The sacrifice.

ONE.

~Lenora~

“This can't be right! Miss, are you really sure you want to register as the human sacrifice?” The words were laced with panic and disbelief.

The Gamma in charge of the registry stared at me as if I had spoken nonsense. His hand hovered over the form, trembling slightly.

“You are the most cherished member of the Alpha family. How could they possibly bear to watch you jump off the cliff?”

“Yes,” I said calmly with a small smile. “I’m willing to die.”

The Gamma’s face was completely drained of color. He looked at me again, carefully this time, as if hoping he had somehow mistaken my identity. But there was no mistake. I stood there, calm as a dove, like this was the easiest thing I have ever done, waiting for him to file my application.

According to the legends, once in every hundred years, a chaotic dark energy stirred from the northern cliff, sweeping over surrounding packs in waves. Every living being it came in contact with, be it human or animal was instantly drained of its life force.

For several centuries, human sacrifices have been made to stabilise the chaos and bring peace. There were volunteers from each pack across the entire Northern mountains.

This time, the chaos had grown even more restless and stronger from being restrained for so long and unfortunately, I was the only volunteer across the region because no one wanted to give up their precious life for "others".

“The preparations and thirty days of cleansing will proceed immediately. You have one month,” the gamma said hoarsely. “Once the ritual is complete, you will die. There is no backing out from this if I file this.”

My chest squeezed painfully. My stomach twisted in fear, the thought of dying... I clenched my fists tightly, fighting the fear creeping through my veins. I made it this far already. I couldn't just change my mind.

“I understand.”

He swallowed, still unwilling to accept my reckless decision. “Your brothers adore you, Miss Lenora. The Alpha and Luna raised you as their own for many years. You even have a sorting fiance who can't live without you. Surely...”

“That was in the past,” I interrupted quietly, my own words cutting through my heart like a blade. A familiar sting blurred through my vision but I blinked it away. It was simply pointless.

His mouth closed at my words. Confusion etched across his face, but I didn't bother to explain any further. He couldn't possibly understand how hellish these past few years have been for me. No one did.

The dotting fiance he talked about... Right from the moment it was discovered that I was wolfless, no one mentioned the engagement again. My fiancé, who couldn't stay a day without seeing me before, suddenly stopped visiting. No calls, no texts, nothing. My family didn't bother asking no matter how much I complained about it. It was as if the promise had simply never existed.

I was the adopted daughter of the Starline Pack Alpha. After the Alpha took me in, I was spoiled with love as their little princess. Everyone praised me for the smallest things, sometimes, even for nothing.

I learned fast. I trained hard. They were so impressed they said I would one day stand beside my brothers as their equal. And I was truly happy, just being by their side.

But as I grew older, my strength faded year by year. At sixteen, which was ideal for a girl as exceptionally talented as I was to get her wolf, my wolf never awakened. By the time I turned eighteen, the whispers had already spread through the pack.

I was tagged wolfless. Useless. Shameful.

The Gamma opened his mouth again, but before he could speak, a powerful voice echoed through the room. It wasn’t just here. It spread across the entire pack, carried by the Alpha ’s authority.

“Dear members, of Starline Pack,” my father’s voice announced, steady and proud. “While we are still waiting for a volunteer to step forward for the sacrificial ritual…” there was a pause, then his tone softened. “you are all invited to celebrate my lovely daughter and your beloved princess, Eleanor's birthday. A grand banquet will be held in her honor in three days. All are welcome.”

My heart shattered all over again and a painful smile formed on my lips.

Eleanor's birthday, huh?

My brothers took over from him almost immediately, instructing servants and pack members to prepare gifts, decorations, and rare delicacies for the celebration. Their words were so warm and loving. Even my mother was happy to broadcast her all over, talking about all her achievements in the past year.

No one remembered that my birthday would be in a few days too.

The broadcast ended. The office felt painfully silent.

The Gamma finally exhaled. He stopped trying to persuade me. Instead, he pulled out a sealed document and slid it across the desk.

