Chapter one

{Chapter contains strong language and mentions of violence. Read at your own risk}

Violet ‘s POV

“Useless bitch!” My father hissed, as he threw a bottle at me.

I stepped to the side, quickly avoiding the incoming object, hearing it shatter as it hit the wall. 

“Why didn't you just die instead? Why did it have to be my Patricia?” My father moaned sorrowfully on the beat up couch he sat on, empty boxes of pizzas and alcohol lying hazardly on the floor.

His hurtful words echoed in my head, and I felt my heart clench painfully.

Tears formed in my eyes as my wolf whimpered in my chest.

It wasn't my fault.

I wanted to scream out, but I knew it was useless.

I let the tears in my eyes fall, looking up at my father's miserable figure.

My father, Mike Stary was one of the top leading werewolves back in the day, with a company that boasted up to a million dollars a year, and even having a beautiful mate like my mother.

He was happy, and life was good. That was until I showed up and took everything away from him.

“Get out!” He roared, irritated as he suddenly glared at me. “I don't want to see your face!”

A heavy lump formed in my throat, and I choked on my words, tears blurring my sight.

“Alright,” I whispered, going to pick my bag which contained my work clothes from the floor. “I am leaving. Make sure to eat the food I kept for you.”

“Bitch, like I'll ever eat anything you cook!”He  spat viciously, “I will rather die than do that.”

I squeezed my bag’s handle tightly, the material digging into my marred palm.

Tears flow freely from my eyes, but I knew better than to stay and let them fall.

“I'm heading out now.” I choked, heading to the door. 

“Good! I hope you die on your way there.” He growled, his words cutting deep into my flesh as I gripped the door knob.

I felt a pang in my heart, a hollow feeling in my chest as I swallowed the lump in my throat. 

My legs felt like lead as I forced myself out the door. 

Tears streamed down my eyes once the soft click of the door reached my ears. 

I muffled out my sobs with my hands, crouching as his words hit me and also fearful he'd hear my cries. 

Why?

Why was I allowed to suffer unjustly?

Why didn't the moon goddess take me instead of my mother? 

It wasn't fair.

My wolf howled sorrowfully in tune with me, her painful whines bringing unpleasant memories in my head. 

Just like this I had cried. 

Cried over something I couldn't control yet the pack made it a burden to remind me of it. 

I sniffled, wiping my tears as I stood to my feet. 

I was running late, and having Clarisa my boss tell me unpleasantries to me while I worked wasn't something I wanted. Not when she could fire me.

Now that I couldn't afford to let it happen.

Bills were piling up again, and my father's gambling made my efforts go down the drain. 

My jobs never paid, but at least they got food on the table. 

Walking into the cafe, the soft chime of the doorbell rang, alerting everyone of my presence.

Stares shot my way along with sneers causing me to cruel my toes in shame. 

I lowered my head, heading to the counter, nervously gripping my bag as I made it towards the backroom.

The fresh smell of pastries in the air, soothed me a little, and I strode faster.

“Oh Miss Donna, I am sure no one can resist your charm. Even at this age you look stunning.” An overly sweet baritone voice broke through the air causing me to halt in my tracks. 

I narrowed my eyes, heart pounding slightly as the figure I had come awfully familiar with appeared before me. 

Perched in a corner of the cafe, sat Owen, my supposed Fiance, chatting blissfully with his back turned to me. 

Chatting is what I would lightly put it. 

Not with the sickeningly pitched laugh that escaped Miss Donna’s lips as she ran a finger across his arm. 

“Oh, Owen, you have such a slick tongue, you know that?” Miss Donna, the head warrior's wife, a woman old enough to be his grandma— said, swooning at him. 

She batted her fake lashes, a blush creeping its way up her face and looking away like a shy virgin. 

I felt nausea stir in my gut as disgust shook me. 

“Ugh,” I gagged, the sound causing their head to snap in my direction. 

Immediately, they separated, their faces changing faster than lightning and I swear if I hadn't caught them red handed, I would have believed them. 

“Violet, you are here.” Owen cheered, rising to his feet without sparing a glance at the aged woman who now wore a small frown on her lips. 

I forced myself to pass a nod, my gaze flickering between them as I subtly avoided his touch. 

“Oh come on now, Miss Donna and I were just discussing some business matters.” He smiled, his grey eyes twinkling as he peered at me disgustingly. “Don't be mad, okay? You are the only one in my heart.”

I stared at him without a word. 

Mad? Oh please.

I for one couldn't bring myself to get angry at him. Not when I didn't have feelings for him. 

Inface, being with him was a transaction.

Like always, to please my father and stop him from hating me, I agreed to marry his best friend's son— Owen.

Owen was thirty. An old man compared to me, and for some reason, was mateless.

In the werewolf world, the moon goddess deemed it fit to see if you were to be gifted a mate or not. 

Guess she didn't see any good qualities in him. 

She wasn't wrong. 

Merely looking at him, and I could already tell he was bad news. 

Seeing as I didn't say anything to him, he ran a hand through his hair, a tired sigh leaving his lips. “You can't keep doing this to me Violet. We are in a relationship and it takes two to work. If you don't want this to work, you can just tell me and I'll leave.”

‘Like you would do that.’ I sneered in my mind, feeling my wolf almost snarl at him. 

We both knew I couldn't leave him. Not without my father doing something about it. 

“All right, since you don't want to talk now, I'll give you some space.” He said finally getting some sense into his pea sized brain. “I'll pick you up once your shift is over. At least by then you'll be willing to see me.”

I said nothing, letting the silence reign as he turned to leave. 

His polished shoes rang as he stepped on the marble floor out the cafe. 

I let out a breath I was holding, finally glad he was gone.

Stares pricked my skin once more, making me aware that we had an audience before.

Lowering my gaze, I walked to my station while trying my best to block out the jabs I was receiving.

No surprise I was going to be the topic for meal time for these unemployed pack members. 

Just my luck. 

I scowled, harshly, fully wiping the counter after wearing my apron. 

I picked up my gaze, my stare slowly falling on everyone in the small cafe. 

The cafe was cozy, with soft lights casting shadows on everyone's faces, the small chatter in the room getting too heavy for me as I noticed how lonely I was. 

Everyone sitting in the cafe were in pairs, their smiles radiating for miles telling even the stupid ones they were mates. 

I bit my lower lip, tears glossing my eyes at the sad thought of never finding my mate. 

I was twenty–two already. Engaged to a pervert by my father. 

Even if I found my mate, why would they accept me? 

I was sure that once they found out about my past, they'd bolt in an instant.

“I guess. Don't deserve a mate.” I muttered, sniffling. 

Just then, the doorbell chimed, and I hastily wiped my face with the back of my hands. 

“Welcome to Clarissa's Cafe,” I heard Joyce, my co-worker , say, but all I could focus on was the wonderful smell that suddenly hit my nose. 

I snapped my head up, eyes locking with the most handsome guy I had ever seen when I heard my wolf chant. 

“Mate!”