Ch1: The Stolen Kiss Of Defiance

The kitchen was dimly lit, with the scent of baking bread wafting through the air, mingling with the faint hint of lemon polish. The worn wooden table bore the scars of years of use, much like my own heart. I stood by the sink, washing the last of the dinner dishes, my hands working on autopilot while my mind wandered.

“Elara!” My stepmother's sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. I flinched, my grip tightening on the soapy plate. “Yes, Aunt Lydia?” I called back, wiping my hands on a rag as I turned to face her. She stood in the doorway, her keen eyes scanning the room, undoubtedly searching for something to criticize.

“Have you finished the dishes? Make sure to clean the floors afterward. We can't have the Alpha coming home to a dirty house.”

My heart sank at the mention of Alpha Gareth—my mate. The one who should have been my partner and protector. Instead, he treated me like dirt beneath his boots, choosing my stepsister, Callista, as his Luna. The irony wasn’t lost on me: the girl everyone adored, who had everything handed to her on a silver platter, while I was left in the shadows.

“Yes, Aunt Lydia. I'll get right to it,” I replied, forcing a neutral tone. She huffed and turned on her heel, leaving me to my tasks.

I picked up the mop, my mind drifting back to the days when my mother was still alive. Her laughter used to fill this house, her warmth a beacon in my otherwise bleak existence. She was one of the strongest Lunas to ever live. Losing her broke us—especially my father. He was never the same after her death; his life spiraled downward, weakening him when he had once been one of the strongest Alphas. My father got injured trying to protect my mother when they were ambushed. It led him to a very terrible injury that kept him on a wheelchair, with a broken heart. No one ever found out why they ambushed my parents and who was behind it. But she was gone, and in her place stood Lydia, a woman who seemed to take pleasure in our suffering.

Just then, Callista entered the kitchen, taking a bowl of strawberries for herself, her steps light and carefree. She glanced at me, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, Elara. Still playing the servant, I see.”

I ignored her, focusing on the rhythmic swishing of the mop. She sauntered over, leaning against the counter. “You know, you really should try harder to be useful. Maybe then Gareth wouldn't despise you so much.”

Her words stung, but I bit my lip, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. She thrived on my pain, and I wouldn’t feed her need for cruelty.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Callista?” I asked, my voice surprisingly steady. “Or are you just here to gloat?”

She laughed, a sound that grated on my nerves. “You're funny, Elara. No, I just wanted to remind you that Gareth and I are hosting a dinner party tomorrow. Make sure everything is perfect, won’t you?”

With that, she flounced out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I slumped against the mop handle, the weight of my reality pressing down on me.

Even though I want to live and ditch this place, I just couldn’t leave my father. This place was his life and his work. Abandoning him to these terrible people wasn’t an option. Yet every day here chipped away at my spirit, leaving me weaker and more hollow.

I sighed, pushing myself off the wall. There was no time for self-pity. If I was to survive this, I had to be strong—for my father and for myself.

As I continued to clean, I allowed myself a moment of fantasy—a world where I was free, unbound by duty and scorn. A world where I could be more than just a wolfless girl, more than a servant.

But for now, I had floors to mop and a dinner party to prepare.

Soon the kitchen sparkled under the dim light, a testament to hours of scrubbing and polishing. My back ached, and my hands were raw, but it was finally done. I dragged myself up the creaky stairs, the familiar sounds of the old house a small comfort amidst the turmoil of my thoughts. My room, tucked away in the attic, was a sanctuary of sorts. The moonlight filtered through the small window, casting a soft glow over the worn quilt on my bed.

I collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion pulling me under almost immediately. My dreams, as always, were a mixture of the past's warmth and the present's harshness.

Morning came too soon. I was jolted awake by the sound of the door slamming open. Alpha Gareth stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger. The sight of him was enough to set my nerves on edge.

"Elara, get up!" he barked, his voice echoing through the small room. "There's an important guest coming over. Make sure everything is squeaky clean."

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Isn't it always?" I muttered under my breath. But Gareth's sharp hearing caught my words.

"What did you say?" he demanded, taking a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the confined space.

