Affliction.

ONE -"I don't want a mate"

Carmen

"Eighty-seven years ago a bond unlike any other had united two packs together, today we celebrate the day both of our packs signed the peace treaty and we reminisce and pay our respect to Alpha Sedrick from Redwood and Luna Estelle, who originated from White Water." Willow Cooper, our luna finished her speech before she took her seat followed by the other high ranking wolves, Once they were all seated dinner was brought out.

Every year we celebrate the day our packs, who had previously been at war with each other, signed a peace treaty due to the Redwood Alpha finding his mate who was from White Water, which is my pack. It's never happened since then, Some members from both packs have found their soulmates who have been from outside packs but it's never been a high-ranking wolf nor has a member from Redwood found their mate in White Water.

I began rolling the peas around my plate, I didn't even want to be here. "Carmen? Hun are you okay?" My mother asked as she smiled at me. "Yeah, I'm fine" I mumble as I continue playing with my food.

After dinner my parents and I started making our way out to the car, I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed my parents had stopped until I was at the car. I turn around and see them talking to a couple, the couple had their backs turned to me so it made it hard to tell who they were. I marched back over to my parents, slightly annoyed that they had stopped. "Mom, I have school in the morning can we go?" I muttered. "Carmen, don't be so disrespectful" My mother responded. It was only then that I caught a powerful scent which clearly belonged to an Alpha, My cheeks went red with embarrassment as I turned to face the Alpha and Luna of Redwood, "I'm sorry" I began to apologise, "It's fine darling, we were just catching up with your parents but we really should get going if we want to make it back to Redwood territory before midnight." Luna Cecilia smiled, I bowed my head as a sign of respect and waited for them to leave.

Once at home, I climbed the stairs and sleepily made my way to my bed, I didn't bother to change out of my dress. I threw off my shoes before resting my head on the pillow, my eyes instantly became heavy and I drifted off into a somewhat peaceful sleep.

○○○

My alarm started to go off resulting in me waking up before my dream had finished. I always had dreams about shifting or what my wolf might look like. Sadly I hadn't shifted yet and I was scared that I never would, the doctor told me I was probably just a late bloomer and told me that I'd probably shift after my eighteenth birthday. I quickly made my way towards my bathroom and turned on the shower before peeling off the uncomfortable dress from the night before. As the water hit my back I instantly felt more awake, I made sure to remove my make-up from last night before I stepped out of the shower. I wrapped myself in a towel and made my way back to my bedroom to finish getting ready.

I rushed down the stairs, grabbing my school bag on the way and I make my way towards the kitchen. "Morning pumpkin." My dad smiles as he finishes making his coffee, "Hey" I respond as I search the fridge for the juice, "We're out of juice" I frown, dad laughs at my sad expression before heading to the table to finish reading the newspaper, "can I drive the car today?" I asked. I have my own car but my parents are over protective and their always worried I'll get into an accident so I rarely get to drive it by myself. "fine, you know where the keys are." He sighed as he gestured towards the counter. I walked over grabbing the keys from the tray and made my way to the garage.

I pulled the cover off the car before I walked over to open the garage door, it took me three years to save up for this car I had to worked everyday after school and on weekends, I even sacrificed my holidays just so I could afford it. It was all worth it, to say I was excited was an understatement. I open the driver door to my Maserati and I climb in, I take a second to admire the beauty of my car before I turned it on and made my way to school.