Chapter 1 - Happy Birthday, Janine

Janine.

“Happy Birthday, Janine.” The giggling from Stephane as she wished me a happy birthday meant one thing.

My whole life, what I wanted was to find my mate but I was scared, I was scared that he might reject me as his mate, but I was more scared of staying in this darkness forever.

My body trembled as she stepped closer to me, and lifted my chin with a finger. She was slightly taller than me, and her uniform of navy blue skirt white sleeve, and blue jacket suited her slender figure.

Her skin was smooth and flawless.

Stephane was indeed beautiful, the cheerleader of the basketball team, and my sister.

Shocking right?

I felt the milk running down my head to my face, and my body trembled. She emptied the content of the expired milk on my body.

“What else do we need?” she chuckled.

“Flour?” her friend, red-headed Fanny grinned behind her and stretched a flour in a bowl to her.

“Oops, that should have been the first.” Stephane pouted and took the bowl from her, and giggled.

“Happy eighteenth birthday, Janine.”

I was splashed with the flour, and their giggling and tittering became louder in the hallway, I gripped tight to my skirt, grinding my teeth.

“We need eggs...” someone yelled from the back and laughter erupted in the hall.

“Can’t you at least say thank you?” Stephane asked as she wiped her hands with the jacket of my uniform that wasn’t stained.

“Did you forget? she can’t speak.” Fanny nudged her by the arm.

“Oh my Goodness.” Stephane placed a hand on her mouth as if she had forgotten.

Pretending.

She was good at it.

I sunk my teeth into my lower lip and didn’t let a tear slip out of my eyes.

“Can you get out of my way?” a voice spoke arrogantly behind me, I moved to the side and bowed my head slightly. I tried to hold my tears but failed; they rolled down my cheeks.

I lifted my head a little, and his eyes met mine, I felt my breath on my throat, the moment his green eyes were on my face.

The six-foot-three basketball player had curly dark creamy hair, and he wore a basketball jersey, exposing his toned body. His nose was pointed, and his pink thin lips were perfect.

Though it was just a split second, he scoffed and looked away.

I wiped my eyes.

That was Kaden Hansford. The Alpha’s son and the heir of our pack, Emberson.

Despite being a player, everyone knew he had a thing going on with Stephane, but rumor had it that he was never seen with the same girl twice.

He sauntered from sight with his friend Dale.

Stephane stomped her feet on the ground, grumbled a few words under her breath, and followed Kaden out of the hallway.

I squatted and picked up my backpack, nobody looked my way anymore. I reached out to my locker, and opened it, taking my P.E uniform, and dropped my bag in it before I shut it.

I walked to the restroom, took off my uniform, and cleaned my body. I stared at my face in the mirror, my eyes were brown round, and big, my red-brown hairs stopped on my shoulders, my nose wasn’t as straight as others but it was pretty and small, and my lips looked dried and plump. I rubbed my finger on it and exhaled.

I was Janine, that was what I was told at the house of my adoptive parents, the Barons.

The beta family of the Emberson pack wanted a playmate for their daughter, someone younger. Stephane who was a year older than me, and that was how I was adopted.

I was five when I was taken away from the orphanage, and my report stated that I was found and brought to the orphanage, I couldn’t speak, and I had no identity.

I have no memory of what happened, if I was born mute, or if something happened to me, I didn’t know. I have no memories of my past except for the time I was adopted by Beta Baron.

I splashed water on my face because I looked pale. I packed my hair in a bun and took my stained uniform.

“...I heard there’s a game today at lunchtime.”

“Kaden is playing.”

“I’m gonna watch.”

“Me too!”

I heard distant voices, I sighed and turned off the faucet. Three girls stepped into the restroom, I appeared invisible to them, I left the restroom and stood outside the door.

“Being in the same school with that girl sucks. She’s mute, this isn’t a school for her.”

“Stephane’s father is being good to her,” the other girl hissed.

“I guess you’re right.” She clucked her tongue.

I didn’t go to morning classes, I was in the art room all morning, working on my paintings.

I was an outcast; being in class or not, no one cared.

The bell rang for lunchtime, I went to the cafeteria to get some food.

I was used to being scorned and eating alone in the cafeteria. I was heading to my table when someone bumped into me, making me screech to the right and my tray which contained my food slipped out of my hand.

“Watch where you’re going.” He groaned and hissed, his eyes darkened at me. Looking pissed, I lowered my gaze.

“Let it go, Kaden. Don’t waste your time on her.” Dale threw his arm over his shoulders. Grumpily, he took it off and walked to his seat.

I thought he had a game. Was it canceled?

Probably the reason he was here, because he hardly came to the cafeteria.

Stephane came into the cafeteria, grinning from ear to ear. “Hi, Janine.” She waved at me sweetly. “Don’t tell me you were gonna eat that? You’re a pig?” She laughed and linked her arm around mine.

“Come sit with me, sis.”

I saw Kaden lift his head from his meal and stare at me. The way he looked at me was strange, and I had to look away.

Everything sucked.

***

“Happy Birthday,” Dad said monotonously during dinner, he pushed a small box towards me. I dropped my fork and took it. “Your mom told me, it’s your birthday today.”

Today was the day you chose for me as my birthday.

“You’re eighteen now, and you might have your wolf tonight or anytime from now when it’s a full moon. You will get the chance to attend the mating ritual. Stephane did hers last year.” He cut the steaks on his plate and placed them in his mouth.

I opened the box, it was a bracelet with my name on it.

I took my phone and texted him.

He looked at his side when his phone beeped with a message. His face hardened, and dropped his fork noisily on the table. “Talk! You good for nothing!” he shouted and flipped the table.

I flinched, as the juice from the table poured on my body.

I stood up from the chair.

“I did everything for you, we adopted you thinking you may get to talk someday but you never did, bad luck! You’re bad luck to my family!” he roared.

My eyes glistened with tears, and I shook my head furiously.

I wasn’t a bad luck. I wanted to say it out loud to his face but all I could do was scream and cry.

That was the only thing I could do when I was angry and frustrated.

My mom Monica held my face roughly to control me and slapped me.

I lift my hand and hit her back.

“You brat!” She flared up and hit me again.

“Go to your room! Take her away!” Dad ordered as he pulled out his belt. “Before I kill her myself.”

“Dad, please, it’s her birthday today.” Stephane pleaded holding Dad’s arms.

“Take her away.” Mom called the servant, and I was dragged to a room in the basement.

“I don’t want her out of that room till morning.” Mom instructed.

I heard Dad muttering to Stephane while I was dragged to the basement.

“Stephane, honey, we are having dinner with the Alpha family, you’ve been chosen to be Kaden’s mate.“