CHAPTER 2

(Aurora's POV)

"Who are you?" I asked the white spirit wolf, because I didn't have a wolf. My sister had a brown wolf and was strong, but since I turned 14 and couldn't shift, my parents' behavior toward me grew worse.

"I am your wolf. A spirit wolf. The Moon Goddess gifted me to you to keep you safe and help you through your life's journey," she said, and it felt like a dream.

"Are you for real?" I asked her, doubting the reality of my situation.

"Of course," the wolf replied, before she came forward to meet me.

"Do you want me or not?" the spirit wolf asked. I felt hesitant, not knowing if I could trust her.

"Trust me, Aurora. The Moon Goddess hears all your cries," she said. I sighed and accepted her hand.

Once my hand touched the wolf's, she entered me like a magnetic force, and I felt a light glow in my chest until it vanished.

"Spirit wolf, are you there? Spirit wolf, can you hear me?" I tried to reach out to the white wolf, but she was gone.

My heart grew heavy, and I started sobbing again. "Why did you leave me?"

"I have not left you, Aurora. I am in you. I am taking time to adjust to my new body. We are together in this, and I am your wolf," she said, and I felt happy.

"Can I shift into you?" I asked her nervously, remembering the day of my 14th birthday when my parents had taken me out to the woods to shift. It had snowed heavily that morning, but they wanted to know if I had a wolf or not.

However, my parents waited in vain when I couldn't shift. They looked at me disappointedly and hoped I would shift on my 15th birthday. But seeing that I was wolfless, they focused all their love and attention on Quincy.

"You do not have to think about all that," my wolf said.

"What's your name?" I asked her, and she said, "Malani."

"Well, Malani, my parents wouldn't allow me to leave the house. Today is our Alpha's son's birthday—Alpha Xander Roland. My parents believe he will propose to my older sister, Quincy. They believe she will become the next Luna, so I am forbidden from going out tonight. How about we shift tomorrow?" I asked Malani, as I was excited to shift into her.

"Hmm. I do not think that's a good idea. You shouldn't weaken yourself because of your family. They don't care about you, and you should prioritize your happiness first," Malani said, and I sighed.

"Alright. Let's wait. Next weekend is my 18th birthday. I am so happy to have you, Malani," I purred, and she laughed, making my heart flutter.

"You're welcome, Aurora," Malani replied, before I went out of the room to find the maids to serve me dinner. After all, I had the big house to myself.

Once I found the two maids, they looked away from me, gossiping in the kitchen. They were taller than me because, due to my parents' maltreatment, I hadn't been fed well; I was short and slim.

But now, I chose to believe Malani, my wolf, and I wanted to eat as much as possible instead of sobbing over a crime I didn't commit.

I met the two maids, Lola and Linda, in the kitchen; they were older than me, both over 22.

"Can I have my dinner?" I asked Lola first. She wore a brown dress and black slippers and had long brown hair.

"Haha! Did you hear anyone talking?" Lola asked Linda, who laughed. "No. I cannot see anyone beneath my feet. Haha!"

"Hmm," I fumed with rage, and I realized this wasn't me, but Malani.

"Serve my dinner now, unless you both want to be fired!" I yelled at them. They trembled, looking at me in shock, as I hadn't talked back to them before.

"Fine. We will serve it," Linda murmured as she turned and went back into the kitchen.

Lola looked at me in surprise, wondering where I had gotten such bravery. However, as I peered at Lola's face, I saw through her past, as if I could see a vision.

*Was this Malani's doing too?* I panicked, but I trusted my wolf.

"You stole the jade earrings and tried to frame me for it. Why?" I asked Lola, and she trembled.

"I do not know what you're talking about. Do not try to frame me," she said, and my brows furrowed.

"Hmm. We shall see about that," I replied. Meanwhile Linda stepped out of the kitchen and walked over to me. She handed the tray to me.

"Here's your meal," Linda said, but I refused to take it.

"Take it to the dining table, and you will have to taste it first," I said with a smile, even though I knew Linda hadn't put anything dangerous in the food.

Not wanting to lose her job, Linda muttered, "Fine." She marched away to the dining table to serve my meal.

As Linda set the food on the silver dining table, I walked up to the head chair and sat there like a princess.

"Over here," I gestured to the table, and Linda carried the tray over to serve me again. I watched her picked up a spoon and tasted it wet

"Good. You can leave my sight, and do not forget who is in charge here," I stated with a firm voice, meeting Linda's gaze. She lowered her head and replied, "Understood."

Linda left my side, and I picked up the spoon and started eating.

My mind wandered to Quincy and Lola. I knew that Lola was Quincy's favorite maid. I caught a snippet of Linda and Lola's conversation in the kitchen. Surprisingly, I could hear them from the dining room, which was farther away from the kitchen with closed doors.

"What has come over Aurora? How dare she talk to us like that? Did she forget who she is? She's an Omega, too—a wolfless Omega," Lola spat, subtly angry.

Linda lowered her voice for fear of losing her job. "Lola, I would advise that we avoid Aurora. Didn't you notice how her voice held so much command? What if she has found her wolf? You know that her family will resume loving her, and they will punish us for disrespecting her. After all, she is a part of the Stanley family."

"Tsk. I doubt they want to have anything to do with that shorty. Don't waste your energy respecting Aurora. She doesn't have a wolf and she is not above us. The Stanleys said so themselves—Aurora is a maid here," Lola said, her voice irritable.

"Hmm. I still do not want to provoke Aurora. You can choose to provoke her on your own," Linda replied. She walked out of the kitchen and met my gaze. Her voice softened as she asked, "Do you need anything?"

A vision reflected to me, and I saw Linda's father remarrying and her being cast out of her father's home, just like a criminal.

"Your father is going to marry a new mate. You and your mother should get prepared to leave the house," I said, and Linda panicked.

"What do you mean? My dad loves my mother so much," she replied, subtly annoyed, and I smiled.

"A word is enough for the wise. In just seven days, you will be invited home to pack your things. The new mistress is pregnant by another man, but she pinned the baby on your father since he wants a son badly. She plans to kill your father and blame it on your mother. Not just that, she plans to advise your father to marry you off to an older man to repay a debt, too. So get prepared. It's either you move out now with your mother or face the doom that lies ahead," I said. Linda stood staring at me in shock, as if she were already connecting the dots.

"Are you sure about this? My mother and I have nowhere to go," Linda sobbed, and I shook my head.

"I am sorry, but I cannot help you. You both have to figure a way out for yourselves. Before you leave, clear the table." I picked up a napkin and wiped my lips and hands. That was the message Malani had passed to Linda, not me. Before I met my wolf, I didn't have any abilities. Now, knowing I could see the past, present, and future was amazing, but unfortunately, I couldn't see my own.