Several times, I pinched my skin just to convince myself that it was all a dream. But each time, I couldn't deceive myself anymore. It was all reality playing out before me. My mate chose my sister over me as his luna in the presence of everyone, after two years of waiting.

The pack priestess did not flinch. She blessed their union, crowned my sister Luna, and the mating ritual took place while I stood like I was invisible, watching them while struggling not to spill my hot tears before them all.

Even the mate I thought was my savior also called me useless; then, of what use would I be again? How long would I be a servant without a life in this pack? I was already twenty-one, but the moon goddess, instead of giving me a mate of my level, had me shamed in the presence of everyone this way.

The pack members all clapped aloud as Alpha Samson climbed the throne with Isobel. I couldn't stand the trembling ground beneath me and turned around, taking off the hall from the side door. My heart was too tight to keep standing there. I couldn't afford to tear down before them all.

How was I the only wolfless person in this pack? Why was I treated like I didn't exist?

I just lost my mate to someone whom I would call my closest rival, someone who never wanted to see me smile. Why then was I conceived if they wouldn't love me? Wasn't it better to query the moon goddess than the innocent me who didn't create herself?

I raced into my father's house and into the hut-like room where I had stayed since I turned six years old. There, I broke into uncontrollable tears. The more I tried to console myself, the more I saw reason to spill those hot torments running down my cheeks.

My mate betrayed me. He hurt me so much.

I had never cried when my family mistreated me. But it hurt like a dagger in my chest that he also did the same to me.

If he had rejected me instantly, it would have been better. But having me wait for him for two years, claiming the pack members would know about it when I would be crowned, and then dumping me like a piece of trash was the worst pain ever.

Maybe...just maybe, if he had told me from the onset, I would have moved on and wouldn't even have shown up in that hall. If he didn't look at me with those affectionate eyes that signified that I was his, I wouldn't have high hopes.

He was brutal, but his gaze always softened when he caught up with me. How then did everything change?

I shook my head again, crouching my legs to my chest. "Better to keep being a servant here than being his mistress. Isobel will see every reason to make me hate myself the most, and I would curse myself for being wolfless that another female stole my position. I won't be his mistress!!" I broke into tears again.

For the goddess knew how long I stayed indoors, unsure how long the ceremony took before it ended, and when my parents returned to the house. But I was leaning on the wall, heaving in bitterness when the door of the room was kicked open, causing my heart to skip a beat.

I hastened to my feet the moment my father came into the view, his expression darkened, and his palms tightened into a fist. "What are you still doing here? Didn't you hear the alpha king mention you as his mistress?"

At that moment, my mother came in too, glanced at my father, then at me, "The maids are here to take you to the palace. You have to...

"I can't!" I cut her short, squeezing the fabric I was still wearing. I hadn't realised how heavy the dress was until now, and I longed to take it off already. "I will...I will continue staying here as a servant. Alpha can choose another worthy female to be his mistress."

"And what makes you think that you have the right to choose what you will be? Didn't he see other females before choosing you?" my father retorted, his eyes glinting like a furnace. "You should be glad that he at least regarded the matebond and made you his mistress. No one, not even the moon goddess, would want you to be the luna of this pack, so get yourself together and leave this place."

My mother nodded in agreement, while I grimaced, holding myself from enraging in anger. "Get ready to leave!" she said and turned to leave.

I couldn't stand the pain; their words pierced my chest like an arrow. "I refuse! There's no way I'm going to be his mistress when I'm his mate and should be his luna. Aren't you two ashamed and tired of all these? How long will Isobel steal what belongs to me?" I lashed out, my face burned like I was placed in an oven.

They turned around, wearing a twisted expression in shock at hearing me blurt out for the first time.

"You should have stopped him from choosing my sister as Luna because that position was mine. How do you expect me to share a man who is mine with my sister? Would Isobel do the same for me?" My voice rose at each word, and I didn't try to fight back my anger this time.

I wanted to unleash the venom that had grown in me all these years. I needed them to feel pained by my words just like I had always endured them.

