Eve was back at what felt like the crack of dawn. I had barely opened my eyes and lifted my face from the pillow before my door swung open and smacked into the side of the wall. I groaned, rubbing my eyes as a flurry of colour came into my room. A sudden shocked scream met my ears and I blinked away the sleep to see her spin around and face the wall.

"What?" I grumbled.

"You are naked. I was just giving you privacy." She all but shrieked.

I groaned, rolling onto my back. "You have seen me naked before Eve. I thought it was normal being a shifter."

She peaked her head to look at me, a slight blush in place. "I just know it is not normal for humans, and besides those times you were highly drugged."

If I was more awake, I would laugh, but instead I dragged myself from my bed to hobble into my bathroom. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, reliving myself peacefully. Last night I had a lovely soak in the bath before falling asleep watching television and I slept like an old man. I would say baby, but have you ever had to care for a baby? They don't sleep all night, it's awful. Old men however... Any time, any place.

I chuckled to myself, walking back into the room to see Eve had already chosen some clothes for me. I pulled on the simple underwear and knee length dress with a raised eyebrow. Today's dress was black with yellow lemons? No, flowers. Some weird, yellow flower and green leaves.

I hummed, looking back up from the bizarre dress to see Eve armed with a hairbrush. Groaning, I sat myself on the edge of the bed like a well-rehearsed ritual. The first time she had demanded to brush my hair I had refused, and in return, she pushed me face first onto the bed, sat on my ass and did it anyway. She-wolves were strong.

"So, today I thought I could take you to meet some of the pack." Eve began brushing my hair. "Or we can go to the meadow."

"Human pack?"

"If you want." She chimed, her voice light and airy. "Will that make your transition easier?"

"Transition?" I frowned. "Into what, a wolf?"

"Into the pack." She giggled.

"Oh, yeah, I guess. But if I see one black eye, I'm out." I teased. "Just stick to shaded areas or I will burn like a lobster."

She giggled, wrapping my hair into some kind of bun. She loved my hair colour, claimed it was rare to see such a vibrant colour and the length only meant she could play with it more. She didn't realise that being such a pasty red head, was hard work and that I envied her daker skin and hair.

"Speaking of injuries, your bruises are nearly gone." She murmured, her hand rubbing along the underside of my jaw.

I shivered at the intimate touch but nodded my head. "I noticed that too."

We fell silent as she finished my hair, her hands gentle as she did what she wished. Once finished, I was told to stand so I gave her a sarcastic twirl. She rolled her eyes but held her hand out for me to loop my arm through hers.

"How far are we going today?"

"Just the back communal garden. A lot of us are out there today for breakfast, Alpha arranged a grill for breakfast."

"Oh, he did now?"

She giggled but led me down the stairs once I was ready. I got a lot better with walking now, so only brought the one crutch to support me. I had been here two weeks, so it was about time I had a little more stability. The stitches had even started to disappear, some of the smaller ones gone completely. Angry red lines were left in their place, although my leg was still bruised and sore to touch.

"Just out the back door." She cooed, calling me like a mother hen.

I scowled at her and she just giggled. The smell of food grew closer, various meats hitting my nose. Once we reached the open back door, Eve pulled me out into the warm morning sun. Wolves liked their meat, so I knew the sight of multiple piles of the stuff should be normal, but it still had my eyes widen in surprise.

"What is this?"

"I think mostly bear."

"Bear?" I gasped.

She nodded. "Alpha likes to hunt bear. I am surprised he didn't go for boar today... Bear really isn't a breakfast meat."

"Poor bears." I mumbled.

She quirked an eyebrow, pulling me into the communal space. There were few wolves around, and those that were made their gazes scarce, some even left the area. It made me uncomfortable and paranoid, but I stuck by Eve, kind of glad the Alpha wasn't here. She led me to a table full of people; three women and one man was present, all feasting on various breakfast foods.

"Hey guys, mind if we join you?" Eve spoke.

Those at the table turned around to look at us, most of their eyes lingering on me. It was quiet for a heartbeat before a brunette at the end grinned. She was sat next to a male, with an empty seat beside her. Opposite her were two more females and another empty seat.

"Of course, Eve!" She grinned, throwing her hand at the seat beside her.

Eve sat first, thanking the brunette. Noticing my hesitance, she stood and all but dragged me down to the space opposing her. I fell onto the wooden bench with a huff. She often forgot she was stronger than me, and her fingers left marks if she grabbed too hard.

"Guys, this is Ailia. She came in on this year's hunt." Eve introduced me, pointing to the woman beside her. "Ailia, this is Eliza and her mate Delta Caleb."

