Morning came too quickly.

 The sun, almost blinding through the trees, I grunted as I got up. My knees were tight and stiff. The mud had dried to my face, as I dragged myself back inside to go wash off before anyone could see me.

My eyes felt swollen, my body stiff, but no one cared enough to notice. Not even my father. The house buzzed with preparations. Servants rushed about carrying trays and fabrics, their voices hushed but urgent.

 Tonight was supposed to be my night. My mating ceremony.

The night I would finally escape. Instead, I felt like a ghost drifting through a home that had never wanted me. When Caius walked into the hall, his hair still damp from a bath, his shirt hanging open at the collar, I thought stupidly that maybe he would look at me, maybe he would say something that made sense.

That he loved me and can't wait to be with me. Maybe it had been a nightmare, a cruel trick my mind had conjured. But then Liana followed him. Barefoot. Wearing his shirt. Her lips swollen. Her eyes smug, giving her "I just had the best morning sex ever"

The ground tilted beneath me. My head spun, and I was this close to collapsing on the floor.

"Father," Caius's voice rang with authority, cold and sharp. I could feel the hairs in my neck rise as my father drew closer to were we stood in the hall. "The ceremony tonight will not be for Rain."

 The world stopped. Every servant stilled, the sound of clattering trays fading into silence. "What?" I whispered, though no one was listening to me. Caius's gaze landed on my father, not on me. Never on me.

 "I will take Liana as my mate. She is strong. Worthy. She carries the bloodline your pack deserves."

 I stumbled forward. "No you can't do that. You're my mate! The ritual it's supposed to be me!" Liana smirked, sliding her arm through Caius's like a queen claiming her throne. "Don't embarrass yourself, my dear sister. He doesn't want you I mean who would. Look at you" My chest cracked open. I whimpered so hard I nearly doubled over, but the sound was lost beneath the laughter that rippled from Caius's throat.

I turned to my father, desperation clawing through me. "Please, don't allow this. Please, Father. You promised me. You-"

"Enough, Rain, I have had enough of your silly tears" he cut me off with a snarl, eyes burning with irritation instead of pity. "You should be grateful. Caius has agreed to keep you. He wants you as their servant."

 The words gutted me. Servant. Caius didn't even flinch at the cruelty. "She'll come with us when I take Liana back to my pack. Someone needs to tend to her needs. And Rain..... she's accustomed to the role." I shook my head violently, tears blinding me. "No! You can't do this. You can't force me to serve them. Please, I'll do anything else. Anything but this!" But my father's jaw stayed hard, his gaze full of the same disgust he had shown me my entire life. "You'll obey. This is more than you deserve. Caius is still honoring his agreement by taking you under his roof. Consider it mercy." Mercy. The word made me want to vomit. Liana leaned close, her voice dripping with triumph. "Don't worry, stepsister. I'll make sure you know your place. You can lay out my gowns, fetch my water, scrub my floors. Maybe I'll even let you sleep by the hearth like the mutt you are." Her words seared me like acid. My knees buckled, can't anybody see this?! I cited internally, my life is going to be a living hell, somebody please! Help!. But I refused to fall. Not in front of them. Not when their eyes were gleaming with victory. "Please," I begged again, the sound raw, ragged. "Father, don't let them do this to me. Don't throw me away like this. I can stay here and be your servant, but please don't let them take me away.0 But he turned his back, dismissing me like an unwanted dog. And just like that, my fate was sealed. I crumpled to the ground watching as the servants resumed the duties and my world spun. The rest of the day blurred. Servants fitted Liana for a dress that had been meant for me. The gown I had chosen. The silks I had touched with trembling hands, imagining what it would feel like to walk into the circle of fire and bond myself to my mate. Now it was hers. Every laughter that floated from her room, every murmur of Caius's voice beside her, felt like a blade driving deeper into me. When the sun began to set, I sat on the edge of my bed, a half-packed bag at my feet. My hands shook as I folded the little I owned: a few dresses, a comb, the locket that had belonged to my mother. The walls seemed to close in, suffocating. I thought of the lake. Of the howl I'd heard last night, low and distant. A promise of something outside these walls. Something beyond this suffocating fate, that somehow seems so out of reach. I was trapped. Bound to the cruelty of a man who had broken me, and a sister who delighted in my ruin. And my father? Well I didn't expect much. Grace pretty much as him wrapped around her finger and it was probably her plan all along to have me serve her daughter. The drums outside began to beat the call to the ritual. It should have been for me. But tonight, I was nothing more than a shadow. A servant. A discarded mate. And as I shouldered my bag, waiting for Caius and Liana to claim me like property, I swore that if the goddess had truly cursed me... then I would learn how to curse her back.