Having them as my parents was a nightmare to begin with. For twenty years, the pack had just known that I was their real daughter, and they had no atom of remorse in them.

I looked my father dead in the eyes and slowly brushed away the tears on his cheek. With my shoulder held high, I said to their hearing, "This time, I won't be the obedient child that you all want. I won't be the alpha's mistress when he solely belongs to me. If he regarded me as his mate, he had no reason to claim another woman when I should be enough."

My father scoffed. He glanced at my mother and shook his head, but his expression revealed that he was fed up with my sluggish words. "Is that so? You aren't going to be a mistress to your mate?"

I nodded firmly, "I'll continue being a servant here."

"Do you know what it means to go against the alpha's order? Staying behind will shake this family and my position as well," my father stated and then folded his arms across his chest. After staring at me for some time, he added, "Since you refuse such a beautiful offer from your mate despite your condition, then marrying you off to the prime minister as his seventh wife would be better. You want to be the wife, right? Let's do this...." Then he smirked, but didn't let me say a thing and dashed out of the room.

My mother's glare was so cold that I couldn't find myself speaking, but I only flinched at the loud sound of the door slamming behind them.

The prime minister? So my father would hand over his daughter to a man older than him, a man old enough to be my great-grandfather? A man whose first to fourth wives were dead, and rumors have it that he was behind their deaths and had nothing to do with women.

I looked down at my body and quickly began undressing. My father always stood on his word, so I presumed that before the next sunrise, the prime minister would be here to take me away.

There was not much time left for me, but one thing was sure. I wasn't being my mate's mistress, nor was I going to be a seventh wife. Since I was not regarded and my family's reputation was the most important, I had to fight for myself for the first time. One thing I wouldn't forget was the betrayal of the man I hoped for as my mate, the shame he caused me before the crowd today, when there were so many days to tell me his intentions.

He caused all these because if he didn't reject me as his luna, I wouldn't be sitting right here in this dark room. He was the first person to ever smile at me and gaze at me affectionately, and at the same time, shattered my heart and all the hope I had in him.

I would survive this, and I wouldn't please any of them any longer. I was a beta and would live my life as one, with or without a wolf.

While the words roamed in my mind, I put on the tattered trousers I had always worn at home and tied my hair into a knot.

I had just a few hours to end all these, or I would count myself as dead.

That night, I noticed the kinda preparation that was taking place in my father's house like an event was going to take place sometime later. All the servants were so busy, and when I approached the head servant to assign me a task, she smiled for the first time and said to me, "The general had ordered that you not work tonight and only get set for tomorrow's event."

Tomorrow's event? I couldn't even come to believe it immediately, that my father meant it when he said that he would marry me off to that man of a great age as a seventh wife, since I refused to be my mate's mistress.

And to sum it all up, no one from the palace had even come for me to bring me over to the palace as per my mate's order.

My chest tightened in disgust. Why didn't I see this coming? How did I think my mate would cherish me, unlike every other person? I was still useless to him, like the others think, that was why he couldn't even come for me, to persuade me into being his mistress. If I meant at least a drop of meaning to him, he would plead that I take the position.

Well, even if he pleaded, I wouldn't accept it. I had never seen myself as a mistress even before I met him, and wouldn't become one for him.

I turned around from the head servant immediately and went back to my room. The servants were all roaming from one end to another, and that could tell that I wouldn't stay past the next day's sunrise.

What would I do? I promised myself to bring an end to all these. If I stayed here any longer, I was going to be thrown into hell as a seventh wife, and no one would come to my rescue. I wouldn't love to serve a man far older than me and cruel too, until he kills me as he does to the other women.

I was restless in my room, biting my finger and trying to come up with a plan that wouldn't put me in more trouble.

By midnight, the only idea I had was to run away from the pack, but I checked all my belongings, and the only worthy thing to sell was my mating ritual dress. I didn't have a penny, and I was sure that life outside there would be hard.

If I leave, my parents would have no one to sell off again, and I would see no reason to return to this pack or be part of this family again.

