After serving her adopted mother breakfast, Yusria worked late into the morning making breakfast for the rest of the pack.
The chore was deemed lowly and only fit for Omegas.
But as someone who had once lost the use of her right hand, Yusria enjoyed the task of chopping, cleaning, and stirring the pot, re-familiarizing herself with the use of her once abandoned hand.
“Sigh. After three years of cradling a stump, I had almost forgotten what the use of a right hand felt like.”
“What was that?”
Selena’s sharp voice cut through her reverie and snapped her back to the present.
Yusria slightly trembled before recalling she had been reborn. The influence the girl had on her did not fade even when she decided to emotionally distance herself from the Dimitri family.
Emotionally and mentally until she departed from the Setting Dawn Pack.
“Nothing. To…today is your…coming of age ceremony, right? I was thinking…about what to…wear.” She stuttered.
“Haha…! Selena, your sister is such a joke! Do you really want her present for your coming of age ceremony?”
“Yeah, Selena. Having someone like her present in your ceremony would be similar to humiliating yourself. I don’t understand why your parents still keep her around. I mean…they have you now.”
Selena’s two friends, Emma and Nancy looked her up and down with disgusted expressions on their faces. Yusria didn’t blame them. She wore the same ripped gray blouse that she had been wearing for the last month.
Worn and fraying on the edges, her floor-length gray skirt dragged on the dusty ground. When combined with her loosely tied bun with a few strands framing the sides of her face and blood-smeared hands from the meat she’d been chopping, she looked anything but pleasant.
“Girls, enough! She is an embarrassment, yes, but she is still a Dimitri until my parents disown her. And you!”
Selena’s eyes fell on Yusria’s bloodied hands. She frowned and wrinkled her nose in distaste.
“The lowlife you are, what sort of good thing could you possibly think of? You have no sense of fashion and carry yourself around like a slave. Even if you’re not blood-related, you should at least keep in mind that you use the Dimitri surname. Don’t come in rags and embarrass me at my coming of age ceremony.”
“I…I’ll try not to…” What else could Yusria say?
It wasn’t like she intentionally tried to embarrass them. With only two fabrics of clothes making up her entire wardrobe, Yusria could hardly be blamed for her shabby appearance.
Unfortunately, her adopted family failed to grasp this fact. They continuously cursed her for being unpresentable while snatching her salary without leaving her even a few stacks of dollars to buy make-up, let alone new clothes.
With a cold snort, Selena threw a worn-out blue skirt in her face and turned on her heels. Her two minions scoffed disdainfully and followed on her heels, their hips swaying back and forth as they flung their brown and red hair over their shoulders.
Looking at the blue skirt in her hands, Yusria’s eyes filled with tears.
At this time, things hadn’t gone disgustingly ugly between her and her adopted sister yet. Yes, there were unpleasant moments when Selena humiliated her and publicly talked down to her like a slave.
But in the entire Dimitri Family, she was the only one who paid her any attention. And though worn and ripped hand-me-downs as they were, the clothes she tossed at her were still something for Yusria to change into.
This was also the reason why Yusria had loved her adopted sister so selflessly and blindly in her past life. Because in the Dimitri family, Selena had been the only one who bothered to spare her a second glance.
Well…at least not until the appearance of the alpha’s son.
“Yusria, hurry up and go to work! If I find your salary is even a penny short, see what I’ll do to you!” Her adopted mother’s roar resounded from inside the house.
“Yes, mother.” She had yet to eat.
But Yusria wasn’t stupid enough to point that out. She knew she would only get slapped and called an ungrateful wench for doing so.
17 years ago, Samuel Dimitri and Beatrice Vario found her bleeding and close to starving to death in the middle of the woods. Mated for more than 6 years and still without a child of their own, they took her in in the hopes of securing their Beta status, which was passed down within the family.
Since she was still underage, they didn’t know the nobility of her bloodline. But they were willing to take the risk to shut the mouths of the gossipy wolves.
However, right after they took Yusria in, Beatrice Vario became pregnant.
And from there, the intentional or unintentional neglect and abuse of the adopted daughter began. The fact that she couldn’t shift on her eighteenth birthday didn’t make her situation any better.
Three hours later, Yusria parked her busted, two-passenger car in the employee parking lot of the Moon Industries branch company.
Picking up her handbag, she ran a hand through her messy hair and exited the car.
“Oh look who’s here! Our poor Yusria with her junk car!”
“Haha…! Ria the poor, when do you plan on changing that piece of junk of yours? You do realize how embarrassing it is to have you park with us in the employee parking lot, don’t you? Spare us the humiliation and quit already!”
