CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE

From the solitude of my room, I could hear the festivities below—a celebration that seemed to shake the very walls of the house—my sister's 18 years celebration. The scent of freshly cut flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the laughter that rose like a tide from the guests. The vibrant life of the party was a world apart from my own shadowed existence.

I stepped away from the window, catching my reflection in the tall mirror. The blue gown I had chosen hung like a whisper of silk against my skin, its rich hue shimmering under the soft light. Yet it wasn't the gown that held my gaze—it was the mask that covered the scar that twisted across my cheek, a cruel mark that had stolen my place in this family.

Beneath the mask, the scar itched, as if it resented its confinement. My fingers trembled as they traced the mask’s edges, feeling the roughness of the scar underneath. The mask was a barrier, both physical and emotional, that I had worn for so long it felt like a part of me. And yet, today, it felt heavier than ever. I turned swiftly and headed for the door.

“Elodie, what are you doing?” I heard a banging voice in my head and from the worry it, it was clear who it was; My wolf, Zoe.

“I’m going to the party" I replied, lifting my chin as if daring her to argue. “I’m tired of being hidden away"

“Yo…” Zoe stopped halfway and receded into me ahsin. She was the one to give up so easily and I knew she was cooking up some motivational words to stop me which won't work today. She has always been the easy going and obedient type and I hated that!.

“You know your father will be furious. He doesn’t want you…" She finally found some words to put together and I let out a scowl. “I don’t care" I interrupted, the words escaping before I could stop them.

 For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, the silence heavy between us. I took a step toward the door, feeling the silk of the gown brush against my legs. “I need to do this, Zoe”

She let out a sigh and receded into my mind again. I waited for some minutes to hear her rant but she didn't. 

I opened the door and made my way out, waiting to hear her say something but she didn’t stop me. She knew better than to try.

The hallway was eerily quiet, the muffled sounds of the party growing louder as I neared the main floor. My heart pounded in my chest, the rhythm quickening with each step. I could feel the weight of the night pressing down on me, every instinct screaming for me to turn back.

But I didn’t.

As I reached the top of the stairs, the sight of the grand hall below nearly took my breath away. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the sea of guests, their laughter rising in waves as they moved around, with some having glasses of drink in between their fingers. It was a scene of opulence and joy—a world I had always been denied.

I gripped the banister, the cool metal grounding me as I took a deep breath. My fingers curled tighter as my eyes scanned the crowd, searching for one face among the many; My sister!.

And then, there it was—that scent. It hit me like a force, cutting through the haze of perfumes and food. A mix of lavender oil and cinnamon, so potent it made my head spin. It was a scent that didn’t belong to the cacophony below. It was something more. Something meant for me.

“Mate" Zoe whispered, her voice trembling with excitement.

The word sent a shiver down my spine, every nerve in my body coming alive as I let the scent guide me. The crowd seemed to part as I descended the stairs, my focus narrowing until only that scent mattered. My heart raced, a wild thing in my chest, as I reached the bottom step.

He was close. I could feel it, the bond pulling me forward like an invisible thread.

The scent led me to a door at the far end of the hall. My hand trembled as I pushed it open, stepping into a room lit with a warm, golden light. Four men stood inside, their voices low as they turned to face me. But it was the man at the center who captured my attention.

Tall and broad-shouldered, he stood with an air of command, his blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. The room seemed to shrink around us, the air thickening as the bond flared to life between us.

“Mate" He murmured, the word a low growl that sent heat rushing to my cheeks.

He handed his drink to one of the men beside him, his gaze never leaving mine as he closed the distance between us. My pulse quickened, each step he took toward me making my heart thunder in my chest.

“What’s your name?” His voice was deep, each word laced with a quiet authority that demanded an answer.

“Elodie" I breathed, the name barely a whisper as I struggled to find my voice.

His gaze softened for a moment, his eyes searching mine as if he were trying to see past the mask that hid my face. But then his expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as they took in the mask that covered my scar.

“What’s that on your face?" He asked, his tone suddenly sharp.

I flinched, the shame I had tried so hard to bury rushing back to the surface. My hand instinctively moved to the mask, fingers brushing against the cool surface as if to confirm it was still there.

“You’re Elsa’s sister, aren’t you?” one of the other men sneered, stepping forward. “The one with the… issue"

Laughter rippled through the room, the sound cruel and mocking. The man before me—Liam, if the others’ murmurs were correct—glanced at me with something akin to disdain, the bond between us flickering with pain.

“I’m not interested in a mate like you" He said, his voice cutting through me like ice. “I won’t accept this"

The words hung in the air, each syllable a dagger to my heart. My breath hitched as the rejection slammed into me, the bond unraveling before it had even fully formed.

“No" I whispered, the plea barely audible as the reality of his words crashed over me. But he was already turning away, the decision made.

“Liam, are you going to reject her?” another man asked, a smug smile curling his lips. “There’s no need to keep her, not when you have better options"

Liam paused, his back to me as the tension in the room grew thick enough to choke. I could see the muscles in his shoulders tense, the conflict warring in his mind. But when he turned back to face me, his expression was cold, resolved.

“Your full name" He demanded, the words a command rather than a request.

“Elodie Martin" I managed to say, though my voice trembled with the effort of holding back the tears that threatened to spill over.

“I, Liam Montgomery, future Alpha of the Moonshine Pack, reject you, Elodie Martin of the Dark East Moon Pack" He declared, his voice devoid of emotion.

The rejection hit like a physical blow, the bond snapping apart with a searing pain that left me gasping for breath. Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of them.

“I accept your rejection" I whispered, the words catching in my throat as I turned and fled from the room, the sound of their laughter following me like a cruel echo.