My mate’s childhood friend’s pet wolf, Milo, shredded the journal my mother left me before she passed away. In a burst of anger, I gave Milo a gentle swat on his backside. The next day, I was horrified to find that rogue werewolves had carved deeply humiliating words into my skin with their claws. When the pack healer arrived, I lay exposed on the snowy ground, my body trembling with both cold and shame.

Ryland Palmer, my mate and the Alpha of the Shadowmoon Pack, held me close, his strong arms wrapping around me as he tended to my wounds with care. His dominant aura, usually a source of comfort, now felt suffocating. While I was recovering in the pack’s infirmary, a mysterious package arrived for me, containing a recording device.

"Alpha Ryland, you’re quite something," a voice sneered on the recording. "Just to amuse your childhood friend, you let your mate become a target for rogues. We’ve known each other for over a decade; wouldn’t it make more sense to involve me?"

"Get lost," Ryland’s voice snapped back. "You think she wouldn’t recognize your voice?"

"But I have a video of her being branded. Imagine showing that to everyone—wouldn’t it be a spectacle?"

"A ruined journal, and now her pet wolf can’t move. If we don’t teach her a proper lesson, she’ll keep getting her way."

The voices were unmistakably Ryland’s and one of his enforcers. My chest tightened, and I felt my wolf whimper in the back of my mind, her pain echoing my own. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I forced the tears back.

I quickly turned off the recording and hid it under the blanket just as the infirmary door opened.

"Are you still in pain?" Ryland asked as he entered, his deep voice filling the room. His towering frame, muscular and commanding, loomed over me. "Lilly went to the neighboring pack territory just to find a special salve for your scars—it’s supposed to be very effective. Let me apply it for you."

As he reached to pull down the blanket, I stopped his hand. With great effort, I whispered, "No, I don’t want to be touched right now."

"Come on, it’ll be over soon," he insisted, his voice firm, using his Alpha tone to assert dominance. He pried the blanket away, his smirk so cruel it made my stomach churn. It was as if he were proud of a trophy he’d won.

I bit my lip hard, tears of humiliation welling up in my eyes. I clenched my fists, forcing the tears back.

Just two mornings ago, Ryland had come in holding Milo, with Lilly trailing behind him. I was puzzled to see them together when Lilly spoke softly, her voice dripping with innocence, "My allergies are really acting up. Could you keep Milo for me, Penelope?"

Before I could reply, Ryland placed Milo in my arms, saying, "Haven’t you always wanted a pet wolf? Here he is!"

I was upset, but I didn’t want pack politics to affect an innocent creature, so I went to the pack’s supply store for necessities. When I returned, I found Milo tearing up the journal my mother had left me. Seeing the tattered pages felt like my heart was being ripped apart. In a moment of weakness, I tapped Milo’s backside.

When Lilly saw me do it, she immediately scooped Milo up, tears streaming down her face, "I know you don’t like me or my wolf. I’ll leave now."

My journal had been locked in the bottom drawer of my nightstand. No mere pet wolf could have gotten to it. Inspecting the cabinet, I saw signs of forced entry on three locks. I demanded an explanation from Lilly.

Sniffling, Lilly turned to Ryland, "Didn’t you say that everything here was mine too?"

Ryland sharply reprimanded Lilly, demanding she apologize, but then assured me he’d find an expert to restore the journal.

I thought that was the end of it. Little did I know that because of this incident, he handed me over to those rogues and let the video of their assault spread repeatedly.

"All done. Just leave it uncovered for a bit," Ryland instructed, his voice calm but authoritative.

I threw the blanket over myself anyway, but within minutes, an unbearable itch spread over my wounds. As I scratched helplessly, Ryland claimed it was the salve working and told me to endure it.

"I’m off to get some food; stay here and rest," he said, turning to leave.

Watching him go, I dialed Lucas, my brother, and broke down in tears. Lucas was a Delta warrior in our old pack, and due to the nature of his work, we rarely had contact. But surprisingly, he answered on the first ring.

He had already heard about my ordeal and was about to call to check on me. "Penelope, you shouldn’t stay there. Leave Ryland behind and come find me. If you’re willing to return to the pack, the Alpha will arrange for your extraction."

I once served as a Gamma warrior in our old pack, but Ryland didn’t want the danger and distance between us, so I gave it all up to be by his side. But all my sacrifices were repaid with betrayal.

It seems I really should leave.

"Lucas, I agree."

Less than two hours after Lucas informed the pack of my decision to return, I received confirmation. In three days, a helicopter would come to extract me. I wanted nothing more to do with Alpha Ryland Palmer. Gritting my teeth, I managed to pull on my jeans and stumbled out of the pack infirmary, searching for a place to hide out for the next few days.

But it felt like every pack member was dissecting me with their eyes. I kept my head down until a rogue blocked my path.

"Hey there, beautiful. Remember me? You were quite the party the other night. Ready for round two?"

He slung an arm around my shoulder and started making sleazy comments, his eyes shamelessly roving over me. Memories of two nights ago flooded my mind. I shoved him away as hard as I could, but he only became more aggressive. The pack members around us started whispering, alternating between watching me and glancing at their phones.

