CHAPTER ONE

"The luna wants to see you."

I glance up and see Katherine staring at me with a frown. She passes along the message without saying a word and walks away. I finish my meal and make my way to the luna's office, wondering what this meeting is about.

I softly knock on the door. "Come in," Luna commands. "Good morning, Luna," I bow. "You wanted to see me."

"Kneel," she says firmly, but I'm not sure if I heard correctly. "Excuse me?"

"I said kneel," her eyes are unwavering.

Without needing to be told again, I fall to the floor. "What have I done this time?" Or what have they accused me of this time? Luna looks at me as if I'm a piece of meat. "Your mere existence alone is a sin. Do I need a reason to punish you?"

Even my mother's death was not enough to satisfy her thirst. She must want me dead too. She stands up from her table and walks towards me, grabbing my collar and forcing me to meet her gaze. "The sight of you alone disgusts me. Do me a favor and disappear from my sight forever." I know what she expects of me, but I will not comply.

"This is my father's pack. Where do you expect me to go?" I challenge.

My mother was once the luna, but her reign was short-lived. She suddenly fell ill and passed away. My father then remarried her best friend, Aida, who seduced him under the pretense of taking care of me. Once my father fell for her tricks, I was discarded like a worn-out doll. Father doesn't like looking at me; he says I remind him too much of my mother.

We have a strong resemblance, so instead of staying in his quarters, he had me stay in the luna's quarters, and now I am reduced to being a maid.

"Do not force me to take matters into my own hands. I have been lenient with you out of respect for your late mother, but if you continue to ignore my warnings, do not be surprised by the consequences." She threatened, her eyes conveying the seriousness of her words and the imminent danger. However, telling me to leave the pack is equivalent to sending me to my death. I am uncertain if I will survive beyond the forest.

With no other choice, I suppress my pride. "I obey your every command without question. I have never challenged you. Leaving the pack would be like a death sentence for me. If you want, I will live quietly like a mouse within the pack, never showing my face to you or the alpha. As time passes, you will forget about my existence, as I will never make myself seen again. So please, luna, do not cast me out." I plead tearfully, but her expression remains unchanged.

"And how can I trust that you are telling the truth? Your mother was quite the liar in the past. Since you resemble her so much, you must have inherited that trait from her."

My mother was anything but a liar. When it came to deception, Aida was a master.

I witnessed her deceiving my mother on her deathbed, promising to take care of me. When she married my father, I was upset, but she assured me it was for my benefit, to be closer to me. However, as soon as I fell out of favor with my father, she quickly switched sides.

I didn't bother defending my mother's reputation, simply saying, "Just trust me this once."

Aida seemed to think about it for a moment before asking, "What if you suddenly appear one day? How do you suggest I punish you?"

"However you wish, Luna."

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she suggested, "I propose death by poison. What do you say?" Nervously, I swallowed, realizing she was serious. Unless I agreed to her terms, she would never leave me alone.

"I promise, if I ever appear in front of you and the alpha, I will die by ingesting poison." She seemed satisfied with this and stood up, returning to the high table.

"You are dismissed now. I hope, for your own sake, that you keep your word."

"Rest assured, Luna. Today is the last time you will see my face," I declared, determined to honor my promise. This woman had ruined my life, but I didn't seek revenge. I held no grudge against her or my father, who hadn't acknowledged me for eight years. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life, free from worries.

Turning on my heel, I left her office and headed to my room to pack my belongings.

"Stop right there!" a voice ordered. I turned around and saw Zya, Luna's daughter, approaching me with anger in her eyes. I prepared myself, knowing that she always caused trouble.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," I greeted, bowing my head, even though I was a year older than her and we used to be best friends.

She stopped a few steps away and questioned, "What were you just discussing with my mother?"

"I'm sorry, but it's not my place to tell you. Why don't you go and ask Luna instead?" Zya was known for spreading gossip, even making Luna afraid to speak when she was around.

Her palms collided with my face, causing me to step back. "Speak up now!" she commanded, but I remained silent. Zya slapped me again, using her wolf strength, and I tasted blood on my tongue. My cheek burned, tears threatening to spill.

"Will you still stay quiet?"

Despite everything, I kept my silence. She raised her hand to hit me once more, but the Alpha's commanding tone caused her and everyone around to freeze.

"What do you think you're doing?"