Aria's pov

Ten years ago

"Her own mother can't even bare the sight of her." A girl behind me told her friend.

"To think her father is the alpha of the pack." The friend retorted and it was painfully obvious they were talking about me.

"She let her sister die right before her eyes and she did nothing to save her." The girls gasped in horror and I could feel their eyes on me but I didn't dare turn back. I just kept walking forward acting as though they weren't shamelessly talking about me.

"Can't you hear us you creep?" One of them called out to me, seconds before I was pushed to the ground.

"How heartless and jealous could you be to let your own sister die?" One of the girls asked and I rapidly blinked, wishing to push back the tears prickling the back of my eyes.

"I didn't kill her." I whispered even though I knew no one really cared what I had to say.

My own mother, the Luna of the moonstone pack, believed I had killed my own sister...why wouldn't everyone else?

"Is that what you tell yourself so that you could sleep better at night?" One of the girls mocked but I ignored them and picked myself off the floor.

"Say something." She screamed right into my face and I shoved her away from me with so much force she landed on the floor.

"There she is, the killer that hides behind that innocent face." The girl smirked at me.

"How twisted are you?" I shook my head in disbelief as I turned and continued on my way.

I felt the eyes on me as I passed the road and made my way into the pack house but I ignored them all. The tears sprang out of my eyes before I could reach my room and when I finally closed the door behind me, shutting everyone out I let go and allowed the violent sobs have their way with me.

I couldn't tell how long I had cried but eventually sleep had claimed me and the next time I woke up the sun had gone down.

"Alpha Marcus and the Luna want to see you." A maid whispered to me and I realized she was the one that had awakened me.

I groggily sat up and made my way out of my room and towards my parents room but they weren't there.

"They are...in your sister's room." The maid revealed, staring at me with sad eyes.

I turned without a word and made my way into my sister's room...or what was once her room.

"I want her gone Marcus." My mother's voice stopped me right as I was about to pull the door open.

"You just lost a child, you are sad and vulnerable." My father tried to reason with her even though I could hear the hurt in his voice as well.

"No, Marcus I want her gone. She is a constant reminder of why Elena isn't here with us right now, I can't bare to see her everyday... it's torture." My mother's voice broke and I could tell she was crying again.

My own mother wanted me...gone.

I decided entering the room wasnia good idea but as I tried to let go of the handle, it squeaked no doubt announcing my presence to my parents.

"Aria is that you?" My father called out and I slowly opened the door, revealing myself.

"You wanted to talk to me." I commented once I closed the door behind me.

"How do you feel?" My mother asked me calmly. She was a mess with her hair flying in different directions and her face swollen and blitched from her constant crying. I did this to her...I made my mother miserable.

"How do you feel knowing your sister's blood is on your hands." She asked me slowly and tears pooled within my eyes.

"I didn't kill her. I didn't kill Elena." I sobbed.

"I tried to save her when I couldn't find her in the water but the waves were to strong." I explained even though I knew it wouldn't change anything.

"Why did you let her in the water in the first place. You were her older sister, she trusted you...we trusted you to protect her." My mother screamed at me and I backed up against the door.

"You might have not pushed her I to the water or held her had down while she drowned Aria but you are the reason your sister is dead. Your negligence led to her death." My mother spat venomously and I was unable to control my sobs.

"Aria, we think it's best you remain in the pack house... In your room for now. Everyone is grieveing your sister and seeing you comfortably walking around the pack would only kindle their anger towards you." My father informed me.

"Food and any other necessity will be brought up to your room." He concluded and I swallowed, knowing this was only the beginning of my punishment.

"I don't want to lay my eyes on you for the rest of my days. How did I fail? Where did I go wrong?" My mother questioned herself and I left the room without another word.

Maybe they were all right, maybe I was a monster and I had killed my sister. Maybe the best thing would be for me to disappear and let them heal.

I returned to my room with a resolve and packed as few clothes as I possibly could before I used the back door to sneak out of the pack house. I wasn't sure where I would go but I knew I couldn't remain here where everyone would continue to hate me for as long as I lived and they laid eyes on me.

Tears burned my eyes as I recalled my mother's hurtful words but I knew she was right.

I had failed Elena and now I had to atone for it.

Aria's pov

Present day (ten years later)

"You did this to me Aria, you let me die." Elena screamed at me.