The bonfire blazed high, licking at the night sky, its heat oppressive and cruel. The scent of burning cedar, sweet wine, and wolf musk rolled thick through the clearing. The crowd was restless with excitement, faces lit in orange glow, eyes bright with hunger for the spectacle about to unfold. I stood among them, invisible as always, but this time the weight of my invisibility crushed me. My heart beat too loud in my chest, every thud like a hammer driving me further into despair. Caius stood at the center, dressed in ceremonial black trimmed with silver. His dark hair gleamed in the firelight, his jaw proud, his shoulders squared. He looked like every dream I had once wrapped around myself like a blanket. But tonight, every inch of him belonged to her. Liana. She stepped forward in scarlet silk, the fabric flowing like blood down her perfect body. Jewels glittered in her hair, catching the firelight, her lips curved into that victorious smile that had haunted me since last night. She was radiant, untouchable, and completely aware of it. I wanted to look away. I couldn't. Betrayal stung harder and more painful that a bee's sting, yet all I could do was stand and watch. The elder priest raised his hands, calling for silence. His voice carried through the crowd like thunder. "Tonight, under the blood moon, the bond between Alpha Caius and Liana of the Greenstone pack shall be forged. May their union strengthen this pack and bless our lands." The words hit me like a blade. Liana of the Greenstone pack. My stepsister. The girl who had taken everything from me. And I was forced to stand here and watch as if I were nothing. "Step forward, bride and groom," the priest commanded. They moved together, side by side, his hand brushing hers, their smiles matching. He had smiled at me once like that soft, reassuring, gentle. Now, I saw nothing but arrogance in his expression. The ceremony began. Chants rose from the pack, deep and guttural, a rhythm I had grown familiar with hearing at every mating ceremony vibrated in my bones. My stomach turned with each verse, each step that brought them closer to sealing what should have been mine. The elder dipped his fingers into a silver bowl filled with crushed moon herbs, smearing the paste across their wrists. "Tonight, you will mark each other. Bite to bond, blood to seal, and flesh to claim. Speak your vow." Caius's voice was strong, commanding, proud. "I vow to protect you, to lead beside you, and to honor our bond until death." Liana's was sweet, dripping with false humility. "I vow to stand with you, to serve beside you, and to honor our bond until death." The crowd roared its approval. My ears rang with it. Then Caius tilted his head, baring his neck. Liana's fangs glistened in the firelight as she leaned in. Her teeth sank into his flesh with a wet, tearing sound. He growled, deep and primal, holding her tighter as the bond took root. My stomach lurched, bile rising in my throat. When she pulled back, blood trickled down his collarbone, and she licked it with a moan that made the crowd cheer louder. Now it was his turn. He grabbed her neck, tilted her head back, and bit down hard into the curve of her shoulder. Her scream tore through the clearing half pain, half pleasure and my knees almost buckled. That scream was supposed to have been mine. The bond was sealed. The elder raised his arms again. "It is done. The union is blessed!" The pack howled as one, the sound tearing through the night like a storm. Wolves shifted, their bodies shimmering with silver light as they celebrated. My father stood near the front, pride in his eyes, not a single glance spared for me. I wanted to vanish into the earth. But the ceremony wasn't over. A feast followed, tables groaning under roasted boar, venison, and honey wine. Liana sat at Caius's side, glowing in her triumph. Every time she laughed, her hand tangled in his hair while his lips brushed her skin, I died a little more. I walked up to my father with the little courage I had left "Father...." my voice cracked, shaking, raw. "Please. Don't do this. Father, please. I can't-" "Enough Rain!" He