Chapter 1

~Elena~

“I do!!”

I heard the gentle voice of a woman, whistle into my ears. 

The air in the grand hall was thick with tension, the sweet scent of roses and the soft hum of the orchestra doing little to mask the storm brewing in my chest.

My father, Zaphyr, the Alpha of the pack, stood at the altar, his strong figure like a pillar of granite.

His broad shoulders filled out the tailored suit, the fine fabric barely containing the power that rests beneath his skin. 

Beside him, his new bride, and now my new stepmother.

She wore smiles with eyes that glimmer like she’s won some prize. But for me it's wasn't victory. It's betrayal.

I stood to the side, my dress tight around my breasts, a mockery of what I should be feeling on a day like today.

The bridesmaid's role should be one of joy, of support. But as I watched them, my heart throbbed with disgust. I can’t breathe right. The tears that had threatened to fall earlier are gone, replaced by a simmering rage.

“You may now, kiss your bride!!” The priest said, arousing a romantic tension. 

And with their eyes locked onto each other. The moment lingers, and then my father’s hand reaches for her, and she leans in, too eager, as though she’s already decided she’s his.

He tilts his head slightly, ready to seal the union with a kiss. I watched, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. 

My heart twitched with rage. 

I wanted  to scream. To pull him away. To rip the smile off her face. But I couldnt do more than watch. 

I’m just the daughter, the one who’s meant to stand quietly, to play her part. 

So I kept my gaze hard on them, cold and unforgiving. 

My father’s jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on  her. For a brief second, I wonder if he felt the weight of my stare. If he understood how much it pains me to stand here and watch them .

Her lips brushed his, and the world tilts. The guests hold their breath. 

And then, loud cheers shoot out from the crowd.

Happiness filled their faces. 

But not mine.

I swallowed the huge lump in my throat. They’re not family. She’s not my mother. 

And no matter how many vows they exchange, no matter how many pictures are taken, nothing will change that.

I returned home from the wedding very exhausted. 

I got to my room which was beautifully decorated in white. 

White was my favorite color after all. It had been so, ever since the day my mom told me it looked good on me.  

   Whenever I'm in my room, the memories of my mom always come flooding back to my mind. 

I miss her so much and life has lost its color ever since her death. 

  My mom was a moon goddess, the only in many ages. 

They were the most powerful beings in the universe. 

They really didn't have any wolf in them, but possess mystic powers untold of. 

Me being born of a moon goddess, is probably the reason I can't shift yet. 

  Sometimes I wonder why a powerful goddess like mom would die so early. Moon goddess’ tend to live for years. 

  I drifted off to sleep she thinking of my mom. 

The loud banging on my door woke me abruptly from my sleep. 

“Elena, I know you're in there! You better open up before I break this door down!!”

That was Crystal on the other side of the door. She is nemesis, and as of today, now my step sister. 

I exhaled deeply, as though couldn't get any worse… It just did. 

I dragged my feet to the door and unlocked it. The moment it was opened, Crystal barged in, her broad and heavy shoulders pushing me down to the hard floor. 

“Elena, are you sleeping? Can't you see my mom just got wedded today, she is starving!”

Crystal asked, her voice laced with disgust. 

“You lazy bitch!!”

Her words seemed seemed to trigger a nerve. I folded my hands into a fist, but because I was very good at controlling my temper, I called myself down.

“If your mom is so hungry, why don't you make her dinner yourself.”

I snapped back at Crystal. I wasn't going to let her come to my room and treat me like trash. 

“Wait. Are you telling me to go to the kitchen and make dinner, and get my hands all soaked?”

“Yes I am!” I rolled my eyes at her. I could feel the rage stirring up in her

The next moment, Crystal stepped foward and grabbed my neck, her large hands squeezing the air out from my lungs. 

“Dont you ever speak to me like that again. I'm your elder step sister, and I won't be disrespected!”

Crystal warned me carefully, her voice laced with menace. 

She finally released her hold, and I fell backwards to the floor. 

Crystal left my room, shutting the door with full force that shook the room. 

How long would I keep being treated this way? 

Tears ran down to my cheeks. I was threatened by somehow I'm suppose to call my step sister. 

I was going to suffer in my own house, and the worse thing is.. I don't have anyone to talk or share my pain with. 

If only Mom was alive. Dad wouldn't have married that witch and bring her evil daughter with her. 

And my Dad… he outright hates me. Infact, I'm sure he even loves Crystal more than he loves me. 

Between the death of his Mate, and my mom and my inability to shift into a wolf, he certainly hated me. 

He never showed any sort of affection towards me, and treated me like I was non existent. 

I returned back to my bed and let the tears flow till I was fast asleep.