Chapter 1

Chapter 1

AVALINE

The hot water burned my hands as I furiously scrubbed the grease from another plate, but I barely felt it anymore, as I had gotten used to it.

 Pain had become my constant companion over the years, it didn't matter if it came from the pain of doing endless hours of labor or the deeper wound that was in my chest every time I watched Dion and Alistar pour their attention on Solaya while treating me like the gym underneath their shoes. Absolute trash.

I should have known better by now. I should have stopped hoping that they would see me as more than an orphaned servant girl, who they owed their lives to. 

 But hope was a stubborn thing, clinging to my heart like a parasite that refused to die no matter how much poison I fed it.

The kitchen door was suddenly thrown open with such force that it slammed against the stone wall, making me jump and nearly drop the plate I was holding. I turned around quickly, wondering what could have happened for this noise to happen in the first place only to see Solaya standing at the doorway looking furious.

Before I could even understand what was going on. She slapped me so hard that I saw stars dancing around my vision. The slap stunned me sending the plate falling from my hands and shattering on the ground into million of pieces.

"You heartless bitch!" Solaya screamed, her voice was filled with rage as she pointed her fingers at me and continued speaking. "How could you do this to me? How could you be so cruel?"

I held my stinging cheek, staring at her in shock as I had no idea what she was talking about. 

"What are you talking about? I haven't done anything to you."

"Don't you dare lie to me!" She stepped closer, her face filled with pure hatred for me as she continued speaking.

"You know exactly what you've done, so don't you dare play the innocent card now. Alpha Monroe is sending me as an offering to that monster Zirael because of you! Because you're mated to his sons!"

The words felt like I had been punched out of breath as I staggered back a bit. I had discovered the mate bond just days ago, that invisible thread that linked me to both Dion and Alistar. 

I had been so hopeful, thinking that surely they would have to accept me now. That the Moon Goddess herself had chosen me for them.

"How is that my fault?" I whispered, my voice barely audible to be heard. "I didn't choose this any more than you did."

Solaya's laugh sounded bitter and cruel as she shook her head and continued speaking.

 "If you hadn't been mated to them, you would have been the one to go to Hidden Haven. I would have been safe here, loved and protected. Instead, I'm being sent to that nightmare of a territory where werewolves are despised and killed for sport. I'm going to die, Avaline, and it's all because of you!"

. I had heard the stories about Zirael, the ruthless Lycan King who ruled over Hidden Haven with an iron fist.

 They said he was a monster who showed no mercy to those who crossed him, especially werewolves. The thought of Solaya being sent there filled me with guilt as there was one thing that Zirael didn't stand and that was werewolves. Rumors had it that he never let any werewolf in his pack, but allowed other supernaturals. It was a red zone for wolves like us.

"Solaya, I'm sorry, I never meant—"

But she was already moving, her face filled with malice. Before I could react, she grabbed a wooden spoon from the counter and hit it against her own arm with enough force to leave a mark. Then she did something that made my blood run cold – she screamed.

Her scream was so convincing that I almost believed she was actually being hurt. She turned and ran from the kitchen, her cries loud enough to be heard miles away as I stood frozen in shock.

My heart was beating fast against my ribs as I realized what she had done. I dropped the dish towel and ran after her, barefoot to stop her but I was too late.

I found her in the main hall, surrounded by Dion and Alistar, tears rolling down her face as she clung to Dion's shirt.

 The sight of them together, of the way they held her so protectively, made me jealous as they never treated me like that.

"She tried to burn me!" Solaya sobbed, her voice filled with genuine anguish as she wiped her tears and continued speaking.

 "She said I deserved it, that I was going to get what was coming to me. She said she was going to be the new Luna when I was gone, that she would finally have what she always wanted!"

"What?" Dion's voice was quiet, but I could see the rage building in his dark eyes as he looked up at me. 

"You did what?"

"I didn't—" I started, but Alistar cut me off with a snarl.

"You sick, twisted little bitch." His face was twisted with disgust for me as he helped Solaya to her feet.

 "After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us?"

"I didn't do anything!" I protested, desperation making my voice break and sound higher like I was experiencing puberty for the first time. 

"She's lying! She hurt herself and—"

"ENOUGH!" Dion's roar silenced me instantly. He stood slowly, his huge frame overshadowing mine as he glared at me with pure hatred.

  "Guards!"

Several pack warriors appeared as if from thin air, their faces grave as they awaited orders from their Alphas. I had known these men since I was a child, I had served them meals and mended their clothes, but now they looked at me like I was a stranger. A threat to be taken care of.

"Take her to the woods," Dion commanded, his voice cold as ice as he added. "It's time she learned what it feels like to burn."

"No, please, you can't—"

The guards didn't wait for me, as they grabbed my arms, dragging me toward the door despite my struggles to break free from them. I looked back desperately at Solaya, who was still clinging to Alistar, but there was something in her eyes that made my blood freeze. A moment of satisfaction which was quickly hidden behind her tears.

She had planned this. All of it.

The night air was cool against my skin as they dragged me through the forest. I could smell the smoke from the bonfire long before I saw it, and my stomach clenched with terror as I realized what was happening.