Chapter 1

Sara's POV

I stood at the far corner of the hall, knowing my presence could ignite unnecessary commotion if I was seen among the guests. I was used to being an outcast, despite my father's esteemed position as the Pack's alpha. Or former alpha, I'd rather say.

Tonight, my brother was inaugurated as the new alpha of the pack. Father had decided he was old enough to start his reign, while he could take his rest.

My brother, Adam, stood proudly beside his mate, Iris, on the podium, smiling from ear to ear as the entire audience erupted in applause, celebrating their coronation.

His eyes met mine and the beaming smile on his face faded instantly, replaced by a profound sense of disappointment. Undoubtedly because a filth like me was present on his special day.

Adam and I weren't full siblings; we had different mothers. His mother was the former Luna, respected by the entire pack members, while mine served as the favorite topic of gossip for the pack's women.

The woman who drugged the alpha and slept with him, producing an abomination popularly known as me.

Most times I wonder why she did that and ran away from the pack, leaving me to suffer the consequences of her actions.

But I have hope, even if it's just a tiny bit. Soon, I'll be turning twenty and would find my destined mate, the one who would illuminate my life with the love I have been denied from my very existence.

Most nights, I've prayed that it would be Kai. Kai was my brother's best friend and now his beta. He was the only one who never judged me for my mother's mistake. The one who never harbored any form of resentment towards me.

He was a better family than my supposed family could be. Even my father despised me greatly, and the Luna? I would rather not think about her.

Kai has been my best friend since I turned seven. He gifted me various items on my birthdays. Although Adam was against it, he was relentless. He never cared what anyone said, he said all that mattered was me.

He made me feel special.

Of course, there have been some embarrassing moments, like when I got my first period while I was with him. I had totally freaked out due to having no knowledge about it. He had to explain how normal it was and even helped me get some tampons.

Pushing those thoughts off my head, a silver of worry crept over me after I realized I hadn't caught a glimpse of Kai for over two hours since the ceremony commenced. I saw him just once when he gave me a quick wave from afar, and his usual smile. I had expected he would at least come to say hi or talk for a while, but it seemed he vanished into thin air.

Pulling out my phone from my bag, one of the numerous gifts I got from Kai for my 18th birthday, I quickly called his number. It rang a few times before it abruptly cut.

I tried to remain calm and make sense of the situation, but my heart was not agreeing with that. Instead, it started racing faster with fear I did not understand.

Exhaling heavily, I decided to walk into the crowd in search of him. Although I knew there'll be consequences for that, I deemed them preferable to the incessant worry weighing on my mind. Kai had protected me throughout the years. It would only be right for me to do the same, especially if he was in trouble.

Like I was a plague, the guests moved out of the way hastily as I walked further into the hall, their faces displaying nothing but scorn and disgust directed towards me. A woman in a red dress even stumbled and fell while trying to make sure she avoided contamination from the pack's popular living dirt.

The glass of wine in her hand shattered on the ground, causing an uproar of murmurs from those that witnessed the scene. As expected, they began blaming it on me. Stating how I was a bad luck and gets everything messed up wherever I appear. But I paid them no attention, fixing my focus on the purpose of why I walked into this lion's den in the first place.

I'm standing in front of the podium already, and Adam has his eyes fixed on me with a giant scowl on his face.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he spat out, his voice dripping with contempt as he stood before me after descending from the podium.

“I'm looking for Kai,” I replied in a meek voice, careful not to provoke him unintentionally. Adam gets mad at me even for the littlest things I do. Most times, breathing too hard beside him could make him burst into a fit of rage.

“Oh, your guardian angel.” He sneered in a mocking tone. “He's coming right behind you.”

I swiftly turned around to see Kai walking towards me. But he was not alone. There was a blonde hair girl behind him, and her lipstick smudged roughly across her lips. She carried her heels in her right hand while Kai held her other hand.

He looked surprised to see me, suddenly rearranging his tie and smoothing his disheveled shirt.

“Sara.” He called, but something felt off. Kai usually calls me little pumpkin, and if it wasn't that, it would be boo bear. In fact, there were other options apart from my name.

He only calls my name on serious occasions. Was it because of the girl with him?

I noticed his lips had some red stains that seemed like lipstick on them, which could mean only one thing. Instinctively, my gaze shifted to the girl's neck, and that was when I noticed the bright red mark on it. Tears stung the back of my eyes and pain like a thousand needles pierced into my chest, making it quite difficult for me to breathe.

Kai wasn't the one for me.

My only hope for love shattered into a million, irreparable pieces. I had always yearned for acceptance and love, but now it seemed like an unattainable fantasy. There was no other person in this forsaken pack that cared the slightest bit about me, and the only person who did was now taken away from me.

I didn't have to think twice or try to fabricate new illusions that Kai would still be there for me, despite finding his mate. He would never, and that was one painful truth. And even if he tried, just like I would expect him to, the thought of seeing him with another woman pierced my heart like a jagged blade.

Betrayal washed over me, mingling with a bitter taste of rejection. I tried to push the pain away, acknowledging he was never mine to begin with. But I had grown too attached to simply feign indifference and accept my fate.

Swallowing a growing lump down my throat, I forced a smile, concealing my anguish from him. “I thought you left the ceremony.” I lied crossing my arms behind me and biting the inside of my cheeks to stifle the sobs threatening to escape my lips.

“No, I'd never leave.” He responded with a chuckle, glancing at Adam. The blondie behind him clung to his right arm possessively, as if to remind us of her presence.

“Sara,” Kai cleared his throat, his gaze shifting between the girl and me, a faint smile on his face. “Meet Rosie, my mate.” He finally said the exact words I dreaded to ever hear, his eyes shifting to stare at his mate with deep affection.

I felt a numbing sensation wash over me, unsure of how to react. Should I pretend to be happy and congratulate him? Can I even feign that level of enthusiasm?

“Hi,” I managed to whisper to the girl, who was smiling widely at him. She possessed a striking beauty and exuded an air of privilege, likely hailing from a prominent family within her pack.

She was a perfect match for him. Unlike me.

“Hi Sara, I'm from the Winterfall Pack. My father is our alpha's beta, that's how I made it here. It's a pleasure to meet you,” she stretched out her well-manicured hand for a handshake, flashing me a friendly smile.

Yeah, really nice to meet you, Rosie.