-ALIYAH-

I could feel my heart racing every time I caught a glimpse of Brayden in the mansion. The thought of being with him was exciting, but I knew the risks that came with going against pack traditions. He knew he might be mated to his kind, but he chose me—a human girl. I was grateful for that, even though our relationship was a secret for now. Regardless, he promised to turn me in when he became alpha.

I was lost in thoughts as I walked through the gardens when I noticed Brenda seated on a bench with a book in her hands. Feeling my self-consciousness heightened, I tried to change my direction. It wasn’t that I restrained being instructed, but I really find her intimidating and snobbish. I didn’t want to judge a book by its cover, but that was really how I felt toward her. She was Brayden’s total opposite.

“Aliyah!”

Shit.

My shoulders stiffened as Brenda called me. So there’s no avoiding her now. If I wanted to maintain any impression of politeness, I had no choice but to acknowledge her. Taking a deep breath, I cautiously turned towards Brenda and walked over to where she was sitting. As I approached, she looked up, and I was surprised, seeing her smiling.

"Aaliyah," she said, closing her book and tapping the empty space next to her. “Have a seat.”

She tapped the space next to her, saying, "Have a seat."

I paused for a while, unsure whether I should agree with her request. But I swallowed my doubt and settled into the seat she offered, not knowing what to expect. "D-you you need something to eat, Beta Brenda? I'll prepare something for you," I offered, wanting to make her feel welcome.

Brenda shook her head, still smiling, and replied, "No need, Aaliyah. I just wanted some company. Plus, it's your down time. You deserve a break too."

I felt as though weight was lifted off my shoulders at her words. Brenda had always been silent and aloof, and her presence alone was usually enough to make me feel on edge. But her genuine smile and kind words put me at ease. It was refreshing to see a different side of Brenda, and I was grateful for the chance to connect with her.

As we sat in comfortable silence, my gaze fell to the book resting in her lap. "What are you reading about?" I asked, curious to learn more about her interests.

Brenda held it up for me to see; it was an old book with a leather cover and gold-embossed lettering. "It's a book on werewolf history," she said with a glint in her eye. "I find it fascinating."

My eyes widened. "Really? I never would've guessed."

Brenda's smile widened, and I could notice she shared some of the same features as her brother—blue eyes as deep as the ocean. Though her hair was darker. "Yeah, I know I seem like I'm not interested in much, but I have my passions, like working in Dad's pharmaceutical company. And this—history books about lycans." She pointed at something from the book, getting my attention with the colorful images in it.

"Who was that?" I asked, pointing to a picture of a fierce-looking Lycan warrior in the book.

"He was the Great Alpha King Hermes Everhart, the first werewolf that came to North America and gathered the first legendary packs."

"Wow..." I couldn't help but be amazed by the information. The man in the photo really looked strong, with well-defined features. His piercing eyes seemed to hold a sense of wisdom and power, making it easy to understand why he was considered a legendary figure among them. "It was nice to learn that great werewolf personalities are recorded."

"But of course, we are civilized as well," she said, laughing without showing any sign of offense at my innocent remark.

Our conversation went well. But it wasn't until the subject of finding a mate came up. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, especially when I thought of Brayden when he finally found his mate. He said he would mate with me after his inauguration as pack alpha. But what if his fated mate was out there somewhere? Is he going to break up with me? Or, based on their tradition, reject me?

As we stood up to leave, Brenda turned to me with a serious expression. "Aliyah, I know we haven't really gotten along those past few days, but I want you to know that I'm glad you're here. You've brought something new and refreshing to this pack house, and I think we all needed that."

I felt a lump form in my throat at her words, touched by her unexpected kindness. "Thank you, Beta Brenda. I appreciate your words. It means a lot to me to hear that I've made a positive impact on the pack house," I managed to say softly.

"If you encounter problems, don't hesitate to look for me, alright?" Brenda winked before turning away, her book tucked under her arm.

My heart-to-heart conversation with Brenda had genuinely lifted my spirits. I was more inspired to continue working hard and making a difference in the packhouse. Now, I was convinced that Grandma Estelle and I were on the right path.

