Chapter 1

SELENE WOLFE POV

The scent of the fresh bread I was baking wafted through the dimly lit kitchen, a brief moment of solace in my daily routine. I wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand, my thin, delicate fingers trembling slightly as they held the dough.

The relentless ache in my arms was nothing new; it was a constant reminder of my place in the pack. The kitchen was my domain, but it wasn't by choice. As an Omega, the lowest rung of the pack hierarchy, I was expected to serve, to cater to their every whim. I was less than a servant; I was a punching bag, an object of scorn, and a symbol of everything wrong in our

world.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I carefully placed the dough in the oven, taking a step back and wiping my flour dusted hands on my worn apron. There was a time when I'd dreamed of a different life, a life where I'd be cherished, not condemned. I longed for the day when my mate would sweep me away from this misery, when my wolf would finally awaken.

But that day remained elusive, my wolfless state a relentless burden. At fifteen, I'd reached the age when my wolf should have emerged, and it never did. The torment of that night was etched in my memory. My father, then the Beta, had demanded I shift in front of the entire pack.

When I failed, he'd gone out in anger, and that night, he met his death in a tragic accident. My mother couldn't bear his loss and had taken her own life, leaving me truly alone.

I sighed as I started to scrub the kitchen floor, I heard the scuffling of feet behind me, and my heart clenched with a mixture of dread and resentment. Ariana, the Alpha's daughter, sauntered in, a wicked glint in her eyes. She carried a glass of water with an all too familiar smirk on her face.

Without a word, she tilted the glass, letting

the water spill onto the freshly cleaned floor. "Oops," she said with a sickeningly sweet tone. She wore a sinister smile as she glanced at me.

I stared at the spreading puddle, my heart sinking with each drop. I knew what was coming next. With a calculated shove, Ariana sent me tumbling to the ground, my knees hitting the wet tiles hard. I watched the water pool at my knee, feeling the weight of humiliation descend upon me.

"You know," she continued, "I really should be thanking you, Selene. You make it so easy to

entertain myself."

Ariana's words cut through me like a knife, and I fought to hold back the tears. I'd learned to build an emotional wall over the years, but sometimes, it still crumbled. "I-I didn't mean to do anything," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

She approached me, her gaze unrelenting. "But you see, dear Selene, that's precisely the problem. You never mean to do anything. You're just here, like a useless, wilted flower." She leaned in, her breath warm and cruel against my ear.

"You're a disgrace to this pack."

The kitchen's dim light masked the torment in my eyes, but I knew she could hear the quiver in my voice.

The truth was, I couldn't defend myself against her or anyone else. Not without a wolf to protect me. I'd become a symbol of weakness, an easy target for their rage and frustrations.

Ariana stepped back, her laughter echoing in the air. "Clean it up, Selene. Or don't. It doesn't really matter, does it?" With that, she walked away, her haughty demeanor leaving me feeling even smaller and more insignificant.

As I knelt to mop up the water, I couldn't help but let the tears flow freely. I was trapped in a never ending cycle of abuse and cruelty, and the hope of finding my mate had faded into a distant dream.

The oven timer chimed, pulling me from my thoughts. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and I pushed myself up slowly, feeling a dull ache in my chest. The humiliation was something I'd grown accustomed to, but it didn't make it hurt any less.

Today, on my eighteenth birthday, I'd hoped for a respite from the constant torment. The bread was ready, and I knew I had to finish my chores before the pack's evening meal. Suddenly Xander and Xavier, my elder brothers and tormentors, entered the room.

They looked at me with disdain, their handsome faces twisted into mocking grins. "Look at what we have here," Xander sneered, nudging a pool of water in my direction. "A little Cinderella, cleaning up her mess."

Xavier chuckled, his turquoise eyes cold.

"You're a disgrace to our family, Selene. No wonder

everyone calls you the 'wolfless' freak." "Yh. You couldn't even shift, and you killed our parents. We'd be better off without you." Xander said.

Their words were like a barrage of daggers, each one finding its mark in my heart. The pain was too much to bear. My vision blurred as tears welled up, spilling down my cheeks."Stop it," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Just leave me alone, please." "Go on, cry, little Omega," Xavier jeered before the two of them picked up their glasses of water and left me there.

Their words cut deeper than the cold water soaking my clothes. It was true; I couldn't shift into a wolf. The pack saw me as a liability, a stain on our lineage. I felt like a puzzle piece that didn't fit anywhere.

The oppressive weight of my existence pressed on my chest, but I couldn't afford to crumble. I had to endure. I had to survive. Somewhere out there, I clung to the faint hope that my mate would come for me, and together, we'd find a way out of this nightmare.

With trembling hands, I closed my eyes for a moment and wished for a savior, a second chance at happiness. Suddenly I heard a growl

"MATE!!!"