I decided to go ahead with the plan at the end, so I picked up a few of my dresses that would cover my nudity, and then the finest dress, which I would sell off and get some quick cash. I would go into a faraway pack where they would find it difficult to think of me going.

Due to how busy the night was, no one ever suspected my move. I went through the back gate and left the compound, and of course, they wouldn't find me easily since I didn't have a wolf.

I was done being the neglected child of the family, being a bulletproof to those that don't regard me, taking on messes from people who wish I wasn't part of them. I felt no single pity that I was leaving, not until I sighted the palace house and Alpha Samson's face flashed through my mind.

I choked on my sob and covered my mouth, taking deep swallows and exhaling heavily to not reveal myself.

We spent no memories together as lovers, I never for once visited him or stepped my feet in that palace, because I was patiently waiting for when he would feel great to do so. He hid me under the shadows, only locking eyes with me, and sending those warm smiles that brighten my day, no matter how hectic it was.

The times he came to my father's house, he asked to see all the servants, just so he would see my face before leaving. Those glints of love and affection in his eyes always, those soft smiles at the corner of his lips that I alone saw all the time, gave me a hope that I hadn't gotten all through my life.

He never said a word to me, and I understood. There was no way to mindlink me because I didn't have a wolf. He gave me those expressions until yesterday, when I became useless to him. His betrayal was the worst. It would have been better if it were another person he chose and not my family.

Right now, my sister would be lying in his arms, happy that she had stolen my mate from me, too.

I didn't realise that I'd been sobbing until I heard the snarling of a wolf behind me. I shuddered, glancing around, only to notice that there were more than one, but not facing me. They seemed to be quarrelling in their wolf form, so I took to my heels, running as much as I could until I got out of the pack house.

I had covered my head with a veil, so no one would find out who I was so easily. I trekked until I reached an abandoned house away from the packhouse, then I sneaked in.

As expected, the house was empty and chilly. I just needed to stay there until daybreak, when I would board a taxi that would drive me out of the pack quickly. I held the dress so tightly to my body, not wanting to sleep, so I would not get caught.

That night was the worst for me ever. Every one of my thoughts was about my mate and my family's betrayal.

'They crossed the line. Since they hated me that much, leaving me to my mate was the last thing they could have done for me.' I thought, sniffed and rested my head on the wall. 'But they thought I wasn't worthy enough to be Luna, rather Isobel.'

I let out a heavy breath and shook my head. Henceforth, I have no family or mates. The moment Alpha Samsom chose my sister, our bond was partially severed. I hope to never meet any of them in the future.

I stayed awake until the sky began brightening up, then I left the building. For not being harmed in that building, even when I didn't know what was in it, I thanked the goddess and ran off. It didn't take long for me to find a taxi, and I asked him for the farthest pack after ours.

"Young lady, I am a human. But I think the lycan clan is far away from here. Are you traveling?" he asked and turned to watch me, but I nodded, wearing a fake smile. "The summit clan is very far."

I sniffed and nodded, "Then, how much would it cost? Will this dress be worth the price?" I brought out the dress I was holding, and he grabbed it from me.

After taking a good look, he shoved it back and nodded. "I would resell it when I get back to my land. But if I may ask, is there any problem that you are leaving your pack?"

I shook my head. The humans and werewolves interfere a lot. We also live in each other's land, which was why going to the human land would be my last option. "Well, I am an orphan, and things aren't working out here. I just need to change my location to see if I can make a living for myself."

He nodded and started the car. "That's a nice point. If that's the case, then I have someone in the lycan clan who could help you. She's a human too and resides in the lycan clan. So I wonder if you would accept being a bartender."

Bartender? I hadn't heard of such a thing, but I thought it would be a great privilege.

"You will get paid very well and can make a living off the salary. With my influence, she could pay you more," the man added while the car was riding at a high speed.

I stayed quiet while contemplating the job role. Maybe I shouldn't reject it until I reach the lycan clan, nor should I bring up any more discussions with him. We were strangers to each other, and it was best if I didn't lose my composure and say things to him too much.

