Prologue

She knew it was time. Kataya stood there covered in red paint. Hiru pointing his fingers and laughing at her. Ari King glared and the serpent as he tried to place his jacket over her shoulders. Katya brushed him aside. Rei Kang held his twin brother's arm to keep him from hauling off to punch Hiru. 

Samuel had grabbed Hiru’s arm. “Dude, you said you were just going to reject her! Why would you humiliate her on top of that?” 

Kataya tilted her head, hearing his words. Hiru and Samuel were both her mates. Along with Ari and Rei. It was too much. She’d had enough. For far too long, Hiru tormented her. Samuel tried his best, but he did nothing to keep his best friend in line. She was done. Beyond done. Her white dress was stained with red paint. Her hair weighted down by the liquid, causing her tight curls to clump together. Red paint slid down her dark skin. The Hiru fan club gawked, pointed fingers, and laughed at her. Every girl adored Hiru. He was the snake king's son. A beautiful young man, but with a massive evil streak. Only aimed at her. 

Katya stomped towards him. Celia stepped in her line of sight. Her arms folded across her chest. “Can’t you see you’ve been rejected? Just turn tail and run shifterless.” 

Katakana narrowed her eyes before pushing Celia to the side. “Move! Until the words are spoken, I’ve not been rejected. Just because you have been spreading your legs for him doesn’t mean you will automatically be his fated mate.” 

Celia gasped. Her hand raised above her head to strike Kataya. Rei King grabbed her wrist. “Don’t.” The words were a growl—his lion awakening at the sight of his mate. 

Kataya continued until she was inches away from Hiru. “What? Are you going to slap me?” he chuckled. 

Samuel sensed the fire in her eyes. Knew she was about to explode. “Wait!” He was too late. 

“I Kataya Quinella Duponte reject Hiru Solomon Treeson, Ari King Blanc, Rei Kang Blanc, and Samuel Joseph Jones on this new moon. May your next mate be worthy of you in every way.” 

With the four of them being her fated mates, only one needed to accept. “I accept you wretched bitch!” 

Immediately after she spoke, a pain seared in her chest. Her heart pounded. The pain she felt was shared between Samuel, Ari King, Rei Kang, and Hiru. 

The unbearable pain caused the young men to drop to their knees. Kataya clutched her chest, but continued to stand. Her pain subsided. All the girls in attendance looked on as the four strongest guys in their community buckled from the pain. They had heard the breaking of the bond was excruciating. Just standing there watching the pain etched on their faces caused the girls to wince. 

When the pain had vanished, she stood taller. She scanned the room before turning to leave. 

Celia grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around. “How dare you hurt Hiru!” This time, with no one to stop her, she raised her hand and slapped Kataya across the face. 

Kataya wiggled her jaw. Metallic iron coated the inside of her mouth. After touching a finger to her lips, it was stained with blood. She smirked at Celia. “you’re not even worth it.” 

She spit out the blood filling her mouth. It splattered at Celia's feet. 

Celia stood there, mouth agape. Kataya opened the door to have the darkness fill the night. When she stepped outside, it shrouded her body instantly. 

Everyone in attendance watched her disappear into the night. The further she walked away, the better the boys began to feel. Ari King and Rei Kang were the first to come to their feet. Hiru struggled to stand. Only to be knocked down. Ari King pushed him to the floor. His feet meet the soft parts of his body. Hiru groaned and covered his face, leaving his body open to the attacks. It took Rei Kang and Samuel to pull him away. Ari King's eyes flashed amber. The eyes of his beast rushed to the top. He spoke in a growl, deeper than his normal voice. “You filthy serpent!! You had no right! You don’t speak for me!” 

Rei Kang pulled his twin out the door before his beast took complete control. Samuel squatted in front of Hiru, offering his hand to him. Hiru accepted gleefully. He groaned as he got to his feet. “Are you hurt anywhere?” 

Hiru rubbed his ribs and nodded. “Yeah, he wasn’t full strength, so it’s fine.” 

Samuel nodded. In a blur, his fist connected with Hiru's jaw. “Ari's right. You don’t speak for me.” 

Hiru now rubbed his jaw blood trickled from his mouth. “What the feck dude! You didn’t want to be tied to her either.” 

“Doesn’t matter. We should’ve talked it out. And YOU shouldn’t have pulled that shitty prank on her. We, as her mates, should have shielded and protected her. But you’re such a shithead you didn’t even care. You better pray to the moon goddess this can be fixed. If not, Ari won’t be the only one that goes beast on you.” Samuel stomped out of the hall, leaving Celia to wrap her arms around Hiru. 

Kataya had gone home only to see her parents at the door. Lina looked at her with disgust. Melius sat with his head in his hands. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” 

Lina slapped her. The same cheek Celia delivered her blow to. “How dare you embarrass this family? Get out of my house! You’re no daughter of mine, you shifterless harlot!” 

Melius didn’t say a word. 

Kataya looked at him. “Dad!” 

He turned his head away, pretending she wasn’t talking to him. 

“You heard me. Get off my property.” 

She sighed. “I’ll go. Can I pack my things?” 

Lina folded her arms across her chest. “Everything you own belongs to me. You will not take anything from this house unless you bought it.” 

Defeat filled her eyes. From the time she was old enough to work, she had purchased everything she could for herself. “Yes, mom.” 

Lina shrieked. “I’M NOT YOUR MOTHER SLUT!” 

The high she had felt just a little while ago had vanished. Now she stood like a trembling child, afraid of the big bad wolf. “Yes, primate queen.” She went into the house to collect her things. Everything fit in the two duffle bags she had bought a couple of years ago. Mixed emotions waged a war within her body. 

With no place to go, Kataya wandered through the community when Montelius found her.