Chapter 1

“Gianna, gotcha!”

A scream came out of my lips as my body convulsed in anxiety when I felt someone holding my shoulder. They laughed because of my reaction before they pushed me into the mud. My lips quivered when my face hit the mud, which led me to be in the dirt.

“You're such a loser, Gianna. This is the reason why Beta died because of you.” Albert screamed and took a small part of the mud before he smashed it on my face.

My tears continued flowing, but I didn't have the strength to fight with them. They were known as bullies in our pack, and I was always their main target. My heart clenched, making me have difficulty breathing as I tasted the mud on my tongue.

“I don't see beta blood in you! It's ashamed of Gunner; he has a sister like you!”

“A weak and meek lady. She may be here because she hopes to see her mate.” I heard Anastasia sarcastically say, glimpsed at her companions to agree with her. “Gianna, do you think your mate will accept you? You don't have a wolf, and that's the reason why your mother died. Your mate will be ashamed to have you.”

My eyes became itchy, and I swallowed hard when I felt there was a lump in my throat. I was in pain emotionally when I wiped the mud before I heard them chuckle at the same time.

I didn't have the strength to fight them back because I didn't know how. I crawled in the mud, attempting to escape from their nasty plans against me, but they weren't finished tormenting me.

“S-Stop!” My voice cracked as I felt myself being unworthy. A hand pulled my head deeply into the mud, making me almost suffocate. My brain seemed to stop producing, and I felt my heart skip and clench as it was squeezed until it bled.

"Gianna, do something! Aren't you afraid your mate will witness how pathetic you can be?"

"She doesn't deserve to be the daughter of our Beta! She might be adopted!"

"Well, I heard the Beta had an affair with another man. Her father might be a rogue!"

I woke up in a familiar room, and I saw Gunner sitting on the couch. He was tapping the table with a cold expression on his face. I swallowed when I noticed how he glared at me before I was about to explain what happened.

“How many times will you ruin my reputation, Gianna? Did you know how hard it is for me to be your brother?” he snarled, making my tears form in my eyes. He grunted like he already had his limits to always protect me.

No, he has never protected me. He blamed me for losing our mother because I couldn't even protect myself. I still remember how he pointed out the blame, like I wasn't grieving, too.

“If you know how to fight, do you think they will stop bullying you? Do you even know I'm humiliated because of you? Why don't you jump from the cliff and then die?” he added with a lot of frustration in his tone. I swallowed hard, trying to conceal the pain in my chest.

It was definitely hurtful to hear how my brother didn't want me and wished for me to die so he could have the best day of his life. I couldn't stop my tears from flowing down my cheeks, and my nose was clogged and reddened.

“It's better if it's you who die that day! Mom, protect someone who's too useless! You don't even deserve to be the daughter of the Beta!”

He left me alone in my room, sobbing harder, and continued slamming my chest. Did he think I wanted to be mistreated? To be bullied by those pack members? Did he even think I liked to be punished by them because of the sin I had never committed?

“Gunner...” I called his name, wishing he would hear how I was hurt. I wish my brother was still the same. Gunner was protective of me before our mother died. He was the sweetest brother I had ever had.

“I wish I died, too,” I added, with the hope that it might happen after I closed my eyes.

“What are you doing here? You're banned from being here.” I heard Charlotte ask me; she scowled and looked around to see if someone might catch us talking.

I continued cleaning the plates as Gunner commanded me. I heard Alpha Klaus was getting mated with Charlotte; she was his mate, which was more painful on my part. I recalled how Klaus and I always hoped we would be mated.

“Gianna, I'm talking to you. Aren't you afraid Alpha Klaus might see you? He doesn't like to see a pathetic wolf here," she added, irritation more evident in her tone.

“Charlotte---”

“It's Luna Charlotte. I know you already heard tomorrow is our mating ceremony. I'm mated with him," she corrected me with bragging. I nodded my head slowly and tasted the bitterness on my tongue as my throat was getting dry and my heart was bleeding.

“Luna Charlotte, Beta Gunner ordered me to wash the dishes,” I answered in a lower tone. She scoffed, rolling her eyes, before she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Your birthday is coming. Oh, it's the same day as my mating ceremony. I feel glad Alpha Klaus chose that date because no one will ever remember what your birthday is. Gianna, you're a curse; you don't have a wolf, a bad luck one. You must be dead.” she laughed as she turned her back on me. I was speechless, and I didn't dare to correct her.

She was right. I was cursed because I wasn't the same Gianna they used to know anymore. After that tragedy, I was in a coma and woke up with different hair and eyes. They were all red, which made them think I was bad luck and the reason why my mother died.

