Alison's POV
"Here's your glass of...?" The world shattered around me in an instant, one second, I was just doing my job, and the next, I was standing frozen, watching the man I once adored with someone else. The glass slipped from my fingers and shattered against the floor, echoing in the empty hall. I didn't even realize I had dropped it until the shards of crystal scattered around my feet. Alpha Kendrick looked up from the couch, his hands still tangled in Priya’s hair, while Priya’s narrowed eyes found me in an instant. Silence fell over the room, thick and dangerous. “What the hell do you think you’re doing walking in like you own the place?” Priya’s voice cut through the silence like a whip. “I.. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I didn’t know…” My words stumbled out, tripping over each other as I stared down at my hands, trembling. “You didn’t know?” Priya sneered, untangling herself from Kendrick’s grasp. “You didn’t think to knock, either, did you, slave?” I wanted to speak, to retort, to say something, anything that might stand up to her venomous glare, but nothing came. Instead, I clenched my jaw, tightened my fiat and lowered my gaze. Sarcasm burned into my tongue, but I swallowed it, knowing better. I could feel Alpha Kendrick’s gaze on me, cold and impassive, as if he barely saw me. With a quick step, Priya closed the distance between us and raised her hand. I braced myself, but nothing prepared me for the sting as her palm cracked across my face. The impact sent me reeling, throwing me backward. I hit the floor with a sickening thud, sharp pain radiating through my body as shattered glass bit into my palms and knees. The pain was a thousand tiny fires beneath my skin, but I didn’t dare make a sound. "Pathetic." Priya’s voice dripped with disgust as she watched me struggle to sit up. “It’s your own fault for being so useless.” I fought to keep my head down, to avoid showing how much I was hurting, how much the pain twisted and curled inside me. My mind raced with thoughts I couldn’t control, anger, sadness, a desperate longing for the man I fantasized about to defend me. He was right there, just feet away from me, but he might as well have been a thousand miles away. “Enough Priya.” Alpha Kendrick’s voice boomed cutting through my thoughts, sharp and commanding. My heart leapt, and for one foolish, ridiculous second, I thought he was about to say something in my defense, to chastise Priya for her cruelty. I glanced up, hope flickering in my chest like a dying flame, but one look at his expression extinguished it instantly. “Alpha, I... ” The words died on my lips as he reached into his pocket and withdrew a small, glimmering box, he opened it to reveal a ring. My stomach twisted as he took Priya’s hand, right there, in front of me. “Priya,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk, “will you be my wife?” Priya’s eyes sparkled with triumph as she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in an exaggerated display of surprise. “Oh, Kendrick,” she purred, turning the ring so it glinted in the light, “yes, a thousand times yes.” She turned her gaze toward me, a cruel smile tugging at her lips as she held her hand out to flaunt the ring. My vision blurred as I fought the tears that threatened to spill, but I couldn’t hold back the overwhelming ache that spread through my chest. "What the hell are you still doing here, you slave?” Kendrick’s voice was cold, dismissive, as though I were nothing more than a smudge on the wall, an inconvenience. “N-nothing… Alpha,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. It took everything in me to stand, to rise from the broken glass and make myself small enough to escape this nightmare. I felt numb, like a ghost slipping from the room, trying to disappear into the walls. But his eyes... oh, those dark, terrifying eyes... followed me, pinning me to the spot before I could take another step. There was something in that gaze, something far more dangerous than Priya’s slap or her sneering insults. He signaled for Priya to leave, she glanced between us, her amusement fading as she caught the darkness clouding Kendrick’s face. She opened her mouth to protest, but Kendrick’s low growl silenced her. "Leave us,” he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. Priya’s face contorted with fury, but she hesitated only a moment before she turned on her heel, throwing me one last glare before slamming the door behind her. The silence that followed was suffocating. Kendrick’s gaze lingered on me, that same dark intensity that made my heart pound with dread. “I’m… I’m sorry,” I whispered, clutching my bleeding hands to my chest. My voice shook, and I hated myself for sounding so weak, so pitiful. Kendrick advanced, each step echoing through the room as he closed the distance between us. I tried to back away, but my feet felt rooted to the floor, trapped beneath his cold, unfeeling gaze. He stopped mere inches from me, his eyes tracing over the cuts on my hands, the trembling in my shoulders. "Look at you,” he said softly, his tone almost amused. “So fragile… so easy to break, what a pathetic life.” I swallowed hard, willing myself not to react, not to flinch. I knew better than to give him any satisfaction, any hint of the fear simmering beneath my skin. But as his fingers grazed my cheek, tracing the spot where Priya’s slap had landed, I couldn’t help the shiver that ran down my spine. “I’m… I’m sorry, Alpha,” I stammered, desperate to say anything that might appease him, to make myself small enough to escape his wrath. