1 Aliyah Rose

I heard a noise and got scared so I ran to a man and said "Daddy!" he picked me up and hugged me close until we heard a growl. He put me down and I hid behind a woman who held me close. Wolves started to come in the door and windows so she screamed "Run Aliyah." I said "Mommy!" "Aliyah Rose run!" and she shoved me out the door as a wolf clawed her side. So that's what I did, I ran as fast as my little legs would carry me as everyone screamed. I screamed as i was grabbed up.

***

I gasped awake as I heard someone banging on my door, I caught my breath before saying "What do you want?" "Excuse you!" Ryder's voice angrily came through the door "That is not how you speak to anyone Aliyah Rose! Get downstairs, NOW!" with one last bang he retreated downstairs making me sigh. I knew he was going to tell his dad how I responded and I was screwed. I got up and took a shower trying to shake off that nightmare, I've been having it for as long as I can remember. Once I was dressed and ready for the day, I headed downstairs to my doom.

As I headed into the kitchen to make breakfast, I noticed the house was eerily quiet. Normally the second I come downstairs I am bombarded with demands that I must get done before the next set of demands come through. I pushed the thoughts from my head and got started on making breakfast before the whole house got up. I managed to finish all the breakfast and as I placed the last tray of waffles on the table I heard it. The front door opened, I tried to get back to the kitchen before he saw me. Unfortunately, I failed, as I pushed the kitchen door open I felt a bruising grip snatch my wrist. I winced and turned to see Marcus glaring at me. He growled at me "Who do you think you are disrespecting my son!" I looked down "Im sorry sir." he grabbed my jaw forcing my head up "For your disrespect Ryder will accompany you to the store. If you so much as give him even the slightest trouble you will spend the weekend in the shed." I said "Yes sir." he squeezed my wrist causing it to snap making me cry out before he shoved me to the ground and said "Nadia! Cast her wrist so she can go."

Nadia is the pack doctor and my aunt, she helped me stand up before taking me to the infirmary, she gave me pain meds before casting my wrist. She has been bandaging me up since I was a little girl, "You have to be careful Aliyah," Nadia sighed "You know Ryder is a brat, just don't piss him off too much I love you, my sweet girl." I said "I love you too Aunt Nadia, and I didn't mean to. I had that nightmare again, ill be more careful I swear." she kissed my head and finished the cast. Ryder said, "Aliyah let's go!" I sighed "Coming Ryder." she shoved some money in my pocket before letting me leave the room. We stopped to see Lacy and got the list of things she wants from the store before we headed out.

While shopping Ryder pretty much ignored me since he ran into a cute girl, which worked out better for me. They followed me around as I shopped and they flirted, which I don't get anyway, I mean next month is his 18th birthday and he will find his mate and in 3 months he will be made Alpha as Marcus is stepping down. Once I started putting the items on the conveyer belt Ryder said "We'll be in the car don't take forever." I said "Yes sir." and watched as he walked out with the girl. Once the door closed I was able to finally breathe again and I finished getting the items out of the cart while the cashier scanned and bagged them.

I headed to the car and as I walked I accidentally bumped into what felt like a wall, except that arms grabbed me to still me from hitting the ground. I backed up quickly and mumbled, "Im so sorry." Ryder was pissed he shoved me against the car and said "I am so sorry about her, she knows better." the man said "Its ok, it was just an accident." and he walked off Ryder slammed his hand on the car beside my head, lowered his head to my ear and harshly whispered, "If you ever embarrass me like that again it will be the last thing you ever do." I said "Im sorry." he growled out "You better be, get the shit in the car and let's go." I quickly did as I was told and then slid into the backseat since the girl was in front. The rest of the day went pretty hazard-free since I was punished and locked in the shed.

Lacy insisted someone bring me food and water each day, so I wasn't starving on Monday when I was released. I headed upstairs and got ready for school, Nadia came in and said "So what happened?" I sat on my bed and laid my head on her shoulder "I accidentally bumped into someone, and he wasn't mad but Ryder was mad that I embarrassed him." I sighed as she hugged me "I just want someone who is nice and loves me and not of this pack to just swoop in and save me." she said "Now Aliyah. You know that wishful thinking isn't going to get you anywhere. I am sure you will find a mate but my dear but even other packs are scared of Marcus so I think your best option is to make them like you." I grabbed my bag and said, "Yeah well... I don't even know why they hate me." and I headed to school.

