1. Home Invasion

Destiny

Glancing at the mirror, I felt a rush of disappointment. Under the unflattering bathroom light, all my flaws and inadequacies seemed to stand out in sharp contrast. Dark circles were visible beneath my eyes.

My eighteenth birthday was in a few weeks, and I wanted to look my best, but I didn't think that was going to happen anymore!

Not with this ordinary face of mine.

"Stop looking at yourself so much, Destiny. You will break the mirror with your vanity," my sister Aria remarked sarcastically.

I looked at her and snapped. "I am not trying to be vain. You know how much I hate the way I look!"

Aria shook her head. "You are crazy. Everyone thinks you are beautiful."

"Yeah, by everyone. Who do you mean? Our mother?" I laughed bitterly.

"No silly, not just me and Mother. Boys in our pack think so too, especially Baron," Liz smirked.

A spark of anticipation lit up inside me. Baron was Aria's closest friend. He was a few years older than me, and I'd had feelings for him since we were little. We had known each other since childhood, but I was sure he only saw me as a pal. "What made you think that?" I queried her.

"He said he finds you incredibly adorable," Aria revealed.

I sighed heavily. "You see? He thinks I'm adorable, like a pup. I'm tired of being described as 'adorable' or 'cute.' Can't I ever be considered...sexy?" I vented my frustration out loud. "Like Ivy, for example."

"Ivy is the pack bitch," Aria declared. She never got along well with the Beta's daughter.

"Aria!" I exclaimed, then playfully threw a pillow at her.

"What? It's true. She acts like she is the shit just because guys pay a little attention to her. But let me tell you something. She isn't all that. You know who is beautiful, though?" Aria said in a hushed tone as if she was about to share some dirty little secret.

"Who?" I asked, matching her enthusiasm. Life here was kind of boring, so these gossips were all I had for entertainment.

"Melanie. I heard she found her mate the other day." Aria smirked.

"What? No way, really?" I enthused. I was excited to find my mate too. I knew after I turned eighteen, I'd be able to feel the mate-bond, and I could hardly wait.

"Aria! GET DOWN HERE!"

I sighed, momentarily distracted from our conversation by the gruff voice that echoed through the house. Our father was not exactly known for his patience, and his demand for dinner reminded me of the realities we faced.

"Ugh, duty calls," Aria grumbled, rising from the bed and shooting me an apologetic look. "We'll continue this later, okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I need to start cleaning the house soon anyway."

Aria hurriedly made her way downstairs, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. The reflection in the mirror stared back at me, a mixture of frustration and longing etched onto my face.

I went to the bathroom to get the cleaning supplies so I could start my day. Our family was poor and couldn't afford to hire a cleaning person, so it was up to us girls to keep up with everything.

Just as I was about to leave the room, there was a loud crash downstairs. It sounded like someone had forced their way in. I couldn't make out my father's words, but I heard him shouting.

My heart skipped a beat as a sense of foreboding washed over me. Fear gripped my chest as my mind raced to comprehend the situation.

What was going on downstairs?

With trembling legs, I cautiously made my way toward the staircase.

The sound of muffled voices grew louder as I approached the staircase. I strained to catch snippets of the conversation, my heart pounding in my chest. Something was definitely wrong.

My eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Standing in the entryway were several men clad in dark cloaks and exuding an air of danger. It was as if a dark cloud had descended on our home.

My father stood at the center of the chaos, his face contorted with anger and fear. One of the men kicked him on the back, making him fall to his knees.

Aria? Where was she? I started to panic.

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

My phone! Where was my phone? I need to call the police immediately!

But as I turned around, a harsh voice cut through the air, freezing me in my tracks.

"Not so fast," he hissed. "One more step and I will slash your throat."

Panic surged within me as his chilling words echoed in my ears. My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath caught in my throat.

I realized what was happening. Our pack was being attacked by a pack of rogues.

I slowly turned around as I heard footsteps approaching behind me.

Every instinct screamed at me to run, to find a way to escape this dire situation. But there was nowhere to run.

Time seemed to stand still as the seconds stretched into an eternity. I look at the man walking upstairs toward me with a grin on his face. "Well, hello there, beautiful."

I took a step back, my heart racing as the man's unsettling grin widened. His words sent a shiver down my spine, his tone dripping with an unsettling mix of charm and menace. The situation had taken a dangerous turn, and my instincts screamed at me to protect myself.

Summoning all the courage I could muster, I squared my shoulders and met his gaze, determined not to show any signs of vulnerability. "Who are you? What do you want?" I demanded.

His amusement danced in his eyes as he closed the distance between us. His fingers brushed against my cheek, and I recoiled instinctively, my skin crawling at his touch.

"Darling, no need for hostility," he purred, his voice dripping with sinister sweetness. "You're a prize worth cherishing."

As a sense of dread pooled within me, I recognized the gravity of the situation. Our pack was under attack by a gang of rogue wolves. With my escape routes dwindling, I took a step back, the realization dawning that I was trapped.

Time seemed to stretch as the tension mounted, and my mind raced for a way out. But as footsteps approached behind me, I understood that escape was impossible.

I turned around to face the newcomer, my heart pounding as I met the gaze of a man who exuded authority and danger. His words sliced through the air, revealing a sinister agenda.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" he leered, his grin sending shivers down my spine. "Seems fate has brought me a pretty little prize."