I studied Eliza's happy grin with curiosity. I remembered the name from yesterday; she was human and had been here a few years. She had long wavy brown hair and dark blue eyes, her build small and dainty. She seemed like a sweet girl but going by the happy look in her eye, I questioned if Caleb also had the same magic as his Alpha.

"Nice to meet you." Caleb spoke, nodding his head at me.

He too was brunette, with deep brown eyes, a deeper olive complexion and the longest eyelashes I have ever seen. Much like Rio, he was built strong and wide, taking up a large proportion of his bench.

"Then we have Olive, who came in on this year's hunt too. Her mate is Gamma Everett who is over there getting her food." Eve continued.

Olive was typical to her name. Her skin was a creamy olive colour, littered in freckles with round glasses on her face. Her nose was sharp and lips full as she gave me a hesitant smile. Her eyes were a dark green, almost brown, her hair light brown with blonde highlights. The man in question, Everett, had dark black hair, long to his ears with brown eyes. He was walking his way over, two plates in his hand and a firm frown on his face. He seemed more intimidating than Caleb.

"And finally, Mya. My wonderful, less gorgeous, less amazing, sister." Eve sneered, gesturing to the woman beside me.

"Rude." Mya grumbled from beside me.

"Nice to meet you all." I murmured, nervously glancing between them.

Mya turned to me, her close proximity overwhelming. She had a scowl on her face, her appearance the same as her sister's just more... intimidating. Her dark skin and hair were wonderfully soft looking, but her dark eyes were in a scowl. Her left eyebrow even had a scar in it, another along the bottom of her lip and down her chin.

Eve must have noticed my curious questions because she giggled. "Mya is a warrior wolf. We may look the same, but I assure you, we are not."

"Nice to meet you." I nodded, impressed that she was a warrior in such a male-dominated world.

Her eyebrow quirked, a small smirk on her lip as she nodded back in silence. She turned to her plate again, picking up a burger and tearing into it with her sharp canines. I winced, looking away to the couple opposite instead. Only, I wish I hadn't.

Caleb and Eliza were exchanging hushed giggles, his lips pressing into her temple and cheeks as he fed her food. My stomach churned at the open display of affection, that childlike, innocent part of myself envious of their bond.

"So, Eliza." Eve cleared her throat. "Ailia is having a hard time adjusting, any advice?"

Eliza's giggles cut short, her head leaving her mate's neck to look up at me. Caleb's hand fell from her neck, brushing her hair from her shoulder as he did so. My eyes were drawn to the lower part of her throat, right above her collar bone where a raised scar sat. It was white but stood out on her skin clear as day; teeth marks.

My eyes widened with horror and Eliza noticed my gaze. "I can understand you having a hard time. You look like you got mauled a bit before you came."

I swallowed, averting my gaze from the stomach-churning scar. "Yeah, they got me good."

She giggled, casting a look to her mate. "Where did you come from?"

"Evermore."

"Evermore? I haven't heard of that place. Where is that?" She wondered.

I licked my lips, looking to Eve who was watching me with an encouraging smile. "You wouldn't have. My village we... we have been hidden from decades; this was the first time we were raided."

They were silent and I noticed Caleb stiffen, even Everett had frozen as he now stood at the foot of the table. Caleb's eyes lifted to me, raking down my profile as though he was studying me.

"I see..." Eliza cleared her throat. "Never mind! You are here now and must be for good reason! What do you think is holding you back?"

I felt my lip quirk at her fast change of subject, her happy attitude not ever diminishing.

"The fact I am surrounded by wolf-shifting beasts who not only tore my leg apart but could easily crush me with their paw alone." I quipped, lacing my fingers together on top of the table.

They all fell silent again, Eliza's eyes widening a fraction. I absorbed the tension and acknowledged the shady glances Mya kept giving me with an open mind. It wasn't until Eliza burst into laughter than everyone snapped out of their tension.

"Oh my, you are hilarious. You have to stick around, if not for life, then just for comedic factor alone." She giggled.

I couldn't help but grin at her, nodding my head. "Thanks."

"In all seriousness, you and Olive are in the same boat." Eve interrupted, looking to the timid female at the other end of my bench. "Apart from she was educated in a wolf-driven sector, and you were raised by rebels."

I scowled. "I wouldn't say they were rebels..."

"You hid from authority and did not stick to the given laws. You were rebels." She shrugged. "You learnt nothing of other customs and did not take part in the annual hunt for over sixty years."

"Well, when you put it like that..." I grumbled.

"Stick with Olive and Eliza, they can help educate you in different ways. You just gotta let go of your prejudice." Eve smiled, reaching her hand over the table to grab my clenched fists. "Now, breakfast? What do you want? Usual veggie?"

