Chapter One: Moonlight

Chapter One 

Ashley

It was dawn. I had just finished cleaning Luna Katherine's chamber. Her chamber was essentially large and the work was hectic. I had been doing this for a long time but it never got easier.

I made my way out of the chamber and shut the door behind me. The sun had begun to rise, it was going to be a bright day.

Moans and grunts filled the air as I proceeded out of Luna's chamber. The muffled sounds of pleasure continued to rage through my ears and instantly, I knew it was from Stanley's room.

At first, the moanings were from a female but while I lingered, a more baritone voice yelled in ecstasy, and right away, I knew it was Stanley. It had to his sassy girlfriend‒Amanda. She was the only daughter of Alpha Thomas, the third greatest pack in ranking‒the Red moon pack. She was yet to have her wolf, but had the certainty that my brother, oh, foster brother was her mate.

The moaning got louder, irritating my nerves. “Do they think we are all deaf?” I gritted my teeth in anger.  

These two people were so shameless. We still had maids and servants in the house.

 I shook my head in irritation and I began to walk away. I did not know why I still felt irritated any time I realized that Stanley was at it again. 

I am Ashley, I grew up in the Moonlight pack and I have lived all my life serving the pack. 

Alpha Carter is the alpha of the pack, he is Stanley's father and he is also my foster father.

I was barely three years old when my parents were killed in a war that broke out between the pack and another pack. 

Alpha Carter and other remnants who were lucky to escape unscratched, rebuilt the pack. 

I was told that my parents were close associates of Alpha Carter and after their death, he deemed it fit to adopt me. 

  Thanks to him, I had a place to call home, I had enough to eat and I had a bed to nest. I am grateful that they took me in but their benevolence couldn't satiate my thirst for vengeance.

Yes, I only have a vague memory of my parents, and avenging their death might seem superfluous but a tiny piece of my memory lingered in my head.

 I couldn't forget the compassion and gentleness that my mother exuded but she died untimely and I was deprived of parental love and care. 

Therefore, I have lived my life with only one purpose. I had sworn to find out the full story behind my parent's demise. I will get answers to the questions that bubbled in my nightmares. Questions that no one was willing to answer.

How were my parents killed? Which pack attacked our pack? What led to the attack? Does the pack still exist? These and many more were the questions that raged through my head.

I am determined to get answers to all my doubts without leaving any stone unturned and when I find them out, I will avenge my parents.

My plans were hinged on getting my wolf. It was the first step that would lead to the beginning of my expenditure.

 I have been waiting for this day. I will turn eighteen in a few months and I couldn't wait to get my wolf. 

Stanley, who was the only son of Alpha Carter and my stepbrother, was a spoiled brat. We grew up together but we are dissimilar. While he enjoyed all care and affection, I was nothing but a maid to him. He never regarded me as family nor did Luna Katherine. Only Alpha Carter and Sky; Stanley's younger sister, treated me well. I was the youngest. 

The empty vacuum of a father figure in my life was completely filled with Alpha Carter’s love. He treated me so well and loved me so much. If I didn’t have those vague memories, I would assume he was my biological father. His love and care for me always infuriated Stanley; Luna’s Katherine’s treatment was worse. 

Cinderella’s stepmother was far better than she was. 

I find it difficult to understand why Luna Katherine treats me in such a manner. I heard that she was the one who pleaded with her husband to take me in. She was supposed to treat me well, right? Well, she didn't and the way my supposed mother and brother treated me transcended into the pack. All the pack members looked down on me and I wasn't treated like a family member of the pack's Alpha. To the world‒I wasn’t royalty.

Since childhood, I was bullied by Stanley Carter. I had to stay quiet about it, if I dare say a word to my father, Luna Katherine would give me a good beating and starve me for days or even weeks. I heaved a depressive sigh as I gripped the bucket handle.

Stanley turned eighteen three years ago and Luna Katherine threw a large birthday party for him. He got his wolf on that day and everyone celebrated him.

We all thought he would find his mate after he got his wolf but we were wrong. On the other hand, Sky got her wolf when she turned eighteen. She turned eighteen last year and she got her mate the same day.

Something changed about Stanley since he got his wolf, he became so proud and arrogant and I felt he hated me more. 

Talking about Stanley Carter, he had the best physique, well-built and handsome. His face and appearance was breathtaking, his jet black hair which rested on his shoulders gives him the look of a demigod. Too bad, he was my brother and a big bully.

The loud moans made me snap out of my thoughts. How could they be having sex till now? Having sex with someone else other than one’s mate was against the pack rules, especially for someone like Stanley. He was the only son of Alpha Carter and it was evident that he would be the pack's next Alpha.

 Alpha Carter wasn't aware of his son's misdemeanor but Luna Katherine was aware, but she decided to overlook it. 

"Ashley!" Stanley's voice tore through my ears as I fled his corridor. Any dalliance would land me in trouble.

"I know it is you, I heard your footsteps. You came right in time, come clean up this mess," he yelled and I halted.

I knew I had no choice, I was caught. I turned around and walked back. I knocked gently at the door but he yelled angrily.

"You bitch! Get in right away!"

Slowly, I opened the door and made my way in. I wrung my nose as I smelled sex in the air.

I placed my hand, covering my nose. I hated the foul smell.

Looking at me again, Amanda smirked. As if she is trying to show off that she has Stanley in her arms.

 She moved towards me with a sinister smile, brushing her shoulders against mine, “Ahh!" She screamed loudly. Her face showed that she was in immense pain. I stood there shocked, “I didn't push her." These muffled words were stuck in my throat. 

Stanley jolted up in anger rushing like a knight to save his princess, the hatred in his eyes made me shiver. 

"How dare you!" Stanley yelled at me angrily, he must think I pushed her, “I didn't push her!" I yelled, washed away with panic. 

Amanda held her knee tightly crying in pain. He picked her up in his arms and kept her on bed.

“She is lying. Believe me, I didnt pushed her,” I tried to explain myself but he lunged towards me in anger.

“I will teach you a lesson today. That you remember all your life.” Stanley snapped at me, grabbed my hand tightly. I whimper in pain. 

Still trying to fathom what was happening, I felt a strong pull as he yanked my head backwards. 

I squealed, trying to free myself from his tight grip. “Let go!” I yelled as my tears forced their way out of my eyes. 

He scoffed, “You seem to forget who you are. You are nothing but a homeless orphan. A low life bitch!” His heartfelt words pierced my heart. Why was I crying? He was telling the truth but hearing him say it to my face hurts so much.

 His rapid pull made me stagger, my neck fell backwards and my neck bone became so hurtful.

 This was inhumane torture, I tried keeping up, pushing his hands away from my hair, so as to free myself but all my effort was fruitless.

 I had no idea what I did wrong, what was my offense? Now I remember, it was the scene with Amanda. It hurts to know that he didn't believe me. He was torturing me for something I wasn't guilty of.

“Sly bitch!” He cussed, my body rumbled upon the stairs as the beast dragged me down the staircase. The constant friction of my skin against the rough floor made me screech in pain. 

My own saliva forced its way down my throat. My vision became blurry, I could feel my own blood gushing in an abnormal manner forcing its way into my brain. 

I knew where we were headed‒the dark room. Where I would be kept to starve for days. 

The unlocking sound of the door as the keys clicked confirmed my thoughts. He pushed me into the dark room and locked me in. I fell to my face overwhelmed in darkness, my head felt so heavy. 

I traced my way to the corner of the room, I was already so used to this place. This was my second room.

I curled myself into

a ball, sulking loudly. 

When would all this be over?