No Wolf. No Pack.

Seraphina

Cold air slapped my face before I even understood what was happening. The trunk opened and light poured in. “Out!”

Rough hands grabbed my chains, I didn’t move fast enough so they dragged me. And then, I was thrown.

My shoulder hit the gravel first, as the chains on my wrists rattled. Laughter followed. Boots and voices. “Is that her? The Luna who killed her Alpha and his Beta?”

“ That's her.”

I pushed myself up slowly. Wolves gathered within seconds, drawn by curiosity and hatred for Crescent Moon “She murdered the crescent moon Alpha, and his Beta.” A warrior said out loud.

“ Crescent moon wolves are never to be trusted. We need to be careful.” Another shouted.

“ She should’ve been killed, bringing her here is a disaster!” Another shouted.

“She deserves to be hanged, why did they send her here?”

Something hit my back. Then another, rotten food, stones, whatever hands could grab. I didn’t dodge. I didn’t flinch. I just stood there, letting it land, because fighting back only gave them more reason to.

Guards shoved me down a narrow stairwell and threw me into a holding cell packed with wolves. The moment the door slammed, the air shifted. A wolf snarled. “She’s not one of us.”

I glanced at her direction, and another stepped back like I was poison. “Get her out.”

One of the guards chuckled. “That’s the Luna who killed her Alpha and his Beta.”

Suddenly panic erupted. “I won’t stay here with her!”

“She’s cursed!”

“Take her away!”

Hands slammed against the bars. The guards laughed harder, clearly enjoying it, before dragging me out by the arm and threw me into a narrow, stone cell by myself.

The cell was barely wider than my outstretched arms, damp and cold, I stayed standing.

A soft sound came from the neighboring cell. Chains shifting. “You won’t last if you keep standing like that.” The voice came.

I turned slightly, careful not to step too close to the bars. A man sat curled in the shadows next to me, his hair streaked with gray, wrists scarred raw where silver had eaten into his skin.

“I didn’t ask for advice,” I said.

He huffed a quiet laugh. “You’re new here?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“Your offence?”

“They say I killed my Alpha.”

Silence, then he let out a dry laugh. “They all say that. SilverShade doesn’t care. Guilt or innocence is the same thing here.”

My throat tightened. “What is this place?”

“A fortress. A war pack. Strength is law.” He coughed. “And our Alpha… he’s worse than the walls.”

My heart thudded. “Worse how?”

“You're from Crescent Moon Pack, right?”

My fingers tightened around my chains. “Yes.”

“Our Alpha doesn’t take Crescent Moon slaves lightly,” he muttered. “He hates your pack.”

“Hate? I only thought we were rivals” My throat felt dry. “Why?”

“Last pack war,” he said. “Crescent Moon killed his father. Tore this place apart. Ragnar was younger then. By the time the fighting stopped, his father was dead and half the warriors were buried, others taken as slaves to Crescent Moon.”

“And since then?” I asked quietly.

“Since then,” he said, "he harbours revenge. He captured one of your elders during the truce. Keeps him locked up like insurance.” He coughed into his fist. “But that wasn’t enough. Never enough. He still looks for ways to hurt Crescent Moon. Trade deals, punishments, slave transfers… anything that makes them bleed.”

I swallowed hard. “Then what kind of Alpha is he?”

“He doesn’t shout. Doesn’t rage.” Another cough. “He just looks at you… and you feel like prey.”

I didn’t ask for more. I didn’t want to know.

*******

The next morning, metal clanged. “Out! All slaves out!” Chains unlocked. We were herded upstairs, ten of us.

A tall woman stood waiting. Sharp eyes, tight bun and a cruel mouth. “I’m Vanya,” she said. “ The Head Maid. You obey me or you don’t eat. Simple.”

No one spoke.

She walked down the line, inspecting us like livestock.

“You. Kitchen.”

“You. Laundry.”

“You. Stables.”

Then she stopped in front of me. Her eyes dragged over my face. “Oh…” she smirked. “The fallen Luna.”

Silence spread.

“So soft. You must’ve lived in silk sheets.”

“I…”

SLAP.

My head snapped sideways.

“You speak when asked.” She shoved a heavy bucket into my chest. “Scrub the west hall. Every tile. If I see one stain, you start again.” The bucket nearly pulled me down.

I nodded.

“Good,” she said sweetly. “Let’s see how royalty handles dirt.”

The work never ended. Scrub, rinse, carry and repeat.

My arms shook. My knees burned. By noon my vision blurred.

“Faster!” Vanya barked.

“I’m trying…”

A kick hit my ribs. “Try harder.”

The floor tilted, darkness crept in. And then…Nothing.

Water slammed into my face. I gasped awake. “Get up,” Vanya snapped. “Slaves don’t faint. They work.”

My body screamed. But I stood, because falling meant worse.

TWO DAYS LATER

I was cleaning the main hall alone. The marble stretched endlessly. My reflection looked like a ghost.

Footsteps approached. Slow, deliberate. I looked up and it was Vanya with three omegas.

“Well,” she said lightly. “Still breathing?”

I stayed silent.

She stepped closer. “Hold her.”

Hands grabbed my arms.

I struggled, surprised. “What are you…”

A lighter clicked, then flame. Heat brushed my cheek. “Let’s mark you properly,” Vanya whispered. “See how pretty a scar looks on a fake Luna.”

“HELP…!” I screamed, struggling with their grips.

“What’s going on here?” Everything froze.

The omegas dropped me instantly. Vanya stepped back like she’d been burned.

They all bowed low. “Alpha.”

Boots echoed across the marble flow, a slow, measured step. I forced myself to look up. Then I saw him.

Tall, broad shoulders, dark clothes. Eyes like winter steel. His voice, not loud, just… controlled. More frightening than any shout.

Alpha Ragnar.

His gaze slid to me. Then to the lighter. Then to Vanya. “Explain.”

“She….she was being difficult, Alpha. I was disciplining…”

“Leave!”

Quickly they scattered. Everywhere went silent.

He studied me like I was a problem to solve. “You’re the revoked Luna,” he said.

Not a question. “Yes.”

“You killed your Alpha and his Beta.”

My throat closed. “…That’s what they say.”

“And you don’t deny it?”

My fingers curled. “I don’t remember anything.”

His eyes sharpened. After a long moment, he said, “From today, you clean my chamber.”

My heart skipped. His… chamber? Servants nearby gasped quietly. That wasn’t normal. That wasn’t safe. That was dangerous. For reasons I couldn’t explain.

“No,” I said. The word slipped out before fear could stop it.

His brows lowered slightly. “Repeat that.”

My heart hammered so hard it hurt. But something inside me stubborn and furious refused to bow.

“I said… no.” I repeated. Even the air seemed to stop moving.