That night, the smile was still plastered on my face as I set up for dinner in the kitchen. I was preparing a delicious meal of roasted chicken and mashed potatoes, savoring the feeling of contentment that Brenda's words had brought me. The aroma filled the air, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the house. I just didn't add any garlic because I had read that werewolves have a strong aversion to it. As I set the table, the plate on my hands almost slipped as someone barged in.

"Aliyah!"

"B-Brayden?" I frowned. His face was flushed, and he seemed out of breath. "What's the matter?"

"You need to come with me right now!"

I quickly set down the plate and asked, "What happened?"

"I have no time to explain. But you have to see it!"

I was about to ask him for more information when he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the entrance of the packhouse.

The next thing I knew, we were entering the training hall. Why was Brayden bringing me here anyway? My confusion only grew as I saw a group of pack members gather. Brayden, on the other hand, sat calmly in the front row. He smiled warmly at me and gestured to a chair in front of him.

Seriously, what is going on?

It didn't look like a training session at all, as everyone's eyes focused on me.

“Aliyah has something we’d like to see."

"What do you mean?" I asked, fisting my hands that had begun to sweat.

"Aliyah, we've heard about your unique abilities. We want to witness them for ourselves."

"U-unique abilities?" I looked at Brayden, hoping to find answers to my growing confusion. He avoided my gaze, his expression unreadable. The silence between us was deafening, increasing my fear.

"Brayden, please!" I pleaded. I needed him to explain what they meant by his friend. Why the heck was I in front of them anyway, as though I were a circus performer?

Brayden remained silent, his eyes darting around the room as if he hadn't heard me.

I stood up and stepped toward him even though my legs began to shake. I had no choice but to confront him directly, anyway. "Brayden, this is not fair. I deserve to know the truth. What did they mean? And why did you bring me here?"

"We want you to remove your clothes."

The walls seemed to close in on me as I struggled to comprehend the words that had just come out of Brayden's mouth. How could he have brought me to this place, only to subject me to such humiliation? Was he even serious? My mind raced with questions, desperately searching for answers. Why would Brayden make such a bold request?

“Why… why do you want this?” I almost begged.

"We want you to shift into a wolf so that we can check out your fur color," he informed, shrugging nonchalantly. "This isn't about forming any kind of link between us, not genuinely anyway. I'm simply curious, that's all."

“But, I… I thought we were… You know I'm not a...” I couldn't even form a sentence about how shattered my soul was.

It was then a woman in a push up bra and leggings stood and walked to him. She was the one who shot me unpleasant stares when I stepped in this training hall for the first time. Now she was glaring at me exactly the same way. “Tell her, Brayden. Come on, enlighten the poor girl.”

“Tell me what?” I demanded, immediately wiping the bead of tears that rolled down my face. My hands were itching to throw my chair at his mocking face.

“Alright,” Brayden snorted, shaking his head as he turned to me. “We just got a betting game. My task was to flirt with an omega. Sorry, but you were the subject that entered my mind. So no offense.”

My blood froze as I heard his response. A betting game? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The tears that had momentarily stopped began to flow freely again. That moment, as I watched Brayden laugh with his friends, my sweet memories with him turned bitter. It was like I was staring at a stranger, someone I didn't recognize anymore. How could he have played with my feelings like this? Was this even real? Were those passionate gazes and sweet words just part of some cruel game? It felt like a punch to the gut, realizing that our entire relationship may have been built on a bet. How could I have been so blind to his true intentions? How could someone I trusted and loved participate in such a hurtful game?

“Strip anyway, slave!” one tall and tattooed guy shouted. “If you can't shift into a wolf, at least you can dance to keep us entertained.”

The sound of snickering and derogatory comments filled the room and made me small as I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shield myself from their brutal words.

"Strip! Strip! Strip!"

"Come on, babe. There must be a decadent body under those maid's clothes."

"Oh, don't be rude, you jerks. We need to be sure if it's her first time. She looks like a virgin."

