Chapter 1

Aria's POV

I woke up to the sound of my aunt’s voice shouting my name.

“Aria! Get your lazy self out of bed!”

My heart jumped, I rushed out of the small room I slept in. It was a space barely big enough for a bed and an old drawer. My feet hit the cold floor as I ran downstairs.

Aunt Clarissa stood by the sink, holding a half burnt pan. “You forgot to clean this last night. Do you think food cleans itself?”

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, reaching for the pan.

“Sorry doesn’t fix anything!” she snapped, smacking me across the arm. “You are good for nothing, your parents left you as a curse.”

I kept quiet, talking back only made things worse. She then threw a pile of dirty clothes on the floor.

“Wash these before your uncle gets home and don’t touch the couch. You will ruin it with your filthy hands.”

“Yes, Aunt Clarissa.”

“Speak up!” she shouted again, slapping the counter.

“Yes, Aunt Clarissa,” I repeated louder.

She gave a short nod and turned away. “And fix your hair, you look like a stray dog.”

I touched my tangled hair and bit my lip, there was no point arguing. Living here has become survival, since my parents died in a car accident, my uncle and aunt took me in.

I was fifteen then now I was twenty four, and nothing had changed, I wasn’t family, I was a worker they didn’t pay.

As I bent down to pick up the clothes, Aunt Clarissa added, “Remember, the Draven family is hosting a gathering tonight. Your uncle might bring guests, don't show your face, people like you make others uncomfortable.”

“Yes, Aunt Clarissa,” I whispered.

She looked at me, smirking. “You should be grateful we even let you stay here, wolves like us don’t get to live free among humans easily. If the authorities find out you are not registered, you will end up in a cage.”

Her words stung, everyone in this world knew about werewolves, but most humans avoided them. After years of peace treaties, the wolf clans lived quietly, pretending to blend in but not every wolf had the same rights, not orphans like me, with no pack to claim me.

By noon, my uncle came home, looking tense. He always smelled of cigars and expensive cologne, and he walked like someone who owed more than he could ever pay.

“Aria,” he said in a cold tone, “make me coffee.”

“Yes, Uncle Richard.”

As I prepared the drink, I heard him and Aunt Clarissa talking in the next room. Their voices were low but sharp.

“They gave me another deadline,” he said.

“You promised you would settle this last month,” she hissed back. “We can’t keep hiding from them. Do you want the pack council to come knocking?”

“I have a solution,” he said. “They will send someone tonight.”

I paused, listening harder.

“Who?”

“Someone from the underground circle. They said there is a way to clear the debt if I offer them something valuable.”

“Something valuable?” she repeated, then went quiet. I heard her laugh and suddenly it was short and cruel. “You mean her.”

I froze, my hands shook.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said. “She is of good blood, her mother was from a high ranking family before she ran off, they will pay very well.”

“She is your niece.”

“She is a burden, this is business, Clarissa.”

I gripped the edge of the counter, my heart was pounding, they were talking about me.

That night, I cleaned the entire house until my back ached. Aunt Clarissa didn’t say another word, but she watched me with strange satisfaction, like she already knew what was coming.

Around 10 p.m., I was washing the last plate when I heard a car stop outside. The headlights flashed through the window.

My uncle stood up from the couch and straightened his shirt. “They are here.”

Aunt Clarissa smiled faintly. “Good, let’s finish this.”

I turned around, my chest was tight. “Who is here?”

“Go to your room,” my aunt said.

I didn’t move, the front door opened before I could ask again. Two men stepped in, they were both tall, both clearly wolves. Their eyes glowed faintly amber under the light; it was a sign of dominance.

The first one spoke. “Mr. Winters.”

“Welcome,” my uncle said nervously. “Please, come in.”

The second man looked around the house, his gaze stopping on me. “This must be her.”

My stomach dropped.

My uncle cleared his throat. “Yes, this is my niece, Aria Winters. She is unclaimed, twenty four years old, with a strong bloodline.”

I took a step back. “Uncle, what’s going on?”

He avoided my eyes. “It’s nothing bad, Aria, they are here to help us. You are going to a better place.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere,” I said quickly.

“Aria,” he said, his tone hardening, “Don’t make a scene.”

The man nearest to me spoke in a calm voice. “It’s already arranged, you will come with us.”

“No,” I said, backing away. “You can’t make me.”

Aunt Clarissa rolled her eyes. “Stop acting dramatic, you should be grateful if someone even wants you.”

“Want me?” My voice shook. “You sold me?”

My uncle finally looked at me. “You owe us, Aria. We raised you, fed you, kept you safe, now it’s time to repay the favor.”

“I didn’t ask you to!” I cried. “You used me!”

Aunt Clarissa crossed her arms. “And you will finally be useful, stop whining.”

One of the men stepped closer. “We don’t have time for this.”

“Don’t touch me!” I shouted, but he grabbed my arm tightly, his hand was like steel.

“Let me go!” I screamed, trying to pull free, but the other man moved behind me and covered my mouth.

“Be quiet,” he said in a flat voice. “You will only make it harder.”

“Please!” I tried to yell against his hand, tears spilling down my face.

My uncle turned away. “Just take her, do what you have to.”

“Uncle Richard!” I shouted when the man’s hand loosened for a second. “Please, don’t let them take me!”

He didn’t look back. “This is your fate, Aria, don’t fight it.”

I kicked and struggled, but they were too strong. One of them pulled out a small syringe and my eyes widened.

“No, please,” I begged. “Don’t-”

A sharp sting hit my neck, my body jerked, then I went weak. My knees gave out, and the room started spinning.

Aunt Clarissa watched silently, sipping her wine. “Finally,” she muttered.

My vision blurred, and the man holding me spoke in a low voice near my ear. “Sleep, little wolf, you will wake up to where you belong.”

I tried to say something, but my tongue felt heavy. The last thing I saw was the front door as they dragged me outside.

The car engine started, my uncle stood on the porch, his hands were in his pockets, pretending not to see me, my aunt waved once almost cheerfully.

The cold air hit my face, and then everything went black.