CHAPTER 4 — THE WOLFLESS HEIRESS

Twenty years later, Arabella Draven had grown up.

But Alpha Lucian Draven still could not bring himself to look at his daughter.

From the moment Mira died, something inside him had changed.

He could not separate the child from the woman he had lost.

To Lucian, Arabella had become a painful reminder of the day his fated mate died.

The child he should have loved became, in his grief, the reason he had lost the woman he had loved more than anything.

So he gave Arabella to someone he trusted.

A midwife in the Omega quarters named Elara.

Elara had been there when Arabella was born. She had held her when she cried through the night. She had fed her, dressed her, protected her, and watched her grow.

Everything Arabella needed was sent to the Omega quarters.

Clothes, food, books and more.

Anything the Alpha deemed necessary for his daughter.

But never himself.

Arabella grew up knowing that she was the Alpha's daughter, yet rarely seeing the Alpha himself.

She only saw Lucian once in a blue moon.

And every time she did, she tried to make him see her.

To see his daughter.

To love her.

Even when a part of her had already accepted the painful truth that her birth had been followed by her mother's death.

Everyone knew Arabella was the Alpha's daughter.

Everyone knew she was the firstborn.

The heiress.

But titles meant very little in the Omega quarters.

Arabella grew up as an heiress in name only. She scrubbed floors alongside the servants, carried heavy water jugs, and served wine to visiting alpha lords who had no idea the quiet girl filling their silver cups was the Alpha’s own blood.

She lived for the breadcrumbs of her father's attention.

She grew up watching other daughters of powerful families being trained in royal chambers while she carried baskets, helped in the kitchens, and served guests who sometimes did not even realize the girl pouring their wine was the Alpha's own blood.

Sometimes, she wondered if it would have been easier if nobody called her an heiress at all.

Maybe then she would not have to keep wondering why she had never been treated like one.

But there was one thing that kept her hoping.

She still remembered the day her heart broke for the first time. She had stood near the courtyard pillars, watching Alpha Lucian laugh warmly as he wrapped his arms around Seraphina, her stepsister, also the daughter Luna Evelina had with her late husband, the late Beta of Blackridge who died during a war. He kissed Seraphina’s forehead with so much pride, brushing back her hair with gentle, loving fingers.

Unable to stop herself, an eleven-year-old Arabella had stepped into the light. "Father... why don't you ever look at me like that? Why don't you talk to me?"

Lucian’s face had hardened into stone. His voice was a razor. "Because every time I look at you, I remember that your mother is dead because of you. If your wolf awakens, perhaps you will prove you are worth the sacrifice. If it doesn't... you are useless to me."

For nine years, Arabella lived on those brutal words. She prayed to the Moon Goddess every single night: Please. Just give me my wolf so my father can love me.

Because if her wolf awakened, maybe her father would finally look at her differently.

Maybe he would finally see his daughter instead of Mira's death.

Unlike her stepsister, Seraphina.

Seraphina's wolf had awakened early.

Beautiful.

Strong.

Sharp.

She had been trained by the best warriors in the territory and was already known as one of the most promising young women in the pack.

Everything Arabella wasn't.

Now, on her twentieth birthday, she stood in the center of the cold stone

The Omega quarters were unusually bright that morning.

A few of the women had gathered around Arabella with small gifts.

“Happy birthday, Arabella!”

“May the Moon Goddess bless you.”

“Twenty already.”

Arabella smiled weakly.

“Thank you.”

Elara approached her and placed a hand against her cheek.

“Today is your day.”

Arabella lowered her eyes.

“I know.”

But Elara knew better.

She knew what today meant.

At twenty, a wolf should have awakened.

And if it didn't…

There would be no more waiting.

No more hoping.

Arabella stepped outside alone.

She looked toward the pale moon still fading in the morning sky.

“Please,” she whispered.

“Just this once.”

She closed her eyes.

“Give me my wolf.”

Nothing occurred.

