Chapter 1

Lyra POV

I woke up to the sound of my stepmother's screeching voice, echoing through the halls of our pack's headquarters which made my heart to fly up high with fear .

 "Lyra you witch, get up! You have chores to do!" I groggily with sleepy eyes as I opened my eyes, rubbing the sleep from my gaze at my step mother.

 My small room was dimly lit, with only a sliver of sunlight peeking through the curtains that was opened up a little bit.

 I hated this room my step mother insist I stay in, hated the way it felt like a prison cell to me.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet dangling in the air with Still sleepy filled eyes .

 My stepmother, hated it when I didn't move fast enough, so I forced myself to stand up , despite the exhaustion weighing me down since I just work up from a few minutes sleep.

 I had barely slept last night, haunted by the same nightmares that plagued me every time I closed my eyes to have a rest after the day job and stress and pass through.

As I immediately made my way to the little kitchen space, the smell of bacon and eggs filled my nostrils, making my stomach growl with hunger and determination to eat something.

But I knew better than to expect any food for myself at this time of the day.

 My step mother only cooked for my father, Alpha Damian, and my stepbrother, Ryder. I was lucky if I got scraps after everyone is done eating for the day.

***

"Lyra, get to work!" My step mother immediately yelled with, her eyes narrowing as I entered the kitchen.

 I quickly got to work with her expression, scrubbing the floors and washing the dishes from last night's dinner which I didn't had. 

My hands moved mechanically, my mind numb to the drudgery and pain.

Doing the house chores my thoughts drifted immediately to my mother, to the stories she used to tell me about our pack's history and the legends of our kind pack since I was little.

She had been a kind soul, loved by all, and her death had left a gaping hole in my life and in the life of many that was close to her but I still the feel the pain in my bones as if it was yesterday. 

My father blamed me for her passing away into the other world, and his hatred had only grown stronger with each passing year and time which he transferred to my step mother and step brother.

As I finished my chores in the house, my step mother handed me a list of tasks to complete in the pack's gardens as soon as I can.

 I trudged through the mud, the sun beating down on my back so hard, and the smell of wet earth filling my nostrils and the mud rubbing all over me. 

I hated the garden's chores, hated the way they reminded me of my mother's love for nature and growth which just makes me remember the past.

The day dragged on so slowly with, each task more grueling than the last.

 I was a slave in my own home, a prisoner of my father's hatred and my stepmother's cruelty plus that of my step brother who hate me also.

But I held onto the memories of my mother, onto the stories she told me each time, and the love she had shown me when she was alive .

As the sun began to set again, I made my way back to the pack headquarters, exhausted and hungry after the long work.

 But I knew better than to expect any comfort or rest from my family. 

My father and my step mother plus brother would be waiting, ready to criticize and belittle me like how they do daily 

And then coming back home, I saw him. Ryder, my stepbrother, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of disdain and curiosity visible on his face.

 I hated him so much as I hated his mother, hated the way he treated me like dirt, hated the way he enjoyed my suffering and pain.

****

But most of all things is that, I hated myself more than I hated anyone else.

I Hated the way I couldn't stand up for myself in the family, hated the way I let them walk all over me freely without me giving any reaction to it at all.

I was a werewolf, a creature of lot of strength and power, but I had been broken already to posses that and I was also, trained to submit and obey to all commandment.

As I entered the kitchen, my father's voice boomed through the room, making me flinch and fear the more.

"Lyra, come here at once you witch." I hesitated, knowing what was coming, but I had no choice but to answer to his call at once. 

I walked towards him with heart pounding, my head bowed, my heart heavy with fear and sorrow

"Lyra, you're 19 now," he said, his voice dripping with disgust which so irritated me. 

"It's time you started earning your keep up. I've arranged for you to be sold to the Dark Shadow pack Alpha King. They'll put you to good use there instead of staying in this pack and be worthless."

My world crumbled around me with this word, the room spinning as I struggled to breathe with the words I just heard.

 Sold? Like a piece of property that totally not useful? 

I felt a quick spark of defiance ignite within me, but it was quickly extinguished by my father's next words which I just shut up to hear more words.

"You're nothing but a burden unto us here, Lyra. A reminder of your mother's weakness. You'll be lucky if they don't kill you and make you meet the Woman you killed yourself"

I felt a tear roll down my cheek with his words, but I didn't dare wipe it away this time.

 I stood there, frozen, as my father's words cut deep into my soul like a dagger or knive. 

I was unwanted, unloved, and now, I was to be sold like a slave into another far way pack.

The darkness closed in around me at once, and I knew I had to escape from all of this, had to find a way out of this nightmare that I was in.

But for now, I was trapped, trapped in a life I didn't want for myself, with no hope of ever being free ever again.