Chapter 1
“You good-for-nothing little fuck! You just messed up my fucking marble floor. You’re so stupid—no wonder everyone in this packhouse hates you! Are you that stupid to not know that you can’t drag this heavy shit across the hall?”
Aurora stepped back and tripped over the ruffled-up mat that was left in her wake of trying to move the brand new washing machine by herself.
“This is why your parents killed themselves—to get away from you, you stupid little fuck-up.” The Alpha yelled, punching Aurora in the side of the head, causing her to fall on the ground.
Aurora immediately curled into a protective ball, knowing what was to come now from her Alpha.
“You will never be loved or find your mate. I’ll make sure of that!” Marcus, the Alpha of the Moon Creek Pack, yelled before kicking her in the back.
Aurora, the orphaned she-wolf, whimpered in the corner, covering her face so he wouldn’t see her cry. As he had said it was a sign of weakness.
“Go to your damn room. I should let you sleep outside for this, but you’re lucky I’m one of those Alphas who show sympathy,” Marcus sneered.
Aurora scurried away, running up the stairs. She dashed to the end of the hall and up a flight of old, rickety stairs that led to the dilapidated attic where she slept.
She lay on the cold ground and cried. There was no bed for comfort, no sheets to keep her warm.
Soon, she heard the stairs creak. Someone was coming.
Aurora squeezed her eyes shut, hoping whoever it was wouldn’t enter—because she knew what would happen if they did.
“Hello? It’s me, Amelia, the Luna,” a gentle voice called before the door was pushed open.
Amelia, Marcus’s mate, stepped inside and closed the door softly behind her.
Aurora stared up at her with fearful eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not like the others. I just want to make sure you’re alright.”
And Amelia was right. She wasn’t like the rest. Being from another pack, she was raised to treat everyone with respect. Her father, a Beta, had made sure of that from a young age.
Aurora gazed at Amelia, wondering if she could trust her.
It was the first time they had officially met since Amelia arrived two weeks ago.
“What do you want?” Aurora asked.
“To see if you’re alright. I hate the way you’re being treated.”
Aurora frowned. That was the first time anyone had ever expressed concern for her. “You should go before Marcus finds you here. I’m not allowed to talk to anyone, especially not someone of high ranking.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“No. And if you care that much, you would leave. I can get punished for this.”
“Wow, this place is so different from my old pack. I’ve never seen she-wolves treated badly or abused before.”
“Must be a dream,” Aurora muttered. “You should really go,” she added.
“It’s okay—”
“It’s okay for you. But me? I’ll get the shit beaten out of me if the Alpha sees me even glance at someone.”
“You have nothing to worry about. He’s in a meeting now. I think we’ll have visitors from another pack tomorrow. I hope it’s my old pack so I can talk to the Alpha and have him set some things straight around here.”
Aurora scoffed. “And why do you think your old Alpha can change anything? Other packs don’t have a say in how things are run here.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. This is a much smaller, weaker pack. If a more dominant one finds out what’s happening, they can intervene. What Marcus is doing isn’t just—it’s frowned upon by the Moon Goddess.”
“Right. And if it’s so frowned upon, why doesn’t the Goddess do something? Unless she isn’t real—just some made-up myth to control people like me. Keep me scared. Keep me obedient.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Go away. You have a better life than me. You can talk about the Moon Goddess all you want—I don’t believe in her.”
Trying to offer comfort, Amelia brushed away Aurora’s tears.
“How old are you?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Eighteen.”
“Oh, we’re the same age.”
“What? But the Alpha is in his twenties,” Aurora said, making a face.
“That’s how it is, Aurora. When a wolf comes of age, they become aware of their mate.”
“But—never mind.” Aurora shook her head.
“Amelia!” Marcus’s voice boomed.
The two females heard his footsteps pounding toward them.
The attic door was kicked off its hinges. He roughly grabbed Amelia off the floor.
“What the hell are you doing in here? You don’t talk to this little reject.”
“What? But she’s part of the pack.”
“No, she’s not!”
“Don’t be foolish,” Amelia snapped.
Marcus’s nostrils flared. His eyes burned red with fury.
“I’ll deal with you later,” Marcus threatened Aurora before dragging his mate out of the small, dusty room.
“Let go of me, Marcus. You know what will happen if you lay a scratch on me,” Amelia warned.
For the first time, Aurora saw fear on her Alpha’s face.
An hour later, Marcus came storming back in. He glared down at the sleeping Aurora in disgust before stomping his size-thirteen boot into her side.
She gasped, crying out in pain, then scrambled away—but Marcus grabbed her by the feet and yanked her back.
He slapped her across the face. Then his hand clamped around her neck. He squeezed.
Aurora’s vision blurred. The world darkened.
Only when her eyes rolled back did he finally let go.
Aurora gasped, coughing as her lungs fought for air.
Marcus scoffed. “Next time, I won’t go so easy on you. Next time, I’ll be burying you in the backyard.”
He spat in her face and left.
Aurora collapsed onto the floor, sobbing. She wished she had died—because at least then, she wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.
Dream
Aurora drifted into a restless sleep, plagued by dreams that made no sense.
“Mother!” she called, wandering through a foggy forest. “Mother!”
Then she realized—why was she calling for a woman who had been dead for eleven years?
A memory flooded her mind.
It was raining. Her eighth birthday. Her parents had been setting up for her party when a knock sounded at the door. Young Aurora had opened it. A man shoved past her.
Her mother screamed. Aurora ran into the living room—only to see her mother lying in a pool of blood. Her father’s head was ripped from his body. The man turned toward her, ready to strike—until the previous Alpha stepped in to protect her.
Aurora blinked. The forest around her twisted into shadows.
Up ahead, two figures appeared.
“Mother? Dad?” she called.
They turned around.
Aurora ran toward them—
Marcus’s laugh echoed through the trees. “You can’t get away from me, bitch!”
His voice roared as he lunged at her.
Marcus pounced. “Time to die!”
His mouth opened wide, revealing razor-sharp teeth—
He ripped her throat out.
Reality
Aurora jolted awake, her hair yanked as she was dragged across the floor.
“I have a task for you, filth. The Blood Moon Pack is visiting tomorrow. I want this place spotless,” Marcus sneered before shoving her down the stairs.
“You better make this place like new. If you embarrass me, you won’t like what happens.”
Aurora didn’t meet his eyes.
The only thought in her mind was a wish.
She hoped the Blood Moon Pack would kill them all.
Blood Moon had a reputation. They were ruthless. The most feared pack in the world.
“Hey, how are you this morning?” Amelia asked.
Aurora ignored her, continuing to mop the floor.
Amelia touched her bruised face. “Did he do this to you?”
“Can you just go? I have work to do. I can’t be caught slacking off.”
“You can talk to me, Aurora.”
“No, I can’t!” Aurora’s voice rose. “It’s your fault I got my ass beat last night. Now go away.”
Aurora grabbed the bucket, dragging the mop behind her as she walked to the next room.