"Nothing," I muttered under my breath. He fumed, breathing like a dragon on fire.

"Watch how you talk to me, Elara. I'm the Alpha here, and you're just a weak servant," he pointed out angrily.

"What terrible sin have I committed that I deserve the punishment of being mated to someone as heartless as you," I spoke, my voice steadier than I felt.

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I saw something flash in them—something almost like hurt. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by cold disdain.

"You can't believe it? You think you are the one being punished?" he hissed, leaning down so his face was inches from mine. "I'm the one who can't believe I'm mated to a weakling like you. You're a disgrace to this pack. You disgust me."

His words cut deep, but I refused to let him see how much they hurt. Instead, I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "Maybe if you weren't so busy trying to break me, you'd see that strength comes in different forms. Wolf or not, I know I'm a way better Luna than that bimbo of yours, Callista. But it's not my fault that you are too stupid to see and too weak to realize and easily manipulated like play dough."

Gareth's face twisted in fury. "You think you can make a better Luna, huh?" he snarled, grabbing my arm with a grip that was more painful than I would ever admit. "You are weak, Elara! You don’t deserve to be my mate, nor Luna of this pack, admit it!"

I winced but didn't look away. "Maybe I'm not the one who's weak," I said softly. "Maybe it's you, Gareth. Maybe it's you."

For a moment, there was a stunned silence between us. Then he released my arm with a shove, glaring at me as if I were something vile.

"You watch yourself, Elara," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "One more word, and you'll regret it."

With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I sank back onto the bed, my heart pounding in my chest. The tears that I had been holding back finally spilled over, silent and hot.

I wiped them away, taking a deep breath. I couldn't afford to break down. Not now. I had work to do, and an important guest to prepare for.

But as I stood up and started to get ready, I couldn't shake the thought that maybe, just maybe, Gareth was more afraid of me than I was of him. And that tiny spark of defiance was enough to keep me going, at least for now.

The house buzzed with nervous energy. Servants scurried around, ensuring everything was spotless for the impending the dinner party. The dining room, illuminated by the soft glow of chandeliers, gleamed with polished silverware and pristine linens. I was tidying up the living room, fluffing the cushions and dusting the shelves, when Callista breezed in, her presence as unwelcome as a winter chill.

“Elara,” she drawled, her voice dripping with contempt. “Make sure you stay far, far away from the party tonight. We don’t want you embarrassing us in front of our important guests.”

I clenched my fists, the feather duster in my hand trembling slightly. “I wasn’t planning on attending,” I replied, keeping my voice even.

“Good,” she said with a smirk, crossing her arms. “Because you have a talent for turning everything you touch into a disaster. It’s bad enough you’re mated to Gareth. He deserves a Luna who is strong, capable. Not a weak, wolfless nobody like you.”

Her words were nothing ive neverheard before, insultsthat have gone stale. “Just because you’ve convinced Gareth to make you his Luna doesn’t mean you deserve it, Callista. Being strong isn’t about bullying others to feel powerful.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, her voice low and vicious. “And yet Gareth and I are getting married soon. He’ll reject you as his mate, and you’ll be nothing but a bad memory. You’ll never be as strong as your mother was. She was one of the strongest Lunas in the land. And your father, once a great Alpha, is now just as weak as you. Face it, Elara, you’re nobody.”

My heart pounded, but I stood my ground. “You can say what you want, Callista. But my mother and father's name out of your fake lips. And you, for all your bluster, are nothing but a scared, insecure girl hiding behind her insults.”

She glared at me, fury blazing in her eyes. Without another word, she stormed out, her heels clicking sharply against the hardwood floor.

The door had barely closed behind her when Emma walked in, her eyes full of concern. “Elara, are you okay? I heard—”

“I’m fine,” I cut her off, my voice shaking with pent-up emotion. “I’m just so fed up with being treated like a nobody, Emma. I’m going to show them who’s really a nobody.”

Emma’s eyes widened in alarm. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh I'm so going to ruin their beloved dinner party in front of their 'Important guest' ,” I said, my voice hardening with resolve. “I’ll make sure its one they will never forget. Let them see how it feels.”

