I woke up to the sound of something crashing downstairs. Every cell of my being was alert the moment the sound fell on my ears. I barely felt the freezing floor beneath my feet as I jumped out of bed, falling into an attack stance as the door to my room was thrown open.

The man in the doorway was tall; almost 6'2 with blonde, messy hair that looked like it was styled to always look that way, over his bright green eyes that matched my own. His broad shoulders and muscled chest were covered in a form-fitting green jersey over the dark jeans that concealed his long legs. His many conquests considered him attractive, though in that moment I had to object. "Chelsea!" He purposely raised his voice making my sensitive ears, being so used to silence after a night of slumber, ring.

I turned to climb back under the covers, grabbing a pillow on the way which I aimed at his face. I couldn't help my grin when the impact forced his head back a considerable amount. I caught sight of the clock. "It's only seven you monster! Let a girl sleep."

I realised a second too late that the pillow was flying right back at me. I dodged the flying white blur just in time to watch it smack onto the headboard of my king-sized bed. "Good aim, Alpha!" I said giving him a taunting smirk.

"Did someone say birthday?!" An excited voice singsonged as another person entered my room carrying a large cake, smothered in chocolate frosting and dusted with chocolate flakes. Twenty one candles had been arranged neatly on its top. "Or did you forget that it's today?" He said, smiling.

This guy had short brown hair over his kind, hazel eyes. He was almost as tall as Jake and equally as muscular. As painful as it was to admit, considering I had grown up with these two constantly being a pain in my ass, puberty had done them well, which wasn't really a surprise because they were both werewolves. Jake was the Alpha of the Delaney Pack; previously run by our father, Timothy Delaney. Dylan was his best friend and Beta. Oh, and in case it hasn't clicked, though if you meet us its painfully obvious, that Jake is my over-protective older brother.

I came and sat down beside them as I closed my eyes and made a wish, for the health and happiness of my loved ones, before blowing out every candle. Dylan nudged me, a smirk on his face. "Wish for anything interesting?" He wiggled his eyebrows as he finished his question.

My brother and I knew exactly what he was suggesting. I was now fast approaching maturity, and for our species that meant that my inner wolf would be able to sense her other half, the wolf that was made for us. We had always been taught that the bond was meant to complete our souls, and was revered amongst our people. Jake grimaced before shooting his best friend a look. "Dude ew."

I shoved at him playfully. "Hey! Don't be rude!" Dylan just laughed as he watched us play fight, with Jake rather dramatically feigning defeat. 

He groaned. "And I was-" he fake-coughed up imaginary blood "just about to give you-" he pulled a gift bag from the floor beside the bed "this." He exhaled loudly as his eyes shut. I ignored his antics and retrieved the gift. He peeked up at me. "Now that's just cold."

I gave him a look. "That's what you deserve for putting empty cereal boxes back in the cupboard."

He sat up, looping an arm around my neck as he put me in a half-hearted headlock. "Smartass."

I giggled as I easily escaped his hold. I extended my claws and shredded through the wrapping paper, revealing a smartphone box. I lifted the lid and pulled the sleek object out, running my hand over its smooth surface turning the dark gadget over and over again in my hand.

Don't get me wrong, I do have a phone just like every other teenage girl on the planet. The thing was, my phone was so old it could barely send a text message without lagging at least ten times. I'd been saving up to buy a new one for a while now but Jake had kept me from doing so, even though my old phone had been falling apart after years of abuse.

"Thank you!" I said, roughly hugging him again. He just chuckled at my reaction. I pulled away and turned to Dylan. "Hey, Dylan, where's my gift?" I demanded jokingly.

He smiled and shook his head. "You're going to have to shower and come down for my gift. I'm not giving it to you while you look like that." He said, as he eyed my tattered t-shirt and cotton shorts with an expression of exagerrated distaste, getting up from the bed and leaving the room with my cake in his hands. He dodged the pillow I threw at his back without missing a step, making me both irritated that it hadn't hit him, but glad that my cake was still intact.

