Purity [Abiding Royalty Book 1]

Chapter 2

"Unfortunate," I heard Teresa whisper under her breath. Samantha growled at her, a bark caught deep in her throat. No words came out, but it was a clear threat. Logan and I turned to the window, cowering away from her authority. The air tensed around them as the two highest ranking sisters silently challenged each other. Teresa caved in as always, knowing who the true alpha was.

Annalisa tucked her head in the crook of my neck and shoulder. She sighed, tired from our long car rides. The elevation increased too, and my head swirled as the air lightened. We all fell silent, trying to get used to the heaviness.

"You'll get used to the elevation after a few days," Vicky said, looking back at us through the mirror. I looked at her in the rear view mirror; the elevation change didn't seem to bother her, instead she just sighed and looked back at the road with complete ease.

"How long until we arrive" Teresa asked, yawning and stretching, "I kind of want to sleep."

"In another ten minutes," Vicky replied. Teresa sighed and laid her head back on the seat. Her blond hair flapped my face and a low growl rose in my throat. She looked at me, growling louder. Shock passed across her face, knowing something changed. She flicked the back of my hand and turned away. I looked at Logan and patted the top of his head. He was the youngest of the five of us. Teresa and Annalisa are twins, Teresa is older. I'm younger than Annalisa, making me low in the family rank. Then Samantha is the oldest, making her the alpha, and Logan the omega of all of us.

"We're here," Vicky said, turning down a long driveway. It swirled around trees, making everything beyond the trees invisible. Then a large clearing opened up, and a large cabin-looking house stood in front of us. It towered with nine floors, and it stood castle sized, and stretched on for yards. Over one hundred people could live there. For Montana, this place seemed pretty nice.

"Wow," Teresa said her eyes wide with surprise. She looked at Samantha, who sat there in awe. Little girls worked on the front lawn, planting flowers with a teenage girl. The teen looked up at us and waved. Vicky stopped the truck in front of a gigantic garage. It stood separated from the house, sitting across from it.

"You guys like it," Vicky asked. I just gawked at the house, awed by what could lie inside. She got out of the truck, and we curiously followed her to the door like puppies. The teen smiled at me as we walked inside, and I smiled politely back. She bowed her head slightly. We stopped again in the doorway, surprised by the inside of the house.

"Okay, you guys will have time to explore today. It'll be easier than giving you directions," Vicky said, walking into the nearby kitchen. I stopped in the beginning of the lounge, looking at the cheery wood furniture and the array of dark colored couches and chairs. A girl sat sideways on one couch, reading a book silently. She wore a light gray long-sleeve shirt, pulled up over her elbows and dark jean shorts. I heard a slam on the kitchen counter as Vicky grunted in pain.

"You okay," Annalisa asked, looking in her direction, the other girl did as well, but she didn't move.

"Yeah, I just dropped a cutting board on my foot," she replied. She picked up the wooden plank, setting it back on the counter, and then wobbled out of sight. Teresa snickered quietly, winning a grumble out of me.

"Hello," the girl on the couch said after Vicky arranged herself. She closed her finger in the book, but didn't get up. Instead, she moved her sleek curly brown hair away from her face and observed us one by one. "I'm Amity."

"Selena," I replied. Amity looked into my eyes, and then bowed her head back in her book, almost afraid to look at me. I heard a thump and saw a flash of red only inches away from my face after my sisters moved further into the house. I screeched and jumped in fright, and the girl laughed. Her hair shone crimson red and green eyes gleamed at me. She flashed a white toothy smile.

"I'm Mary Lane," she said, still laughing from my shriek. She rubbed Lucas's head before slumping down on the couch next to Amity. "If you truly want to know, this place is a Lycanthrope paradise. We have everything, and the best part is the forest." I nodded a greeting, still shaken from the encounter.

"Vicky, can I go out for a run," I asked, tiredness washing over me. I wanted to feel the fresh air brush against my fur. I wanted to feel the new, cool air for the first time. To see this paradise she spoke of.

"Yeah, I'll get Amity to bring your stuff up to the room," Vicky replied, walking back into view. Amity gave a look in her general direction with a scoff. I looked around my eye catching on a screen door to my left. After crossing the room I slid the door open, and stepped into my shift. I ran for the woods, leaving everything behind. I pumped my legs effortlessly, just running leisurely with the wind brushing my cheeks. I breathed in the damp forest air, taking in the musky, wet and cool smell. I remembered the woods at home, dry and tropical, a desert compared to this lush place.

I let my thoughts run a course for a moment. My family was about to change. It was going to grow much bigger, and I would shrink lower on the list.

I was going to be the girl to bully.