Chapter 1

My name is Ella Felicity Lunarflare. At the age of seventeen, my world fell apart.

It all started when I attended Beta's birthday party in my pack. I arrived awkwardly alone, as my mom and stepsister had left early.

I stood uncomfortably in the crowd that I hated so much. My gaze wandered around, and stopped across the room.

Suddenly I was overcome with anger. I held my breath when I saw my lover, Black, kissing passionately with my best friend.

Black and I have been in a relationship for ten years, since we were kids.

Black is the Alpha son of the Eclipse pack, the strongest pack I've ever met. Not even my pack—Wintermoon Pack—can match this pack. His older brother Nigel was about to be crowned Alpha soon. That meant Black could soon claim me as his destined mate. But, my dreams are shattered now.

My steps moved decisively towards where Black was while holding back my anger. Black had lied about training until the summer ended, but I found him here, making out with Jaena, my best friend.

"Black, Jaena ...." The corner of my eye was already twitching. I tried my hardest not to shed tears.

Black and Jaena looked at me almost simultaneously, but I couldn't find any guilty looks on their faces. Instead, Black pulled Jaena even closer to him.

"Ella, you're at an event like this. I thought you'd lock yourself in your room like you usually do. You hate socializing, so why are you here now?" asked Jaena raising one eyebrow in a dismissive tone.

My blood boiled at her words, and I snorted. Of all the girls, why did it have to be Jaena? She knew the most about my shortcomings, she was the only one I could share my stories with when my own family felt like strangers to me.

"Whether I go to this event or not is none of your business, Jaena. Then, what are you doing here with Black? You know that Black is my boyfriend, but why would you accept a kiss from him?" I answered after I got myself under control. Alice, my wolf almost woke up knowing that my heart was hurt. But, I won't let it take over my common sense.

I don't want to make a mess of this event. The slightest mess I caused, would be fatal for myself. I can imagine how my mom beat me with a baseball bat every time I made her angry and embarrassed. And I don't want that to happen again.

"Ella, don't corner Jaena! I brought her here. And don't blame Jaena just because I kissed her!" Black spread both his hands in front of Jaena, as if he was protecting her from me. Never before had I seen Black in his possessive form like this, even when he was with me.

"Did you ask Jaena, Black? Shouldn't you be at the training camp right now? And did you say that I shouldn't blame Jaena just because she accepted a kiss from you?" My voice sounded hoarse and desperate, as Black seemed to realize. He took a step forward to touch me, but I quickly pulled away. I've had it with him.

All this time I foolishly believed all the sweet words and promises Black always gave. I had even hoped that Black would free me from the house that was like hell for me. But, now? It was all just nonsense!

"Explain to me, Black! What is the relationship between you two and why did you lie to me, Black?!" I almost shouted, but I hurriedly lowered my voice so as not to attract the attention of the other guests. "Why are you doing this? Why did you cheat on me? I trusted you."

I could no longer hold back my tears, I let them fall down my cheeks that felt hot with anger.

Instead of putting on an apologetic look, Black smiled.

"Don't act as if you're my partner, Ella. I never considered you my partner. You were just a woman I used as an outlet. And now I've found my real partner. She's Jaena."

My heart felt like it had been hit by a heavy object, it hurt and my chest felt tight. I was really hurt.

I should never have known Black in the first place. I should never have trusted him in the first place. And I foolishly gave my heart and body to Black.

I never thought that the good man I had known would be the one to stick a dagger in me, and make the deepest wound in my heart.

I turned around and ran out of the party room. I no longer cared about my mother's screams calling me. I no longer cared if I would be beaten up when I got home.

I needed an outlet for my anger and pain right now.

I ran towards the deserted-looking park, and I let my wolf take over.

Me and Alice, my wolf ran and jumped on the grass rug that was wet from the automatic sprinklers that watered the park every time the surrounding air was high.

We let our bodies get wet as we rolled on the grass. No one could see us in the darkness, the dimly lit garden lights would only illuminate the front of the garden filled with beautiful Lily flowers. Meanwhile, we were in the deepest part of it.

After rolling around, we sat down, still on the grass. I returned to my human form and put my dress back on. I felt better.

Alice purred at me. "Should we take this pain back to that jerk, Ella?"

I shook my head lightly. "There's no need. Leave him alone."

Alice rolled her eyes every time I showed my weak-kneed good nature. Alice repeatedly reminded me not to be soft like this, but even I found it hard to be firm and hard.

According to Alice, my kind and quiet demeanor was the reason why the other pack members were bullying me. Weak wolves would become targets for those who were stronger.

I wiped away the dried tear tracks on my cheeks. I got up and decided to go home when I saw the clock wrapped around my wrist.

It was already eleven o'clock at night, I had to get home before my mom really beat me with her baseball bat.

As I stepped out of the park, Alice howled in disapproval. I calmed her down and assured her that nothing bad would happen at home. Although, the truth was that I was just bragging. And Alice knew I was lying.

But, in the end Alice complied. After I forced her to.

When I was in front of the house. I opened the door quietly while hoping that everyone was asleep.

I was surprised to see my mother staring at me fiercely. It turned out that she was still sitting in the living room, waiting for my return.

"Ella, get over here!" My mom threw me a glare. She shook the baseball bat in her hand.

My life was really over now!