I cupped my hands around my mouth. "Don't eat it without me!" I called after him.

"No promises!"

Jake pulled something else out of the box still in my lap. It was a simple platinum chain with a small, tear drop-shaped diamond dangling on it. The moment it was revealed, cake vanished from my thoughts, as hard as that was to manage. I reached out to touch the glittering stone as my eyes filled with tears. "Was this mom's?" I asked quietly, already knowing the answer. He just nodded as he put it in my hand.

"I fixed the chain and got it polished for you." He said quietly. I grasped it so tightly my nails bit into my palm and threw my arms around Jake's neck again.

"Thank you." I whispered as a single tear leaked out of my eye at the memory of my mother. He squeezed me hard as he stroked my hair.

"I miss them too." He admitted as he let me go. He managed a smile, no doubt for my sake and stood up. "Go shower, I invited everyone over for a barbeque to celebrate today. So, if you don't get going, you're not going to get any food." He said, genuinely chuckling as my stomach rumbled. I nodded and wiped the tear away.

"Alright, I'm going." I grumbled. He left to give me some privacy. Grabbing my towel mid-run, I rushed into the bathroom as my wolf demanded we be fed. I tied my hair up so it wouldn't get wet and threw my clothes off in record time. Under the warm water, I couldn't help it as my mind wandered to the memory of the day I lost my parents.

***

I sniffed the ground as Jake's blonde wolf trotted along in front of me. My father's dark brown wolf was scouting the area in front of us, making sure there was no danger around. My mother's blonde wolf, a few shades lighter than Jake, walked slowly beside my small, white one.

It was only the second time I'd shifted. At the time, I was only fifteen so I took my time enjoying everything with my heightened wolf senses. What is this mom? I asked as I noticed a somewhat familiar smell.

My mother sniffed the imprint on the ground I was referring to. That's rabbit, honey. She answered quickly; her voice flowing easily into my mind through our mental bond. I nodded my head and followed the smell off into a large bush. I came upon the rabbits' burrow and flashed a wolf grin; satisfied that I found it. My mother brushed up beside me. Come on Chelsea. It's not safe to go wondering off. She muttered.

I followed her as she made her way back to the trail we had been on. I was too busy sniffing around to notice she had stopped. I smacked right into her and fell back. Mom, why'd you- I didn't get a chance to finish my question before she leaped out of my sight. I ran after her, emerging from the bush to see her hunched over Jake's unconscious body trying to get him to wake up. Her head whipped up and she sniffed the air, snapping in my direction.

She launched herself right at me. On instinct, I dropped and rolled out of the way. She tackled a black wolf that had been trying to attack me from behind. They disappeared into the bushes. Chelsea, grab your brother and run! She demanded.

I heard chomping sounds and later a whimper. A few metres away, I could hear a thump sound as a body hit the forest floor. Mom, let me help! I said as I ran towards her. A few moments later, my father's voice boomed in my mind.

Chelsea, listen to me! Get your brother and run! Do not look back! He ordered; his voice carrying power as he gave me the command in his Alpha tone. I had no choice but to comply. I grabbed Jake's scruff and dragged him as fast as I could away from the fight, away from our parents. I couldn't go very fast though, as Jake's wolf form was much bigger and heavier than mine was back then.

It didn't take very long for me to get us back to our house considering how close we'd been. The whole way back, I was calling out for help from the members of our pack, especially from Kale; Dylan's father, who was my father's Beta at the time.

They informed me that they were already on the way to help my parents. I continued to drag Jake until we made it to the porch before I shifted back and ran inside to grab some clothes. When I emerged from the house a few minutes later, Jake was already awake and sitting naked and disoriented in the middle of the porch.

I tossed him the shorts I'd been holding and explained to him what had happened. We patiently waited for our parents and the other pack members to arrive, not being able to go find them as we'd been ordered by Kale not to go anywhere. After what felt like eternity, our parent's voice trickled into my mind. We love you both. That was the only thing they said before the bond was blocked.

