Chapter 1

Valerie was still sleeping when a stone hit her window, and she had to wake up. She knew it was her best friend Elora. They would be going out soon, and she must have come to remind her of that.

"Valerie!" Elora called out to her through the window. "Are you awake yet? It's almost time to leave."

Valerie popped her head out of the window. "I will be out in a few minutes. Or do you want to come in and wait?"

Elora shook her head slightly. "I still have to go back and do some touches to my makeup. See you in an hour."

Elora left and Valerie went on to get ready. They would be going to the club outside the pack to have some fun; that had been the only thing that made Valerie happy in the Pack.

She stared at the clock and it was past eleven. Since they would be leaving by twelve, and she was done getting ready, she decided to sit by the window and stare at the beautiful dark sky.

"One... Two ... Three..." Valerie counted the stars.

She heard a knock on the door and quickly lay on the bed, then wrapped herself in a blanket.

"Valerie?" Her father called. "Are you asleep?" Valerie did not reply. "She must be asleep," her father mumbled and left.

Valerie stood up from the bed and went on to gather some clothes to form a figure on the bed; a good way to make her father think she was still asleep if he or the maids ever came in.

Valerie stared at the figure on the bed covered with a blanket and her lips curved into a smile.

"Perfect!"

She took her bag, turned off the light, and jumped out of the window.

"Just in time," she heard Elora's voice.

"You're back already?" Valerie asked walking towards her. "I was about to come in and fetch you."

Elora smiled. "Well, I am here now. We can leave."

They left the Pack house and walked down the now-empty street. Most of the Pack members were asleep already and even if they weren't, they had all retired to their houses.

"Elora?" Valerie called out. "What do you think the club would be like today?"

Elora wasn't sure what Valerie meant by that. "Normal, I guess," she answered. "Or maybe even lively. I heard there are going to be some big boys from the Crescent Pack."

Elora went on to tell her what she had heard in the past hours and she smiled.

This is her best friend. The only one, aside from her father, who loves and understands her.

She smiled again. What would life have been like without Elora? Perhaps she would have been confined by the rumors surrounding her life and lost her self-esteem.

"Elora," she called out again. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Elora nodded.

"Why did you choose to make friends with me despite the rumors surrounding my birth?"

Elora stopped walking. She stared at Valerie's sad face, and all she could do was pull her into a hug.

Valerie has always been lively despite all the rumors about her being a curse. Always helping out and smiling, but tonight was different.

Elora did not know why. She just knew she needed to assure her friend that everything would be fine; she had always been a strong woman.

"It doesn't matter what others say about you. I will always be your best friend," Elora assured her, and that was enough reason to make her happy again.

She pulled away from the hug and held Elora's hand. "Then let's go have some fun!"

Elora felt happy to see her best friend smiling and feeling alive again.

She nodded. "Yes, let's go have some fun."

They left the Pack gate and entered the taxi that was already waiting for them. It has been a usual routine for them; most of the guards knew them.

During the drive to the club, they talked about what had happened at the club the day before and went on to talk about what they expected today.

The driver watched them through the mirror and smiled. He had been their driver for a year and had loved how lively they usually are when they board his car.

They got to the club and he stopped. "Have some fun!" He told them when they came down.

"Sure we will," Elora answered.

"You should have some fun too. See you in three hours," Valerie added.

The driver left and they headed into the club. The music was very loud and the club was crowded; they had to squeeze themselves through. When they finally got to the bar area, they took a stool and sat down.

"You're finally here," the bartender said. "I thought you would not be coming."

"We aren't missing this for anything," Elora answered. "Are the big boys here yet?"

"You heard the news too?" The bartender asked.

Elora nodded. "It was all over the place."

"But I had no idea about it," Valerie answered.

"You were never interested in men. Were you?" Elora asked.

That made Valerie scoff. Maybe if she were not considered a curse and they had not avoided her like she was some plague, she would have been interested in them.

"Can I have my usual?" Valerie spoke up after a while.

"Sure," the bartender answered. "I will be back, Miss Elora, to give you the full information."

What information? Valerie wondered.

"What were you both talking about?"

"Nothing serious," Elora answered. "I heard the Ice Pack Alpha has finally found their real daughter. She's been missing for twenty-four years."

Valerie nodded. There had been news a year ago that the proud daughter of the Ice Pack Alpha was not the real daughter but was switched at birth. Everyone had tried to be this missing daughter but were caught.

"I hope this time she is the real one," Valerie said and Elora nodded.

She hopes so too.

The bartender returned and handed over Valerie's drink to her.

He went on to tell them about the missing daughter. Elora and Valerie were surprised to hear that she is from the Moonlight Pack.

"Are you sure about that?" Valerie asked and the bartender nodded.

"My information is never wrong. It's from the right source."

Valerie and Elora stared at each other. There had been no news about this in their Pack.

Who could the daughter be?

"Did your dad tell you about it?" Elora asked.

"No, he did not. Did your dad tell you?" Valerie asked.

Since they both did not have any idea about it, they decided to have fun and think about that later.

"Would you like to dance?" Elora asked, standing up.

Valerie stood up too. "Sure."

They joined those dancing on stage; the crowd had reduced greatly.

After dancing for a while, Valerie told Elora she wanted some fresh air so they went outside. On their way, they met two men. One seems to be very drunk or maybe they thought he was.

They both walked past them and when he stepped on Valerie, she pushed him away.

"Watch your step!"