Chapter One

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"I'm not going," I say, throwing my pillow at my older sister, Vanessa. She scowls, catching the pillow and stares me down. "Don't test me, Alissa. You don't have a choice. It's Mom's old pack's barbecue. It's a family thing, and if I'm going, you are too." With that, she slams the door.

I reluctantly step out of bed and get ready. My mom had met my dad when they were only fourteen. That was the age you could finally identify your mate. My dad came to their annual barbecue and they fell in love instantly. That was the story anyways. I think my parents are secretly hoping I'll find my mate. I was already sixteen, and I had yet to find my mate.

Vanessa on the other hand had found her mate when she was fourteen. She and her mate were now nineteen. Her mate, Billy, lived with us in the pack house. Most of the werewolves lived here. Billy and Vanessa had beautiful baby girls; Kelly and Nelly. They were twins and were about two years old. Vanessa's life seemed to work out perfectly, and mine, well, hasn't.

I was sixteen with no mate and I worked in the Pack's kitchen part time. I wasn't going to find my mate in my pack unless someone moved. My parents really wanted me to go to the barbecue because they knew how much interest I had in finding my mate; none. I didn't like the idea of belonging to anyone. My sister had no problem with staying home and watching the twins while Billy worked. I, however, didn't want that life.

After getting ready, I head down to the kitchen and help Margret, our Alpha female, cook breakfast. She sighs and smiles at me, "Honey, it's your day off." I laugh, "I can't leave you to fend for yourself while Emily's on vacation." She giggles, and looks at me gratefully. Margret was fairly young for an Alpha, and didn't have any children yet.

We serve breakfast, and she looks me over, "Alissa, are you planning on wearing yoga pants to the barbecue?" "Of course I am. I don't care what I look like." She scowls, "Come with me. I'm dressing you." I roll my eyes but oblige, following her into her huge room.

"I'm hoping you'll find your mate today," she tells me, smiling widely. I shake my head, "I'm not hoping that at all. I'm hoping that I won't have a mate." She frowns, "You'll change your mind once you meet him!" I shrug, "No, I don't think so."

Once she's done dressing me, I'm in a beautiful white sundress, white wedges, my hair is curled loosely, and my make up is done. I look beautiful; the kind of beautiful a male would appreciate, unfortunately. I thank her, anyways. Margret wanted everyone to be happy, and I know that she's hoping I"ll love my mate as much as she loves Nate, our Alpha.

She guides me downstairs, and my mom walks up to us. "Alissa, you look stunning!" I chuckle, "Thanks, Mom." "I need you to help me in the kitchen. I'm a useless cook, and we need to bring an appetizer to the barbecue." I smile, "Of course! What am I making?" "Lasagna, honey.. Thank you."

After Margret and I finish making the food, my mother wraps it all up. She turns to me, smiling, "I have an feeling about today, sweetheart. I think today's the day you realize you want to make me some more grand babies!" My eyebrows pull together, "No that's disgusting, Mom! I am not talking to you about my mate that I don't want, let alone my babies that my mate will want." She laughs, "You'll want them too, honey." I roll my eyes.

My dad drags my mom, Vanessa, and I into the car, excited as ever. Vanessa brings along the twins, as Billy is working. We arrive, and the pack is huge. The pack house is like a hotel with the barbecue going on, and everyone going in and out. My mom jumps out of the car running to her sister, Valerie. Valerie visited our pack often, as she was Vanessa and I's godmother. Valerie was the pack's cook, and taught me everything I know.

Valerie comes over and hugs me. "Hey Auntie Val," I say, grinning. "Goodness, you look gorgeous!" She exclaims. She then turns her attention to Vanessa and the twins.

I feel two hands cover my eyes, "Guess who?" I turn around and pull my cousin, Laura into a hug, "Hey!" She giggles, "Welcome to my pack." "Thanks," I reply, smiling. If there was one good thing about this barbecue it was getting to see Laura, and meeting her mate. If she wasn't here, I'd die.