Her chest tightened.

Then footsteps sounded behind her.

The Omegas suddenly went quiet.

Arabella turned.

Alpha Lucian stood there.

His presence silenced the entire courtyard.

His eyes swept over the small celebration.

“What are they celebrating?”

Nobody answered.

Lucian's gaze landed on Arabella.

“Have you awakened your wolf?”

Arabella's stomach twisted.

“Not yet.”

“Today is your twentieth birthday.”

“I know.”

Lucian stepped closer.

“You need your wolf alive.”

Arabella looked at him.

He continued, his voice firm.

“I have already made plans for your future.”

Her brows pulled together.

“What plans Father?”

“I have already betrothed you to the heir of Silvermoon Territory.”

Arabella's heart skipped.

“What?”

“Their heir is already here. He is one of the guests in the royal packhouse.”

She looked toward the distant packhouse.

Lucian continued.

“I summoned them here because today is the day your wolf should awaken.”

Arabella stared at him.

“Because your wolf is what will make you worthy of becoming their Luna.”

His expression remained cold.

“I have spent years strengthening this territory. I have already secured an alliance through my Luna's family. I will not stop there.”

His eyes hardened with ambition.

“Silvermoon will become our third great alliance.”

Arabella lowered her eyes.

“And I am part of that alliance?”

“You are my only blood daughter.”

For the first time, something almost like pride flickered in his eyes.

“You are the firstborn of Alpha Lucian Draven. If your wolf awakens, you will become the Luna of Silvermoon, and this territory will gain the strength of another powerful bloodline.”

Arabella's heart began to pound.

She finally understood.

Her wolf was not only about proving herself to her father.

It was about the future he had already chosen for her.

“You don't need anything else from me?”

Lucian's face hardened.

“I need you to awaken your wolf.”

He turned to the pack elders. "Begin the ritual."

They forced Arabella to her knees. Ancient chants filled the air as the heavy, jagged moonstone was pressed hard against her forehead.

"Awaken the blood!" the healer roared.

Searing, burning energy crashed into her veins. Arabella gasped, her ribs tightening, her heart pounding frantically against her chest. She braced herself, begging, screaming in her mind for the roar of her wolf.

Please! Answer me!

Nothing. Just an empty, hollow silence inside her soul.

"Again!" he demanded.

The stone glowed red-hot. Raw power slammed through her body. Arabella screamed in sheer agony, falling forward onto her hands and knees.

Then, dead, crushing silence.

No wolf. No shift. No aura.

Lucian stared at her.

His face held no disappointment.

Only contempt.

“You see?”

Arabella's eyes filled with tears.

“Father…”

“You are useless.”

The words echoed through the courtyard.

Everyone became still.

Lucian stepped toward her.

“Twenty years. Twenty years, and you still have nothing to offer this territory.”

Arabella's tears fell.

“I tried.” she whispered.

“You have always been an embarrassment.”

“Father, please…” Arabella cried.

“I do not want to see you near the royal packhouse for now.”

She looked at him in disbelief.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

His voice hardened.

“You disgrace this bloodline.”

Arabella's heart shattered.

Lucian turned away.

Then he stopped.

Without looking back, he added quietly,

“Perhaps I should have listened to my father all those years ago.”

Arabella knew exactly what he meant.

The Omega brought disaster.

Her knees nearly gave out.

Seraphina stepped forward.

Her lips curled into a smile.

“I told you.”

Arabella looked up.

Seraphina's friends stood behind her, enjoying every second.

“You are worthless.”

Arabella wiped her tears.

“I am still the Alpha's firstborn.”

Seraphina laughed.

“An heiress without a wolf?”

She leaned closer.

“That's not an heiress.”

Arabella said nothing.

Seraphina smiled.

“Just leave this territory already. Nobody needs you here.”

“You don't decide that.” Arabella defended.

“Oh, I don't?”

Seraphina glanced toward the guests gathered nearby.

