I had 2 weeks left till graduation, then in a few days I'd turn 18, get my wolf and head to warrior training camp what more could a she-wolf want. My life was just about perfect with one very gorgeous exception, Alpha heir Remington. I'd known him my whole life, friends always he said, until he was to return from Alpha Academy, then he wanted me to be his girlfriend, well guess how that turned out. They say a second can change your life, what they don't tell you is that your entire world can explode in less than a minute. My near perfect life shattered just that quickly. Leaving me heartbroken. They don't tell you that your heart can do that, shatter more than once. If love is only an emotion, then how can you physically feel the pain inside your chest, it doesn't make sense, not really. It took a few days to overcome the shock, but I'm a warrior by birthright. I'm headstrong, determined, and have trained my entire life to follow in my father's footsteps.

I'm not your normal she-wolf, no, Rochelle Jasper doesn't have aspirations of being a soft, sweet, manipulative she-wolf, I will be a warrior. Though finding your fated mate is rare, I won't be looking for that or a mate at all for that matter, not after what I've already been through. My journey will be tough, physically and emotionally draining but the final reward, will be amazing. Not many get to achieve their childhood dreams, one of mine is already gone but being a warrior that one I'll conquer.

- Heartbreak

Rochelle

Two hours of staring up at the dark sky, watching each star twinkle through my blurry vision as I waited for Remington to show up. Tears roll down my cheeks as I slowly stand and walk off the dock heading for the forest mumbling to myself, “it’s not the first time but I’ll never wait again for him to break my heart.”

Sitting at the dining room table my father voice resonating with pride, “2 more weeks little warrior and your dreams will be at your fingertips.” He clears his throat, “I’m so proud of you.”

He has no idea how I’m trying to hold myself together, yes, I’m ready to be a warrior, have been since I can remember, but Remington wasn’t part of the plan or this heartbreak. I can’t show weakness of any kind, not to him or anyone if I want to be a warrior just like him. I kissed his cheek, “I’m ready dad, have to go or I’ll be late for school,” I ran out the front door, my fake smile gone the second the door shut behind me.

The reality of last night played heavily on my heart, the last false promise, the last heartache, I can’t allow anymore now, he’s done it too many times. I only need to get through the next 2 weeks and then I’ll go away, warrior training and forget all about him, like he’s already forgotten about me.

Entering school, I see my BFF, Linda, already standing by my locker waiting to hear about my night. I roll my eyes, and her face morphed from excitement to deadly, “don’t tell me he didn’t show again,” she whispers through gritted teeth.

I shrug, “of course he didn’t,” I say with indifference, though she knows better. I open my locker to block her view as I blink rapidly and inwardly scold myself not to cry, that he’s not worth any more tears.

Her fist hits the locker creating a dent, “he’s such an….”

Monica’s voice slithers next to me capturing my attention, “Stacy did I tell you about last night, how Remington held me in his embrace for hours, then scooped me into his arms and carried me all the way home,” she sighs dramatically, “it was so romantic.”

I slam my locker shut as I turn in her direction, keeping a stoic mask on my face as my heartbreak now turns to anger.

Monica’s face scrunches up like she smells something putrid, “oh, ROACHell, didn’t see you there."

My eyes roll all on their own, “Rochell, let me pronounce it right for you, ROW-SHELL, got it,” my shoulder hits hers as I storm past. Goddess this girl is so arrogant and fake it crawls up my ass sideways. I head for my first class, but my mind goes back to the note he sent me yesterday to meet him at the boat dock telling me he needed to talk to me and like a fool I waited, and he never showed up, not even a text.

As the day drags on it isn’t getting any better with all the rumors about Monica being Remington’s official girlfriend and soon to be chosen mate. I storm into the locker room and change heading into the Gym.

As I run the track memories of him just keep playing on a loop. It wouldn’t be so bad if he just ignored me completely, but he leads me on and then doesn’t show. I need to just forget what he promised, forget that he’s perfect in every way, just forget him period.

I open my locker and remove my clothes; my hair is soaking from the shower as I dress. Stacey shuts her locker next to mine and smiles, “so are you going to Remington’s graduation party, it’s next week and since…”

“No,” I cut her off as I pulled my hair up into a messy bun of wet locks, “I’ve not been invited and…”

Monica’s voice hits me like a physical punch, “that’s right it’s only for his close friends and invitation only, I got mine last night and a bit more,” she giggled.

