AQUAMARINE'S POV
"Freak." "Abomination." “Ghost.” “Walking dead.” I stood before the mirror; my white eyes and white hair were daily reminders of my unfortunate life. Everybody in this pack always called me these names, and I accepted them. Why? Because it was the bitter truth. I was an outcast, a living curse in their perfect pack. "Today's assessment means a lot to me.” Sarah, my stepmother, echoed through the room. The assessment was a yearly ritual, where werewolves showed off their strength and power to improve their ranks. And I dreaded it. Sarah continued. “And the fact that Alpha Felix stated everyone must participate makes me want to get rid of you permanently." Her wickedness was nothing new. After my mother's death, my father married her sister, Sarah. And she brought her daughter, Fiona, with her. Both of them made sure my life was a living hell. No. Hell itself was nothing compared to what I faced here. As I dressed, Fiona taunted me. "What's the point of her participating? She's just a weak wolfless…. thing who can't even sniff a dead rat." She squeezed her face like it was the most irritating thing ever. "I don't know why you can't be normal and shift like everyone else," Fiona spat. "Maybe she's not even a true werewolf," Sarah sneered. "Her dead mother was weak, so obviously the apple wouldn't fall far from the tree." As I endured their taunts, memories flooded my mind. Our maid told me that my mother died shortly after giving birth to me, and my father didn't even bury her. He just left her to rot in an open field and left me to cry for weeks, refusing anyone to take care of me till they begged him to spare me. Why? Because of my looks, nobody has white hair or ocean-like eyes in our pack, or even the 7 kingdoms. I didn't even get a name until I was five years old, and it was still the maid who named me Aquamarine. "Your mother was a mistake," Sarah often said. "And you're a reminder of that mistake." Sarah grasped my arm, her nails digging deep. "Remember, Ghost, don't humiliate me." The assessment began, and everyone began shifting into powerful wolves. But I just hid at the back, feeling extremely out of place. When my turn came, I hesitated. Sarah's threat echoed in my mind. I closed my eyes tightly, scrunched my nose, and tightened my fist. Focusing on whatever was inside me. But nothing changed. Instead, I felt utterly stupid with all the facial expressions I was making. The crowd's whispers and snickers grew louder. "Even a pup can do better," someone shouted, and everyone laughed. I looked at Clinton. Alpha Felix's son, whom I have been secretly dating for months. But he was busy talking to his father, not even paying attention. Out of embarrassment, I ran out of the hall, away from the palace. I ran to the waterfall on the outskirts of our pack's territory. That was the only place I could find peace. The sound of rushing water and the moon's gentle light usually calmed my racing thoughts. But as I closed my eyes and took in deep breaths, trying to forget the humiliation and prepare myself for Sarah's torture, I felt someone was watching me. We had a lot of perverted men in our pack who sneaked to peep when the ladies were cleaning up. But this feeling was different. My hair stood on end as I hurriedly scanned my surroundings. Suddenly, I felt something spark within me; a scent wafted through the air, pulling me in like bees to flower. Mate! That word echoed loud and clear within me. "Mate?," I whispered, my heart beating loudly against my chest. Mate! I heard it again, and I believe it could only mean one thing. My wolf had finally awakened after all these years of torture. I tried to fight back tears, but I fell to the floor, letting my emotions take over. The scent became stronger, and a wolf ran out from the bushes. It immediately shifted to a man with familiar features. "Clinton!" I exclaimed, launching myself at him, relief washing over me as tears flowed down my cheeks. He smiled. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." "You're my mate!" I blurted out. I buried my nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply again. "I can perceive your wolf! My wolf, she's finally awake, and she recognizes you!" Clinton's expression softened, his eyes locking onto mine. "Didn't I tell you that you're my mate and that your wolf would awaken soon?" he asked, his voice filled with emotion. "But I wanted you to realize it for yourself." My heart swelled, hope and joy flooding me. "Does this mean...?" I trailed off, hesitant. Would he announce me as his mate? Will his family and the pack accept me? "Tomorrow, I'll announce my mate," he whispered, his eyes locked on mine. I felt my body heat up, and I grinned. "What's wrong?" Clinton asked, looking concerned. "It's nothing, I just feel a little hot," I said, patting my cheek and fanning myself. I couldn't believe he'd make our relationship public. Plus, the kiss did something funny to my belly. Clinton's eyes sparkled with interest. His smile twisted into a smirk, "Is that right?" he whispered, moving my hair to the side. His lips brushed against my neck, sending shivers down my spine. "You're very beautiful," he murmured, his hands roaming my body. I melted into his touch. Nobody has ever called me beautiful. Well, aside from our maid. But as his touch grew bolder, a nagging voice whispered in my mind. This doesn't feel right. “Clint…” "Ssh Ssh, it's been confirmed by the Goddess that you're my mate. Don't I have a right to what's mine? Especially after waiting this long?" he interrupted, his breath hot against my skin. He was right. The Goddess has finally blessed me with my wolf. If I had gotten my wolf earlier, we would have done things together. He even waited patiently for me till I got it before touching me. But still, it felt wrong. There was something about his eyes. It shone with lust, not love. I tried to push him away, but he didn't even budge. "Clinton, stop," I pleaded. Just as I began to struggle, a voice cut through the