Chapter 1

“My Lord, all our effort has proven abortive. We can’t keep fighting with no ammunition, morale, or influence.” the chief of guards of Crescent Pack, Samuel, informed the Alpha Daniel, with his head lowered to the ground.

“What!”

Alpha Daniel was one of the elderly men in the kingdom who has seen generations pass. His pack was under tension from an external pack and he needed assistance.

He has gotten help from his in-laws and close friends but the nemesis pack seems to have a stronger threshold, they were not falling back and he was worried.

He has his beautiful Luna, Liza who blessed his life with a dazzling twin. Matilda and Hilda were the best in all ramifications but Hilda was loved the most.

Matilda wasn’t bright, she was already eighteen and haven’t gotten her wolf, she was too weak and this gave her parents a tough time - they were heavily displeased.

“We need to come up with a solution. I can’t watch my pack fall at my feet.” Daniel cried out, looking displeased and worried.

He has sacrificed so much for his pack to let it go, he wouldn’t be able to face his ancestors if anything happened to his pack.

He was desperately in need of redemption and restoration but where was it?

“My Lord, should I gather the elders and Betas for a meeting? I’m afraid our men can’t last longer.” Samuel made a comeback after a few minutes.

Daniel sighed heavily while shaking his head. He never knew such a thing would happen to him. He wasn’t expecting it and at this rate, he had no idea.

“Fine,” he said, exhaling deeply.

“Call them into the hall. The meeting demands their attendance.” Daniel instructed him strictly, he bowed and left the room.

He relaxed on the armchair with his eyes closed, different thoughts spread like wildfire in his mind and he almost lost control of them when Luna Liza stepped into the bedroom.

“My Lord, what is the trouble this time?” she asked softly as she took her seat beside him.

He sighed and rubbed his forehead in silence.

“Since last week, you have been under pressure. What is happening?” she was worried and concerned to know about his present state but he didn’t seem willing to spill.

“This is not an internal affair, my love. I have to leave now.” without another word, he left the bedroom.

Luna Liza was left to battle with her confused assumptions.

The elders and Betas were all gathered in the hall as Alpha Daniel stepped in. Everyone was agitating because they also knew the current state of their pack. They were afraid and anxious to know what their leader had to say to them.

“I called you all here because I want ideas and suggestions on how to pacify this thorn.” he began.

“I have tried all measures, I have accepted all necessary support. Why are we still faced with this?” he asked them anxiously as he scanned the hall with his restless eyes.

Thomas, his right-hand man was the first to step forward and he bowed.

“Permit me to speak, My Lord.” he waved at him to continue.

“I think we have a last solution that might help,” Thomas informed him courteously.

Daniel’s eyes spread wide open in astonishment as murmurs filtered in the air, everyone was anxious to know what he had in mind.

“Speak.” Daniel urged him.

“We have to ask Alpha King Moses for the support this time. May his grace be upon us.” as he said this, he did the usual dramatic expression that everyone did whenever that name was mentioned.

Everyone gasped in shock with their hands covering their mouths.

“What?” Alpha Daniel’s lips were trembling as fear enveloped his eyes.

***

Matilda POV

“Hey, why the long face?” Kevin, my best friend asked as he sat beside me. We were staring out the window inside the cafe that we were in.

“Nothing much.” I shook my head and gulped the coffee.

“Do you really have to leave? I thought they agreed to live with Hilda while you stay with your sick grandma.” he figured looking sad.

Five years ago, I was almost killed by a loosed rogue but Hilda took the hit and fell sick. She did that intentionally as she craved more of my parent's attention. They hated me and no matter how I tried to narrate and explain the whole incident, no one believed me.

Without hesitation, they sent me out of the pack to live with my sick grandmother. They made me lose contact with my mate keeping him in a dire situation as I disappeared from the camp overnight.

Since I arrived here, they never called to check on me or know how I was faring. I tried not to care because I have found peace at last. There was no one bullying me or sending me errands every single second.

I felt free and focused more on my studies and taking care of my grandmother. It was over the years that I crossed paths with Kevin, he lived in our neighborhood and saved me from a snake bite. He never knew I was a wolf at that time, but as we got closer, he started knowing a few things about me.

