Chapter One
Everyone in the pack has been looking forward to this day for months.
My sisters, Selina and Stephanie, and my stepmother, Diana, have been planning for this occasion for months. They got new dresses, new shoes, and even styled their hair in preparation for this day. They've all been gushing about how wonderful this night would be and bickering over who would end up being the Alpha's mate.
Me? I wasn't included.
It's not like I'm surprised. The real shocker would be if I was included.
I stir the pot on the stove, humming quietly as I prepare the last meal of the evening. It's just a couple of hours before the ceremony kicks off, and then I'll have some time to myself to unwind.
The house is always so refreshingly quiet when everyone is away, and I love it.
Suddenly, I hear a slam. It's so loud that it shakes the entire house.
My father is home, and with the pungent smell that follows after him, I can tell he has been drinking all day—and that's never a good thing.
"Elara! Selina! Stephanie! Diana!"
His commanding voice resonates through the entire house, and him screaming our names means trouble.
I quickly clean my wet hands on the apron and run to the living room. I am so scared I feel like I'm going to shit my pants. The others are already standing there stiffly with their heads bowed. I join them, with my eyes fixated on the floor as well.
His eyes are bloodshot, and his breath reeks of strong whiskey. He staggers and stops directly in front of me.
"I work so hard, day and night, to provide for you miserable fools," his voice is so loud I'm sure our neighbors can hear him. "And what do I get in return? Insults and shame."
We all stay quiet, nobody uttering a single word because we've learned from experience that it's better not to argue with him when he's in this state.
"I am the Beta of this great pack, but no one respects me. Do you want to know why?" This time he looks from me to every single one of us in the room. "Because I have no sons—only weak, useless daughters who cannot even find their mates."
Tears gather in my eyes, threatening to fall. No matter how many times he throws these insults, they always get to me.
"My love, please… calm down," Diana steps forward with an obviously forced smile to try and pacify him. "The girls are attending the ceremony tonight, and I have no doubt that they'll find suitable matches… in fact, I have a good feeling that Selina will be the Alpha's mate—meaning she would one day become Luna."
She then pauses and looks toward me with a disgusted look on her face.
"Well, I'm not so sure about the other thing."
The other thing. I am waiting for it to faze me, but it doesn't.
"No one is being left behind… even this other thing."
This is definitely enough to faze me. The tears in my eyes roll down.
"W-What?"
"Don't act dumb with me. Even if you find out your mate is a guard, then so be it. Because honestly, I'm tired of housing you."
Selina and Stephanie laugh behind me.
I'm so scared. I cannot go to the ceremony. I would just end up being the laughingstock. I don't belong in that kind of place. My anxiety heightens.
"Father, please…" I whisper in between sobs. "I do not have a place at the ceremony."
His eyes make contact with mine.
"If you do not go, you certainly won't have a place in my house either," and I know he means serious business. I feel like my heart has been shattered with those words.
"You have four hours to finish what you're doing and come to the ceremony—and you better not be late… all of you." With this, he storms out of the house and slams the door with such force that if the walls didn't shake the first time, they definitely did now.
I stand there numb. I don't have a choice. I have to do as he says.
How cruel he speaks—especially to me—always gets to me. I know I should be used to it by now, but I'm not.
People in the pack still talk about how my parents were the golden couple. The youngest in their time to find their mate. They say my father used to be very gentle and kind.
But everything changed the day my mother died.
She passed away giving birth to me, and my father has never forgiven me for that.
Me coming into this world took away the love of his life.
And to make things worse, I'm a carbon copy of her.
From the pictures I've seen of her… I could pass as her twin.
So every time he sees me, he doesn't see Elara… He sees a ghost.
That's why he calls me the other thing.
That's why he hates me. And nothing I ever do can change that.
LATER THAT NIGHT
I don't have a lot of clothing options, so I settle for the best dress I have. It's a sleeveless gown that goes down to my knees and cinches a bit at the waist, hiding my overly thin frame. It's nothing special, but at least it's clean. I tie my hair into a high ponytail, and as I stare into the mirror, I look so bland.
Not beautiful. Not drop-dead gorgeous like Selina and Stephanie. Just plain old… me.
They left without me—not like I expected anything different.
I step into the cool night air and make my way to the ceremony. The clearing is buzzing with activity. The scent of roasted meat and burning fire fills the atmosphere, alongside the laughter of several young wolves like myself mingling. Everyone is flirting and having such a wonderful time.
I keep to the shadows because I have no friends and no one to talk to here. I find an empty space on a ledge and I sit down, enjoying the cool breeze of the evening. I bring out a chocolate cake that I baked earlier in the day. I'm such a sweet tooth, and I don't even try to hide it.
Then I smell it.
A scent that makes my heart skip a beat.
It makes my insides feel mushy… something so warm and familiar—like something I've needed my whole life without even realizing it.
I stop chewing, my heart racing. My eyes roam through the crowd, looking for something… or rather someone.
Then my eyes land on him.
Alpha Kieran.
He is standing on the main stage, commanding the attention of the entire pack. He has always been someone who commanded attention—even as a child. He was both feared and admired by everyone in the pack. He had the most beautiful brown eyes, chiseled jaw, and such big, broad shoulders…
I've never thought about him before—especially not like this.
But tonight changes everything.
His eyes meet mine, and I'm unable to look away.
My legs move on their own accord, drawing me closer to him.
Kieran's eyes widen and his nostrils flare. He clenches his fists at his sides, and I know he feels it too.
When I finally make it to him, I'm lost for words. I don't even know what to say, but before I can find my voice, his deep voice cuts me off.
"Get this filth out of my sight."
I cannot comprehend the words that just came from his mouth. It feels like I can't breathe. Everyone is looking at me now—my sisters, my father, Diana. I feel like I'm about to throw up.
He turns away from me, and it's obvious he's disgusted.
I want to run. I want to get out of this place, but it's like I'm frozen in time.
I've felt pain before—so many times before—but this is different. It feels like my whole world is crumbling.
Like something inside me is breaking.
Like I am breaking.