Chapter 1

Adyson Pov

197 days, 6 hours and 3 minutes. That is how long I have to wait until I am eighteen years old. Compared to the first seventeen and a half years of my life, that is nothing. A fraction of time. However, the expectations of my life are different to the plan for my life.

My father is the beta of the Blue claw pack and the alpha’s best friend. I am my parent's only child. That’s right, little old me, Adyson Silver. The future beta of the Blue claw pack, queue eye roll.

‘You are being a moaning baby again.’ My wolf Spartan scolds in my head. She does not agree with me of course and wants to take the position as soon as possible. She says it is our nature calling or whatever.

‘Spartan pipe down. You know how I feel about this.’ She retreats to the back of my mind sulking. She is such a big baby sometimes.

I am not saying that I don’t want to be the beta one day, I just don’t want to take it on at eighteen years old. I have lived in Blue claw my whole life and have only traveled to other packs occasionally. I want to see the world whilst I am young.

‘That’s not the real reason though is it’ Spartan interrupts my thoughts.

“Slam dunk!” My best friend shouts as he collides with me and knocks us both into the pool. As I gasp for air and wipe water from my face. I glare at my best friend and point at him.

“You are lucky that I wasn’t holding my phone mister,” I splash my hand towards him and he just laughs and pulls me to him so he can lean his elbow on my shoulder. I sigh and roll my eyes at him.

“Jax, you just wet Adyson’s hair.” Lila exclaims with a disgruntled look.

Myself and Jax burst out laughing again at our other best friend. I am not very girly and don’t bother about makeup and getting my hair wet like she does. My best friend Jax is the Alpha’s son and we have been friends forever. Our parents used to put us in the bath together as kids, cringe! We know everything about each other. When we were six, our other best friend Lila and her parents joined the pack. The three of us have been inseparable since then. Although, Jax and I are still closer.

“Come on Lila, you know that Ady doesn’t care about getting her hair wet.” Jax says whilst patting my head.

I swat his hand away and splash him again. I climb out and sit on the edge with my feet dangling in. Jax swims over and rests his head on the tops of my legs. Lila shuffles closer to me and hands me a can of soda. I take a swig before Jax takes it from me for a drink too.

“Hi, Jax.” calls a voice approaching the pool, trying to be seductive.

We all look over to see Bethany and her Barbie clan approaching the pool in ridiculous bikinis. Lila and I groan and roll our eyes but Jax smiles and waves at them. Bethany steps into the pool and starts walking towards us.

“Jax, my straps seem to be coming loose, would you mind tying them again for me?” She asks with a huge smile. We can all see her sparkling white teeth.

“Sure Beth, turn around.” Jax turns to help and I stand up to leave with another eye roll.

I don’t know why he puts up with her crap, she is clearly trying to date him. I don’t know what I would do if he ever said yes as there is no way I could spend time with her.

As I grab my phone and bag Jax calls to me. “Where are you going, Ady?”

I turn to him with a fake smirk on my face. “The smell of desperation is overwhelming me.”

I turn on my heel with a dramatic hair flip and head back to my house. I saw Bethanys jaw hit the water and Jax fight back a laugh before I turned though. Lila soon catches up to me and links her arm through mine.

“She is such a skank, throwing herself at him like that.” Lila moans as we walk.

“Maybe she is hoping that he will one day return her affections.” I fake gag and Lila chuckles. “I just don’t want to be around to see it.”

“Me either, he deserves so much better than her.” Lila snaps with a huff.

“I can’t believe you guys ditched me.” Jax groans as he catches up to us and puts his arm around my shoulders. “Please stop leaving me with her, she tried to get me to play spin the bottle. It’s like she forgot we were in the pool.”

We all laugh and approach my house. I suddenly notice that someone is sitting on my porch steps, they have a cap on so it is hard to see their face. I sniff the air and realise who it was.

“Eli!” I shout and run to him whilst dropping my bag on the floor.

Eli stands up at the shout of his name and opens his arms for me. I jump on him, arms around his neck and legs around his waist and smash my lips to his.

Eli is my eighteen year old boyfriend, he joined the warriors and has been away for four weeks in training. Jax does not like Eli very much and would pout whenever he was around.

I jump down from Eli’s body, but he keeps his arms around me hugging me to him.

“I missed you, Adyson.” he smiles while kissing me.

“I missed you too, Eli.” I smile back.

‘I can’t believe you are still dating this idiot.’ Spartan does not like Eli, she thinks we should wait for our mate.

“I got your bag, girl.” Lila states and drops my bag on the porch steps.

“When did you get back, Eli?” Jax asks with disdain in his voice. I shoot him a warning glare, and he shrugs at me.

“About two days ago actually.” Eli replies and I step back to look at him with confusion. He looks at me sheepishly. “I needed to come and speak to you,” he pauses and starts fumbling nervously. Great, what now.