That's it.

I couldn't take it anymore. The humiliation became too much for me to bear. I needed to be respected and valued for who I truly was.

"Do you really think you know who I am? I'm not what you assume me to be!” I spat, glaring at their stunned faces. Well, I needed to be respected and valued for who truly was. “Yes, I'm a maid, but being a maid doesn't define me or make me any less worthy. One day soon, I'll be curing the diseases of my people, or maybe one of you will end up in my emergency room seeking help. So if you value your lives, treat me with respect!"

The room fell silent and everyone's eyes locked on me. They stared at me as though they had witnessed a baby talking for the first time. Then, without warning, Brayden waved in the air and broke the atmosphere with a frantic chuckle. "Well said! Now, get out of here. We're done toying with you."

Why Brayden? My mind screamed. I thought he loved me. I was stupid! I should have known that this was all but a big game, and I was the one who had lost! I should have listened to Grandma Estelle when she warned me about getting involved with someone like Brayden. Now, I was standing in front of him, shattered to the bones.

As I ran, tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. The pain in my chest was overwhelming, but I refused to let it consume me. I needed to find some comfort and heal from this heartbreak.

There was only one person I wanted to run to. So, without wasting any more time, I ran towards our room on the ground floor of the mansion. I just hope things work differently than what happened today.

But upon reaching the doorstep of our room, I noticed that the door was slightly ajar.

"G-grandma?" I pushed the door open slowly. "Are you—oh, my God!"

She was on all fours, and gray furs began to cover her body. Her face changed into a wolf's with the same pale gray eyes. I blinked so hard, that my sight almost turned red as I watched her, hoping that I was in a long nightmare. But everything was real as the coldness of the floor crept up my body when I slumped in front of her.

"W-why? Why didn't you tell me about this? So it means—"

"Run!"

I gasped as a desperate voice penetrated my head. Although I couldn't explain how paranoid I was, I could tell that it was Grandma's voice screaming in my head.

But how did she...

"You have to get away before they find you!"

"F-find me?" I frowned as my knees got weaker by the minute. "W-who is after me?"

"I have no time to explain, my child. But the savage was the one who wanted you dead, like your father!"

"We're... we're not related?"

"I'm not your real grandmother, but I have loved and treated you as my own!"

My chest tightened as I stared at her helplessly. She continued her transformation until finally with one last howl of pain, the change was complete. Grandma Estelle stood before me; an old gray wolf. She was totally different but still, I wanted to run toward her and embrace her so hard. My Grandmother Estelle—she was the only one I got. I didn’t know what to do if I lost her too!

"They are coming for you!"

My first instinct was to call out for help or run away screaming. However, as soon as our gazes met, Grandma Estelle gave me a pleading look that kept me rooted to the spot instead. She opened her mouth and howled long and vociferously, which sounded like agony emanating from deep within her soul. The sound made my stomach lurch, and then, without any further warnings, she begged me, "Aliyah, you must go now!" She tried explaining what had happened, but only words got stuck in her throat while she begged for forgiveness.

The next second, something sharp pierced Grandma Estelle's back like lightning. Suddenly, everything became still. Blood oozed slowly out of her wolf body and smeared on

-ALIYAH-

The icy wind whipped at my face as I ran and stumbled along the muddy path. Tattered clothes covered my body, and my hair was dull and matted. Yet I had to keep going despite my appearance, thirst, and hunger.

Even when I closed my eyes, I still could see my grandmother’s dead state, and it was killing me every passing moment. I couldn’t help but recall how she took care of me as I grew up. She was the one who stood as my mother. She was my best friend, and the one who truly understood me. Now, I was struggling to comprehend that she was a werewolf, just like the others! Regardless, my love for her didn’t change. If she had told me about her actual nature in the first place, I would have accepted her with all of my heart. Now, all I could think of was thinking of the possible person that would harm her.

