CHAPTER 1

The sound of a thunderstorm cut through the air signaling yet another heavy downpour. Fat drops of rain hit the ground and my body, making me flinch in pain.I watched as the pack members hurried to take shelter at the pack house yet I remained on the ground, unmoving. It was yet another day of kneeling before the packhouse,enduring hot and scorching sun during the day and chilling rain throughout the night.

My eyes caught sight of a figure walking towards me with an umbrella in his hands, sheltering himself from the harsh rain.

I watched as he neared where I was kneeling until he stood a metre away from me.

“ Are you finally going to admit it?” He asked, his voice hard and laced with anger. Meeting his fuming face, I repeated the answer I have been giving for the past two days.

“ I didn't push her.” I replied stubbornly. It was the truth. I didn't push Vivian, the Luna of Stone Howl pack.

My answer seemed to anger him even more.

“ You still won't admit it?” He snarled, lifting his foot and kicking me straight in the stomach.

I stumbled, my back hitting the ground with a thud. My insides screamed from the impact of the kick. My body was already weak after being starved for two days.

“ Why won't you believe me? I didn't push Luna, I didn't cause her miscarriage.” I cried, hoping that my mate would eventually listen to me and believe me.

“ Why should I believe you? Are you saying that Vivian accused you wrongly? Are you calling my Luna a liar?” Hunter snapped, his anger burning raw in his eyes. I flinched from the intensity of his Alpha power.

I could not help but let out a bitter laugh as I watched my mate accuse me and defend another woman.

“ I am your mate, Hunter. Why won't you believe me? Why would I want to harm Vivian?” I asked the reality of the situation, confirming how pathetic I really am.

“ Don't you fucking call yourself my mate. I don't have a weak and evil woman like you for a mate.” Hunter snarled, his eyes turning a shade darker. The disgust on his face could not be concealed. He abhorred the idea of being mated to me. After all, I was nothing but a weak and pathetic omega who couldn't even shift.

“ The Moon Goddess paired us together…” I didn't even get to finish my statement when another kick graced my sides, sending me flying a few metres away. I let out a groan as I tasted blood in my mouth.

Before I could arrange my thoughts or adjust to the new wave of pain, Hunter was already before me, crouching down.. His face resembled a grim reaper from hell as he regarded me with so much fury.

“ The moon goddess made a fucking mistake. You are a MISTAKE!” Hunter growled, the intensity of his anger making me shut my eyes as a tear rolled down my cheeks.

Being accused of treason, starved for days and made to kneel couldn't match the pain of hearing Hunter denounce our matebond.

Before, he would ignore me but never did he publicly deny being mated to me. Yes, he announced Vivian as his chosen mate, forcing me to keep our bond a secret but never did I hear such hurtful words from him.

If I held even the slightest hope that perhaps one day he would eventually acknowledge our bond, that fantasy shattered completely.

“ You worthless bitch!” Hunter growled,gripping my cheeks so hard that I feared he would break my jaws.

“ You pushed Vivian because you could not bear the fact that I chose her as my mate and Luna. You killed our child out of your jealousy. Now, I will make you regret ever being born and knowing me.” Hunter declared with so much anger that I shivered. The promise was dark, just like his face as he looked down at me with hatred, anger and disgust all together.

Hunter straightened up before producing a handkerchief and wiping his hands. He fucking wiped his hands as if what he just touched was filth. Maybe I was filthy. After all, being exposed to harsh weather conditions without a proper bath would surely leave me smelling and looking like shit.

“ Guards!” He called and immediately, two men appeared before him.

“ Drag this worthless piece of trash and dispose of her at the dungeon. Keep her locked up without any food and water.” He ordered. My heart sank.

The last place I wanted to find myself was in the dungeons. From what I know, no one ever left that place alive. Was this it? Was this the end of my pathetic and miserable life? Was getting mated to Hunter my gate pass to hell?

They say that mates are supposed to love and protect each other. But why is my case so different? Not only did he deny our bond and chose another woman, he sentenced me to death with his own mouth.

“ Don't forget to use any means of torture available to force the truth out of her. I want to hear her confess what she did to my Luna.” Hunter added. A wry smile etched on my lips.

Force me to confess? Confess what exactly? Do I admit to a crime I didn't commit? And even if I did, was he going to spare me?

Definitely not. Since my death was already written on the stone, in that case, I might as well stick to the truth and depart with the little dignity I have left for myself.

As the guards dragged me across the packhouse with my dripping and torn clothes, I could feel my consciousness slowly slipping away.

After what felt like forever, the sound of metal cluttering announced our arrival to the dungeons.

The guards carelessly threw my body across the space and I landed with a thud.

I didn't flinch nor make a sound. My body was already used to the pain and my heart was already dead.

“ Kiara?” A familiar voice gasped. I struggled to open my eyes, the simple task now too difficult. Before I could make out the face of the person looming over me, I lost it, everything going blank.