Mated To The Billionaire Alpha Pack

Chapter 1: Survival

I remember that day eleven years ago. It was clearer than most of my memories even though I was only ten at the time.

“Yue.”

I stared up at my guardian as dark blood dripped down her face onto me. The night wasn’t cold, but warm. Even the wind was warm.

“You are not human, Yue,” she said with urgency buried in her gaze. She kneeled down to my height onto the rocky ground but only because she could barely hold herself up. “That might confuse you because maybe you don’t know what it means to be a human.” 

I grew up around so many different species in our town but I wasn’t sure if humans were one of them. 

She continued,  “Humans can’t use magic, they have no magic and they weren’t made with magic. They can’t transform into anything other than what they are.” I’ve seen people transform into animals for as long as I could remember. Some didn’t but they handled magic or already had beast-like characteristics like demons did. Humans somehow didn’t have any of that. “You have to pretend you are human. I don’t have much time to explain because… Yue, I’m dying. Don’t ever forget that you are not what you’re pretending to be,” she implored desperately.

I knew it was important to understand so I tried my best. I didn’t want her to die but death didn’t care about what anyone wanted. 

My guardian coughed wetly while holding her wound. “Please, if you ever get the chance to run then run. Be smart, do what you have to for your survival but don’t trust this woman.” The more words she spoke the more pain she had to have been feeling. She kept going and that showed me how important it was that I know all of this. “Never open up to her and never tell her the truth. Keep your distance but stay close enough to stay alive.” She only made her instructions so much more confusing

I didn’t even know what we were. I had seen so much but I don’t think I ever saw her transform or use magic. 

She grabbed me and with the last of her strength, she walked me out of the woods while limping. I let her put some of her weight on me.

“Excuse me.” She said to a middle-aged redhead woman in a cloak who was out with a weapon.

The redhead’s stare shot at us. “What happened?” Her stare was analytical and calculating. She didn’t look welcoming so I diverted my gaze to the full moon. Could the moon goddess see me?

“I’m dying, attacked by werewolves,” my guardian explained. “Her parents were already killed by them. Please take her, you don’t have to keep her. I only ask you to find someone to take care of her.” Her voice became more and more hollow.

“Come on.” The redheaded woman waved to me.

“Go,” she told me. “I love you,” she mumbled to me with her last breath.

“I love you too.” I stared at her as she collapsed against the leaves. I was in shock and sadness ran through me. The image of her laying there covered in wounds and blood would never evacuate my mind.

“Come on, they might not be far behind,” the redhead ordered in a strict tone.

I ran to her. “You’re human?” I asked while shaking because I witnessed my aunt's death. I tried to not think about her attack, it had been gruesome.

“Yes, they tell stories of me,” she started. “I’m like you, don’t worry. I’m not one of those monsters.” She assumed I was human but I would never forget that I’m not.

That was the first time I met the redhead Delrose. We went back to her house since it was close to the woods. I remember there being a room in her house fully with weapons, most were silver and some were wooden. There were also wolfsbane and garlic in jars.

I lied by telling her my name was Ally.

 She never intended on finding me a family as my previous guardian requested. I lived with this woman for years. She wanted to raise me as a werewolf hunter.

I did what I had to for survival like I was told. In a way every day that passed, I felt more and more human. There was this part of me that grew distant each time I witnessed Delrose kill a non-human. I didn’t feel as connected to the supernatural world anymore. 

I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn’t human.

“You’re so young, I know this is a lot but I had to learn at a young age too,” Delrose said to me.

“Why do you kill them?” I asked as I stared at the corpse of a dead werewolf. 

The werewolf died in their wolf form. Delrose struggled to kill this one. She had so many tools and used more than usual at that time.

I used to cry for her victims but Delrose would scold me. I needed to not show emotion around her and that was for my own survival. 

“Because they kill us,” she answered with a straight face. She didn’t show emotion very often. “Ally, it’s like how they killed your parents and the woman who asked me to raise you.”

Every week she would set up several traps and by the time I was twelve I knew how to as well. We’d have to check them soon. There was never a good opportunity to leave. The nearest town was three hours away by car so I could imagine how long it’d be on foot. She never took me into town.

“Recite it,” she demanded.

“We hunt werewolves,” I began with my head held up high and my hands held behind my back. “If needed we hunt werebears, dragon shifters, fox shifters, vampires, and demons. We do not hunt witches because they are humans who protect our realm. We do not hunt mages but they’re dangerous. They are even more powerful than witches but are not human. Werewolves are our main target because they inhabit our world more often than others. There are hunters who specialize in vampires so we don’t seek them out but if we come across them we will kill them if possible.”

“Good, now go check the traps,” she ordered.

I walked out of the house and into the woods where the traps were.

“Hey,” a voice said from one of the cages.

I walked to the cage slowly and looked at the boy but said nothing. He had slightly torn clothes, dirt on his face, and messy hair. I hadn’t witnessed her kill children. I hoped she wouldn’t but I couldn’t assume that. My previous guardian said not to trust Delrose so I wouldn’t trust her not to kill him.

“You’re not human.” He said.

That was the first time I realized that non-humans could tell. I’m not sure if they could before. How long would it be until one of them exposed me? 

“I am.”

The boy laughed out of disbelief. He was around my age by the look of him. “Let me out,” he requested.

I didn’t say anything. I hated leaving werewolves and any other creatures she captured to die but I promised I’d survive. There were times where Delrose looked as if she would dispose of me if I wasn’t complying and being useful.

I went back to the house and put my equipment away.

“Ally, how many?” Delrose asked.

“None today,” I lied.