As I came to a sudden stop, gasping for breath, my mind was flooded with unanswered questions; Who am I exactly? Who would assassinate my grandmother? Could it be Brayden? After all, he was a monster himself! How stupid of me for trusting him and his damn pack. They put me down and made fun of me. I will never forget the looks on their faces! If only we hadn’t moved into that cursed place!

The forest was cold and dark, and the silence was too much to bear. There were shadows in front of me and the way they were shaped was messing with my eyes. Abruptly, a far-off howl reverberated across the woods that sent shivers down my back. I crouched and became as small as possible. Now that I was aware of what they could do, I had to stay hidden away from their sight.

“Don’t be afraid, child. Look at me.”

A soft voice called out from behind me. So, even though my body couldn’t hardly move as I trembled, I slowly stood and stared toward the sound. Who could that be and how come an angelic voice lingered in the middle of this nightmare? Perhaps I was dead.

As I scanned my surroundings, I stumbled on a log and fell backward. Looking up, a blinding light filled my vision, and a magnificent white wolf appeared before me when it faded away.

The wolf stopped a few feet away and stared at me with fierce, golden eyes. It bared its teeth in a snarl, and I could feel its breath on my skin. I was frightened, but I refused to show it. I held my chin high and waited for the wolf to make a move. “Are you… are you going to kill me now? Did Brayden send you?”

The white wolf stared at me with piercing blue eyes, and I felt a connection as if the wolf was trying to reach out to me.

“Go back. Meet your mate.”

I clutched my head as the voice penetrated through my skull. How could I understand her? “What do you mean? Why would I have a mate when I’m just a human?”

“Because you are the chosen one.”

Before I could comprehend her statement, the wolf stepped closer and tapped my forehead with a paw. The touch felt like electricity, and I felt a strange sense of peace. “I have chosen you to be the mate of the newly crowned Alpha. It is your destiny. You must go now to meet him.”

“M-mate?” My heart raced just at the idea of me having a mate. “W-wait, is it possible? But I’m a human.”

“Your purpose is important. Do not be afraid. Everything that has happened and everything that will happen serves a greater purpose. Your fate has already been written. Trust it.”

As the wolf spoke, a strange calm settled over me. But still, I doubted whether to believe it or not. Was it even possible for me to have a good fate? My life has been nothing but a lie since I fell in love with Brayden. He had just proven that even those who claim to care had the tendency to betray. “Now I have nothing, so what kind of future can I expect?

“You still have him, and he is enough.”

“Him?”

The wolf’s golden eyes narrowed. And before I could make sense of what happened, the next thing I knew, I was transported to another place where I could feel the sturdy ground in front of a three-story building. I gulped as I noted the brown sandstone exterior and the dark blue windows. The light of the sun highlighted the weathered brick and the towering oak tree in the front yard.

If I hadn’t had a faulty memory of this place, the warm scent of the earth and the tangy sweetness of the nearby flowers could have been more anticipating. But it wasn’t the case!

“I’m... I’m back in the Connors’ house?”

I clenched my fists as I stepped back. How did I return to this place? I needed to get away as soon as possible!

“A lost sheep has wandered into our territory!”

My shoulders stiffened just at hearing that mocking voice… Brayden’s voice, to be exact! I once loved the sound of his voice, but now it only filled me with resentment. There was no way I would let him see how weak I was. He was the one who committed evil things to me! So I took a deep breath and mustered up all the courage I had left. It was time to confront him and finally find closure.

Brayden stood in the doorway as he scanned me up and down with a sinister smile. As if on cue, his friends moved closer to him, forming a circle around us as if preparing for an entertainment show.

“I thought you had left? What are you doing here? Missed me already?” he sneered, and the crowd erupted in laughter behind him, spitting out insults.

“Never will I ever have affection for a monster who killed my grandmother!” I spat it out, pushing him away with both hands. “Don’t think that you are above the law for being a savage beast, Brayden. You will pay!”

“You mean the rogues?” He clamped his large hand around my jaw. I reached out, but he was quick to grab both of my wrists. I couldn’t believe how strong he was. No wonder he was being followed, even if he was still not in the alpha position. “Oh, please do not insult me. It would be a waste of effort to dispatch one insignificant slave of ours. I would much rather savor using my killing skills while hunting.”

