Chapter 1

I wiped my clammy hands on my jeans as I walked toward my father's office. I was all nerves. My father had given me five years, and the deadline was almost up. My heart felt like it was beating outside my chest.

I reached the office and hesitated before knocking.

"Come in," he called.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. I slipped inside and waited for more orders. My father's green eyes were on me, hard and unfriendly.

"Sit," he allowed.

I did as he asked.

My father's voice always raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Today was no different. "Tomorrow night is the winter solstice," he stated.

I swallowed nervously. "I know, Beta." My father never allowed me to call him 'Dad.' Only my sister, Angela, had the right to call him that. I was the murderer and disgrace; she was his pride and joy.

"You do know what that means, do you not?" he asked.

"I know."

"Today is your final year of grace—not that you deserved it—but Andrea would have wanted me to be merciful."

My heart skipped a beat at the sound of my mother's name.

He pulled out some pictures and placed them on his desk. "Look at them. These are your potential husbands. I just have to decide who will pay more for you."

My stomach turned at his words. My gaze fell on the pictures of middle-aged men, old enough to be my father but influential enough to buy me as a wife.

I stared at the pictures in disgust, my stomach churning. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.

"Do you remember your promise?" my father asked, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.

I forced my gaze up to meet his. "I do," I whispered, my hands trembling in my lap.

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Five years, Stella. I gave you five years after you failed to shift at eighteen. Five years of disgrace for this family. If you don’t find your wolf by tomorrow, you know what happens."

"I will shift this time," I said quickly, the words spilling out of my mouth before I could stop them. "I’m sure of it. I—"

"You’ve said that every year," he interrupted me, his voice low and menacing. "And every year, nothing. Do you think I enjoy looking at the daughter who killed my wife? Who disgraced the family of the Beta?"

My breath caught in my throat, the familiar sting of guilt clawing at me. "I didn’t—"

"Don’t," he snapped, his hand slamming down on the desk. "You’re alive, and she’s dead. Because of you."

I flinched, the sound of his hand hitting the desk echoing in my ears. "I’m sorry," I muttered. My mother had died giving birth to me. He had never forgiven me for her death.

"Sorry won’t save you. I gave you grace because Andrea would have wanted that." His voice softened for just a second, but then it hardened again. "But I won’t wait any longer. Your beauty is the only thing you have left. I’ll sell you to the highest bidder."

I could feel bile rising in my throat, my stomach twisting painfully. "Please," I begged, my voice shaking. "I’ll shift this time. I know I will. The Moon Goddess—"

"The Moon Goddess doesn’t care about you," he hissed, cutting me off. "Why would she? You’re a disgrace. A failure. Do you think I believe your pretty little lies? I’ve already made arrangements. You either shift tomorrow, or you’re gone."

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to hold back the tears burning in my eyes. "I will shift," I whispered again, though the words felt hollow.

My father snorted, leaning back in his chair with a cold smile. "Sure you will. Or next time, you’ll be sitting in another man’s office, taking orders from him."

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "I’ll shift," I repeated, the words sounding more like a desperate plea than a promise.

"If you say so," he said, dismissing me with a wave. "Now get out of my sight."

I bowed and left his office, shaking. When I opened the door, I found my sister Angela waiting.

Angela grabbed my arm, her nails digging in just enough to hurt. "Tomorrow’s the night," she repeated, her voice sickly sweet. "You ready to fail? Again?"

I jerked my arm free. "I won’t fail," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

She laughed, flipping her hair back. "You say that every year. Just accept it—you’re no wolf, Stella. You're just a pretty face waiting to be sold off."

My fists clenched, but I kept walking. "I’ll shift," I muttered.

"You keep telling yourself that," Angela called after me. "Don’t worry, though. Father’s already picking out the perfect buyer."

Before I could retort, the sound of footsteps and laughter echoed down the hall. I glanced up to see the high-ranking sons—Aaron, Jacob, and Marcus—strutting toward us, with none other than Eliza Morrigan, the Alpha’s daughter, right behind them. Angela’s friends, of course.

“Well, if it isn’t the Beta’s Omega,” Aaron sneered, his eyes raking over me like I was dirt.

Jacob grinned. "How does it feel, being the first-born of a Beta who can’t even shift?"

