Chapter 1

Loud, angry footsteps could be heard by anyone within a mile, alongside the grunts and curse words that could make a sailor blush. People cleared a path as the perpetrator walked past them. Most of the pack members knew who was doing the stumping, grunting and cursing before they even saw the person, and like any sensible wolf, they avoided the path. There was only one person in the Lupus Pack who could sound like an angry herd of cattle when irritated, and cut through one with her laser eyes when angry. Most would claim she was as stubborn as a mule. At the top of the most list was her mother.

"Eva Rodrigo, come back here this instant!" A curvy black woman rushed down her porch steps screaming after the ball of fire storming away. "Eva Carmen Rodrigo!" She screamed at the receding image of her daughter.

"I still wonder why you chose such meek names like Eva and Carmen for that headstrong daughter of yours. Luisa would have been more fitting, no?" A huge man with caramel skin and curly, blonde hair leaned on the porch railings with an amused and somewhat proud expression.

The black woman, seeing that her daughter was long gone, turned her anger on her mate. She stomped back to the porch with steps that would make anyone looking on see where Swan got her powerful steps from.

"This is your fault, Diego. You encouraged her too much, now she fancies herself independent and in no need of a mate." Temi pointed an accusing finger at her mate. She knew she made a mistake before the smirk, which she both hated and loved, appeared on his face.

"Independent and in no need of a mate? That sounds familiar." Diego stroked his chin with mock seriousness. He stopped when he saw his mate was about to explode with how red her face had gotten.

"My poor mate," He pulled her into his arms, ignoring her struggles to get away. "The goddess must be having a field day watching you deal with your replica. Poor Temi." He was having a field day, and his mate knew it.

"This isn't funny, Diego." Temi whined, which only served to increase her mate's laughter.

"I know, darling," Diego held his mate away from him, staring at her with loving eyes. He could admit he felt a little sorry for her, but it would take away the fun. "I know you want what's best for Eva, but maybe you should give her space for a while. Just let her do what she wants, for now, she'll come around soon." He rubbed his mate's arms soothingly as he stared at the path his daughter disappeared down. His little firecracker. The thought brought a proud smile to his lips.

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There was only one thing on the goddess's planet that Eva hated more than human lands, and that was saying a lot. She hated being on human lands with their noisy lands, strange smell, weak bodies walking about, monstrous houses and depleted nature. Even the air on human lands felt stuffy and stale. Thinking about it made her nose scrunch up in irritation.

It was safe to say she hated being on human lands more than the next wolf, but even that could not irk her as much as the conversation of settling down with a mate, especially when that discussion was with her mother. With her mother, it was less of a conversation and more of nagging. Her mother never seemed to listen to her when she told her she had no interest in finding a mate. Goddess forbid Temi Ola Rodrigo listens to anyone but herself. Her mother was infuriatingly stubborn, but Eva was her mother's daughter. She was just as stubborn, if not more. The thought calmed her nerves a little, replacing the anger on her face with a satisfied smirk similar to that of a father.

Eva believed she was a perfect mix of both parents. She had her father's honey-blonde hair and her mother's curly hair. The combination made her hair luscious, which automatically made Eva obsessed with taking care of her hair. Eva was tall like her father. At a height of 5'9, she towered above most females in the pack, even some males. Eva was curvy like her mother, and her intense training honed her curves to perfection, giving her a small waist, flat stomach and wide hips. She knew she was a beauty, arguably one of the most beautiful females in her pack. Eva was not arrogant about it. It was just a fact she knew.

At the young age of twenty-one, she was the most promising student in her pack. After high school, wolves who want to further their education, are allowed to join an academy in the pack. This academy trained young wolves in different fields that are critical in the running of the pack. They had a medical section for those who would love to work in the pack's hospital, a hunting section for those who wanted to be trackers or pack hunters, a warrior section for those who wanted to be future protectors of the pack, and the toughest to get into, the management section, or as most of the academy referred to it, the top dog.

The management section was for those who wished to take on leadership roles in the future. For those who vied to be betas, deltas, gammas, or for those who dreamt far enough to become alphas. The selection process is rigorous, and only a limited number of students are allowed into this particular section. Those who wish to be selected would have to have to go through the other three sections first, spending one year in each section, and be found worthy by the alpha. After which the alpha picks who gets into the class.

Eva realized her legs had subconsciously taken her to a favourite place in the pack, a tall mountain that allowed one to view the entirety of the pack. Here was where she belonged. She had worked hard through high school, graduating at the early age of seventeen, unlike her peers. She went straight into the academy, spending three years working hard, learning and nursing injuries, all to reach the top dog level. And she had achieved it at the ripe age of twenty, being the top student in every field. She had been in the management section for a year so far, and she was enjoying every bit of it. She could not stop her dreams or throw away all her achievements so far just to settle down with a mate.

No, her mother would have to understand that finding a mate was the last thing Eva Carmen Rodrigo wanted.