barked, loud enough that the people around us stopped to stare. " you are going with them, you will serve your purpose. And if ever you step your feet back here you will be severely punished" The words hit harder than a hammer to a nail. Liana's laugh slipped like venom into my ear. She pressed herself against Caius's side, her hand resting on his chest as she smirked at me. "Don't worry, sister. I'll make sure you're useful. Someone has to lace my dresses, clean my shoes, fetch my water and tend to my cubs when I have them. And who better than you?" Tears blurred my vision. My throat burned. "Please," I whispered, softer this time, broken. "Please don't let them do this." But my father turned away, raising his cup, joining the cheer. Their laughter filled my ear and my father's betrayal felt worse. He loved me once. He cared so much that I was assigned every servant to tend to my needs. Not until my mother died. And Grace and Liana came. The night dragged on, endless, suffocating. Eventually, the fires dimmed, the songs grew slower, and preparations for departure began. We were leaving. Tonight. The rule was clear. Once marked, the mate must be carried back to the Alpha's pack before the night ended, before the bond settled too deep to break, so the park members could officially welcome their Luna. Caius's pack lay far beyond the forest to the east. The carriages were loaded with trunks of silk and jewels, gifts from my father to show off our pack's wealth. My own meager belongings fit into a single small bag an afterthought. I climbed into the second carriage, the one assigned to servants. The wood was rough, the cushions thin, the air heavy with dust. Still, it was more than I deserved, at least in their eyes. Liana and Caius rode ahead, their carriage lavish, curtains drawn for privacy I didn't want to imagine. The wheels groaned as we set off, the night air sharp and cold against my damp cheeks. Trees blurred past, shadows deepening as the forest swallowed us whole. What was the need that of spending so much time in the thing when all they could do was shift into their wolves and reach his pack faster than we could ever on the carriage. But just again it was tradition. It wasn't long before the carriage lurched suddenly, tilting to the side with a violent jolt. The driver cursed, pulling the horses to a stop. One of the knots holding the wheels steady had come loose. "Damn it," the driver muttered, hopping down to check the damage. Liana shoved open her curtain, her voice sharp as a whip. "What's going on? Why have we stopped?" The driver bowed his head. "A knot came loose, my lady. It'll take a few minutes to fix." Liana scowled, then turned her head, her gaze falling on me like poison. "Rain. Make yourself useful for once. Fetch me some water. I'm thirsty." I hesitated, glancing at the dark forest that loomed on either side of the road. Her lips curled, mocking. "What's the matter? Afraid of the dark?" Caius's chuckle joined hers, low and cruel. "Go on, Rain. You heard her." My throat tightened, but I forced my legs to move. The cold air bit into my skin as I stepped down from the carriage. The forest was alive with sounds crickets, the rustle of unseen creatures, the distant echo of an owl. The night felt heavier here, thicker, like it was watching me. I wrapped my arms around myself, my steps hesitant as I moved toward the trees in search of water. The road behind me grew quiet. Too quiet Then suddenly........ I could run away. The thought came bursting into my head like a wild hurricane that it almost made me dizzy. If I was ever going to get the chance now would be the time. But if I leave I would become a lone wolf, I don't know how to hunt, my wolf instincts were as good as dead and since I haven't shifted once I'll become prey. But. I could still leave. It's not like anybody would really care. My feet stopped, planting me to the ground as i weighed my options, looking back I could still see the faint light from the lamp on the carriage but the forest in front of me was dark and unpredictable. Yet, my heart thundered in my chest like it was begging to free.

