Rylee
Syd sits frozen, as if rooted to the ground. Silence spreads under the moonlight.
Every werewolf gains the ability to sense their mate on the day they come of age, and I was no exception. This morning, the moment I saw Syd, I felt our mate-bond. But it was weak, and I couldn’t smell Syd.
My wolf hasn’t come yet.
Syd came of age six months ago. He should have known I was his mate, but he never told me. I can guess the reason easily: my status embarrasses him.
I am the pack’s slave, and he is the future Beta.
We don’t trust each other; we don’t accept each other. That’s why our mate-bond is so weak. That’s why I can’t smell him.
Syd suddenly jumps to his feet. “When did you know?” he asks, his breathing fast. “What... what are you going to do?”
Without waiting for my answer, he paces anxiously. “No, this isn’t the time for discussing that. I need to get you out of here first.” He crouches down, trying to pick me up. “I heard them talking about selling you, and the buyer is... Alvar Gonzales.”
Alpha Alvar, leader of the Dark Moon pack, is known for his brutality. He’s bought many sex slaves, but they always end up disappearing. Rumor has it he changes bed partners every night and kills those who don’t satisfy him.
So when Anto mentioned he was selling slaves, it was me he meant to sell.
“Never mind. It’s not that bad,” I say.
“Are you mad? Alvar is a demon. He’ll kill you!”
“That’s better than being here.” I pat Syd’s hand which is gripping my arm tightly. “Syd, just let me go. I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to leave.”
Syd’s eyes turn red. He lets go and stares at me, breathing heavily. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, we’re not right for each other. I don’t want to be here with you...” I say clearly, word for word.
“I’m telling you in advance that I’m rejecting you.”
Syd steps back, his eyes now completely red, his hair standing on end, a precursor to shifting. “Rylee Green, you better have an explanation for this,” he growls, his fangs showing. “I come to your rescue and you say you’re going to turn me down?”
I sigh. “You really don’t understand why? Then tell me why you didn’t come and claim me when you knew I was your mate six months ago? You knew I was bullied in the pack, and instead of protecting me, you distanced yourself and sometimes bullied me too. You know my daily to-do list is long, yet you let me add more work to your laundry. And why didn’t you defend me today when you knew I was wrongly accused?”
“That... that’s because...”
I interrupt him, “There aren’t that many excuses. You just don’t love me! Or rather, your love is too cheap for me to want! Syd, I’m touched you came to save me and gave me gifts, but that doesn’t mean I have to accept you and spend the rest of my life with you! We’re not from the same world. You don’t know what it’s like to dip your hands in ice water for a long time. You don’t know what it’s like to work when you don’t have enough to eat. You don’t understand what 40 lashes mean to an omega. You don’t know anything about me or what I need. Or rather, what I want, you can’t give!”
“There are many people in this pack who wish me dead. I’m hurt so badly and might die if I stay. I can’t stay here anymore.” I struggle to hold myself together and take his hand, pleading, “Syd, for the love of me dying, please, let me go.”
In 18 years of living, I’ve never seen Syd look so vulnerable. He’s always high and mighty, impatient, or nasty. Now he looks like he’s about to break down and cry.
“So that’s what you think...” Syd’s voice trembles. “You’re right, I don’t love you! I hate you! They were right about you! You’re just a low, vile monster! How could I let someone like that abandon me!”
He shakes off my hand. “Just remember! I’m the one who dumped you!”
Just before he immediately utters his vow of rejection, I speak quickly, “I, Rylee Green, daughter of Alpha Steve Green of the Greenvale Pack and descendant of the Madonna, reject you, Syd Lee, as my mate.”
I recite the oath before quickly scanning the area to formulate a plan to escape. Syd’s expression is terrifying, and I suspect he’s about to kill me.
Luckily, he just covers his chest in a painful and death glare and doesn’t rush to tear me apart. Few seconds later, he says indignantly,
“I, Syd Lee, son of Beta of the Greenvale Pack, accept your rejection.”
