Chapter 1: New Day, New Torment

Celeste’s POV

Moonstone Howl Pack

I cleaned the packhouse floor. My hands moved by themselves, sore and split from cleaning yesterday's grime for hours. My knees hurt, pushing against the tiled floor that cut into my skin. The scent of booze mixed with the faint metallic smell of old blood, the stink of this place, and all it stood for.

“Hurry up, Celeste! I'm getting tired of you!” A harsh voice yelled at me from behind. That was Jared. He was the least sober in the pack and was always lazing around. 

“Did you hear me weirdo?” Jared asked, walking closer to me. I raised my gaze, my blood boiling as his dirty boots stained the tiles I had just scrubbed. 

“I told you to speed up. Don't tell me you're deaf too?” He yelled. 

“I'm trying my hardest,” I answered. 

“Try harder,” he barked, kicking the bucket of soapy water beside me. The dirty water spilled over the floor, ruining hours of work. 

A knot formed in my throat as I looked at the mess, but I pushed it down. 

“Sort it out, Twain,” he spat. “And this time, make it spotless.”

I watched him laugh and disappear downstairs. 

I grabbed the cloth and began to clean the water. I was exhausted and hungry. I had requested a mop earlier, but the headmaid refused. She wanted me to suffer. 

Ever since my father betrayed the pack and got the former Alpha killed, my mother died, making me vulnerable to the pack's torture. I was treated like an outcast and reduced to a servant because I had no wolf. 

I continued cleaning and went to the kitchen when I was done. I sighed, staring at the heaps of plates. 

“This day just keeps getting better,” I murmured. I strolled to the sink and started washing the dirty plates. My legs felt weak, and my stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since last night. 

I couldn't afford to be hungry until I finished my work. I rinsed the dishes, letting the warm water ease my sore hands. 

“Well, well. Look who's here. The maggot.”

I immediately felt tense, turning to meet Elena's gaze. She smiled at me from the door. Her blonde hair falling over her shoulders in wavy curls. 

She walked in with her friends, rolling the hair strands on her fingers. Her nails were done in red colour just like her lipstick. 

I ignored her and continued washing the dishes. “Hello, slave,” she said, laughing with her friends. 

If it isn't the Alpha’s slut and her minion. The universe just hates me, doesn't it?

I sighed, rolling my eyes. She was back with her trouble as usual. 

“Don’t you want to talk to me?” She asked, pulling my hair. 

No, darling. I would appreciate it if you never came back.  

I screamed, turning to meet her gaze. “What did you want, Elena?” I asked. 

“To talk darling, what else?” She cooed. I rolled my eyes the second time. 

“I'm not in the mood. Please leave me alone,” I answered and returned to the dishes. 

She got pissed and hit my shoulder, causing the plate in my hand to crash on the floor, breaking into pieces. 

“What the hell is your problem?” I asked, feeling frustrated by the second. 

“Don't you dare raise your voice, slave,” one of her friends barked. 

“Look at you,” Elena stated, shoving me to the sink. 

“I don't know why Kaidën bothers with you. Why does he even keep you around? You're just a big waste,” she spat. 

I ignored her, and she came forward. “Do you hear me?” She asked, smiling. “A complete waste.”

I remained quiet, hoping they would leave. “Say something, freak,” she hissed. “Maybe we'll feel sorry for you just like he does. Poor little Celeste, with no wolf, no mate, and no future.”

My grip tightened on the sink as I felt her words. 

“Say something!” Elena yelled, shoving my shoulder. 

“Go away, leave me alone,” I answered calmly despite the anger I felt. 

Her eyes lit up. She was trying to get a reaction from me. “Oh, you've finally grown a spine. What are you gonna do? Cry?”

Before I could answer, her hand struck my face. I felt the sharp sting on my cheek. “Don't touch me,” I warned. 

“Or what?” She asked. “You'll report me?”

Her friends circled around me. “You can't even fight a pup, let alone me,” she boasted. 

She pushed me. I crashed on the hard sink groaning as I felt the pain. That was it. I snapped, having enough of her bullshit. 

I shoved her back, and she snarled, striking me with her claws across my arm. 

I stepped back, holding my arm as it bled. I attacked again, ignoring her friends as they hit and grabbed her wrist. She easily pushed me off. 

“Do you actually think you're better than me?” She spat, shaking with anger. “You're just a broken girl with no wolf!”

I pushed her off and punched one of her friends. “At least I'm not a whore!” I shot back. “You and your stupid friends let Kaidën and the others use you like toys. Who's the broken one now?” 

Her face twisted with anger, and her friends gasped. 

“You little bitch,” she growled, and I grabbed the spatula, shoving it in their faces. 

“Don’t come any closer,” I warned. “I'm not afraid to use it.”

She scoffed. “Alpha Kaidën would be so pleased to find out you hit his beloved.”

“You're not his girlfriend. And maybe you'll be glad to know your friends are having him, too,” I said. 

She froze and turned towards her friends. “She's joking, right?” Elena asked. 

The ladies remained silent and Elena screamed. “Are you all deaf?”

“Ah, come on, Elena. We can have him too. He's the alpha and no one wants to be with the betas,” the brunette among them said. 

“Shut up! Kaidën’s mine and you'll all stay away from him!” Elena warned. 

“And you,” Elena turned toward me. “Don't think I'll let you off that easily.”

Her claws grew longer and she smirked at me. “Let's see if you look so pretty without your eyes,” she said.

I froze, realizing what she wanted to do. I held the spatula, ready to strike if she moved. 

I swung the spatula at her, but she was fast pushing me off to the side of the room. My body ached as I landed on the floor. 

“Hold her,” Elena commanded. Her friends held me down, raising my face up as I struggled. 

“Elena…don't,” I gasped. 

She smirked as she came closer, raising her claws. 

“What the hell is going on here?” a deep voice thundered and we froze.