Copyright 2022 © Isabella Florindo
This book is licensed for your enjoyment only. This book may not be copied or reposted. Thank you for respecting my hard work.
You can also find the original version of this book on my page.

*Please note many of the characters have changed*

The fiery sun beat down the black tar track.
I continued to push my body past its limits as I finished another lap around the training area.
I was moving so fast, my feet bouncing off the ground. To my left, I could hear the sound of my father cheering, "alright, Bia! See now that is a wolf who does their training!" I smiled cheekily as I finally came to a stop.
I was sweating profusely, the hairs on my forehead glued to my face. I dragged my feet against the ground onto the grass.

"Time?" I asked breathlessly, my lungs burning.

"5.8." My father looked down at the small stopwatch in his hand. "Nice job, kiddo." He congratulated me with a wide toothy grin. I signed in exhaustion. Letting my body fall back down onto the grass with a loud thud. My father stood over me, a smile still plastered on his face holding out a water bottle. Water droplets slid down the sides of the plastic bottle.

"I...can...do...better." I huffed out between long chugs of the cold water. "5 miles In 5 minutes-"

"5.8." I interrupted. He laughed "you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You were the first one done."

I closed my eyes and let the warmth from the blazing star cover me. The beads of sweat dripped down the sides of my face into the soft grass. I lay there quietly, the wind blowing gently past my ears. I could hear every footstep from the others finishing their miles.

"Wash up and get ready for..."  He didn't finish his statement; instead blew loudly through his whistle, the sound ripping through the calm summer air. So much for tranquility.

"Let's go! Come on! My grandmother can run faster than that!" My father's voice boomed.

"Alright, pops. I'll see you later." I laughed. I got up from the ground, adjusting, ready to take a much-needed shower. I pat my father on the back like he would do so many times when I was a child. "Tomorrow, I will finish in less than 5."

The pack-house wasn't far from the training tracks. The large three-floor house was home to some of the pack's top members, the alpha and luna, the beta, and the pack's top warriors.
I was the third overall warrior in the whole pack.

My room was on the second floor with the other warriors and the beta. I had recently moved into the pack house, and for the first time in 9 years, I finally could use the bathroom without the displeasure of hearing constant pounding on the door and demands to 'get out from my younger brothers.

I grabbed a fresh towel before striding into my bathroom for a much-needed shower.

As soon as the warm water hit my aching body, I sighed. I placed my hands against the cold tiles in front of me and allowed the water to run down my body soaking my blond curls.
As I reached over to grab my shampoo bottle, my wolf made a yelping noise in my head. It caused the hairs on the back of my neck to rise.

In confusion, I called out to her but received no response. I took a long whiff of the air around me, but nothing seemed ordinary. I called out again and waited for a reply, but when nothing occurred, I finished showering and getting dressed. Black jeans and a white top. Nothing too formal, but better than my usual sweats. Tonight was going to be the ceremony and dinner to commemorate the alpha's son taking over the pack. I was in no mood for it. I am not a fan of the soon-to-be alpha, Elijah. He, by no means, was a man I respected. Two years older than me cruel and immature man who enjoys nothing more than hurting others; physically, mentally, and emotionally. I knew his father delayed passing on the alpha title to him because of his ways. He enjoyed sleeping around with many of the she-wolves of the pack and neighboring ones, rubbing his birth-given alpha status in the noses of others and using it to manipulate the valuable she-wolves. Pathetic.

I was in the mood to lay in my bed for the remainder of the night, indulge in my favorite sugary snacks, and not attend any ceremony. But my duty as a pack warrior and my allegiance to my pack meant I had no other choice. My pop tarts would have to wait for another day to be devoured. Pop-tarts have always been my favorite since I was a little girl. And despite my father's protests that they were unhealthy. I never stopped eating them; Oreos, rice crispies, and delicious sugary cereal. Just the thought of sugary, unhealthy snacks was making my stomach growl.

I still have an hour before the ceremony. I thought to myself.

I went downstairs towards the large kitchen, straight to the giant freezer digging through, looking for any remotely appetizing that would kill my hunger.

"Jackpot!" I cheered, Finding a family-sized frozen pizza. Now, this is going to hold me until we eat dinner after the ceremony. Although I placed the frozen pizza into the oven waiting anxiously for it to be ready, my stomach grew violently.

Inside the pantry, behind the cereal, I hid my stash of pop tarts. Grabbing a strawberry, I happily opened the silver packaging, not bothering to heat it in the toaster. I took a large bite, almost moaning as the artificial strawberry sweetness coated my tastebuds. It was like tasting heaven itself. I took bite after bite until nothing was left but a few crumbs.

"Hi, sweet tooth, how are you?" My eyes widened in surprise. I looked up to meet my mother's gaze as she walked over to me. My dad and little brothers the following suit. She held back a laugh at my shocked face; my father's eyebrows knitted with disgust, and he had caught me red-handed.

Well, pop-tart handed.

My mother swooped me into her strong arms and hugged me tightly. She placed her head on my shoulder, and I wrapped my arms around hers. My mother was my height, with long curly brown hair that flowed down her waist. The most beautiful dark espresso skin and blue-green eyes you'd ever seen. She smelled of vanilla and Jasmine, and you could see her unilateral dimple when she smiled.

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and hugged her back. My father took the Pop-Tart wrapper from my hand. "You know the sugar alone could kill you." He stated.

"Dad, I'm twenty years old; you can't control what I eat. It's my body, and I will not- and will never- apologize for eating these gifts from the greater beings." He let out a chuckle, shaking his head in fake disappointment. My father towered over both my mother and me. He was fair-skinned with shaggy blonde hair and dark chocolate eyes.

"Your dad said you were first to finish your miles today." My mom smiled, squeezing me one more time before letting me go.

"Yea." That was all I replied, shrugging my shoulders. I glanced over at the timer on the oven. My stomach was still making growling noises.

"It's okay, Bia. Maybe next time you'll finish in five seconds." A squeaky voice spoke from behind my mother.

"Don't start, Carson." I snapped at my youngest brother, that stood behind my mom.

"Don't let him get to you, Bia. He's extra annoying today." My other brother Philip stated.

I had an older sister, twenty-two-year-old Emaline, who was away studying at a university abroad; she was my near complete opposite, and two younger brothers, Philip and Carson. Carson, an extreme extrovert, was my dad's mini and the most youthful eleven-years-old, While Philip, fourteen, was my mother's mini but a textbook introvert with light brown eyes and the complete opposite. 

The oven timer began ringing loudly, pulling my attention away from my thoughts. I turned off the stove before taking out the pizza with a hand mitt and placing it on the counter.

"Sweet pizza!" Carson reached over and grabbed one of the pre-cut slices. I gave him a look before taking one for myself. "Philip, you want a slice?" I asked my brother politely

"Yes, please." He gave me a wide toothy grin, just like my dad's. Then, before I could bite the slice again, my wolf began yipping loudly. I groaned, squinting my eyes in pain. She let out a howl, and I grabbed my temples, dropping the slice on the floor.

"Bianca, are you alright?" My mother asked, but I was unable to respond. So it went on for a while, and when I called out to her asking what was going on again no response.

"Are you okay?" This time it was my dad. "I'm alright, dad; It's just my wolf, April. She keeps yipping and howling at weird times. I'm not sure why." I huffed, she had finally stopped, but I felt her restlessness. My parents exchanged glances, but they didn't look worried.

April, for the last time, what the hell is going on?

Mate is near

...
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