"I tried Elena, I do everything I possibly could to save you." I explained as tears streamed down my cheeks but she wouldn't listen to me.

"You are the reason why I'm dead. You want to have peace after I lost my life because of you? I trusted you Aria." Elena sobbed and I watched as the tears that streamed down her face were crimson...blood.

"Elena." I looked at her in fear as I clutched her face and wiped away the blood that streamed out of her eyes but it only made it worse as the blood smeared all around her face an stained my hands.

"My blood is on your hands Aria." She announced and as I looked down at my hands, they were dripping in blood... Elena's blood.

"Elena." I screamed as I bolted up from my bed.

"Really?" my roommate grumbled before she turned and faced the other side.

My breathing was heavy as I stared down at my hands. Even though I couldn't physical see it I knew it was there just like in the dream I had been having for the past ten years, Elena's bloods were on my hands and no matter what I did I knew I would see it forever.

"Rise and shine damsels, we have a lot to do today." Trish, the master over the servants, called out in the hallway.

"Can't someone catch a little rest around here." My roommate grumbled once more as she rose. She was a new slave and from her fiery countenance I knew she had arrived here barely a week ago whereas I had been here for the last ten years.

After I had left the moonstone pack I had been rogue for a while, I figured that should be my punishment for what I did to my sister. It should have been my own way of atoning for how I had wronged her as if the dreams that plagued me weren't enough. Somehow though, none of it felt enough, I felt like I wasn't suffering enough for a rogue, I had to find a way to punish myself...really punish myself and that was how I had landed here in the nightfall pack as a slave.

Slaves were lower than omega's, they were the lowesst of the possible low and that was exactly where I wanted to be. If the circumstances were different I would have been amused that an alpha's daughter and the next in line to succeed her father was now a slave, waiting in others, being looked down on but I didn't mind in the least bit. This was exactly what I deserved to chip away some of the guilt which weighed me down whenever I remember Elena.

I slowly rose from my bed and quickly washed up before I headed out. I knew the drill and I knew the best possible way to survive here was to remain efficient and blend into the crowd. All the slaves here were some what the same, we all knew there was nothing special about us...our duty was to serve and serve diligently or face the wrath of Trish who would waste no time to put us back into our places.

"You are going to be in kitchen duty today." Trish announced as she pointed towards me and I stifled a groan as she moved pass me and assigned work to the others. Kitchen duty was the worst possible place to get assigned but maybe fate knew I needed to atone for my sins, maybe I needed to suffer a little bit more in order to finally feel free.

"I heard Alpha Rowan is coming back today." One of the slaves announced as she washed the dishes beside me.

"That would explain why Trish was all fidgety and bothered." Another said.

"I wonder what he looks like." Another commented. Alpha Rowan was a very private solf, I had been in the pack for ten years yet I had only seen him a couple of times but that was understandable considering he was the Alpha who resided at the very too of the story building pack house, while I was a slave who lived in the basement.

"I've only seen him once but I can tell you he is a fine specimen of a male." The girls giggled together.

"If you two could stop gossiping and actually start paying attention to the tasks before you, it would be really helpful." Trish hissed at both of them as they immediately clamped their mouths shut and got back to work. Trish was a petite woman but that didn't make her any less intimidating and that was one of the things I admired about her.

"You lot are a bunch of gossips and I'm sure you've already heard." Trish called out to us and we turned and listened to what she had to say.

"Alpha Rowan is returning tomorrow and I expect everyone to be on their best attitude as the alpha isn't as forgiving as I am." She informed us, looking at us pointedly.

"I have been placed in charge of the slaves...you slaves, for the longest time as you know. Now make a mistake, make me look bad infront of the alpha and I will kill you with my bare hands and without any help from my wolf." She threatened and the room broke out in murmurs of agreement. We all understood, Trish valued her reputation and being on the alpha's good graces more than anything and she would make good on her promise if any of us dared to jeopardize her.

I wasn't bothered though because I knew I would probably never serve Alpha Rowan and if on a slim chance I did, I would make sure I won't muck it up. I needed to be invisible in this pack and that meant going unnoticed, unnecessary attention was the last thing I needed.

Aria's pov

"Happy birthday to me." I murmured under my breath as I carried the the large tray of pastries into the dining room. Today was my birthday...not just any birthday but 'the great eighteen'. Many wolves looked forward to turning eighteen because that was when your wolf would awaken and you were most likely to find your mate. Most wolves were giddy with excitement on their eighteen birthday but not me. Apart from the dream about Elena waking me up, as usual, I felt nothing. I had waited anxiously for the faintest stir within me, for a hint that my wolf was there lurking within but I felt empty.

