Chapter 1

Aria

“Watch your step, Mum,” I said softly. Her once-strong, now frail hand trembled nonstop on my shoulder as I helped her out of the wheelchair and into our home. It was a pity how my mother, once a respected and loved Beta of our pack, could barely walk because of her terminal illness, becoming a shadow of the woman she used to be.

Her eyes watered, her small smile heartbreaking. “I’m not that fragile, Ari. Once my treatment is done, I’ll be running again in no time.”

I couldn’t find it in me to be as hopeful. The doctor said I needed to clear her medical bills before they’d proceed with treatment. I’d been picking up three jobs, cleaning the pack house and running errands, just to keep her alive.

You’d expect the daughter of a Beta in one of the most powerful packs in the northwest not to work herself to the bone, but my father deserted us long ago. He couldn’t care less if she died.

I sighed, exhaustion wearing bone-deep. “Let’s get you to bed. You’ll have a few hours alone before Leo gets back from school. I’ll bring leftovers from my pack house gig.”

Her hand met mine. “Thank you. I don’t know how I’d live without you.”

“Anything for you, Mum. I love—”

A high-pitched moan cut through my words. We froze at the crack of her bedroom door.

My father was thrusting into a blonde woman, their backs to us. “Fuck yeah!” he groaned, pulling her hair as their skin met hard. “This feels so much better than that corpse I’m married to.”

My father. An ordinary wolf who earned the love of a Beta’s daughter. My mother made him, gave him her title, gave him her father’s house and this was how he repaid her? Anger flooded my veins as I looked at Mum’s pale face. She didn't deserve this monster.

The blonde giggled. “I thought she’d be dead by now. Why is she taking so long?”

“Her omega daughter keeps working to the bone. I thought cutting them off would hasten it, but I’m done waiting. I’d kill her with my bare hands to be with you.”

A gasp left Mum’s lips. They froze and whipped around.

“What the fuck are you doing here, creep?” the blonde screamed, scrambling to cover herself.

Mum stared only at my father, who didn't even bother. “Why, Richard?” she whispered, tears falling from her hollow eyes. “After everything I did for us.”

He snorted, pulling on his underwear. “Get over yourself, Martha. That was a long time ago. How long do you want to keep milking that cow?”

“You are disgusting,” she whispered, gripping her wheelchair. “I regret everything.”

“You should be happy for me! We were going to wait until you died to save you the pain, but why wait when I can just break the bond?”

“Don’t do that!” I screamed. “You could kill her!”

He rolled his eyes. “Shut up, weakling. You’re my biggest disappointment, a weak wolf who can’t even shift. I refuse to claim you. You’re nothing but a bastard.”

“Don’t speak to my daughter like that!” Mum’s voice cracked with sudden rage. “She’s more of a man than you’ll ever be!”

My father’s face darkened, and the blonde touched his arm. “Don’t worry about them, Richard. They aren’t worth it. You have a real woman now.”

The blonde leaned casually against the vanity, running a hand over her collarbone. Light caught the silver chain against her skin, a delicate crescent moon pendant studded with emeralds. Grandfather had given it to Mum the day she became Beta.

Mum’s breath hitched, her rage collapsing into raw disbelief. “Is that...” Her voice trembled. “Is that... my necklace?”

The blonde twirled the pendant with a mocking smirk. “Oh, calm down, old hag. Richard gave it to me this morning. Said you wouldn’t be needing it, considering you’re as good as dead anyway.”

The world went dead silent. All my bone-deep fatigue and humiliation collapsed into white-hot fury.

“Give me that,” I snarled.

Before my father could move, I lunged forward, hooked my fingers through the chain, and yanked. Beads shattered across the floor as the blonde shrieked, clutching her neck.

“Get over it.” My mum muttered. “You can steal everything, you should handle losing this one.” 

“You stupid bitch!” she growled, lunging toward my mother.

“Get your hands off her!” I roared, slamming my palm into the blonde’s chest and throwing her back onto the bed.

“You useless bitch!” My father’s roar echoed.

Before I could turn, his heavy hand struck my face. Vision flashing white, copper flooding my mouth, I hit the floor hard.

“Ari!” Mum screamed.

Fist curling into my hair, my father yanked my head back and hauled me across the floor like trash. “I’m done with both of you parasites! This house goes on the market tomorrow. Get off my property!”

He shoved me out the front door into the gravel driveway. A second later, a harsh metallic scrape echoed as he violently pushed Mum’s wheelchair out behind me. The wheels caught the ledge, tipping over with a sickening crash. Mum screamed as the gravel tore through her thin dress.

“Mum!” I scrambled across the dirt, ignoring my own cuts and swelling cheek. I pulled her trembling body into my arms as her chest heaved with hysterical sobs.

“I’m sorry... Ari, I’m so sorry,” she wept into my shoulder. “I ruined your life... I couldn’t protect you...”

“Shh, don’t, Mum,” I whispered, swallowing blood as I gently uncurled her fingers. I slid the snapped crescent pendant into her palm and folded her hands over it.

I wiped dirt from her cheek, forcing my hands to stop shaking. I couldn't break down. If I broke down, we both died.

“Listen to me,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I’m taking you to Sarah’s house. She’ll look after you and Leo tonight.”

“Where are you going?” she sobbed, terror in her eyes.

“I have to go,” I said, glancing at my cheap watch. “My shift at the pack house starts in twenty minutes. If I’m late, they won’t pay me. We need it now more than ever.”

I helped her up and pushed her down the dirt road toward Sarah’s. Above us, the pale glow of the full moon cut through the dark canopy of trees.

I looked up at the sky, my heart curling into a bitter knot.

Moon Goddess, I thought, staring at the cold light that offered no warmth, no protection, and no mercy. What did we ever do to deserve this?