Chapter 1

Odessa’s Pov

What does it feel like to be born into a world where your blood has already decided your place before you even take your first breath?

I know what it feels like.

In Norvale, every wolf is born into one of three bloodlines: royal, noble, or bound.

The royal bloodline belongs to the descendants of the first Alpha, Orlan Veyr. They rule the kingdom and have the final say in almost everything that happens within our borders.

The noble bloodlines come next. They are wealthy families with lands, businesses and influence. They attend royal gatherings and are treated with respect wherever they go.

Then there are the bound bloodlines.

People like me.

Our ancestors were conquered generations ago, and their defeat became a punishment passed down to their children and grandchildren. We are born to serve the royal and noble families. Some work in the kitchens, others clean the palace, tend to the stables or perform whatever labour they are assigned.

Being born bound means your freedom is not entirely yours.

And unfortunately, I was born into one of those families.

To make matters worse, I am an Omega.

My wolf rank is considered one of the weakest in the kingdom. Being born into a bound bloodline only makes my position worse.

I am practically at the bottom of everyone's list.

And the royal family makes sure I never forget it.

I hissed as I pressed a wet cloth against the marks on my back. The skin was still tender, and even the slightest movement made me wince.

All because I woke up a few minutes late.

The servants' bell had rung before sunrise, but I had been so exhausted that I didn't hear it. By the time I rushed out of bed, the others had already gathered.

The punishment was immediate.

A few lashes across my back, just to remind me that bound servants were not allowed to keep the royal household waiting.

"Odessa?"

I looked towards the doorway.

Cleo stood there, holding a small basket against her waist. Her eyes moved to the marks on my back.

"Do you need help?"

"No."

"At least let me..."

"I said no, Cleo."

She sighed but didn't argue. She knew how stubborn I could be, especially when I was angry.

And I was very angry.

"I heard they are preparing everything for the ceremony," she said.

I gave a humourless laugh.

"Of course they are. The entire kingdom must stop breathing whenever the royal family has something to celebrate."

"Odessa. Someone might hear you."

"Let them."

I hated the royal family, especially Alpha Edric Veyr and his son, Zane.

Edric was the reigning Alpha of Norvale. He had ruled for years, and now he had decided to take a new Luna before stepping down and handing his position to his son.

Zane was another matter entirely.

He was rarely seen among the people. Unlike his father, who regularly appeared at royal gatherings, Zane kept to himself. Most people only caught glimpses of him during important occasions.

Yet he was hated even more than his father.

Stories about his cruelty, arrogance and temper travelled throughout the kingdom. Even warriors who served under him were careful about what they said in his presence.

I had seen him a few times, and that was enough for me. He had the same royal arrogance as his father, perhaps even worse. There was something about his cold expression that made me uncomfortable.

I couldn't stand him.

"Have you seen my mother?" I asked, changing the subject.

Cleo shook her head.

"Not since yesterday."

"She was supposed to help with the preparations this morning."

"Maybe she has already been assigned somewhere else."

I frowned. My mother would have told me.

After tending to my wounds, I pulled my clothes back into place and stood.

The ceremony was important to the entire kingdom. Alpha Edric would be taking a new Luna, but nobody knew who the chosen woman was. Her identity had been kept secret until the ceremony to protect her from jealousy, gossip and what the elders called the evil eye.

I didn't care who she was.

I only wanted to find my mother.

Cleo and I stepped into the courtyard, where the palace was already filled with activity. Servants hurried from one place to another, carrying trays of food, arranging decorations and preparing the ceremonial grounds. Others were cutting meat and carrying baskets of fruits and wine.

A few unfortunate servants were being flogged for making mistakes.

I looked away. Speaking up would only earn me another beating.

I searched every corner I could reach, asking a few servants if they had seen my mother.

Nobody had.

"She will come," Cleo assured me when we stopped near the ceremonial grounds.

"You don't know that."

"She knows how important today is. I'm sure she is somewhere helping with the preparations."

Before I could respond, a loud horn sounded across the palace grounds.

The ceremony was about to begin.

The royal guards took their positions as nobles arrived in their finest ceremonial clothing. Then Alpha Edric Veyr appeared.

He walked into the ceremonial grounds wearing dark royal robes decorated with silver embroidery. His shoulders were broad, his posture straight, and his presence alone made people step aside.

Everyone bowed.

I watched him for a moment, my lips pressing into a thin line. There he was, the man whose household made our lives miserable, standing before everyone as though the entire kingdom belonged to him.

I looked away just as another figure appeared behind him.

Zane.

He wore black ceremonial robes with silver details around the collar. He stood tall, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on the gathering.

A few nobles lowered their heads as he passed. Even some of the warriors seemed uncomfortable in his presence.

He barely acknowledged anyone.

I hated seeing him almost as much as I hated seeing his father. Thankfully, he didn't look in my direction.

The ceremony began.

At the centre of the grounds stood an ancient altar decorated with white flowers and symbols of the Moon Goddess. An elder stepped forward with a silver bowl filled with sacred water and raised it towards the sky.

Then the ceremonial words were spoken.

"Avera thalen, Veyr athra, Norvale varan!"

The crowd repeated the words.

It was an ancient Urbarak motto, spoken during royal ceremonies and important gatherings.

By Avera's blessing, the Veyr endure, and Norvale stands.

Everyone bowed their heads.

The elder touched the sacred water to the altar and raised his hands towards the sky, calling upon the Goddess and the Moon to witness the union and bless the woman who would stand beside the Alpha.

After the invocation, he turned towards Edric and bowed.

"My Alpha, the Goddess has heard your call. The Moon has witnessed your vow. The time has come for you to reveal the woman you have chosen to stand beside you."

Edric stepped forward.

"People of Norvale."

His voice was deep and firm.

"Today, I stand before you not only as your Alpha, but as a man who has decided to open his heart once again. I have ruled this kingdom for many years, and I have known both joy and loss within these walls."

The crowd listened carefully.

"I have made my choice. The woman who will become my Luna has been chosen with care. She will stand beside me, share my burdens and become part of this royal family."

He paused before turning towards the entrance.

"Bring her forward."

My eyes followed his movement.

A woman stepped into view.

For a moment, I didn't recognise her.

Then I saw her face.

My breath caught.

No.

It couldn't be.

She walked towards the altar in a beautiful silver ceremonial gown, her hair neatly arranged.

It was my mother.

Celine.

I grabbed Cleo's arm.

"That's..."

My voice failed me.

Cleo followed my gaze, and her eyes widened.

"Odessa..."

I couldn't hear anything else.

My mother was standing before the entire kingdom, in front of the reigning Alpha, while everyone waited to welcome her as the new Luna of Norvale.

I blinked several times, hoping I had somehow mistaken her for someone else.

But I hadn't.

It was Celine.

My mother.

And Alpha Edric Veyr was about to make her his wife.