Chapter 1

Keira's pov

"We are so proud of you Maya." My mother gently caressed my sister's cheek with affection.

"You've brought great honour to this family and tomorrow we would be the envy of all the families in the kingdom." She continued.

She glanced at me for a fleeting moment and the joy in her eyes diminished.

"At least one of you are good at something." She muttered and her words pierced through me like every other time.

I should have been used to the snarky comments but they hit they're mark at me every single time.

It wasn't a secret I was a great disappointment to my parents and my family. I was everything my perfect sister was not. Beautiful, gracious and blessed with a beautiful wolf.

My parents had been worried when I was unable to transform and they tried everything within their power, including visiting seers, to nudge my wolf out . Eventually they knew it was helpless and gave up.

I watched the light and love in their eyes slowly sip away as the years passed by.

"You are about to become a queen to the entire Kingdom." My father's voice boomed with pride.

"Do I really have to marry him?" My sister asked in a tiny voice and the room went dead silent.

"How can you even ask that?" My mother's face pinched into a frown.

"We are honored that the Lycan king chose our family, it is the greatest privilege that could be bestowed upon us." My father explained, irritatedly.

"But he is crippled." My sister pointed out in a loud cry.

"You must never say that out loud again Maya." My mother dramatically slapped a hand over her lips.

"Crippled or not he is still the Lycan king and such an utterance could get our entire family killed or banished." My mother said, exasperated.

"Why can't Keira marry him?" My sister suggested and I froze as all eyes turned to me.

"Do you want to bring disgrace and shame to this family Maya, is that your plan?" My father's voice boomed angrily at the suggestion and my heart sank.

"How could you suggest such a ridiculous notion? Keira is wolfless, she's weak. The Lycan King would banish us once he discovers she is not a true wolf." My mother looked at me sadly for a moment.

I could take their anger, hate and despise but what I couldn't bear was the sickening pity in her eyes as though I was a shame she couldn't decide what to do with.

"Keira." My mother called out as she approached me from where I stood at the corner of the room.

"Tomorrow is a big day for your sister. We can't have any mistakes." She said in a firm voice as she looked at me pointedly.

"Don't do anything to embarrass this family." Her eyes pleaded with me.

"And more importantly remain in the shadows and don't draw attention to yourself." She concluded and I nodded mutely.

Her eyes searched mine and she seemed satisfied with what she saw there because she let out a breath before she walked away.

As tears pricked my eyes, I slipped out of the room and made my way to my bedroom.

"Tell me who put years in your eyes and I will make them pay peace." Asher, the rogue King, startled me and I gasped.

"I told you to stop coming in through my window Asher, anyone could have seen you." I bolted my room door behind me.

"If you really meant it you wouldn't leave your window open every single time." He grinned at me as he strolled until he stood in front of me.

"Besides everyone knows it's just a matter of time until I make you my Luna and mark you as mine for the whole world to see." He shrugged.

Despite myself I offered him a wobbly smile as his words held some truth and his life washed over me.

I couldn't help but wonder how I had gotten lucky in the midst of all the chaos around me.

Everyone in my back was as surprised as I was when Asher started paying me visits and announced he wanted to make me his mate.

My parents couldn't be happier since they had finally found a way to rid themselves of me and I was overjoyed because I had fallen in love with the charming rogue King.

Asher was the only person who had seen me for me and had loved me with all my flaws and inadequacies.

"What is wrong peach?" Asher asked, using his fingers to gently wipe away a tear from my cheek.

"It's nothing, really." I tried to turn away from him but he gripped both of my shoulders and held me in place.

"Don't do that. I told you not to hide away from me." He looked at me pointedly and I crumbled under the intensity of his stare.

He already knew how everyone treated me in my family and I thought he would be repulsed when I told him I didn't have a wolf but he was unfazed.

"They are all damn fools. They should be privileged that you would be attending their wedding." He gritted out as his eyes darkened.

"I should attend with you." He announced and my eyes bulged.

"That is not necessary. My mother already warned me about diverting the attention from my sister tomorrow and being with you always raises a few eyebrows wherever we go." I pointed out and his frown deepened but he remained silent.

"I hate seeing you cry because of them." He grunted.

"It doesn't matter, I'm used to it." I shrugged as he wrapped his arms around me and I melted into him.

"It's just a matter of time before I take you away from this place." His words vibrate against my head which is placed in his chest.

I heard the promise behind his words and my heart swelled with hope as I believed him.