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” “Oh, I know you didn’t mean to.” His voice was soft, almost a whisper, and that made it all the more terrifying. “But you did. And now… you’re going to have to pay for it.” I felt the walls closing in, the air thickening around me as his fingers trailed down my arm, stopping at the torn skin on my palm. He pressed down on the wound, sending a jolt of pain shooting through me, but I bit down on my lip to stifle the cry threatening to escape. “Pain looks good on you, my dear little Alison,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “It suits you.” I fought to keep my voice steady, to hold back the tears that burned in my eyes. “Please… don’t…” He leaned in close, so close that I could feel his breath against my ear, and whispered, “Begging now, are we?” My heart raced, a wild, panicked rhythm that I couldn’t control. I forced myself to hold still, to keep my breathing steady, but every instinct screamed at me to run, to flee from the twisted satisfaction in his gaze. “Do you know why you’re still here, Alison?” His voice was low, dangerous, as he took a step back, crossing his arms and regarding me with a disdainful glare. “Because I enjoy watching you squirm.” I flinched, the words cutting deeper than any slap, any bruise. He enjoyed this... my suffering, my helplessness. I was nothing to him but a pawn, something to toy with, to control. “Now,” he said, his voice a cold command, “clean up this mess. And don’t let me see you slacking, or you’ll regret it.” “Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, lowering my head to hide the shame burning in my cheeks. My hands shook as I knelt down, gingerly gathering the shards of glass with trembling fingers. Each piece cut into my skin, fresh blood mingling with the tears that finally slipped free, no longer able to hold back the overwhelming weight of despair. As I worked, Kendrick’s footsteps retreated, but I knew he hadn’t left entirely. He stood by the door, watching me with that dark, predatory gaze, as if waiting for me to falter, to give him a reason to punish me again. And in that moment, I knew I was truly trapped. There was no escape from him, from this place, from the endless cycle of cruelty and power that bound me like chains. As the last piece of glass slipped from my fingers, I dared to glance up, meeting Kendrick’s gaze one final time. His expression was unreadable, his eyes as cold as ever, but I could feel the threat simmering beneath the surface. “Good girl,” he murmured, a twisted smile tugging at his lips. And then, without another word, he turned and left, leaving me alone with my shattered pride, the sting of his words echoing in my mind. But something inside me stirred, something small and defiant... a glimmer of hope that one day, somehow, I would be free from him. Even if it was just a foolish dream, I clung to it, holding onto that fragile spark as if it were my last shred of sanity.Kendrick’s POV The light was dim, filtering through the high kitchen windows, casting shadows that seemed to dance as I walked into the quiet room. But then, there was a sound, soft, unexpected. Singing. Her voice, untrained and raw, yet filled with a haunting melody.I stepped forward, my boots scuffing against the tile floor. Her singing stopped, and she whipped her head up, startled. Alison's wide eyes met mine as she knelt on the kitchen floor, scrubbing, looking every bit the slave she was a mere servant in the Silver Moon Pack, where I'd held dominance and strength for years. But there was something different in her gaze that unnerved me, though I’d never admit it aloud."How long have you been here, Alison?" I asked, the words slipping out of my mouth before I could think them through.She swallowed, then answered in a voice so quiet I almost didn't hear it. "17 years, Alpha."Seventeen years. Seventeen years of watching her serve in silence, her presence nothing more than bac
Alison's Point of view "What a day?" I exhaled as I stared at myself in the mirror, adjusting the rough bandage on my hand and brushing the dirt out from beneath my nails. It didn’t really matter, but I wanted it to. I wanted to look less worn down, less like a servant at least for tomorrow. Tomorrow, I would be turning eighteen, and the thought sent my heart spinning with a strange, stubborn hope. Would this birthday mean something more? Would I finally find my mate? The man who would help me out of this enslavementThe very idea of a mate… it was everything I’d clung to during my years here. When I closed my eyes at night, I pictured a strong man, someone who would see me, value me, maybe even love me. A laugh bubbled out of me, bitter and absurd. What if, just by some miracle, that mate turned out to be Alpha Kendrick? The thought was ridiculous. I had a crush on him no doubt, he was powerful, commanding, and he now belonged to someone else. I shook my head, reminding myself of P