A sophisticated female with thick make-up and a tight black dress, accompanied by another in an above-knee green suit, descended from a pink Audi and blocked Yusria’s path.
“Bridgette, Megan, move out of the way. I’m not in the mood for another of your morning dramas today.” Cold and indifferent, Yusria’s usual meek persona in the pack was completely gone when she faced the women.
“Hmph! Who do you think you are? Just because you are the alpha’s secretary, do you think you have the ability to tell me what to do? Yusria Dimitri, I might not know what pack you belong to, but from your junk of a car and your shabby dressing, I can tell your status isn’t high. My father is the Beta of Alpha Damon. In the future, I’ll become his Luna. So you better not have any fantasies about him!”
Bridgette crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed with disdain, her brown eyes swirling with disgust and an unidentifiable emotion that eluded Yusria’s comprehension.
“I’m Alpha Damon’s secretary. I have no relationship with him aside from that of a professional one. As for fantasies…I prefer to keep my eyes open and my mind clear. Unattainable dreams aren’t my cup of tea.”
“Heh! At least you know your place. But it would be even better if you hand in your resignation letter and disappear from our sight forever. Of course, if you’re afraid of not being able to find another well-paying job, I can give you a recommendation letter to the branch in the East.” Gently blowing on her newly manicured nails, Bridgette swept her eyes over her and sneered.
“Bridgette, you’re just wasting your breath. Mark my words. This leech won’t leave our company until she traps Alpha Damon. As his secretary, she will likely seduce him sooner or later.” A handsome-looking male in a brown suit and a buzz cut walked over to Bridgette’s side. His infatuated gaze unrestrainedly roamed over her figure.
“That’s right. Why would she settle for the salary of a secretary when she can become his Luna and command the entire Dark Moon Pack?” The other female, Megan, fueled the flames from the side.
Yuesria’s violet eyes flickered with a silver light that disappeared before the others could catch it. With a nonchalant expression on her face, she carelessly swung her bag over her shoulder and asked the fashionably dressed female in a bored tone. “Branch in the East? Do you mean the Eastern United Pack’s headquarter’s?”
“Yes. Why? Are you interested?” Bridgette pricked up.
“No, not really. But…sigh…I’ve always wanted to see how the packs in the east lived. How about you write that recommendation letter for me? If it’s to my satisfaction, I’ll hand in my resignation letter this evening itself.”
“Seriously!? You will really hand in your resignation letter if I write a good recommendation for you?”
If she could get rid of Yusria, then wouldn’t all her insecurities be settled?
“Give me until lunch break. I’ll hand that recommendation to you no later than that. But you have to promise me that you will leave afterwards. Promise me!”
“As long as the recommendation can guarantee me an immediate job, I promise I will leave.” Yusria smirked.
“Good. You promised.”
Without any further delay, Bridgette turned and hastily walked into the company, the clip of her high heels on the marble floor resounding in the building.
“Bridgette, are you going to believe her words? She could be playing you!” Megan raced after her and pulled on her arm, her face flushed red from anxiety and agitation.
Equally flustered, the male hurried after them. “Yes, Bridgette, that wretched wench could be lying. Are you going to allow yourself to be taken in by her words?”
“It doesn’t matter if she’s lying or not. Since she promised, I’m willing to take this chance. If she leaves after getting the recommendation, I’ll no longer have to worry about anything. But if she refuses to leave even after that, then her facade will be crushed, and I’ll have plenty of ways to deal with her.”
Watching the three individuals’ backs, a thoughtful expression appeared on Yusria’s face.
It seemed her gamble might just pay off.