I didn't have a wolf and I most likely wouldn't have a mate, maybe this was my punishment from the moon goddess herself. Maybe this was the only way I could atone for what I did to Elena. Guilt gawned at me as I realized I held out hope on meeting my wolf and my mate. If Elena never had the opportunity to meet her wolf why should I?

"This isn't the time to get lost in thought, there is still much work to be done." Trish's harsh voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Don't just stand there, get to work. The alpha would be here any minute." She snapped when I remained unmoving. I snapped into action and made my way back to the kitchen to grab the remaining trays that needed to be brought to the dining room.

"I heard Alpha Rowan is returning with his chosen Luna." One of the slaves announced to her friend as we walked back into the dining room. That was the thing about being a slave, we were deemed insignificant and moved unnoticed, making it easy for us to get information.

"I never thought I'd see the day. The pack members speak about how cold and elusive he is, I must admit I'm suprised he finally took a mate." The other replied.

"I'm sure he did it for the pack, everyone knows he puts his pack before everything else...even himself." The first slave explained. I had heard different versions about Alpha Rowan's personality, from how cold and unfeeling he was to how ruthless he was when it came to dealing with his enemies but we all knew one thing for certain, he cared about his pack almost to a fault. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole reason he travelled was in order to secure a mate.

We went about the rest of the day, placing finishing touches onto the pack house and ensuring everything was perfect especially as it was now clear our future Luna would be present.

"Their here." One of the slaves announced and everyone scrambled into their stationed positions.

Alpah Rowan's beta and other pack members stood right in front of the door, waiting for him and I knew they would take the credit for all the work we had laboured for, just like every other time.

"Alpha." All of them bowed when the door swung open. The slaves remained hidden in the shadows as we observed from a distance. Our duty was to remain hidden and only appear when needed or summoned.

Alpha Rowan slowly stepped into the room and my breath hitched, I couldn't tear my gaze from him and I watched his every move. I had seen Alpha Rowan before but for some reason he seemed to captivate me right at this moment. He was a handsome man with dark brown hair and calculating silver grey eyes. He had a small scar running along his left brow which only added to his allure. Beside him was a tall elegant woman with fiery red hair and honey brown eyes. They looked like the perfect pair and that seemed to make something within me twitch.

Alpha Rowan stilled and scanned the room, my heart beat rapidly when his gaze settled on where the servants lurked hidden. I could feel his gaze on me but I knew that was impossible, he couldn't see me. The necessary introductions were made before Alpha Rowan and his companion were ushered into the dining room. Dinner began in earnest and the slaves moved efficiently and as swiftly as possible to ensure everything played out smoothly.

"Go get another bottle of wine before that one runs out." Trish ordered me and I scrambled into the kitchen, picked up the bottle and returned to the room. I approached the table with shaky hands and just as I placed the bottle in front of Alpha Rowan he stilled. He looked up at me and as our eyes met I felt a bond snap in place.

Could it possibly be?

No, I must be imagining things.

Alpha Rowan's stare burned the side of my face but I ignored it as I let go of the bottle and moved to leave.

"Mate." The words ripped out of his lips as he stared at me and my eyes bulged.

The whole table had fallen silent and we're now watching us curiously.

I wasn't mad, I hadn't been imagining things. Alpha Rowan was my mate, I could feel the bond pulling me towards him.

Maybe the moon goddess had seen that I had suffered enough and I had worked to drag myself out of the abyss of guilt I felt. Maybe I was finally free and the moon goddess had rewarded me by giving me a mate. Joy soared through me and I kept staring at Alpha Rowan like a fool.

"Rowan what's going on?" His companion asked him but he ignored her.

Would he claim me as his mate even though I was a slave?

The thought lingered in my mind as he rose from his chair and faced me.

"What is your name?" His deep baritone voice asked.

"Aria Thorn." I whispered.

"I, Alpha Rowan Blackthorn, reject you, Aria Thorn, as my mate." He announced and pain seared through me.

"I don't need a slave for a mate, I need someone fit to be my Luna." His said with cold eyes before he walked out of the dining room, leaving me with a gutting pain in my chest.