Chapter 0001

It was another goddess-forsaken full moon.

I hated full-moon nights. Ever since the night like this when my life was torn apart.

I stumbled through the front door, my clothes torn and matted with dirt. The foyer glowed with soft candlelight, illuminating elaborate flower arrangements and golden streamers draped along the walls. A party? Here?

My stomach twisted. I would go hungry again. There is no way I’d be able to sneak into the kitchen tonight without anyone seeing and there would be so much food wasted. Lavish celebrations were no longer meant for me. Not since the accident ten years ago. I quickly made my way to my room and began to prepare to shower.

I couldn’t help but feel sad. All the interactions, the music, and the good food—none of that belonged to me now. Despite lacking attention from my parents, I still had my sister, but even she didn’t want to be bothered by me.

Only the firstborn child mattered as they would inherit the title of Alpha as lead the pack. As the youngest daughter, I was never wanted by my parents from the very beginning.

Everyone thinks I did something to make my sister end up where she is now because then my parents would be forced to choose me as the heir.

I never wanted that, but no one believed me.

I have nothing now.

The door to my room slams open. I look up to see my mother approaching me. Her eyes were bright with anger.

The sting of her mother's hand on my cheek made me see stars. I stumble backward into the wall, disoriented and puzzled. "You little mongrel, where were you?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing with anger. My lips parted, but no words came out as she grabbed my arm, dug her nails into my flesh, and dragged me out of the room.

"Who told you that you could go running off in the woods? Were you trying to run away from your responsibility?" Her grip tightened, and I winced. The guilt and self-blame that had been gnawing at me since Kim lost her wolf bubbled up like bile in my throat.

"Mom," I whispered, feeling small and insignificant under her piercing gaze. "I thought you didn't want me involved in decorating. I-" She slapped me again, her palm connecting with my still-stinging cheek.

"How many times have I told you not to call me that?! Address me properly!" She hissed her face inches from mine. The scent of her anger was overpowering.

"Yes, my Luna," I choked out, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. She released my arm, leaving red imprints where her nails had dug in.

"Go to the guest rooms and get them ready," she ordered, her voice cold and unyielding. "I expect them to be in pristine condition before the party begins."

Nodding quickly, I wiped away the tears that threatened to spill and hurried off toward the guest rooms. As I made my way down the halls, I could hear the muttering around me and see disapproving looks from pack members. I kept my head down, trying to ignore their judgmental whispers.

When I finally arrived at the first guest room, I took a deep breath and forced myself to shake off the negativity. I quickly vacuumed the floors, dusted every surface, changed the linens, and disinfected the adjoining bathroom. The faster I worked, the less time I'd have to spend dwelling on the painful confrontation with my mother.

Finishing up in the first room, I moved on to the next one. As I scrubbed and polished, my wolf inside me stirred, sensing something that I couldn't quite place. It felt like someone was watching me, but I tried to dismiss it as paranoia brought on by the day's events.

However, as soon as I stepped into the next room, the lights suddenly flickered off, plunging me into darkness. My heart leaped into my throat, and my breath caught as fear coursed through me. I fumbled for the light switch, but I could not find it and didn’t feel comfortable with my back turned.

"Hello? Is anyone in here?" I called out hesitantly, hoping against hope that it was just a power outage. But deep down, I knew that my wolf had sensed something—or someone – lurking in the shadows of this room. I wanted to leave but if I didn’t clean this room my mother would punish me severely.

My hands trembled as I clenched the cleaning supplies tightly, my only form of defense against whatever awaited me in the darkness.

A deep, masculine voice suddenly broke the silence, sending shivers down my spine. "Now, who has come into my room without permission?" The voice teased, sounding both amused and intimidating.

"Who's there?" I stammered, struggling to keep my voice steady. My wolf urged me to stay alert, ready for any sudden movement.

"Answer my question first," the voice commanded, his tone firm.

"I... I'm Kailani," I replied nervously. "I was just cleaning the guest rooms for the party tonight. I didn't know anyone was in here."

"Kailani," the voice repeated, mulling over my name. "How lucky am I to meet the little sister of Kim?"

My heart pounded even harder as I realized that this stranger knew who I was while I was still completely in the dark—literally and figuratively. "Yes," I admitted, trying to sound braver than I felt. "What do you want from me?"

“To taste your lips,” the voice growled.

“What?” I said it in alarm, only to hear chuckling. I could hear movement but couldn’t see the man in the room with me as he strategically placed himself in the shadows.

“Your scent - it is almost intoxicating,” the voice said, his breath hot against my neck. When had he got so close? I pressed myself further into the wall, wishing I could just melt into the wall. “Do you have a wolf?”

My heart raced as I tried to come up with a convincing lie. I finally just said, “No, you’re mistaken, sir.” I could hear a tapping noise above my head and realized it was the man tapping to the beat of my heartbeat. He saw right through me. “You cannot fool me.”

I felt his hand cup my face, and then his hand drifted to my arm. His touch sent shivers down my spine. There was a sharp inhale. “Who hurt you?”

I flinched at the question, knowing all too well that there was nothing this man could do about it. “It is nothing. sir. I tripped,” I lied.

This wasn't the first time someone asked about my injuries. I knew better than to reveal that it was my mother.

There was nothing that could be done, as my parents would never release me to live a happy life when they believed Kim was suffering because of me.

No one would believe me anyway, as my mother made sure of it. I learned this the hard way.

His grip tightened on my arm, and I bit my lip from crying out in pain. “Don't lie to me. What did you do fall on nails?” he growled in anger. The man didn’t allow me to answer before continuing, “I can take you away from here, make sure you never get hurt again.”

Before I would have jumped at the thought of just leaving, but I knew better now. it was impossible. “You..you shouldn’t concern yourself about me, sir. I am not worth the trouble,” I responded, feeling utterly defeated.

The man released me, sighing, clearly disappointed at me giving up some easily.

“Leave my room. It is clean enough.”

I didn’t hesitate and quickly fled the room, wondering who exactly that man was.