Chapter 1

"Skyler, breakfast is ready! We need to talk before you leave for school," my mother's voice cuts through the haze of my half-sleep state, urgency threading each syllable. It's never good when she uses that tone—like an alarm bell I can't silence.

"Coming!" I groan, forcing my body upright. The morning light barges in uninvited, and my silver eyes ache with sensitivity. I fumble for my sunglasses on the nightstand, sliding them on to shield myself from the piercing brightness. It's the same routine every day; without these dark lenses, the world is too much, too soon.

I shuffle down the stairs, aware of each creaking step in this old house we call home, nestled deep within the Wild Rose Pack's territory. My mind whirls with thoughts, a quiet storm behind calm waters. I stand out—a beacon of otherness even here, where wolves roam and howls meet the moonlit sky. My skin, paler than winter's first snow, my eyes like molten silver, betray a lineage not wholly bound to the lycanthrope blood running through my veins. A gift—or curse—from some distant ancestor whose dalliances with the vampire court are whispered about but never fully acknowledged.

Being the daughter of Betas comes with expectations heavy as lead—strength, loyalty, unwavering commitment to pack law. Yet, I'm caught between worlds, never quite fitting the mold they've cast for me. With parents so steeped in duty, any falter on my part feels magnified, a stain on their hard-worn honor. I'm supposed to be a warrior, a model pack member, but my reflection tells a different tale—one written in the nuanced language of shadows and thirst.

They say my wolf is magnificent, golden and rare, a living testament to some ancient magic that refuses to die. But what use is such beauty when it only serves to isolate me further? In the eyes of the pack, my uniqueness is a novelty at best, a threat at worst. A constant reminder that purity of blood is a fickle mistress, and that tradition binds us tighter than the strongest chains.

As I reach the bottom of the stairs, those familiar walls of doubt close in around me. Today will be like any other—filled with sidelong glances and hushed whispers, the invisible weight of being different pressing down until breathing feels like a chore. But I am Skyler, daughter of Betas, bearer of silver eyes, and no matter how the pack sees me, I'll face the day head-on. It's all I know how to do.

The aroma of bacon and eggs tickles my senses as I slip into the kitchen, the familiar setting a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within. At the breakfast table, Mom and Dad sit with their morning brews, an air of silent conversation hanging between them. They look up in unison, their expressions etched with concern that they try to mask with smiles.

"Morning, sweetheart," Mom greets, her voice tinged with an undercurrent of worry. She reaches across the table, sliding a crimson-filled pouch toward me with a stealth only years of practice can perfect.

"Remember to be discreet at school," she murmurs, eyes darting to the window where the golden hue of dawn promises another day ruled by the sun. Her reminder is unnecessary—I've mastered the art of secrecy out of necessity—but it's her way of showing she cares.

"Always am," I reply, tucking the blood bag into my backpack with practiced ease.

Dad clears his throat, eyes tracking my movements as he sips his coffee. "Evening training today," he says, the words sounding more like an order than a reminder. There's a hint of pride in his tone, though; he's a warrior at heart, and the thought of his daughter following in his footsteps warms him in ways the morning chill cannot.

"Can't wait," I respond, the sarcasm dripping from my tongue like the honey we keep for special occasions. "It's not like I have any pressing social engagements to miss." My laugh is a hollow echo of the joviality that once filled this house.

Mom and Dad exchange a glance, one heavy with the unspoken acknowledgment of my solitude. The weight of their expectations presses down on me, but it's nothing compared to the burden of being the pack anomaly.

"Skyler," Dad starts, pausing to set his cup down with a soft clink against the wood. "You know we're proud of you, no matter what."

"I know," I say, shouldering my backpack. Their pride is a small comfort, but it doesn't fill the void of companionship. With a final nod, I head for the door, the day's challenges already looming like specters on the horizon.

The door swings open with a familiar creak, and the morning light assaults my senses. Instinctively, I reach up to adjust my sunglasses, the dark lenses merciful shields against the sun's piercing glare. Silver eyes might be rare, but they're a curse when it comes to daylight. I take a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs, chasing away the last remnants of sanctuary sleep offered. Today is another battle in the mundane war of high school, and I'm already armoring up.

I step off the porch, each stride carrying me further from the solace of home and deeper into the jungle of teenage angst and razor-sharp tongues. The familiar path to school unfolds before me, a trail I could navigate blindfolded—or perhaps I already am, in a way, hidden behind these ever-present glasses.

"Skyler," a voice coated with venom purrs from ahead, and I stiffen. The 'Bitch Squad' emerges like specters from the suburban mist, their sneers cutting through the morning calm. They fan out across the sidewalk, an orchestrated blockade designed to halt my advance. Their leader, Tessa, steps forward, her red-painted lips twisted in a cruel smile that doesn't quite reach her cold eyes.

"Going somewhere?" she taunts, tossing her perfectly styled hair over her shoulder.

"School," I reply, voice flat. "Same as you." I try to sidestep them, but they're a practiced barrier, moving in sync to obstruct me.

"Aw, look at her trying to act all normal," another chimes in, laughter lacing her words like poison ivy. "Isn't it sad?"

I swallow the retort that claws up my throat. It's what they want—a reaction, a sign of weakness. But I've learned to build my walls high and my responses sparse. Letting them see me falter isn't an option; I've got too much pride for that, even if it's battered and bruised.

"Move," I say instead, voice low and steady. It's not a request; it's a command, one that hints at the power I keep leashed beneath the surface. For a heartbeat, there's hesitation in their eyes, a flicker of uncertainty.

They part, just enough to let me pass, but their mocking laughter follows me, a bitter serenade for the walk to school. I push forward, chin lifted, gaze fixed ahead. Every step is defiance, every breath a silent vow: I will not be broken.