“Again?” She sighed. “I know how to lure them. We’ve been getting closer to ridding the area of werewolves. Once we have, we move on.”

The next day I walked back into the woods to check the traps. Not by order of Delrose but to check on the boy I left in the cage.

“I’m still here,” the boy said.

I walked to his cage. I hadn’t seen a kid since I left my world through a portal with my previous guardian. I missed her so much.

“You’re pretty,” he admired boldly.

“I’m a werewolf hunter,” I said.

“You’re still cute. If you don’t let me go my pack will come for me. Have you ever dealt with an alpha before?” He spoke with so much confidence for someone who had been trapped for 24 hours.

I didn’t want to lead his pack to death. I didn’t want to let a kid die. I thought maybe I should let them come so they could get Delrose. There was no way she could take on groups of them.

I walked away and checked the other traps. There was another werewolf in one. He was old. “A child?” He frowned. “You’re not human are you?” 

Why did this become so obvious? No one else had noticed until these last two times. I only knew they were werewolves because Delrose’s traps couldn’t hold anything other than werewolves. Anything else could escape.

“You’re hiding in plain sight… take me to the hunter. I’ve lived a full life. I’ve had a family, helped protect my pack, sparred with alphas, and slept with lunas before they were lunas,” the old man recalled his most notable experiences.

I wanted to thank him but I didn’t want to confirm his suspicions.

I unhooked his cage and dragged it back to the house. “Delrose! I have one!” I announced.

Delrose walked out the front door and said, “Finally. I'm going to sell this one. I’d kill it but I need the money. You’re doing good, Ally, your parents would be proud.” I didn’t think so.

Later that day the boy was still there in the cage. “I'm so bored,” he announced and looked at me. “Wanna play a game?” I wasn’t sure when the last time I heard that was.

“What game?” I asked.

“If I can guess the right number that you’re thinking of or close enough to it then you’ll let me out,” he negotiated.

My brows scrunched towards each other as these next words left my mouth, “You would have to trust that I don't change my number after you guess.” 

“The game is a gamble but most are,” he said and smirked.

It didn’t make sense for him to stake his survival on a game of luck but he did. He kept guessing numbers but he was never right. I couldn’t help but slightly chuckle as we went back and forth. When was the last time I heard my own laughter?

I unlocked his cage and said, “Go.” Why should my own survival be put above his? It’s not like I had more life to live than him, we were the same age. Maybe he was like me, looking out for himself with no one else left who cared.

He stared at me for a few seconds then nodded and shifted into a wolf. His jet black wolf was so beautiful. He had green brightly pigmented eyes that I could swear glowed. When he ran off I was impressed by his speed.

That wasn’t the last time I saw him. He was back the next year and by then it was the third time.

“Why do you keep getting trapped?” I scolded him. It was hard to look out for both of us but I did.

“I’m doing it on purpose.” He rolled his eyes. “Do you think I could really be caught by these dump traps?” 

“Yes,” I challenged with a smirk.

He scoffed. I didn’t want to risk Delrose finding him this time so I planned to let him go quicker than the last two times. “You’re still so tiny. I thought you’d be taller or something after a year,” he teased.

I ignored his comment and opened his cage.

He laughed. “You’re not a very good hunter,” he said. “Or maybe it’s because you like me or you’re hiding something. I still don’t think you’re human.” Opening up to him could threaten my survival. I didn’t say anything, instead I stepped aside. “You could come with me. I’m Kaspen by the way.” I’d never forget that name.

I considered it. She said the first chance I got I should go. I stared at him and I might have accepted but he shifted and ran off before I could push any words out.

“Did you just let him go?” asked a cold, emotionless voice.

I turned to see Delrose walking to me at a distance. Kaspen had only left so quickly because he must have smelt Delrose coming. Delrose taught me about how heightened werewolves' senses were. I think whatever species I was also had heightened senses. I could tell I could hear and smell better than her but the last three years I had been with her my senses dulled.

“He was a kid,” I said. Even a human child might sympathize with another kid so I didn’t think she’d be suspicious. I hoped a human child would sympathize.

“They’ll grow up to be monsters like the rest. You’re not coming back in until you bring me something, dead,” she uttered coldly accompanied by a glare.

I went out looking and I was out for days. It was a cold time of year.

“Hey, my offer still stands.” I turned to see Kaspen walk out from behind a tree in his human form.

I thought he had left. “Details,” I muttered.

“I live in the realm of the supernatural also known as the magical realm or paranormal realm.” The place I came from. “I can’t guarantee that my pack will take you in.”

“Then I can’t go,” I refused. I couldn’t go if my survival wasn’t guaranteed. I had to be smart like she said.

Even though I turned him down he didn’t leave. I started to run so I could lose him but he playfully chased me. When he stopped I started to chase him. We chased each other around like it was a game. I actually felt like a kid. 

When we were done playing he followed me around in his wolf form. “I need to bring back something dead.”

He led me to a dead werewolf. “I can pass it off as my own kill.” I shot the corpse with silver bullets.

He shifted into his human form. “Bye, I’ll see you again the next time I get trapped,” he joked.

“Please don’t. She’s dangerous. Promise you won’t come back around here,” I pleaded.

“Okay,” he said sadly. “I promise.” I watched him walk through a portal he opened with a magical item.

I thought I’d be found out soon but in the next year whatever made people realize I wasn’t human went away. By the time I was fourteen no one could tell that I wasn’t human anymore.

It scared me. I still didn’t know what I was exactly and I felt like maybe I lost that side of me.

At fifteen I finally got the opportunity to safely run away.