#Chapter 1 The Beginning

Miranda's POV

I stare at myself in the mirror and wonder what my life would have been like if I had been born a full wolf. My father’s an Alpha, but my mother was a mere human, damning me to be a half-breed. It doesn’t help that I take after her; my appearance is one father has grown to hate.

If I was born a full wolf, I wouldn’t live a life of cruelty, and I would have found my fate mate and escaped this hell hole. Life is cruel, and I will die surrounded by a world that does not even want me.

“Where the hell is that damn half-breed!? Miranda! Get down here right this instant!” My stepmother’s, Luna Harper, words cut through the air, her screech echoing down the hallway. I sigh and step through the door, just to be met with a slap to the face.

I stumble backward and clutch my cheek. My eyes fill with tears. I stare at my stepmother, bottom lip trembling.

“Don’t forget that you are a server at the event tonight. The Alpha King will be there, and we cannot have a half-breed like you ruining the party,” she spits the words out like they’re venom. She carelessly tosses me a uniform, which I clumsily catch.

“But—”

“But, but, but!” Lily, my step-sister, mimics in a condescending tone. “Does the half-breed think that she’s wanted at the party?” Lily and Harper cackle. I frown and bite the inside of my cheek.

“Oh dear…no wolf would accept you! Especially with those purple eyes of yours. You don’t even look like one of us, so don’t think that there is even a possibility that your status will change!”

“The Moon Goddess despises half-breeds like you! You’ll never get a mate!” Lily shouts, earning a small smirk from her mother.

“My daughter is fated to be a mate with Sebastian. She will be our future Luna Queen!” Harper claps her hands together. Lily proudly smiles and tosses her hair over her shoulder.

Luna Harper takes a few steps toward me. She wears a fake, condescending frown, faking any pity for me.

“Go discuss it with your father,” her voice is low and quiet, “but I’m sure he’ll only agree with me.”

I nod, fighting back tears. She is right. My father, even though he is a low-ranking Alpha, will never allow a half-breed to attend the event as a guest, not even if the half-breed is his daughter.

“Come down when you’re dressed and ready. And don’t make a fool of us.”

My grip on the uniform tightens, and I turn on my heel, stepping back inside my bedroom. Tears fall down my cheeks, and I rush to wipe them away.

I slide the uniform onto my body. Its colors are horrible: a mix of browns and yellows, bound to make me look like slop. Even with my hindered ability to sense a mate, no wolf would want to go near me.

I take a deep breath and grasp the doorknob. I can do this. I turn the knob and step through, making my way downstairs.

I grab a nearby tray that holds a couple of glasses of wine. My feet carry me across the crowded room, easily weaving through groups of people. I mumble apologies when I bump into people and make sure to keep my head hung low to avoid my step-mother’s wrath.

Numerous sets of eyes find themselves on me, many from noble wolves. Their gazes feel cold against my skin, unsure if they’re welcoming or if they want to eat me alive. All I can do is smile and nod in an attempt to sway their gazes away from me and somewhere else.

“Some wine, sir?” I ask in a low tone, moving the tray towards the man. He glances at me, and our eyes connect. His eyebrow perks up, and his hand rests on my lower back, slowly sliding down.

My cheeks heat up, and my body jolts back, the glasses rattling on the tray. I use my hand to steady the tray. My mouth goes dry, and the man smirks, squeezing my ass.

“Half-breed’s not too bad, isn’t she?” The man asks with a laugh. The other noble wolves nod and chuckle in agreement. One even tips their glass in my direction, a smug smirk growing on his face.

No. None of these wolves are yours. Get away!

My feet remain planted on the ground, a small, nervous smile spreading across my face. I know that I cannot fight back, and I know that if I were to make a scene, my father would be even more disappointed in me than he already is.

“Excuse me,” I breathe out. I turn around and only make it a couple of steps away before Lily snatches my wrist. I instinctually pull against her grasp, earning a snort from her.

“Did you think that they’d want you? How pathetic,” Lily laughs. I shake my head no and open my mouth to respond, to tell her the truth, but she slaps me across the face. “You were flirting with them, and you know it!”

Lily’s lips curl into a sinister smile, her eyes narrowing on mine. She tilts her head back, the wine glass remaining in her free hand. She extends it towards me.

“Drink.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“I said drink!” Lily rushes forward and shoves the glass into my mouth. I gasp, my hands clinging to her wrist to try and stop her. The alcohol splashes into my mouth.

It burns down my throat, leaving a trail of heat behind it. No…something is wrong. I cough and shove it away.

Lily covers her mouth and smirks at me, resting her hands on her hips. I furiously wipe my mouth. My movements become sluggish, the world around me moving slowly.

“This will fulfill your wish of finding a place to belong.” Her words echo in my mind, the world around me going black, whisking me away into a slumber I never wanted to slip into.

I wake up to the sharp taste of wine on my tongue. My head throbs and my body feels like it is on fire. I shake my head and rub my temples, trying to wake myself up.

“She’s yours for the taking.” My head snaps towards the direction of the muffled voice. “You can do whatever you want with her; I don’t care. She deserves this.”

No!

I move towards the open balcony doors. My feet slip against the floors, and I claw at the air, my hand finally connecting with the door’s handle. I slip outside, the chilled breeze doing nothing to help cool my body down.

I look to the side, noticing a balcony to the left of me. Without thinking, I step over the edge, knuckles white from holding onto the railing, and I drop into the safety of the neighbor’s balcony. I stagger inside the room, leaving my handprint on the screendoor, lowering myself onto the ground so I cannot be seen.

I silently whine as the heat inside my body intensifies. It attacks my skin, feeling like pins and needles are poking in and out of my skin. My ears ring, and my heart pounds in my chest as I pant, out of breath.

My fingers fumble over the buttons of my shirt. I close my eyes, and everything begins to spin; I shake my head and yank the shirt off, falling onto the floor. Aches spread throughout my muscles, and sweat graces my skin.

Conversation came faintly from the next room, but the drugs quickly robbed me of my hearing. My ears ring, and my heart pounds in my chest as I pant, out of breath.

“This is almost impossible!”

“I think you need to try again, Sebastian.”

A tall man enters the bedroom, and I cannot help but try to slip the pants off of my body. I take a step forward, my eyes connecting with his.

His dark eyes flicker to my hands, watching as I fumble with the zipper. He reconnects his gaze with mine, shaking his head. My hands do not stop.

“Stop.” His voice sends chills down my spine. He grabs my wrist, pulling it away from my pants.

His touch cools the heat in my arms, legs, and head, and it flows to my stomach, a tingling sensation taking over my skin. I gasp and inch towards him, staring at our connected touch before looking back up at him.

The ringing leaves my ears, and my heartbeat slows, although it is still loud. His fingers are ice cold on my skin, and it’s comforting.

My body is drawn to him. He stirs something inside of me that I never would have thought to experience in my half-breed life.

I push up on my toes, eyes closing, as I push my lips up against his. I pull away for a moment, his lips hovering over mine as our breaths mix into one.

“Fuck,” he curses under his breath. He grabs the back of my head, and his lips crash down onto mine, capturing them in a fierce kiss.