"Claire! What a lovely surprise! Especially since I only called you less than an hour ago. Have-"

"Yes, Raymond, I want the job. I've changed my mind" I growl into the phone as I pace around my room. I can't believe my father gave me no choice in the matter of becoming the next Alpha. He knows how much I hated the idea.

"Excellent! What made you change your mind so quickly?" Raymond asks, amusement in his slick voice. I've only met him in person a few times and I can't say that he is my favourite person of all time. However, I will just have to live with it considering he is the leader of the council and I really want this job.

"My father trying to control my life..."

"Ah, I see. He did call me earlier, I assume it has something to do with that?"

"Mhmm."

"Right. Well, we can discuss it when I see you. Now about your role, it will start effective immediately so we will be coming to collect you tomorrow at midday."

"Midday tomorrow?!" Shit, that's so soon.

"Yes. Is there an issue?"

I mean, it would have been nice to spend some more time with Acacia, however, she and Dad did just try and decide my future for me... 

"No, no issues."

"Perfect! Just enough time to pack up your things and say your goodbyes."

"Yes. Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow then."

"Indeed you will. Bye for now Claire."

The phone hangs up and I let out a sigh of relief. I'm finally going to get to live my life. I'm going to be a hunter for the Werewolf council. I'll be the youngest female hunter in history.

I let out an excited squeal as I throw my phone onto my bed and rush into my wardrobe. Pulling out my suitcase, I begin sifting through my clothes, trying to decide what to bring with me. I'm sure I'll be given my own uniform but it will be nice to have some of my own clothes too.

A gentle knock on the door frame breaks me from my packing frenzy and I look up to see Acacia standing in the doorway. 

"What do you want?" I growl, my excited mood disappearing as I glare at her.

"I wanted to apologise..." she signs with a frown.

I stand up, folding my arms over my chest as I stare at her and wait.

"Look, I'm sorry Claire. I truly didn't know this was how you felt about becoming Alpha. If I had known, I wouldn't have said anything and we could've found another solution," she continues.

"You didn't know, it's not your fault. I'm mostly mad at Dad because he did know" I sign back, with a frown.

"I know. I just, I think you would make a really good Alpha, Claire Bear."

"Claire Bear? I haven't been called that since we were little, since before you were taken..."

I stare at her for a moment and I notice she is trying really hard to keep herself composed.

"I really missed you, you know. You were the one person I thought about the most whilst I was stuck in that cell..."

"Acacia-"

"I was just so worried I would miss watching you grow up, but look at you now. You may only be fifteen but you are definitely more incredible than I ever could have imagined."

"Acacia, I'm not staying."

"But-"

"I missed you with my whole heart, I really did, but you can't change my mind."

"I see," she signs with a small smile and watery eyes.

"I know you don't understand but I need to live a little. God, I'm only fifteen and yet here I am, sounding like I'm an adult..."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since you were taken, Dad spent all those years teaching me how to fill the role that was intended for you. A role that was never meant to be mine. I had to grow up too quickly. The only time I truly felt like myself was when I was going on search parties for you. It was something I was good at. I found so many other wolves and saved them in the process. I helped grow the pack. Elder Raymond, the leader of the Werewolf Council offered me a job, a job that means I can do what I love every day. I'm not ready to be Alpha..."

"I'm sorry Claire..."

"It's not your fault, it's nobody's fault really. I just know I can't stay here. I love our parents and I love you but.."

"I know. I love you too, Claire" she signs with a small smile as tears escape her eyes. She walks over and pulls me into a hug. I soften into her, savouring the moment before eventually pulling away and stepping back to look at her. 

"Would you ever reconsider your decision?" she signs after a while.

That's a good question. Would I? I stop and think for a moment before replying to her.

"Maybe one day? But not anytime soon. At least not until I'm eighteen. I want to experience this job first. Who knows, maybe if I do ever change my mind, this job might help me to become an even better leader," I sign back with a joking smile.

"I'm sure it will. In the meantime, we shall figure something out. Everything will be okay"

"It's going to have to be" I sign smirking.

She gives me a watery smile before wiping away more tears.

"I'm going to miss you though..." she signs after a moment, tears still rolling down her cheeks.

"Yeah, but it's not like I'm going very far. If anything, you'll get to see me more than you normally would because the council does a lot of work with all the packs. Besides, I've only just gotten you back, I'm not letting you go again that easily" I sign back with a grin.

