Yasmin’s back slammed into the cold stone wall, her vision swimming as she tried to catch her breath. She barely had a moment to recover before she heard the laughter—a cruel, mocking sound that echoed through the small dining hall. Her tormentors stood above her, their eyes alight with twisted delight.
"Wolfless and weak!" sneered a tall boy, his lips curling in disgust. He leaned closer, his voice dripping with scorn. "What good are you to anyone, Yasmin? You’re a burden to the pack." The others laughed, the sound harsh and piercing. Yasmin kept her gaze lowered, trying to keep her expression blank. She knew better than to respond. Words would only make it worse. "Look at her," another girl jeered, flinging her plate at Yasmin. It struck her arm, the sharp edge cutting into her skin as the leftover food splattered across her clothes. "Pathetic." More plates followed, one after the other, shattering against her as she tried to shield herself. The smell of stale food clung to her, the weight of it pulling her down. She wanted to fight back, to tell them to stop, but her voice felt trapped in her throat. "Enough," someone said after a while, the boredom evident in their tone. "Let’s go. She’s not even worth the effort." Yasmin barely registered the words before the kicks began—sharp and relentless, striking her ribs, her stomach, her back. She bit her lip, refusing to cry out, her fingers curling into the stone floor. Eventually, the blows stopped, and she heard the shuffle of feet as they walked away, their laughter fading into the distance. The silence that followed was deafening. Yasmin lay there, her body aching, her mind numb. She wanted to stay down, to close her eyes and let the darkness pull her under. But she couldn’t. She forced herself to move, to push herself up on trembling arms. Her fingers slipped on the greasy mess around her, her entire body protesting each movement. Slowly, painfully, she began cleaning up. She gathered the broken plates, her hands shaking as she picked up the shards, the jagged edges cutting into her palms. She moved mechanically, trying to block out the pain, the humiliation. When she finally managed to gather everything, she dragged herself to the kitchens, her steps slow and unsteady. The warmth of the room greeted her, a stark contrast to the chill that seemed to have settled into her bones. The chefs turned as she entered, their eyes widening in shock at the sight of her. "Oh, Yasmin," murmured Gretta, a middle-aged woman who had always been kind to her. She hurried over, her eyes filled with concern as she took in Yasmin’s bruised face, the food staining her clothes, the cuts on her hands. "What happened, dear?" Yasmin tried to smile, but it felt like a grimace. "I’m fine, Gretta," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... need to clean these." Gretta shook her head, her expression softening with sympathy. "Sit down, sweetheart. Let me take care of you." She guided Yasmin to a stool, her touch gentle as she helped her sit. Gretta pulled out a small jar of ointment, her fingers steady as she dabbed it on Yasmin’s face, the coolness easing some of the sting. "You shouldn’t have to endure this," Gretta said, her voice low, filled with a tenderness that made Yasmin’s chest tighten. "It’s not right, the way they treat you." Yasmin looked down, her vision blurring as tears threatened to spill. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back, but it was no use. The tears fell, and she quickly wiped at her eyes, embarrassed. "I’m sorry," she whispered. "I don’t mean to be a burden." Gretta’s expression softened even more, and she shook her head. "You’re not a burden, Yasmin. You never were." She turned to the other chefs, her voice firm. "Mina, get some water. And you, Oliver, bring a cloth. We need to clean her up." The younger girl, Mina, hurried over with a cup of water, her eyes wide with sympathy. "Here, Yasmin," she said, handing it to her. "Drink. You look like you haven’t eaten all day." Yasmin took the cup with a shaky hand, the cool water soothing her dry throat. She drank slowly, her eyes closing for a moment as she let herself relax. Mina gave her a small, sad smile. "We’ll take care of the dishes, Yasmin. You need to rest." But Yasmin shook her head, her resolve hardening. "I can’t. I have to go back to work." She stood, her legs shaky beneath her, her body protesting every movement. Gretta frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You shouldn't be working in this state. Let us help you, just this once." "I have to," Yasmin insisted, her voice cracking. She couldn’t afford to lose her place, no matter how much she wanted to stay. She offered them a grateful smile, despite the tears still glistening in her eyes. "Thank you. For everything." Gretta sighed, her expression a mix of frustration and sadness. "If you need anything, you come to us, alright? We’re here for you, Yasmin." Yasmin nodded, her throat too tight to speak. She left the warmth of the kitchen, the kindness of the chefs a stark contrast to the cruelty she faced outside.As she walked through the pack house, her body heavy with exhaustion and hunger, she heard laughter ahead. It was light, carefree, filled with excitement. A group of girls stood near the staircase, their voices carrying through the hallway. Yasmin’s eyes caught sight of Tasin, her number one tormentors and pack mean girl, in the middle of them, her golden hair shining under the lights as she giggled with her friends. They were dressed in bright colors, their smiles wide, their eyes filled with anticipation. "The Red Moon is just a few days away," Tasin was saying, her voice filled with excitement. "I can’t wait to find out who my mate is. Can you imagine? Our destined mates, under the light of the moon... it’s going to be perfect." One of the other girls laughed, nudging Tasin playfully. "Who do you think it’ll be, Tasin? Maybe one of the alphas? Or that handsome warrior from the east?" Tasin blushed, her eyes sparkling. "I don’t know. But I hope he’s strong. Someone who can p
