Lesley's POV

"Leave her alone, Trevor!" Amanda shoots, trying to come between us, but she'll soon realize that getting between a rock and a hard place, isn't a place where you want to go.

"Trevor," Fraya kindly smirks, making my blood run cold before she turns to her brother. "Why don't you get Lesley to tell her friend, what she really thinks about her?"

Trevor smiled. His eyes wandered from me to Amanda. I can see her flinch. I knew she was still heartbroken and felt like an idiot for falling for Trevor. But watching him look at her now, with such content about abusing her for his own entertainment, makes me want to cut his eyes out. Son of a---! Too bad that wasn't actually an insult in the werewolf world!

I could almost see Amanda's heart sink, while she bravely stands her ground. Stupid idiot! Why didn't she get away while she could? If not by Fraya or Trevor, she would definitely get hurt by me, because my thoughts of her at the moment weren't that high!

"What a great idea," he stated, looking back at me with an evil grin, that I wish could slap off his face.

Stupid, stupid alpha command!

Stupid, stupid omega rank!

"Tell us, Lesley," he continued, while anger and the fire of the command wash over my body. "Tell us what you really think about your best friend?"

"She's a slut and a backstabbing bitch," I answered, unable to resist the alpha command. I cursed at myself mentally. I hated how little resistance I could put up against my uncle's stupid command. Even something as dumb as doing what Trevor was saying.

"And dumb as a doorknob, if she falls for something as stupid as Trevor's lame pick-up lines," I continued the murder.

"Hey!" Trevor exclaimed, pissed by the insult; but hey! He asked for the truth. His hand collided with my cheek, causing me to stumble backward. It stung and tears were pressing against my eyelids. But I bit it down. Like hell, I was going to cry! Like hell, I was going to let them see, that they got to me!

"Lesley?"

Amanda sounds heartbroken, and from the corner of my eye, I could see her take a step toward me. But I couldn't face her. I wanted to hold her, hug her, and comforter her. But I can't! If I move, I'll break. I'll cry and they'll know they broke me. And I will never let them know! I can't let them know.

"Oh, baby! Did that hurt?" Fraya smirked evilly, taking a step toward Amanda with a fake pout. "You know she's under an alpha command; she can't lie."

Amanda threw me one last glance. I wanted to say sorry and explain, but. If she stuck around, Goddess only knew what they would do to her. The best thing for her was to get away from here. But knowing Amanda and her guilty conscience, that wasn't gonna happen anytime soon. So I did the only thing I could do at this point: I avoided her pleading eyes with a cold shoulder and an "I don't care"-shrug. Worked like magic every time I needed to push someone away.

Amanda took a step back, her eyes watering up. Without a word she turned around and ran away. My heart was bleeding and everything inside me howled to go and comfort her. I felt like shit! Worse even, because---reasons, bitches! I just had to explain it to her later. Hopefully, she'd give me a chance to explain.

"Well, that was fun," Fraya laughed alongside her brother before they both turned their attention to me. And I'd be lying if I said, that that didn't send a cold shiver down my spine. "Come on! I have an idea."

Oh shit! I was so fucked!

Trevor ordered me to follow and like that, I followed two of my worst enemies into the forest. Apparently, Fraya had seen something here this morning that had given her a 'good' idea. I shuttered at the thought alone. Her 'good' ideas, usually meant I was going to get nightmares .

Once we finally stopped, my heart dropped. There, before me, was the biggest pile of horse feces – yes! That's bloody horse shit! – I'd ever seen!

I had to swallow the vile gulp that threatened to exit my stomach, while I turned all the colors of disgust. Please, I begged mentally, hoping that they at least had a minimum amount of humanity within them not to do this!

Boy, was I wrong.!

Fraya smirked while taking off her gold ring and throwing it in. My heart sank and my stomach turned. I did not like the looks of this!

"Tell her to pick it up," she told her brother, who never had any problems with taking orders from his sister. She then turned to me, with the biggest, meanest grin on her perfect little face.

"With her mouth!"

My heart sank. WHAT?! Did I hear her right? No! No way! I shook my head, taking a step back. That was just--- That was disgusting! Beyond disgusting! That was---!

