Chapter 1

Hazel's Pov

    "Ahhh..." 

The scream ripped from my throat as I ran through the woods, twigs lashed at my bare skin and leaves whipping across my face and arms. 

My breath coming fast with every pace, the ground beneath my feet, uneven and slick --- threatened to pull me under, but I pushed forward, faster. 

My thin nightgown was torn to ribbons by branches which stuck out from its trees, my skin exposed. My heart pounded, each beat echoing in my ears, panic clawed in. 

Run. Just run. 

I heard a loud growl behind me, echoing through the darkness, as the moon casted its eerie glow, fear shot through me as I kept running. Whatever was chasing me was getting close, its footstep heavy and relentless. 

But my legs grew weak, my breath came in ragged sobs and I couldn't keep going. 

Suddenly --- sharp claws slashed across my body, pain exploded through me. I was thrown to the ground, crashing hard against the cold earth. I screamed, my throat raw and desperate. Blood dripped from my skin, warm against the chill of the forest floor. I saw a faint shadow of the creature as I took to my pace again, it was undoubtedly...

A Rouge. 

We hadn't had a rogue attack in years, the realization struck me through the haze. Where were the guards? Why wasn't anyone helping? I navigated how I got into the woods in the first place. 

Shaking, I dragged myself beneath the thick roots of a tree, curling into the shadows my breath shallow and fast. My heart slammed against my ribs, my fingers trembled as I pressed them against my bleeding side. My wounds weren't healing. 

Silence fell, eerie and unnatural. Where did it go? Where is it? 

I peeked from the roots, nothing. Just stillness, no movement, no sounds. Just the cool breeze swaying the leaves and the distant bird chirps.

A false hope flickered. Maybe it was gone. 

Then, a soft growl, close, too close. Its hot breath brushed the nape of my neck, my skin prickled with terror. I turned, my head slow and unwilling, untill my gaze locked on its two glowing eyes in the dark. This was not just a rogue, it was something I've never seen before. Its hulking frame towered over me...

Half werewolf. Half vampire, clawed like a bear. Monstrous, a thing of nightmare.

A low but terrified gasp escaped my lips, I scrambled back on my shaking limbs, clawing at the dirt, my heart pounding. 

But too late, it lunged at me. 

    "Nooo...!" 

I jotted upright, tangled in sweat-socked sheets, my body trembled. The air around me felt suffocating as I gasped for air. 

    "Hazel!, it's just a dream!" Elena's voice broke through the haze. She gripped my shoulders, shaking me gently but firmly. Her familiar scent --- lavender and rosewater, grounded me.

I blinked at her, my breath coming in harsh gasps. My heart still raced, it hadn't felt like a dream. 

Elena offered a small, reassuring smile, though her eyes were tight with worry. 

   "Today's your mating ceremony, Hazel. You shouldn't keep the guest waiting." Elena had informed trying to pull me out of the mattress. 

How should I forget I was to be mated today? A sharp ache twisted in my chest. The nightmare faded, but reality was just like the nightmare. I shook my head slightly as I was assisted out of the bed. I took a glance at Elena whose smile never left her face. 

Later, bathed and dressed, I sat before the mirror. My reflection starred back --- pale and uncertain. The delicate gown shimmered silver thread weaving patterns across sheer fabric. It should have made me feel beautiful but instead, I felt like a lamb led to slaughter. 

Elena's gentle fingers worked through my hair, smoothing it down my back, trying to ease the unease feeling growing inside me. 

    "Don't worry." She said softly, her voice full of hope she didn't truly believe. 

   "He can't be as cruel as they say." 

I could see the worry in her eyes. Elena had been my private maid, she had cared for me since I was a child. Despite the plea to be free and find her fated mate but she had vowed to never leave my side. The thought of leaving her, stepping into a future --- I did not want, terrified me.

I was to be mated, against my will. I was to be mated to Alpha Sylus Blackwood, the most feared Alpha in Florida. His cruelty was no rumor, his thirst for blood and power was deadly.