Bridgette Hamilton was a simple-minded, love-struck fool. Her world revolved around Damon Iguste of the Dark Moon Pack.Every employee in the Moon branch company, wolf or human, seemed to be aware of this fact.Yusria was the only one blind to it in her previous life. Because of this, the bimbo-looking Megan and gigolo Jeffery made use of the fact that she was Alpha Damon’s secretary to instigate the simpleton and make her life at the Moon Electronics Company miserable.Even until the day she was fired and kicked out of the company on charges of stealing from the alpha, Yusria had no idea why the other woman hated her so much as to falsely accuse her of stealing.If it wasn’t for the fact that she planned to leave the Setting Dawn Pack and wanted to secure a source of income in a new city for herself, then she would’ve never accepted the offer of a recommendation from the other.And it was thanks to this that she finally saw through the masks of the so-called friends of Bridgette Hami
Alpha Damon was less than happy to receive the resignation letter from his secretary of two years. The female not only embarrassed him before his Beta but also had the guts to throw a resigning letter in his face when he hadn’t even punished her for her actions.But when he recalled Beta Hamilton’s words, his anger vanished, and he felt dismissing the female was perhaps for the best.She had nothing to offer. Instead, his image and reputation as Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack would be tarnished and shredded to pieces if neighboring packs found out his secretary was a wolf-less runt.A pretty secretary, no matter how tempting, wasn’t worth such an embarrassment.“Hmph! I didn’t plan to fire her after finding out about her inability to shift. But since she herself wants to quit, then who am I to stop her?” He coldly sneered.Within half an hour, Alpha Damon not only accepted Yusria’s resignation letter, but also processed her vacation and sick pay so she wouldn’t have any reason to return
The wind whistled in her ears, the chilly breeze stinging her eyes as she blindly dashed through the dark forest. Even in the shrouding darkness, the boiling excitement of the aroused males was palpable in the air, their unrestrained howls and snarls carrying anticipation and eagerness. Dry branches and twigs snapped under her feet, the sound barely concealed under the loud, frantic charge of the wolves audibly sniffing the air ahead of her. With over 13 unmated male wolves roaming the woods, their thick wolf scents swirling in the surroundings, it was both a night of great danger and a great opportunity for Yusria. “The Gammas must be taking part in the Mate Hunting Event as well.” It would explain the lack of action on their part even after the great ruckus the males raised in the woods. Their sharp hearing and impeccable sense of smell made them difficult to evade and perfect for their duty of patrolling the pack borders. Snap! Upon stepping on another twig, Yusria flinched
Selena was Maximillian Adonis’s soulmate?How was that possible?In her previous life, her bastard husband marked her on this night, officially and irrevocably accepting her as his wife and future Luna before the members of the Setting Dawn Pack.He neither mentioned nor brought up anything about his fated mate.But soulmates were one and only, the other half of a wolf’s soul. Considering the fact that their marking ceremony took place only after Selena’s coming-of-age ceremony concluded…Could she have snatched her adopted sister’s one and only true mate?Yusria’s knees turned weak from the realization. She stumbled back a step, crumbling to the ground with tears streaming down her face as she sobbed with her hand covering her mouth.“No wonder…no wonder…Selena had changed so much after this night…ha…haha…”It all made sense now. Yusria had stolen Selena’s one and only true mate. The fear, hatred, and betrayal with which she regarded her sister in both her past and present lives felt
As if he had forcefully slapped her across the face, Selena stumbled back and looked at him in disbelief.“Love? How…how can you love her? I’m your mate!”She wanted to scream that only she had a right to his love, only she had a right to his affection and devotion, but the cold, emotionless look on his face choked the words in her throat.As unwilling and unresigned as she was, Selena could sense Maximillian Adonis, her true mate and love of 13 years, didn’t give a damn about her feelings, about her being his mate.For him, there was only Yusria.“So what is it? Rejection or silence?”Max’s sharp vision caught the various emotions flickering through Selena’s gray eyes. He knew he was forcing her to choose between accepting rejection from him or keeping the truth about their mate bond hidden so he could mark Yusria.He knew he was being a dick for leaving such a decision to the young she-wolf, but he didn’t care.Yusria Dimitri was his wife, his dream of many years. Ever since he saw
Yusria stumbled through the trees and plunged into the river. The cold water made her gasp in shock. She hated the cold. But upon hearing the sound of curses and snapping twigs above, she could only steel her heart and plunge deeper.Getting out was not an option.Her lungs constricted, screaming for oxygen as she relentlessly beat at the black whirlpool.It’s been three days since she left the Setting Dawn Pack, and contrary to her expectations, the pack sent a group of warriors to hunt her down. Three days on the run had her drained and exhausted to the point where she was close to giving up and surrendering herself.Her body ached all over and her muscles felt too sore to move. Her rations ran out a day ago and, aside from the cold and damp caves she occasionally came across, she had nowhere to take shelter from the dangers of the woods.Once, she accidentally entered a snake den and escaped with three bites. If it wasn’t for the knowledge of wild herbs she gained in her previous l
