CHAPTER ONE : THE HATES

LEILA'S POV

The slap echoed through the training room.

My head snapped to the side, cheek burning. I tasted blood.

"Pathetic." Kira stood over me, fists clenched. "You're not even trying, Leila."

I pushed myself off the mat, wiping my mouth. "I am trying."

"Try harder." She kicked my legs out from under me. I hit the ground hard, air rushing from my lungs. "How are you supposed to survive in this pack if you can't even block a simple attack?"

Around us, other pack members trained. None of them looked our way. They never did when Kira went too far with me. The human girl getting beat up by a real wolf? Not their problem.

"Again," Kira commanded.

I stood, legs shaking. We'd been at this for two hours. My entire body ached. But Kira wasn't satisfied until I was bleeding.

She lunged. I tried to dodge. Failed. Her fist connected with my ribs. Something cracked.

I gasped, doubling over.

"Weak," she hissed in my ear. "Just like always."

"That's enough." The voice cut through the training room like a blade.

Everyone froze.

Maddox Blackwood stood in the doorway, tattooed arms crossed. His dark eyes locked on Kira. "Training session's over."

Kira's face flushed. "I was just…"

"Beating up someone half your strength?" Maddox moved closer. His wolf pressed close to the surface, I could see it in the way he moved, predatory and dangerous. "Real impressive, Kira."

"She needs to toughen up if she wants to survive here," Kira shot back.

"She needs medical attention." Maddox's gaze shifted to me. For one second, something flickered in his eyes. Then it was gone. "Get out. All of you."

The training room cleared fast. Nobody argued with Maddox. Not when his wolf was riding him this close.

Kira shot me a look that promised we'd finish this later, then left.

I stood alone with my stepbrother, trying not to shake. We never spoke. In five years of living in the same house, he'd said maybe ten words to me.

"You're bleeding," he said flatly.

"I'm fine."

"You're not." He grabbed a first aid kit from the wall, tossed it at me. I caught it, barely. "Clean yourself up."

"Why do you care?"

The question came out sharper than I intended. But I was tired. Tired of being the weak one. Tired of Kira's cruelty disguised as training. Tired of being invisible to the three brothers who lived in my house.

Maddox went very still. "I don't."

"Then why are you here?"

"Because watching Kira beat you to death is bad for pack morale." He turned to leave. "Try not to bleed on the mats."

He walked out.

I stood there, clutching the first aid kit, hating how much his words stung.

Because he was right. I was weak. Human. Useless.

I pulled out bandages with trembling hands and started cleaning the cut on my lip. The face in the mirror across the room looked pathetic. Dark hair tangled with sweat. Violet-gray eyes, the weird color I hid with brown contacts most days, rimmed with exhaustion.

Eighteen years old and I couldn't even defend myself against one wolf.

My phone buzzed.

Mom: Family dinner tonight. 7pm sharp. Your stepfather wants everyone there.

Great. Nothing like sitting through an awkward meal where everyone pretended I existed while carefully not acknowledging me.

I finished bandaging my split lip and headed for the showers.

7:00 PM

I arrived at dinner exactly on time, wearing my most invisible outfit, jeans and a plain sweater. If I was lucky, I could eat fast and escape.

The dining room was already full.

Alpha Marcus Blackwood sat at the head of the table, radiating authority even in casual clothes. My mother sat beside him, looking beautiful and anxious like always.

The three brothers occupied the other side.

Ronan, oldest, perfect, destined to be Alpha, barely glanced at me. He was reading something on his tablet, probably pack business.

Alec, the smart one, the strategist, looked up when I entered. His hazel eyes registered my split lip, the bruise forming on my cheek. He frowned but said nothing.

Maddox didn't look at me at all.

I took the empty seat at the far end of the table. The invisible seat.

"Leila." Marcus's voice was formal. It always was with me. "How was training?"

"Fine," I lied.

My mother's eyes found the bruise. She opened her mouth…

"She's training with Kira Chen," Ronan said, not looking up from his tablet. "Kira's... intense."

"Intense is one word for it," Maddox muttered.

Alec kicked him under the table.

Marcus cleared his throat. "I called this dinner because we need to discuss the upcoming Lunar Gathering."

The brothers all straightened. Even Ronan put down his tablet.

The Lunar Gathering happened once a year, all the major packs in the region came together for three days of politics, alliances, and power plays. It was a big deal.

"The Gathering is in two weeks," Marcus continued. "Several Alphas are bringing their heirs. Including Alpha Dane Corvus of Shadowpine Pack."

Something shifted in the room. A tension I didn't understand.

"Dane's coming?" Ronan's voice was carefully neutral. "That's... interesting."

"He specifically requested this year's location be here, in our territory." Marcus's jaw tightened. "I couldn't refuse without insulting him."

"What does he want?" Maddox asked.

"Unknown. But Dane doesn't do anything without a reason." Marcus looked at each of his sons. "I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. No fights. No challenges. We can't afford to show weakness."

"Understood," Ronan said.

Marcus's eyes finally found me. "Leila, you'll remain in your room during the Gathering. We can't risk…"

"Risk what?" The words came out before I could stop them. "Risk the other packs seeing the weak human you're stuck with?"

Silence.

My mother looked horrified. The brothers stared.

Marcus's expression didn't change. "Risk you getting hurt by wolves who don't know you're under my protection. Many of these Alphas are... traditional. They don't believe humans belong in pack houses."

"Of course." I stood, appetite gone. "May I be excused?"

"Leila…" my mother started.

"I'm tired. It's been a long day." I forced a smile. "Enjoy your dinner."

I left before anyone could respond.

Behind me, I heard my mother's quiet voice: "Marcus, maybe we should tell her…"

"No." Marcus's command voice. Final. "Not yet."

Tell me what?

I didn't stop to find out. I climbed the stairs to my room and locked the door.

11:47 PM

I woke up burning.

Not sick. Not fever.

Fire.

My skin felt like it was melting. My bones ached. My blood sang with something I didn't recognize.

I kicked off the blankets and stumbled to the bathroom, turning the shower to cold. The water hit my skin and evaporated into steam.

What was wrong with me?

I looked in the mirror and froze.