**Athena’s POV**
*Beep… Beep… Beep…*
Groaning I can’t help but slowly reach over to my side table and quickly smack the annoying alarm clock off as I begin blinking bleary eyes at it only to see it read 5:30 am in big bold numbers which draws out another groan as I quickly push myself to get up and out of bed.
Where once up do I quickly head for my small size bathroom for a quick shower. The lights bright as my eyes try to adjust to the room. The room itself modest or at least it's what I tell myself when comparing it to all the other rooms that I've seen during my stay here at the Moon Walker Pack, my cousin's pack.
The room carefully painted in soft colors such as whites and creams with hints of silver that almost sparkled like moon dust especially when the light reflected off it just right. The tiles another shade of white making the room feel light and airy.
Sighing I quickly head for the shower while removing my tank top and cotton shorts, two things that I normally slept in while here, as I move to turn on the shower, adjusting the temperature to my liking before slowly entering and letting the water fall down and around my body. My mind wandering back to that uneventful day almost 10 years ago and the events leading me to here.
I was only 9 years old when it happened. I was enjoying a beautiful day with my family in Moon Valley Pack when suddenly we were attacked by Rogues, hundreds of them, each coming out of nowhere and began attacking the pack. Many losing their lives that day including that of the royal family, the Alpha, Luna, Beta, Gamma and Delta. The only sole survivor left was me, their daughter and that was because my Father’s Beta, Beta Farkas who had managed to hide me long enough before the Rogues could scent me out.
For being only 9 years old I didn’t exactly have my wolf, so I wasn’t able to defend myself which led me into hiding as most wolves didn’t get theirs until the age of 18 or in some cases 14 providing you were of higher status. But even then most wolves still didn’t get them no matter how long they waited.
I on the other hand had been blessed at the age of 14, and that was the day I had gotten Artemis, my wolf. When Artemis appeared before me I was ecstatic, for being the daughter of an Alpha I couldn't help but be because I then knew that no matter what I did, I wouldn’t ever be lonely again.
‘Hello my sweet child’ purrs Artemis as she slowly appeared before me. Gazing slightly, I couldn’t help but notice that she was absolutely beautiful, her fur pure as snow while glistening with tiny specks of silver that only danced along her body as if it was moon dust while her beautiful blue eyes where also rimmed with specks of silver. Her eyes gazing back at me knowingly.
Suddenly jolted from my thoughts by the sound of angry banging do I hear someone yell. “YOU LITTLE BITCH! HURRY UP ALREADY” come the shouts of a voice I knew all too well, which meant I had been the shower way longer than I was supposed to be. Now hastily moving to finish my shower while making sure to wash and clean my hair as well as my body before moving to turn off the water.
Quick to exit the shower, do I quickly reach for my one and only towel before moving to dry myself off, wrapping the towel around my body, as my long brown hair cascades down and around my back as it lays there damply. My hands attempting to brush out the tangles unaware that the person in general was still within my room until it was too late and a hand reaches out, slapping me across the face. My hands dropping the brush as I move to cover my now stinging cheek.
“YOU UNGRATEFUL CHILD! IS THIS HOW YOU TREAT US AFTER EVERYTHING WE’VE DONE FOR YOU?? FOR BRINGING YOU INTO OUR HOME AFTER MY DEAR SWEET SISTER DIED ALONG WITH HER MATE?” snaps the voice as her hand grabs my hair painfully causing me to wince.
With eyes low I know better than to look, as it would only cause me more problems if I did, even though I was born the daughter of an Alpha I knew I couldn’t resist as this was not my pack and therefore did not hold any title or rank making me lesser than that of an Omega. My family making sure to remind me every single day that I would never be anything more than that, which earns me a growl from Artemis.
'We are not lesser than that of an Omega… We are Alpha born’ growls Artemis from the depths of my mind, glad that my family couldn’t hear her as I was never truly admitted into the Moon Walker Pack.
‘Artemis…’ I warn. ‘As much as I hate the way they treat us there all we have left, Aunt Leah and her mate gave us shelter when we were only 9. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have survived and I wouldn’t have been able to meet you.’
‘....Still…. I don’t like how they treat you over their own children’ huffs Artemis before retreating to the far back corner of our mind, our space, a space where no one could hurt us or make us feel inferior.
“ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME” comes the shout of my Aunt who once again stands directly in front of me, jolting me yet again from my thoughts.
“Um… I’m sorry” I mutter.
“I said you need to help Diana and Brian with the upcoming ball that's taking place this year” scolds Aunt Leah, her eyes calculating.
“Why me?” I ask. “They're old enough to find their mates and besides it's a Beta’s job and I’m not a Beta.” There I said it. I finally said the words I had been wanting to say to her for a while now. As it was true, I was not a Beta so I could not understand why it was my responsibility to help my cousins, Diana and Brian with the task of getting things decorated for the yearly Mating Ball. A ball that was held once a year at different packs just so wolves like myself could hopefully find their fated mates or if they couldn't, take on a chosen mate instead.
*SLAP!*
Cupping my face for a second time that morning do I automatically feel the sting from her hand. Knowing there would be a mark the moment I turned my blue eyes to meet her angry emerald color eyes.
“YOU BITCH! You will do as you're told or so help me I’ll have my son teach you a lesson you won’t soon forget” snarls Aunt Leah who knew Brian would love to cause me pain even when I did nothing to deserve it. “NOW Then… do I make myself clear?”
“Yes… Aunty” I answer swiftly, knowing that she would keep her word if I didn’t comply, for Brian was my Aunt’s oldest son and the one who would become this pack’s next Beta as I had become his favorite new toy when it came down to certain punishments and if it wasn’t him then they came from Diana, my Aunt’s youngest daughter who always made it her mission to make my life hell. Even then, some punishments came directly from my Uncle who didn’t have a problem giving them to me when needed.
“Good girl” smirks Aunt Leah who finally moves to leave, slamming my bedroom door as she does. My body sliding to the floor in defeat as I try not to cry.
‘It’s okay my sweet Athena… The Moon Goddess will help us’ whispers Artemis softly who was trying to console me in that moment.
‘Ya, like that’ll ever happen’ I scoff back to her as I remember back to my 18th birthday, the day I was able to find my mate. The day my life took a turn for the worst.
Clutching my towel do I decide it’s best to get ready before someone else decided to show up at my door, My body now heading towards my closet as I move to grab a simple yet pretty light blue top with a pair of light wash denim shorts before making my way to my dresser where I grab a simple yet elegant bra and panty before quickly getting dressed.
My hands now pulling my hair into a high top ponytail which gently reveals my neck and shoulders as well as my collar bone. Satisfied, I move to exit the room only to come face to face with the one person who I did not want to see, my cousin, Diana, the one person who managed to take everything away from me including my mate.
