Chapter One

Phoebe's pov

This is the story of a she-wolf who was rejected and dejected, with no hope of rising. Her fate was frightening.

Crescent Heights was known for its festivals and ceremonies. It was a place where the dreams of many lady wolves came true, and I was a dreamer, so I was hoping for the best too.

My family and the members of my pack had ridiculed my body and appearance for years. Their words had piled on me like stones, and I carried every one of them. That night, I believed I was about to be rescued from all the shame and disgrace. After all, the moon goddess had matched me with Alpha Prince Julian. I thought she had finally decided to show me mercy. I was so happy that he was coming to the festival. Just hearing his name made my ears tingle, and I was head over heels before I had even met him.

It was finally time to prove to everyone that I belonged, and that night was the night I planned to do it.

I picked out my dress myself. My family didn't bother with the stress of choosing one for me because they weren't sure which would fit. My weight kept climbing, and my body size had been as unstable as the sea currents, except that this time the tide only moved upward. I stood in front of the mirror for a long time, smoothing the fabric over my stomach and telling myself that I looked fine. I did my best to gather my confidence and hope for the best.

"Dad said to come, we want to take a picture together," my sister Dahlia said when she came to call me. She said it in her usual tone, with no respect and no care at all.

I walked out in my dress, and my mother looked me up and down.

"Didn't you get a bigger bra? Because those breasts might tear it apart... Never mind."

My father and Dahlia laughed hard. I was upset and used to it at the same time, and I hated that both things were true. I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled anyway.

I stood beside them, and a pretty photographer took our picture. I wondered if the smile in that photo looked as fake as it felt.

"Prince Julian is coming tonight. You have to give a good impression. Who knows?" my father said to me.

I didn't want to believe that he cared. Let's just get it done, I thought.

The mating festival was held every year at the first full moon, so I had to give it my best. I would have another year after this one to make a good impression, but I might be bigger by then, so he might as well choose me now.

The music, the ambience and the lighting were everything. The Redline pack loved the whole idea of it, and the night shimmered like a promise.

Alpha Prince Julian arrived in a car with an escort behind it. His entrance alone sent a message, and it was well received. The crowd parted for him.

I positioned myself well to receive him, and so did every other lady wolf, my sister included.

"Move aside, all of you. He is our mate," my wolf said in my head.

When did she start speaking in my head, trying to convince me of what I already knew? Still, hearing her say it made my heart flutter.

He was incredibly handsome. He had the natural charm that princes had, only more, and his eyes were burning, or maybe I was the only one seeing it. Did I forget to mention his perfect hair? He looked like royalty in every way.

"He's approaching. Carry yourself well," my wolf said.

I thought he already knew I was the one he was promised to, so his legs knew where to find me.

He approached and looked at me, standing still in front of him. My palms were sweaty, and my breath was shaky.

The music went off. The Alpha Prince was about to claim me, to take away my shame and sorrows and the dents and marks that my own people had left on me.

"Are you the one?" he asked, and everyone could hear him.

"Yes, Prince. My name is Phoebe. I've heard a lot about you..."

"Enough!" he cut me off, and I hadn't even realised I had been speaking for so long. I was nearly making a fool of myself.

He whispered something into the ear of one of his escorts, then turned back to me.

"This must be a mistake. You can't be the one. You don't fit my elegance and status," he said.

My heart began to race. It was happening again. No, no, no!

"He's just pulling your leg. He can't do that. The goddess chose you for him," my wolf said, but her voice sounded like noise to me in the middle of all that tension.

"I reject you, you oversized disgrace. You can't be serious. You should never have imagined such foolish nonsense. Anyway, I blame the goddess," Julian said.

My knees went weak. Within seconds, they were on the ground. I didn't kneel to beg. I knelt because they could no longer hold me, and tears were coming whether I allowed them or not.

"What do you mean, Prince? I thought we all respected what the goddess says," I said, while I watched the entire crowd whispering. I didn't even try to hear what they were saying. The sound of rejection was ringing louder than anything else.

"To the pits with the goddess, and to the pits with you. Go and get a life!" He left my presence at once and went to talk to another wolf, who I think was his assistant.

The music resumed playing, as if nothing had happened. As if my heart hadn't just been broken in front of everyone.

"I reject you, you oversized disgrace." The words kept echoing in my head, and all I wanted was to shrink out of my own skin and vanish. I didn't even eat much, yet I weighed a hundred and fifty kilograms, and nothing I did ever changed it.

I picked myself up from the ground. There was nothing left to cry about. The whole pack had gotten all the content they needed. Their eyes, lenses and cameras had been on me the entire time.

As if my night couldn't get any worse, Julian went and stood beside my sister Dahlia. He held her hand and talked and laughed with her, as if the whole thing meant nothing to him. What on earth was this?

How did they even know each other? And how had he moved so quickly to my scheming sister?