Chapter 001

Crystal’s POV

The moon was too full tonight. Too bright and shiny that I hated it. I hated the moon and anything that reminded me of the Moon Goddess. How could she be this unfair to me when I hadn't even done anything wrong? 

I guess the only thing wrong I did was being born into this family. But that wasn't even in my hands. If I could choose, I would've chosen a peasant family that didn't remind me everyday how I was a disgrace to them. 

I stared awkwardly, standing in one of Rachel's old dressed that she no longer wore. Yes, that was my life. Getting hand-me-downs from my YOUNGER SISTER! MY YOUNGER STEPSISTER! 

How much more miserable can one be? 

"Fix your posture, Crystal" a cold voice scolded me from behind. "And move. If you're going to be sulking all the time at least do it like someone born in a family of class" my mother spat and walked past me into the ceremonial gathering.

My mother... How weird that sounded. She was nothing like a mother to me. I preferred calling her Luna Cersera. That's who she was. The sole ruler of our pack, the Crescent Blood Pack. My father, the former Alpha had died after my birth and she remarried to a member of the council who died after Rachel's birth. 

And still I was the only one in the pack who looked at her skeptically for all this. It's like no one, no one at all thought it was strange both her husbands died after she gave birth. Well, she was one hell of a ruler, no one dared defy her. Her warriors wasted no time in executing any opposer. It was like she bewitched them all.

I sighed and took a step forward to go in but Rachel and her friends rushed past me, brushing me aside and making me trip over the dress. I fell facedown flat to the ground.

Great! Perfect timing!

"Oops, didn't see you there. Must suck to be so insignificant" Rachel said with fake concern. She looked stellar in her silver and white dress that was newly made for her.

"I guess this is what having no wolf causes. You're literally invisible. That's one free ability!" Tracy, her friend said and they all laughed. Daughters of warriors and council members. 

I looked up at them with my hands and legs on the ground as I crouched to stand. I gritted my teeth in anger but I immediately put myself in check. The last time I laid a hand on Rachel, she dislocated my arm easily and cried to Luna Cersera who made sure I was starved throughout that day.

She was insanely strong for her age. She was blessed with a rare snow-white wolf. And she was obviously the Pack's favourite. So touching her was like touching the Luna herself. It was a crime. I held myself and stood up, dusting the gown that Rachel herself wore before it was given to me. 

"Nothing to say?" She taunted with a smirk. I knew she was itching for me to say or do something so she could humiliate me further. 

“You should be honored you’re even allowed here,” she added, voice still low, but sharp enough to cut. “Most wolfless girls are hidden by now. Mother says it reflects poorly on the bloodline.”

I kept quiet. I wasn't going to give her that satisfaction. 

"I guess that's it. See you inside. Or I won't. You'll even be unnoticeable there" she snickered and laughed off with her friends as they went inside. 

I arranged myself and went inside alone. The only reason I was here was because Luna Cersera insisted on it. Not out of hope. Not out of love. Just appearance. 

I clenched my hands to keep them from trembling. The Ceremony hadn’t even started yet, and I was already counting the seconds until it would end.

Because no matter how many alphas visited, no matter how many packs gathered, I was still the girl with no wolf.

No howl.

No future.

The music started as the elders stepped forward. It was beginning. Several invited alphas entered, taking seats at the honourary section. Tall, handsome, powerful looking young men. I made sure not to look their direction because none of them were there for me.

Girls lined up, forming elegant rows before the altar. They glowed under the moon’s blessing, hair coiled, smiles fixed. My sister stood at the front, radiant in her silver and white, like she’d already been chosen.

And maybe she had.

She had a wolf by twelve. I never shifted.

She was adored for her strength. I was humiliated for my weakness.

She was Luna Cersera’s daughter. I was the family’s crack in the mirror.

She was basically everything I wasn't.

I was patiently and uncomfortably waiting for everything to happen quickly so I could go back home to my miserable life at least away from plenty eyes.

Then the doors opened and cold swept into the entire hall. Everybody, the invited alphas, the elders, even Luna Cersera had to turn to the door to see the owner of this chilling aura. 

I looked in the direction of the cold and saw the most menacing figure I had ever seen in my life. A towering figure with well sculpted muscles and build and most noticeable of all, red burning eyes.

Everybody began whispering. "Who invited him?" "Why is he here?" "This is bad. This is a misfortune" 

After standing for some seconds and making sure his presence was felt, the uninvited intruder walked to the throne and faced Luna Cersera. 

I looked at her expression and that was the first time I had ever seen fear in her eyes. She had never feared anything or anyone before and this was new.

"Adrian...Alpha Adrian Caul... We didn't hear of your arrival" she said in calculated breaths.

Adrian Caul? THAT Adrian?

I had heard so many rumours about him I didn't know which to believe. The one which he killed his own father or the one which he makes his pack sacrifice children for his own power or the one which he is cursed to never have a mate, fall in love or have children. There were just so many rumours about him and they were all as chilling as his presence here.

"To put it truthfully, I was not invited" he said and placed one foot on the throne's step, leaning forward to Luna Cersera.

She trembled slightly in her own throne. But I could see she was still struggling to keep up and unfazed demeanour.

"So what brings you to Crescent Blood today, Adrian Caul?" She asked.

"I came for my mate. My wolf told me I would find my mate here today" he said coldly and turned around, looking at all the girls in the ceremonial gathering.

Then his eyes fell on me. Instantly, our eyes locked and my legs immediately felt weak. 

"Bring me all your best girls" he ordered and looked away from me.