Prologue

I bound through the woods, pausing every few steps. I can’t be caught out here. I’m supposed to be in bed, but I snuck out. I felt something off, and I had to see if my hunch was right. I’m not sure where I get these feelings from, but they are too strong to ignore. 

A growl sounds through the air, causing me to hide behind a tree. I peek out and see the back of a wolf as they hurry away. I take a few deep breaths before leaving the shelter of the tree. I run to where the wolf took off from. I have no idea what I hope to find here, but the pull is quickly getting stronger. 

I jump over fallen branches and duck under bushes. I stop to listen to the sounds around me. There are no footsteps, but I can hear the faint sound of whimpering. I close my eyes and lift my nose to the air. My heart drops when the metallic scent hits me. There’s blood out there somewhere. I have no idea whose it could be or how bad it is. It’s her.

We don’t know that. 

I do. I know it’s her. 

Don’t say that, Clover. Please, don’t say that. Clover retreats in my mind, and I move forward, following the stench of metal. 

The sound of labored breathing gets louder the further I travel. I turn at a big tree and stop in my tracks. My breath hitches, and my heart drops even further. I quickly look around to make sure that I’m alone. I hurry over to the body and drop next to it. “Mmmmmom?” I lay her head in my lap and hold on to her hand tightly. 

“Baby.” Her voice is so thin and low. I check her body, but I don’t see anything. I move my free hand down, checking to make sure that I’m not missing a wound. I pull my hand from under her, and it comes up wet and bloody.  “You need to get out of here.” I shake my head with fury. 

“I can’t leave you, Mom. I will help you.” Her hand shoots up and caresses my face. I close my eyes, trying to commit her touch to memory. Something’s telling me that this may be the last time I’m able to feel it. 

“It’s too late for me, baby.” A sob escapes my lips, and my head shakes. It can’t be too late. I can’t be without her. 

“Don’t say that, Mom. You’ll be okay. We just need to get you some help.”

“Promise me something, Alayasia.”

“Shhh. Stop talking. You need all of your energy.”

“Promise, Alayasia.”

“What Mom?”

“Promise me that no matter what happens, you will never tell your father what you are.”

“I don’t understand.”

“PROMISE!” Tears fall from my eyes, and I press my lips to her forehead. 

“I promise, Mom. I swear I won’t tell anyone.” Mom exhales, and her body relaxes. It doesn’t take long for her breathing to stop. I cry out at the loss of my mother, the one person in this pack who has always had my back.

My body jolts up, my t-shirt drenched with sweat. I sit up and peer into her bed, relieved to see that she’s still asleep. After all this time, I still have this dream, and it kills me each time. My mom left me at 18, and I’ve never gotten over it. 

I pull my phone up and glance at the time. I sigh when I see that it’s close to time to get up. I know I won’t be sleeping any longer, so it would be best to get up. 

I slowly stand from the floor and fold the blankets, placing them on top of the pillows. I push them under her bed and gently kiss her forehead. I grab my clothes and go to the restroom to complete my morning routine. 

Once out of the bathroom, I head downstairs to get breakfast made. This is my life, cooking and cleaning with no thanks or appreciation. I guess I should consider myself lucky that someone wanted me, but it’s hard to feel that way. 

I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Alayasia Grim, daughter of Alpha Geoffroy Bannon and Luna Soyara Hardy of the White Paw pack. I’m the Beta female of the Mystic Wolves pack, married to Beta Maxim Grim. I’m 27 years old with a 6-year-old daughter named Zara. She’s blind and we are not well received by this pack or my husband. 

He isn’t my fated mate or even someone who fell in love with me. My father gave me to him once he deemed that I was useless to him. See, I kept my promise to my mother and never told him what I am. I’m a healer wolf, and that is a rarity among our kind. Maxim doesn’t know about me either, which is a big reason why he deems me useless as well. 

My life has sucked since my mother died and moving here hasn’t made it any better. I long for the day when I can leave this palace, but I know that isn’t an option. I just need to survive and help my child survive. Hopefully, I won’t live too long.