Laura leads me out to the backyard, and pulls my over to a handsome guy, "This is my mate, Henry!" I grin, shaking his hand, "Hi, it's nice to meet you. I'm Alissa, Laura's cousin." He smiles, "Likewise."

Laura introduces me to a few more of her friends, and they all seem wonderful. I can finally enjoy myself, knowing that my mate is not here. If he was here, I would've seen him by now. I glance at my mother, and she is looking at me disappointed. I smirk in her direction and she scowls, whispering to my dad about something. I smile innocently at him and he narrows his eyes.

I feel a small tug on my leg, "Auntie!" I look down at my small niece, wobbling around. I bend down, "Hey, Nelly!" She giggles, and I smile. "Where's Mommy and Kelly?" She points to Vanessa who's holding Kelly while she's crying; trying to soothe her. I take pity and pick up Nelly.

I turn to Laura, "Hey, I'll be back in a few minutes." She nods, "Alright, and hi Nelly!" Nelly giggles again, waving at Laura. I walk towards Vanessa and Kelly, "Hey," she greets, smiling grimly at me. I laugh, handing her Nelly and taking Kelly out of her hands, "I'll walk around with Kelly. I know how she is when she's standing still." She grins, "Thank you!" Nelly frowns at me, "I go too." Vanessa shakes her head, "No." Nelly rolls her eyes in aggravation and I laugh. She did have attitude for a toddler. "We'll be right back!" I promise her, winking. She giggles, and Kelly and I are on our way into the huge pack house.

I walk Kelly around the kitchen, and she grabs a cookie off the counter. "Kelly!" I scold her, and a small boy pouts. "That's my cookie!" "I'm so sorry, sweetheart," I apologize, taking the cookie back from Kelly and giving it back to the boy. He smiles at me, and hops off only to run back two seconds later with another cookie. He hands it to Kelly and she smiles taking a bite out of it. I sit myself and Kelly at the table with the boy, "Thank you." He grins, "You're welcome, Luna. I'm Robby." I frown at him, "Well, it's nice to meet you Robby, but I'm not your Luna. I don't even belong in this pack." He laughs at me, "Luna!" I frown again, but let Robby call me whatever he wants. The kid's probably confused.

Robby grabs my hand and I gasp in surprise. He laughs again, "Luna, take me to bathroom?" I bite my lip, frustrated. "Robby, stop calling me Luna. But I'll take you if you lead the way." He nods, pulling me into a long hallway all the way to the end, and up three flights of stairs. "Isn't there a bathroom downstairs?" I scowl, struggling to keep ahold of Robby's hand and carry Kelly at the same time. He giggles, knocking on a door.

A growl sounds from the other side, "Mother, I told you I'd be outside in a minute." Robby laughs loudly, "I'm not your mother!" My eyebrows pull together, and I try pulling Robby away, "This obviously isn't the bathroom!" He smirks at me, and I scowl, "Robby, let's leave!" He points at the door, trying to keep his footing and not letting me drag him away, "Alpha! Alpha!" My eyes widen, "We can't just bother your Alpha!" He giggles, pulling out of my grip, and once again knocking on the door. I grasp his wrist, "Robby, we're leaving!"

The door is ripped open and an angry looking man stands in the doorway. I gasp, as I have to look up a foot to see him. He looks at me and his eyes soften at once. The man is unbelievably gorgeous and stands at a height of 6'3". His hair is a very dark brown and his eyes are a crystal blue. He's tan and has a sharp jaw line. He's wearing dark jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt. He also smells strongly of a very attractive cologne. I blink, staring at him in a trance-like state. "Mate," he breathes, and I gape at him. He cannot be my mate.

"I told you, Luna!" Robby yells, running right past my mate into what looks like an office. To my surprise, Kelly jumps off my waist, following him. I'm all the sudden pushed into the hallway wall, and lifted up to my mate's eye level as he growls possessively, "Mine."

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