Chapter 1.

Feyre’s POV

I was sitting in the library, idly going through a book when the maid came to fetch me. Alarm bells rang in my head immediately. She bowed low, rushing over her words in her hurry to deliver her message.

“The Alpha wants to see you.” She panted and it was such an odd statement that I paused. My father never wanted to see me.

Maybe he had once upon a time when I was younger and promising, but not since I’d turned seventeen and my first shift had still not occurred. These days, he went out of his way to outrightly avoid me, so the sudden request for my presence was strange. Not to mention worrisome.

Shaking myself free of my thoughts, I rose to obey, not wanting to portray any hesitation to his summons lest it become the reason I receive a fresh round of punishments. Bookmarking my unfinished page for later, I headed out of the library with her, going down the hall to the door at the very end of my father’s study. She bowed and scurried off, leaving me to face the

man inside alone. I envied her freedom to run away at that moment knowing I didn’t dare.

Where would I go anyway? I had no one. Mother was dead. I had no siblings or friends to seek refuge with. All I knew was this pack. And him.

Steeling myself for whatever was to come, I took a deep breath, raised my hand, and knocked.

“Enter.” I heard faintly and let myself in.

The blinds were down, and the lights were low so even though it was quite early in the morning, the office was dim, casting a yellow glow on the whole room.

Another prickle of unease needled through me as I spotted my father not behind his desk, but standing before the large portrait of our family, a glass of whiskey in hand.

“Good Morning Alpha.” I greeted and got silent in response. I fell quiet and waited to be addressed, facing his empty chair with my head bowed instead of witnessing whatever moment he was having there. To think that a pictured form of myself received more attention from my father than I did hurt, but I was long past such childish notions. After all, I am twenty

years old now.

“You’ve left me with very little choices regarding what to do with you Feyre.” He started before turning and walking slowly to his desk, his words emphasized by his every step.

“There’s no place in my pack for a werewolf who can’t shift, nor it would seem in anyone else’s. You can’t call your wolf and as a result, can’t find a mate with a neighboring Pack’s Alpha and at least provide me with a valuable connection. Or an heir. You play no role in the betterment of the pack which protects and provides for you every day. Tell me Feyre, of what use are you?”

My outward expression barely changed but every word cut deep. I stared silently, willing the tears to hold off until I could get outside and find a safe corner to cry.“I’m sorry Alpha. I wish I could be more useful to you.” I said after a long moment when I was sure I wouldn’t burst into tears if I tried to speak.

He took his seat and sighed. “Oh. You will. At long last, I’ve found something that you can do for me and your pack and perhaps finally warrant the stain of your birth in my lineage.”

My head shot up from its bowed position and I saw his face for the first time since I entered the room. Hell, for the first time in a few days even. He looked tired, the lines around his face etched even deeper by stress with his graying, brown hair in disarray.

He rubbed a hand over his face while I waited, anxiety building with every second he took to say what it was he meant by that statement. When he finally spoke, I almost wished he hadn’t.

“Tomorrow morning, you are to accompany the Lycan King’s men to the Whitewood pack as a show of goodwill. You’ll serve as his war prize, a present from our pack to encourage him to honor our peace treaty and appreciate the unwitting victory he brought us by destroying some of our mutual enemies.”

I gasped, my eyes widening and he glared at me as if daring me to protest.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. Most werewolves started to shift at the onset of puberty. By seventeen if your wolf hadn’t come, it probably never would. No wolf means no mate. As the Alpha’s daughter, not having a wolf to mate meant I couldn’t help my father ally with any other pack. What Alpha would want to risk their pups also being unable to shift as well?

My pure-blood status of having descended from a long line of Alpha werewolves meant nothing if I didn’t have any wolf to show for that lineage myself. I was, as he so cruelly put it, useless. This was the only way I could possibly help my pack form an alliance. As the Lycan King’s… prize. Something for him to play with in hopes that he would not turn his rampage to our pack and destroy us as he had done several others. It was either that or… Or what? I run away? Try my hand in the human world? Helplessness washed over me, I wouldn’t even know where to start.

“I expect you to be packed and ready by tonight. You leave by seven AM sharp tomorrow morning. Look presentable. Alluring even.” His look turned threatening again “You must do your best to please him Feyre. You will refuse him nothing. Do as you are told and I’m sure he

will be fair to you.”

He was lying and we both knew it. If we could count on the Lycan King’s fairness, he wouldn’t be sending me out as a gift to garner his favor. All werewolves in the country knew of Xaden Whitewood. Most feared him. He had a reputation and it was not for being fair. It

was for being Cold. Ruthless. So very powerful. And exceedingly violent when crossed. I repressed a shudder and nodded my head.

“Good.”

There was more silence, the only reason I didn’t leave was because he hadn’t dismissed me but I couldn’t imagine what else there was to say. I understood his spoken and unspoken messages loud and clear. Since I couldn’t be of any use as an heir or a Luna, I would be a whore. Pack above wolf. Wasn’t that the code? Even if I didn’t have a wolf, it’s not like I had anything else. What would be the point?

“I wish it was different Feyre. I wish you weren’t…” He trailed off and this time I did flinch, turning my head to the side so he wouldn’t see the first of my tears start to fall. He let out a heavy sigh and then I heard his seat move.

“You may go.”

Immediately I rose and practically fled the office. Once the door shut behind me, I ran to my room and didn’t stop until I flung myself on the bed. I burst into tears then, heaving sobs that rocked my whole body while I cried my heart out; at my disappointing past, my hopeless present, and my terrible future.

***

Later that evening as I packed my boxes, a knock came at my door. My throat was scratchy when I said “Come in.” And I had to clear it several times to be able to speak properly. I looked up to see Rowen, my long-time, one and only friend and companion.

“Hi.” I croaked, my voice still not quite clear.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes,” I said simply, too drained to explain any further. Drained and ashamed. If only I could shift. If only I could call to this stubbornly dormant wolf who had to be somewhere in me but still would not yield no matter how fiercely I called for her. Lessons, treatments by witch doctors, and even medical physicians had all failed to trigger my transformation. Perhaps I was cursed. I sighed; if I was the witches would surely have found it and broken it. My father took me to enough of them when I was fourteen and still hadn’t had my first shift.

“I heard. Everyone’s heard.” Well, now I am even more embarrassed than before. I tried to remind myself that they were bound to know anyway. Everyone has been wondering what would happen to the Alpha’s wolfless daughter. I guess now we know. I would be the war prize for the Lycan King.

“What are you going to do?”

I let out a bitter laugh “What can I do Rowen? Run away? Turn into a wolf and find a mate myself? Die?” I whispered the last one and he gave me a sharp look. I shook my head. “I’m kidding.” Mostly.

“Look, maybe there’s some way we can─”

“There’s nothing either of us can do, Rowen.”

“You don’t know that!”

“Yes, I do. You’re not an Alpha so you can’t challenge either my father or the Lycan King! I’m not a wolf so I don’t even have any choices!” I sighed at his hurt look then softened my voice. “It’s okay really. Not what I hoped but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” The smile I attempted was much stronger. Now he looked sad.

“I’m sorry Feyre.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be okay. And you will too.”

“Yeah, but I’ll miss you.” He sniffled a little and I laughed, pulling him into a hug. “I hope you’ll be okay, Feyre.” To be honest I had no idea about that but there was nothing I could do about it.

“I’ll be fine Rowan. I promise. I’ll call you as often as I can.” If you’re allowed to, my brain supplied but I tried to ignore my own internal monologue.

“It’ll be okay. I’ve accepted it.”

Maybe not completely, but eventually, I would.