Chapter 0001

AMBER

“I, Cooper Stone, heir of Alpha Donald Stone, of the Drevine pack, reject you, Amber Blackwaters of the Brimsard Bay pack, as my rightful mate.” His eyes burned with hatred and a blood-curdling scream left my lips as I dropped on the floor, my legs feeling weak under the load of his rejection.

I couldn’t breathe. Tears blurred my vision as I felt the burning pain on my shoulder blade where his mark was.

This was supposed to be my special day. The day I got married to my boyfriend, Cooper. I had entered the venue in hope of starting a new life with him until I found out that he was getting married, but to my sister.

I didn’t miss the disgust and disappointment in his eyes when I looked up. Those green eyes I got lost in used to hold so much warmth in them.

Cooper and I were together for a couple of years before he proposed to marry me. He was the son of the Alpha of Drevine–also known as the West pack of Elmstone.

We weren’t mates, but that didn’t stop me from loving him. Mates were rare in our world and hard to find, so people ended up with the people they fell in love with. He had marked me and I thought our bond would last forever. Never did I imagine he would reject the bond as if it meant nothing.

My lips quivered as I asked, "Why?" I looked directly at those eyes that had both given me hope and shattered it. “Why did you betray me like this?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes flashing with rage, “You dare to call me a betrayer, you unlucky, murderous freak! I am the one betrayed by a worthless slut like you. Since the time you entered my life, my life started falling apart!”

His words crushed my hope.

The day I was born, they tagged me unlucky and a murderer. It was because my mother died after giving birth to me. Bad things happened in Brimsard Bay pack when I was present.

At least, that was what everyone claimed as a valid reason to kick me out of the pack house. I was just a child but they showed no mercy. Not even my dad.

A warm hand touched my shoulder from behind. It was Angela, my guardian. The only person who stood beside me. She even paid for my education by saving the money from running her little pharmacy shop. I managed the pharmacy to repay her. Watching her work has given me sufficient knowledge in the field of medicine and herbs.

“Amber. Don’t make a scene here.” Her voice held concern as she stood behind me. “People will make you the villain if you stop the wedding.”

Cooper’s silhouette appeared distorted as bitter tears covered my vision. “Unlucky freak? I thought you didn’t see me like the rest did. Isn’t that what you used to tell me? That you would love me no matter what anyone said?” I rose to my feet, holding my head high in defiance.

“Be practical, Amber. I thought everyone was lying, so I said that. But they are right. My life became worse from the time I dated you. My friends and my pack in the West would laugh at me for dating you.” He pointed as if it was all my fault. He was the one to make the first move towards me. Yet he blamed me for everything.

He brushed the tip of his straight nose with his thumb. “I can’t be the next Alpha of my pack if I marry you. No one in the West will accept an insane, wolf-less girl as their Luna. You take drugs, for Goddess’s sake!”

Everyone present in the hall gasped as they heard the loud sound of my hand connecting with his cheek.

“They are not drugs! They are medicines I take. I can’t believe you said that out loud after knowing what happened to me!” I yelled, my chest growing tighter at his betrayal.

I had to take antidepressants for my mental health because I lost my wolf in a major battle. I was the hated outcast, but the strong desire to get recognized and appreciated by dad led me to join the military forces of my pack. The path wasn’t easy, but I had my wolf and together we got a hold of the position. I didn’t suspect why dad allowed me in the first place. Later, when I had to put my life on the line to fight the gruesome battles, I realized that my decision was benefiting him.

I trained hard and soon became a low-ranked warrior in the pack. I had fought a few pack wars and attended to the wounds of the injured whenever I could. Everything seemed to work well until that one battle.

Eight spears laced with silver were pierced on our body, especially her abdomen. No one had returned to rescue us that day.

“Agni! No. Please let me shift back!” I begged inside her head.

“Live.” Those were the last words she had spoken in my head before she left this world. She knew we both would have died that day, so she used her leftover powers to treat my fatal injuries and cursed me to live with guilt.

For most werewolves with Alpha blood, the shifter could survive even after the wolf counterpart was dead. Agni died because she gave up all her powers to let me live.

I survived and recovered because of her sacrifice, but the gap her absence left was devastating.

The crowd beneath erupted in gossip.

“Now, please excuse my sister. She is in a bad place right now.” My sister, Abby announced. “This is such a big day for me and my future husband, so I don’t want anyone to feel upset and rather share happiness with you all. So let’s put all the sadness behind us and take the Goddess’s holy blessings for a better future.”

“Can you believe they are both sisters? She is so mature and kind.”

“Everybody, cheer for our future Luna Abby!” her friends yelled and all the guests started cheering her name as if she was a celebrity.

Angela shook her head, “Can’t believe they are cheering for a monster like her.” Only if they knew what Abby truly was–the sister who burned my skin for the pleasure of it and bullied me whenever we were together.

The wedding rituals began, and I watched Cooper exchanging vows with Abby. They smiled at each other while they exchanged rings. My stomach churned as I realized that I would never have such a fate.

I saw dad step up the stage and bless the two as per our tradition. He kissed Abby’s forehead, and they shared a hug. All I ever received were cold glares and ignorance from his side.

Angela held my hand, “I am sorry for all of this, Amber. If I knew they were setting you up, I wouldn’t have let you come here. I understand that they hate you, but to take it this far…” She looked down with a sad face.

“That’s just how things have always been. I just…” I looked at Cooper. He was smiling at the photographers.

“I don’t feel like staying here anymore,” I mumbled, and she nodded.

“Let’s get back home. I will make you a good herbal tea. You will feel better.” She said, and we were about to walk away when Uncle Crux blocked our path.

He looked at me and said in a deep voice, “Alpha has summoned you to his office.”