by Bianca Griso
What’s Next
Six Months Ago...
Ethan-
There has been a lot going on in our community. Mostly with Pack Rivers. Mason called for phone conference telling us the rumors are true. Alpha Jack suggested for Mason to throw a party to find his mate. Now we all have to go, Mason wouldn’t take a no for a answer, I already had a mate and she died. I am only going for the meetings and to discus the war that’s coming.
After I got off the phone I walk over to the cemetery like I do every night. I tell them about the long day. After I talk to my parents and younger brother Brandon, I walk over to her grave. Allie my mate’s grave. I can never forgive myself. It happened six years ago when I lost everything.
Six years ago...
“Ethan,”
“Ethan wake up,”
“Mmmm,” I respond not wanting to get up.
“ETHAN!” My mother yelled at me.
“I’m up,” I mange to say. A few minutes pass and I haven’t gotten up yet. I then feel the covers getting pulled off of me. “Get the hell up Ethan,” mom demands of me.
I finally get out of bed after she said that. I start to get dressed and get ready for my senior year. It’s a big year for me, I’m a quarterback and it’s a big year for big parties and getting laid.
My best friend Callum is waiting outside. “Dude what took so long,” he said.
“Sorry man I didn’t mean to keep you waiting,” I reply. He just rolls his eyes and starts to drive us to school. On our way to school I saw a pretty cute girl walking to school.
We pull in to park and the girl is walking through the parking lot, she looks oddly familiar.
The halls are crowded with people going to their lockers before class. I go to mine and the girl who came over my house a lot came over. She was just some meaningless thing for the summer. She kisses me on the cheek and tells me she will see me in gym class. I was hardly paying attention. The girl who looked familiar was a few lockers down from me, I can’t place a name to her face.
The same girl who came over to my locker sat on my lap whispering in my ear what she wants to do later. Next class was Bio and I have that with Callum. We walk in I see everyone standing up, but we try to sit next to each other in the back. It didn’t work sadly. Callum gets told to stand with the others and I get seated next to that same girl front row. She doesn’t seem to be to pleased about it. I guess I was staring at her, because she said something. I didn’t hear her I couldn’t help, but to look at her. “What?” She asked.
“Oh sorry didn’t mean to stare you just look really familiar to me what’s your name,” I told her.
“Are you serious?” She asked all pissed off.
“Yes?” I said unsure. She rolled her eyes and said something else, but didn’t hear her. I wasn’t paying attention to what our teacher was saying I can’t remember this girls name.
After school I was even stumped and I don’t think Callum knew her either. It will bother me to why I think I know her.
Allie-
School was interesting you can say. Ethan I don’t know what was going on with him, he just kept staring at me. He also didn’t remember who I was or that he was picking on me. I’m not to sure which. He was just looking at me like every chance he can get, and I’m not sure why. He has been ignoring me ever since I moved out of the Pack House. That was years ago almost ten years ago, my father died when I was eight. We were best friends, we did everything together, but now today was the first day he even acted I existed. It hurt me when he asked who I was. Like those years of being friends meant nothing. At least Ethan’s cousin Tori says hi to me every once in awhile, but in the end we drifted anyway. We all did.
I go home and take care of my mother, ever since my father died she hasn’t been the same. You die shortly have your mate dies. It’s like you lose apart of yourself. My mom has me so she’s been trying, but she’s always pain. She sometimes forget my father is dead. Those are the bad days. Those are the days I wish I had Ethan here for me to lean on, or my father. I couldn’t grieve him, I had become the parent.
I cook dinner and I make sure my mom eats hers, then I eat mine.
After I help my mom in the bath, and bath her. She’s having a bad day today, normally I won’t bath her.
After I bath her I start my homework, luckily it was the first day of school so there isn’t much. After I finish my homework I get ready for the next day, I shower and put my clothes out for the morning.
That’s when I feel safe to cry. I cry and cry until I’m all dried out. Then fall asleep and do it all over again.
Characters
High ranked members of Pack Rivers
Alpha-Mason Rivers- The leader of the pack and the strength
Luna- Esme Hilltop- The Mate of the Alpha, she’s the hope of the pack
Beta- Tyler Blackwood-Second in command, becomes in charge if the Alpha isn’t around
Beta’s Mate- Chelsea Underwood- She becomes the Salutary of the pack when Anna leaves. Esme’s best friend
3rd Commander- Luke- In charge of Alex Winters and he becomes in charge if Mason and Tyler aren’t around.
3rd Commander’ mate-Louise-Pack member of The Blood Moon Pack
Delta- Alex Winters- He becomes beta is something happens to Tyler.
Delta’s mate- Alexa-Pack member of Pack Rivers
Salutary- Anna Rivers- Mason’s sister, she heals and takes care of the ill and injured
Salutary’s Mate- Ethan- Alpha of The Blood Moon Pack
Sentinel- Nate Jakobs- Patrols the territory and watches the surroundings. Greets the visitors and makes sure they have good intentions.
Sentinel’s Mate- Grace Forman-Pack member of The Crimson Pack
Elder- William- He gives advice to the Alpha if needed.
Elder’s Mate- Mary- Gives advice to the Luna if needed.
Hunters- Ambusher & Tracker-
Ambusher-Aaron- High ranked hunter
Ambusher’s Mate-Lizzy- A hunter
Tracker- Kyle- High ranked hunter
Tracker’s Mate-Janice- A pack member from Pack Highland
Scout- Paul Greenland- Warns the pack of dangerous territory outside the pack. They stay in touch with neighboring packs
Scout’s Mate- Katie White- Pack member of Pack Highland
Guardian- Dominic- Shows interest and skill in caring for the hurt pack members. They watch over the elder pack members.
Guardian’s Mate- Phoebe- A pack member of Pack Rivers
Omega-Daniel (Dead)- The head omega, and in charge of all the other omegas.
Peter- The next Head of Omegas
Peter’s mate- Unknown
Omega’s Mate- Marisa (Dead)- Esme, Cassandra, and Chelsea’s friend
Other Characters
Cassandra Underwood- Esme’s best friend, and Chelsea’s twin sister.
Cassius- Cassandra’s mate, and Prince of Darkness.
Alpha Crimson- The Alpha of The Crimson Pack.
Alpha Ethan- Alpha of The Blood Moon Pack, and Anna’s mate.
Alpha Jack- The Alpha of Pack Highland, Landon’s father, and the mate of Lorraine.
Landon- The son of Alpha Jack, and soon to be Alpha of Pack Highland.
Rebekah- Landon’s mate, and the next Luna of Pack Highland.
Thank you!
I wanted to take this time to say thank you to some good friends of mine who has been there through this experience with me. It has been a great experience writing this book I couldn’t have done it without them. Thank you for everything Emily and Larelle! I can’t wait to see you guys on the Red Carpet!
Ella I don’t know if there’s a way to repay you for all you did for me. You changed everything for me for the best, I hope you get as lucky as I did. You read multiple versions of this book, and wrote comments and voted on every chapter. You helped me so much! Before you found me, I was thinking about giving up on my dream. You made it worth to keep writing, and move forward to publish “The Battle of Surv
ival Saga: Pack Rivers Book One.” So thank you a thousand times over!
AdolphaSelrah thank you, for all the hard work you did for me. You were there since the beginning of this journey. It’s been four years since it all started, I hope all goes well for you in the future!
To my soulmate, James you loved and supported me through it all. You believed me in when I didn’t. Thank you for everything you had done for me, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Your my penguin and I love you forever and always.