"Is she really pulling a stunt right here in the pack square? Quite the show," someone remarked.

Another even joked with the rogue, "When you’re done, maybe I could get a chance?"

Panicking, I pleaded for help from those around me, but no one stepped in. The rogue kicked me to the ground. Lying there in despair, I grabbed at the hem of the only other woman’s skirt, hoping for her help. She pushed me away with disdain, as if I were diseased.

Curled up on the cobblestones, I closed my eyes. Clutching a stone, I was ready to defend myself if necessary. Then I heard Lilly’s voice.

"Alpha Ryland, you're devious. With this ‘damsel in distress’ stunt, she'll be forced to go along with your plan."

"Don’t overdo it," Alpha Ryland’s voice replied, "She’s going to be your Luna eventually."

The voices faded as the rogue attacked again. At the last moment, Alpha Ryland kicked him away, scooping me up from the ground.

"Your injuries aren’t even healed. Why are you out here?" Alpha Ryland scolded, holding me close.

"The photos are already online. I’m doing my best to contain them. No matter what happens, I’ll have your back, okay?"

Alpha Ryland sighed as he looked at me. Seeing my reluctance to return to the infirmary, he brought me to his den.

The shrill ring of a phone shattered the silence between us. Alpha Ryland stepped away to answer in the living room. When he returned, he handed me a Victorian-style dress from the closet.

"Lilly means well. She found a top healer from another pack for you. Let’s go see him."

A chill ran down my spine. Calmly, I pushed Alpha Ryland back. "I’m fine. I don’t need healing."

He frowned, his alpha aura pressing down on me. "Penelope, be reasonable! We’re all trying to help."

Despite my protests, Alpha Ryland insisted on taking me to the car. His driving was reckless, and even lying flat in the passenger seat, every bump pulled painfully at my wounds, bringing back memories from two nights ago.

With a sudden stop, the car came to a halt, and Alpha Ryland opened my door, pulling me out. Pack members glared maliciously, whispering vile comments. I could only cover my ears in shame, feeling like I belonged in the shadows.

Head down, I let Alpha Ryland lead me. As soon as we entered the consultation room, Lilly rushed to greet us.

"Penelope, I’ve found a healer from another pack. He’ll help heal the damage caused by that rogue."

The healer’s gaze unsettled me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Alpha Ryland positioned me at the center of the room, the bright lights making me uncomfortable.

"Relax," the healer said soothingly. "I know sitting's uncomfortable right now, so I’ve arranged a bed for you. Lie down however you’re most comfortable."

I fixed my eyes on the clock, counting the seconds. One... two... three...

I was lost in a haze, guided by the pack healer to relive the horrors of the previous night again and again. Each time, I screamed, my voice raw, my body writhing as I tumbled from the bed, only for Alpha Ryland Palmer to place me back. His touch was cold, clinical, as if I were nothing more than an object to be manipulated.

The memories clawed at me—the thug’s rough hands, the taunts, the pain. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, urging me to fight, to run, but I was paralyzed by fear. I clutched at Ryland’s pant leg, my fingers trembling. “Please, Alpha,” I begged, my voice barely a whisper. “Help me. I’m scared. Save me.”

But he pulled away, his expression unreadable. The healer, Shepard Bell, leaned over me, his voice low and insistent, forcing me deeper into the nightmare. I relived the branding iron’s searing heat, the knife carving abusive words into my skin, the relentless humiliation. I writhed on the floor, my body convulsing with pain, my pleas for mercy falling on deaf ears.

“Everything’s set,” a voice said, cutting through the fog in my mind. “Shall we proceed to the next stage?” I barely registered the words, my consciousness slipping away. “Alpha, the hypnosis is complete. She won’t remember a thing by tomorrow.”

“Don’t push it too far,” Ryland said, his tone detached. “She’s still a warrior. Her survival instinct is strong.”

Lilly’s voice chimed in, sweet and playful, but laced with malice. “Alpha Ryland, I want Milo to have his revenge. I’ve brought in some rogues—they’ll keep her company for a few hours. We’ll observe from the control room to ensure no lasting harm comes to her. After all, she won’t remember anything.”

A long pause followed, and I held my breath, praying for Ryland to refuse. But his voice, cold and indifferent, shattered that hope. “Do as you wish.”

Those words broke me. I tried to struggle to my feet, but my body felt like it was weighed down by stones. Tears streamed down my face, the humiliation of being utterly at their mercy leaving me gasping for air.

Soon, I felt the rogues surrounding me, their laughter cruel and mocking. My scalp ached as one yanked at my hair, and they began tearing at my clothes. “Alpha, perfect timing,” one of them sneered. “Your little mate’s clothes are in tatters.”

“The thug’s had his fun,” another added. “She’s hypnotized anyway. Let us have a go.”

I wanted to scream, to fight, but I was powerless. My tears soaked into the carpet beneath me, my body trembling with fear and despair. And then I heard Ryland’s voice, so cold, so detached, as he uttered the words that extinguished my last glimmer of hope.

“Go ahead. But be careful.”

My wolf howled in anguish, a sound that echoed only in my mind. I closed my eyes, letting the darkness swallow me whole.