My eyes fluttered as I rolled over in bed, snuggling into the warm crisp sheets. I breathed in deeply inhaling the freshly washed vanilla-scented bedding. I know I should be getting up soon but I was way too comfortable to get up, school could wait until later. I frowned, shouldn't my alarm go off already? Where was my normal morning greeting by my mom opening up the curtains and humming her favourite tune?

I bolted upright in the bed, my body rigid as I took in the unfamiliar room and smells. The walls were a navy blue not my usual cream colour, the bed was larger, plumper and the dressing table... Everything came flooding back like a tsunami, flashes of my dead parents, being attacked by rogues then transported into a pack jail. Then finally the soothing memory of meeting my mate. Just the thought of him had my heart racing in joy, I never thought I would feel such joy so soon or even at all.

I flipped the covers and stood on shaky legs, it had been a while since I was in my human form, I stretched my tight muscles enjoying feeling them unwind and loosen. It appeared that my leg had healed nicely, I flexed it testing out the movement, when I felt no pain I relaxed. Then my hands shot to my ribs remembering the pain that burned there, but now I felt nothing as if it were all but a bad dream.

Underneath my hands was a black shirt, panic and embarrassment squeezed at my chest. Who changed me? I'd die of embarrassment if a male had seen me doctor or not.

I slumped back down on the bed as I realised that this is where life had led me and let the first true tears fall. I'd had no time to cry, to let it all out before I'd fled. In no time I was sobbing hard, clutching my pillow for comfort, feeling the pain of loss rip through me and pour out. The loss was hard enough but then I began to think of all the things I'd been looking forward to experiencing with them. They would never get to be at my graduation or any important events where parents get to boast their pride for their child. I cried for the experiences I had with them and the ones they would miss in my life. I would be sure to keep them alive in my memory, as long as I had that, they're not truly gone from the world.

Above my sobbing I heard the door open and with that came the delicious scent of my mate. I stopped for a moment, holding my breath, waiting for him to take the first step in. When he did I released my breath but held in the sound of my sobs and allowed my tears to fall.

The bed dipped and he slid in behind me pulling me close to him, I should be outraged but I was too far gone to care. I knew he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt as his bare arms tightened around my torso as my back pressed against him. He was providing me with the comfort I needed right now and I did feel a lot better. Not as lonely as before.

We just lay there for a while until my sobs completely stopped. I could feel each breath on my neck, every heartbeat and every soothing stroke on my arm.

"What's your name?" he whispered into my ear when there was just silence and calm in the air.

"Calla," I replied, my voice hoarse from the crying.

"Nice to meet you, Calla, I'm Osckar."

I attempted to roll over and face him but he held me tight so I was unable to move.

"Why were you crying?" he asked, his voice tender. "Do your ribs still hurt, the doctor said they might."

I shook my head. "It's not my ribs."

"Then what? I can't make it go away if I don't know what it is." His face dipped into my hair and I shivered as he inhaled.

"My parents were murdered." I choked out.

His grip tightened around me in a protective embrace and he venomously said, "I will find out who did it and kill them for it."

I wish I could say I protested a little but whoever killed my parents deserved whatever fate brought to them. I would not hold Osckar back as he acted out his vow.

I wormed my way out of his grasp and flipped to face him and met by assessing smokey grey eyes. I took my time to explore his face in daylight, starting with his dark brown hair that looked closer to black. I could see faint frown lines on his forehead, a tell-tale that he was much older than me. He had a scar above his left eyebrow that extended towards his eye. It was deep and jagged, my best guesses it was won in a fight. My eyes darted down to his plump lips that were slightly quirked upwards as he watched me observe every inch of his face.

"Do you approve of my looks?" he asked teasingly, his eyes dancing in amusement.

I blushed looking away but nodded my approval anyway.

"How old are you?" I asked my curiosity, making me a little too forward.

"Twenty-four, soon to be twenty-five at the end of the month."

"My mate is so old." I joked being horrified then let out a grin.

He laughed along with me, "Careful, I may be old but I have built up a stamina."

I cracked up at his innuendo, never had I talked to an older person this way, it was usually kept between my friends and me. My dad would have had their head if he heard someone say such a thing to me. That thought sobered me up just as quickly. Osckar noticed my mood change.

"Is it even safe to ask how old you are." He said a faint smile gracing his face.

"I'm eighteen," I whispered.

His eyes flashed as he digested that bit of information before giving me a cheeky grin.

"Why don't you have a shower and meet me downstairs for pack lunch?"

"Are you saying I stink?" I asked pretending to be offended

"I...uh...no of course not." He stammered.

I grinned at him and got off the bed making my way to the adjoined bathroom.

"You think you're so clever." He said, catching on, "Don't mess with the master if you're not willing to play the game."

He hopped off the bed and for a second I thought he was coming after me so I bolted to the bathroom giggling, closing the door behind me. I sighed feeling slightly happy, Osckar was being the perfect gentleman and more than what I could ask for after my crappy few days.