Situated on the eastern mountains of the Australian continent, the Blood Moon territory was separated from the Setting Dawn Pack and Dark Moon Pack by a huge chasm of water-fall and rocky landscape.In comparison to the established packs under the rule and order of the Eastern Lykan Emperor, the Blood Moon Pack was more improvised and lawless, making their name the most dreaded and feared among the packs bordered on the fringes of the Eastern Empire."Jake, you've done well. Alpha Raguor will heavily reward you for bringing back so many females to the pact this time." Beta Shaun stepped forward with a bright smile and clapped Gamma Jake on the shoulder.As the lead Beta of Alpha Raguor, leader of all Dark Rogue Packs in the Eastern United Pack, he never had to worry about going to bed without a female.But even he, the second-ranked member of the Blood Moon Pack, never experienced the joy of having his pick from a group of she-wolves. Heavily protected and kept within pack borders, be
The earth-shattering explosion shook the entire Blood Moon Pack and covered the sky with thick black smoke and debris. Cries of panic and fear pierced through the twilight night as the Omegas and Deltas pushed and shoved, fleeing in a chaotic mess to save their lives.In the large mansion, Alpha Raguor shifted into his wolf."Da** it! They used you to locate our pack's location!" He viciously kicked Gamma Jake in the chest and turned to leap out of the window.The four males exchanged panic-stricken expressions, their faces pale as corpses. They had no idea what was going on, but from the deafening explosion, fearful shrieks, and sparks of flames flaring through the sky, it was obvious that they were under attack."I...I...led them here?" Gamma Jake stuttered and dazedly crawled back to his feet. However, only the ear-splitting sound of more explosions rung out in response."We need to go! Alpha Raguor is out there!" Beta Shaun yelled as he ran across the quaking building and lunged
"Ze...Zeonen, you're telling me to forfeit my title and relinquish the position of Queen of the East?""Are you unwilling? Seeing your stubborn determination to become my Empress, I am under the impression that you don't want to become a second wife. Why? Am I wrong?"An uncomfortable silence settled over the crowd. The Emperor's marital affair concerned the welfare and prosperity of the Empire, but the elders, prominent families, representatives, and affluent families had no say in the matter.As the Mother figure of the werewolves and female leader of the different races, the Empress oversaw the well-being and happiness of those living in the Eastern Empire.She made sure females were protected and, the orphanages, sick, disabled, and poor members of the various packs were safe and taken good care of.However, that wasn't the Empress's only role. As the wife of the Emperor, keeping the Lykan happy and sane so he could successfully run the empire was her responsibility as well.There
Cold sweat drenched his back. Was this a threat? Elder Fin couldn't help but shiver when he recalled the earlier suffocating pressure. He was walking on pins and needles to nail the coffin on a corpse that should've been buried 18 years ago.If only Alpha Raguor had successfully completed the mission, then he wouldn't be in this situation today."Elder Fin, what do you think? Have I grown weak to be spellbound by a mere potion?" The Emperor continued.The crowd fidgeted, rubbing their arms and shifting in their seats like caged beasts as the rising tension in the air evoked anxiety and trepidation in their hearts.It wasn't that they had forgotten their Lykan Emperor's immunity to potions and spells, but that the possibility of him being under a spell was more acceptable than the lykan claiming a true mate.After all, who would be uncomfortable with the presence of an all-powerful beast looming over their heads? The one shortcoming of the lykan that comforted them and made them feel su
Emperor Zeonen was furious. His blue eyes glowed with a brutal gleam, promising to rain death and terror if anyone so much as said another word. His silver hair grew longer, swaying on an unnatural wind as his nails extended into razor-sharp claws, and his canines protruded into deadly fangs. The savage and ruthless aura flowing from his body suffocated, suppressed, and bent the crowd on their knees. Horror and fear marred everyone's faces, their bodies shaking with fierce tremors, teeth grinding against each other as blood leaked from their nose and ears.In a single instant, the high-ranking beasts saw their life flash before their eyes."Ze...Zeonen..." Eradine's heart withered in anguish.The man she loved...to protect another...had her bend on her knees.What could be more devastating and heartbreaking than witnessing your beloved treat another woman so preciously, so fondly, when he wouldn't spare you even an act of concern?Eradine could swear that no pain or sorrow could be a
