The Unwanted Wolf – Chapter 1

I have been alone ever since I was sixteen. I was cast away from my family, rejected for reasons I could never understand. I was a loving daughter, good at school, and had plenty of friends. On the day of my sixteenth birthday, my father gave me one look, and that was all it took. I was given one thousand dollars, a single bag to pack my clothes in, and told that if I ever showed my face to the pack again, I wouldn’t live to see another day.

I didn’t understand it. Werewolves stuck together, especially in a world where humans hunted our kind for fun. I was a good daughter, a good werewolf, but apparently I had done something so terrible that even my own family rejected me. They never even bothered to explain to me what I had done so wrong. Instead of celebrating a momentous time in my life with balloons, cake, and friends, I stood all alone at a bus stop with silent tears streaming down my face.

It had been almost five years since that day, and I, Adira Lyna, had become an expert at being alone. With the money I was given, I traveled to another city with no known wolf packs and did what I had to in order to survive.

waiting for the sunshine. At last, I had no choice but to get up and get ready for work. I couldn’t afford to skip a day and lose out on a bigger paycheck. Slowly I sat up and started getting ready for work. My apartment was small but comfortable. My bed shared a space with the living room and served as my couch as well. The kitchen and bathrooms were separate areas. If I ever had friends over, I would likely be embarrassed by the small space, b

backpack, pulled on my light jacket, and dashed out the door. I was running a little late due to not wanting to get out of bed, which meant I would be running part way to work.

even a moment late.

g to get my breathing under control and put my jacket and bag into the locker.

work all of the time,” Lana said from right behind me, making me jump. Lana was my manager and the coffee shop owner. She was the only other person who

eather was making it more difficult to recover.

to push it, but we both know the truth.” Lana started heading to her office.

e on these matters. I closed my locker and started heading to the main shop area. “I’m going to start prepping everything,” I called out to Lana.

s a little muffled from her office.

after setting up all of the tables, and that’s when I started hearing voices from the breakroom.

early every time? I just don’t get it.”

ving a life will get you.”

me. I couldn’t let them know that I felt tired. I had to come across as the perfect employee or risk giving them more ammo than they already had against me.

would be bombarded with orders and people in a hurry. They didn’t seem to care.

en, young and naive to the world. Their parents still paid for everything for them, so they didn’t really need this job. It was just for “life experience.”

Crystal rolled her eyes as she got started, but I pretended like I didn’t see it. I wasn’t actually their manager, but th

ady girls?”

et the battle begin.

, but I didn’t look great. I splashed water over my face and prepared myself to push through the rest of the day. I couldn’t afford to go home.

ering to each other behind the counter.

over to a table.

know! I would love those eyes staring into me

ty look.

htened senses didn’t catch everything they said. It was hurtful at times.

wel and started wi

the words Haley was trying to say to him. He also didn’t touch the napkin Haley had scribbled her digits on.

in a voice that shook me to my core. It was deeper t

r before. He had to be an alpha, a strong one at that. I couldn’t even breathe.

of my face, finally catching my attention.

ute?”

yeah, sure.” Crap. She caught me staring at a customer, and now I was going to be scolded. W

man’s eyes following me. It caused a shiver down my spine. He probably knew I was a wolf just like him. I just hoped he would leave me alone.

was inside. Suddenly I was focused on my situation again, and my heart started pounding against my chest. I hated

t of her desk.

sorry.” I went to say more, but she cut me off.

hed a little.

d feel small beads of sweat starting to gather on my forehead. Was Lana’s of

g for me for a while now. Almost three years if I remember correctly. And you have been an exempl

d I was having a hard time concentrating on her words. “So you’re sayi

course this would come with a pay raise and a few other responsibilities.” She paused, waiting for my reaction.

myself by taking extra shifts. I would make more money and maybe I would even be able to get a better apartment.

ile faded.

e. My body felt weak, and my stomach wa

discuss this when you are feeling better.” Her voice showed her concern.

stern. “Go home. Your health is more important right now.”

immune system was incredible. I never got sick, so what was going on? I took a deep breath to orient myself. “Tell Haley to make sure she-”

laughed at this. “Don’t worry, I can handle the babies. You just go home and get some sleep.”

rse he wouldn’t stick around. Other werewolves never stuck around me, and that was probably for the best. I started making my way to the break room to grab my stuff. I didn’t bother putting on my jacket, since I felt like I was burning up.

door to the alley, I felt the cold fall air wash over me. For a moment, I felt like I could breathe again. I wiped my forehead, removing the sweat that had collected there. I didn’t even realize just how much I was sweating. It felt like I had just come ou

eep voice asked from the end of the alley way.

tared at the man unblinking.

“I’m fine,” I finally managed to stutter. I tried to take a step forward and felt woozy again

e. My entire nervous system was suddenly on fire, and I couldn’t breathe.

not fine. You should sit down.” H

my arm from his grip. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you don’t ha

course it would start raining as soon as I had to walk home. The rain started getting stronger, so I thought it would be best to keep moving. I took another step and felt extremely light headed. I reached out for a wall to stabilize myself, and that’s when things started going dark, and the world felt like it was falling.