The Lost Female Alpha (Hex Wolves Book 1)

For as long as I can remember, I've had the same nightmare every time I fall asleep. Every morning, I wake up tangled in my sheets, drenched in sweat, with a lingering feeling that I've forgotten something crucial. The worst part is knowing that my nightmare isn't a nightmare at all—it's a memory.

It always starts with my mom reading me a bedtime story while my dad watches us from the doorway. I can't be more than four years old in this memory, and my parents look at me with so much love. That was how my life used to be: loved and adored by both of them.

The story my mom is telling is almost over. The characters have passed their struggles and are moments away from their happy endings. Suddenly, my mom stops reading. She was in the middle of a sentence; the story can't be over. I'm about to say something when I hear noises coming from outside.

My mom and dad look at each other for a moment before springing into action. Dad yanked a backpack out of my closet and started shoving my clothes and belongings into it frantically. Mom pulled me out of bed and began helping me get dressed.

I could tell from her movements and her breathing that she was panicking. She was usually so calm, and her fear frightened me. I started to cry. Mom didn't have time to worry about my tears; she continued to dress me without making any attempt to comfort me.

Moments later, she was holding me in her arms as we ran down the corridors toward the small secondary staircase at the back of the building. Dad was slightly ahead of us, on high alert. His head swiveled constantly as he tried to predict any potential threats. When his Beta, Christian, ran around the corner toward us, Dad reacted purely on instinct.

He grabbed Christian and threw him sideways, pinning Christian's back against the wall. Dad's left arm was across Christian's throat before any of us knew what was happening. Christian's wife, Kerry, gasped and hid their son behind her.

"I'm sorry," Dad said.

He let go of Christian and looked around nervously. When he was sure that we were safe, at least for a few moments, he turned his attention back to Christian.

"What's happening?" Dad asked.

"Some of our pack have joined forces with the Thorne and Grove Packs to attack us," Christian said. "Our fighters are trying to hold them back, but at this point, it's just a matter of time before they break through."

"We need to get out of here," Mom said. She was trying to calm me down by stroking my hair, but her anxiety was evident in her voice.

"Everyone, follow me," Dad said. He was using his Alpha tone to sound confident, covering the fact that he was just as worried as the rest of us.

We started moving again, through the last corridor and down the stairs. This took us to a small utility area next to the kitchen. Dad left us huddled together in this room so he could check if the coast was clear. He was back moments later, and I knew it was bad news before he even opened his mouth.

"Looks like they predicted we might come out this way. There are about ten of them out there. They're waiting for us just beyond the tree line," he said.

"Is there any way we can get past them without being seen?" Kerry asked.

"No. They have the entrance covered," Dad replied. He looked truly worried for the first time.

"Not all of us can, but if we created a distraction, some of us could get out unseen," Mom said. Everyone turned their attention toward her.

"If we go out and draw their attention, Christian and Kerry can sneak the children out while they are distracted," Mom continued.

"It's risky, but it might work," Christian said.

"There is a cottage that we own about fifty kilometers away from our territory. Do you know the one I mean?" Dad asked.

"Yes," Christian replied.

"I want you to head there. We will meet you there in a few days once we can be sure that nobody is following us," Dad said.

Everyone agreed to the plan. My parents gave me a hug and then started heading toward the back door. I was silently sobbing as I watched them walk away. I was scared, and all I wanted was for things to go back to normal. I wasn't tall enough to see what was happening through the utility room window, but I could hear it. At first, I heard my parents shouting for them to stay away from their daughter. Then there was more shouting that I couldn't quite make out, and eventually, growling and whimpering.

I wanted to know my parents were okay. I tried to get away so I could go to them, but Christian stopped me. He picked me up with one hand and held me to his chest as we made our escape. We moved quickly but silently through the house into the dining room. Christian looked out of the window; once he was satisfied that it was safe, he slipped out, closely followed by Kerry, who was holding their son.

My nightmare always ends with Christian carrying me into the forest and me straining to catch sight of my parents, hoping desperately that none of the whimpering I can hear is coming from them. The worst part is I will never really know the answer. It is almost fourteen years later, so by now, it is safe to assume that my parents died that night. It still hurts not to have any closure over the events of that night.

We waited at that cottage for ten years. Christian and Kerry worked in the human town nearby, and I attended school with their son, Ryker, but eventually, this life became too lonely for us. Being the only werewolves and having to keep part of ourselves a secret from everyone around us was stressful and isolating. We started searching for a pack that we could join, but as it turns out, this was a task that was easier said than done.

Without a pack, we were technically lone wolves, but most pack wolves don't see any difference between lone wolves and rogues. This made most packs unwilling to even talk to us, as there isn't a pack in the world that would accept a rogue into their ranks. We tried all of the packs within a hundred kilometers of the cottage, but none of them would give us a chance, so we had to start looking further afield.

Eventually, we found a pack. The Alpha of this pack had recently taken over a neighboring pack. There had been some kind of disagreement, and the other Alpha had challenged him. After the other Alpha lost the fight, he had to give up his pack and land. Unfortunately, this meant that our new Alpha's pack doubled in size overnight, and the losing Alpha was now a rogue carrying a grudge. As a result, they wanted to boost their defenses.

As Christian was a strong fighter, they agreed to let us join the pack as long as Christian agreed to provide training for the members. He also helped them to bolster their defenses using the techniques my parents taught him.

We have moved on with our lives now, but I still have so many questions about my past that I know I will never have answers to. I don't know why they were attacking us. I know it was something to do with my mother's wolf, and that when I turn eighteen in a few days' time, I will find out if I have the same trait.

I don't know what that trait is, but I am scared. I want more than anything to be a normal werewolf. That way, I can do all the things that the other werewolves my age do, like finding my mate and going to college.