One look at Jake and I knew that he had gotten the same message. A few moments later, Kale had emerged with the rest of the pack out of the forests that surrounded our house with our parent's motionless bodies. They were almost completely covered in blood and mud. Most of their limbs were twisted in odd directions and scratches marred their pale skin where it wasn't concealed underneath all the dirt.

I immediately sunk to the floor as what felt like a knife sliced through my heart at the sight of them so broken. I couldn't even see anything after that because the tears that continuously streamed from my eyes blurred everything. I don't remember much else from that day aside from what Kale had explained to us. Our parents had managed to kill all the shifters that had jumped us in the forest and by the time the rest of the pack had arrived, they were already dead, their injuries too great for them to survive.

Kale also explained that the shifters in the forest had been rogues. Rogues were naturally violent and didn't play by any rules. They hated packs and usually preferred to stay away which was why it was shocking to find them on our land. The next day, Kale had brought a large group of shifters to track and kill the other rogues camping out just outside the boarder of our territory.

Jake had taken over the pack that year, he had already been seventeen so it wasn't very hard for him to adjust to his duties. Our father had been preparing for him to take charge when he turned eighteen as most Alphas do, so Jake was already familiar with his responsibilities.

It had taken me the entire year to get over their deaths. I spent the whole year training as hard as I could so I would actually be able to defend myself the next time something like that happened. My emotions would range from sorry, to angry, then later sad and would continue in a cycle as my mind filled with nightmares every night that year. All that training, along with the extra strength from my Alpha blood, was why I was the best female fighter in the pack.

***

I came back to the present as I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was quite tall, about 5'7 with a curvy figure just like my mothers' had been. I'd also inherited her full pink lips and smooth alabaster skin. My eyes were large and a jade green like Jake's. They were lined by a thick layer of dark lashes underneath my mane of dark brown hair; the eyes and hair from my father.

I put on a little mascara and some lip gloss before I ran a brush through my hair a few time; letting it cascade down my back in its natural waves. I slipped on my underwear before going into my closet to choose something to wear. I immediately slipped on my favourite dress.

It was white and the top clung to my body like a second skin; the fabric decorated with black lace. The skirt was made up of a few thin layers of fabric that flared out and reached halfway down my thighs. I paired that with a pair of black heels and my mother's necklace to complete the look.

I studied my expression in the mirror for a second, noticing the slight tinge of red in my eyes, a clear sign of my fatigue due to yet another night of nightmares, amplified by the barely visible dark circles below my eyes. I lightly dabbed some concealer to that area to hide it, not keen on explaining my nightmares to my brother who was still unaware of them.

He had enough on his plate with his Alpha duties. My bad dreams weren't and shouldn't ever be any of his concern. Granted, they were getting more and more frequent recently but I was still going to hold off having to tell him for as long as possible. There was no need for him to worry that I was losing it with my frequent dreams of an imaginary, psychopathic killer while he had a whole other pack to care for.

I'll tell him soon. It'll be fine. I smiled at my reflection, reminding myself to get out of my grim mood, before excitedly rushing downstairs, the smell of food making my stomach rumble.

The moment I stepped outside; five pairs of arms wrapped around me. The lawn of our house was filled with people; all of them watching; amused, as five of the she-wolves from our pack strangled me to death. I laughed as they repeatedly wished me 'happy birthday'. They rushed me over to the table that held all the food. A plate filled with all kinds of meat was thrust into my hand before they ushered me to a table by the front of a makeshift stage someone had set up in the middle of the lawn.

Dylan stood smiling in the middle of it, a microphone in his hand. He nodded his head and everyone gathered around the house wished me 'happy birthday' at once. All I could do was smile. "Happy birthday, Chels. Oh, and in case you're still wondering where your gifts are, they're all in the living room." He said gesturing to the house, making everyone chuckle. "If anyone has something to say about our birthday girl, you can come on up, now." Sam; a she-wolf I'd known since childhood climbed up onto stage in a dress only she could ever pull off.

