Chapter I

There was a party tonight. I was invited, of course, as I was still part of the pack - even though most people didn't want to admit it. Every full moon there would be a gathering of packs in the surrounding area, and it was the Red Wing's turn to host it. A huge bonfire would be held in the middle of the forest that was on our property and there would be lots of people coming for all sorts of reasons. The bonfires held did a variety of things such as cub initiation and the discussing of political treaties which almost always ended with an engagement or something of the sort.

I had attended the bonfire the last time our pack hosted. Other than that, I couldn't go to the parties. Physically, I was too weak to keep up with the rest of the pack - stamina wasn't my forte. I was excited, yet, at the same time, I was nervous. Would I be treated cruelly by those in the other packs as well? Or would my own pack ignore me for the sake of the pack's reputation? I hoped and prayed for the latter.

Someone knocked on my bedroom door and I opened it. Raven, the only sibling who respects privacy, stood on the other side, impatiently tapping her foot. She looked gorgeous in a light purple strapless dress that stopped at her mid thigh and a black belt hugging her waist. My sister looked over me and frowned. "You're going in that?" she asked, gesturing to my outfit.

I shrugged and looked myself over, gasping as she pushed me back into my bedroom and closed the door behind her.

"I won't have you making this pack look bad," she began to lecture me as she pulled out the clothes in my drawers. She threw three items at me and told me to get changed before promptly exiting the room.

~~~*~~~

I stood in front of the mirror looking at my outfit. Raven had picked out a pair of light grey skinny jeans, a black singlet and an oversized turquoise jumper. I have to say it looked good, and I made a mental note to thank her when we were in private. I slipped a pair of grey converse boots on and pushed my glasses up, before quickly making my way down the stairs and fluffing my hair up as I went.

"Well, Runt, you took your time," was the first comment I heard when I arrived at the bottom. This was followed by "Don't you look girly" and "Trying to impress someone, Princess?" I shrugged off the insults and headed to the door, opening it and exiting the house.

After everyone else had come out, the six of us began to walk to where the bonfire had been set up. I was roughly shoved a few times on the way there, but other than that, nothing too special happened. We arrived at the gathering place and waited for more wolves from other packs to show up.

Some of them arrived in human form, while others appeared in wolf form then shifted. By ten o'clock the party was in full swing. My brothers and their friends had found the alcohol and were too busy chugging beer and checking girls out to be bothered with me - a fact of which I was thankful for.

"Hey! Runt!" Cole called from across the fire pit. Perhaps I spoke too soon.

I sighed and made my way through the crowd of chattering people and stood in front of Cole, who was sitting on a log with Kite and a man who looked to be about their age that I didn't recognise, but his aura smelt powerful.

"Runt, meet Rowan, next alpha of the Silver Talon pack." Cole introduced us. "Rowan, meet Runt."

I bowed politely, avoiding eye contact with any of them, and nervously began to play with a stray white lock of hair in my bangs.

Cole patted the bit of log in between the two of them, signalling for me to sit down.

My eyes widened. How drunk was my brother?

Rowan smiled softly as I cautiously sat. "He's kind of skinny, isn't he?" he asked, poking at my ribcage and causing me to flinch.

Now that I got a better look at him, Rowan seemed quite attractive. His olive skin and black hair reflected the light of the fire, and his golden eyes contrasted against the forest's darkness behind him. The man wore a simple black t-shirt and slightly distressed jeans. Is now a good time to mention that I am gay? I haven't really told anyone, but it's not like the pack will let me reproduce or anything, so it should be fine. Taking in the sight of Rowan's lean yet toned and defined muscles, I began to grow slightly uncomfortable.

I really didn't know why my brother had called me over here. I wasn't exactly contributing to the conversation that the three were having. It was something about the turf of their packs and treaties. Wait. I perked up at the mention of treaties. Was someone getting married? That's usually how these things happened. Political marriages were a pretty big thing in the packs, after a few months together, the arranged couple would become inseparable mates.

I hoped it was Raven. She would be ecstatic at the prospect of becoming the alpha's mate. It would make sense, right? That the person would be related to the pack's alpha. That way, they are of 'noble blood'.

"Are you listening, Runt?" Kite asked, and I jumped at the question, looking to Cole who had apparently just spoken to me.

"I - uh," I stammered.

Cole sighed and rolled his eyes. "I said you'll be going with Rowan's pack tonight, and staying there for a while."

I frowned as the realisation dawned on me. "I - what?" I asked, shocked at my brother's decision.

"There's a shortage of people in our pack," Rowan began to explain. "A group of hunters came through the property recently and shot a bunch of our family while they were in wolf form." I gasped and this. "I've had to have people on perimeter guarding duty, and there aren't enough people to look after those who can't fight. Your brother tells me that you're pretty good with kids." he smiled at this.

Oh, that was it. I almost felt a little disappointed. I nodded.

"The others have packed your bags," Cole said. "You'll be leaving straight after the party."

"I - I don't get to say goodbye to anyone?" I stuttered.

"You don't have anyone to say goodbye to that would care about whether or not you were gone." Cole argued.

He had a point. No one cared. I nodded again and stood up, excusing myself from the three men and walked into the forest. For some reason, I was crying and I didn't know why. I hadn't cried in a long time, so why was it happening now? It could just be all the emotional build up, or the fact that I was leaving my home. Maybe they were happy tears at the fact that I wouldn't have to see my abusive brothers again. I sobbed. It was beginning to seem more and more like emotional build up.

"Are you okay?" Rowan's voice came from a few feet away.

I looked up and covered my mouth to prevent myself from making any more embarrassing sounds. Even more tears began to spill out of my eyes.

Rowan stepped forward to get a better look at me and gently wiped away one of my tears. "I've been meaning to ask about your eyes." He said.

"Albinism kind of does that to you when you're half animal." I explained, softly swatting his hand away. I didn't want his pity.

The alpha smirked. "You're more like a bunny than a wolf, aren't you?" he chuckled.

I blushed before glaring at him. "If you're trying to cheer me up, it's not exactly working." I said.

Rowan ruffled my hair. "Sorry," he grinned. "So, what's your name?" He asked.

I felt uncomfortable answering this question, and it took me a good minute or so to finally answer. "Runt."

Rowan's just smiled. "I mean your real name."

To this I shrugged, causing his face to fall.

"You don't know? What do you mean 'you don't know'?" he frowned.

I shrugged again and turned away, growing more uncomfortable. "Can we change the subject, please?" I asked.

Rowan nodded and looked around. "You know," he said awkwardly. "When I first saw you, I thought you were a girl." This made me smile.

We talked for a couple of hours. He told me about his pack and what it was like learning to be an alpha. Rowan seemed to take extra care not to mention the topic of my family. Instead, I told him about the other members of the pack - mainly the kids that I had to take care of.

When the party finally began to die down, it was time for people to leave; including me. With my bags, it was suggested that I take a car, and Rowan offered to drive Kite's truck, promising that he'd return it as soon as possible.

My siblings waited outside the house to see me off, still keeping up the pretenses that we were all a happy family. I smiled as I got into the front seat of the truck and waved to them, but directed the wave mainly at Raven, who gave the tiniest smile in return.

Rowan started up the engine, and we were leaving. For the second time that night, I could feel tears pooling up and threatening to spill over. But this wasn't from years of keeping my emotions suppressed, I was happy. I was finally free.