Chapter 1: Suck it up, Princess!

Ten years later...

"Give it a rest, Hailey. You're going to break a limb again," Shea, my best friend, lectures me.

I ignore her and continue running on my hands toward the creek but everything becomes blurry when the blood rushes to my head. Still, I don't quit.

I see the familiar shoes in my path and try to dodge him. Unfortunately, he's quick at tripping me up. I lose my balance and fall flat onto the ground.

I roll over onto my back and stare up at the devil himself. "I hate you."

"You should watch where you're going next time," Dominic shrugs and then retreats with an award-winning smirk.

A new shadow fills my vision. I glance up to see the blond-haired, blue-eyed idiot next. It's none other than Marcus, Shea's man. "Guess you lost the challenge, which, in turn, means you don't get to leave the site with us today when we go hunt, which, in turn, means you go without food," he taunts.

I fold my arms across my chest and glare up at him as he hovers above me. "That's not fair. Domidick tripped me. You all saw it."

"Suck it up, princess," Dominic teases before he registers my words, his grin faltering. "Find a different nickname for me!"

"Your turn to suck it up, domiprick," I reply, using his own words against him. I glance up at him again, my vision still fuzzy. "Hold on. What happened to your face? It looks deformed." I pause. "Oh, wait..." I drawl in realization, "that's right, you always look like that. Never mind."

Dom rolls his eyes and flips me off.

Shea arrives at my side, worry embedded in her blue eyes. She shakes her head at me before helping me back up to my feet.

"Your mate and Dom are picking on me again," I complain to her, readjusting the white cap that I've always worn since a child. "I refuse to lose. I did not just run on my hands for that long for no reward."

"Marcus, let her go with you guys. Just this once," Shea pleads with him. "She's never left the territory before. Besides, we all know she'll go anyway, even if you say 'no'."

Marcus sighs. "Shea, I would, but here's the thing, while she was walking on her hands for the past thirty minutes, Dominic thought it would be a great time-saver to just go hunting anyway...and I agreed."

I open my mouth to insult them but no words come out.

"You mean to say..." I finally clear my throat, "...that while I was successfully winning the bet so that I go can hunt with you two, you two went off to go hunt without me anyway?"

"Yup. Pretty much," Dominic answers, unfazed.

"It was his idea! Kill him, not me," Marc points to Dominic in panic, hiding behind Shea.

I grit my teeth in frustration and clutch my hands into fists. "Well, one of you is about to die!" I growl, suddenly feeling the shaking coming on.

I try to suppress my inner-wolf but it's too late for that. Unfortunately for them, I begin to transform into my pure-black wolf.

"Sh*t! This is the fourth time this week that you guys have made her turn for no reason! Alpha is going to be so pissed, and I'm not taking the fall again!" Shea remarks, leaving the scene.

Most of the time—okay, almost all of the time—Shea is never part of the fights. However, we always make her take the blame because the rest of us can't afford to get into anymore trouble with thee Alpha. He'll kick us out of the pack. I can't afford to lose another pack. This pack has become my family.

"So...yeah...um..." Marcus stammers, changing into his wolf form before sprinting after Shea like the coward he is.

Marcus is the fastest in the pack so I don't even bother to go after him. Instead, I glance at my enemy. Dominic may be the strongest in the pack but I still think that I can take him.

"Say, Hailey..." he trails off to take in my wolf appearance, "did I mention how hot you're looking today?" he asks suggestively in order to save his own hide.

I growl in response.

"Okay, okay," he holds his hands up apologetically, "I lied. You still look like crap, but—"

I don't give him time to say anything more as I pounce on him, ready to snap him in half.

"As much as I know you adore me, Hailz," for some reason he continues talking, "I'd much prefer this position if you were in your human form."

Unable to control myself, I lunge at him again and bite his arm.

"Did you just..." he falters, his voice raising an octave as he processes it, "did you just bite me, b*tch?!"

I glance from the blood dripping down his arm to the expression of shock written on his face. I should really stop acting on impulse but I can't help it.

I manage to back away when I hear Marcus and Shea returning.

"Thank goodness you guys grew a conscious and came back for me! Just look at what she did to my arm after you two literally threw me to the wolves -- or wolf, in this case!" Dominic shows them his bite wound. "Shea, I command you to heal me!"

"You're already healing, Dom," Shea points out.

He ignores her and flicks me on the nose. "Stupid, violent mutt!"

The nose of the wolf is the most sensitive spot and Dominic knows this. I whimper and he laughs at my expense. I prepare to jump on him for him a second time but before I can, I'm suddenly yanked back.

I turn around and snarl at Marcus and Shea who are behind me. I can feel myself being choked. I'm aware that Marcus must have slipped on the wire around my neck while I was distracted. It stings.

