Broken, but still Alive

Chapter 2

I was thirteen when my older brother left. It'd been his eighteen birthday one of the biggest days for a wolf. It was the day we were finally old enough to transform into our ultimate shape. I'd been so excited to share that day with him to maybe make him smile. It has been four months since our father had been slaughtered by rogues. Our mother losing her mate turned into nothing but a cold shell. She wouldn't eat or talk. When I tried speaking to her she appeared to be looking right through me as if I wasn't even there. It wasn't uncommon for the surviving mate to die after the other and it became clear she was going to fall into the category. She finally gave into death four months after Eric left leaving me trully alone.

The pack didn't protest when I decided and in fact my Alpha decided to give me even more devastating news. He figured since I was leaving I should know the truth. Apparently years ago a baby girl had been found on the front of my parents porch unable to give up the girl they adopted her and decided to raise her as their own. A part of me wondered if that was why my brother left. Had he known all this time and decide since his real family was gone why stick around? I was just some girl his parents had adopted there was no reason for him to care about me like I did him.

For some reason when my Alpha had explained it to me a part of me sighed in relief. Eric wasn't my real brother, my parents weren't my real parents which mean I might have family some where out there right? Eric didn't need me and I didn't need him. I thought I could start fresh somewhere new and maybe move on. Living in the house I'd grown up in had been suffocating, the silence and memories pressing down on me. Nobody really ever visited me anymore and the pitying looks were sicking.

Eric never tried to contact me during the time I stayed with our pack. Even though we wern't really related I thought a part of him might still care about me a little. As I slowly adjusted to being alone I realized he wasn't going to call. It became clear like my adoptive parents I would never see him again

It was as if he'd died too.

I was 17 now almost 18, my birthday in two months and instead of being excited like a normal wolf I was dreading the day. It was hard being a 17 year old she wolf I thought finding a pack and my own way wouldn't be hard as it was but apprently packs were really picky who they let in. It was like they had this list and for some reason I never fit the bill. Apprently they only wanted mated pairs or some big scary warrior. A short sad little teenage wolf wasn't very appealing apprently.

The music of the club vibrated through me making me zone back in and foucs as I danced against an older man my breast almost bursting from my demi bra. The flickering lights made the strawberry glitter on my skin sparkle. As you probably guessed I'm a stripper not something I'm really proud of but I couldn't really find a job that paid enough for my rent and other expenses plus I needed to save up. I had a day job working in an ice cream parlor but that wasn't enough to live on.

I smiled at the man as he slipped a twenty into my leather skirt that could be considered underwear.

"Have a nice night." I said giving him a fake smile. He grinned but let me go.

I held in a shiver of disgust. Every man here was creepy and made my skin crawl.

I moved to go toward the back room when a hand lightly grabbed my arm. I turned to see a very handsome guy a little older than me. It wasn't usual to see a guy his age here or an attractive one for that matter we really weren't the best establishment. "Hey I was wondering if you could give my buddy a dance, he just got over a bad break up." He handed me a fifty and obviously I couldn't say no. Money was money.

So throwing my dark brown hair over my shoulder I followed the guy to one of the darker corners of the place. I checked out the guy sitting on the couch. He was handsome if not more handsome then his friend with his black long hair that hung in his eyes. He had this dark scowly thing that was working for him. He wore a dark blue button up and dark slacks. By the look on his face he appeared distant and annoyed. He didn't seem like he was exactly enjoying being here.

I smiled feeling the mask that lay against the upper part of my face. All the dancers here were required to wear masks. Mine was blood red with black feathers on the side. I liked this one the best actually. It hid my face more than my other ones. The club was trying to go for a whole mysteries thing not that, that really worked but whatever.

"Hello," I purred using my 'sexy' voice. I didn't really know if I sounded sexy or completely ridicules but the guys didn't burst out laughing so that was encouraging. The guy looked up startled then glared at his friend. "I told you I didn't want a stupid dance! Why are we even here?!"

"Because you need to forget about that cheating mutt you called a girlfriend!"

The man motioned me to his friend so I leaned and straddled the other man and began my dance. He stiffened suddenly and grabbed the back of my neck ripping my mask off. Panic surged through me and instantly I spotted one of the bouncers heading our way.

"Let me go!" I cried struggling against his firm hold on my neck.

"Dude what the hell let her go!" His friend cried shocked.

"What the f**k are you doing here Katy?!"

I froze completely shocked. Suddenly I could see the face behind the dark hair. I could see how furious he was at me at the moment. I could see the shock and disbelief too. What. The. Hell.

"Eric?" I whispered.