Chapter 1: Part 1
Marissa took a drink of coffee she had picked up at the last gas station. The hot liquid burned her tongue and tasted like slug. It wasn’t Starbucks that was for sure.
She had flown into the Texas International Airport and rented a car to drive the rest of the way to the small town that her sister called home. Her mind was busy thinking about how her sister Elizabeth had been so excited about moving here. But looking at the passing scenery of trees, and trees, and more trees Marissa didn’t get it.
Rolling her window down and turning Bon Jovi even louder on the stereo she concentrated on the drive not the reason for coming. She was dreading going into Pack territory. But Elizabeth was the only family she had left; and after finding her mate she wanted Marissa there for the mating ceremony.
That brought a smile to her face as she glanced at the invitation in the seat next to her. She wanted Elizabeth to be happy and Greg sounded like a nice guy. She had spoken to him numerous times on the phone and he had always been respectful toward her. And that wasn’t common. A were in a pack that couldn’t shift was an outsider. And everyone except Elizabeth had treated her that way her entire life.
Marissa had left the pack she’d been raised in as soon as she could. Never to step foot on any pack territory again. That was until later today.
Elizabeth had stayed until she met Greg. After the initial meeting he had offered her a teaching position at the elementary school and she had taken it. He had been courting her ever since. Marissa smiled at the thought. Greg had known he wanted her and he patiently waited. It had taken Elizabeth a year to agree to the mating ceremony but she finally did. Marissa also knew one of the reasons Elizabeth had been holding off was because of her.
Marissa had the same instincts as any other wolf and with that came the need of a pack but she had given up on that a long time ago. She grew up alone and would always remain that way. In the middle between a shifter and a human. She had received many gifts due to her genes. The extended lifespan, the wolf traits, and some enhanced features but not enough.
But Marissa would put everything she had into this week and the ceremony that meant so much to her sister.
The difference between her and Elizabeth had grown as they had aged. That was why Marissa had never visited Elizabeth’s new home. She wasn’t scared of being on pack territory she just didn’t want to be faced with all those males and their egos just. And from what she understood the pack's alpha or leader was pretty young himself. But around other wolves the female came out of her; demanding she mate with one of her own kind. The problem was there wasn’t one of her own kind around. So as long as she avoided everyone except her sister as much as she could and keep her urges inside everything would be okay. She would not act like the wolf she couldn’t shift into.
And if the Alpha was anything like her old one she’d just tell him where to stick it. The idea of telling the alpha of a territory to go to Hell made her smile wide and laugh. She wasn’t seventeen anymore. She wasn’t a scared little girl who had to follow everything someone told her. No she thought to herself. She was a grown woman. And she was going to enjoy the time with her sister.
Marissa’s long brown hair flew around her face as the wind coming in from the open window lifted it off her back. Her green eyes were shining behind her dark eyeglasses. She was going to enjoy this trip if it killed her.
She wore a pair of hip hugging jeans and a pink tight T-shirt. The paint on her toe nails matched the color of her shirt, as did the flip-flops. It was a far cry from the suit is wore everyday as an office assistant. She felt free.
When she almost missed the turn off to the territory gate and turned the car sharply to the left; the back of the car skidded around and kicked up dirt. Laughing she straightened the car and slowed her speed. She didn’t think Gage Wolf Alpha of the territory would be happy if she took out a couple of trees.
When she reached the gate she stopped and waited for the guard. He didn’t disappoint. A man over six feet came over to the window; he leaned down and smiled at her.
“Can I help you?” He asked in a husky voice.
She smiled back taking a deep breath. If all the men were this good-looking she had her work cut out for her. They’d flirt and tease with her and she had to be strong and resist. Because as soon as they knew her secret she wouldn’t exist any longer to them. And no matter what she said to herself the rejection always hurt. “I am Elizabeth Boyd’s sister. I need directions to her house please.”
His smile didn’t change and he nodded. “Give me just a minute.” He winked and headed to the guardhouse and picked up the phone.
No doubt checking with the Alpha asking if she could come in and play. With her own sister.
She smiled at him as he came back to the car. “Problem?”
“Not at all.” He said shaking his head and gave her directions to her sister’s house.
“My name’s Steve if you want to get together later.” He told her.
She continued to smile. Not in this life she told herself. “Hmm we’ll see.” She said careful not to commit to anything that he could hold her too later. The laws of the pack were much different then the laws were she lived. Marissa knew them all and had only ever broken one.
Shaking that unpleasant thought from her head she drove through the gate. Looking back into the rear view mirror she saw Steve standing with a smile on his face. She sighed. “Down girl.” She told herself. “This is pack territory.”
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