“Father has been looking for stronger alliances. Do you really think he will keep wasting time on you?”

Arabella's eyes moved toward the royal guests.

One young man stood among them.

He had watched everything.

Heir Cassian Vale of Silvermoon Territory.

He had come for one reason.

Arabella's twentieth birthday.

Their betrothal.

The alliance between Silvermoon and Draven.

But now, after watching the ritual fail, his expression has changed.

This is the girl they want me to marry?

He stepped into the cold light, looking down at Arabella with utter disdain. "I came here for an Alpha's daughter. I didn't come here for a broken servant. Silver Moon needs a strong Luna, not a useless burden."

Arabella lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper against the wind. "I wasn't expecting you to accept me either. I wasn't prepared for this."

Cassian’s lip curled into a cold, arrogant smile. "I thought as much. So, therefore... I, Cassian, the heir of Silver Moon, reject you as my betrothed."

The words struck straight into her heart, shattering whatever fragile piece of hope she had left.

Cassian leaned in, his tone dropping into a ruthless blade. "After all, you are not my mate. It is just about a political alliance."

A painful silence swallowed the courtyard

“I cannot marry someone who has no wolf.” he completed.

The words cut deeper than she expected.

“Go find your pathetic mate.”

He finally declared and walked away.

Arabella stood completely still.

Her father had called her useless.

Her stepsister had called her worthless.

Now the man she had been promised to had rejected her before the entire pack.

She looked up at the sky.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

For twenty years, she had begged the Moon Goddess for one thing.

A wolf.

A reason to be worthy.

A reason for her father to love her.

But on the day she finally needed it most…

There was still nothing.

Then a cold laugh came from behind Seraphina.

Arabella froze.

Not again.

Adrian.

Lucian’s only son. The future Alpha of Draven Territory.

And perhaps the cruelest of them all.

“You’re still here?” Adrian sneered. “You are worthless.”

Arabella lowered her eyes.

“Adrian, please…”

“Pack your things and leave. When I become Alpha, I’ll make this territory a living hell for you.”

He stepped closer.

“Father only tolerates you because you carry his blood. So leave while you still can.”

“Adrian…”

“Out!”

The word struck something deep inside her.

Suddenly, a voice echoed deep from within, speaking directly into her mind, a dark, ancient whisper:

ENOUGH!

Arabella’s heart skipped a violent beat. “What? Is... is that my wolf? It can't be…”

Before she could process the thought, Adrian’s fist came swinging down toward her face.

Her eyes flashed a blinding, terrifying gold.

BAM!

Without thinking, Arabella slammed her open palm into Adrian’s chest.

A thunderous boom shattered the air. Adrian, a mighty pound trained warrior, was launched backward through the air like a ragdoll.

CRACK!

He crashed violently into the stone outer wall, shattering the rock behind him, before slumping to the ground in a bloody, unconscious heap.

He dropped unconscious.

Silence swallowed the courtyard.

Arabella stared at her trembling hand.

“What… happened?”

No one answered.

Seraphina rushed to her brother.

“Adrian!”

She turned on Arabella, horror twisting into fury.

"Guards! Seize her!"

Heavy iron chains slammed around Arabella’s wrists. Warriors dragged her roughly across the sharp cobblestones toward the heavy iron doors of the royal packhouse as she fought to be released.

Arabella stepped back.

“No! I didn’t do anything! I don’t know what happened!”

“She nearly killed my brother! Drag her!”

“Please! I don’t know what happened!”

Seraphina rushed up and delivered a sti

nging slap across Arabella’s bloody face. "Keep quiet! Not another word until you stand before Father!"

Arabella’s head snapped sideways, blood trickling down her lip. But as the doors of the royal packhouse swung open, she didn't cry.

Because deep inside her chest, for the first time in twenty years... her wolf was wide awake.

Inside, they pulled her toward the Alpha’s chambers.

But Arabella knew something had changed. Her wolf is alive.