darkness. "Clinton, what's going on here?”AQUAMARINE'S POVAs we rode I could not stop the queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. My throat burned, and my mouth was bitter. My body was starting to ache and I could see little black spots dancing in front of me.It was already high noon but we hadn't even gotten to his pack yet, even though we traveled through the night.I stared at my trembling hands. "What's happening to me?" I muttered, and then my stomach made a very disturbing sound. I needed distraction from the burning sensation I was feeling inside.I looked up at Alexander and cleared my throat. "Lycan Alexander?" I said, "What was that thing that attacked us?"I waited for him to talk, but he didn't. "The vines and the face?" I asked again, but he avoided the questions.Alexander's jaw clenched, and he still didn't look at me. "Levi! Lead us somewhere with fewer trees!"I noticed other horses riding far away from him, or were they slowly drifting? Why? Did they perhaps feel the heat too? Or is this the way they sh
AQUAMARINE'S POVThe axe came down and my heart jumped out of my body. All I could hear was painful muffled screams.Blood rushed to my head, and I felt something snap inside me. I pushed past Alexander, but he caught my arm and lifted me to face him. His face was inches away from mine, and I couldn't feel the hardness of the earth underneath my feet.“Yo—”I didn't let him finish.I tilted my head and sank my teeth into his hard skin. When I eventually tasted something metallic and bitter, he released me and I crashed to the ground.I rushed to where Levi stood.“How dare you touch her?!” I screamed and shoved him away. I stared at Katherine’s still form on the floor, and my body seemed like it was instantly thrown in chilling water.Her hand was still intact and no part of her body was missing. I released a shaky breath as I placed my head on her chest. Her heartbeat was normal, and her breathing was soft.“Luna Aquamarine, she was try—”“Not another word.” I snarled at him. My tre
AQUAMARINE'S POV An intoxicating scent woke me up. My nose twitched, and my stomach grumbled. I closed my eyes and sniffed the air, taking in a mouth-watering scent.I followed the smell to the edge of the bed. A large plate sat on the tray, and my eyes fixed onto it.Food. Real food. Not the scraps I'd scavenged from Beta Liam's house. When was the last time I even ate? Yesterday? 2 days ago? My hands trembled slightly as I lifted a piece of meat to my lips. I closed my eyes and chewed, savouring the taste... flavours dancing on my tongue."Mmm..." slipped out between my lips."I thought you died last night." A deep voice echoed.My eyes snapped open, and I looked up to see Alexander fully dressed, standing in the doorway.His eyes were on me, just like last night.I swallowed hard, but I started coughing, my lungs burning.Alexander raised an eyebrow, and his lips seemed to twitch a little.Wh—My body jerked forward, hands flying to my throat, grasping it tightly. The coughs rac
AQUAMARINE'S POVThunder boomed outside and lightning cracked. My heart raced at the heavy sounds of rainfall, reminding me of the storm outside."Stupid?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.Stupid?For what exactly? Accepting to give him an heir despite knowing I'm weak? Or is it because I believed him when he defended me earlier today in front of the pack? Or am I stupid for believing that he would take me to be his mate and his Luna?I raised my head up to meet his gaze, but then he inserted a single finger inside my softness. I gasped wide-eyed, and my knees trembled as I tried to escape the sudden stretching foreign to me. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest as his fingers wrapped my neck, giving it a squeeze."You think mercy makes you great? That it makes you powerful?" he mocked, raising an eyebrow at me.My lips parted, but his finger went in a little deeper than it was. The words I wanted to say died on my lips and a moan slipped out. Why does he have to s
AQUAMARINE’S POVThe man's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I felt a knot twist in my stomach. Suddenly, red liquid spilled out of the mouth of the man in front of me and I gasped in horror.“W-what–” I stammered. I suddenly tasted bile in my throat as I watched in slow motion. The man's pupils dilated as he coughed out more blood.His gaze dropped, and I followed it, trembling in fear.Then I saw it. Lycan Alexander's arm. It was inside the man's chest. A loud shriek finally escaped my lips. My gaze flew to Lycan Alexander, but he didn't look bothered by it.Not even a single look of empathy. Instead, he smirked, twisted his hands further, and pulled something out.The man's beating heart.I immediately looked away as more blood splattered on my back. I jerked up as my heart pounded loudly in my chest as I tried wriggling away from Lycan Alexander's body, but the more I did, the more he pulled me closer in his arm.I heard a loud thud, but I didn't look back.“Felix, is th
AQUAMARINE'S POV My breathing hitched as my wolf stirred within me. I stared at Lycan Alexander as those words escaped his lips, and his eyes seemed to darken under the sunset. “You will give me that.” He said again, staring at me as he stopped walking, his arms tightening around me, holding me securely against his chest. I didn't know if it was an order or a threat. But it made me shudder in his touch. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized I was still in his arms, partially naked and dependent on him. I gripped the cloak tightly against my chest, trying to cover myself, but it wasn't doing much to calm my racing mind. I opened my mouth to speak, but what could I say? I made that promise to Fiona out of anger, and now I was trapped. But what would I rather do? There was no way I would let her put such accusations on me. I wasn't barren. I hadn't even laid with any man before, so why should I be scared? But his demand for an heir caught me off guard. Wanting a child