Chapter 1

Rory

My heart thumped so hard, it almost ripped out of my chest. My legs were shaky as I made my way towards the alpha’s office, hands curled in fists at my sides.

I didn’t know what to tell him.

I had practiced what to tell him in the last ten minutes, but now that I got closer, I didn’t know if my speech was good enough.

As I got closer to his office, I realized he sounded so furious already before I even dropped the bombshell.

Oh, goddess. What am I going to do?

He will blame me for her mischievous behavior. I looked up at the sky, hoping it might open and just suck me out of this place.

“How could she!” His voice came from his office. I took a deep breath, hoping it would calm me down, but it just got worse. My heart pounded so hard.

“Will you keep standing there? I can smell you.” His voice came from the other side of the door as I closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer.

I slowly pushed the door and then walked in.

“Where is she? Did you find out where she is?” He asked, his voice low, but the anger in it was so evident.

“She is not coming,” my voice came out low, like a whisper.

The man terrified me, even though he is my father; I have never seen him act warm towards me in years. He treats me no better than a slave. Only because of one sin—I’m wolfless.

I fought back my tears, clenching my dress tight. The events of the last hour are playing on my mind. I found out the man I have always loved ever since we were kids just eloped with my sister.

“Useless. As always!” he shouted.

Nothing new there. I know that in the eyes of the alpha, I am useless.

I glanced at Chuck, my father’s beta, through lowered eyes. He looks at me pitifully but shifts his attention to my father.

I blinked back my tears, holding on to the last self-respect I had for myself. I won’t cry in front of this man. I won’t give him more ammunition to insult me.

“What are we going to do, Chuck? The man will be arriving in fifteen hours. We have no bride,” my father said, sounding defeated as I stood there. Thankfully, I am wolfless, so I am not an option.

I said a silent prayer to the moon goddess for sparing me from such a fate. Getting married to a man who goddess knows, and then he lives with no pack. From the rumors, he is a scarred man that no one dares to look at his face. If you see his face, that’s the end of your life.

No wonder Lucienne said no. No person would ever want to be tied to such a man—a monster.

“We will think of something, Adrian. We still have the night right, right?” Beta Chuck comforted him, and I just stood there waiting to be dismissed.

My father knows there’s no option for unmated she-wolves in our pack, so I don’t know where he will find a woman willing to marry a monster.

“We can call for a meeting, let all the elders bring their daughters,” Beta Chuck suggested, and I heard a growl coming from my father.

“What are you still doing here?” He snapped his head towards me; his voice laced with disgust as I lowered my head.

“You can go, Rory,” Beta Chuck said, and I bowed my head before heading towards the door. I shut the door behind me, letting out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.

That man terrified me.

I will never understand why he hates me so much. I mean, it’s not like I am the only wolfless person in this pack. So many people don’t have wolves, yet it’s only me he loathes. I still remember how he would always call me his princess when I was young, until seven years ago when I came out, still in my human form.

I stopped near the staircase, glancing at the door I had just come out of. “Serves you right for being an asshole.” I made a face before making my way downstairs to my little haven.

“Rory!” My mother’s voice came laced with so much anger, and I stopped in my tracks, looking at the woman who was the first person to walk away from the ritual when she discovered who I was.

My heart thundered,  clenching my dress. No. Goddess.

“Lu—” I didn’t get to finish my sentence before she slapped me hard across the face, whipping my head to one side.

“What did you do with my daughter?” She fumed, her chest rising and falling, eyes red, and her lips trembling.

“Mom—”

“Shut up! No daughter of mine is cursed!” She growled as tears stung my eyes, my cheek pulsing from the slap she gave me.

I blinked back my tears as she came closer. “I know you had something to do with her disappearance. I can’t prove it, but I know scum like you will do anything to embarrass the alpha,” she said, her eyes drifting over my body with a look of disgust on her face. How could she look at me like that? She was my mother, the woman who would come running when I fell and hold me until I was better. How could she think I would ever want to humiliate my family?

“I didn’t have anything to do with Lucie—” Another slap landed, echoing in the room.

I dropped my head, letting the tears finally fall. I had refused to cry in front of my father, but the pain my mother inflicts is worse than my father’s. A part of me hoped she would be merciful to me.

“Linda!” she yelled at the top of her voice, eyes still on me.

“Take her to the hole. Hit her until she tells you where Lucienne is.”

“No, Mom, please,” I pleaded. I knew what those lashes meant for me. My heart pounded so hard, and tears fell from my eyes.

Jared and Bruno grabbed my arms, dragging me away. “Mom! Please,” I pleaded, my voice breaking, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Mom,” my voice broke.

She lifted her hand, making Jared and Bruno stop in their tracks. A bit of hope filled my heart as I breathed heavily, looking at her.

“Mom…I didn’t—”

“Jared, make sure Petra is there. I want her to be awake the entire time until she tells me what I need,” she ordered, my mouth going ajar, and the warm tears fell from my eyes.

“Mother…” the word came out barely audible, but she turned away, her heels clicking on the floor.

“Let’s go,” Jared said, dragging me out of the pack house.

“Mom, please!” I pleaded, my throat hurting, but she was already gone.