Going to school was always the best part of my day, I had a friend there, her name is Ashley. As we sat at lunch she said "So I heard through the grapevine that you ran into a handsome man this weekend." I said "I don't know if he was handsome, but I do know he was strong. I bumped into him and he caught me, but I quickly backed up because Ryder was there and boy was he pissed." She said "Oh no, did you interrupt his makeout session?" she rolled her eyes and gave me half her brownie I took a bite "Yeah, he met some girl at the store." she said "Of course he did, I feel sorry for whoever he mates with." the bell rang and so she hugged me and said "Im gonna miss you." and then tried to walk away. I grabbed her hand, and pulled her back, "What do you mean?" she said "Well, I found my mate, and it's not in this pack so I'm moving today after school. I asked him if it could wait until after so I could say goodbye." I hugged her again "Im gonna miss you so much, I love you Ash." she hugged me back "I love you too Li." We headed to class.

After I got home Lacy said, "Aliyah I need you in the office." I said "Yes ma'am" and let Nadia take my bag and headed up to the office. The door was open, Marcus was in his chair behind the desk and Lacy was perched on his lap. Marcus said, "Close the door and take a seat." I did as told sitting in front of the desk. Lacy said "Now Aliyah with Ryder turning 18 we have to plan his party, however, all the unmated wolves will be coming so it has to be huge and exquisite. We have a party planner coming from the Kings pack her name is Josette and you will be working with her to plan it." Marcus said "Furthermore with a bunch of unmated wolves coming you need to not only be on your best behavior but also look your best so Nadia will go shopping with you to buy you a few new clothes and a cocktail dress." someone knocked on the door and Marcus gruffly answered "What?" the door opened and his beta Trevor was standing there he said, "Alpha Marcus this is Josette from King Antonio's pack, Josette this is Alpha Marcus, Luna Lacy, and their adopted daughter Aliyah Rose who you will be working with."

Marcus stood and said "Come on in Josette, I thought you would be here tomorrow?" she nodded "Yes Alpha Marcus that was the plan, however, King Antonio asked if id come sooner." Marcus and Lacy walked around the desk and Lacy wrapped her arm around mine pulling me to stand between them as she said: "It's ok dear, as stated this is our daughter Aliyah, she is 16 and she will be working with you on our son Ryder's party." Josette said "It's very nice to meet you three," she held her hand out for me "Shall we begin?" Marcus pinched the back of my hip so I placed my hand in hers and said "Sure, come with me." we walked to the door when Lacy called out "Aliyah sweetie, go to your and Ryder's study room." I nodded and we headed upstairs, now the study room is said to be ours but Ryder doesn't study and I'm not allowed in it so it never gets used.

I shut the door and muted the microphone before taking a seat next to Josette. She said, "So im Josette obviously but you can call me Josie, so tell me a little about Ryder." I said "Well I honestly don't know much about him, he is always out with some new girl every night. I know he loves the colors black and blue, he doesn't study in school but has good grades, he is really mean, and he gets whatever he wants whenever he wants." She said, "I thought you were his sister?" I said "Well... in theory." she said "What?" "I lost my parents when I was four," I sighed and fiddled with my hands "Marcus and Lacy took me in, but Ryder doesn't like me so I avoid him as much as possible." she placed her hand on mine and said "Im sorry Aliyah." I said "It's ok, look Ryder doesn't do parties unless he is forced to, that's the one thing me and him have in common. This party is more for the fact that Marcus and Lacy are hoping he finds his mate before he is Alpha in a few months."

Josie said, "Ok I understand, it's more pretense than excitement." I nodded "But I know what Lacy likes and she is the only one we have to please, if she is happy then Marcus is happy." Josie said, "Ok we can start there, what color scheme would she like?" I thought about it and said "Probably shades of Purple and Blue." she wrote that down "Ok what about attire?" "Oh easy cocktail attire, it's her absolute favorite style." she nodded writing it down. She looked at me "Catering?" I said, "I'll probably be the one cooking." Josie said, "Why not order?" I said "Because Ryder and Marcus are very picky with food, it would be easier for me to make it all as I have been learning to cook to their acquired taste for six years." she nodded and crossed out the caterer and wrote home cooked. She said, "Well this means I have to go shopping cause I didn't bring a cocktail dress." I said "Want to come with me? I need to get one too." she smiled "Id love that, when would you like to go?" I said "Do you have time now?" she nodded and I giggled "Well let's go." and pulled her from the room. I saw Trevor and said, "Can you tell Marcus that I am going shopping now as he asked." Trevor nodded and we headed off.