"Okay." She lets a small giggle before pulling me back into a hug. I squeeze her tightly, trying to make up for all the lost years. She's shorter than I am, by quite a bit actually. But I guess all the years of wolfbanes injections would have stunted her growth.

"I leave midday tomorrow," I say quietly near her ear, trying not to startle her as we stay in our embrace. She pulls away quickly to look up at me with a frown.

"I know it's soon, but my contract starts immediately. However, as soon as I've finished my training, I promise I will come to visit you and Grayson."

She nods with a small smile, satisfied with my deal. At least she seems on board with my decision now. Hopefully, my parents will come around eventually too.

"I-I th-think y-yo-ou sh-should go-o t-t-talk t-to-o th-them..." she stutters, as if having read my mind.

"I guess so. Just let me finish packing first."

She nods with a small smile and looks around my mess of wardrobe for a moment, eyeing the piles of clothes and scattered shoes.

"Would you like some help?" she signs, looking back at me.

I nod, grinning before grabbing her hand and pulling her into the chaos.

"My, ahhh, contract... job... starts effective immediately. Elder Raymond is collecting me at midday tomorrow" I announce awkwardly as I stand in the doorway of the lounge, Acacia lurking behind me.

My parents and Grayson look up at me from their conversation, each with very different expressions on their faces. Grayson, being the stoney and powerful Alpha he is, simply nods at my news before ushering for Acacia and I to come to sit down with them. Acacia quickly walks past me but I can't bare the idea of sitting with them all and having this conversation so I just continue to stand, shifting my weight slightly.

My mother looks like she's on the verge of tears while my father looks both annoyed and yet somewhat guilty.

"So you're really going then?" my mother asks quietly, her voice wavering as she tries to keep herself from crying.

I nod, fidgeting with my hands. I really wish I could be anywhere but here right now.

"How long is your contract for?" my father asks after another moment of uncomfortable silence.

"As long as I want..."

"And there's truly nothing that could change your decision?" my mother chimes in, looking hopeful.

I sigh and rub my hands over my face. I don't want to prove my father right in any sort of way but I guess I owe my mother an explanation of my thoughts considering the impulsive life decision I've just made. Hell, her eldest daughter has only just come back into life, I'm sure she had already made so many plans for the future. So for me to leave so hastily without talking about anything would crush her.

"I told Acacia that I might reconsider my decision to not be Alpha one day in the future. Not anytime soon though and at least not until I'm eighteen."

My parents give each other a sideways look before looking back at me. No doubt they are already scheming and changing plans at my response to her question.

"I want to experience this job first though," I add quickly. "I want to live my life, figure out who I am when I'm not either looking for my newly returned sister or learning who to fill a role that wasn't made for me."

My father narrows his gaze which warrants him a nudge in the ribs from my mother. 

"Who knows, maybe if I do ever change my mind, this job might help me to become an even better leader."

"Of course, it will sweetie," my mother starts, wiping away a few stray tears. "You are already such an amazing leader... we just want you to be happy."

"I know..." I mumble, uncomfortable by my mother's mushy words. 

There is another awkward silence before Acaica breaks it, signing that she and Grayson are going to head off to bed. My parents agree that that is probably a good idea for all of us to go to bed, my mother making some comment about how it's been a big day and that we all need our rest, especially for tomorrow before pulling me into a hug.

I eventually manage to shrug her off and say my goodnights before escaping upstairs and back into my room.

God that was so awkward. I let out the breath I had been holding before heading over to my bed to check my phone that I had discarded earlier in my frenzy of excitement. Unsurprisingly, I have no new messages so I decided that it's probably best to heed my mother's words and go to bed. I quickly race my way through my night routine and crawl into bed, snuggling down into the covers.

Tomorrow is my fresh start. It will be a good day and I will make sure of it.

_________________________________

Hey Guys,

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I know it's not the longest of chapters but it is a chapter nonetheless and I promise there will be more coming soon! Thank you all for being so very patient with me. I really appreciate it!

As always, if you've made it this far, thanks for sticking around! It means so much to me! Please vote and comment and please also check out my other books including my new romance novel, Passengers.

If you feel so inclined, go follow my personal Instagram account @amy_duffell for a look into my life outside of writing! I also have a writing and book-related Instagram too (a bookstagram if you will) @amyduffell_author, if you would like to check that out also!

Thanks,

Allamy xx