"I despise this hellhole I'm in, my cruel uncle, and his family," I cursed as I hurriedly swept the hall's floor.
As I did so, I kept checking the clock on the wall. I had 45 minutes left to prepare for the mating ceremony.
Turning 21 a week ago, I was ready to find my mate.
For a wolf, finding their mate means meeting their other half. But for me, it's more than that. It is knowing what love is for the first time, never experiencing it, and calling a place home with my mate.
With 30 minutes left, I rushed for the already-prepared map and bucket, completing my 50th chore of the day: mapping the floor.
The morning my uncle's wicked mate, Allison, gave me the long to-do list, I had a hunch she was trying to prevent me from attending the mating ceremony on time. Why? I had no clue. I assumed she would be as excited to see me leave as I am to escape this prison. I guess when you're evil, your every intention is.
As I mapped as quickly as possible, beads of sweat rolled down my face, and I was finished in 15 minutes, leaving me with 12 minutes to get ready.
I hurriedly walked away with the map and bucket.
"You missed a spot." I heard Addison, my cruel cousin, from behind.
I spun around to see the devilish blonde already dressed in her mating gown. A silk nightdress represents the moon's light, and she's emptying a bottle of dirt and water onto the floor I'd just cleaned. Addison gave a cocky smile as I shockingly watched her mess up the floor.
"Now clean that up," she said, stepping over the mess and returning upstairs.
In a rage, I ran to clean it up, very aware that I had only 10 minutes left.
"This is my last day here at this horrid place," I encouraged myself as I angrily mapped the floor.
My mom died after she conceived me, and my dad was killed when I was less than a month old in a battle to protect our pack, the Melokyn Pack. Which, unfortunately, left me in the care of my father's only sibling, Uncle Cyrus, since my mom was an orphan. Sometimes, I wish my parents were still alive. I wouldn't be here now, forced to work as their housemaid and putting up with their horrible treatment every single day.
Getting rid of the mess, I bolted upstairs to the attic, which is also my room, forcing my way through several boxes toward the bed I had had since I was four years old. The bed is so tiny that I have to sleep in a fetal position to fit into it.
On the bed lay my ceremony gown. It was so old that it no longer looked white but rather a pale yellow, which Allison forced me to wear instead of purchasing a new one. I quickly picked it up, slipped in, and took a quick look in the mirror. Sadness consumed me, and I wished I could wear something better to meet my mate for the first time.
I considered letting go of my dark hair, but the awful memory of Allison saying that I looked like a wet rat with my hair down haunted me. I decided to keep my hair in a ballet bun.
Addison laughed as she saw me descending the stairs, and a chuckle fell from her mom's mouth.
"What an ugly nightgown," Addison teased. "It looks like it has been worn by an entire generation."
Allison burst out into a snort of laughter, and I fled from the house, humiliated, sprinting into the woods with tears pouring down my cheeks.
I came to a halt under a tree, and as I used the gown's helm to wipe away my tears, my eyes rose to the night sky.
"It is time." I watched the clouds peacefully divide, revealing the full moon, and its presence took over me, guiding me to my mate until the sight of him at the river, sparkling under the moonlight, took me by surprise.
"Alpha Bolin. You're my mate." My eyes widened.
Disappointedly, Alpha Bolin looked at me. Momentarily, tears started flowing from my eyes. I knew there would never be a future with him. I was without a wolf and was too weak to be his mate, let alone to be his Luna, the second powerful ruler of the pack.As Alpha Bolin walked toward me, with every step he took, I felt my life fall apart, aware of what he was about to do.Alpha Bolin was supposed to be my hope for a better life, and now he wasn't. How was I supposed to live without him?"What's your name?" Alpha Bolin posed this question as he stood before me, prepared to reject me.He had to ask because I was without a wolf, and his wolf couldn't spiritually link to me to know my name without me telling him.I tried to speak, but my words failed me."What's your name?" he asked angrily, shouting this time."Melonie Starling," I say, frightened by his shout."Melonie Starling, I, Bolin Crescent, reject you as my rightful mate." His jawline tightened, and his arms rolled into a tight f
Even though a rejection should end our bonds and ease the pain of losing my mate, I still feel a connection to Alpha Bolin. Alpha Bolin was not only my fated mate but also my every hope.For two days, I'd hopelessly remained in the spot where he'd rejected me, wishing what had happened to me to be a nightmare that I kept pinching myself to wake up from this horrible dream until I was left with purple bruises. I was already awake, and what had happened to me did. My mate rejected me, destroying every hope I had for him.Who would take away the loneliness I had been carrying for many years? and give me a home free from insults and abuse, and let me know how it feels to be loved. All I know is being sad, alone, and miserable, for that is what I've always known.It was time to return to my uncle's home. I cried as I sat up. I never once imagined I would return there after finding my mate, but dolefully, I am.Unlike me, I assume Addison was fortunate to have her mate. Everything seemed to