The wire is made of silver, every werewolf's weakness. I can't control my wolf at all. I'm only able to turn at random, but then I don't know how to transform back, hence the Alpha's idea to use silver wiring on me. It triggers my change and I automatically turn back to my human form.

Getting severely injured is thee only other thing that can turn me, or any other werewolf, back into human form. I guess I prefer the sting of the silver wire.

"I'm sorry, Dom," I apologize, coming to my senses as I shift back to my original state.

"Don't sweat it," he laughs it off and ruffles my hair.

I swat his hand away with an icy glare, suddenly remembering that this is all his fault.

Thee Alpha says that it's a negative thing to use such a powerful emotion -- rage, in this case -- to channel my wolf. He's been looking for alternatives, but nothing else seems to work.

The characteristic traits we're born with are known to heighten when we channel our inner-wolf. That's why it can be dangerous for me to turn wolf with absolutely no control. My natural impulsivity is increased as a wolf, which means I do more stupid things -- a prime example would be biting Dominic on the arm.

"I sure as hell hope you bit your own arm, Dominic."

It's great timing from Alpha Brendan.

"Nope, it was all Shea again," Dominic insists, covering for me. "You know how she is."

Judging by the look on his face, thee Alpha isn't buying it. "Sure, and that's why the leash is around Hailey, right?" he asks while snapping the wire from my neck before grabbing me by the arm and Dominic by the ear.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" we both whine simultaneously as he begins to drag us towards his headquarters...again.

"Marcus and Shea, follow," he commands, leaving no room for argument.

"Way to go, Domisick," I mumble as thee Alpha, quite literally, throws us into his office.

"Oh, I'm so sorry you bit my freaking arm!" Dominic whisper-yells at me just as Shea and Marcus enter the room.

Thee Alpha shuts the door behind us as we all take seats. He doesn't even spare us a second glance as he takes a seat of his own behind his table.

I can just feel the rage pulsating off of him in waves of fury.

He sucks in a deep breath as if preparing himself. Finally, he meets our gazes.

We all smile sheepishly in response.

"So, who wants to volunteer and explain what happened out there?" he asks us.

"Me! Pick me!" Dominic sticks his hand in the air and waves it repeatedly in thee Alpha's face.

Alpha Brendan sighs before gesturing to Dominic to proceed.

"I was just idly passing by, minding my own business, when out of nowhere, this little she-devil..." Dom points at me, "attacks me head-on, and even though I was defenseless and in human form."

Thee Alpha nods before turning to the rest of us, an expectant look in his eyes. "So, anyone going to tell me the truth then, apart from that complete horse sh*t?"

I immediately avert my eyes to the floor. Marcus taps his chin in mock-thought. Shea begins to play with her fingertips.

Thee Alpha picks up on this and examines our expressions.

I already know he's going to pick me -- he always picks me.

"How about you, Hailey?"

"I'm good, your Alphaness," I dismiss him.

He narrows his gaze.

I laugh nervously. "I mean, I'm good...at explaining...if that's what you want."

"Suck-up!" Dominic coughs from beside me.

I shoot him a glare that could kill.

"Go on," thee Alpha insists.

I start from the very beginning and reluctantly explain it all to him a single breath.

I'm expecting him to be most annoyed with me, seeing I did the most damage, but, instead, he scowls at Marcus and Dom. "You two told her she could leave the pack site without my consent?"

Marcus shifts in his seat and scratches the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. "Well, uh...you see, uh...kind of," he concludes weakly.

"Yes or no, Marc?" thee Alpha asks again, unimpressed.

"Yes," Marc admits and then quickly adds, "but only because Dom suggested it and threatened my life if I didn't agree to it."

Dom whips his head in Marc's direction. "Liar! I didn't threaten your life but I'm doing it now! You better--"

"Enough," thee Alpha silences him. "Is what Marc says true?" he prods Dominic for a legitimate answer.

Dom starts whistling a tune, looking elsewhere, trying to appear innocent.

"We all know you're guilty," Shea voices everyone's thoughts.

"Oh, come on, Brendan!" he finally snaps. "She's the only wolf to never leave the pack site. It's not fair. I just wanted her to experience a chance at freedom."

I'm stunned–Dominic just defended me.

Alpha Brendan glances my way with a more soft expression but it's quickly replaced with a stony glare as his gaze moves back to his younger brother. "Dominic, you may be the Beta of this pack but you're well aware that I'm the only one who authorizes who leaves the pack site. You also know that I've never permitted Hailey's absence from the site for even a second."

"Well, why not?" I blurt out. "Everyone else gets to leave at some point or another. Even the kids leave during school hours to learn how to hunt."