The Meeting Hall, or in a way, the Lykan Emperor's royal court was a silver-green pavilion built outside the Crescent Palace under an enormous ancient tree. Brightly colored mushrooms entwined with green-blue vines acted as seats and fanned out around a silver-blue throne in the center of the pavilion.The gentle melody of flowing water reverberated in the background, occasionally interrupted by the soothing note of songbirds. At this moment, the elders of the Elders Council stood on the right side of the throne, while a group of distinguished individuals with intimidating auras stood on the right.A considerable distance away from these two groups were two more groups representing the different races. On the right stood a pixie with pink hair and shimmery dress, a brown-skinned dwarf clothed in animal skin, a skinny shapeshifter, and one omega and delta.While on the left was a group of beautiful dressed males and females. Their glittery wings, elongated ears, fangs, glowing skin, de
Elder Fin stepped out of the dark tunnel with hurried, frantic steps. "Assistant Hill, send a notice of summons to the Elders Council. I want to see them in the Chamber of Elders within half an hour!" He hollered towards the closed door. "Yes, Elder!" An aged voice replied and, soon, the faint sound of receding footsteps transmitted into the room as the assistant guarding the door left his post to carry out the elder's order. Elder Fin stood in front of the silver mirror in his room. The old cane in his hand glowed, and with a speed visible to the naked eye, his face warped and deformed, the mass of shaggy grey hair on his head lengthening and turning completely white. A few seconds later, the white-haired elder of the Elder Council left his mansion with firm, purposeful strides, and headed towards the Chamber of Elders on the west of the Crescent Palace. "Father, I can't, I won't become Zeonen's second wife! I am meant to be his empress! You...do something! Get the prominent fam
There is a thing lurking in the shadows, menacing, stalking, and preying on the creatures.It is not of this world and has been sealed here to obstruct the ascension of the old.Some invisible barrier still separated it from the dimension of magic, but the shields crumbled a little more every eclipse the sun embraced the moon, sundering it from the stars.It has forgotten its name. The horror and despair of months, or years, or eons of solitude in the darkness robbing it of such luxury.There is another world beyond the barrier. It is forced to participate in it by the being that sealed its fate.So it remained bound in chains and captive in a tiny cage of darkness, witnessing the passage of time and the slaughter of the cursed and the wail of the bereaved lover.There is a thing lurking in the shadows, menacing, stalking, and preying on the creatures. When the Lykan's mate appears, it shall meet its end.Elder Fin woke with a jolt, his breath coming out in rough, strangled gasps as h
Zeonen felt like he was hallucinating, hearing words that made no sense."You...what did you say?"As if oblivious to the rage brewing in the man's eyes, Yusria crossed her arms and sneered. "What? Did I stutter? Never mind. It's fine if you didn't hear me clearly the first time. I'm willing to repeat myself. Zeonen E Aahil, I do not want to be your Empress, because you are not my ideal husband. I'll be returning this to you." She took off the laurel crown and decisively stuffed it in his hands.The moment their hands touched, the star and crescent moon of the crown began to glow, releasing a resplendence of silver light into the room. Yusria was so shocked by the sudden change that she leaped back in fright.Da**! What was that? Did I cause it?The strange incidents happening to her had stopped since she entered the Crescent Empire. But Yusria wasn't naive enough to believe they had disappeared for good. In a small corner of her heart, she had a faint inkling that it was only a matte
Eradine raised her head and narrowed her eyes. "Are you pitying me? I don't need your pity. Just because Zeonen declared you his future Empress, it doesn't mean you've won! I've only lost a battle, the war has yet to be won." She growled unwaveringly. "I'm not pitying you. I'm sincerely apologizing for what happened tonight because it was wrong. You are hurt and in pain because of the Emperor's action. And for that, I'm sorry." 'What the he** is this situation!?' 'The woman who was chosen as the future Empress is apologizing and criticizing the Emperor for placing the crown on her head the way he did? And to the former Empress candidate in front of the Emperor's face?' 'Has the joy of effortlessly winning the crown sought by all she-wolves gotten to her head?' The spectators' minds swam with a million questions. They had already bowed their heads and witnessed the crowning of the future empress. Their fealty to the Emperor demanded they accept his every decision without question.
An explosion went off in Max's head. "Fu...future...empress..." The woman he wished to take home and mark as his mate was going to be the future empress of the Lykan Emperor.How was he going to overcome such adversity?"Lelius...Lelius...heh, she changed her surname." No longer would she be known as Yusria Dimitri, the adopted daughter of Beta Dimitri and Beatrice Vario. Adopted sister of Selena Dimitri.The wolf-less trash from the Setting Dawn Pack became Yusria Lelius, the future Empress of the Eastern Empire.At this realization, Selena felt a deep sense of loss. She and her adopted sister couldn't be called close. When Selena found out Maximilion Adonis was her true mate and her adopted sister was married to her man, feelings like dark anger, jealousy, and resentment had stretched their ugly claws into her heart.For a while before her sister's disappearance, Selena had resented Yusria with a vengeful edge. But even then, between the two of them, there was a connection, a bond.