It was a bright red strapless design that fit snug against her body at all the right places, accentuating every curve. Her platinum, straight hair rested atop her obviously developed chest that was on the edge of spilling out of her dress. She spoke excitedly into the microphone about how pretty and nice I was.

I was almost inhaling the food as shifter after shifter climbed onto stage to give their speech. I was stuffed by the time my brother appeared in front of me. He flashed me a grin. "I would just like to wish you a Happy Birthday, Chels and," before he could finish, a message vibrated through my mind. We're being attacked.

The moment it came through, my brother snapped into Alpha mode. He began barking out orders, all the shifters being sent out to help the others who were already fighting. He grabbed me by the shoulders before I could run to join the others. "Chels, I need you to stay here with Dylan." My eyes widened at his words.

"No way, Jake! I can help, this is my pack too!" I said, narrowing my eyes. He pushed me into Dylan's arms and he pulled me, kicking and punching into the house before locking the front door. I turned on him instead. "Open the front door right now, Dylan! I am not staying out of the fight." Dylan held his hands out to me as if trying to calm me down with that pointless gesture.

"Chels, you need to stay here." He said calmly.

"Why?" I demanded.

"Jake needs to know that you're safe, in case anything happens." He replied. "You are his sister after all."

"No, Dylan. I need to be out there. I've lost my parents, I can't lose him too." I pleaded, my voice filled with panic at the thought of losing my brother.

"He ordered me to keep you here, and that is what I'll do." He stated, his voice leaving no room for argument.

"Fine, if you won't let me out, I'll just break the door down." I screeched, grabbing the handle. Before I could do anything, Dylan grabbed me around the waist and threw me onto the couch in the living room which was a good few feet away from the door.

"You are not going anywhere Chelsea. If you're out there, you'll just distract him. He'll be worried for your safety and not his own. It's better if you stay here, he'll be able to focus." I thought it over and decided that he was making sense, as infuriating as that was.

"Alright, fine. I'll stay here but you have to go." I ordered. He gave me a confused look. "Go out there and help him. He needs his Beta. It'll make me a little less worried, please Dylan."

"I can't leave you here, alone." He stated.

"I won't leave. I won't risk distracting my brother for my pride. But he needs you Dylan, you know he does." I said, the panic still evident in my voice. My wolf was growling at me to let her out but I kept her in check. Let me out! She screeched. We need to help Jake! She continued. We can't risk it! I snapped back. "Dylan, leave now! That's an order!" I growled, pushing as much of the power from my Alpha blood into my words as I could. I could feel my canines extend as the panic in me continued to build. If Dylan didn't leave soon, I would shift.

He bowed at my words, the power from my words crashing down on him. "As you wish," he stated before unlocking the door and jumping out, shifting into his black wolf mid-jump. I closed the door and locked it, knowing that it wouldn't be much help for fending off shifters. I ran up to my bedroom and locked that door as well. I opened up my mind and searched for Jake. Hey Jake, just wanted you to know that I'm at home and that I love you; please be careful. I said, before I blocked him out again; knowing he didn't need the distraction.

I grabbed the phone I'd gotten earlier, from my bed and held it to my chest as I sat down on the mattress. I opened the apps page to find that Jake had already installed a few for me. I spotted the Wattpad logo and opened the app, hoping that reading would calm down my increasingly agitated wolf.

When it didn't, I decided to lie down instead, knowing that if anyone entered the house, my heightened senses would be able to detect them. I closed my eyes, focusing on calming my wolf, though deep breaths seemed to only agitate her further.

***

I was semi-conscious when my wolf began to pace within me. I immediately sat up, my ears trying to pick out any sounds. I sniffed the air and noticed an unfamiliar smell wafting subtly through the air. It wasn't an animal, food or shifter I recognised but it made me unconsciously move to the door, as if it was calling to me. The soft shuffling of feet on the other side of the wall stopped me mid step right before my door flew off of its hinges.

This is my first book, so if you like it please leave a vote or comment.... thanks :)