The Alpha Weredragon's Favorite

a's

most powerful and notorious Alpha Dragon's child from a one-night sta

*

of my father's newspaper. There was no rest for me. I stood at the stove, flipping pancakes

ng the morning paper to greet me. His gray eyes scanned the pages with a furrowed

prestigious and renowned college in our territory, second only to Harbringer University. Neither she nor I had h

Her green eyes, the same color as mine, flicked over me, a smirk playing on her lips. "Look

new it would only make things worse. Instead, I turned my atten

a weak wolf like you," Viola continued, her voice t

n my pack who hadn't changed. Because of this, my family despised me and most pack members avoided me, dism

w hard I tried,

nally looking up from his paper. He stood, grabbed a fistful

her?" I asked, hoping he would

e always, he looked right throug

rt heavy with disappointment. I had always dreamed of attending Emberwood College, but my step-mother,

red to a much warmer place-a place where the heat came not from a griddle but from the intense shared desire between two bodies. My thought

me. He was the only one who knew about my longing to shift into my wolf fo

ar, his deep brown eyes gazing into mine. "You're so beautiful, Lyra," he had said, his voice husky. "Your hair is like the sun and your eyes lik

ments from anyone except him. He protected me too. As the next Beta, he w

r, jump higher, and lift more than some of the weaker males and all of the

a little deeper. My skin remained stubbornly human, my strength the desp

the task at hand. I needed to get to the pack house and help pr

idn't want t

ne, as most members avoided me. Without my wolf, I was an outcast. A reject. I c

s as they frolicked through the woods. But at my age of twenty, twenty-one today, I still hadn't shifte

boasting about her acceptance to Emberwood College.

send lazy, spiteful Viola. Rage si

came into view up ahead. It towered over me, dark and

eavy wooden doors. Inside, the main hall was already bustling

hers arranged tables and chairs. The air wa

. Then my eyes landed on Vivian, my 'e-vile' step-mother, across the room. In a cream silk suit

ering with a hello. "We need help setting up the banquet hal

etort. "Of course, Vivian," I re

mbers on me. Their whispers and sideways glances made my face burn. I was used to being

he seams were even. No matter what my haters threw at me, I would show them my worth. Next were the glowing

admire my work with a small sense of satisfaction. That feeling f

d. "Now go help the kitchen st

ack a retort and simply nodded. As I made my way to the kitchen, I vowed t

epared dishes for the ceremonial feast. Eager to contribute

the pack had given up hope that my inner wolf would ever surface. Even Blake's patience was starting to wea

come up behind me until she barked, "Pay attent

y," I

and now you're useless with a

d before. Blinking back tears, I resolved to focus on my task. I may

By myself I lifted oak tables, moved heavy chairs, all without breaking a sweat

y gaze fixed ahead. I would

k when I realized Blake had not arrived. He'd promised to take me

lt like forever, I kn

needed him the most and he didn't e

care it was

bumps. I folded them, rubbing my hands over the raised flesh to take away the

Lyra. Ju

ed to more. Positi

tonight. Just wait a

e wall and headed towards Blake's,