"Evelyn Amaris"

I felt a heavy arm draped over my body, blinked open my eyes, and upon gazing at the ceiling, I was certain I wasn't in my own home. I couldn't recall how I ended up here as my eyes wandered across the unfamiliar room, finally resting on the bronzed, ink-laden limb laid across me. I tried to dig deep within my mind to recollect last night's events, but my memory was blank. I was horrified to realize I was naked, covered only by a sheet across my breasts and lower region...

Turning my head to the right, I panicked at the sight of Varum sleeping soundly. I shoved his arm off me and sat up, clutching the sheet around me.

"What happened?" he mumbled, rubbing his face, while I stood frozen by the bed, in disbelief that I'd spent a night with my father's rival pack's alpha!

"Why am I here, Varum?" I asked while gathering my scattered clothes from the floor.

"What do you think happened?" he replied sitting up on the bed, a smug look on his face, modestly covering himself with a sheet since he too was devoid of clothing.

"You must have drugged me!" I exclaimed, dashing into the bathroom connected to the room.

Locking the door behind me and feeling the panic of considering what my father would do if he found out... I slapped the wall in frustration trying to remember, but couldn't—my father would kill me for even thinking about it... I hurriedly dressed, and just as I put on my lingerie, I heard the lock break and Varum entered with a grin.

"Do you really think I'd need to drug a little wolf to sleep with me..."

I was angered by his mockery and, involuntarily, my inner wolf began to stir. He froze, eyes wide with disbelief, as I quickly blinked a few times, returning my eyes to their normal brown hue...

"You're an Amaris!? What were you doing near my pack?..." He paced back and forth, his eyes shimmering in a mix of green and yellow as he continued, "I can't believe I spent the night with Arrow's daughter!!"

I finished dressing without dignifying him with a response, brushed past him as he was wrapped only in a towel... Regardless of my will, I couldn't help but notice his perfect physique—chiseled abs, defined chest, tattoos sprawling across his arms and chest... His tousled hair and the inviting pink of his lips, which I might have kissed but couldn't remember... I grabbed my car keys from the headboard, realizing I had somehow ended up here, oh God! And as I turned to leave, he caught my arm.

"How have I not met you before? I knew Arrow had daughters, but I never knew who they were! Did he send you?" His gaze glinted that distinct color, and his seriousness made me pull my arm away.

"No, my father didn't send me. He wouldn't do such a thing... I don't even know how I ended up here—a mistake... Excuse me, I need to go," I opened the door and headed for the exit, his parting words echoing behind me.

"It's a shame you don't remember; last night was perfect. I warned you not to overdo it with the drinks..."

"How low..." I said loud enough for him to hear, vexed by his taunting.

I left the hotel, doubting myself... How could I have ended up at a hotel, especially with my father's adversary? What was I thinking? And why was I near his territory? Questions I wasn't going to wait for that insolent man to answer. My car was parked right outside the place; I sighed, realizing I was in Portland, the largest city in Oregon, USA. I started the car, drove off, my home the destination...

At twenty-six, an age where most people are considered mature and settled, yet for me, born and bred in a wolf pack, secluded from the city and with lineage of alphas to boot... My father anticipates that as his eldest daughter, I should marry a beta wolf, second in the pack hierarchy...

Driving a good distance from Portland... How did I end up on the other side of the city, close to Varum's pack? We're aware of who he is because my father often warns us to keep away from their territory, and what had I done? Slept with him, or perhaps nothing happened, and it was just a cruel joke—his surprise at my "shimmering green" eyes was genuine...

Eventually, I approached the entrance to our home—a place many would call a village, perhaps because it's set apart from the city, surrounded by thick vegetation near a mountain, ours and Varum's pack sharing this vast space. Numerous packs are scattered across the world, yet we conduct ourselves normally among humans.

Our village isn't luxurious; homes made of bricks and clay as my father cherishes the old ways, and even though we draw water from a well, I love living here. We have everything we need; the place is clean, with a doctor, and cars available for trips into the city. My father is hard to handle—stubborn and authoritative...

Our house nestles among the others; all residents are wolves awaiting their first transformation at every month's first full moon. This occurs to the youth at the age of fifteen, an agonizingly painful experience—I still remember mine... I drove through the houses towards mine, seeing my sister emerge at the door.

"Where were you all night, Evelyn? Dad had everyone searching our territory!" She confronted me through the car window as soon as I stopped. I scrambled for an explanation, dreading the idea of my father learning what transpired first.

"I needed to clear my head—I went outside the city..." I'm unsure if this would suffice, but it was all that came to mind...

"Evelyn Amaris"

Three weeks had elapsed since that dreadful incident – yes, it was terrifying to wake up beside the rival alpha of our pack. I can't quite recall what occurred, but I managed to concoct a plausible excuse for my absence, and everyone bought it. I had consumed a copious amount of alcohol, and it takes a lot for a wolf to lose memory... However, I already knew the reason I had left the house that day; my father was persistent about me marrying the beta whom I didn't even know.

