A Pack of Lies

Prologue

Words to know for this book: Laoch means warrior, Ceann Laoch is the head warrior, Laochra means warriors. I might add more later on but for right now, that's it. 

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The meeting room was packed as everyone waited for our alpha to appear on the stage before us. From my new place in the back of the room, I could see everyone clearly, but I was hidden from their eyes. And that's how I liked being, hidden.

My eyes slowly scanned the people before me and when they landed on a certain man, I felt my body freeze. His tan face was lit up as his laughter seemed to overthrow the rest of the voices that surrounded us. I watched as his stormy gray eyes sparkled with life as he listened intently to the person in front of him. As my eyes noted that his left arm was wrapped around the waist of the woman standing beside him, my heart sunk deep in my chest.

I narrowed my eyes at the almost invisible baby bump that was just a few weeks from being noticeable. Hurt and anger flooded my body but I was a master at hiding my feelings. If anyone looked at me, they wouldn't be able to notice the internal battle I was fighting with my wolf to march across the room and take what was mine; was being the operative word.

From the moment that the she-wolf conceived my mate's pup, he stopped being mine. The fact that we couldn't go to our mate was slowly killing my wolf. We longed to be with him, but it would never happen.

The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled my attention away from my mate. I almost smiled when I saw our alpha, my uncle, staring at his pack. He was a mountain of a man, and many of the alphas feared him because of the size of his wolf. The room instantly grew quiet as the pack looked up at him, waiting. Once he was sure that he had everyone's attention, he started to speak.

"As many of you know, twelve years ago my niece came to live with us because her parents, along with her pack, were massacred." I watched as several people looked around for me, but I was hidden well. "During her years with us, I have watched her grow and learn. And it is with great pleasure that I announce to you that Hope has become the newest member of the laochra." I could hear the pride in his voice for my achievement.

I had shifted at fourteen. It was usual for my kind to usually shift on their sixteenth birthday, but depending on the maturity of one's spirit, we could shift earlier. I knew from that day just who my mate was. And when I found out who it was; my heart was broken. He had known that I was his for three years. And he hadn't said one word.

Due to who he was, I knew that I couldn't face him about it. So I just stayed quiet, hoping that one day he'd claim me as his. But that day never came. Three days after I celebrated my sixteenth birthday, my mate announced to our pack that his 'mate' was expecting his child; a son. I had thought before that day that I could handle anything, but I had been wrong. I couldn't handle that. So, I found something to throw my frustration and anger into and that was training to become a laoch.

Feeling eyes burning into mine, I shake myself from my thoughts. My uncle's dark brown eyes softened slightly as he smiled at me. Join me on the stage, he spoke through our link and I slowly pushed away from the wall. He knew how I felt about being the center of attention. I hated having everyone starting, watching. But I held my head high, my shoulders straight as I quickly made my way towards him. After everything he had done for me, I wouldn't let him down. And I refused to make him look bad in front of his pack.

Many of the elder shifters of the pack gave me looks filled with pride. But those my age didn't look at me. I knew why and I didn't blame them. I projected a cold, hard exterior and that made many of them shy away from me. Coming to stand beside my uncle, but a few inches behind him, I turn my gaze and stare at the back wall. I could feel Jeb's, my mate, eyes staring at me. It was as if he was pleading with me to look at him, but I refused to even glance in his direction. One slip up and the whole pack would know.

"Due to her prowess as a ceann laoch, Hope will be leaving our pack. An ally of ours has requested that she become their ceann laoch. I thought it over in great detail with your Luna, and we decided that this would be a great opportunity for Hope."

The silence of the meeting room was shattered after Uncle Jeff stopped talking. I could feel a faint shot of anger coming from Jeb, but I just blocked it. I knew that it was just his wolf that hated the thought of me leaving, not him. But if he were to have to choose between me and his chosen mate and pups, I would lose.

"We're her family, Alpha Jeff. Why does Hope have to go?" A woman's voice spoke up and I almost smiled when I recognized it. Leave it to my cousin to stand up to our alpha. But I knew that he wasn't upset from her question. "Look at this as a great opportunity for Hope to share her knowledge with others while searching for her mate."

I winced slightly at that word, and I knew that everyone saw my reaction. I couldn't help how my body reacted. All I needed was another reminded that my mate didn't want me. Are you alright Hope? Uncle Jeff's concerned voice fluttered through my mind. Slowly, I nodded once without looking at him.

How could I tell him that his only daughter had taken, however unknowingly, my mate from me? And to add to my pain, she had given him two sons, and had another pup on the way? How could I tell him that his grandchildren, those little bundles of love filled joy that he was besotted with, came at the price of my heartache? I couldn't ruin everyone's happiness like that. So, I kept my mouth shut and my thoughts behind a very impressive mind barrier. No one would know the truth except for Jeb and me.

The lanterns that littered the back yard, along with a full moon, gave us all the light that we needed. Once again I was completely surrounded but hidden behind everyone. My uncle and aunt had thrown me a going away party, but I wished they hadn't. All I wanted to do was lock myself away in my room and sleep, but I knew that I had a duty towards my family, so I just sucked it up and kept a fake smile on my lips.

A few of the elder shifters made their way towards me during the party, wishing me well on my journey ahead. I just nodded quietly and gave them a small smile. A soft bell-like laugh pulled my eyes towards one of the front tables and I could feel my smile slipping. May I be excused now? I linked my uncle, eager to get away.

Are you alright? I could feel his worried gaze on my concealed face but I gave nothing away. I'm fine, just tired. Plus, I have a very long drive to make. And I'm getting up early in the morning.

I know, I know. I almost chuckled softly at the tone of his voice. Sometimes he could act like a spoilt child that had lost his favorite toy. But I knew that he loved me. Goodnight Hope. I'll see you in the morning. Keeping my eyes down, I quickly slip into the house and hurried up to my room.

It had been my wish to avoid Jeb and my cousin, but as a strong hand reached out and grabbed my arm just as I reached my room, I knew that it wouldn't be coming true. "You can't leave," his voice was a whisper. Without turning to look at him, I pull my arm from his grasp.

"It's for the good of the pack. I can't disobey my alpha." My words were brief and clip. I could feel my wolf trying to steal control but I just shoved her back. He wasn't ours. He wasn't ours. I kept telling her, and I, as my heart started to break again. There was a change in the air and I could feel it coming.

He sighed heavily as if he didn't want to say the six words that seemed to flow effortlessly from his lips. "I reject you as my mate." My wolf threw her head back and howled as the already weak bond between us was suddenly snapped in half. My body felt as if I had been submerged in liquid silver.

Even though I knew it was coming didn't mean that it didn't hurt any less. And from the sound of his labored breathing behind me, Jeb felt as if his body was burning as well. Tears burnt my eyes as I blinked them away. A laoch did not cry. We were brave, fearless, and loyal to our alphas. The pack always came first. "I accept your rejection," I spoke as my mask finally cracked, my voice wavering from the pain.

I knew my uncle had educated his pack on the importance of mates and waiting for them. I knew he did because when I first joined his pack, he gave me the same speech he gives every year. But somehow that didn't really sink in with my cousin and my mate. They fell for each other and didn't think of how their mates would feel once they found them.

Squaring my shoulders, I opened my door and entered my room. Once my door was shut and locked, I allowed the tears to fall free. All my things were packed away, ready to be loaded up in the morning. As I curled up on my bed, letting the pain run down my face, I knew that I would be leaving my heart behind me when I left.