Chapter One: Moonless and Marked

Elara's POV

I sat by the stream, hugging my knees to my chest, watching how the dark water swallowed every hint of moonlight. My twenty-second birthday. Another year mate-less. Another year of whispers and pitiful looks.

“She’s cursed,” they always said. “Forgotten by the Moon Goddess.”

Footsteps crunched behind me, and I turned slowly. Three she-wolves stepped out from the trees, smirking like hungry wolves circling a wounded deer.

Maren led them, her blonde hair tied high, her eyes glittering with malice. “Look at her,” she said, voice dripping with disgust. “Sitting here all alone like the pathetic little rat she is.”

I stayed quiet, trying to stand up, but Lysa shoved me back down. “Where do you think you’re going, curse girl?”

“Leave me alone,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Leave me alone,” Maren mocked in a high-pitched voice, making the others giggle. She crouched in front of me, eyes scanning my face with disgust. “No wonder no one wants you. Look at you. Filthy little omega, smelling like herbs and dirt.”

“I didn’t do anything to you,” I whispered.

“That’s the problem, isn’t it?” Rina said, stepping closer. “You exist. Taking up space. Breathing our air. Acting like you’re better than us just because your mother was the pack healer.”

I shook my head. “I never said—”

“She never said,” Lysa mocked, laughing loudly. “Your mother’s dead, Elara. Dead and rotting in the ground. And here you are, still pretending anyone cares about you.”

My chest tightened, but I stayed silent.

Maren tilted her head, studying me with a cruel smile. “You know what I heard?” She leaned closer until I could smell her mint breath. “I heard your wolf is so weak, it can’t even show itself. That’s why the Moon Goddess abandoned you. You’re nothing. A worthless, cursed mutt.”

“Leave me alone,” I whispered again, voice trembling.

Maren’s smile widened. “Or what? You’ll cry to your dead mother? Or maybe to your drunk stepfather who can’t stand the sight of you?” She grabbed my chin and forced me to look into her eyes. “Pathetic. No wonder no one’s claimed you. Who would want a useless breeder who can’t even shift?”

Rina and Lysa laughed behind her, their voices shrill like hyenas. Rina stepped forward and dumped a handful of dirt onto my hair, rubbing it in. “Here. Now you look how you’re meant to be.”

“Stop…” I tried to push her away, but Lysa grabbed my arms from behind, holding me still.

“Why stop?” Maren asked sweetly. “She should be grateful we’re giving her attention at all. No one else will.”

Tears stung my eyes. My wolf whimpered inside me, curling up, powerless.

Maren raised her hand to slap me again, but a deep, cold voice cut through the darkness.

“Enough.”

They froze. My breath caught as a tall figure stepped out from the shadows, eyes glowing faintly in the moonless night.

“Leave her. Now.”

Maren lowered her hand, trembling slightly. “W-We were just—”

“I said leave.”

His voice was deep, commanding, and filled with warning. Without another word, they scrambled back into the trees, disappearing like frightened pups.

I was left shaking, dirt in my hair, tears on my cheeks. He looked at me, and something in his gaze made my wolf stir violently, clawing at my chest.

Mine.

But before I could speak, before I could even stand, he turned and walked away, vanishing into the forest.

“Wait!” I called after him, but he was gone.

I sat there alone, broken and humiliated, the laughter of those girls echoing in my ears long after they’d gone. And I couldn't even tell who he was.

That night, I lay on my thin mattress staring at the ceiling of my small room. My mother’s herbs still lined the shelves, her scent had long faded. She died five years ago, leaving me with Torran, my stepfather. A man who only saw me as a burden or a tool.

I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, but every time I blinked, I saw the stranger with stormy blue eyes. My wolf trembled in my chest, restless and desperate.

Suddenly, loud knocks boomed against the door. I sat up, heart racing.

“Elara! Get out here!”

It was Torran. His voice was slurred with drink.

I scrambled to my feet and opened the door. He stood there with two guards flanking him, their eyes cold and blank.

“Pack your things,” Torran ordered.

“W-What? Why?”

He didn’t look at me. “You’re leaving.”

“Leaving? Where? Why?”

He shoved a rolled parchment into my hands. I unrolled it with trembling fingers. My breath caught when I read the seal. Silvermoon Pack. Alpha’s mark.

“I don’t understand…” I whispered.

Torran finally met my eyes. There was no warmth there, only annoyance. “You’ve been promised to the Alpha heir.”

My mouth fell open. “Promised… as what?”

He scoffed. “As a breeder.”

“No…” I shook my head violently. “No, please. You can’t do this.”

He grabbed my wrist hard, his grip bruising. “I can and I have. You’re worthless here. At least now, you’ll be useful.”

“Torran, please…” Tears welled in my eyes. “I’ll work harder. I’ll take extra shifts in the infirmary. Don’t send me away like this.”

“You think I care?” He leaned close, his breath reeking of ale. “You’re just payment for my debts.”

My vision blurred. “You sold me off…?”

He let go of me with a shove. “Take her.”

The guards stepped forward. One grabbed my arm while the other pulled my hair back, forcing my head up.

“Please!” I screamed. “Please don’t do this! I’m not a breeder. Please, I beg you!”

Torran turned away without another word. My tears fell freely now, soaking the front of my dress. The guards shackled my wrists with silver cuffs that burned my skin. I cried out in pain, but they ignored me.

“Walk,” one barked, shoving me forward.

I stumbled out into the cold night, my bare feet scraping against the gravel path. The moon still hid behind dark clouds, refusing to shine on me.

As we reached the gates, I twisted back, searching for Torran. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, watching me go.

“Please,” I sobbed. “Please don’t do this. I’m your daughter…”

His eyes narrowed with disgust. “You were never my daughter.”

The gates slammed shut behind me.

I choked back another scream as the guards dragged me into the waiting carriage. Chains rattled around my wrists and ankles. My wolf whimpered inside, powerless, caged like me.

The carriage jolted forward, carrying me away from the only home I ever knew. My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

This was real. My stepfather had sold me off like livestock. No goodbye. No mercy.

I pressed my forehead against the carriage window, staring at the passing trees blurred by tears. My wolf curled up inside me, silent and broken.

And for the first time in years, I realised… I was truly alone.