I couldn't stop thinking about the mating ceremony tomorrow. I was finally going to meet the person the Moon Goddess had carefully chosen for me— My mate.
The thought of it filled me with excitement and anxiety as I stood near the iron bucket I had brought along to clean the ballroom floor.
The mating ceremony was a sacred event which was held only once a year. The palace would be beautifully adorned with flowers and an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Every member of the Blue Moon Pack who had come of age would be in attendance, along with select wolves from other packs—powerful ones, who were invited as honored guests.
For most, the ceremony was a dream come true—a chance to finally meet the mate they had longed for. But for others like me, it was a nightmare.
The ceremony followed a strict rule: each wolf was given three chances to find their fated mate. If, after their third trial, they still stood alone, they faced exile—or worse, were cast into the lowest ranks, forced to live a life of servitude and disgrace. I was on my third trial and if I didn't find a mate by this next ceremony, I was as good as dead.
The Blue Moon Pack was one of the most prestigious and ruthless packs in the country, feared and respected across the land for its immense strength. Our warriors could take down both prey and predators with their terrifying and ferocious attack techniques making our pack the strongest and most dominant pack in the country. No other pack dared to cross us without facing the consequences.
Our pack’s influence was so vast that it led to an unprecedented change in werewolf history—the creation of the Garnet Palace. This palace housed our Alpha, his family, and the strongest, most formidable warriors of the Silver Moon Pack. Within its walls lived dozens of maidens, chosen for either their beauty, skill or both. Each of them were sorted in ranks and assigned various roles based on their rank.
There were seven ranks within the palace maidens, with the highest being the Dusk warden, who oversaw all duties. And at the bottom were the Dust Fangs—where I belonged. The lowest of the low, tasked with endless sweeping and cleaning. I was weak, and in this pack, weakness meant insignificant.
I let out a small sigh, looking up to the glass ceiling. If only my parents could see me now… their daughter, the weakest of the pack, getting a mate tomorrow. A mate who would save me from my fate. It was a bittersweet thought.
Like every other girl, I had dreamed of a strong, handsome mate—someone like the Alpha. But that was nothing more than a fantasy. Girls like me didn’t get fairytale endings, if I were to ever find a mate, it'd be a miracle, nevertheless one who was as powerful as the Alpha. Besides, the Alpha was too ruthless in my opinion, whoever would end up as his mate might as well kiss happiness goodbye.
I barely remembered my parents. I had lived with my uncle all my life, and every time I asked about them, he and his wife brushed it off, telling me to never speak of it again. Whatever the reason, it was a secret I wasn’t meant to know about. They never treated me like family, and the only person who had ever shown me any kindness was the former Dusk warden. But those days were long gone.
Life as a Dust fang was brutal. The weak had no value. We were bullied, humiliated, and treated like pests. Many didn’t survive. Some were driven to death—either at the hands of others or by their own. Those who endured did so out of sheer desperation.
"Ivy!"
I jumped at the sharp voice, my thoughts shattering.
I turned to see the Dusk warden standing in the doorway, her piercing red eyes locked onto me. My heart sank. That look on her face—it meant trouble.
The Dusk warden had once been in my rank, but unlike me, she clawed her way to the top. She was known for her fierce discipline and zero-tolerance for nonsense. Silver-haired, red-eyed, she was graceful yet terrifying, she was respected by all—and feared by the weak.
I quickly adjusted my dress and lowered my head. Looking directly at her was out of the question.
"Ivy, what are you doing? Slacking off again?" She stepped closer, her face a few inches from mine. “How many times have I warned you never to slack off?”
"I—"
"Shut up, you useless, weak piece of trash."
Pain exploded through my scalp as she yanked my hair back. A sharp sting followed as strands of my hair were ripped from my head. I bit my lip, trying to suppress a whimper.
"Please, Dusk Warden," I begged, gripping onto her wrist. "I promise I won't do it again!"
She scoffed. "Who would believe the words of a pathetic weakling like you?" Her grip tightened. "Trash like you shouldn’t even exist in this pack in the first place."
Without warning, she released my hair—only to drive her fist into my stomach. The force sent me flying across the room. I barely had time to react before she was on me again, faster than I’d ever seen her move.
She wasn’t just punishing me—she wanted to break me.
My vision blurred as I gasped for air. I was weak, probably the weakest in the pack as my wolf was practically useless but it didn't mean I was completely powerless. I saw her movements, yet my body refused to move, it was like I was nailed to the ground waiting for her to land the next punch. The previous blow had already drained what little strength I had.
She was only meters away when—
BANG!
A deafening impact.
My body crashed into the wall before everything went black.
"You should have never been born," I heard her sneer before the door slammed shut.