When we drove to the pack border, he whispered to me, "They are searching for a certain female who should have been their alpha's mistress. According to them, she went missing from the pack house last night, and both her parents and the alpha king had ordered that no werewolf should leave the pack without being properly searched."

My heart dropped instantly, and I tapped him, "Please, drop me off. I have issues with the gamma at the borders, and they could punish me with this opportunity." My voice was shaky, and sweat formed on my forehead.

It hadn't been so long since daybreak, and they already noticed that I had left. There was no way I would return there after all these...I can't let them catch me.

Immediately after the driver parked at the side of the road, I grabbed my veil again and covered my head. I handed over to him the sack where I had put the dress and said to him, "Thank you, but I don't have to fall into their trap. I have to go alone from here." I whispered and was trying to open the door when he held my wrist.

I turned to look at him, my breath caught in my throat. "No need for you to leave. We can pass by them without them finding out it was you," he said, his tone was convincing enough, but I had lived all my life trusting no one. "I mean it. I have a mask here that can help."

As he let go of my hand, he opened a part of his car and brought out a little box. I watched as he opened the box and brought out a skin color material from it, and stretched his hand towards me. "If you mask your face with it, they wouldn't know that it was you and would let us pass. I have heard of how brutal the werewolf gammas are, so I think you aren't telling lies against them."

I fumbled my palms together, conflicted. I hadn't ever told lies to anyone except him, and now he was helping me. Maybe it was better to have him know nothing about me. If there was a prize for anyone who found me, he wouldn't hesitate to hand me over if I revealed that I was the one wanted.

He gave a single nod, urging me to take the mask from him. "It doesn't have any side effects," he said with a smile.

I didn't need to waste time any longer, so he didn't change his mind, so I took the mask, and he helped me put it on.

For this kind gesture and understanding, he was indeed a human, because no werewolf would agree to what I had just said.

After putting it on, he allowed me to take a look at my face through the rearview of the car, and I couldn't believe what I looked like. My eyes widened in shock at the new person staring back at me. There was no clue of Annette any longer, but a new, beautiful female face that might not exist in this pack.

"Then we can now go, and they wouldn't find out you were the one," he said and chuckled, then started the car again.

Still, my heart raced in fear. I didn't trust that the mask would do a good thing to hide me very well, not until we passed the border and the gammas let us move on, since they didn't find Annette anymore.

I released a heavy breath that hung in my throat immediately we drove some miles away from them, then I slowly began getting the mask off my face. I hadn't known that such a thing existed until now, but one thing I was scared of was how much the driver would charge me for rendering the help, and if the dress would still serve the purpose.

He handed over the box to me to drop the mask into it, and I did so. I waited patiently for him to mention that my pay had increased, rather he began telling me stories of everything he had encountered as a driver, which made him always have the mask with him in his car.

"If not for this mask, my family would have murdered me a long time ago. I wear it whenever I enter human land, and for my safety, I live in a remote town where no one would ever think of coming," he had stated at the end, and my muscles weakened.

How could families be this cruel? He was an illegitimate child of their father, and this was why the whole family despised him, including his father. He had lost his mother, who had suffered to protect him, and now he was phobic about making a family.

There was no room for me to advise him, because after the hell I passed through in my father's house, and the worst betrayal from my mate, I was certain enough that making a family wasn't for me either. I would only strive to make a living and save enough for my old days.

He told me lots of stories to keep the ride moving, and after several hours of long rides, we entered the lycan clan. It was my first time coming into the clan, and it had taken us over ten hours to enter the clan.

As far as I knew, werewolves do not cooperate with the lycans as much as they do with the humans, so coming after me in the lycan clan was one uneasy thing for them to do.

As the driver said, he drove me to his friend, a female whom he said saved him back in the days when he was homeless and didn't have a dime to sustain himself. "She is a werewolf and would do a good job as a bartender," the driver explained to the woman.

I bowed to her, wearing a slight smile. She was younger than I expected, and looked like she wasn't married.

