My mother, Adley Simmons, was once revered as a blessed healer by the Moon Goddess, the Luna of the Rivera Pack, and the cherished mate of Alpha Derrick Rivera. My uncle, Beta Zen Cruz, had sworn to protect her as his own sister. Yet, when she was captured by rogue werewolves during a pack gathering, neither of them lifted a finger to save her.

Instead, they stood by, watching as she was brought to the auction block, her healing abilities twisted into a grotesque spectacle. I sent frantic mind links to my father and uncle, pleading for them to intervene, but they blocked my messages without a second thought. Instead, they escorted Zaria Morales, the rogue they had taken in, to the center of the gathering, treating her like a queen.

“You mentioned your scent was weakening,” my father said to Zaria, his voice dripping with false affection. “I found the perfect remedy for you—this healer’s essence. They say she’s blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. We’ll extract her power and make it yours.”

Zaria’s eyes gleamed with malice. “I’ve heard that the essence is most potent when the healer is... at her most vulnerable,” she purred. “Perhaps we should make her experience a little... excitement first.”

My father and uncle didn’t hesitate. “Whatever you desire, we’ll make it happen,” they said in unison, their voices cold and detached.

I watched in horror as they dragged my mother to the center of the clearing, her body bound and gagged. She struggled desperately, but her cries were muffled, her movements restrained. I screamed, trying to push through the crowd, but my voice was drowned out by the jeers and laughter of the onlookers.

“Father, stop! That’s Mother!” I shouted, but the noise was deafening, and my words were lost in the chaos.

My father turned to Zaria, his arm draped around her shoulders. “Let’s see how much ‘excitement’ we can give her,” he said, his tone cruel and mocking. “Bring out the rogues.”

My uncle nodded, his expression equally cold. “Strip her. We don’t want her face to ruin the moment. Cover it up.”

The pack members tore at my mother’s clothes, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. She writhed in agony, her body straining against the bonds, but her struggles only elicited more laughter from the crowd.

“Look at her!” Zaria sneered, her voice dripping with malice. “Even a healer blessed by the Moon Goddess can’t resist this kind of ‘treatment.’ She’s no better than a common rogue.”

I tried to push forward, but a strong hand grabbed me from behind, yanking me away. A burly werewolf clamped his hand over my mouth and dragged me toward the edge of the clearing. He chained me to a post near the rogues’ den, his grin twisted with sadistic pleasure.

“You’ll get your turn soon enough,” he sneered. “But first, let’s see how your mother handles her ‘guests.’”

The rogues were released, their eyes gleaming with hunger as they closed in on my mother. I turned away, unable to watch, but the sounds of her suffering were inescapable. The crowd cheered, their voices rising in a sickening crescendo as the rogues took their turns.

“She’s holding up better than I expected!” someone shouted. “Let’s bring in more!”

My father’s voice cut through the noise, cold and detached. “She’s a healer. Her body is stronger than most. Bring in another group.”

I clenched my fists, my claws digging into my palms as I struggled against the chains. My wrists were raw and bleeding, but I barely felt the pain. All I could think about was my mother, her body broken and bleeding, while my father and uncle stood by, their expressions blank and unfeeling.

“Father, please!” I screamed, but my voice was lost in the din.

Zaria leaned into my father’s embrace, her voice soft and mocking. “You’ve done so much for me, Alpha. How can I ever repay you?”

My father’s response was chilling. “Just promise me you’ll stay by my side, Zaria. That’s all I need.”

My uncle chimed in, his tone equally cold. “And don’t forget about me. I deserve some gratitude too.”

Zaria laughed, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. “Of course. I’ll make sure you both feel... appreciated.”

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face as the rogues continued their assault. My mother’s body convulsed, her strength fading with each passing moment. The crowd’s laughter echoed in my ears, a cruel reminder of the betrayal she had suffered.

“She’s bleeding too much!” someone shouted. “She’s pregnant!”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mother was pregnant, and they had subjected her to this... this nightmare. My father and uncle didn’t react, their expressions blank as they continued to fawn over Zaria.

I slumped against the post, my body trembling with rage and despair. My mother, the Luna of the Rivera Pack, the healer who had dedicated her life to protecting others, was now being destroyed by the very pack she had served. And the two men who had sworn to protect her—my father and my uncle—were the ones orchestrating her suffering.

