Chapter 1

Amara

“You are still here? Didn't I tell you to go to the market and buy vegetables?”

I heard my stepmother Julie's voice. I turned to her — she looked so angry, like she wanted to kill me. I nodded meekly, trying to look innocent.

"Go right now!" she screamed at me.

I went to the market. Why was my life like this? My eyes filled with tears. One day my mate would take me from here and end all my misery. I was 21 and still hadn't found my mate.

Relax, Amara. We will find him, Zia said in my head.

I nodded and returned home.

I finished all my work and was finally ready to go to my room.

"Where are you going?"

I turned. This time it was my stepsister Chloe. She looked like she had been hiding somewhere, ready to strike if necessary.

A lunatic smile was plastered on her face, and one hand was holding a pile of dirty clothes.

"You lazy, did you forget my clothes? I told you to wash them!"

I took a deep breath. I knew these two women could never let me rest.

Just like Cinderella, I was stuck with these two Evils women. Well, no — Cinderella had two step sisters, I have one. But just like Cinderella, I was also waiting for my prince. My mate. I had met him today, but lost him.

Chloe was also 21. Even though she had met her soulmate, she rejected him because he was a gamma and she was aiming for an alpha.

How could someone be more obsessed with status than pure love? Whatever — I would never reject my mate, no matter what.

These people treated me like a slave. I didn't have any other option because if I left, I couldn't survive. The world was dangerous, especially for women in our world.

If I went outside alone, I was sure no one could save me. No one would do that for me anyway.

Everyone was sitting at the table, my father, my stepmother, and my stepsister — eating food while I stood like a server. I had no permission to eat with them. According to Julie, only family members should eat together.

I could not eat until they finished, and they always treated me horribly. My father let them do it because he hated me. He believed my mother had died because of me, even though I had been just a one-year-old baby.

I used to think he was deeply in love with my mother and depressed because of their bond. But Stella, one of my mother's friends, once told me my father had hated my mother too — she was an omega, and he was a beta, and he had never been happy with that.

That explained everything. He had remarried Julie only one month after my mother's death.

Chloe was also his real child — he had been cheating on my mother and had a relationship with Julie the whole time. These three people shared the same nature.

I noticed that Chloe had recently returned from a two-month solo trip. She looked happier and more vibrant than usual.

I didn't know where she had gone — her mother had said she just wanted to explore the world — but I sensed there was something else behind it.

These two women were so selfish, especially Chloe. Without a personal benefit, she would not have even bothered to breathe. What was the reason behind her happiness? I shrugged. It didn't matter.

It wasn't like I would always live here. Once I found my mate, this home would become a stranger to me. I would never come back.

Chloe cleared her throat. A proud smile spread across her face.

"Mom, Dad, I want to tell you something."

Julie turned to her with a soft smile. "What is it, dear?"

Dad looked curious too.

"Mom... I love someone. We both decided to choose each other as chosen mates. He already proposed to me." She shyly glanced down at her finger, which was adorned with a diamond ring.

Oh, so she successfully fooled a man. I wanted to ask who the unlucky one was — he must have been an innocent, naive man choosing his own bad luck. But I stayed quiet.

Julie's smile widened. "Oh, Moon Goddess, this is such good news! Look at this big diamond ring!"

"What is his rank?" Dad asked seriously.

"Dad... he is an alpha." Her eyes flicked toward me, like she wanted to mock me.

A proud smile crept across Dad's face. Julie bounced on her feet and pulled Chloe into a tight hug. "I knew my daughter was precious and special! That is why she mated an alpha. I am so proud of you, Chloe!"

I wanted to interrupt and tell her that her daughter deserved to live without a mate entirely. But I bit my tongue.

"If he is alpha, that is a great honour," Dad said with authority.

"He is coming tomorrow, Dad. I invited him here. Even though he is a very busy person, he would come for me. And Dad — he will be staying here for a few days."

"Of course, dear. It is an honour if an alpha stays with us. We will become famous in our pack too." Dad said it with pure happiness.

Then Julie turned to me and gave her order. "Prepare the guest room. Everything should be perfect. You will take care of it all."

Why me? Could she not tell her precious daughter to do something for once?

I nodded. Great. Just great. Now I had to work for yet another person. One more name added to my work list.

But wait — why would an alpha live here for a few days? Didn't he have his own pack to look after? I had never heard of any alpha leaving his pack like that.

Something wasn't right.

Finally, I cleaned the guestroom and decorated it with some flowers, hoping that seeing these flowers, the alpha, well my brother-in-law, would stay in a good mood and not make my life more difficult.

Anyway, I heard alphas eat three times as much compared to other ranked wolves, which means three more people's worth of work for me.

I wished I had more power, but I had none. It's not like I'm some hybrid or carry ancient power which I inherited from my mother, or My mother was some kind of heiress of ancient power, and one day I suddenly discovered I carried her powers too. None of those things would ever happen to me.

I chuckled at my own thoughts. Nothing special about me. Just a normal omega wolf, that's all.

‘You should be happy that you at least have a wolf. Otherwise your story would be even more pitiful’. My wolf Zia's voice pulled me right out of my stupid daydream.

Amara? You rarely let me out. I feel exhausted without running or going out to hunt’.

‘Ohh, sorry Zia. Tomorrow I'll let you out and you can run as much as you want’, I promised her. She happily wagged her tail inside my head, and honestly she had a point.

At least I had her. And it wasn't like I'd been banished or left to starve. I was still in good condition. At least after all the work, I got fed twice a day.

