Iâm drivingâ¦have been driving for six hours. My parents are gone and I am headed to my Aunt Belindaâs pack. My parents had everything arrangedâ¦they knew their time was coming to an end..and all they were worried about was Me! All I cared about was them! I havenât criedâ¦if I startâ¦I will not stop. I am alone now. I have 40 days until I turn 18.
My name is Annalise Berlin. I stand 5â4..average heightâ¦average girl.. My white blond hair hangs just above my waist..my eyes are a turquoise green with a bright blue burst around the pupil. I love my eyesâ¦although every person I meet makes fun of them..call me freak! If only they knew!
I am almost to the border of my auntâs packâ¦Amber Mountain Pack.. the Alpha has granted me sanctuary⦠though I have to tell him why. His name is Falcon! Cool name! Falcon Rivera. His pack is just east of the Cascades and their main source of income is the amber they take from the mountains. My father made sure I know every Alphaâ¦and their packs.
I am a wealthy young woman now. My parents guaranteed that with insurance policies. I will only go back east to avenge my people! I donât know who yet. And I donât know why. But I will figure it out. 6 years of computer courses taught me much⦠and everyone uses technology! Even wolves..
I stopped at the gateâ¦a border guard steps to my window I said âAnnalise Berlin, to see Alpha Rivera! Heâs expecting meâ and I smiled. He signaled me through..telling me to stay on the gravel road and holding leftâ¦like I would take my GLB-class off-road! I pull up in front of a beautiful pack houseâ¦all glass and wood..literally..I could see the mountains behind the house by looking through the front window. Wicked!
I stepped from my SUV⦠grateful to be dressed for the areaâ¦and the cold! Jeans and boots..with a black long sleeved Henley..and a blue and black flannel. I step around the back of my car and see Belinda walking rapidly towards me.. âAnna!!! You look exactly like Michelle! I miss her so much!â And..me..being me..awkwardly patting her back, I said âI am so sorry for your lossâ and Bethany laughs in my head.. I tell her I know! Belinda takes my hand and leads me insideâ¦
She is a jabberwocky..and she says her shit out loud. At least, I say mine under my breath! This woman is friendly enoughâ¦but thereâs a sadness around her eyes. Sheâs nothing like my mama! My mama was always smiling and laughing! Andâ¦.I havenât heard a single word sheâs said! Ugh! Why do I do that!!?
She tells meâ¦just knock on the door and wait until he calls you in⦠He was grumpy earlier. But I am hoping heâs better now.. So, I knockâ¦.and wait. After several minutes, he says âComeâ and I fight a laughâ¦wanting to say Sit. Stay..since he spoke to me like Iâm a dog!
I walk inâ¦stopping in front of his deskâ¦waiting on him.. And what does this fucker do?? He says âSitâ and I busted out laughingâ¦mumbling âshoulda put money on itâ and he snapped his head to me and asks âmoney on what!â I smiled and said âyou have beautiful eyesâ and he fucking accuses me of flirting. I snapped âit isnât flirting, if itâs true! It was a simple compliment. Do with it what you willâ
I sighed. And apologized for getting off on the wrong foot. I held my hand outâ¦and said âAnnalise Berlinâ and he waved my hand off and pointed to the seat. I whisperedâ¦okayyyâ¦not me then! And sat down.
âTell me why you seek sanctuary?â I looked at him. I asked âDid Belinda not tell you? I was under the impression you spoke to my father four months ago..when the threat to my pack was realizedâ¦and he had arranged temporary sanctuary for me with you. My parents were murdered! THAT is the reason for my request.
He looks at me for a hard minuteâ¦then asks calmly, have I offended you in some way?! Bethany snarls âin Every wayâ and I smileâ¦saying ânot at all! I have a very thick skin.. I do have a tendency to reciprocate rudenessâ¦but thatâs a tale for another dayâ¦and I apologize for insulting you by complimenting your eyes. I can assure you, I wonât risk that again.â And I smileâ¦sweetly.
He says âIt is I, who must apologize. Itâs been a trying morning. Boring alpha stuff, I wonât bore you with. But., my name is Falcon Riveraâ¦and I would like to speak to you, after dinnerâ¦if you donât mind!?â
I said..âof course..I have two requests, if I may? Firstâ¦is there a room in the pack house I might stay in, for the duration of my stayâ¦or even a small cottage, I could rent?â He asks âwhy would you not stay with your aunt? Iâm sure she would love to have you!â I replied âHer husbandâ¦isâ¦.handsy.. the last time he tried to cop a feel, I broke his wrist. I am nearly four years older nowâ¦if he tries it again..I would probably snap his dick off..and my poor aunt would hate meâ¦and I canât have that. Sheâs my only living relative!â
He laughed. A real belly laugh. And it looked good on him. He said âI will be happy to arrange a room! And the second request?â I responded âI train. Every day! And I would rather not go off pack to do so.. I know women in your pack arenât known for fighting.. and yes..I know it is their choiceâ¦wasnât insulting you â and I grinned. He said âfair enough! My beta Brady is coming to show you to your room.. Luggage? Need any help?â I thanked him and said ânoâ¦itâs actually only 3 pieces.. I lost most everything in the fires..anyway â
The door opened and a huge guy walked inâ¦and shook my hand..and I mumbled..âah haâ¦some of them have mannersâ and Brady laughed! He said â do you think youâre being quiet..?â I laughedâ¦and said âNoâ¦Bethany reminds me all the time!â He asks Bethany? And I nodâ¦âmy wolfâ He looked shocked. I asked âwhat?â Falcon said âwe were told you are a nullâ¦with no wolf?â And I cracked up..âLet me guess⦠Bertram?â At their nodsâ¦I said âyâall gonna be calling him âdickless wonderâ before my 40 days are up! Iâm telling ya!â And they both laughed!
The room Brady showed me to is quite nice.. Blue and light gray with an en suite, and a small sitting area. I slipped my boots off and darted downstairs to my car..passing Brady..I asked where to park my car and he walked out with me to show me a parking garage⦠then hopped in the passenger seat while I drove to park it. He told me he was sorry about my family and smiled..saying heâs glad Iâm here! Then, he actually helped me with my bags. I told him I would see him at dinner and went to shower.