Chapter One - A Cage - Valeria's POV

I jolt awake, gasping for breath as I remember bits of strange words from my dream. They echo in my mind, like a distant past, but they quickly slip through my fingers like sand. 

I’ve woken up like this before, and I expect it to happen again.

My heart pounds in my chest as the last of the images go, only to leave behind an ache in my chest that will last for the rest of the entire day. The scent of the tiny attic fills my lungs. It is dusty, stale, and a reminder of where I am. 

My alpha’s attic is the worst place to live, but this is where I have been since I was twelve years old. When my parents died, I was only seven. For five years, I was passed between other pack members’ houses. Despite kindness from some, I felt unwanted, like I was a burden they wanted rid of as quickly as possible. Then, when I turned twelve, the alpha said he would take me since so many others had rejected me from their homes. I was shut away into this attic under the guise of protecting me and taking me under his wing.

At first, I was excited and believed him. I thought it was for my safety, though I didn’t know what I needed protection from. I was young and naive, thinking he only meant the best for me.

Oh, how wrong I was.

He never cared for my safety. He wanted something from me, though I still don’t know what. His mind is a twisted place, and I have stopped trying to understand it since then.

I ease out of bed, careful to not let the floorboards creak beneath my weight. The alpha will be furious if I wake him or his precious daughter and wife. That is the last thing I want, but his wife’s fury is worse than his.

It has been a year since the last lashing I received from her, which makes me hopeful that it is over, but I can never be too careful. She turns quickly, like a snake, striking out before you even know what has happened. The least little thing will set her off and before I know it, I’m at the end of her claws.

“Valeria!” 

A chill goes down my spine. Speaking of the witch… There she is now.

“Yes, madam. I’m coming.” The words tumble from my lips, but they taste bitter. Who on earth wants to be called madam? Oh, right. Her.

“Is that snark I hear in your tone? You know better than to talk to me that way, Valeria,” she says, keeping her tone sharp. The way she says my name makes my skin crawl.

“No, not at all, madam.”

Her footsteps echo up the stairway. I scramble away from the bed, throwing on my clothes before she reaches the doorway. If she sees me just getting out of bed, she’ll assume I have been lazy. And laziness deserves to be punished in her eyes.

As soon as the door creaks open, I stumble into place, next to the end of my bed, waiting. She glances around the room, her eyes raking over every corner of the room to inspect it, then she shrugs. “It’s time for you to cook our breakfast.”

“Yes, madam. What would you and your family like this morning?” For thirteen years, I have asked this same question every single morning, and I am so tired of it.

She purses her lips, pretending to think, as if she doesn’t already know. Her lips are painted that awful pale red shade again. 

It doesn’t even match her skin tone and washes her completely out.

I want to laugh at my wolf’s thoughts, but I suppress all urges I have to not show emotion. She’s a predator, and I’m the prey. One wrong move and it will all be over.

“I think we will have something elaborate. Can you make that quiche I like so well? Gabby just loves it too. Be a doll and make two. We will have company this morning.”

I curtsey, and as she leaves, all the air leaves my lungs with her. If Gabby has company, that means another suitor.

I wonder which fool it will be this time.

First, it was Anthony who seemed like a nice young shifter from another pack. But the alpha said no because he would take Gabby away to the other pack. The second man who came made my heart skip a beat, and not because of how dreamy he was. No, I was terrified of him the moment I came downstairs. I don’t even remember his name, but only how he makes me feel.

For the third and fourth men who came, they kept me upstairs and didn’t allow me to come down while they were here. It made me wonder who they were, but I never caught a glimpse of them, even when I peeked out the window that day.

Those are the only four I know of in the last two weeks and sometimes I wonder if they even know about each other. If they do, are they okay with courting the same woman while she plays them like fools?

Maybe they are just seeking her hand to form an alliance with her father, but whatever the case may be, it sure looks like she’s making fools out of them.

It isn’t my question to ask, though I long to, and it sits at the back of my mind even now.

As I arrive in the kitchen downstairs, I pull everything out to make the quiches and get busy. Time flies by and before I know it, they’re all in the kitchen.

The family gathers at the table, heaping their plates with food as soon as I place it down. My head remains bowed, hands folded in front of me, trying to ignore the gnawing in my stomach.

Then the front door slams open.

My head snaps up from being startled, but I regain my stance and keep my head bowed.

Two sets of footsteps enter the room. I glance up without lifting my head and see two sets of black boots. Though I want to look higher than their ankles to see who is here, I don't dare move my head. I sadly don’t recognize either pair of shoes.

“Ah, Alpha Barrett, and this is your heir, correct?” Alpha Jackson asks as he stands from the table, scooting his chair back and making it screech across the wooden floor. “We’re so happy to have you. Welcome to the Moon Stone Pack.”

These must be the visitors she mentioned.

“We’re happy to be here,” Alpha Barrett says as he closes the gap between them and reaches out to clasp my alpha’s hand in his. “This is my son, Waylen.”

“So, you are the heir and an upcoming alpha. I can sense the power rolling off you in waves,” Jackson says.

Though he doesn’t say it out loud, he’s sizing Waylen up against the others he has met and I am betting he thinks this is the one for his darling Gabby.

Another man enters the room, and he commands my attention. I have no choice but to look up and meet his gaze.

At that moment, everything shifts.

The air thickens, crackling with something I can’t even begin to name. My gaze continues to lift without permission, locking on to him.

Tall. Stronger than any man here. Dark brown hair, sun-kissed skin, and eyes — oh, his eyes. Ice blue and they pierce through me, unraveling something inside of me that I didn’t even know existed until now.

No one seems to notice my sudden movement and Alpha Barrett moves on with the introductions.

He looks at me. Actually sees me as if he recognizes something I’ve hidden even from myself.

I can’t move nor can I breathe.

“This is my son’s friend, Kendric. He’s a lone alpha without a pack.”

His name echoes in my head like a forgotten song that I wish I knew the words to.

"Kendric."

I know that name. I shouldn’t, but I do.

Before I can drop my head again, Gabby notices and alerts her mother that I am out of formation. “Look, mother. Valeria must see something she likes.”

My head drops instantly, but it’s too late. Millie stood, her lips pressing into a thin line. “You know better. Do not let this happen again.”

“Yes, madam. It won’t happen again.”

“Good. Now, off with you. We have things to discuss that your ears aren’t privy to,” she says as she rushes me out of the room, but I have to pass by Kendric to even leave.

He’s rather large and as I try to get out of the kitchen, my right arm brushes against his. The contact is so distracting that I lose my focus and end up tripping over the toe of his boot.

Just as I am about to hit the floor, a sudden firm grip on my waist pulls me upright. A squeal works its way up my lungs and escapes me.

“My gosh, what a clumsy idiot you are. Now apologize to Mr. Kendric,” Millie demands, while she stands on the other side of the kitchen table.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, wishing I can just disappear.

Kendric says nothing. He just stares at me with a curious gaze when I look up to meet his gaze. 

“Do I know you from somewhere?” He asks, his voice soft.

“No, you don’t.” With all the strength I can muster, I break free from his grasp and hastily leave the room, seeking refuge in the attic, where I can be hidden from view.

Once I am behind the closed door, tears flood my eyes and trickle down my face. I’m not sure why I am having this sudden rush of feelings, but it shouldn’t be happening. It’s not like he’ll ever love someone like me.

I have never been anything to anyone before.