~~~1. Bad Luck Wearing A Human Face.

“You scumbag,” Tyler Ravenclaw’s voice bounced against the living room’s walls as he stepped closer to the young man with a smaller body compared to his. “What do you mean you can’t attend the party?”

The young man blinked his teary deep blue eyes as he stepped backward, his heart beating rapidly.

“I— I didn’t mean—”

But he was cut short when a hand grabbed his arm from behind, swirled him and punched him straight in the face. He staggered backward, crashing to the floor as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Jeddy slowly rolled his hand into a fist, ready to throw another blow but Tyler stopped him, saying, “Son, I do not want you to get stained by this trash.”

Mia, who had been watching with a smirk on her face, stepped forward. “Dad, I can’t afford to miss the party. And to think of it… it’s the very chance for me to meet the sons of the most influential families in the Pack.”

Tyler looked at his twin children then back at the young man on the floor with tears and blood now mixing together.

“He is nothing more than a pretty face. He knows what he has to do to survive in this house.”

“W-Why do you always treat me like this?” The young man sniffed, his voice cracking. “What have I ever done to deserve this kind of treatment?”

“Don’t forget,” Tyler said coldly, glaring at him with nothing but disgust. “Ever since you entered this family, nothing has gone right. You’re nothing but bad luck wearing a human face.”

“Dad…” The young man muttered weakly.

Tyler’s expression darkened instantly.

“I’m not your father, Moonless!” He roared the young man’s name. “Don’t ever call me that again.”

He leaned closer, his eyes burning with hatred.

“The biggest mistake my wife ever made was bringing you into this family. Every time I look at you, I’m reminded of the day I lost her.”

Moonless froze.

“Never call me your father again… because I’ll never accept you as my son.”

Mia moved forward and knelt beside Moonless. She scrunched her nose before her mouth opened, revealing an amount of spit.

Moonless’ eyes widened but he dared not dodge it. She dropped the saliva directly in his eyes and he shut them immediately, the tears at the corner of his eyes, streaming down.

“Again… that is for sending my mother to the jaws of death.”

“Head out. Both of you.” Tyler commanded.

“Won’t he come with us?” Mia asked. “Don’t forget why we need him there.”

“He will.”

Mia scoffed before she was dragged out of the living room by Jeddy.

Tyler crouched before Moonless, his voice much quieter this time. “Every day I see you, I remember how helpless my wife looked on that hospital bed.” His lips tightened. “Every now and then, I still curse the moment you entered this family.”

Moonless’ breathing caught in his throat. “Please…”

Tyler ignored the plea. “If there’s even a little gratitude left inside you, you’ll do exactly what I asked.”

He stood up and dusted off his trousers.

“Perhaps then… you’ll repay a fraction of the debt you owe this family.”

He headed for the stairs, his footsteps echoing on the tiled floor. Reaching the first step, he stopped and looked over his shoulder, a cruel smile appearing on his lips.

“Au revoir, Moonless.”

Moonless’ fingers tightened around his shirt before he dragged himself to his feet. More tears rolled down his cheeks as he watched Tyler disappear from his view.

Despite everything, some small part of him had once wanted so badly to call this man father. But Tyler had made it clear, over and over, that he would never once call Moonless his son.

And if Moonless wanted a place to stay for the meantime before he would finally escape from the Pack, he dared not defile any of Tyler’s orders.

“I miss you, Ravina.” He muttered, moving towards the door.

The cold night breeze swept across his face before he sighted the car in the parking lot. He walked briskly towards it. Then opened the front door and sat calmly in the passenger seat.

“Took you long enough to arrive.” Jeddy said.

Moonless kept quiet for a few seconds before responding with a forced response. “Sorry.”

“He’s not crying. Learn how to use the right words.” Mia cut in.

Moonless rolled his right hand into a tight ball as he gulped some saliva down his throat. “I’m sorry.”

“Stupid.” Jeddy smirked. “And you can not wear that blood-stained clothes to the party.”

“Once we arrive there, don’t wait to be told what to do. The new clothes are in the trunk.” Mia added.

Jeddy leaned forward, his breath ghosting Moonless’ neck. “Failure to do that would resort to a serious punishment.” He patted his back after. “Be a good boy.”

“Driver, let’s go rock that party.” Mia cheered.

The engine roared to life and the car rolled out of the compound.

For the five minutes drive since they’ve been moving, the twin cheered non-stop in the car and took pictures while Moonless sat in the front staring at the roadside—even a phone, he doesn’t have one.

A decade ago, Ravina died when Moonless was ten years old, and all he had ever done in that house was clean, cook, endure endless insults, and serve as nothing more than a slave to the twins who were two years younger than him.

Despite being raised by a middle-class Beta family, he was constantly mocked in college and did not have a single friend—always referred to as the cursed student who was destined not to even have a Wolf.

His only identity was his name ‘Moonless’.

And that name? Sounded like a curse.

Suddenly, a gunshot echoed from the outside.

The twin yelled while Moonless’ bones went rigid.

Immediately, the car veered off to the right with a loud screech from the tires then came to a stop abruptly.

Moonless’ breathing filled the car as he swallowed hard. Slowly, he turned to see the twins unconscious. Then his eyes flickered back to the driver.

He gasped, his jaw dropping.

Blood was dripping from the driver’s chest and the window on his side had been broken.

“Help—” He pleaded, his voice barely audible as he tried to reach for Moonless.

Moonless quickly stretched his own hands but then another gunshot was fired, leaving the driver’s head to slam against the steering wheel.

“Ahhhhhh—” Moonless shivered terribly.

Next, a loud crash was heard from his own side.

The shattered window was still raining glass over Moonless’ lap when a gloved hand shot through the opening with the fingers wrapping tight around the back of his neck.

Moonless’ eyes broadened.

He managed to tilt his head.

The man, wearing a black bandana to shield his lower face, studied Moonless’ face for one silent second before speaking into the communicator clipped to his collar.

“Target confirmed.”