And my father had sold me to him, for political gain. For power. 

   "I can still stop this." I turned to Elena whose gaze froze to my response. She held onto my shoulders tightly, looking straight into my eyes. 

   "No don't, Hazel." She pleaded. She could read through my mind, I was planning to elope. 

    "You don't want to go against your father... Now that Alpha Sylus had already agreed to mate with you." 

    "But..." I protested.

   "No buts Hazel" she cut in. "In due time, I'll tell you everything" 

   "Tell me what?" My gaze narrowed.

I looked closely at Elena trying to read through her facials but I saw tears instead, streaming down. Elena wasn't pained because I was leaving, her fear rested on something else, something that was far beyond what I had imagined. 

    "It's time." A maid whispered at the door. 

I turned to Elena.

   "Take care of yourself." I held onto her hands before letting go.

    "Don't worry about me Hazel... Always believe in your powers" her voice dropped dead.

Powers? Elena knew I was born without powers, my wolf haven't fully manifested yet. What power is she talking about? My mind trailed as I faked a smile. 

I stood on unsteady legs, my hands trembling as I followed the maid through the halls. The grand hall waited beyond, the place where my fate would be sealed. 

But just before we reached it, I heard familiar voices. Low and urgent, I paused in my steps as I stood close to the door, close enough to hear a whisper. 

    "I don't want you ruining this, Vespera." A male's voice intoned, apparently, it was my father's. 

    "This is our only way to get rid of her. Nyx will mate the Lycans King" 

A cold chill swept through me. Nyx...the Lycans King? My heart sank. 

   "This was the plan all along..." 

   "We all know what Sylus is," the other voice spoke which I believe belongs to my mother, her voice breaking and I could hear the sadness in her voice. 

   "He'll hurt her." 

   "She's a weak Omega." My father's voice cut in, sharp. "We don't need her." 

The words struck harder than any blow, my breath caught. My knees trembled. I pressed a hand to the wall, steadying myself as tears welled in my eyes. 

They wanted this. My own family, throwing me into a monster. 

The door creaked open.

My father emerged, his gaze sharp as flint. He barely looked at me, barely saw me as he strode past. 

My mother followed, her eyes downcast. She had always listened to my father, had always followed his devilish orders even though it might hurt her. I wanted to reach for her, to beg her to stop this. But my voice -- my courage failed me. 

I watched her vanish down the corridor.

I entered the grand hall. It was filled with wolves from many packs. The air smelled of musk, smoke and wine. 

   "Alpha Sylus really insisted on mating this weak bred?" An Elder's voice cut through the air, loud enough for my ears though meant to be whispered. The scorn in his tone stung worse than the words themselves. 

   "I doubt she can even produce an heir." Another Elder muttered. 

My heart thudded painfully against my ribs. Today was my mating ceremony, I was supposed to be joyous, radiant. But dread coiled in my belly with every trembling step I took across the marble floors of the grand hall. 

I stopped before him --- Alpha Sylus, the leader of the Blackwood pack. He stood tall, broad and well-built, with spiky light blond hair, his emerald green eyes locked on me with an unreadable expression. The dark tattoo running down his left arm seemed to pulse beneath the skin. Stories swirled around him to be ruthless, violent, drunk with power. And now...mine. 

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat. 

My father had sold me off because I was a weak Omega. I'd never manifested the strength worthy of our bloodline. As the first daughter of the Shadowfell, mating with prominent Alphas was the only way to remain relevant and in power. But since my wolf was weak, prominent Alphas refused to mate with me as I never found my fated mate. 

The rank scent of whiskey drifted from Sylus, thick and sour, mixing with the musky perfume of wolves gathered in the hall. I scanned the faces, my mother stood at the back, tears welling in her eyes. She'd never wanted this for me but my father had convinced her this was necessary. 

Then I caught Nyx's gaze, my sister. Her smirk curled in amusement as she watched from the shadows. She must have enjoyed this, to see me break and shattered. We never get along well as she was more favoured by my father.  

