Chapter one

Alia’s POV

The night had been uncannily quiet. I felt a certain feeling; it was dark and gloomy. I should've known something was about to happen.

I remember thinking how peaceful it looked, with the moon resting softly over the courtyard and the air still and quiet. ”So beautiful,” I muttered. I had always loved watching the moon. My dad would bring me out so we could watch the moon. He would tell me stories about the moon goddess. I smiled at the memories; it's been ages, but it felt like yesterday.

The night was moving too slowly, or perhaps it was I who was in a rush. Tomorrow…” Finally, I will be out of this place for good.” I thought aloud. I couldn't wait for tomorrow.

The mating ceremony. I would finally belong somewhere. I was to be bound to Alpha Cole; he was my mate, my first love.

I thought of Cole. I missed his presence. I walked past the wide passage, and my eyes moved to catch Cole's brown hair. “Is Alpha Cole in his chambers?” I asked a maid who came out of Cole’s chambers. “Ye…ss,” she said, trying to avoid my gaze. “Okay, but...” Before I could finish, she walked away from me.

“ Strange,” I thought. I walked into his chambers, only hearing the sounds of my feet. But then I heard it. Moaning, it was faint and muffled behind the walls of the chambers.

My heart stopped. That voice… I knew it. Sophie.

“No it can't be. Maybe I heard wrong”

But Kayla —my wolf— she already knew.

I felt our mating bond breaking slowly, the pain was choking.

A woman’s moan slipped through the door, followed by his voice, which was low, rough, and familiar.

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My hand trembled as I pushed the door open.

And then my whole world crumbled.

Cole was there, lying on Sophie, his lips tracing her skin as she moaned shamelessly.

I stood frozen. My throat tightened until I could barely utter a word. “Cole?”

He turned, his expression shocked but quickly shifted to annoyance. “I didn't call for you”

My voice cracked. “What do you mean? Why are you with Sophie?” We were supposed to be bound tomorrow, how…my voice broke as I tightened my chin, fighting the tears from pouring.

Sophie lifted her head and smiled. “Oh my God, Alia, you're so slow. We've been right there under your nose but you couldn't see it” Sophie blurted wearing her evil smirk

My stomach twisted.“Why?” I whispered. “You promised me, you said you loved me..that I was yours, you said forever Cole.”

He sighed, unbothered, like I just ruined their magical moment. “You’re not my mate, Alia. “You're too weak to be my Luna”

The words sank into my heart, piercing me like daggers.

Sophie giggled, draping herself closer to him. “He only stayed with you because you were the heir to our pack, but since Dad died..I think you should consider that title, gone, big sister .” Sophie said sarcastically

My eyes burned. My lips trembled as I whispered, “Liars.”

But they weren’t. I could see it in Cole’s eyes—the truth, the cruelty, the pride.

I stared at Cole– my supposed mate. Anger boiled inside of me. Instantly, my control switch flipped. My hands moved before I could stop them, striking Sophie across the face. The sound cracked through the air.

She gasped, shocked. I had never fought back before. Almost immediately, her nails tore at my skin, and I fought back, blinded with rage.

“Enough!” Cole roared, his wolf bursting through.

He grabbed me by the throat, his eyes glowing red. My feet left the ground. I clawed at his wrist, choking. “Cole… please.”

He bared his teeth. “Get out before I forget what little mercy I have left.”

He threw me. My back hit the cold marble floor. Pain exploded through my ribs.

Sophie dramatically fell on the floor and cried in pretence. Her voice cut through my gasps. “Tell the council she tried to kill me. Let’s finally get rid of the witch.”

I tried to crawl away, my palms slipping in blood from Coles’ scratch. My vision blurred.

---

By dawn, I was dragged before the council. My wrists are tied. It was freezing, but I barely felt the cold. I was numb.

They said I’d tried to kill Sophie. That I practice dark magic. That I’d betrayed my pack.

I kept silent, my eyes empty and distant. “What's the point, no one here would listen.

Uncle Hayden, now the alpha, stared at me coldly. “You’ve brought shame to this pack, Alia,” he said. “ Throw her out”

I stared at him, my lips trembling. “Please. You know me. How can you believe such lies?” I said, hot tears pouring down my bruised cheeks.

He looked away, adamant. “Take her,” he said, voice cold as ice.

Lydia, my stepmother—wore a wicked smile. Sophie stood beside her, smug and radiant, clutching her face in pretentious pain. Cole didn’t even look at me.

They dragged me out. Everyone watched. No one spoke. Not one person objected.

I was beaten to a stupor and thrown into the woods, left to die.

I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to hold my heart; it was broken, shattered. I felt nothing—just an ache, sharp and empty.

“Why wasn’t I enough? I did everything right, why couldn't they love me” I spoke to the empty, scary woods. My voice cracked, my throat dry.

The woods stayed silent.

I sank to the ground, my body trembling, my vision blurry. Kayla, my wolf, whimpered. She was weak, wounded, but alive and angry.

Before I lost consciousness, one thought comforted me. A promise.

I won’t die here. I’ll make them all pay, I must.

Then the world went black. I slipped into the darkness that was calling me.