Emma grabbed my arm, her grip tight. “Elara, think about the consequences. Gareth will be furious. You know what he’s capable of.”

“I don’t care anymore,” I said, pulling my arm free. “What’s more work if it means I get to mess with them? They get to treat me like dirt every day and I never do anything about it. It’s time they faced some of their own.”

Emma’s face softened, her eyes filled with worry. “I understand, Elara. I really do. But please, be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said, smiling devilishly. “I know what I’m doing.”

But my heart was heavy with the weight of my decision, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was teetering on the edge of something dangerous. And for once, I didn’t care. Let them see my retaliation, even if it came from a place of defiance and desperation. Tonight, they would all learn that Elara is not just wolfless nobody.

The moonlight poured through my attic window, illuminating the dress that lay on my bed. It was a deep emerald green, a color that seemed to shimmer and change in the light. I ran my fingers over the fabric, marveling at its softness. It was a stark contrast to the coarse, everyday clothes I was used to.

I slipped into the dress, the silky material gliding over my skin, transforming me. For a moment, I almost didn't recognize myself in the mirror. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, and the color made my eyes stand out. I felt... beautiful.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my room and headed downstairs. The grand hallway was bustling with activity as the final preparations for the dinner party were being made. Emma was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes widening in surprise and delight when she saw me.

"Elara, you look amazing," she said, a smile spreading across her face. She twirled around, showing off her own dress, a soft lavender that complemented her fair skin and blonde hair perfectly.

"You look stunning too, Emma," I replied, genuinely happy to see her so radiant. We exchanged smiles, drawing strength from each other's presence.

As we made our way to the dining hall, the air was thick with anticipation. The 'special guest ' was about to be introduced, and everyone was on edge. Gareth was already standing at the head of the table, Callista by his side, both of them exuding an air of smug superiority.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Gareth began, his voice carrying through the room. "Tonight, we have the honor of hosting a very important guest. Someone who shares our vision for strength and prosperity. As your Alpha it my duty to always serve this pack." Then just goes on and on why he's the best thing this pack has ever had.

I rolled my eyes at his self-aggrandizing speech, my gaze drifting to the man standing next to him. The guest was tall, with a commanding presence that made the room seem smaller. He was handsome, with chiseled features and a cold glint in his eyes that hinted at ruthlessness. There was an air of power about him that was both intimidating and captivating.

The moment seemed perfect for my plan. I took a step forward, but Callista intercepted me, her face twisted in anger.

"Elara, what do you think you're doing?" she hissed. "You're going to embarrass the Alpha. You useless girl, you don’t deserve to be here."

I met her gaze, my anger flaring. "I'll show you who’s useless," I replied, pushing past her.

As I approached the front, the room fell silent, all eyes on me. Without hesitation, I reached up and grabbed the guest by the collar, pulling him down into a kiss. The shock rippled through the room, but he didn't resist. His lips were warm, firm, and surprisingly gentle against mine. For a brief, electrifying moment, the world fell away, and I felt more powerful than I ever had in my life.

He smelled intoxicating, a blend of earthy musk and a hint of sweet masculinity that enveloped my senses. It was a scent that conjured images of wild forests and warm nights by the fire, wrapping me in a cocoon of desire. Each breath I took was filled with his essence, and it made my knees tremble, threatening to buckle beneath me. The heady aroma clouded my thoughts, leaving only the sensation of his closeness and the overwhelming urge to lose myself in him.

The gasps and whispers that followed were like music to my ears. I could feel Gareth's rage burning next to me, but I didn't care. I broke the kiss, giving the stunned guest a defiant look before turning to face Gareth.

Gareth's face was a mask of fury. "Elara, how dare you—"

I cut him off, blowing him a kiss with a smirk. "Enjoy the rest of your party, mate" I said, my voice loud and clear. Everyone burst into whispers, and my stepsister livid with rage. But it was too late for me to care now.

With that, I walked out of the dining hall, my heart pounding with adrenaline. I could feel the eyes of the man I had kissed burning into my back and everyone elses for that matter, but I didn't look back. I held my head high, feeling a sense of triumph and liberation.

Tonight, I had made my stand. And I had never felt more powerful.