CHAPTER 1

MAYA

The only thing I could hear was my heart pounding like a drum inside my chest. Each beat was louder than the last and my breathing came out in short painful gasps as I stared at the nightmare unfolding before me.

My people were being slaughtered like animals.

Blood painted the ground red and screams filled the air like a horrible song that would never leave my memory. All of this was happening because of me. Because I chose to fall in love with the wrong person.

"Maya!" A voice cut through the chaos and snapped me out of my frozen state. I spun around and my eyes went wide when I saw my mother running toward me through the smoke and fire.

She was alive.

Joy exploded inside my chest and I could not stop the tears from pouring down my face as I ran toward her. I thought Damien had killed them a long time ago. I thought I would never see her face again.

A gunshot cracked through the air.

Then two more followed.

Then one final shot.

I stopped dead in my tracks. My whole body began to shake as I watched my mother drop to her knees. The light faded from her eyes like a candle being blown out and she collapsed face first onto the dirt.

Everything went quiet.

Slowly I raised my head and there he was. Damien stood there with the gun still pointed forward and that smile on his face. That same smile that once made my heart flutter now made my skin crawl with disgust.

A scream tore out of my throat. It was not just a scream. It was four years of love and trust being shattered into a million pieces. It carried all my betrayal and anger and regret. If I had never fallen in love with him none of this would have happened. Every single death was on my hands.

"Grab her. She is coming with me" Damien ordered the guards standing near me.

Before they could reach me I spotted a knife on the ground. I dove for it and pressed the blade against my throat. If I was going to die then it would be on my own terms.

A gunshot rang out and the knife flew from my hand. Pain shot through my fingers and I gasped as I looked up at Damien who was already storming toward me.

"Are you stupid?!" He yelled as the guards grabbed my arms and forced me to my knees. His eyes burned with anger as he stood over me.

As soon as he was close enough I gathered whatever saliva I had and spat directly on his face.

"Just let me die now because as long as I am alive I will make sure you pay for everything you have done" I said through clenched teeth.

He chuckled softly as he wiped his face clean. Then he grabbed my chin so hard I thought my jaw would crack.

"Now why would I kill my dearest mate? That would just cause me unnecessary pain and who wants that?" He whispered and I glared at him with every ounce of hatred I had left.

"You should kill her Damien. She is the daughter of those traitors and deserves to die" Gabriel said as he appeared from behind his brother. His cold eyes locked onto mine without a shred of mercy.

"She stays alive" Damien replied without looking away from me. "You know I cannot have children with anyone else but my mate and I need an heir. So I am keeping her. Take her away and round up the survivors. They will serve as slaves in our pack."

He turned to face the crowd of his warriors and raised his voice. "Let it be known that this is now Crescent Moon territory!"

They all cheered and roared with victory while tears streamed down my face in silence. How could they celebrate after killing so many innocent people? How could the man I loved for four years be this monster?

The darkness crept into the edges of my vision and I welcomed it with open arms. I was done fighting.

When I opened my eyes again I was lying on the cold hard floor. A girl was giggling somewhere nearby and the sound made my stomach turn.

I blinked and looked around. I was in Damien's bedroom. The same room where he and I used to hold each other. Where he whispered promises he never meant to keep.

The giggling came again and I turned my head toward the sound. My blood ran cold when I saw Isabella sitting on his bed kissing him. His hands were wrapped around her waist and he was smiling at her like she was his whole world.

I hated myself for it but seeing them together still hurt. The mate bond was like a chain around my heart that kept squeezing tighter no matter how much I wanted it to break.

They both turned to look at me at the same time. There was nothing in Damien's eyes. No guilt. No recognition. It was like he was looking at a stranger.

"Why did you not just kill her off?" Isabella asked while glaring at me.

My heart cracked wide open when he pulled her closer and kissed her cheek. "Because she is going to be my breeder. I need an heir. Plus she is going to be your new maid. You can do whatever you want with her my love."

I looked away because I could not watch anymore.

Did he not realize I was his mate? Could he not feel the bond? Had everything we shared for four years been nothing but a lie? How could someone pretend to love another person for that long?

"Then why is she in here? Why is she not in the maid quarters?" Isabella whined.

"Because she needs to take lessons. She is not very good in bed so I am going to make love to you in front of her" he said.

I froze completely before whipping my head around to face him. He was already staring at me and his eyes were completely unreadable. It terrified me.

"So I am good in bed?" Isabella giggled.

He hugged her tight while keeping his eyes locked on mine. "You are a beast. No one compares to you."

I turned away again as pain ripped through my chest. Why was this stupid bond still tying me to this monster?

A knock on the door interrupted them.

"Speak!" Damien commanded.

"Your attention is needed Alpha" someone called from the hallway.

He sighed and pulled away from Isabella. "I will be back my love. Do not be mean to her okay?"

"When am I ever mean?" she replied with a sweet voice that made me sick.

I felt his eyes on me as he lingered by the door but I refused to look at him. I would not give him that satisfaction. Finally his footsteps faded and the door clicked shut behind him.

"Well well."

I turned as Isabella climbed off the bed and walked toward me slowly. She was stunning. Perfect skin and a body that could make anyone feel invisible.

Insecurity tried to crawl its way up to the surface but I shoved it down and held her stare without flinching.

"He was right. You are not even that beautiful but I will not take any chances. Ethan!" she yelled.

Damien's beta walked in and my eyes went wide. He and I had always been on good terms but now he would not even look at me.

"The female survivors from the raid. Most of them are being sold off right?" Isabella asked.

My heart nearly stopped. My people were being sold?

"Yes. Why?" Ethan replied.

She pointed her finger directly at me. "I want her sold too."