CHAPTER 1

Sylvia

My hands shook as the guards pushed us into the preparation chamber and I tried to make myself smaller among the other slaves selected for tonight's service. 

The Lunar Conjunction came once every ten years and this was my first time being chosen to serve at the feast where all five packs would gather.

"Strip," The head guard commanded and we all knew better than to hesitate.

I pulled off my rough servant clothes and stood naked with eleven other humans while the wolves circled us like we were livestock at market. 

My skin burned with shame but I kept my eyes on the stone floor and counted the cracks to distract myself from what was happening.

"This one has scars," A female wolf said, grabbing my shoulder to spin me around so everyone could see the whip marks covering my back.

"Disgusting," Another wolf muttered and I bit my tongue to keep from making any sound that might earn me more punishment.

They inspected us for what felt like hours and found fault with everything. 

Maria got slapped for having dirt under her fingernails even though we had been scrubbing floors all morning. 

Thomas received ten lashes because his ribs showed too much from hunger and the wolves said it was unsightly. 

When they found a bruise on my hip from yesterday's beating they kicked me hard enough to add three more.

"Humans are so fragile." The head guard laughed and the other wolves joined in like our pain was the funniest thing they had ever seen.

After the inspection they dressed us in clothes that made me want to disappear. The fabric was so thin it might as well have been air and it barely covered anything important. 

The dress they forced on me was cut low in front and high on the sides and every movement threatened to expose more skin than I could bear to show. 

The other slaves looked just as miserable in their matching outfits and we all understood the message these clothes sent. We were not people but decorations meant to make the wolves feel superior.

"Remember the rules." The head guard said as servants painted our faces and fixed our hair which in my case meant rubbing more ash into the white strands that kept trying to show through the black dye. 

"Keep your heads down and never look a wolf in the eye or speak unless spoken to. If you spill even a drop of wine, you will wish you were dead."

My stomach twisted into knots as they led us into the great hall where hundreds of wolves had already gathered. 

The room was massive with tables arranged in careful hierarchy with the most powerful Alphas seated closest to the throne where Alpha King Lucian would sit. 

The noise was overwhelming with wolves laughing and talking, and the smell of roasted meat making my empty stomach cramp since we had not been fed since yesterday.

The wolves wore silk and jewels while we wore rags designed to humiliate us. They ate from golden plates while we were lucky to get scraps. They sat on cushioned chairs while we stood until our legs gave out. 

Every single thing in this room was designed to remind us that we were nothing and they were everything.

I took my assigned tray of wine goblets and started serving, trying to be invisible as I moved between the tables. 

Most wolves ignored me completely which was the best I could hope for but some made a game of trying to trip me or grabbing at my dress as I passed. 

I learned to dodge without looking like I was dodging because defending yourself was considered an insult to wolf superiority.

One wolf stuck his foot out and I barely managed to step over it without spilling the wine and another grabbed the back of my dress and pulled until I heard the fabric tear. 

They all laughed like my fear was entertainment and I just kept walking because stopping would make it worse.

When I reached Beta Hunter's table my whole body tensed because he always found special ways to make me suffer. 

His hazel eyes tracked my movement as I approached and that familiar sick smile spread across his face.

"Well, well. Look who they dressed up for us." He sneered, his hand shooting out to grab my wrist before I could pour his wine.

He pulled me closer, his other hand tracing along my exposed collarbone while his friends at the table laughed and made crude comments about human slaves. 

His fingers dug into my skin hard enough to leave marks and he leaned in so close I could smell the meat on his breath.

"You look almost pretty tonight little slave," He whispered, his hand moving lower down my arm. 

"After the ceremony I think I will request you for private service and we can explore just how much pain a human can take before they break."

His fingers traced the bruises on my wrist from last week when he had held me against the wall and whispered all the things he wanted to do to me.

I had to stand there and take it because fighting back meant death. Even now his touch made my skin crawl and my stomach turn, but I kept my face blank because showing disgust would earn me twenty lashes.

"Maybe I will keep you for a whole week this time," He continued, his hand moving to my waist. "See how long it takes to make you beg. I enjoy it when you try to stay quiet"

My hands shook so badly I almost dropped the wine pitcher but I managed to pour his goblet without spilling. 

He held my wrist for another moment and squeezed until I felt the bones grind together then finally let go with a promise in his eyes that made me want to run and hide forever.

I continued serving and moving through the crowd, my feet hurting from standing all day without rest but I pushed through the pain. 

Near the back of the hall, I noticed something strange and there was an area where no wolves would go. The tables around it were empty like everyone was avoiding that spot.

In the shadows sat a lone figure at a table by himself and as I got closer, I could see other servants deliberately walking around him even though it meant taking longer routes. 

But I could not skip anyone or I would be punished so I forced my feet to carry me toward the dark corner.

The man did not look up when I approached and did not acknowledge my presence at all. 

His black hair had strange silver streaks through it and even sitting down, I could tell he was massive and built like someone who had spent their whole life fighting. 

Scars covered the parts of his arms I could see and there were strange markings that looked like tattoos but seemed to shift in the candlelight.

The air around him felt different and colder somehow and my instincts screamed at me to run but I had no choice. 

I had to serve everyone or face punishment and the memory of my last whipping still made my back ache.

I poured the wine as quickly as possible and just wanted to get away from whatever danger this wolf represented. 

My hands trembled and I could feel sweat running down my spine despite the cold emanating from him. 

But as I turned to leave, my foot caught on the uneven stone floor and I stumbled forward, watching in horror as red wine splashed across his chest.

The goblet fell from my tray and clattered against the ground with a sound that seemed to echo through the entire hall.