   "You better not ruin this." My father snapped through the mind-linked, cold and sharp. His gaze burned with warning and his smile faded. 

I forced my lips into a fragile curve and turned back to Sylus. 

Sylus towered, a statue of control. His fierce eyes never left mine, his jaw clenched and his scent suppressed in alcohol. Of course he had been drinking. 

    "Do you accept Alpha Sylus Blackwood as your mate and Alpha to stand beside him as he leads the Blackwood pack to protect and cherish as long as the moon shines above?" 

I paused in my breath, as I glanced at Sylus who was devoid of emotions. His grip on my wrist tightened, and my face twisted in pain. 

I shouldn't agree to this mate bond. Not because he was not my fated mate but having known the fact that his fated mate left him to how he had abused and tortured her. Her story haunted me and that's the same fate I was bound to meet. 

I slowly turned to my father who returned a threatened look. He had never cared, he only strived for power.

 I looked at the elder but my lips froze in response. Sylus violently cleared his throat, a low, guttural sound that rumbled deep in his chest, I flinched. He didn't like to be kept waiting --- and I knew what that meant. 

    "I do." I mumbled, swallowing the lump in my throat. 

The elder turned to him.

    "Do you accept Hazel Shadowfell as your mate and Luna to stand beside you as you lead the Blackwood pack to protect and cherish as long as the moon shines?" 

Sylus eyes narrowed, his voice dropped dead. 

    "I do." 

We were handed chalices, and as the ritual dictated, we dipped our fingers into the sacred water, marking each other's foreheads with the crescent moon symbol. 

   "By the light of the moon and the will of the pack, you're now bound as mates and leaders. May your bond be strong, and may your rule bring prosperity to us." Elder Kael intoned. 

The hall erupted into cheers and howls. I could taste the whiskey on his lips as Sylus's lips claimed mine, at first my heart fluttered but then it ached as it deepened into something feral, bruising. I gasped, trying to pull away but he held onto my waist, tight and firm. 

Finally letting go, he curved his lips into a mischievous smile as I clenched onto my dress, my heart pounding in my chest and my thoughts panicked. 

And so, it was done. I was now the Luna of the Blackwood pack, this isn't something I should be excited about ---- this was clearly death sentence. 

Somewhere in the crowd, my mother had already vanished. I searched, but I was told they had already left. 

As I could feel the heat of the ceremony to its end, I could sense a glowing red eyes lurking in the dark from a distance which bore malice and envy. 

---

Later that night...

Steam rose from the bath prepared by the maids, perfumed with lavender and wild herbs. I slid beneath the surface, the heat wrapping around my aching body, my body fragile like it would break. The warmness of the water and the sweet scent that lingered in the air brought a little comfort to the feeling of emptiness growing inside. 

But there was no comfort here. Not truly. 

After the bath, I slipped into the night gown the maid had presented. Thin silk, nearly translucent, clinging to damp skin. 

It barely covered my thigh and my cleavage could be clearly seen. I stood in front of the framed mirror starring right at my reflection, I felt exposed. 

   "Is this really necessary?" I asked, my voice soft and strained as I turned to the maid who stood beside me. 

   "Yes my Lady. Alpha Sylus will definitely appreciate it." Remi, the head maid defended.

Appreciate? No. Nothing about this night would be gentle. 

I peeped at myself again in the mirror before giving her a faint smile trying to reassure myself. 

What if Sylus doesn't like it?. My hands trembled at the thought of Sylus walking in and not finding pleasure in what he sees. 

I perched on the edge of the bed, I couldn't sleep and Sylus wasn't here. Candles flickered low, shadows dancing on stone walls but my eyes wandered in the dark as I could barely see. I waited anxiously for Sylus but my body betrayed me, I couldn't wait any longer, sleep was creeping in and my eyes couldn't retain the darkness anymore. 

Then --- the door burst open.