“L-let me go, you beast! Am I your only match?”

The entire ground heaved with anticipation as he pulled away from me. All eyes were on us as he spitefully turned away from me as he said, “Go directly to the kitchen and make yourself useful. I have an important visitor, and I want grilled lamb on the table when we return.”

“W-what?” My mouth went dry as I swallowed down my frustration. How could he just walk away while I confront him about my grandmother? I stood there, stunned. The arrogance of his dismissive response only fueled my rage to uncover the truth about my grandmother’s death. But before I could make another move to rush after him, someone from the crowd pushed me aside, causing me to stumble. I quickly regained my balance and glanced around, and my heart dropped to see it was Brenda.

“You shouldn’t have returned,” she said, baring her teeth. “This is not a place for you. Believe me, Aaliyah. You don’t want to get involved in this. It’s dangerous, and you won’t find the closure you’re seeking.”

“What do you mean?”

I could see the worry etched on her face as she hesitated before speaking. “There are secrets here, Aaliyah—dark secrets. The more you dig, the more danger you put yourself in. Trust me, it’s better to let go and move on.”

Brenda was not like her jerk brother. She might be silent sometimes, but she was one of the few people who cared for me in this pack. I was actually treating her as my best friend, but I couldn’t ignore the warning in her eyes. “Please tell me what it was, Brenda.” I took a step toward her, ignoring the criticism from the pack. “My grandmother has been murdered by your brother; you know that? Why don’t you just help me report him to Alpha Theon? I know your kind don’t just kill someone because they are slaves. I need justice!”

Before I could make another step, some of the pack members grasped at both of my arms.

“Let go of me!” I shoot them a defiant glare, struggling against their grip. “I won’t rest until my grandmother’s killer is held accountable. If you won’t help me, then I’ll find justice on my own.”

“Beta Brenda has already declared your banishment. So there’s no other choice but to leave!” one tall man said, dragging me out of the gate. “Your pursuit of justice for your grandmother’s death goes against our pack’s principles. We cannot condone vigilante actions, especially when they involve our own kind. It is time for you to go and find your own path.”

“Then curse your principles, monster—ah!”

The next thing I knew, I was being thrown out of the pack territory, landing hard on the ground. The pain seared through my body, but I tried to stand up. My sobs shook my body as I leaned against the massive gate. Recalling what the white wolf had said, I couldn’t help but question her words. Why had she dumped me back into this place? Why did I still believe her to begin with?

As I mulled over my thoughts, I heard twigs snapping and quiet puffs of breath. It sounded different than a human panting and more like the heavy exhales of a predator. Fear gripped me as I realized I was not alone.

I whirled around and saw a colossal figure. His jacket was an unassuming olive green that clung to his muscles like a second skin. My eyes widened as he advanced; his movements were agile as those of a wolf.

“What are you doing here in the woods?”

I had to arch my neck to get a glimpse of his face. His sharp features were etched with intensity, and his piercing hazel gaze seemed to penetrate deep into my soul, making me feel vulnerable and exposed.

“I, uh...” My words died on my lips as I took a step back. My body craved to run away, but something in me held me rooted to the spot, unable to break away from his tug.

His eyes narrowed as he smiled. “It’s not safe for a girl to roam these woods alone. Come with me, and I’ll guarantee your safety.”

I gulped, looking at his hands that he extended towards me. “No!”

“Why?” He tilted his head, and his broad brows contracted. “Do I look like a bad guy to you?”

“I don’t know you,” I snapped, stepping away as I curled my arms around my chest. “I’m done trusting people I don’t even know. You are all the same!”

“Ashton!” Brayden burst onto the scene, a bright grin splitting his face as he hurried towards us. He then turned to the other man. “So, more interested in hunting slaves than deer this time, huh?”

"It seems so." The man he called Ashton studied me with inspecting eyes before letting out a cold chuckle. “May I keep this one?”