Alison's Point of view A splash of icy water struck me like a whip, jolting me from my slumber. My heart hammered in my chest as I gasped for breath, blinking away the cold droplets that clung to my eyelashes. Panic quickly morphed into fury as I realized what had happened. Priya, standing over me with a satisfied smirk, holding an empty bucket in her hands.“Rise and shine, servant,” she said, a cruel edge to her voice. “Today’s my special day, and I won’t tolerate anyone slacking off. Breakfast. Now.”Every instinct screamed at me to lash out, to say something. But as much as the words clawed at my throat, I kept them down. Tomorrow, Priya would officially become Luna, and I knew what that meant for someone like me. So instead, I wiped the water off my face, forcing myself to look up at her with the calmest expression I could muster.“Yes, Priya,” I muttered, barely meeting her gaze. Her sly smile widened, pleased with my compliance.“Oh, and make it perfect, will you?” She gave a
Alison's POV The sound of my boots echoed sharply down the hall as I marched toward Alpha Kendrick’s office. Each step felt like a storm building inside me, rising and intensifying with every stride. My heart thundered, not from fear, but from the burning fury I’d kept buried for far too long. Today, everything would change. I’d make sure of it. I threw open the door to Kendrick’s office. There he sat, calm as ever, his dark eyes narrowing as I stormed in. Standing by his side was his ever-loyal beta, Silas, who shot me a curious glance before Kendrick dismissed him with a cold wave of his hand. “Leave us, Silas,” Kendrick ordered, his gaze locked on me. Silas bowed and slipped out, the door clicking shut with a finality that seemed to trap us in this confrontation. My wolf, Maya, stirred inside me, her presence brimming with strength and fire. She and I had both waited long enough for this. Kendrick rose from his desk, his expression unreadable. But before I could say a word
Xander's POV The ticking clock on the wall was relentless, each second winding down the last few hours before I’d have to step foot in the Silver Moon Pack territory, home to Alpha Kendrick and his soon-to-be Luna. I leaned back in my leather chair, loosening my tie slightly as my Beta, Luke, filled me in on our arrangements. He was pacing as he spoke, his voice steady and informative. "Silas has everything arranged for our stay," Luke reported. "We’re set for Alpha Kendrick’s engagement dinner and wedding. The Silver Moon Pack is, as always, pulling out all the stops.” I grunted in acknowledgment, more focused on an uneasy feeling that had been gnawing at me since morning. This whole engagement felt off to me. Kendrick and Priya... the union was more like a strategic front, a display of power and alliances, but there was something missing. And it served as another reminder that, at 25, I was still without a mate. Unlike Kendrick, I had no desire to force a bond that didn’t exist
Xander's POVI leaned back against the dark oak frame of the bed, my eyes fixed on the window as the late afternoon sun began to sink behind the Silver Moon Pack's towering gates. This pack house felt as cold and unwelcoming as any foreign territory, yet I hadn't come here for comfort. I was here to honor the alliance between all packs. But something else was making my pulse race, an unease that shook my usual calm.It was her. The girl I'd seen within the castle compound , her scent still lingering in my senses.From the moment I saw her... I'd felt a pull like nothing I'd known before. My wolf had been clawing at me, instincts screaming for me to find her, to mark her, to claim her as mine. But impulse had no place here, not when my wolf's howls nearly drowned out every sense of reasoning within me. She could already be with someone else, I reminded myself, trying to calm my wolf, Cain."She's ours," Cain growled, voice thick with longing. "You felt the bond, Xander. She's ours, an
Kendrick’s POVThe clinking of glassware and murmurs of conversation filled the dining hall, but my focus was razor-sharp, zeroed in on one thing: Alpha Xander’s unwavering gaze on Alison. Each time I looked his way, his eyes were fixed on her, tracking her every movement as she served the guests, her posture humble, head lowered. Irritation flickered in my gut. Xander’s stare didn't seem like casual curiosity; it held a possessive spark that I recognized all too well."The arrogance," I thought, narrowing my eyes. Dinner hadn’t even begun, and already he’d already began crossing a line. His eyes were too focused, too intense on something or rather, someone that wasn’t his to want.I raised my glass abruptly, cutting through the chatter around the table in a bid to divert his attention. “A toast!” I called out, my voice booming across the hall. Conversations died down as everyone turned their attention to me, lifting their glasses.“To new alliances and strong friendships between our
Alison's POVSitting at the edge of my cot, I hugged my knees close to my chest, exhaustion pressing down on every inch of me. The dim moonlight seeped through the cracks in the walls, casting shadows across my tiny room. Tonight had been chaotic. I’d served wine, cleared plates, and avoided the subtle stares of powerful Alphas and their Lunas. Yet, the one gaze I couldn’t escape, the one that had seared into me with an intensity I couldn’t shake was that of Alpha Xander.Pulling my tattered blanket closer, I felt a thrill spark in my chest. A giddy smile crept onto my face as I whispered softly to my wolf, Maya, “Tomorrow, Maya. Tomorrow, we’ll be free. Just one more night of this hell hole.”Maya stirred within me, her voice fierce and hopeful. “We’ve waited so long, Alison. Just a few more hours.”But before I could get lost in the thought of freedom, my door flew open with a loud bang, slamming against the wall. I jumped to my feet, heart racing. Standing in the doorway, framed by