Chapter 1
Kaylee
All great stories are made great because they contain great characters who face great conflict. I often find myself wondering if that’s what my story is meant to be. I’ve got the conflict part down, but I don’t see myself as some heroine in some epic tale, but who knows…maybe I’m just the supporting character in someone else’s great story.
Oh heavens, where are my manners? Hi, my name is Kaylee Oshay and I’m the youngest child of Mickey and Lira Oshay. Now, my family comes from a long line of betas and as such, we’re known to be strong, loyal and proud…but that’s not me…not entirely. I mean, I’m loyal to my pack and my family, but I’m much smaller than most in our pack in human form and my wolf is…different, so most question my strength and while I’m proud of my wolf, it’s a quiet pride, the kind that doesn’t require boasting or bragging.
I’ve been looked down on by the other members of our pack for the entire seventeen years of my life, but tomorrow is a new day, the day I turn eighteen. Trust me, every unmated male wolf in the pack is terrified of me coming of age because not a damn one wants to be stuck with the beta’s runt daughter as their mate, but I’ll let you in on a little secret…I don’t want to be mated to any of them either.
The only reason that tomorrow holds such great significance to me is because tomorrow is when I graduate from my fighter training, something all the other trainees thought would never happen. Sure, I may be small, nearly six inches smaller than the average she-wolves in our pack, but I’m fast, my senses seem to be more heightened than the other wolves here and my tracking skills are unmatched by anyone in our pack, aside from my father, not even our alpha can match me when it comes to tracking.
Oh yes, a little more about my wolf who fits in here about as well as I do, she came to me early…as in four years early. In the shifter world, most wolves shift for the first time at eighteen unless they’re of alpha blood, then they’ll generally shift at sixteen unless forced to shift sooner which only happens when the current alpha dies. My wolf, Kira, began connecting with me at the age of ten, though my family thought I simply had an imaginary friend, and then we shifted for the first time at fourteen. With this being something completely unheard of for our kind, my parents decided it was best to keep it under wraps.
If her early arrival wasn’t enough to make her different, well, her appearance surely would be. The wolves from our pack are all a rusty red and brown, but not Kira. My special girl is what my dad said is a chimera. The entire left side of her body is solid black with her left eye being a pale blue and the entire right side is the same fiery red as my hair in human form with her right eye being a silverish grey.
Usually a wolf’s eyes are golden, but with Kira, our eyes are the same in human and wolf form, but rather than my wolf’s eye color bleeding into mine when she’s close to the surface, my eyes simply emit a soft glow. While my dad says the other pack members may not react well to how different she is, I think she’s perfect. I guess it helps that the pack doesn’t really react well to how different I am either, so I’m used to not fitting in.
So, a few basics about me, I’m only five foot five, my body is curvier than most of the she-wolves here, my hair is a fiery red instead of the rusty auburn and strawberry blonde shades of my packmates, my eyes, the two tone eyes that aren’t green or hazel like my packmates, actually match Kira’s which, as you guessed it, isn’t ‘normal’.
Something far more important than my looks, is my plans for after I graduate from fighter training. I truly am hoping I don’t find my mate tomorrow because what I really want to do is travel to my aunt’s pack in the United States and my dad agreed that if I don’t find my mate by the end of the graduation ceremony tomorrow, he’ll have me flown out the following morning.
So, I’ve officially made it to my graduation ceremony and as of right now, I haven’t found my mate! As you could imagine, I’m pretty stoked! My mom and grandma spent the last three hours styling my hair that currently sits at my hips when it’s curled, doing my make up that I’m glad they kept more on the natural side, giving me the full mani/pedi experience and helping me to get dressed. Now we’re piling into my dad’s SUV and heading to the grand hall at the packhouse for the ceremony, but don’t worry, I already have my bags packed and ready to go for tomorrow!
“So, Kaylee, are you excited? You might meet your mate tonight! There are members of other packs here to support their family members and friends who are graduating the program, so who knows, one of them could be your mate!” My mom, goddess bless her heart, is far too hopeful, but I know it’s partly due to her not wanting me to move so far away.
“Truthfully, not really. I know you’re worried about me leaving tomorrow mom, but I’m honestly really excited to travel and see new places. You know I’m not looking for a mate here. No one here treats me with respect and I’m tired of being treated like an outcast in my own pack. At least if the wolves in Aunt Linny’s pack treat me like one, they’d be right.” She gives me a sympathetic look, the same one she always gives me. She knows how poorly I’m treated by the members of our pack.
“Well, we’re here. I guess we’ll see what happens.” My dad, the saint he is, sounds as unhappy about the idea of me finding a mate here as I am. We all climb out of the car and make our way to the front of the packhouse, waiting with the crowds of people that are slowly making their way inside. It takes almost fifteen minutes to get in and make it to our seats, but before I can even sit down, a scent slams into me like a brick wall…citrus and pine. I release a groan of pure agitation as my eyes scan the room, automatically seeking out the source of the scent until my eyes land on an unfamiliar pair of green eyes, but they aren’t looking at me in a way you would expect your mate to look at you…though I doubt I’m giving him a loving look either.
“Oh, heavens! You found him!” I shoot my mom a stern glare then look back to where the man was only to find that he’s no longer there. I shake off my wolf’s whimpering and force myself to sit down, but my mom can’t just leave things alone.
“So? Where is he?!” I can’t tell if I’m feeling embarrassed or irritated by his vanishing act at this point.
“I don’t know, okay? One second, he was there and the next, he vanished. Just forget about it. Clearly, he decided he’d rather run away than have me as a mate and besides, they’re getting ready to start.” She must see something in my expression that warns her away from continuing because she gives me a stiff nod and shuts her mouth.