“So did I,” Linda says nonchalantly as she enters the locker room, “you’re nothing special Monica.”

Grabbing my backpack, I fling it over my shoulder and walking with purpose out of the locker room, only to come to a complete stop. Remington stands across the hallway, his dark blonde hair, spiked on top and short on the sides, dressed in a dark blue silk shirt and black jeans, looking like a God. His dark green eyes are mesmerizing as he turns from the window, and they lock with mine. The door to the locker room nearly hits me as it opens and I hear Monica’s voice, “Are those for me,” she squeals forcing me to look at what he’s holding in his hands, a beautiful bouquet of lilies, as she pushes past me and flings herself shamelessly at him.

My jaw clenches shut and anger bubbles beneath my skin as I turn quickly and head down the hallway, I can’t watch this, and I won’t. I turn the corner and sprint towards the outside door and run directly into the forest. I lean against a tree trying to steady myself, as words spill out, “why lilies of all the fucking flowers they sell you got her my favorite.” Taking a few deep breaths, I close my eyes, trying to understand why he seems hellbent on hurting me so blatantly. I swallow down the lump in my throat when I hear Jake’s voice, “so why you out here?”

“Why are you out here,” I push off the tree. Jake is sweet and adorable, but he’s also Monica’s twin.

He shrugs, “I don’t have a last period so just hanging around waiting for Remington, your turn to answer,” he smiles.

“I have something to do at home,” I walk towards my house.

He walks next to me, “Remington asked me to talk…”

I throw my hand up, cutting him off, “don’t Jake, don’t speak for him again, not ever again, if he wants to talk to me, he has a mouth, a phone even, so shut it.” I sigh, “he’s obviously playing me and putting you in the middle.”

He shakes his head, “well about his party, I’ll pick you up and…”

“I’m not going, I wasn’t invited.”

“I’m sure it’s an oversight; I mean Rem wants...”

My feet stop as I glare at him, “he obviously doesn’t want me there.” I glare at him, “Jake, stop following me and go wait for him and your sister, you know the next Luna of our pack.” I sprinted through the forest, holding back the burning sensation in the back of my eyes until I got through my front door. Slamming my back against it and allow the dam to break as hot fat tears roll down my cheeks and I scream, “this is the last time I cry over you, never again, never will I shed one tear in your name, I’ll die first.”

- The Attack

Remington

Surprising Rochelle and making sure the entire world knows my intentions towards her were my only thoughts. The closing of a door had me turn and there was my Rochelle, her natural beauty stole my breath away and my mind went blank. The scene that unfolded next as Monica launched herself at me and I helplessly watched Rochelle walking away had me livid.

My jaw clenched as Monica peeled herself off me and grabbed the flowers, sniffing them. “There beautiful, Remington, thank you.”

I tried to move away from her, but she hooked her arm around mine, “walk me to my next class,” she leaned into my ear, “I’m still a bit shaken from last night,” she whispered.

My eyes locked with Linda’s, and she snorted turning her nose in the air and spun on her heels, walking in the same direction that Rochelle had gone. I spoke through gritted teeth, “fine.”

Monica’s eyes twinkled up at me, “you’ll give me a ride home to won’t you,” she whispered, “I don’t want to walk through the forest alone,” she pouted.

My brows furrowed, “sure.”

She sniffed the flowers, “Thanks, you’re my sweetheart,” and walked into her last class.

I leaned against the wall pulling out my phone and sent a text to Jake, “find Rochelle, make sure she’s coming to my party.” I walked off to my next class.

Sitting in history, staring out the window into the forest my mind wanders to last night. I know she’s angry and only the goddess knows how long she waited for me at that dock. My plans to meet her had gone horribly wrong. As I walked through the forest last night I heard a female scream. I couldn’t ignore it, so I dropped the flowers and invitation and ran towards the destressed female. I had no idea it would take me 3 hours to calm Monica down. How she ended up in such a precarious position was beyond me, but here she was with torn clothing, screaming that she had been attacked by two males. I couldn’t leave her, she was crying, trembling with fear as I held her in my arms to soothe her before having to carry her home.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I looked at Jakes response, “Roe is upset and not coming to your party.” My wolf, Xander, pushed forward, a growl tore from my throat as I stood quickly, the chair flew behind me crashing into the wall and I stormed out of the classroom.

