Chapter 1 Aurora POV

“You’re nothing! You’re useless! You should have died with your parents!”

The cruel words echoed in my mind as I jolted awake, my heart hammering against my ribs. The same nightmare, the same voice, Luna Morgan venomous tone that had haunted my sleep for six years. My body trembled as I lay curled in the old trunk beneath the back staircase, surrounded by moth-eaten tablecloths.

This cramped storage space had been my bedroom every night since that terrible day. Somehow, my tormentors never found me here, though I could hear the pack elite searching the halls above. Through the damaged grate, I would crawl past decades of discarded furniture to reach this hiding spot, the only place where I felt marginally safe.

But even here, sleep brought no peace. Most nights, I was plagued by memories of the attack that killed my parents, of the pack elders’ accusations against my father, of the flames that consumed our home with me trapped inside. Yet recently, my dreams had shifted. Instead of nightmares, I found myself in the arms of a faceless mate who whispered promises of rescue and protection. In those dreams, strong hands would wipe away my tears, and a gentle voice would tell me that my suffering would end. I would wake with tears on my cheeks, desperately wishing those dreams were real.

Six years ago, everything changed. I went from being the Beta’s cherished daughter in a home filled with laughter to a cursed existence. Alpha Magnus couldn’t look at me without seeing betrayal. Luna Morgan, once a smiling aunt, became bitter and cruel. Their son Tristan, my former best friend and the boy I’d once dreamed might be my mate, now encouraged others to torment me in the most creative ways possible.

The first beating destroyed any hope I’d clung to. When Tristan found me hiding in the gardens, I thought he’d come to help. Instead, he dragged me by my hair into the Great Hall during lunch, throwing me onto a table as dishes crashed around me. While I cried and begged for mercy, he announced my new status: I was no longer Aurora, the Beta’s daughter. I was a “slave” nothing more.

No kindness. No help. No home. No belongings. Just a target for everyone’s rage over the rogue attack that killed their loved ones. A vessel for their hatred, their need for revenge against someone who couldn’t fight back.

I forced myself to focus on the present. Dawn was breaking, and I needed to finish my chores before the pack finished breakfast. Friday meant Seraphina cakes, the sweet aroma made my stomach clench with hunger. Mrs. Avalon sometimes tried to save me one, but she was always caught.

Crawling through the grate, I checked that no one was watching before racing up the servants’ stairs. Twelve beds to change, twelve bathrooms to clean, and all the laundry to gather before breakfast ended. My hands moved automatically, muscle memory guiding me through the routine.

“SLAVE!” The bellow froze my blood. Luna Morgan voice always meant pain.

I dropped the laundry and spun around, immediately bowing my head. “Yes, Luna!”

“You worthless creature! The guest floor, why haven’t you prepared it? The thirteen most powerful Alphas on Earth arrive tomorrow, and you’re embarrassing this pack with your incompetence!” Her face was inches from mine, spittle flying as she screamed. “Moon Goddess, why were we cursed with you!”

“But Lu—”

CRACK! Her hand connected with my cheek, and I hit the floor hard. Stars exploded across my vision as pack members gathered to watch the show.

“Look at that trash girl,” someone whispered with disgust.

“She deserves everything she gets,” another voice murmured.

“Should have died with her traitor parents,” came a third whisper, followed by cruel laughter.

“How dare you speak back to me! I saved you from exile, from becoming a rogue! I SAVED YOU!” She continued her tirade, but her words became muffled as darkness crept at the edges of my consciousness.

When I focused again, she was finishing: “…arrive tomorrow! If those rooms aren’t perfect, I’ll correct the mistake I made years ago and banish you myself!”

She strutted away, followed by the disappointed spectators who had hoped for more entertainment. I struggled to my feet, pressing my hand to my swelling cheek. The familiar crunch of bone told me it was broken again. At least it wasn’t my jaw this time.

Fighting back tears, I gathered my supplies and headed to prepare the entire pack house for the arrival of the twelve Alphas. Every room needed to be spotless, every surface gleaming, every detail perfect. The main hall, the dining rooms, the common areas, the offices, and yes, even the guest quarters. It was an impossible task for one person, but I had no choice.

These were the guest quarters, all forty of them. I was never going to get this finished in time. Room after room, lunch came and went. Room after room, the setting sun told me it was dinner time but I could not stop until my chores were finished. Room after room, I still pushed on, though my eyes are so heavy and it was getting late.

The bed looks so comfortable, perhaps I can just rest my head for a moment before I finish. Blackness calls to me, pulling me under.