Chapter 1 - Guests

Lilly POV

"You worthless piece of shit!" Sade's harsh, cruel words cut through, making me freeze as her hand connected with my cheek, sending me to the floor. I bit down on my jaw, suppressing the urge to whimper, my cheek burning where she just struck me.

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I focused on the cold, hard ground beneath me.

"That is precisely where you belong," she sneered. Her brown eyes turned black with hate and anger. "On the floor!"

She stepped closer, grabbed me by the hair, and forced me to look up at her. "Now clean this mess before I lose my temper. You don't want my mother to see this mess!" She threw me onto my back, causing my head to collide with the floor.

Fear gripped me, knowing that her wrath would only escalate if I didn’t act quickly. Dazed and disoriented, I struggled back to my knees and started to collect the bits of the broken porcelain teacup on the floor.

I internally sighed.

It's been like this as long as I remember. I was blamed and punished for everything—even for the simplest things—even when it wasn't even my fault.

This time Sade's tea wasn't to her liking.

This was my life, and there was nothing I could do about it. Escaping wasn't an option. There was nothing for me out there. Not a mate. Not a future.

Besides, who would want a she-wolf like me?

I accepted my destiny. My purpose. I would forever serve the house of Axel Black—not that I have ever seen a picture of him... Rumor has it that he served in the Royal Army and died protecting the King. His death left Angelica, his mate, heartbroken while raising their child.

Maybe that's why she was so cold and cruel toward me—she never got over the loss of her mate...

My mind shifted to myself—I couldn't remember much about my childhood. The only solid memory I had was the sound of angry snarling, crying, and screaming, followed by huge angry flames consuming everything in their path.

Prior to that, I am unable to recall any details—not a single face, scent, or sound. It was as if everything about my past was erased.

The emptiness of those lost years gnawed at me, leaving a hollow ache in my chest.

I often wondered if the fire had not just destroyed my home but also my very identity, leaving me to piece together who I was from the ashes of memory that had long since faded.

Angelica found me in a deserted warehouse, and I was naive enough to believe she actually cared for me. She looked like an angel with long blond hair and big green eyes. She told me that my parents had died and she was now my guardian.

I didn't ask any questions. I naively believed her and followed her home. However, I soon discovered that the angel-like woman was nothing but a cold-hearted monster under all that pretty skin.

I used to have hope—I believed that one day my prince in shining armor would break down the Black's front door, sweep me off my feet, and save me from this hellhole. However, fate scattered those dreams on the night of my eighteenth birthday.

I was a wolfless wolf. I wouldn't be able to leave this place. Heartbroken, my dreams of a mate and purpose in life disintegrated into a million pieces.

A breath escaped my lips as my fingers skillfully picked up the last pieces of broken porcelain from the floor, while an audible breath escaped my lips.

My life wasn't all that bad—especially when I started to dream of him.

Every night, when I went to bed in the early hours of the morning, he waited for me in my dreams. I didn't know his name, but he made my life so much better with his presence. He was my only friend.

My heart ached in my chest just thinking about him. He was perfect—pure muscle, strong, tall, and handsome. He was friendly, kind, and full of life; he made me feel loved. He became the light in my darkest night.

His stormy grey eyes were always full of life, his embraces were always comforting, and his smile was warm. He didn't care that I didn't have a wolf. He didn't care that I had no rank or who my family was.

He only cared about me.

My heart warmed, thinking back at all the long conversations we had. The way he teased me, his tender touch, and his powerful laughter.

I could feel the tension growing and the small electric sparks running between us with every touch. His sweet scent, reminiscent of chocolate and cherry pie, always made my mouth water with the desire to taste him. I felt safe with him. He felt like home.

Every night, just before sunrise, we would say goodbye and dance until he disappeared from my dreams.

"Oh, Sade," Angelica snarled from the stairs. "What did the wolfless brat do this time?"

Sade was a spitting image of Angelica. They both were blessed with long blond hair, high cheekbones, a set of giant breasts, and natural full lips. The only difference between the two was their eye color. Men naturally gave them a lot of attention.

Angelica pointed at the mess on the floor.

"I got scalded by the tea!" Sade cried out. "My lip hurts! I have a blister, see!"

It was a typical lie—there was no blister on her lip—but arguing would only get me into more trouble.

A cold, vile smile followed on Angelica's perfectly painted red lips as she descended the remaining stairs.

She stopped in front of me, grabbed a handful of my hair, and yanked my head forward.

I came crashing down headfirst on top of the broken pieces. The sharp pain shot through my skull, blurring my vision as I gasped for breath. Something warm ran down the side of my face—I wasn't sure if it was blood or tears.

"Now you listen to me, you little brat!" She yanked my head up and growled in my face. "This is your last warning! If you can't behave yourself, I'll sell you off to the highest…!"

An urgent knock sounded from the front door, interrupting Angelica's thoughts.

"Are you expecting someone?" she hissed at Sade.

"No," she replied, shaking her head.

"See who it is," Angelica ordered.

"But Mother!" she exclaimed. "It is Lilly's job, not..."

"Now, Sade!" Angelica snarled, cutting her off.

Sade huffed, rolled her eyes, and hurried out of the kitchen.

Angelica turned her attention back to me, her eyes pitch-black—her wolf had taken control. She lifted her hand and extended her claws to strike me again.

"Mother!" Sade's anxious voice came from down the hallway. "Come quick...!"

Something like fear crossed Angelica's eyes when she heard someone—a man's voice—coming from the foyer. She quickly lowered her hand and let me go.

"This isn't over!" She spat and deliberately stepped on my hand with her heel before she rushed out of the kitchen.

A moment later I heard Angelica's voice anxiously greet the unexpected guest, and I abruptly wondered why she was acting so nervous...

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