Chapter 1

I was shifting.

The silver-banded chains cut through my clothes, bit into my skin, and kept burning into my wounds. My wolf was howling inside me—screaming.

Then I heard my sister's voice from outside the door.

"Dad, Mom—just let Maria out. She's part of this family, too. She needs to be at the Moon Rite."

The Moon Rite. Our coming-of-age.

"No."

My mother's voice was sharp with anger. "After everything, you're still defending her? You forgot how she rubbed her test scores in your face that year?"

I knew exactly what she meant.

I was ten. I'd scored perfect on my wolf strength test—twenty points higher than my frail sister.

I ran home with the parchment in my hands, my face burning with excitement. I said, "I beat Alice by twenty points! I'm the pack's strongest!"

My sister heard it. Her eyes went red, and tears spilled over.

My mother broke down crying right there. She cursed me, said I was wishing death on my own sister.

My father didn't say a word that night—he just locked me in the basement.

That night, they decided I was poison. They made me drink wolfsbane, the herb that numbs all feeling, and severed my mindlink with the family completely.

"It's for her own good," my mother said, her voice cold as frost. "She knows Alice can't handle injuries. We have no choice."

I leaned against the door, too weak to even shake my head.

No, Mom. I was ten. I was just a pup who wanted to be seen. I get it—you were scared of losing your precious white wolf. But why did you have to treat me like the enemy? I'm your daughter too...

My hand thudded feebly against the door. I tried to tell them—I'm really shifting. The silver is cutting into my bones.

"Mom, I'm grown now. My bloodline's settled. How could Maria's shift possibly kill me?"

My sister's voice carried real panic.

"What if the witch was wrong? You can't just lock Maria up because of this—"

"That's enough, Alice!" My father cut in. "We're not risking your life!"

Then he turned toward the basement, his voice softening.

"Maria, we're doing this for the pack. You don't want your sister to die because of you, do you? Just stay quiet in there. If the prophecy fails, this whole thing ends. Okay?"

I couldn't speak.

The silver had sunk into my skin. My chest felt like claws were tearing it open.

With the last shred of strength I had, I slammed my body against the door.

My mother's voice came through, cold and disappointed, like she was already done with me.

"Damn it. Stop acting out."

Then she pulled the iron door open.

A crack of light spilled in.

My heart jumped.

Was I saved?