My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. I took one sharp breath, another, and then my body moved before my mind caught up. My legs surged forward, pounding against the earth. I ran. Branches tore at my arms, roots clawed at my feet, but I didn't stop. My lungs burned, my heart hammered, and still I pushed harder. The forest closed in around me, wild and merciless, but it was better than what I left behind. Better than Caius. Better than Liana. Better than being their pet. The night air whipped against my face, sharp and cold. My robe snagged on thorns, ripping, but I hardly felt it. All I could hear was the drum of my pulse and the frantic thud of my footsteps. Then came another sound. Heavy. Thudding. Behind me. I froze mid-stride, stumbling as the ground shifted under my feet. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, the sound of my heartbeat filling my ears. But then it came again......louder. Closer. A growl. Not a wolf's. Deeper. Rougher. My blood turned to ice. I risked a glance back. Through the trees, a massive shadow moved, its hulking form crashing through brush and snapping branches like twigs. The stench of musk and rot filled the air, and my chest seized with terror. A bear. Not just any bear, a black eastern bear usually caught and used for wars. It was huge, towering, its eyes glinting with wild hunger. Panic shot through me. My legs moved before my mind caught up, pumping as fast as they could. I tore through the undergrowth, branches slapping my face, scratches burning across my skin. The roar shook the ground beneath me, rattling through my bones. It was chasing me. My wolf whimpered inside me, small and useless. Shift. Please, shift, I begged her, but nothing came. No strength, no claws, no fangs-just me, weak and broken, prey to the monster at my back. The forest blurred. My vision swam with tears, my throat raw from gasping. I didn't know where I was going, only that I had to keep moving. Then the ground vanished beneath me. One second I was running, the next I was airborne. I screamed as my body pitched forward over the edge of a small cliff, my arms flailing, nothing to grab. The world spun, trees and sky and rock tumbling together, until I hit the ground with bone-jarring force. Pain exploded in my skull, white-hot and blinding. My breath ripped from my lungs. The last thing I saw was the night sky spinning above me, the moon a cold, pitiless eye staring down. Then everything went black. I don't know how long I was out for, or if the bear had finally gotten me and is now keeping me as his midnight snack but my head felt like it was about to explode. My consciousness was gradually coming back and when I finally woke up, it was to pain all over. A searing ache in my head, the taste of copper in my mouth, every limb heavy and trembling. My eyes fluttered open, but the world was a blur of shadows and movement. I tried to lift my hand to my head, but something stopped me. Something cold and hard biting into my skin. Bars. Iron. I was in a cage. Fear surged through me, sharp and dizzying. I shifted weakly, trying to sit up, but the movement sent waves of agony through my skull. My vision doubled, then cleared just enough for me to see the clearly. The cage was small, barely large enough for me to curl into. My knees were drawn to my chest, my robe torn and filthy, my hair damp and matted with blood. My breathing was shallow, ragged. And the cage was moving. No, being dragged. The earth trembled with each thud my head colliding with the floor of the cage with each movement, I could swear it was about to split open and maybe my miserable life will once again end. Lifting myself up as much as I could, I turned my head and froze. Two massive animals that looked like wolves, but were much larger than any wolf I had ever seen. They pulled the cage by thick iron chains clenched in their jaws. Their coats gleamed in the moonlight, one dark as midnight, the other silver-shot, their muscles rippling beneath fur. Their eyes glowed faintly, feral but intelligent, like they knew exactly what they were doing. They weren't ordinary wolves. And They weren't from my pack either. I tried to speak, to demand they stop, but all that came out was a broken rasp. My throat burned, my lips cracked. I gripped the bars, fingers shaking. "Where... where are you taking me?" My voice sounded weak, pitiful, lost beneath the steady drag of chains. The wolves didn't answer. They only moved faster, their paws thudding like drums against the forest floor. Fear and confusion tangled inside me. Who were they? Why me? Where was I going? I would have actually loved being eaten by the bear than being in this situation right now. My head throbbed harder, the world tipping sideways again. The iron rattled, the chains groaned, and my body sagged against the bars. I felt like nothing more than cargo, an object. A successful hunt. The bear had chased me, but something else had found me. Something worse. And deep inside, my wolf whispered one word, low and trembling, as if she already knew what awaited us. My eyes grew larger in realization. Lycans. I think I may have fainted again because now I woke to the jolt of movement. And when I tried to move, I realized I couldn't. My arms were bound in front of me, the rough scrape of rope biting my wrists. Cold iron pressed against my back. My breath hitched, foggy and shallow, as the reality sank in. I was still inside the iron cage, my body slumped awkwardly against its bars, and the whole thing was being dragged across the forest floor. The growl of chains rattling echoed through the night. Two massive wolves flanked me, their fur dark as shadows, muscles flexing with every pull. Soldiers. Their eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, gleaming with cruel satisfaction. Panic clawed up my throat. I tried to push myself upright, but my limbs were too weak, trembling from the fall and blood loss. My head spun. My tongue was heavy and dry. Where were they taking me? The forest smelled of damp pine and smoke, and faintly, fire. The scent of a camp. As the cage jolted to a stop, the wolves shifted into men, voices rough. "She's light," one of them muttered. "Half-dead already. Won't last long." "Doesn't matter. The Alpha will want to see her before anything." Alpha. The word sent a chill down my spine, deeper than the cold of the cage. A shadow stirred ahead of us. A tent, set apart from the firelight. And from it, a scent rolled out, sharp, wild, powerful. It struck me like a punch to the chest, burning in my lungs. My wolf, buried and half-silent all my life, stirred weakly against my ribs as if waking for the first time. The flap of the tent pulled back, and he stepped out. Tall. Broad-shouldered. His hair was tousled like he'd been sleeping, his chest bare under a dark cloak. But his eyes, amber fire locked on me, sharp enough to flay me alive. The soldiers bowed their heads instantly. "Alpha Darius. We found her laying beyond the boundaries of the woods half dead. Thought you'd want her brought in." His gaze never left mine. It was like being pinned in place by a predator, stripped bare under his stare. Darius moved closer, each step silent, deliberate. He stopped right before the bars of the cage. For a long moment, he just breathed me in, nostrils flaring. His jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. Then, low and dangerous, his voice came out in a growl that made my heart stop. "Mate."