"I like the way you think, sister," Trevor agreed, taking a hungry look at me; loving to see me humiliated and in pain. Please! Please no! Without thinking I'd taken another step back, my heart skipping several beats. Oh, goddess! Please no!

"You heard her: Pick it up! With your mouth!"

NO!

I wanted to yell and shout. There's no way I was going to.!

But the damn alpha command burned in my veins. The more I tried to resist, the more it burned. My entire body felt like it was on fire, like invisible hands we pulling at my core. Chains at the very essence of my soul, my wolf, were pulling me to do as he told me to.

I heard my wolf whimper, trying to fight it too, but it was useless. We were no match against an alpha; not anymore.

Before I knew it, I was on my hands and knees, leaning over the fresh pile of shit. My entire being shivered in anger and disgust. The stench of ammonia, earth, and digested grass filled my nostrils, making me gag. This only caused my so-called cousins to laugh in delight.

Damn it! Now the tears also pressed against my eyelids! Why? Why did I have to be so weak? Why couldn't I just tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine? Why was I so useless? Why was I the one, having to pick up a ring from a piece of horse shit?! If my parents were alive, I'd never ask them to do something like this! I would never do anything to them! Why did I deserve this? Why.?!

"Hurry up!" Trevor suddenly said, pressing his heavy food on my back, pushing me forward. Before I could brace myself, I was launched forward into the pile.

Soft, cold, and smelling like---shit!

I jumped up, gasping for air. My face was covered in shit, making them laugh in delight. My heart felt like someone had stabbed it.

Fucking idiots!

Fucking humiliation!

Fucking life!

Clenching my hands, I'd made up my mind. Bloody hell.!

Without thinking, I launched forward--- and picked up the bloody ring!

WITH. MY. MOUTH!

Before the baboons knew what hit them, I spit the ring at Fraya, grabbing fistfuls of shit.

"HEY!"

I didn't stick around to see my masterpiece. I threw it at them, aiming at their faces, and ran! Covering my ears, I ran, as I'd never run before, heading for our pack. I bolted into the showers of the old training arena, knowing that no one ever came there any more. Still coving my ears, I sneaked a peak out the window. The only way to disobey an alpha command was if you couldn't hear it! I saw Frays and Trevor coming out of the woods, and I quickly stuck my fingers even deeper into my ears. I'm not risking anything.

They looked pissed! Fraya jumping up and down like a fucking toddler. But they didn't stick around to look for me. Trevor took one sniff at himself and they both ran for the packhouse.

I sighed in relief, but it only came out as a hard sob. I felt relieved, but my entire body was shaking in horror and disgust. Why? Why?! Just FUCKING why?!

I stomped my feet and punched the floor. Why? Why? I screamed as the tears ran down my face, burning my chin like the traitors they were. The anger and frustration came rushing over me like a tidal wave, crushing my walls like paper-mâché. Why did this keep happening to me? When would it end? I should just end my life and get it fucking over with!

This was not worth it!

This was not.

I took a deep breath and rested my head against the cold wall. Trying to take in some calming deep breaths. If I left, who would then take care of the pack? Beta Sean was amazing at his job, but he couldn't do everything alone. I had to be here. For my dad.

"I will be ok," I muttered, taking one final deep breath to calm down. "No matter what, I will be fine!"

Saying this always calmed me down. My memory flew back to that day, when.

Nope! No time for that, I thought although the thought alone sent a shiver down my spine and somehow made the scar, that ran across my back ace in longing for my big omega brother.

I somehow got back to my feet, although my body felt completely drained of energy. I headed to the showers. There was no warm water, but after a while, a cold shower was just what I needed. Leftover sobs and a strip later I was clean and only a small fragment of the bad shit smell lingered. Thank the gods! Now for the harder part.

I needed a change of clothes. Who were all in the attic! So, I planned a little route. If I got to the back of the packhouse, I could sneak in through the laundry room, wash my clothes and use the backstairs to get upstairs. From there, I didn't need to pass any of the bedrooms/bathrooms to get to the attic.

And so, I was off! In literally nothing but my panties! Thank the gods, that everybody was either on patrol or at work/school at this time of day!

The second I was inside I threw my clothes into the washer. As soon as the wretched stench of shit was behind closed doors, I finally took in a deep sigh of relief. So far so.