‘He’s probably cheating on you.’ Spartan interrupts.

Eli gulps before continuing, “as I found my mate whilst at the other pack.”

I glare at him as I process what he has just said and then fury rushes through me as I suddenly dive at him trying to hit him. Jax grabs my waist to hold me back, I thrash in his arms shouting at Eli.

“You stupid moron, why did you just kiss me if you are mated to someone else. How could you do this to me? You could have phoned and told me, you selfish i***t!” I just keep yelling at him.

‘I told you he is an idiot.’ Spartan chips in again.

“I was swept up in the moment just now when I saw you running towards me, I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait. She is my mate.” He tries to defend himself.

“You should have called me and ended it before you started anything with her. You tried to make a fool out of me!” I continue to shout.

People are starting to watch the drama now.

‘Pull yourself together Adyson.’ spartan rolls her eyes, she doesn’t understand or feel the same way about Eli.

“Ady, calm down. People are coming out to look.” Jax tries to soothe me so that I stop shouting.

I take a couple of deep breaths and look around at the people now staring. Jax doesn’t let go of my waist and I am thankful as I would definitely try to kill Eli again.

I glare furiously at Eli and see him physically step back. “Leave and don’t come near me again.”

“Adyson, please, I still want to be friends.” Eli pleads with me. I laugh like a deranged person.

‘They are going to lock us in the dungeon for acting crazy.’ Spartan adds again with a sigh.

‘Just shut up, Spartan’

“I don’t think so, Eli. I’m not upset that you found your mate. I’m upset that you didn’t tell me and thought it was best to cheat on me rather than end it.” I sigh with frustration.

He opens his mouth to say something but then shuts it again.

“Leave Eli.” Jax orders with authority in his voice. Even in my angry state a shiver runs down my back. Eli looks at me once more before turning and walking away.

Jax is still holding me, so I shove off his hands and stomp up my steps. Jax and Lila both follow me into the house.

I grab a towel and head into the bathroom for a shower.

As the water is running over my shoulders I let a few tears free. I don’t like to cry in front of others as it makes me feel weak, I always have to be tough as the betas daughter.

‘You need to hold it together, Ady.’

‘Please Spartan, just let me get it out of my system.’

‘You have, now suck it up.’

I wipe off the few shed tears and pull myself together. Eli and I were together for around four months, I thought he respected me enough to at least tell me when he found his mate. It would be wise of him to stay away from me now.

‘He can keep his little b***h away too.’ Spartan adds with mischief.

‘Come on Spartan, we don’t even know the girl. She probably didn’t even know about us.’

Spartan grunts but doesn’t argue further. Plus she would have felt him kiss me so he’s probably going to be in trouble already. That did put a small smile back on my face.

My thoughts then drift to Jax, the way my body reacted at his command. His warm hands on my body, holding me back. No. No. I cant go there.

I step out of the shower and wrap my towel around me before heading back into my room. Jax and Lila are sprawled over my bed waiting for me and Jax looks at me as soon as I walk in. I swear his eyes flit black for a second, but it is gone before I can be sure.

‘They absolutely turned black.’

‘I’m not sure, Spartan.’

Your eyes only flit to your wolf with a rush of emotion, usually desire. But he is my best friend and we have seen each other with hardly any clothes on many times. I go into my closet and get dressed in cycling shorts and a crop top. We have training this afternoon. I walk back out and flop down in the middle of my friends on my stomach. Jax immediately starts tracing patterns on my back and it is relaxing, or maybe it is tempting. My body starts to heat as I shake my head to clear those thoughts.

“Guess what I write.” he requests excitedly, like a child, and I sigh.

‘I’ll play.’ Spartan tells me, a twinkle in her eye.

He starts to write letters on my back with his fingers.

“Cat.” I mumble and he groans.

He starts another word, and it is way too easy.

“Seriously Jax, you could think of harder words than cat and dog.” I chuckle.

‘His fingers leave tingles everywhere.’

‘I know Spartan!’ I sigh.

“Will you come with me to get changed now?” Lila asks as she stands up. I attempt to get up but Jax pulls me back down.

“Let Ady rest for a bit before training Lila. She’s had a tough morning.” Jax says with a frown, great here comes the pity party.

‘He cares about you.’

‘I know, Spartan.’

“I don’t need to rest Jax, and I don’t need you to pity me,” I stand up and hold my hand out for him to get up too. He obliges and we all leave to head over to Lila’s house.

‘Jax, Adyson, my office now.’ Demands Uncle Derek via mind link. As we are under eighteen still we can be mind linked by adults but we cannot yet mindlink back.

I look at Lila apologetically, “I guess we’ll see you at training, Alpha wants to see us.”

She nods and heads inside her house whilst Jax and I go to the pack house to see the alpha.