"Must be embarrassing," Eliza added, her voice full of fake sympathy. "A Beta in title but an Omega in everything else."

Angela smirked, falling in line with them. "Don’t be too harsh on her. Tomorrow’s her last chance, after all."

Laughter erupted around me, and I felt my face burn with shame. I turned to leave, but Angela blocked my path, her smirk widening. “Come on, Stella. Don’t run off. You can join us at the private bar tonight. After all, this might be your last night as a free woman.” Her tone dripped with mockery.

I knew better than to resist. If I refused, they’d just drag me along. So, I nodded, my heart pounding as I followed them to the pack house’s private bar.

The moment we stepped inside, Aaron tossed his jacket on me. “Hang that up, would you, Omega?”

I clenched my jaw, hanging it on the rack as more laughter erupted from the group. The air was thick with alcohol and cruelty.

“Get us drinks,” Jacob ordered, lounging back in one of the leather chairs. “You know where everything is, right?”

I nodded, moving to the bar to pour them their drinks, my hands trembling as I worked.

“Look at her,” Marcus said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “She’s just here for decoration, isn’t she?”

Aaron laughed. “Too bad she’s wasted on us. Someone will pay a good price for that ass.”

My cheeks burned, but I bit my tongue, forcing myself to focus on mixing their drinks.

“She’s a pretty face and nothing else,” Eliza chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. “Can’t shift, can’t fight. All that beauty’s just a waste.”

Angela, sipping her drink, shot me a smug glance. “Father’s just being practical. If she can’t shift, might as well sell her off. At least someone will find a use for her. In their bed.”

Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back, setting the drinks down on the table. As I turned to leave, Marcus grabbed my wrist, yanking me back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” His grip was firm, and the lustful look in his eyes made my skin crawl. “Stay a while. We could use some more... company.” His eyes fell to my chest.

“I’ve done what you asked,” I said, trying to pull my hand free.

Aaron’s smirk grew. “Aw, don’t be shy, Stella. You’re good at following orders, aren’t you?"

Eliza laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Too bad she’s useless in every other way.”

I felt trapped, like prey surrounded by wolves. But I kept my head down, knowing there was no escaping this nightmare until tomorrow.

They drank more, their laughter growing louder and more obnoxious with each passing minute. I kept to the edges, trying to stay invisible, but it never worked for long.

Aaron’s hand snaked out and caught my arm, pulling me closer. “Come here, Stella. You’ve been avoiding us all night,” he slurred, his breath hot against my neck. “We want to show you a good time.”

I yanked my arm free, stepping back, but he staggered after me. “Don’t be shy,” he grinned and grabbed for me again.

Before I could react, Marcus was at my other side, trapping me. “Come on,” he purred, eyes clouded with alcohol. “You’re practically family. We should get to know each other better.”

My heart raced, and I shoved Marcus hard. He stumbled backward, his eyes widening in surprise before narrowing with anger. But before he could do anything, Angela stood up, enraged. She was drunk, too.

“You think you’re better than us?” she sneered, staggering over. “You should be grateful someone even wants you. You’re nothing but a failure.” She slapped the cigarette out of Aaron’s hand, picked it up, and then grabbed my wrist.

“I’m sick of your pretty little face. Maybe I should fix it.”

I struggled, my heart thumping wildly as she brought the lit cigarette close to my cheek, her grip tightening. “Stop!” I pleaded, but she wasn’t listening.

“You should appreciate the attention,” she hissed. “This is the only future you have—getting sold off or used. Why don’t you just accept it?”

The cigarette got so close that I could smell it. I clenched my eyes shut, bracing myself for the burn. But just as it was about to touch my skin, a deep voice cut through the chaos.

“That’s enough.”

Silas. My heart skipped a beat.

The Alpha’s son stood in the doorway, his dark eyes fixed on me and Angela. His presence was commanding. Everyone froze. Angela let me go, dropping the cigarette to the floor, and stepped back.

“What the hell is going on here?” Silas asked, his voice cold.

Angela began to stammer, “Just teaching my little sister a lesson.”

Silas’s cold gaze shifted to me, his eyes hardening. "Non-shifters are not allowed here. That includes the Beta's wolfless daughter. Get out."

His words stung, but I was grateful for the opportunity to leave.

I got up, nodding, and with that, I escaped, running past Silas Morrigan. My longtime crush.