Dom snickers, finding it amusing.

Moping, I add, "I've never left the site for the past ten years."

Brendan tries to console me. "Hailey—"

"No!" I cut him. "Stop feeding me excuses and give me the real reason behind keeping me here the entire time."

Brendan seems taken aback by my attitude. "Don't forget who you're speaking to, Hailey. It would seem I've been far too lenient on you."

"Lenient?!" I rage in disbelief. "If anything, it's been the opposite!"

I shake my head in irritation. I'm not a child anymore.

A warm hand settles on my knee. I already know that it belongs to Dominic. As much of a nuisance he can be, he's always there to comfort me when I need it.

Thee Alpha's eyes begin to blaze in fury. "Leave," he orders firmly, and to no one in particular.

We all stand up eagerly.

Thee Alpha's gaze locks onto me again. "Not you. You can stay," he says in an authoritative tone.

I reluctantly sit back down.

Shea gives me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder as she makes her way out of the room along with the other two. As soon as the door shuts behind them, Brendon focuses his attention on me.

"We need to talk," he breathes out quietly but fiercely.

"Great, because those four words are everyone's favorite," I mutter.

If he heard my little comment, he doesn't make it known.

"The reason why I can't allow you out of the set perimeters is because you have absolutely no control over your wolf," he reminds me.

"That's pathetic reasoning."

"Oh?" he grumbles. "So, you're telling me that it's 'pathetic reasoning' to be worried about you hurting yourself, or someone else, due to your lack of control? If that's not a good enough reason for you, then I don't what is."

"Well, when you put it like that..." I trail off, contemplating his words. I've never really thought about it from his perspective.

"If the smallest of things goes wrong with your transformation, we could all lose you. You could even put the lives of others in danger. It's a risk I'm not willing to take. Not for you. Not for anyone. I know it seems unfair but would you believe me if I said that I'm just looking out for you?" he asks me. "And for the pack?"

"Nope," I answer with brazen assurance.

I'm met with silence.

"Okay," I start talking again, "so, now that we've had this little one-to-one chat, and do I in no way feel closer to you, I should get going..." I begin to stand up but he gives me such a stern look that I quickly take my seat again.

"I guess I can hang for a bit."

"Good," he replies, stifling a grin.

"What else is there to discuss?" I groan and bury my head in my hands, not feeling up for more bonding with thee Alpha. Call me crazy but I prefer to keep my distance from him at all costs so that I can avoid exactly this. It's too bad that I always end up in his office at some point or another.

He pushes his black hair out of his eyes and leans forward. "I know I can be hard on you sometimes but it's only because I have a lot of faith in you."

I scoff at this, unbelieving.

"Scoff all you like, it's true," he says in a solemn voice. "The way I found you all those years ago...that was enough to prove to me that you can handle just about anything that comes your way."

"Care to remind me?" I ask, even though I can never forget. I just need him to repeat the story. Maybe if I hear it again, I'll figure out the missing puzzle piece to my life. Maybe if I listen carefully, something will click and I'll figure out why I'm the only werewolf who has no control over her own wolf.

"Heard the howls. Ran toward the noise. Found you bloodied and battered. You were barely alive but the pulse was there. Took you in. Here we are today," he summarizes how I landed up in the Oak Wood II pack. "Look, Hailey, I know it bothers you -- having no control over your wolf. I think it's linked to the day I found you. Something inside you went wrong and you lost control over your inner-wolf. But I believe we can fix it."

"Maybe if I could see the place where you found me—"

"We've been over this. You can't go," he says simply, cutting me off.

"But—"

"No, Hailey!" he says sharply and bangs his fists on the table. "It's too dangerous."

"You know that you can't wrap me up in cotton wool for the rest of my life. You have to let me live, Brendan," I plead.

My ringtone interrupts us before he can reply. I send him an apologetic look and take the call, only to find that it's Dominic asking where I left our usual stash of candy. "It's under the fridge, you dweeb! You couldn't have just waited until I got back?"

"Who in their right mind hides it under the fridge?" Dominic responds rudely.

"I do!" I yell and then hang up on him before turning back to the Alpha with an innocent smile intact. "That was just an idiot."

"So, Dom?" he guesses correctly, cracking a small smile.

I nod.

"You know, most wouldn't address their Alpha by their first name, nor would they answer a call when in a meeting with their Alpha, but I guess you function differently," he tells me.

I nod again. "Are we done here?"

"You can go."

I turn my back on him and head for the door but then stop in my tracks to ask the question I always find myself asking him. "Did you maybe—"

"No, Hailey. My answer remains the same as before. Ten years ago when I found you, I found you completely alone. There was no one else around."