Suddenly, I got a call from Uncle Thomas, my father’s close friend in the pack and he asked that I returned to the pack following my father’s order.

I thought they would never call me. I thought they will forget about me and let me live my quiet life. But it seemed my quiet life was coming to an end so fast.

For some unknown reasons, I was reluctant to leave. I was already used to living with humans, spending time with Kevin, and helping my sweet grandma. But my days were being counted now.

“Will you be alright over there?” Kevin’s voice brought me out of my reverie.

“Of course, I will be.” I sighed.

“That’s my home after all.” I squeezed out a smile and he nodded.

“Well, I’m going to miss you. This neighborhood is boring without you,” he said as his eyes gradually gathered tears.

Kevin was one of the softest people I have ever seen, he didn’t freak out when I told him my identity. He accepted me and taught me things that I didn’t fully know.

Leaving him also ached my heart but I knew my family. I knew what they could do if I ever disregard their order. Whether I wanted it or not, I have to leave.

“It’s just distance, Kevin. We can call and maybe, chat.” I smirked and he laughed shortly.

“You will always remain my best friend, it’s just that I don’t have any power to bring humans to the pack.” I frowned and he smiled softly, he grabbed my hands on the table.

“I hope you will find luck this time. I also hope your parents would love you this time, they can’t hate their child forever; right?” he raised a brow staring at me and I smiled.

My parents can detest me till eternity, that was their nature and it can never change.

I could already sense trouble. They wouldn’t call me back for no reason.

“I need to finish packing up and leave tonight.” I began.

“Please help me look after Grandma because no one cares about her except us. I will come back soon if fate allows it.” I assured him with a warm smile and he nodded.

“I’m waiting for you, best friend,” he said in affirmative.

My grandmother wasn’t so happy on hearing the news, she has gotten used to my presence in her small bungalow and would be bored without me. I also couldn’t take her with me because my parents are unpredictable. I left her in the care of Kevin, I knew he wouldn’t betray her, and after packing up my small box. I prepared to leave for Norway.

The city I stayed in all these years was small in Finland, Onso which has the closest border to Norway.

We lived like normal humans except for the abilities we have and the fact that only werewolves resided in the breach of Norway. Aside from other contradicting wolves that reside in Tokyo, New York, Italy, and other countries.

My parents showed that they didn’t value me when I had to walk all the way from Finland to Norway. There was no welcome treatment.

I thought they have changed after all these years but it remained the opposite, no one came to pick me.

I had to find my way back to our pack even when I didn’t know the route well. I was still young when I left the pack, so it was difficult.

“Crescent pack…” I grinned inwardly as I caught sight of a huge mansion ten miles away from me.

I wouldn’t have recognized it was my father’s pack if not for the bird giant bird resting on the roof.

My lips had turned pale with my eyes all over the place, my legs were wobbling and I had grown weak. It wasn’t easy to walk through those bad roads with no food or water. I exhaled heavily as I made my way to the mansion, at last, I was back home after being away for years.

Will they still recognize me?

The howling sound didn’t stop, the mysterious forest breeze flushed on my face and I told myself that I was no longer in the human city. This pack was way different from the fresh breeze there.

Waves of sorrow began to find their way inside of me as the past clashed in my mind. I left here for a reason and before I left, I was like an object of mockery.

My sister was better than me in everything she does and I was nothing but a laughingstock. She had a wolf, she was strong and came out as a Beta but for me, I didn’t have any. I was only good at eating and causing a problem, as they said.

Even when I got to eighteen, my wolf was nowhere to be found. I couldn’t tell if it was a good decision I made by returning.

“Lady Hilda!” I heard a loud voice calling out to me, and I came out of my daze.

I didn’t know I was already close to the mansion. The person strolled down to me looking anxious.

“Lady Hilda, how come you are here?” the person asked politely staring all over me. His eyes had confusion dancing in them.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t recognize who he was.

“I’m not Hilda, I’m Matilda,” I informed him and he stared at me in bizarre.