"Are you getting it?" I wondered, nervously shifting my eyes to the hoard of wolves still lingering.

"Of course, you are hindered after all." She smirked.

I gasped at her retreating form, sending invisible daggers into her back as she greeted another wolf at the stacks of plates.

"So, how did you get so badly injured?" Mya asked, turning to look down at my barely concealed leg.

I ran my hand along the exposed skin, nervously laughing. "A wolf tore me down from a tree and dragged me into the forest. Crushed my chest and tore me up pretty good."

"So, they were going to kill you?" It was Olive who spoke, her eyes wide with horror.

"I was about to die, but someone stopped them and I woke here in the hospital a few days later."

Caleb shifted his weight, he and Everett sharing a look I had learnt to understand from Eve, was the mind-link. After a moment of silence, Caleb turned his eyes back to me but paused when he noticed me already staring. His eyes widened a fraction even if he tried to hide it, the corners quirking was a dead giveaway that I had caught him by surprise.

"Wow, you are lucky." Mya grinned, flashing me her canines again. "Why did they not eat you?"

"Mya!" Eliza hushed her.

"I don't know all of it, Eve just told me your Alpha brought me here." I mumbled, uneasy.

This made Mya lose her teasing grin, her face sobering up just as quickly as Eliza's did. Olive remained the same; docile and horrified at everything. She was scarred, I could tell.

"Did you say Alpha?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You're that human?"

"What?" I frowned.

"You are his human?"

"I am nobody's human." I huffed, crossing my arms.

Mya chuckled but bowed her head. "I apologise if I stepped out of line."

"What?" I asked, genuinely confused.

A loud sigh came from over my shoulder, Eve setting my plate down in front of me. It was toast, tomatoes and beans, something simple enough that I couldn't wait to eat.

"Word spread that Alpha claimed a human." Eve sighed, sitting opposite me.

"I am not claimed by anyone."

She shook her head. "Just word is enough to have people back off."

I looked around, still frowning as I studied the nearest and furthest wolves, none of which held my gaze for long.

"Is that why everyone is avoiding me?"

"A little."

"Alpha's property." Mya quipped. "No one is gonna hurt you."

That makes me feel a whole lot better... Not!

"Oh, no. I have not come from one lifetime where people tiptoe around me just because a man says so. Your Alpha does not own me, I am not his and I never will be with such a beast."

Mya flinched, Caleb and Everett growling.

"She doesn't mean it guys; she just needs time to adjust... It's a huge shock for her, isn't it Ailia?" Eve rushed, casting a nervous glance behind me.

I knew that look though. It was one I have been given many times in my life. It meant, if I don't shut up now, the repercussions will be a lot worse than I expected. So, with a grumble of my own, I backed down, sagging my shoulders to look innocent. Goosebumps rose on my flesh as though a million eyes were staring at me and I shuddered the feeling away.

"Yes, sorry. It is hard for me to understand your... ethics." I almost vomited the words.

The table fell back into comfort after the two males relaxed and I began to eat with more caution. The hair-raising feeling kept on coming back so I chewed on my bread like I held a million secrets that wanted to escape, my mind whirring with thoughts. One thing I knew, was that I was going to have to be a lot more careful with what I say if I don't want to end up dog poop.

I ate in silence and the others continued conversation like the ordeal had never happened. I often was brought into the situation but once I finished my breakfast, I found my eyes wandering further around. The strange feeling never left, so with a huff of breath, I spun around to see what was going on behind me.

My narrowed eyes froze as they immediately locked onto the dark canyons of the man who supposedly claims me. I felt my breath hitch as his stern expression glared at me, my eyes softening with fright at being caught in his gaze. But then the conversation from before hit my mind and I thought, if this was another man who thought he was going to lay a claim on me, I was going to make it bloody damn hard for him to even try.

He wouldn't hurt me.

With a sly smirk, I flicked my eyes along his form before dismissing him with a hum. He had done nothing to earn my attention. I guess other than save me from wolves... But he was creepy and didn't speak, if not extremely mysterious and handsome.... No! Dammit, Ailia, head straight. Last time you fell for looks it did not turn out great. Backstabbers and liars are everywhere.

I spun back around in my seat, glaring down at my hands. My back tensed when the sound of a grumble met my ears, and I noticed the table had gone quiet. Looking up through tendrils of fallen hair, I saw the female's heads bowed and the male's jaws clenched. The nerve-splitting pinpricks came again and the movement of the air beside me had me curse.

Looking up through my lashes, I came face to face with the harsh gaze of the Alpha.

*********
Hehehehehehh

Question of the Day:
Favourite thing to have for breakfast? / favourite breakfast food?

wc: 2951