"Is the room ready, or have you already fallen asleep in there?"

Annoying Chloe came along with her body, into the room with that proud smile she always wore like a crown.

"The room is ready," I said, already moving to walk out.

"What the hell?" she suddenly shouted.

I turned to her and kept my voice completely normal, but annoyed inside. "What?" I asked her.

"Why did you put flowers in here? Magnus doesn't like flowers."

Magnus. Just the name sent a shiver down my spine. Why, though? Anyway, he doesn't like flowers. She said it like it was the most impressive information anyone had ever delivered.

Wow. Just wow. So he was a broody, gloomy man. He had already earned a spot on my personal tormentor list, and he hadn't even walked through the door yet.

"Okay, I'll clear the flowers and put some cactus in here instead," I said, half joking.

But Chloe smiled. Actually smiled. "Good. He would definitely like that."

And then she walked out.

I stood there horrified. He likes cactus. He genuinely likes cactus. This man must be a psychopath, just like Chloe. They say some couples are made in heaven. I think those two would definitely be a great couple.

My mate, on the other hand, would absolutely be a flower lover just like me. I'd heard that the Moon Goddess paired people who shared similar natures and choices. So whoever my mate was, he would appreciate flowers. I was sure of it.

The rest of the day blurred past me. As soon as night settled, and after dinner, my so-called family members disappeared to their respective rooms.

I sat at the dining table having my meal alone. Loneliness bothered me more than I could ever bring myself to admit out loud, but what could I do? I had no one. Not a single person. Not even friends, just a loner. After finishing dinner, I washed the dishes in silence and finally dragged myself to bed.

What would tomorrow bring?

Chloe's fiancé would be staying with us for a few days, and I found the whole thing strange.

Alphas rarely left their packs. It only ever happened when there was a threat or some kind of danger looming over their territory.

So why was he willing to leave? Maybe he loved Chloe that much.

I woke up earlier than usual, because I had promised Zia we would go for a run. After heading to my pack's grounds, which stretched out wide and open behind the territory, I shifted. Soon I was standing on all four paws, the morning air sharp and cool against my fur.

Zia was a perfectly ordinary wolf with brown fur. Nothing remarkable about her looks, but I was genuinely happy I had her at all.

Zia ran with more energy than usual, pacing hard across the ground, her paws barely seeming to touch it, buzzing with excitement.

Alright, let's head back inside. I told her gently. Today I had more work than usual. My soon-to-be brother-in-law was arriving, and

I have to prepare everything.

I cleaned the guestroom one more time, and added a few more cactus.

"So Chloe, when is Alpha Magnus arriving?" Dad asked, reaching for his cup.

"He's on his way. As you know, Redstone Pack is far from here, so he should reach us by afternoon," Chloe said with that familiar self-satisfied pride she wore whenever anything was going her way.

Dad nodded. "Good. I already informed our Alpha Xavier that Alpha Magnus would be our guest for a few days."

"What did Alpha Xavier say?" Julia asked, leaning forward slightly.

"He was pleased," Dad said, setting down his cup with a sense of ceremony. "Because Alpha Magnus Stormborn is not just any Alpha. He is the infamous Alpha. From what I've heard, his power surpasses most other alphas. No one even fully knows what abilities he carries.

His pack, Redstone, is considered one of the wealthiest in the entire world."

He paused and looked at Chloe with genuine pride. "I am so proud of you, Chloe. You've found someone like him. From here on, good times will follow. Our pack will be more respected. We would not be just a beta family."

Power. Money. Rank. Same words, always.

After they went, I sat quietly and ate. I had nothing to add to that particular prayer circle.

I couldn't quite believe Chloe had moved on so early. Not long ago, she was completely unwilling to let go of Alpha Xavier's son, Jack, even after Jack had found his fated mate. She'd still tried to seduce him, still hovered and lingered.

Jack's mate had eventually had enough and showed up, beat Chloe properly, and threatened Jack with rejection if he ever talk to

Chole.

That had been one of my genuinely good days. I know anyone who hears my nasty thoughts might think I'm a terrible person. But I had every right to feel that way. Chloe and Jack had both made my life hell together.

Zia was stirred ,restless again. I could feel her pacing back and forth inside my mind, her emotions were eager, electric, like something was pulling at her.

‘What is going on with you Zia? Stop jumping around. You are giving me a headache’. I asked her.

She didn't answer. still quiet.

Before I could tell her further, we heard a car horn from outside.

Chloe shot up from wherever she was standing. "Dad! I think Alpha Magnus is here!"

Dad and Julie both stood. The energy in the room shifted. I took a few steps toward the door, unsure whether I was expected to go outside or disappear into the background as usual, which was typically preferred.

And Zia wouldn't let me do anything right now. Is this alpha some kind of threat for us?

I just took a few steps, but then it hit me.

The scent, the same I smelled at the market.

Strong. Deep. Addicted like forest air. It filled my nose and went straight to my head, heavy and warm.

Zia surged forward inside me and I had to physically stop walking just to keep myself from losing control of my own feet.

A tall, broad-shouldered man had stepped out of the expensive car. He stood at a distance and his face wasn't fully clear to me yet.

But my chest had already known something before my brain could catch up. My breath caught. My eyes went wide.

And then Zia's voice conformed, leaving me completely devastated.

Mate.

The word I always wanted to hear, but this word didn't bring happiness but pain.

No. No, this couldn't be happening.

The man I had waited for, the one the Moon Goddess had supposedly to give me, the one should be mine

was my sister's fiancé.