CHAPTER 1 ~ TORMENT

PROLOGUE

"I, Derek, the future Alpha of this pack, officially reject you, Heidi Artemis, as my destined mate and my future Luna. I sever the bond between us right now, and I banish you from ever seeking a place by my side." Derek nodded with glee as he straightened his posture. He grabbed the microphone tightly with his right hand and cleared his throat.

A sharp pain pierced the center of my chest at his formal words. Pressing a hand against my sternum, I waited until the ache faded a few seconds later, signaling the complete break of our mate bond. Uncrossing my arms, I stepped closer and forcefully yanked the tall microphone stand from his grip. Derek looked shocked by the sudden movement, but made no effort to stop me.

"I, Heidi Artemis, proudly and happily accept your rejection," I announced, my voice echoing across the quiet clearing to reach every single person present. "I want to thank you for rejecting me today, Derek. I always knew we were mates, and the idea of spending the rest of my life with you was something I dreaded. I also want to mention a very specific reason why I am grateful for this. When I washed your laundry last week, I saw the extremely small size of your undergarments. I have absolutely no desire to be mated to a man with such a disappointingly small cock. My mistake. Cocks are for real men. You qualify for something far less impressive, and that is… a dick.”

~~

HEIDI’S POV

Opening my eyes, my gaze landed on the familiar water stains dotting the ceiling of my small basement room. Today was my nineteenth birthday, though expecting presents or celebrations from the people living upstairs was out of the question.

Pushing the thin blanket aside, my bare feet hit the cold concrete floor. Morning routines here were brutal; stepping into the tiny attached bathroom to start my day, the shower blasted freezing water that never seemed to benefit from the house's heater. After a quick wash with a cheap bar of soap, a scratchy towel was all that awaited me.

Staring into the cracked mirror while brushing my teeth, my reflection stared back—tired from years of overwork, yet marked by unique silver hair and violet eyes. Slipping into my usual faded jeans and an oversized gray t-shirt, my fingers instinctively brushed my right wrist to check my jade bracelet. It was securely fastened. There was no way I was losing it, and it had never once left my arm.

The creaky wooden stairs protested as I headed up to the main kitchen for my morning chores. Since my foster parents, Robert and Susan, demanded a massive breakfast every single day, an apron was soon tied around my waist, and ingredients covered the counters.

Whisking a dozen eggs with a splash of milk, my attention shifted to the heavy iron skillet on the high burner. Strips of bacon hit the hot metal, the popping grease stinging my skin, but the slight pain was easy to ignore. While the thick pancake batter sizzled on a separate griddle, a large pot of black coffee began to brew—Robert's inevitable yelling wasn't worth the risk of a late cup.

Flipping the pancakes, my thoughts drifted to the Alpha transition ceremony happening later this afternoon. Today was the day Derek officially took over the pack. Months ago, his suddenly overwhelming scent had revealed him as my destined mate, a secret I kept strictly to myself. As a wolfless omega and the pack runt, it was absolutely certain an arrogant man like him would never accept me as his Luna. His rejection was fully expected today, and honestly? I genuinely did not care. Surviving my time in this pack and eventually leaving them all behind was my only goal.

The kitchen door swung open, and my foster sister Naomi strutted into the room. Wearing a tight red dress that left very little to the imagination and perfectly curled blonde hair, she leaned against the kitchen island and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Are you going to burn the bacon today, Heidi, or are you actually going to do something right for once in your pathetic life?" Naomi asked, rolling her eyes in my direction.

"I am making the bacon perfectly crisp, Naomi," I replied, turning away from the stove to look directly at her. "Maybe if you focused on your own life instead of constantly monitoring mine, you would not need to wear a dress that tight to get attention."

Naomi narrowed her eyes and slammed her hand flat against the countertop. "You need to watch your mouth when you speak to me. Derek is going to find his mate today during the ceremony, and we all know he is going to choose me. I am going to be your Luna by tonight. When that happens, I will make sure you clean the latrines with a toothbrush."

"I highly doubt Derek has the capacity to make a wise choice, but you two absolutely deserve each other," I said, sliding the cooked bacon onto a large serving platter. "You are both deeply insecure people who need to bully others to feel powerful. Now, please move out of my way so I can serve breakfast to your parents before they start screaming at me."

Robert and Susan walked into the kitchen right as I finished speaking. Robert wore an expensive dark suit, and Susan wore a designer dress that matched her overly styled hair. Sitting down at the large dining table, they immediately started demanding their food.

"Bring the coffee right now, Heidi, and do not spill it on my suit," Robert commanded, snapping his fingers in my direction. "We have a very important day ahead of us, and I do not have time to wait for a lazy wolfless girl to move her feet."

"Bringing it immediately," I answered, grabbing the glass pot and pouring the dark liquid into his favorite mug before placing the massive platters of eggs, bacon, and pancakes onto the center of the table.

"Make sure you scrub the entire kitchen floor after we leave," Susan instructed, cutting a large piece of pancake and shoving it into her mouth. "You are also required to attend the ceremony today so the pack elders can do a full headcount. Stand in the very back where nobody has to look at you and ruin the festive mood."

"I will stand exactly where you told me to stand," I replied in a flat, emotionless tone.

For the next hour, every single dirty dish was washed by hand, dried with a clean cloth, and put away in the tall wooden cabinets. Once the stove was scrubbed, the counters wiped, and the floor mopped spotless, my apron finally came off. Washing my hands in the sink, I walked out the back door toward the main pack square. The outside air felt warm as the entire pack gathered around the large wooden stage set up in the center of the clearing.

Hanging back at the very edge of the crowd, I leaned against a large oak tree and watched as the current Alpha, Erwin, stepped up to the wooden podium. Erwin looked old and tired, but he still tried to carry an arrogant posture. Derek stood right next to his father, looking incredibly smug and self-important in his tailored black suit, constantly running his hands through his hair to make sure he looked perfect. Down below, Naomi pushed her way to the very front row, ensuring Derek had a clear view of her tight red dress.

"Welcome, members of the pack," Erwin announced into the microphone, his voice carrying over the silent crowd. "Today is a monumental day in our history. I am stepping down from my position, and I am officially passing the Alpha title to my son, Derek. Before I hand over the absolute power of this pack, Derek must complete the mating ceremony to find his destined Luna to rule by his side."

The crowd cheered loudly, clapping their hands and stomping their feet in excitement. Stepping forward, Derek raised his hands to quiet the cheering pack members. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose, clearly searching the air to find the specific scent of his destined mate. Standing perfectly still near the back, arms crossed over my chest, I waited for the inevitable moment. Derek opened his eyes abruptly, his confident expression instantly twisting into a look of absolute disgust. Turning his head, he stared directly through the crowd until his eyes locked completely onto mine.

"Heidi Artemis, you are the wolfless runt of this pack, and I can smell your pathetic scent from here," Derek said loudly into the microphone, making sure every single person in the clearing could hear him perfectly. "Step forward and come up to this stage right now so I can deal with you."