“This is the certificate of sacrifice,” he said slowly. “From today onward, you are under ritual protection. No one may harm you before the ceremony.”

I accepted it with both hands.

He stood up and bowed to me, deeply. “Thank you, Miss Lenora. With your selfless sacrifice, the dark energy will be sealed for good. The pack will be safe again.”

I nodded, despite the emptiness I felt inside and left the office. I headed to the market immediately to get a few things.

I spent all the money I had saved on food. Bread, dried meat, fruit, sweets. My arms were practically full and barely able to carry them by the time I finished buying.

The streets were lively. People were smiling, talking about the Alpha’s announcement, about the coming birthday banquet. But when they saw me, their expressions changed and the topics immediately shifted.

“That’s her, right?”

“The wolfless one.”

“What a disgrace to the Alpha family. I don't even know what she does around here.”

They didn't even try to whisper anymore. They said it to my face, knowing I could do nothing.

I kept walking.

The orphanage was just at the edge of the inner district. As soon as I pushed the door open, small figures rushed towards me.

“Sister!”

“You’re back!”

Tiny hands grabbed my sleeves and the emptiness inside me was replaced with warmth. Laughter filled the room as they fought to hug me. I knelt down, giving all of myself to them. It felt so good. Soon, I began handing out the food.

The children surrounded me, excited and grateful. Over the last couple of months, I came here as often as possible to spend time with them. They grew so fond of me that they even knew my walking steps.

The director stood by the door, watching. Her eyes misty with unshed tears. She was the only one who knew where exactly I was coming from.

“You shouldn’t have thrown your life away like that,” she said quietly once the children were distracted. I smiled at her.

She shook her head, pain written all over her face. “You don’t owe the pack anything. You don’t owe anyone your life. Not after all they do to you.”

“Maybe, but I do owe them,” I said softly, looking at the children. “And I owe you. If I had to keep you safe and happy, I would.”

When I had lost everything, my family's love, my name, my future, this orphanage was where I found shelter. Where no one cared if I had a wolf.

As a child, my power had once frightened even the Elders. But as the years passed, it faded until it completely disappeared. Sometimes, late at night, I could still feel something deep inside me. Struggling, fighting to break free as if it was sealed away. But no one believed that. They thought it was me trying to salvage my pathetic reality.

By pack law, wolfless wolves were meant to be expelled at the age of twenty. They became rogues. Alone and unwanted. Over the years, I have seen what happened to female rogues. I wasn't just going to wait for it to happen to me too. I would rather die with meaning. On my own terms.

The director bowed to me tearfully. “Your secret will be safe with me, child,” she sniffled. "We... We don't deserve you."

By the time I returned home, the mansion was quiet. No servant in sight. I turned a corner of the corridors and nearly collided with Eleanor.

She stopped, her blue eyes narrowing instantly on me, taking in everything with disdain before landing on the box in my hand.

“What’s that?” She asked.

“None of your business,” I replied and made to walk past her, but she blocked me. She reached for the box, but I pulled back. Her eyes darkened with irritation and she angrily shoved me.

"I said give it to me, you pig!" She seethed.

I staggered from the push, losing my balance. I hit the floor with a thud and the box hit the floor, spilling its contents.

"What is wrong with you?" I fired. She was about to snap back when she stopped suddenly. A cruel smile played on her lips and she let out a scream instead, catching me off guard.

“Help! She pushed me! She wants to kill me.” She cried, falling to the ground.

Footsteps rushed toward us and in no time, my brothers appeared with panicked expressions. They walked past me like I was nothing and rushed over to her.

Eleanor was already crying, pointing at me accusingly. “I was just trying to hug her but she pushed me and then tried to frame me by falling on purpose so you will all pity her.”

Davis, the eldest of my brothers, glared at me. “You! How could you bully her again? What did she ever do to you?”

As expected they didn't even bother to ask me what happened, they just jumped right to her defense.

"Eleanor is your sister for goddess sake! Why would you treat her like this?" Vincent barked.

“How could we have such a vicious sister like you?”