Entering the packhouse with only one intention, I needed this to stop, yes, I heard the rumors, but I didn’t think Rochelle would take them seriously, my mistake. My mother’s voice called out, “you’re home early, did something happen at school?”

I stopped my steps and closed my eyes, trying to reign in my wolfs fury, my hands were flexing at my side, as my mother approached. Her hand gently patted my upper arm, “Remington, son, what’s got you so upset, tell me.”

My eyes snapped open to see my mother’s eyes full of concern. My lips formed a tight line, “I’m fine, just need to speak with dad.”

Her eyes twinkled just at his name and there it was, her love for him, shining like the brightest star in the heavens, “of course.” She hooked her arm with mine, “come, I’d love to see him too.”

“Has it been an hour already,” I chuckled. Watching my parents all my life as they swoon over one another has shown me what having your fated mate is like.

She knocked on the door and he called out immediately, “Enter, my love.”

We entered his office, my father, Alpha Maxwell, smiles as his gaze falls upon her, “My Luna,” he pushes himself out of his seat to greet her with a kiss on the forehead. He turns to me, “son?”

My mother turns to leave, “he’s upset and needs to speak with his father, not the Alpha,” she winks and closes the door with a soft click.

He motions me to the seat across from his as he sits back down behind his desk, “what’s wrong?”

My hand runs down my face, “females.”

His boisterous laughter fills the office, “sorry, but you’ve just gotten your wolf, and you have female problems already, really?”

Holding up my hand, “Monica, she’s out of control, dad.”

He nods, “Monica is a pretty girl, smart, charming and of Beta blood, she is worthy of you son, so what seems to be the issue.”

“She’s not my mate, dad and that is the only one I want, not Monica, so can you talk to Beta Kirt, tell him to reign in his daughter and for her to leave me alone.”

He shook his head, “sure, but what if she is or you never find your fated mate, what if Monica is the only suitable choice, then you’ve removed it from the table.”

“Yes, I want her removed from the table, trust me I know what I’m doing,” I nodded at him as I stood heading over to the pile of documents that he leaves for me.

An hour later he stood with urgency, “rogue attack at the east border, we need to get there.”

We ran out of the packhouse shifting as we leapt from the stairs and headed into the forest. My heart was thundering in my chest as Xander snarled, “yes, release for that twit girl that dared to throw herself at us.” I would have chuckled at his description of Monica, but my focus was on the rogues.

As we approached the scene Xander dug into the earth with his paws launching us forward, jaws open and striking one of the rogues in the hind quarter, pulling him off one of our own warriors. Xander’s head snapped to the side flinging the wolf off, but I wasn’t expecting who it was under him. My heart clenched in my chest as I stared at the gapping wound in the man’s throat. Xander spun and pounced on the rogue, tearing him apart, limb by limb. Xander attacked the next rogue, gutting it with his front paws as it leapt in the air. The wolf landed with a hard thud to the ground and Xander ripped him to shreds. My wolf was in a frenzy as he spun looking for his next kill, and I knew why, the warrior was dead, and we knew Rochelle had felt it.

My father’s voice entered my head, “that’s enough, son there gone.”

Xander snarled as he walked over to the dead warrior, sitting on his haunches he howled in pain. My father knelt at the warrior’s side, his head down and his hand on his chest, “you served us well, John, may the goddess receive you and hold you close to her”

- Hollow Heart

Rochelle

A sadistic laugh left my throat as I wiped furiously at my wet cheeks, “how stupid am I anyway.” I threw my backpack on my bed as tears continued to fall, looking at my spread with the lilies printed on it. “I should burn you,” glaring at the now offensive flower pattern.

I focused on the pictures that covered my dressers mirror, I pulled them off one by one. Each one, he smiled posing with me, my heart broke for each cherished moment of my life that he had been in, “LIES,” I screamed to the empty room. My tiny trash bin filled with captured memories that left a hole in my heart of where they once lived, “stupid, stupid girl, why did you think for one minute he cared or ever would.” I gazed at my reflection, my eyes and heart full of anguish as my soul was ripped out of me. My thoughts filled with all the years of my own foolishness, my naivety, my belief in love. This is the end, I need to walk away and never look back.

My phone rang, I grabbed it, “Linda,” my voice cracked.

“Come open the front door,” she whispered.