That's when I smelled it. A smell that sent a shiver down my spine. It smelt---nice and. safe?! Like when you used to wake up in the morning as a child and had just gotten to the waking up part. The sweet scent of the morning and warm beds. And then you realize that you're still lying between your parents; their scent and warmth still surrounding you and you feel like you're in the safest place on earth. That was the feeling I got, as it entered my nostrils.

And for some reason, my first instinct was to check if the fabric softener might be leaking or something. But that had a strong smell of flowers – lavender, because that was my aunt's favorite (guess what fragment ISN'T my favorite?). And the bottle was intact. Then what the.?

"Excuse me?"

The voice was deep and soft. Oozing with power and authority. It belonged to a male and I didn't recognize it. And I knew every single member in this pack, so either someone had hit puberty, or there was a stranger in the laundry room.

Guess which one I thought it was?

"Yup?", I asked in my normal chirpy voice and popped out of the cabinet. The cabinet was behind the door so even if someone walked in, I was still hidden. But since I knew everyone here and I don't have a nudity problem (cured for that some rapes ago), I made my presence known to the invading man; knowing he'd probably run into the door, scrambling out of here the second he laid eyes on me--- But damn it! Where did that smell come from?! It was driving me nuts at this point!

The man stepped in and I turned around to face---

My face was drained of all color as my heart sank to the bottom of my belly. Of course, it had to be a complete stranger!

The next second, I understood two things: I was butt naked in front of a high-ranking wolf from a different pack. And the mouthwatering scent came from him!

I looked up at him. Our eyes met and that – as they say – was that!

Mate!

It was my wolf. I hadn't heard her voice in ages, but it was her alright! And although the word wasn't more than a faint whisper, I still knew exactly what it meant.

Lesley's POV

I actually wanted to laugh.

He looked into my eyes, and stared at my boobs – eyes widened! Tried to look me in the eyes again but failed and took another long glare at my boobs! Eyes growing even bigger!

"You do realize that the mate-bond is created by looking into your mate's eyes, not her boobs, right?" I grinned, trying not to laugh out loud. Oh yeah! I had really big boobs! My nickname among the humans I knew in town, was "Big D". Guess what that stands for.

"So-sorry!" he stuttered, blushing like a virgin while trying to/not to look away. "Wh-why are you naked?"

"Because I'm washing my clothes," I answered as a matter of fact-ly. What? It's not like I could tell him that I was trying to avoid my cousins, because of my uncle's stupid alpha command! "Why else would I be in the laundry room?"

He looked at me again with a half "ups"/"make sense" expression, before his eyes glide back down my body. Damn! He's so cute, not trying to look. I smirked, once I caught his eye again. If possible, he blushes even more, once he realized he was caught red-handed. With a scowl, he took off his jacket and handed it to me. I didn't really question it and just put it on, that way I at least was dressed. It covered most of me, but with my size, it barely reached my thighs.

His scent drifted back into my nostrils, sending shivers down my spine. Good grief! I'd never smelled anything this nice before! It was a mixture of his cologne and the smell from before. Like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

"What happened?" he then suddenly asked, gesturing to my burned abdomen. I immediately knew what he meant. And like a self-defense mechanism, I lied.

"Cooking class," I answered hoping he didn't know, that that's not a subject in high school anymore. Damn this werewolf aging thing! He didn't look a day over 20! And for some reason, my first thought is that he is WAY out of my league! As in look up the definition of "tall, dark, and handsome" and there is a picture of this fucking guy. His eyes are a vibrant icy, blue color, that dominated most of his facial structure and which I find absolutely mesmerizing and beautiful beyond description. His jawline is perfectly enhanced by the perfect 5 o'clock shadow and his pitch-black hair is cut short at the sides and long on top, with a style that makes him look like a model from fucking photoshop! And oh god! I haven't even gotten to his body yet! I know he was shamelessly eye-raping me, but holy virgin Marry, I wanted that on top of me!

His eyes meet mine again and I can feel my wolf jump back at the intense stare and almost disappear to the back of my consciousness.

Seriously?! I thought to myself. The whole mate thing is entire because of our wolves and she goes into hiding the second she finds hers? She's even so far back, I bet my mate's wolf can't even sense her! Which would explain the confused look on his face right now.