Uncle Linus had been the Alpha's family accountant for many years; it was the first time I'd seen him visit his home. I was confident that the Alpha had arrived for me.I secretly watched the Alpha as my uncle stood before him. The casual clothes—a white shirt and grey pants—I remembered meeting him under the full moon. He's now dressed business-like, wearing a black suit with a white inner shirt, a shiny silver watch, and leather shoes, and his short jet-black hair is neatly combed backward, revealing more of his handsome face."Let us wait in the living room," said Uncle Linus to the Alpha."I have no interest in sitting down but to see her now," the Alpha retorted. His voice was deep, and my heart skipped a beat, even more confident that he was truly here for me.I felt every hope I'd lost return as I was about to go to my mate. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my left arm. I spun around, frightened, and shocked to see Allison. She pulled me towards her, squeezing my arm in the process. M
Alpha Bolin looked back at me, and tears began to form in my eyes. He then turned his head away, caring less about how I felt that he'd chosen my cousin to be his Luna, two days after rejecting me. His hands, which were still around my waist and holding one of my hands, moved away.It was hard to take in what I'd just heard, but the sight of Addison descending the stairs in a long, flowy summer white dress with her face shimmering with makeup demonstrated to the alpha that she was not only with a wolf but also had the beautiful quality of a true luna, which I completely feel I lack. I immediately fled the house with tears rolling down my eyes, rejected not once but twice by him.I thought the first rejection was painful until I witnessed him choosing the one who had made my life so miserable as his Luna and his mate.I ran angrily into the woods, feeling so foolish to believe that the Alpha was ever here for me.Not realizing where I was going, I tripped over a branch on the ground, hi
Alpha Bolin was the dark shadow that picked me up from the ground before I passed out in the woods. I continued to walk the hallway, flabbergasted. As I kept on remembering, I could see his face becoming clearer within the flashback.I want to believe that Alpha Bolin cares about me the way I do about him; that's why he saved me, but I don't want to end up destroyed again. Alpha Bolin is the pack's leader. His role was to protect us. He didn't save me because he felt anything for me; he saved me just like any Alpha would because it was his job.As I exited the hospital, I stopped, astonished, to see Alpha Bolin in the driver's seat of a shiny black car, looking straight at me. His gaze then fell to the envelope hugged between my chest, and I immediately knew why he was here—to ensure I'd taken his money. Upset, I hurriedly walked to his car to tell him I would pay him back, but as I did, he rolled up his window and drove off. I started to run, and I fell to my knees. His car abruptly s
I hated to be late on my first day at work. I got up early and got ready. I didn't want to ruin my life again, as I'd stupidly lost the only money I'd had, which Alpha Bolin had given me. This job could be my last shot at a new start in life, and I can't afford to ruin it as well. Observing myself in the mirror, the uniform fit me well, showcasing the curves of my skinny body after barely getting any meals back at my uncle's home.I left the room and stood in the hallways, waiting on Cavia. Upon seeing me, Cavia wished me a good morning, and I followed her to the staffroom, where she introduced me to the employees. Later, she paired me with Lovely, a dark pixie-haired she-wolf who appeared to be the same age as me, to clean the largest master bedroom upstairs.As Pixie and I dusted the master room, she said, "I know a lot of people around here; why is this the first time I'm seeing you?" "Are you from a different pack, dwelling here with your mate?""No." I dusted the wall.Not satisfi
"Welcome home, Alpha Bolin and Luna Addison," Cavia greeted them at the door.Alpha Bolin walked through the door, and his dark eyes immediately went to me at the back, as if he'd sensed my presence the moment he stepped in. My heart raced fast when she saw me, and faster when his stare turned bitterly ice-cold. Terrified, my gaze swiftly shifted from him to his Luna, Addison, my evil cousin, and I felt a sharp pain in my heart to see her stand so close to him with a hand wrapped around his arm. I lowered my gaze to the floor, wanting to leave the hall badly.If I'd known he and Addison would be here, I would never have taken the job. I wish I had asked more about the job rather than desperately taking it without caring who my boss was.My attention remained on the floor as Alpha Bolin and Addison made their way upstairs and I shook nervously, still sensing the alpha's ice-cold stare lingering on me as he walked away. He hated that I was here.As everyone left the hallway and returned
Tears ran down my cheeks as I cut the roses, utterly torn apart. Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me, and I immediately wiped my tears before turning around with the bouquet of twelve roses. I was then surprised to see a dark-haired male with hazel eyes standing before me. He wore a dark blue suit, a shiny silver watch, and a dark shoe. With a hand in his pocket, he gave me a friendly smile. His teeth are beautifully white, and I can't help but notice how attractive he is.Observing his formal attire, I said nervously, "Good evening," and quickly spun around to walk away."Do you know what a white rose represents?" The strange man stopped me. His voice was warm and friendly.With my back facing him, I studied the roses in my hands. They're so white, beautiful, and free from stains."No, sir," I said, spinning around to face him."Please don't call me, sir." He smiledHe's more handsome when he smiles, and I cannot resist staring more at him."You haven't a clue who I am, don't you?"