I opened the door. Linda’s arms wrapped around me, “no, don’t cry, he’s not worth your tears, not anymore.”

I pushed her off me, “you’re right.” I slammed the door, “it’s too obvious but why throw his relationship with Monica in my face.” I shook my head, anger finally taking over, “didn’t I deserve an explanation, at least tell me his intentions.” I huffed, “it’s fine, I don’t really care anymore, it’s just a stupid crush and once I’m…”

The sound of the attack alarm went off and my heart stopped beating for a second. We secured all the windows and locked ourselves in the bathroom. We both sat inside the tub holding each other, neither of us have our wolves, so we need to hide till this is all over. I heard the front door slam shut and my mother’s voice called out as the knob on the bathroom door jiggled. I jumped out and opened it for her to enter, she hugged me to her, “it’s fine, our warrior’s will protect us,” her hand smoothed my hair down.

Linda’s voice was shaky as she spoke on her phone, “Mom, I’m safe, I’m at Rochelle’s house…”

Hot searing pain radiated in my heart, as my mother’s anguished scream echoed off the walls of the small space, both of us fell to our knees, clutching our chests. Linda’s arms wrap around me from behind, her head falling on top of mine, her voice was soft and sincere, “I’m so sorry.”

My arms reached around my mom’s waist, my head in her chest as I sobbed, “daddy’s really gone.” My mother’s body went stiff as she pushed me off her, stood and walked out of the bathroom. I scurried off the floor to follow her as she headed towards the front door, sobbing, “Mom, where are you going, stop.” My hand grabbed her wrist, “you can’t go out there, the rogues.”

She spun as tears fell from her eyes, “you don’t understand, maybe I can, I can…” I flung myself at her, wrapping my arms around her frame, clinging to her so she wouldn’t walk out the door.

“I can’t lose you too, Mom, not to these rogues, I won’t allow it, no, daddy, he wouldn’t want it.” Linda moved to her side and we both guided her to the sofa in the living room, as we sat next to her.

The room was silent, but the pressure of what had happened was suffocating. I don’t know when Linda had left, but soon she set cups of hot tea in front of both of us, “here you go, my mom’s on her way,” she spoke softly.

Curled up in my dad’s chair, I watched as Luna Avery and Mama Jenny, Linda’s mom, sat on both sides of my mother, talking softly and giving their condolences. I sniffed his chair, and memories ran through my mind, how he’d pick me up as a small pup and throw me in the air, just to hear me giggle. All the time he helped me train though I was so small and uncoordinated, he never complained and always encouraged me that I could do whatever I put my mind to.

I stood to go to my room but a knock at the door had me turn. I pulled it open, and Remington stood there holding a single lily. My eyes narrowed at the flower and then up to his face, “what do you want,” I said more calmly than I wanted to.

His frame blocked the doorway as he extending the flower to me, “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I took a step back, my voice harsh, “why care all of a sudden.”

He took another step closer, “don’t act like that, Roe, we’ve been friends forever, of course I care, I’ll always care.”

My heart fluttered and I shut it down as Monica’s voice came from behind him, “Roach, I’m sorry your father died.”

My lips parted in shock, pure fury ignited, “get out, don’t ever come back here.” I grabbed the flower and threw it at his face, “take her with you and leave.” I spun and ran down the hallway, slamming my door as hard as I could. I threw myself on my bed as my heart shattered for the millionth time today, the loss of my father, the man that always protected all of us was gone and nothing in this world could ever change that.

Standing at the pyre as Alpha Maxwell spoke of my father’s bravery, his achievement of being the top warrior, a devoted mate and father had me numb. Squeezing Mom’s hand as we stood watching my father’s final farewell. My heart hollow with his absence, a void no one could ever fill. Linda stood on the other side of me and her words caught me off guard, “don’t even think about speaking, I’ll kill you the second I get my wolf,” she sneered in a whisper.

My head turned towards her and Monica stood there with a smug smirk on her face, “I just wanted to make sure Roach was okay, you know I’ll be Luna one day, I need the practice.” Remington appeared to her side, taking her by the elbow, “Monica, come with me, now.”

She fluttered her lashes at him, “of course, Rem,” she looked at me with a smug smirk as she turned flipping her golden blonde hair over her shoulder, “I’m hungry, maybe barbeque would be nice tonight,” she giggled as he led her away.