Chapter 1

Ayla’s POV

The air in the room goes totally still as I stare at my father’s lifeless body, an unreadable expression on my face. I refuse to cry. I refuse to give the pack the satisfaction of seeing me vulnerable — like they always called me.

Worthless. Weak. Disgrace.

“He is gone my lady. My condolences.” The pack’s healer, Kira, says. I close my eyes, my chest tightening as I fight back the tears burning behind my eyelids. I am all alone now. No family, no one.

“Ayla.” I lift my head up at the sound of the very familiar voice. My best friend Elena walks into the room, her eyes filled with sadness.

“Lena,” I murmur, sighing deeply.

“I am sorry. I am so sorry for your loss. I am here for you,” she says, rubbing my back gently. The pack hates me because I am wolfless. They call me weak, a disgrace. They only tolerate me because I am the late Alpha’s daughter.

“My lady, the council elder requests your presence in the grand hall,” a maid announces.

“Let me come with you, okay?” Elena says. I stare at her, a weak smile escaping my lips as I see how much she cares for me.

“Never mind Lena. I’ll go alone.” I respond and lift myself from the seat. Taking one last look at my father’s lifeless body, I walk out of the room, heading to the grand hall.

The council elder is already there waiting, his expression shifting to a stern one the moment I enter the hall.

“Lady Ayla, now that such fate has befallen us, we have to accept it. But we cannot be without a leader.” His voice booms across the hall.

My brows knit up in utter surprise. “My father already named me heir, do you intend to forfeit that?”

“You are wolfless. You cannot lead the pack,” he snaps. “I am not trying to take your throne from you, but there is a way.”

“What way?” I ask. My fingers balls into a tight fist, my chest heaving with pent up rage.

“Find your mate. Or forfeit your birthright,” he says, his voice echoing repeatedly in the hall, feeling heavy like rocks.

I let out a light scoff. Find my mate? Without a wolf, I can’t scent him. “You know pretty well that I am wolfless. So how do I find my mate?” I ask.

“He will find you my lady.” He responds, a smile playing on his lips. I clench my fists tighter my knuckles turns white. Now my parents are gone, they are trying to make things difficult for me. I walk out of the grand hall, my hands gripping my grey silk gown.

“Ayla, are you okay?” I am surprised to see Elena outside the hall waiting, I clearly told her not to come.

“I’m fine, Lena. You can go back now, I need some time alone” I smiled at her.

“Alright, I’ll check on you later,” she squeezes my shoulders lightly and smiles back. I give a light nod and walk away, completely blind to the sharp, cruel twist of her lips as she watch me walk away.

I return to my room, slam the heavy doors shut, drag my feet to my bed, throwing myself on it. The Knot in my chest getting tighter.

With a numb sigh, I close my eyes, falling asleep.

When I wake up, it is already morning. I slowly get up from the bed and walk into the bathroom. I stay in the shower for a moment Longer, before wrapping a towel around my body and stepping back into the room. I stand in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection as a weak smile escapes my lips.

The person staring back at me looks different. I don’t know what kind of person I will have as a mate. But all I can pray for is that he’d be nice. I change into a plain dress and walk to the dining room. The mansion is eerily quiet, the absolute reflection of my parents absence.

On Getting to the dining room, the table is empty. This has never happened before. I turn around and walk to the kitchen, push the door open and step in. The servants pause the moment I step in. The traces of hatred and disgust evident on their faces.

‘Loosing both parents in six months, she’s definitely cursed.’One murmured.

‘To think she doesn’t have a wolf, yet she wants to lead us. How pathetic.’ Another murmured.

‘I pray she doesn’t find her mate, so she gets kicked out of this pack. Her presence alone irritates me.’

I stand rooted to the spot as I listen to them. My fingers digging into my gown as I listen to them. Clearing my throat, I walk deeper into the kitchen . “I noticed there’s no food on the table”

Silence. Nobody responds. I don’t relent, I walk closer, my shoes clinking sharply against the tile floor. I ask again, “why is the table empty?”

“We are still preparing breakfast, Lady Ayla. It will take a while” one of them explains. I scoff. knowing pretty well they were doing this on purpose. But I won’t starve because of them, this is my house.

I walk over to the kitchen racks, take out plates, a tray and spoon. I serve myself some food before walking out of the kitchen. The sound of their laughter rumbling behind me echoes in the hallway as I walk farther away from the kitchen.

With the urge to be alone, I walk back to my room to eat breakfast. Afterwards, I wait for the tutor to come. He did few moments later, I open the door and let him in.

“Ayla. How have you been? I’m so sorry for your loss. I know how sad you must feel.” He says.

“Thank you, Victor. I’m fine” I reply, giving him a weak, reassuring smile.

“How about we skip teachings for now? Give you some time to grieve.” He suggests, but I insisted,

“No. I’ll be leader once I find my mate, I still have a lot to learn. I know one day I’ll get my wolf, I just don’t know when.” I murmur.

“It’s fine. Just don’t force anything. The goddess sees everything and she is aware of your situation now. Do not worry, everything will fall into place soon.” He assures me.

The lesson goes surprisingly well; he makes a few funny jokes that actually manage to make me laugh before he leaves. But the moment he walks out, I am alone again.

Feeling restless, I get up from my bed and decide to go for a walk in the woods. Stepping out of the mansion, I can feel eyes on me, like I am being watched. But I have no interest in whatever it is.

When I reach the woods, I sit down in front of a rushing stream. Kicking off my shoes, I dip my feet into the water. It is freezing but just exactly what I needed.

I look up, the ice cold water not registering to my skin because my mind is so disturbed. Then I lay back on the grass, letting my thoughts take over.

I stay in the woods until sunset. When I finally return to the mansion, I find Elena pacing in front of my room door, worry marring her expression. “Lena? What’s wrong?” I ask the moment I got closer.

“Ayla I’m sorry, but it’s best if you hear it yourself,” she says softly. “Elder Vagner requests to see you.”

I blink hard. What could possibly be the problem? I follow her down the grand hall, where Elder Vagner is already waiting.

“Elder Vagner, you asked to see me.” I say, my voice firm and unwavering.

He turns around, his hands crossed firmly behind him, his face void of emotions. “Lady Ayla, I’ve come to tell you that preparations for your father’s Returning have been concluded. It will take place tomorrow.”

I blink rapidly, trying to process what I just heard. “what do you mean, Elder? The Returning should be held three months from now, why would you schedule it just two days after the death of my father?” I protest, glaring at him as hot rage ripples through my veins.

“I am sorry, Lady Ayla. But the earlier we get through with it, the better,” he states plainly. I stare at him as my brows knit in disbelief.

“Ayla, just let them do it, okay? I’d advise you don’t go against the elder until you ascend as Alpha. For now, just endure,” Elena says , squeezing my shoulder.

As much as I hate to admit it, I feel she is right. I have no power yet, I just have to wait until I find my mate. “Fine. I’ll go and prepare, Elder Vagner,” I say and turn on my heel, stomping out of the hall, ignoring the calls from Elena.

I decide to take a walk in the hallway, calm my nerves and the rage pooling in my mind. This has never happened before in the history of the Shadow Blade Pack.

They even made preparations for it without my consent, what happened to the rules?

I walk for a while but stop dead in my tracks when I notice something looming ahead — a shadow with a knife in its grasp, taking slow, foggy steps toward me.

“Who are you?”

My breath catches in my throat as I scramble backward, my spine hitting the cold stone wall. Trapped. The blade catches the light as the shadow lunges forward.