Today was my last exam and I never have to set foot in this hell again.

Up until I was 15, I loved school, then it all changed and I became an outcast. Me, my brother and Mason, my best friend, came as a 3. Mason is the Alpha's son and me and Connor. My brother, were the Beta's children, when you turn 15 you shift into your wolf well I didn't or should I say I couldn't but no one cared. They just said I was worthless and cast me out. I was allowed to go to school but that was it, no one spoke to me unless absolutely necessary and that included my parents.

I turned 18 2 weeks ago, not that anyone cared I was home alone in my room when I shifted it was so bloody scary and hurt so much but I had no one there, I realized at that moment that no one loved me everyone thought me and Mason would be mates and run the pack but that died when I turned 15. Anyway back to today.

I had decided to find Mason after my last exam and show him that I had shifted, I don't know why I needed his confirmation but I went looking for him round the school when I heard him with Charlotte, I hide round the corner and listened.

"So when you take over the pack what are you going to do with you know who"

"What do you think I'm gonna do, she is worthless, no point looking after a nobody, she might have to have an accident"

"Oh, that's so clever" They both laughed and walked off.

I fell to the floor with my hand over my mouth crying, I can't do this anymore I thought to myself with that I ran home packed as much as I could into a bag grabbed my passport and money I had managed to save, and walked out the house.

I guess I should tell you my name.....

Lilly McQueen

I didn't really know where to go or what to do, so I ended up at Gatwick Airport looking at flights out of England.

I took a flight that landed in Michigan USA, I then spent a lot of time traveling through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada and now I am heading to Arizona as I have remembered I have family that live there, so I have been off the radar for 10 months it is the end of March, my brother, parents and even Mason have tried phoning, leave messages on my phone even Facebook but I have never replied to a single one of them, I can't, I'm to hurt by them.

So my dad's brother lives in a place called Amber Hills I think, so that's where this bus is heading, I'm a bit scared that they will phone my parents but I am 18 so I am legally an adult.

After nearly a day on the bus, it pulls into Amber Hills, I think I just need to find a hotel for the night and then work out what to do next.

I'm so knackered I collapse on the bed and fall asleep.

I woke up in a very bad mood, so I decide to take the boys out for a hard training session, we had been at it for nearly 2 hours but my wolf Max was going crazy and I was struggling to keep him under control,

"Max what is the matter"

"You need to go into town, I can smell her, she smells of strawberries."

"What do you mean....mate."

With that I ended the training session, had a shower, and quickly got in my car, I was driving around town but couldn't find her,

"There, there" Max was shouting.

I got out of the car, and everyone around me bowed slightly and then moved away, people are scared of me, she hadn't seen me, she was looking down at her phone. I taped her on the shoulder and she turns around.

My world stopped she had the most mesmerizing blue eyes and dark autumn-colored hair, I couldn't see how long it was as she had her hood up.

"Hi," she said a bit unsure

She doesn't know I'm her mate, that's not possible, I'm sure she is a werewolf, what if she isn't, god that's no good! I thought running my hand through my hair

" Hi, you seem a bit lost, can I help?"

" Yes please" smiling

She had a beautiful smile

" I'm looking for my uncle, I don't have his address, his name is Danny sorry Daniel Mcqueen"

I mind-linked Chase who is my Beta,

" Yes I know him, I can take you to him"

My wolf was going crazy by this point- mate mate mate,

"Shut up. She doesn't know, I need to find out what's wrong."

" We can walk there it's only round the corner"

"Thank you, sorry what's your name, my name is Lilly McQueen"

"My name is Ryder King," I said pointing her in the direction we need to go.

" that's a cool name"

She likes our name, Max is dancing up and down in my mind

"Thanks, yours is pretty too" I felt about 12 saying that.

She smiles and blushes at the same time, cute I think to myself

Ryder is so cute, his eyes remind me of a forest with so many greens swirling around in them. Is it strange I feel so safe with him, I noticed people bowing slightly and then keeping their distance like they are scared of him, he is well over 6 feet and built like a brick house.

Ooohhh he must be the Alpha... I don't know if this is good or bad, they will probably kick me out. Maybe I should just say hi to Danny and then just leave.

Ryder pulls me out of my thoughts,

" So you from England then, how come you decided to come over here"

"Umm, it's a long story, yeah I'm from England, I kinda umm ran away......" I sigh look at him and then look away,

" I guess I have to tell you as your are the Alpha but can I see my family today and explain tomorrow," I said sadly

Back to Ryder's POV

So she is a werewolf, yes, I'm so pleased but I still don't understand why she can't feel the bond and something is definitely up about her running away.

"Yes, sure no problem, why don't I meet you tomorrow where I found you today say 11 am"

"Ok"

" We are here, I point to the house in front"

" Oh, Thanks" She looks up at the house like she is scared of it,

"Sorry, I just need to work up the courage to go in. I'm not sure what Im walking into" she said looking at her hands.

I just want to hug her and tell her it's going to be ok, but I can't and it's killing me.

" Do you want me to come with you?"

She shakes her head, at that moment, a girl walks out and screams " Oh my god Lilly you have been missing for 10 months" Lilly rolls her eyes at her

" Yeah I know Rose, I had to get away"

" We need to tell you, parents "

"NO" Lilly shouts, it was an Alpha voice even I felt overpowered by it.

" If anyone does, I will just vanish again"

No, I can't have that she is my mate.

"Don't worry Lilly, no one is going to do anything you don't want" I say by this point, her uncle and his wife are out with Rose. I push her to go in.

" see you tomorrow Lilly 11 am" I turn around with a smile on my face. I asked my uncle not to tell my parents as I was not ready, he wasn't happy but he agreed. We spent the next couple of hours catching up and I told them about my travels and what I saw and did, it was fun seeing Rose again, we were 10 the last time we met, she is the same age as me.

Eventually it was just me a Rose left, she was telling me the gossip of the town, so basically Ryder owns most of the town, it is made up of 70% werewolf and 30% humans tho they don't know about us.

" Can you tell me about Ryder" I ask

"Well he is the Alpha, he has 2 younger sisters, he is 22, a bit of a play boy, he has a temper I guess you noticed most people are scared of him but he keeps us safe. He was meant to take over from his dad when he turned 18 like it happens in other packs but his dad disappeared when he was 16 so he took over then, I don't really know much about it to be honest, so are you going to tell me what is going on and why your here?"

I looked at her and sighed playing with my sleeve

" Look I'm sorry but I can't at the moment, I will once I.... guess feel safe"

Rose came over and hugged me " Ok"

" If I wanted to do you think Ryder would let me stay"

" You would have to ask him but I don't see why not" she said with a shrug.

Knock

Knock

My aunt walks into the room,

"Lilly, Ryder can't meet you tomorrow now, he will contact you later"

" Ok, thanks, I'm really knackered, I think I'm going to head back to the hotel and have a nap and grab something to eat," I say getting up to leave.

" You can stay, I can get the spare bed out," Rose said

" it's fine but we definitely need to meet up later, can you put your number in my phone" I give her my phone.

A couple of hours later

I had a nap went and grabbed some food, I then decided to go for a walk. I love forests so that's where I headed with my backpack. I had been walking for about 45 mins when I come across a hidden lake it was beautiful, I sit down and pull out my sketchbook and start drawing.

This place is amazing my wolf Ghost is telling me,

It's a shame I can't run free, I can feel her sadness

I will let you out once I feel safe, nothing else has gone right for me.

You need to let your guard down and I need to start using my senses more, let's start tomorrow. She said as she was bouncing up and down.

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