"My name is Penelope, and I will be your Boss," she stretched out her hand for a greeting, which I accepted with a grin. "You will serve people at the club, and you will choose the best time for you. But if you feel uncomfortable doing it, then there are so many tasks around. Cooking, washing the dishes, cleaning the environment, and so on. There are no werewolves here, too, so you are safe in my hands."

I glanced at the driver, whom I didn't even know his name, and I knew I owed this man. I was so grateful that I thought no amount of money would pay for his kindness.

"Honestly, I am fast cleaner, and do that better. Most times, I make a mistake serving people, but I will never let the surroundings become untidy. So, I would prefer being a cleaner." I said to the lady, and she nodded. But the truth was that I didn't want to be walking around, serving people whom I wasn't sure if they knew me or not.

It was great news that no werewolves were working in the club, so I should also be careful with myself.

"Then I will have to take you from here," Penelope said and gestured to the way I should follow.

I turned to the driver, unsure how to show how happy I was, but after exchanging pleasantries with him, he promised to always show up through Penelope if I needed his help, then I left with the lady.

She took me to the room where I would stay, and according to her, there were about two more females in the room who worked for her. So with me, we would be three, and it looked so much more comfortable compared to where I stayed in my father's house.

"I will have my manager get you some dresses, including your working dress, and other things you would need as a lady. Normally, it's supposed to be deducted from your salary. But because of Cornelius and the condition you came with, I would offer it all for free, and you get your complete salary," the lady narrated.

I couldn't help but get to my knees, yet she rushed and forced me up to my feet. "How do I pay you back?" I asked, tears gathered in my eyes.

She smiled, "Just do a nice job."

-

The next day, I dressed up like every other person and came out for the morning assembly, as they called it. I was introduced to others and then to my fellow cleaners, and for goddess' sake, they were so friendly.

Among us were humans, lycans, and I was the only werewolf. I was assigned to work until 12 pm with another fair human lady, and the others were also assigned their time of work.

Although it was a huge compound and there were so many places to clean, I loved it so much; the peace of mind, how cheerful my colleague was, how the Boss didn't pressure us like back in my father's house. Once it was 12 pm, the next set took over, so I rushed to see the boss and know what I was supposed to do next.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stepped into her room. She was bleeding from a deep cut, and the healer was doing everything in his power to stop the bleeding.

"Are you done?" she asked, and I nodded. "Then that's it for today. Take a rest for tomorrow."

What was she saying? Would I stay idle until the next day?

I was drawn out of my daze when she winced painfully, her face flushed red and her palms clenched tightly to her sides.

"Can I do it? It's becoming difficult to stop the bleeding, and you would pass out if you lost so much blood." I said, my heart pounding in fear that she would scold me.

I wanted to be a healer, not just because I needed to make money and fame, but because I was born with the gift and grace. I had helped several servants in my father's house heal from their cuts. Some of them I get herbs for, and they heal when they are sick. I had always taken care of myself in that aspect since my family didn't care, so I was sure I could stop the bleeding.

The healer stood and, with a contorted face, asked me, "Where is the proof that you are a certified healer?" I saw a glint of anger and jealousy on his face, and I lowered my head.

I was about to leave when Penelope called me back. "Come and do it, but if you fail, I will report you to the lycan king for playing with my life. And if you stop it, I will make sure to train you until you become a certified healer..."

"Lady?!" the male healer mentioned, his eyes widened in shock.

I bowed slightly and walked closer to Penelope, then squatted before her. "I accept, but could you tell the doctor to share his materials with me? I don't have mine, and going out to get them would take time."

She didn't say a thing but looked up to the healer, and the man dropped his kit before twitching out of the room angrily.

"He's the best healer in this clan, so he is scared that someone might steal his spot," Penelope whispered to me and patted my shoulder.

Deep down, I was frightened. I had always done this, but the wounds aren't always this deep. If I failed, that would be the end of me, because the lycan king was said to be a demon himself...and I would regret not being a mistress or a seventh wife.