What my sister shared with me was that I was livid about the situation. I seized the keys to my car and stormed out despite his shouts imploring me to stay. I remember drinking heavily with some people, and someone captivating caught my eye. Approaching us with a fully black wolf's form, only the gleam of their eyes visible, the rest is a blur... My sister also mentioned that after several hours, our father sent some pack members to search for me within our territory. Thank heavens! They didn’t venture into town. Imagine if they had found my car and me at a hotel with Varun...

But I believed this nightmare had ended, especially since I had heard nothing more of that alpha and had not left our village... But the worst occurred: I did not take care nor the morning-after pill, and thus began to feel ill, with morning sickness, excessive sleepiness... I cannot believe my bad luck to sleep with a guy for one night and become pregnant, but I'll discover the truth now. Yesterday, I bought a pregnancy test from the city, and let's see if it works.

I'm in the bathroom, staring at the box on the countertop as it stares back. It just cannot be! I am that unlucky!

“Evelyn, are you okay?” I heard my mother’s concerned voice through the door; I had been unwell in front of them a few times, which wasn't good – my father was growing suspicious...

“All's fine, Mom, I'll be right out,” I replied, clutching the pregnancy test box, opening it slowly, praying that my suspicion was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the small container, following the instructions, and after unsealing the test, I shut my eyes tight. Please, let it be negative. I must get a negative. But then my attention was drawn away by a loud, distinct howl unheard before. Concentrating, I picked up the noise from our pack gathering...

Returning my focus to the task, I dipped the test's tip into the collected sample. Seated on the floor, I waited, watching the seconds tick by on my phone... When I looked back, the result window swiftly flushed with a pink hue displaying two lines... What did two lines mean again?

I put my phone aside, stood up, and picked up the instructions from atop the countertop. Reading through, I found the explanation... This can’t be! Tears streamed down my face as I read that two lines meant "positive." It’s impossible! I cannot be pregnant, not like this... Dropping the box as it hit the floor, I paced back and forth running my hands over my head... What am I going to do?! Oh, God! My father will string me up alive! No!... No!... Evelyn, what have you done? Pregnant before marriage, and by none other than the pack's chief rival... My tears flowed, despair mounting; I sat on the floor, hugging my knees, consumed by fear like never before.

"Evelyn, honey, are you all right?" my mother queried from the other side of the door, continuing, "Your father's gathering everyone in the village center, Varun's near our territory! Evelyn..."

My hands covered my face as I wept softly, stunned at my mother's words. Was that howl his? What’s he doing so close? Did he remember me? My mother is the one person I could trust to reveal what's happening. Unsure of what to do, I stood, my face streaked with tears, and opened the door.

"Daughter, what happened?" she asked with concern, then hugged me firmly. As I rested my head against her chest, the fear dissipated when I closed my eyes.

"What's going on, why are you both still here?" My body froze as I heard my father's gruff, agitated voice.

I let go of my mother and faced him, my eyes wide with shock, realizing he saw the fallen pregnancy test box through the open door.

"Father..." Without success, he stormed past me, more furious than when he arrived, and entered the bathroom.

My mother was at a loss as he saw the positive test on the floor and picked up the box, then his gaze shot to me, already changing with the wolf transformation.

"Is this yours, Evelyn Amaris?"

Unable to respond, tears wet my face again, and I bowed my head as his hands gripped my arms, pushing me until my back hit the wall. His eyes glowed with the color of our lineage, and I could not meet his gaze.

"Evelyn, are you pregnant?"

"Father, I..." My words failed me, crying out in utter panic. Then he roared ferociously, making me shrink back.

"Arrow, calm down!" My mother intervened, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Calm down? We didn't raise a 'dishonorable harlot'," his words cut deeper into me, "to become pregnant outside of marriage. Who is the father, Evelyn, who?!" he demanded, fury in his steps toward me as I shrank against the wall, and he raised his hand.

"Arrow, stop!!" My mother shielded me, and he halted his approach... "Evelyn is still our daughter, we don't know the full extent of what has happened, we need to hear her out."

Desperation overwhelmed me; I couldn't believe I was pregnant, but I hadn't expected my father to find out so soon...

"Hear out an irresponsible girl," he scorned, his hateful gaze on me, declaring, "I'll bring the physician here for proper tests!" He continued, hands over his head, "If this is true, if you are indeed pregnant, young lady, you will get an abortion immediately..."

"Evelyn Amaris"

My despair only intensified upon hearing his words; I couldn’t believe my father would force me to have an abortion... Even though we are in a difficult situation, it’s still my child and his grandchild that I'm carrying... My mother looked at him in disbelief as he continued speaking.

"Now, I have more pressing matters to attend to and a pack to take care of... Elisa, stay with this reckless girl and don't let her leave until the doctor arrives, I will send him over as soon as possible!" My father glanced at me one last time with disapproval and walked away...

I remained slumped against the wall, crying and processing everything that had just occurred, feeling my mother's embrace and then noticing my younger sister entering the room.