Within ten minutes of the end of our conversation, the alpha is standing on the raised stage, giving a speech about pride, honor and loyalty then another ten minutes pass before they start calling names to the stage. Something I didn’t mention to my parents, or to anyone really, is that Alpha Finn spoke with me yesterday to let me know I was officially graduating at the head of the class…something they all are going to find out right…now…
“It’s my absolute pleasure to announce our top fighter for this class. This is a wolf who’s shown integrity, strength, honor, loyalty, kindness and above all, skill…Kaylee Oshay!” I stand up and make my way to the stage, unable to stop myself from returning the warm smile that Finn is flashing my way. He hands me the certificate with his left hand and shakes my hand with his right, but I get distracted by those damn green eyes again. This time I actually take a good look at the man they’re attached to and, of course, he has to be devastatingly handsome…well…aside from his scowl that’s firmly etched across his face.
“Thank you, Alpha Finn, for all your hard work and dedication to our training. Without your guidance, I wouldn’t be half the fighter I am today.” I give a respectful bow then make my way off the stage. Rather than return to my seat, I make my way to the door and head straight out of the packhouse and head for the dirt road that will lead me home.
I knew I didn’t want to find a mate today, but I didn’t realize until now that part of the reason was that I feared being rejected by my mate…and rightfully so it would seem. Well, screw that and screw him. He was obviously unhappy with finding out I’m his mate, so the way I see it, my plans aren’t going to change. Tomorrow, I head to the United States to join my aunt’s pack in Oregon and my mate can return to wherever the hell he came from.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to sleep while your wolf is whining, whimpering and longing for your mate who doesn’t even want you, but if you haven’t, let me tell you…it sucks…ten out of ten wouldn’t recommend this shit storm to anyone. I slept for an hour…and not even all at once either! I finally gave up around four this morning and decided to do a final walk through to make sure I have everything I need then down a cup of coffee…or five. My dad is finally up just before seven and after a round of teary goodbyes, and a round of arguing with my mom who insists I need to figure out who my mate is and find him, we’re finally heading to the airport.
“Alpha Finn is sending you on the pack’s jet, but he said there’ll be four other passengers with you. I want you to text me before takeoff and then I expect a call when you land. This is a chance for a fresh start, princess. Don’t take it for granted. Goddess, we’re going to miss you so much.” My dad has never been a sentimental man and I used to think he might actually be allergic to emotions, but I certainly don’t miss the glistening in his eyes or the heavy emotion in his tone right now.
“I’m going to miss you guys too, daddy, but I need to do this. If I were to stay here, I feel like I would suffocate.” He reaches across the center console and grabs my hand, giving it a firm squeeze.
“I know, sweetheart. I always knew you were meant for more than our little world here. I hope you find what you’re looking for, Kaylee, I really do.” Just as he gives me a final squeeze, he turns onto the road to the airstrip at the edge of our pack lands.
It takes ten minutes to get my luggage loaded, everything but my laptop case because there’s no way in hell that isn’t coming on the jet with me, and after a very painful goodbye, I make my way to the pack’s jet and start climbing the metal stairs. You know how fate can sometimes be a complete bitch? Well, she’s definitely being one right now, a total twat waffle in fact. The second I reach the middle of the staircase, I pick up on the unmistakable scent of citrus and pine. Well, looks like this is going to be a long, tense flight!
“Hello, Ms. Oshay! My name is Maura and I’ll be the flight attendant taking care of you and the other passengers on this flight. Is there anything I can get you before we take off?” This she-wolf is just like the wolves in my pack where looks are concerned, tall, lean and pretty much perfect, but the difference is…she’s not looking at me like I’m some social leper.
“It’s very nice to meet you. Could I possibly get a bottle of water for now and once we’ve taken off, a cup of coffee would be great.” Her smile never falters and she even gives a slight bow of her head.
“Of course! I’ll get that for you right away! Please, find an empty seat and make yourself comfortable.” I move past her, readjust the strap to my laptop case and move into the seating area where I easily spot the current source of my misery…my mate. He’s sitting in the back on the left with two other males while a female sits across from them with her eyes glued to her phone. I settle into one of the seats in the front that has a table in front of it and get my laptop set up before pulling out my phone to text my dad.
Me: Hey, I’m settled into my seat and ready for takeoff. I’ll call when I land. I love you guys!
I have no issue connecting to the plane’s wifi and decide to first send an email to my aunt to let her know we’re leaving and then email Finn to thank him for flying me out on the pack’s jet instead of making me use the crowded and unpleasant human flight services. I jump right into browsing through the email my aunt sent me last night with the information for her pack’s fight training schedule, patrol signups and the guard signup requirements the second I’ve fastened my belt. It’s clear that the Lone Ridge Pack is more structured and has stricter training than my pack which I’m definitely looking forward to.
“Here you go, Ms. Oshay.” Maura sets a bottle of water on the table, her bright smile still present.
“Please, call me Kaylee and thank you so much, Maura.” I can tell by the way her smile widens that she’s not used to people being so polite and informal with her.
“You’re very welcome, Kaylee. I’ll bring your coffee out as soon as we reach cruising altitude.” I thank her before returning my attention to my laptop screen. Even with my wolf’s incessant whining, whimpering and pacing, I manage to skim through everything…even with half my senses being drawn to that damn scent.
We’re eleven hours into our flight, having already stopped to refuel two hours ago, and Maura has made sure my coffee cup stays topped off and I’ve spent most of the trip viewing the pack layout and patrol routes for Lone Ridge, marking places where the patrol route isn’t properly covering and weak points in their patrols…it’s kind of a hobby of mine I guess. This is something I did with Alpha Finn regularly, though I’m not harboring any expectations for the Lone Ridge alpha to be so open to suggestions, especially not those of a newcomer who barely turned eighteen.