Zaid awoke from his slumber, the comforting darkness of his room barely disturbed by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. He blinked, his sharp eyes catching sight of a hazy, naked figure standing at the edge of his bed. He tensed instantly, his body on high alert, but as his vision cleared, he realised who it was. Edna- his Gamma's sister. He growled low in his throat, the sound reverberating through the room. "What are you doing here, Edna?" His tone was dangerous, edged with irritation. "And why are you undressed in my quarters?" Edna only smirked, her eyes smoldering as she took a step closer, her hips saying suggestively. "I came to see you, Alpha," she purred, her fingers reaching out to trace the edge of his blanket. "I thought you might need some. . . company." She leaned in, her lips parted, her fingers wandering across his arm. For a fleeting moment, Zaid felt a faint shot of desire his wolf responding to the scent of the willing female before him
Days later, Alpha Zaid stood in the dimly lit office of the Moonbeam Pack’s Alpha house, his patience wearing thin. He had been trying to close a deal with Alpha Saif for days, but the negotiations were proving to be far more challenging than he had anticipated. The deal was meant to benefit both packs—a trade agreement that would secure resources for Zaid's territory and allow Moonbeam Pack exclusive access to certain hunting grounds. But Saif’s greed had made him unwilling to agree, arguing that the deal didn’t offer him enough in return. Zaid clenched his jaw as he stared at the documents laid out on the table. Alpha Saif’s reluctance was infuriating; the man wanted more, always more, and it was beginning to wear on Zaid’s last nerve. His patience, already thin to begin with, was now hanging by a thread. He wasn't used to waiting, wasn't used to being stalled by someone else's selfishness. And yet here he was, still stuck in the Moonbeam Pack’s territory, far longer than he had in
The bond shattered, and Yasmin felt the warmth replaced by a cold, searing pain that tore through her very soul. She gasped, her knees buckling as she fell to the ground, her hands clutching at her chest as if she could somehow hold the pieces of her heart together. The agony was unlike anything she had ever felt—like something inside her was being ripped apart, leaving her hollow and broken. Laughter echoed around her, cruel and mocking, as she struggled to breathe. She looked up, her vision blurred with tears, and saw Ian’s face—guilt etched into his features. But he didn’t reach out to her, didn’t offer her a hand. He simply shook his head, turned away, and walked off with his friends, leaving her there on the ground. "Look at the runt," someone sneered. "Thinking she could be mated to someone like Ian." "Pathetic," another voice added, and Yasmin heard the laughter grow louder, their cruel words cutting into her like knives. Yasmin felt her heart shatter, the pieces scatte
Zaid didn’t wait for her to change her mind. He moved swiftly, scooping her up in his arms, feeling her soft body press against his chest. She gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, and he could feel her heart pounding against him. He held her close, and in a flash, he used his wolf speed to take her to his guest quarters, his feet barely touching the ground as he ran. He pushed the door open, stepping inside and kicking it shut behind them. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight streaming through the window casting shadows across the floor. He set her down, his hands lingering on her waist, his gaze locked on hers. She looked up at him, her eyes wide, her lips trembling. For a moment, she hesitated, and Zaid felt his own breath catch, the intensity of the moment almost overwhelming. Then, slowly, she reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek, and he knew—knew that tonight would be theirs, that for this one night, they would forget everything else.~~~~T
Yasmin’s heart raced as she slipped out of the pack’s guesthouse, the weight of last night pressing down on her like a stone. Her cheeks flushed at the memory: waking up beside a powerful man with an aura so potent it made her feel like she was drowning. Panic had surged through her veins the moment she’d realized what had happened. The Red Moon Festival. The night when unmated wolves gathered, hoping fate would be kind enough to grant them their destined mate. And it had been. Ian—the pack’s gentle, kind-hearted soldier, the one she’d quietly admired for years. Her heart had skipped a beat when he’d been revealed as her mate, her deepest wish come true. But the memory of what happened next cut like a blade, raw and unforgiving. The rejection. She’d barely absorbed the thrill of finally having a mate before Ian had rejected her in front of the entire pack, his words echoing with an unexpected cruelty. The humiliation and heartbreak of that moment washed over her again now, like ic
Yasmin dragged her mop across the cold, stone floor, her arms weak and sore. Her back ached from bending over all day, and every muscle felt like it was on fire. The pack members had made sure to remind her of her place today, jeering and shoving as she passed by, calling her names like "wolfless wretch" and "omega scum." She kept her eyes down, scrubbing the floor with everything she had, hoping to make herself as small as possible. When she finished, Yasmin tried to push herself up, but a sudden wave of dizziness nearly toppled her. She pressed a hand to her mouth as nausea hit her, bile rising in her throat. Stumbling to her feet, she managed to make her way outside, rushing to the edge of a bushel where she sank to her knees and threw up. Her body shook with every heave, and she gripped the grass as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. "Get it together," she muttered to herself, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. The nausea had been coming and going for days
For a moment, Yasmin felt like the air had been sucked from her lungs. She just stared, the words sinking in slowly, like they’d been spoken in another language. Pregnant? It couldn’t be. Her mind raced back to that one, unforgettable night with the mysterious man, a stranger who had seemed to appear from nowhere. She’d felt a strange pull toward him, an electric connection that made her lose all sense of control. But after that night, he was gone, like he’d never existed. And now… now she was— She looked at Kamira, mouth open, but no words came out. Her heart pounded, each beat louder than the last, until it felt like the only sound in the room. “I… I’m… pregnant?” she finally managed to stammer, her voice barely a whisper, laced with disbelief. Kamira nodded, a softness in her eyes. “Yes, child. I understand this must come as a shock. But we should do an ultrasound, just to be sure. It’s best to confirm it for you.”Yasmin could only nod, feeling as if her body were moving on its