"What happened, father just stormed past me like a mad dog!?" She stopped to take in the scene with concern and approached us "Sister, why are you crying?"

Aisha is my younger sister, twenty-four, beautiful like our mother with black hair and eyes that shine with the color of the alpha lineage, as perfect as when both merely blink... Aisha is slightly shorter than me, however, her hair has a slight wave, my mother sports bangs, and both have the same full-lipped feature. At 44, my mother doesn't look her age; in our blood, we always remain beautiful and radiant.

I collapsed onto the floor in despair and could feel my mother and sister embracing me; I didn't know what to do or how to proceed from this point.

"Sister, calm down, everything will be alright!"

"I’m pregnant, Aisha!" I managed between sobs, my hands covering my face, but not before I saw the shock painted on my sister’s face...

"Calm down, darling, we'll figure something out!" My mother reassured as she stroked my head.

They both tried to soothe me, but I could only cry in despair without knowing what to do, afraid of my father or someone discovering the identity of my child's father... My father would see this as an appalling affront against him... My mother and sister asked who was the baby’s father; out of fear, I remained silent, at least for the moment... Soon after, I was lying in my room on my bed, my mother sitting on one side and my sister on the other.

My father then entered, leading the doctor to which daughter needed attention, and left without a word, the disappointment in his eyes pained me, I regret everything, I never wanted things to come to this... My mother stepped out to try talking to him, while my sister stayed by my side, holding my hand... The doctor, a middle-aged man with glasses and a black medical bag, placed it on the dresser, opened it, and took out a needle and syringe.

My sister squeezed my hand tighter as he tied a rubber band below my shoulder on my arm, straightened my arm, and wiped an alcohol-soaked cotton ball where he would pierce the skin... Watching the needle enter my flesh gently and blood drawn into the syringe, the result of this test would seal my fate...

"Miss, the results will be available in a few hours" He said, then added my blood to a vial and after stowing everything away, looked at us again "Excuse me, ladies."

"Thank you!" My sister thanked him, while I just closed my eyes, wishing this were only a nightmare...

"Stay calm, Sister, it will all work out!"

"You say that because you didn't see the look of anger, disappointment in father's eyes, and the surprise in mother's... I feel terrible, Aisha, how could I have done this?" I cried, and she embraced me for comfort.

"Evelyn, stay calm, the baby's father is partly to blame too!" She said, holding me tightly "Won't you tell me who he is?"

"I’m so sorry, sister, I can’t right now, I need to process all this first, but I promise you'll be the first to know" I said, heaving a sigh between tears. I really don’t know how they will react when they find out, but for now, I need to know what will happen to me first...

My mother returned minutes later saying everything would be fine, but I knew that it wouldn't, my father is stubborn and always has to have the last word... I spent the morning in my room terribly shaken by everything that's happening, the one thing that gave me solace was having my mother and sister by my side; my mother only left to prepare lunch while I lay with my head in my sister's lap... I love her dearly and we are very close, what tears me apart inside is knowing I should have been a good example for her...

As the hours passed, the fear I felt was immense, my mother tried to get me to eat something, but I had no appetite, I just wished all of this were a mistake... Still in the room with my sister after she had returned from lunch, when my father burst in even more furious, with my mother trying to restrain him. My sister hugged me in fright and I feared the worst.

"Pregnant, Evelyn... You're pregnant, you irresponsible girl" I watched him yell, waving a piece of paper.

"Arrow, please, calm down, for heaven's sake!" My mother implored, her hands pressed against my father's chest.

We wolves become aggressive when we're angry, we need good self-control to avoid transforming and doing something regrettable! And today, maybe my father is not in good self-control, which is why my mother tries to calm him down constantly...

"You had everything, Evelyn, a wedding on the horizon, a life planned and you threw all of that away for what? For what?" He continued yelling, but before I could speak, he went on "For a good-for-nothing who just knocked you up!!!" His expression of hatred scared me, and my mother kept trying to pull him from the room, but without success, he continued "Evelyn, I will not have a daughter of mine pregnant without my consent, I have an alpha's reputation to maintain... You will terminate this pregnancy!"

His final words sent me, my mother, and my sister into shock; I couldn't believe he would force me to give up my child...

"Father, I know I made a huge mistake!!" Silence hung in the air, and he stared at me with eyes reflecting our lineage's color, but now I couldn't let him have the last word "I'm so sorry, what I did is irreversible, father, I regret it deeply, but I won't abort my child..."

I took a deep breath and noted my sister's wide-eyed look as she watched me, my mother stood firm holding back my father who then smiled with what seemed to be anger.

"You won't terminate the pregnancy! Are you sure, because I know I can't force you?!" His calm voice frightened me more, but I nodded in confirmation that I wouldn't give up my child, and my father rubbed his face, gripping his hair tightly, before speaking again.

"From this day on, you are no longer the alpha daughter of this family!!..." My mother, in shock, released his arm, and I noticed my sister looking at me even more incredulously...