RyleeI used to wonder what "fated" meant. How can you fall in love without knowing each other and stay together forever? Now I get it. It's a soul-deep pain, like a part of you is being ripped away.I have to stuff straw in my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Syd looks in worse pain. He can't stay human, shifts into a wolf, and collapses. The brown wolf convulses, his mouth opens wide, looks about to cry, but he only whimpers silently. After ten minutes, he stumbles up, giving me a deep look. Then, he turns and disappears into the darkness.I breathe a sigh of relief, wipe my tears, and collapse onto the haystack.It's over.Great, one step closer to leaving this pack.Syd is tall, handsome, capable with a pretty-boy face. We grew up together. He’s the only one who cares about me. If I wasn't Rylee Green, I might fall in love with him so easily and deeply. But our bond is doomed. He has a bright future, and I'm the pack's sinner.18 years ago, my birth took away my high-blooded m
AlvarThat scratching sensation was back again. The closer I drew to Greenvale, the stronger my nameless desire became.I couldn't quite place it. It had only started a week ago—my wolf, Blade, had been urging me to head north, insisting there was something crucial waiting for us. But what could it be?Greenvale Pack had been settled in the north for ages. Once an ancient tribe with great renown, its glory days were long gone. Alpha Steve, the current leader, was a mere survivor whose pack’s brief prosperity was largely due to his ex-wife.There was nothing there worth coveting. So what was Blade trying to tell me?Recently, Alpha Steve had been trying to strike a deal with Carl, my Beta. He wanted to borrow money or sell us slaves. I sniffed. He’s not qualified to talk business with my pack.Carl reminded me that Alpha Steve’s ex-wife was a descendant of the Madonna and that they had a daughter who likely inherited healing powers. Our army was in desperate need of a medic, so I told
RyleeSometimes I want to applaud fate. Even on my birthday, it mocks me with its cruel sense of humor.Falsely accused, imprisoned, and then caught so easily after escaping. The man who caught me was so swift and powerful. I was tackled to the ground before I even had a chance to react.Fugitives go straight to death row. It's an eternal rule in the werewolf world. Blindfolded and shoved into the backseat of a car, I wait for my fate.Sometime later, the car door creaks open, and a man sits next to me. The space instantly feels cramped. Even though I’m blindfolded, his presence is enormous—definitely not one of Greenvale’s 67 werewolves.The man doesn’t speak. I can feel his intense gaze piercing through me. His heat is overwhelming, making me shiver. My teeth are chattering, but a small hope flickers: If he’s not from Greenvale, not killing me right away, could he possibly let me go?I clear my throat. “Sir…” As soon as I speak, he leans in, his body heat almost burning me. His hand
AlvarWhen I said my name, my kitten closed her eyes and pretended to faint. But her fluttering eyelids and rapid heartbeat gave her away.Is my name really that scary?I watch her with amusement.My mate is younger, more mischievous, stronger, and bolder than I expected.She dares to call me rude, make deals, and fake fainting right in front of me. The last person who challenged me got torn apart and fed to the dogs. But her antics don't make me angry; they make me feel... excited.‘Mark her RIGHT NOW!” Blade protests loudly. “You’re 28 and still don't have a wife! What the fuck are you waiting for? Grab her, bite her neck, make her ours! Then drag her to bed and make babies! If you can't do it, I will!’He’s really horny.Of course, I’m horny too. The moment I saw her, I wanted to fuck her. Her beautiful blue eyes made my cock swell up. I long to be inside her, to have her touch me. But her bruises and wary eyes calm me down.I reassure Blade to take it easy. She looks young, maybe
RyleeEating the bread and bacon Ruth hands me, I think about how to get out of this mess. Steve sold me, and now I’m Alvar’s sex slave.Being his sex slave won’t end well.After the meal, I look around the deck. The sea is beautiful. The waves roll in, big and small, and the sun is warm and comforting. But I can’t enjoy it. I think about jumping off the boat and swimming away, but we’re far from shore. There are about seven or eight werewolves on board, all big and strong. They’d scoop me up before I even hit the water.No chance. I have to wait.Clouds start to thicken, and the sky gets cloudy. Ruth shooes me back to my room.“Looks like rain’s coming. Damn winter rain and wind, it’s gonna be cold.” Ruth grumbles, pulling a wool coat from the closet. She says Alvar had my previous clothes and package sent ahead to Dark Moon Pack, and the ones I’m wearing are new.Whoo. Efficiency.I don’t feel cold. In Greenvale, it gets to -10 or -20°C in winter, and I’m often out in the wind and s
RyleeThe mansion’s courtyard surrounds the place, and the helicopter is parked on the tarmac in the northeast corner. As soon as we step off the helicopter, men in black rush over with umbrellas. I wade through the muddy grass and make my way to the mansion, still trying to take in the grandeur.I’m in awe. I’m sure my wide-eyed wonder looks silly, but I can’t help it.This place is incredible!It is an old-fashioned and gorgeous mansion; a style I learn a month later called Victorian. The mansion sits at the top of a hill, facing south, with expansive courtyards to the east and south. Except for the west, which is near a cliff. An iron fence encircles the property, with guarded entrances at every corner (I sigh again). In the center of the courtyard is an octagonal fountain pool, currently empty except for a small marble pedestal.To the north, there’s a parking lot. Now a few luxury cars sporadically parked in it. Beside it, there is an area that serves as a landing pad for helicop
AlvarI decide to cancel Greenvale Pack. I never cared about it before. It’s far north, poor in resources, and taking it over wouldn’t benefit our pack.But now, things have changed. I’m going to show them I don’t mess around. They’ll pay for how they treated my future Luna.Rylee’s asleep, so I ask Carl to take her back to the pack by boat. He’ll wait for her to wake up before taking the helicopter. After Carl leaves, I start digging into Greenvale Pack. By evening, all the details are on my desk.Green is an old family, but its descendants are ungrateful. The current Alpha, Steve, and his father are losers. Greenvale was in a mess. Steve has no ability, just luck. He married a good wife. Twenty-five years ago, he mated to the descendent of the Madonna, Sheila Dewey, Rylee's mother.Sheila was a powerful Luna with healing abilities, skilled in business and management. She kept Greenvale organized and thriving. She was loved by all. However, she struggled to get pregnant. So Steve che
RyleeYesterday, Carl and Ruth dropped me off at the bedroom and left. They told me to wait for Alvar. I didn’t dare touch anything in the room and only went to the bathroom. I sat on the bed and anxiously waited for him. I don't know when I fell asleep.I slept so much that when I wake up, it was the next afternoon. I remember sleeping in the corner but woke up in the middle of the bed. I sleep super comfortably, except my butt feels a bit numb.Strange.Not seeing the owner of the room relieves me.Afternoon sunlight pours into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I get out of bed, step over the black plush carpet, and push open the balcony door. The breeze blows through, ruffling the curtains and sweeping my face, lifting the gloom from my heart. I go out onto the balcony. The view here shows a small patch of lawn. Not far from it are cliffs, and below the cliffs is the sea.There are guards on three sides of the Gonzales Mansion but not on the side near the cliffs. Maybe