I gulped once again, attempting to remove the pain in my chest. How could they easily conclude I was the one who brought unfortunate circumstances to my family? I never wished to become like this.

“Where are you going? You need to go to sleep early because you need to help the Omegas with their work.” I was stunned when I heard Alpha Klaus talking. It was almost midnight, and I couldn't understand why I felt the rise of tension between us. A gasp let out in my lips when his eyes glowed. He instantly avoided my gaze, like I had a deadly virus.

"Y-Yes, Alpha Klaus. I--I only want to---" I couldn't finish my words when I heard the clock ring. It was midnight and my birthday, but what shocked me most was when I smelled the aromatic scent from Alpha Klaus. My mouth parted in surprise. He was my mate, and it seemed he was aware of our mate bond. Despite knowing about it, he still chose Charlotte to be his Luna.

My heart ached from the thought that even my mate was insulted for being my partner. My eyes glistened with tears, slowly swallowed to hide the pain that struck in my chest. I thought I was used to experiencing this unbearable pain, but I was wrong.

The bond was more insufferable, and I felt I wanted to smack my chest or even take out my heart to stop this torture in my ribcage. My tears continued flowing silently while Alpha Klaus was looking at me with his severe and deadly gaze.

"Y-You're my mate..." I stammered. Fear enveloped my soul, causing me to be rejected. Being with my mate was the last one I needed to escape this hellish pack, yet I was mated to the new Alpha of my family's pack.

"Unfortunately, yes, but I still choose Charlotte over you. She's the perfect Luna I need who will help me manage the pack," he mercilessly replied.

"Alpha Klaus, what about the matebond---"

"Gianna, do you think I will accept someone like you as my Luna? What makes you think I will let you ruin my pack like what you did to your family? You are a curse wolfless mate who don't deserve to be in my pack. If it's not for Gunner, I will never accept you nor stay here." He almost shouted and grabbed my hand to pull me. I was terrified when he cupped my chin before he angrily growled at me.

"I am Alpha Klaus Reeve, the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack. I rejected you, Gianna Jones, as my mate and as the future Luna of this pack..." he heartlessly uttered, causing me to whimper when I felt a force squeeze my chest. I sobbed, trying to push him, when his hand began choking my neck.

"N-No!" I stuttered, pleading with him not to change his mind.

"Fucking accept my rejection, or else, I will fucking kill your brother and even you!" he shrieked. His eyes were gleaming as his canines came out.

My lips quivered in fear, and my eyes sparkled with tears. The thought that I would lose my brother made my heart rapidly thump. I tried to push him, but he tightened his grasp on my neck, indicating he was serious about his threats.

"I--I am G-Gianna Jones. Accept your rejection, Alpha Klaus Reeve." As I mumbled those words in discomfort, I winced when I felt my heart shattered into tiny pieces. He growled at me before he threw my body away, which caused my back to bump against the wall. I groaned, and I felt the sticky liquid coming from my head.

"See, you aren't capable of being my Luna. You can't even fight back or defend yourself to your Alpha. I want you to watch me get mated with Charlotte," he coldly ordered before he left me. My hands were shaking, and I felt I was going to have a heart attack. I wish this was only a nightmare. I hoped Alpha Klaus wasn't my mate.

Alpha Klaus scheduled his mating ceremony for my birthday date because he wanted me to witness how he could easily remove me from his life. I heard the cheers of the pack members while I was watching him get mated with Charlotte. I tried my best to stop my tears from betraying me. I didn't want him to think I was miserable after he rejected me.

I didn't want him to see my satisfaction in ruining my life. I saw Gunner, and my brother cheered for his Alpha without knowing his best friend had rejected me. Perhaps he was the one who suggested to Alpha Klaus that it was better if he would not accept me as his mate. My chest moved aggressively, making me have difficulty breathing when I saw Alpha Klaus looking in my direction, waiting for me to cry like I was desperate to have him.

The mating ceremony ended so well, and I even saw how the pack members encouraged their Alpha and new Luna to start their honeymoon. The leader of the Omega commanded that we should do our house chores after the guests left. I was given time to take a rest in my small room and because of exhaustion I instantly slept so well.

I groaned as I felt hands touching and caressing my thighs. I heard a loud roar, and I moaned in pleasure when I felt the sparks after he touched my skin once again. The hands were moving, like the owner of the hand was afraid that I might be awake.

I gasped when I saw Alpha Klaus on my top, as his eyes were glowed in red and he was too ready to claim me. I pushed him away, but he clutched both of my hands and pinned them on my head.

"Help m--" I couldn't finish my words when his hand covered my lips. No, please! Gunner, help me!