"Lesley?!"

We're both snapped out of our trance and turned to face the intruder. My heart sank and my skin turned to ice. Fuck!

"What are you doing here? You know what? Never mind!", my uncle's voice thunders into the room and way too quickly his judgmental and angry eyes find mine and I know, he's going to make the rest of my day hell! "Now you're here, get upstairs and help your Luna with her routine." I nodded and lowered my eyes, as I passed the both of them. But before I reached the stairs, I felt Uncle grip my hands, pulling my face dangerously close to his; his warm and disgusting breath on my skin. "Mess up, and I'll make you pay!"

"Yes, alpha," I answered, trying to hold back a shiver down my spine. I could still sense my mate close by, but I didn't expect him to do anything. No one in their right mind went up against an alpha.!

"Don't touch her like that!"

A deep animalistic growl filled the room. I snapped my head around and saw my mate fuming with anger, taking a threatening step toward my uncle. And to my utter glee, he flinched away for a second. But that's all it was. A second! He regained his posture and with a slight shove, pushed me up the stairs. Another warning growl rumbled in my mate's chest, but this time Uncle Harry was prepared for it.

"I find it's the only thing that works on her," he answered, sending me another death glare. Great. I was now going to pay for this! But somehow, I was still surprised by the way my mate had stood up for me. But then again, why wouldn't he? He was my mate, right? The one who would never hurt me, right?

"She's completely impossible to control," my uncle continued cold as ice, while I hid at the top of the stairs. My heart was racing. What was he going to say to uncle? Would he accept me? Would he.?

"She's my mate!"

My heart jumped and so did my wolf. YES! He said it! I'm his mate! He acknowledged us! I'm getting out of here.!

"Excuse me?!"

And that's when the sudden realization hit me. Not the surprise or disbelief in my uncle's voice. Or that Trevor and Fraya were coming out of their rooms; also listening in on the conversation with utter disbelief and hate on their faces.

No...

I was going to leave my father's pack!

"That girl," my mate said again, this time power was raiding off his voice. "She's my mate!"

I heard Fraya make some lame-ass comment, but I didn't stick around to find out what it was. I turned down the hall and went up to the attic. The key to the door was long gone, but I felt somehow safe once I closed it behind me. My heart was racing, and my head was spinning. I felt weak in my knees and before I knew it, I was stumbling down on my wood floor bed. Everything still rushing in and out of my brain.

I know that it's customary for a she-wolf to leave her pack if her mate is from a different pack, but. This time was different. I was going to leave everyone. They'd be left in their own misery just like Amanda! Who was going to help them? Who was going to protect them?

It had always been my responsibility to make sure everybody was ok. That everybody got what they needed. I was the one who went against my uncle's stupid ranking system and made sure loans were paid and medication got ordered. I was even Uncle Harry's punching bag, so he didn't hurt anybody else. Who was going to take care of my father's pack, if I was gone.?

Lesley!

It was again my uncle's voice, that snapped me out of my trance. I jumped up for absolutely no good reason, other than he startled me. I really hated this mind-link!

Get downstairs! NOW!

It wasn't a request.

Yes, Alpha Harry.

I quickly pulled on a pair of leggings, a T-shirt that was closing in on being two sizes too small, hugging my body the way it used to, before I grew breasts, and one of Dean's famous pullovers. I combed my hair with my fingers, so I at least looked somewhat presentable, before I ran downstairs again.

My uncle and mate were in the living room, both with a glass of gin in their hands. Celebrating something? Somehow the irony in that made a smile creep across my lips.

The second I entered the room, my mate stood up and came over to me. DAMN! He's tall! And I'm tall, so that's saying something. Dean had only been like 3 or 4 inches taller than me and my uncle wasn't any different, so seeing this guy, for the first time in my life, I had to tilt my head backward to meet his gaze. His very intense gaze I might add. I wondered if he smelled Dean on this blouse after all this time.?

"Lesley," Uncle Harry started very formally, forcing me to look away from my mate to his ugly grin. "This is Alpha Cedrick."

My heart sank and I'm pretty sure my wolf fainted.

What the---?!

My mate was an ALPHA?!