Chapter 1

My name is April. I am 17 years old, and I live with my father. I have never met my mother. My dad told me she died while giving birth to me. Even though that hurts as a child, and it’s the most painful thing you will ever grow up with, knowing your father no longer has a wife because of me.

My father is the Alpha of our pack. He reminds me every chance that he gets that I am the next on the throne when he probably retires. At home, I am an only child. It's just me and my daddy. I love him so much he is the best father I would ever wish for, I consider him like a mother, he tries his best to fill the void my mother’s absence should have on me.

He's the best man on earth. I didn't believe it when people said, "All men are the same." My father made sure that I didn’t think that. He was there on my first shift. He was there when I was facing bullying. He's the one who suffers the most when I have to wake up to go to school because I die instead of sleeping his words.

He's the man who doesn't want me to go out on dates. He says I must save myself for my mate. Yes, I'm seventeen and only one month until I find my mate. I was anxious. No, scratch that, I was terrified. All giddy from thinking about the love I'm gonna get from my mate.

"April!" My father's voice boomed through the whole housebreaking me from my thoughts.

I quickly scrambled to get my things as fast as I can.

"Chris!" My squeaky voice shouts back. I can imagine him rolling his eyes.

"I'm going to be late for work. Let’s go!"

I snatched my backpack and raced downstairs. My heart is beating at a fast pace scared that I might trip and fall flat on my beautiful face. Dad would laugh until I cried for him to stop laughing but I had to fall.

"Ouch!" I went flying down on my face and broke out in laughter as I predicted he would.

"I'm sorry, baby girl," he said in between laughs as he clutched his stomach. I grumbled and stood up smoothing out my black top and dusting my jeans. I pulled my ginger hair into a ponytail.

I opened the door and went to the car. Dad was still laughing behind me. He’s so annoying. What’s with him today? I opened the passenger door and held it and turned around and looked at him. He was still laughing. I clicked my tongue.

He's not worth it, I told myself and turned to face the passenger door but I hit my head on the passenger door.

"Aaaaah!"

Dad laughed as he kneeled down banging the poor concrete. Wow, today is definitely not my day, is it?

"It's not funny it hurts!" I said, trying to stop him from laughing anymore. It was annoying.

"It is April," He said he just stick his tongue out at me I scrunched my eyebrow in disgust.

"You’re so immature for a thirty-year-old grow up!" I said my brushing my aching forehead.

“And what will I get at growing up? Getting old? Naah, I'm good" He was acting immature, he was supposed to act old but his face doesn’t show that his old, it shows the opposite, he looks like a college guy. He has blue eyes and brown hair with tan skin.

"I hate you" I mumbled under my breath, but I knew no matter what he heard me.

"You wound me, pumpkin." I hate that nickname. He reversed out of the garage when I thought of a good comeback. "Good that was my intention anyway."

"Aww, is that all you got?" Well, there goes my good comeback.

"I hate you, Dad," I said looking out the window while scowling he touches my hand "I love you too Honey"I snatch my hand away.

I snatched my hand away. "Eeuw! Dad, stop with the nicknames!" I look out the window in irritation.

"Wel-" I cut him off by bursting the radio. I shut him up by turning the radio on. We sang to the radio until we reached school in ten minutes. I grabbed my bag from the back then gave dad a kiss on the cheek. "Love you."

"Love you too, baby girl.” I made my way inside school. A few heads turned along the way. I was fine not, fineeeee, but fine.

Everything was in order. I had tan skin, long thick eyelashes, and green eyes. I just had a big nose. Yeah, it's not funny, it hurts. A big nose ain't no child's play. That shit is heavy as hell.

"Hey babes," I greeted my best friends with a hug.

Winter and Autumn who was already waiting for me. Autumn had blond hair and blue eyes, which I freaking loved, and Winter had green eyes and brown hair

We chatted like normal as I changed my books in my locker. All the usual high school drama and it was definitely getting boring for me. High school was irritating me, no lies.

"Babe, Sam is so staring at you." Winter suddenly said.

I just stopped wanting to scream. Sam has been my crush since the first year of high school. Does this mean my dream was finally coming true? I was finally getting the love of my dreams for me.

"Don't turn around" Winter whispered to me. I nodded and pretended to be searching for books in my locker not to look like a weirdo.

"Guys, how can he be watching me when I have my back to him?" I asked while feigning my eyebrows in confusion. This was stupid. I probably had a good behind or something.

"Ooh, he's staring at Autumn," Winter said.

I felt my heart drop to my stomach in annoyance and hurt. I was never getting this crush, was I? Great thing Autumn has a mate, a nice one if you can tell from my sarcasm.

"Hey, guys, Seasons." Autumn's mate Max greeted us. He walked past us to kiss his girlfriend good morning.

"Hey," Winter replied. I just grimaced in his presence.

I turned around and snatched Winter's wrist giving Autumn a kiss on the cheek as a "bye." We left. No one asked. They knew I hated Max. He was my childhood bully. Oh gosh, he bullied me so badly. I still have nightmares about those days. I shuddered, going cold as I recall those heartbreaking moments.

"April." Winter tugged at my hand. I looked at her in response, arching my eyebrows.

"Your birthday is in a month," she said biting her lip, a habit she had when she wanted to smile really bad. I don’t even know why she was excited. People don’t know how to mind their own business, do they?

"Duuh, do I look like I forgot, or I told you to remind me?" I asked knowing I really had a habit of telling people to remind me of something.

Winter rolled her eyes in return. "I mean are you ready? Aren't you scared?" she asked while sympathetically looking into my eyes.

Girl, mind your own business.

I snickered and smiled "No I'm not because meeting your mate is not scary right?" I was being sarcastic, you guys, I was freaking scared.

"I can't wait to find out who's your mate if his ugly or sexy" Winter said laughing when she said ugly.

"Doesn't matter if he’s ugly. I will be in love with the guy, so just chill."

"And he will be in love with you."

I stopped her right there holding her shoulders. "We know mates can be rejected, sweety. I also might be rejected." I said as I left her gaping there. Winter hated rejection.

It’s true. It’s no use lying to each other every day. I think about being rejected and it makes my knees weak, but we know it’s something that’s possible. People are cruel out there.