Rising Stone - (Book 1 of the Ashstone Series)

Chapter 3 - Waking Up

I woke up, not knowing the time. I saw someone at the end of my bed, raising their head, perking it up. A witch like cackle came from them, and I shot straight up, a gasp leaving my mouth. It sounded female, and they got up, the light hitting their face at an angle.

It was a woman. She looked rather attractive, but there was a sinister air around her. She reached into her pocket and picked something up, and put it to her ear. "Alpha. She's awake. Did you want me to contact the Beta or not?" she said, and I couldn't really hear who was talking back to her.

Then I remembered.

The Alpha. Marco. That's who she's talking to.

Why him?

Why of all people, was she linked to him?

I didn't like the Alpha. The mood he had about him was I felt he was stuck up and bossy. And rude. But I couldn't be sure - I have had only one interaction with him.

And now I was going to have another.

The girl put her phone in her pocket, and put her hands together.

"Welcome, Freshblood. My name is Lenora. And I'll be here to look after you today. Until the Alpha comes to see you." She chuckled. I was feeling very uneasy. A werewolf, I presumed. Who else would use the term 'Alpha'?

I growled at her. 

Wait.

I had become one of them, surely. I was growling - no human does that. Not like an animal.

It was a deep, guttural growl.

The girl, who had introduced herself as Lenora took a step back. "Quite a growl you've got. Maybe the bite has already turned you without making you shift. That'll be a first in the history of our pack." she said, baring her teeth. I saw fangs - she was definitely one of those mongrels.

"What do you want with me, you foul beast!?" I shouted, sitting upright. And all she did was laugh at me. "Got any better insults, Freshblood? That one didn't even hurt!" she said, between each bout of laughter. I gritted my teeth, glaring at this girl. I wanted to punch her so bad. Her laugh at my expense annoyed me the most. I tried to move, but my leg pained badly. Grimacing, I uncovered my blanket to see a raw-looking bite wound. It was massive! It was, I guessed, the size of my arm. Something big, something strong, must've bitten me. 

"Tsk tsk tsk. I wouldn't move that leg if I were you. Especially after being asleep for a day." Lenora said, and I conjured up the strength to spit at her. She dodged it with ease. Damn! "Oh, now you want to spit at me? You shouldn't treat your Delta like that." I heard her growl, like the beast she was. I wanted to do so much more. She taunted me, every time I tried to do something to retaliate.

Then the air was stale. There was that aura again. That stuck up, bossy aura. As I saw him walk into the room, I realised who it was. 

Marco. 

"So. I hear you got bitten rather nastily. I wonder which one of my Deltas did that." He said, with an air of confidence and cockiness around him. Of course he'd brag about his...whatever they're called. "Or it could've been my Beta. Not usual of him to bite, but he will have a nasty bite." he chuckled. "You're now part of my pack, King. There's nothing you can do but learn how to be a werewolf in my pack. Defecting to other packs will result in your death."

The sudden truth hit me.

So they would use death as a way to keep me in. I don't like the idea of dying, not at all. 

Surely, there would be a way to be normal again? 

"There is no turning back. You are one of us." he said, his eyes glowing a deep golden colour.

I was stuck in this hellhole. With no way out.