Chapter One

**Twelve Years Ago**

Fernanda’s POV

"Mom, Dad, look!" I shouted, halfway up a tree. From my vantage point, I could see the vast expanse of our pack lands. My dad warned me to come down before he had to fetch me, teasingly implying that I had climbed too high.

Suddenly, everything changed. In a matter of seconds, a group of rogue wolves encircled my parents, snapping and growling menacingly. My parents swiftly shifted into their wolf forms, trying to fend off the attackers. My dad courageously leaped onto the largest rogue, engaging in a fierce battle. But in that crucial moment, two of the rogues diverted their attention to my defenseless mom. Instinctively, my dad turned to protect her, momentarily diverting his focus.

That split second became the turning point in my life, forever altering its course. The shattered bond of the mates overwhelmed my mom, leaving her vulnerable. Surrendering to the anguish, she allowed the two wolves to attack her, knowing that her soulmate was gone.

"MOM!" I cried out, leaping from the tree. The impact of my landing snapped my arm, but the pain in my heart eclipsed any physical sensation. Helpless, I watched as those two rogues mercilessly tore my mom apart. My body froze, incapable of movement, as I screamed for them to stop. But my pleas fell on deaf ears. Among the gruesome scene, there was a third wolf, a passive observer who had witnessed the entire tragedy unfold.

As he slowly approached me, I sensed the approaching footsteps of my pack members coming to my aid. With a sudden swipe of his claws, he viciously tore open my chest, causing excruciating pain. Collapsing to the ground, I cried out in agony. The trio of rogues swiftly vanished in the same direction they had come from, leaving before any pack members arrived.

Grinjo, the pack's Beta, along with a few warriors, were the first to reach us. They acted promptly, attending to each of us. No words were spoken, but the grim reality sank in—I knew my parents were already gone, no need for them to utter it aloud.

"Why would you kill your parents?" growled the Beta, his voice dripping with hostility.

"I d-didn't," I stammered, fear gripping me as I dreaded their judgment.

"Then explain what happened," he demanded.

"Rogues," I managed to utter through tearful sobs.

"You expect us to believe that rogues killed your parents and spared you?" he scoffed incredulously.

I could no longer respond, my cries consuming me. I simply nodded, affirming their assumptions.

"Don't lie, young girl. Your parents are dead, and you have mere scratches. Did you kill them? I knew you were trouble," he accused, his voice accusing and cold.

"No, I swear," I finally mustered, desperation evident in my plea.

Turning to a warrior, he ordered, "Take her to the dungeon. Clearly, she poses a threat to everyone."

A compassionate warrior approached me and attempted to lift me, but the excruciating pain caused me to scream immediately. My chest was bleeding from severe wounds, and my arm hung limply by my side.

"Sir, she requires urgent medical attention. Her chest wounds are severe, and her arm is badly broken. I suggest taking her to the pack hospital," the warrior suggested.

"Are you daring to question my authority and believe this traitor? If so, you can join her in the dungeon," the commanding voice growled in response.

"No, sir. I will take her to the dungeon," the warrior complied.

He gently lifted me, yet the pain overwhelmed me, and my screams echoed until my vision blurred into darkness. When I regained consciousness, I found myself being carefully laid on a hard cot. The wretched smell of old blood and mold permeated the air in this confined space.

"I apologize, girl. I attempted to get you help. I will bring you antibiotics as soon as possible, hoping for a speedy recovery," the warrior's remorseful voice reached my ears.

Two agonizing days passed before anyone descended into the depths. It was the Alpha who finally appeared, approaching my cell and unlocking the door. I mustered all the strength I had to sit up, wincing from the persistent pain.

"Tell me, why did you kill your parents?" the Alpha interrogated.

"I didn't," were the only words I managed to utter before his hand struck my face with such force that my head snapped back, leaving a metallic taste of blood on my lips.

Raising my head defiantly, I locked eyes with him and mustered the courage to question, "Why are you subjecting me to this? I could never harm my parents. I am just a child."

"Are you daring to talk back to me, slave?" he hissed in contempt.

slave? I was bewildered by his accusation. I wasn't a slave; I was an innocent child.

"No, sir, I simply don't understand," I replied, hoping to clarify the misunderstanding.

"And that's the only reason you're not being executed for your alleged crimes. Henceforth, you are now a slave of the pack. As punishment for your insolence today, you will receive ten lashes," he declared, a twisted satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

Approaching me, he seized my uninjured arm, clutching something in his other hand that had escaped my notice. Forcing me face down, I barely had time to comprehend the situation before the whip cracked through the air, searing pain across my backside. The torment continued relentlessly, the lashes striking me six more times, as I screamed, cried, and pleaded for mercy.

When he finally ceased, he leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Remember, slave, I derive pleasure from inflicting pain and revel in the sound of screams. So, you better quickly learn to be an obedient slave, or I will gladly subject you to such cruelty once again."

He left me stranded, walking away with a final command, "Escort her to her new quarters."

"With pleasure," responded the man obediently.

Approaching me, he yanked me off the ground, revealing himself as Grinjo, the Beta. I couldn't fathom what I had done to deserve such brutality from someone I once trusted. He forcefully led me to my designated space, a cramped room resembling nothing more than a closet. A worn-out mattress, a tattered blanket, and a repulsive pillow adorned the space. He callously tossed me onto the bed and turned to shut the door, pausing momentarily to add, "Make yourself comfortable, as you'll remain here until the Alpha deems fit to release you."

With a forceful slam, the door closed, and the echo of his retreating footsteps resonated. Overwhelmed, I couldn't contain my anguish, and tears streamed down my face until exhaustion overtook me. Little did I know, this was only the commencement of my nightmarish ordeal.