I stepped into the shower letting the water wash away the rest of the grim and sweat, when I was done I wrapped myself in a plush white towel noticing that there was a brush on the counter which I gladly used to comb out my tangled shoulder-length hair. Gosh, I'm surprised Osckar didn't go running in the opposite direction when he saw me, I was an absolute mess. I brushed my hair quickly braiding it into a French plait and tying it at the end with my own hair.

I peeked back into the room and saw that it was empty, there was no way I was ready for Osckar to see me naked mate or not. Placed neatly on the bed was a skirt and top with the shoes placed on the floor, the underwear was to the side. I was immediately grateful to whoever brought me these clothes and only hoped they would fit. I wasn't your typical skinny girl but I wasn't fat either, I just had meat on my bones.

I sighed in relief once I had the clothes on, they fit perfectly. I sauntered over to the door pulling it open to find a girl standing on the other side. She was about ten years' old sporting two pigtails and wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

"You must be Calla." She said smiling. "The Alpha said you needed my help finding your way down to the pack dining area. My name is Ariel."

"Nice to meet you Ariel, please, lead the way." I gestured for her to go ahead.

She guided me down a large stairwell and after a few turns we reached the dining room, it was packed with about sixty people. The room was more like a large hall with one big table running through the middle. Ariel left me to get her spot so I stood there stupidly unsure of myself when Osckar waved to me at the head of the table.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at me as I made my way to Osckar's side. He stood when I reached him and so did everyone else, he pulled out the chair beside him before tucking it in when I sat. He then proceeded to sit, the table copied.

"I would like to welcome Calla, my mate to the Silent pack!" he announced and applause erupted around me.

My mouth dropped in shock, he was the alpha of the Silent pack. I knew exactly who they were and the reputation they held within the pack community. They were the largest pack to exist in the area, they were also the pack to fear. The pack was also known as the Shadow pack for they resembled it as soon as night fell.

They'd become legends, their status even used as scary bedtime stories to misbehaving children. The Silent pack was an army for anyone who paid them well enough, a mercenary group of sorts that you'd want on your side. Their sheer number and impeccable fighting skills passed down from generation to generation only got stronger.

I stared at Osckar, he didn't seem to be the type who could lead a vicious pack that everyone feared but then again I didn't really know the guy. The phrase looks can be deceiving floated in my head but looking at him now and my first impression he seemed like a nice guy.

By the time I snapped out of it, everyone had already helped themselves to the food on the table. Osckar placed his hand on mine and gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, it's just..." I trailed off.

"Just what?" he pried.

"You never mentioned that you are the alpha of the Silent pack." I managed to get out.

"Well, I'd hope you could sense I was an alpha." He grinned, "As for the pack I lead, I didn't want you to be afraid of us, you belong here now. You've met me now and seen the pack, what do you think?"

I thought about it for a bit. "I don't think I could form a solid opinion on you yet but so far it's looking good."

He grinned at me before shovelling food into his mouth. I turned my attention to my own food and began to eat just listening to the conversations around me. A few times I caught the looks of curious stares and tried my best to smile through it all.

"Alpha," a man said from two seats away, getting both mine and Osckar's attention. "I'd like to congratulate you on finding your mate, you can finally understand what I've been talking about all along."

"Don't think for a second we'd be having that conversation with you Owen."

Owen laughed, clapping his hands together "Just you wait."

Osckar turned to me "This is Owen, my third in command and one of my best friends. Owen this is my mate, Calla."

Owen bowed his head respectively with a slight incline bearing his neck to me. I nodded my acceptance then he held out his hand to me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Owen said, "You might just reign this lug in."

"I may be your friend but I'm your alpha first," Osckar said in warning but Owen just laughed it off.

"He says that all the time." Owen fake whispered to me.

I laughed. "Nice to meet you too."

"I'm glad you're looking much better than yesterday when we found you in that jail." A shadow fell over his face as he asked, "Do you mind if I ask what you were doing there?"

I swallowed harshly, tears threatening to spill over. Osckar growled loudly at Owen, blaming him for my distress.

"It's okay, I might as well get this out now." I gripped onto the chair as an anchor willing myself not to cry. "I was on the run. My pack thought I killed my parents so they put a bounty on my name. I must have run across pack territory because their beta picked me up while I was asleep."

Osckar growled but I pushed on.

"I woke up in the middle of the pack village, he ordered me to shift but I refused. So he told his minions to attack. I fought them off but eventually, it was all too much, at my weak state the beta told them to stop and to throw me in jail."

"What pack did you come from?" Owen asked.

"Red Howlers."

Osckar and Owen exchanged a nervous glance, their eyes glazed over, they were using the pack mind link.

"Have you heard of it?" I asked, it was obvious they did.

"Yes, we might have heard a few rumours here and there," Osckar replied somewhat nervous. "I heard their beta was the true alpha of the pack."

"Yes." I nodded "That was my father."