable to say a word. When Islette finally made her way to her she drew her hand back and punched Brianna, you could hear her jaw break. She fell to the ground clutching her out of place jaw.

"You-you b***h! You broke my jaw!" She cried.

"You're a werewolf, you'll heal," Islette joked.

"You can take it from here right?" Islette asked me.

"Yeah I think so," I felt the energy shift and before I knew it I was in control again.

"W-when did y-you get your w-wolf?" Brianna asked, her words slurring.

"That's none of your concern," I replied. I noticed a gold chain around her neck. I reached out to lift it, ignoring Brianna's confused facial expression and flinching. It was the locket Grandma Donovan gave me.

"This doesn't belong to you, give it to me," Brianna looked at me with wide eyes.

"B-but my g-grandma…"

"Gave it to me before you stole it. Now give it to be before I break your f*****g leg," I commanded. She unclasped the necklace and handed it to me, I put it on immediately. I rose to my feet and began to walk away.

"You're nothing!" Brianna screamed. I froze in my tracks. "What? You think just because you're super strong that makes you better than us? You'll never amount to anything!"

"SHUT UP!" I bellowed.

"I don't know who you are or where the hell you came from but it doesn't matter. You'll always be dirt underneath my feet. You'll always be a lowly omega," she spat in my direction. I felt a feeling I had never felt before, rage. I turned around to face Brianna for the last time. The wind began howling uncontrollably, and the ground began to shake. I felt something fill me up, I felt like I was going to explode.

"Let go," Islette said.

"What?"

"All of that anger, the pain of the past, let it go." I closed my eyes and relieved every single horrible thing I'd ever gone through. The abuse, the cruelty, the bullying, the taunting. Just then, a powerful blast burst from me, sending all three of the she-wolves bodies flying. Everything was still again, but now I felt weak. I felt the darkness overcome me, and I collapsed.