Chapter 1

Lyric Adams pov

Standing obediently under the silver beams of the full moon of the lunar cycle, completely nude in a line with the others of my age in my pack, I closed my eyes. Shivering slightly, I begged the Moon Goddess for my bones to snap and fur to sprout upon my skin. I heard the ones next to me whining and the snapping of bones as they shifted. The shocked gasps coming from my family drew my light amber eyes open.

Having lied to them about my nonexistent wolf, I was certain they were horrified and disgusted with me.

My family wouldn't stand up for me, not now after I had embarrassed them before our Alpha. Neither would those I thought were my friends risk being disciplined. I understood it because our Alpha was an ass but still, it hurt me.

When my shift didn't come, I dressed myself quickly in embarrassment, knowing I was going to be dragged before the Alpha and branded for all to see that I was wolfless.

My biggest fear had become my reality. The truth about me being without a wolf.

One of the Alpha's Lycan guards grabbed my wrist as I pleaded with my family to do something to stop what was going to happen. As I looked at their disappointed faces, my breath caught at their accusing glares. Even my oldest brother, Jaxon, snubbed me as I was dragged to the huge bonfire where Alpha Gregory Sinclair sat on his observation chair.

Holding my right wrist steady, the guard called out for the brand as I awaited the pain that was to come.

The hot brand pressed against my right inner wrist, marking me as defective. I gritted my molars as my flesh sizzled. The pain of my pack separation churned in my gut as the scent of burnt skin filled my sensitive nostrils.

After I was branded, my Alpha ordered me banished, causing me to gasp at him in disbelief.

“Where am I to go? Am I not still a wolf?” I cried out.

His yellow amber eyes narrowed at me as he exhaled, creating wispy fog around his gray-haired head.

“I don't give a fuck! You don't have a wolf. Leave here NOW bitch, don't look back or I will hand you to my guards to use you as they wish,” he snarled.

Lowering my eyes I pulled my flannel tighter around myself as I was led by the elite Lycan guards to the edge of the dark treeline with the rest of the pack growling angrily at me. I was shunned by everything and everyone.

Tears clouded my vision as I walked further from everything that I had held dear. Hearing the newly shifted wolves howling happily in the distance made my heart ache as my eyes glanced down at my wrist.

The brand would heal quickly because, despite not having a wolf, I had all the remaining abilities, which confused me as to why I hadn't shifted.

Looking at the broken crescent moon brand on my wrist I cringed. It was a mark of death for our kind, and I tore the bottom of my flannel to wrap over the offense brand.

Chilled and tired, I traveled further to find a safe area to lay my head off the pack lands.

The night didn't bother me but the creatures that lurked within it did now.

“What am I going to do? No other pack will take me,” I sobbed. Praying that an inner voice of a wolf would tell me not to worry, and that this was all just a great misunderstanding, but no reassurance was given as I treaded onward.

Forgoing sleep I continued traveling further up the mountain. My footsteps crunched on the cool vegetation underneath my bare feet, and the air grew colder.

Soon, I was miles off my old pack lands and relaxed briefly, knowing that I wouldn't be hunted down by my former Alpha's guards.

Seeing my exhales curl around me like lost spirits, I spied an overhanging pine branch and decided to rest underneath.

As I lay on my side, I closed my eyes, hoping for more clarity from the new day ahead.

“It has to get better. It can't get worse,” I muttered.

Boy was I in for a surprise…