I closed my eyes, my heart breaking as the sounds of her agony filled the air. This wasn’t just a betrayal of my mother. It was a betrayal of everything the Rivera Pack stood for. And I knew, in that moment, that I would never forgive them.

I stared in horror, my vision blurring as the scene before me unfolded.

Just two weeks ago, the pack healer had confirmed that my mother, Luna Adley Simmons, was three months pregnant. She had been overjoyed, already preparing for the new arrival. She’d stroked my hair, her eyes shining with happiness as she said, “You’re going to have a little brother or sister soon. Aren’t you excited?”

“Don’t tell your father or your uncle yet,” she’d added softly. “They’ve been so busy with pack affairs. Let’s wait a couple of weeks before we surprise them.”

Her joy had been so genuine, so full of life. Now, that memory cut through me like a knife.

Blood pooled endlessly around her as she curled up in the corner, trembling with pain, her dignity stripped away.

Zaria Morales, the rogue who had somehow wormed her way into my father and uncle’s favor, let out a shrill cry. “Ugh, why does she have to bleed like that? It’s disgusting! I hate the sight of blood—it’s going to give me nightmares!”

My father, Alpha Derrick Rivera, stood there, his face cold and unreadable as he glanced at the crimson stain. “Didn’t you hear her?” he snapped, his Alpha tone cutting through the room. “Zaria’s terrified of blood. Clean it up with boiling water. Now.”

My uncle, Beta Zen Cruz, stepped forward, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. “Boiling water? That won’t do. The best way to clean it is to let the blood drain completely. I’ve got just the thing.”

He pulled out a small golden box, and my heart froze. Inside were the venomous creatures he’d been cultivating for years—horrifying parasites that fed on blood and flesh, their claws laced with toxins. Once they latched onto a victim, death was inevitable within days.

As he opened the box and approached my mother, I screamed, tears mixing with the blood streaming down my face. “That’s her! That’s the woman you swore to protect!”

My voice woke the sleeping wolf within me, and it snarled, its presence surging through my veins. Pain ripped through me, and I doubled over, my legs giving out as blood soaked through my clothes.

I prayed, desperately, that my uncle would recognize her.

But he didn’t.

With a sickening smile, he placed the first creature on her abdomen. “The blood’s coming from here, right? Let’s start here. Let’s see if she dares to bleed and scare Zaria again.”

The creature burrowed into her skin, its claws tearing through flesh as it greedily drank her blood. The more it fed, the more vicious it became, tearing deeper into her body.

My mother’s body convulsed, her legs twitching as she tried to fight, but she was too weak. She collapsed, her face twisted in agony.

On the platform, Zaria clapped her hands, her voice shrill with excitement. “This is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it! More! I want to see more!”

My father didn’t hesitate. “Bring out more of them. Let Zaria enjoy the show.”

My uncle complied, pulling out more boxes of the creatures. His eyes lingered on the scar on my mother’s ankle—a scar she’d gotten years ago when she’d fought tirelessly to clear his name after he’d been framed by a rival pack.

She’d spent days pleading with the Lycan King, running herself ragged until she’d collapsed. When he’d finally been released, he’d carried her home in his arms, summoning every healer in the pack to tend to her.

“My foolish sister,” he’d said, his voice choked with emotion. “I swore I’d protect you. I’ll never let you get hurt again.”

Now, as I watched him place the creatures on her wounds, my hands clasped together in desperate prayer, I begged silently for him to remember that promise.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “A woman who can’t even protect her own body? She must have been reckless, careless. This scar? Probably from some reckless affair.”

His words shattered me. My mother, the woman who had given everything for this pack, for her family, was being reduced to nothing—a victim of their cruelty and betrayal.

The scent of blood and fear hung heavy in the air as I watched my mother, Luna Adley Simmons, collapse under the weight of the rogue werewolves attacking her. Her once radiant aura, a testament to her healing gifts, had dimmed to a faint flicker, her body frail and lifeless against the cold stone floor. I gritted my teeth, the pain in my wrists sharp as I slammed the chains against the wall, over and over, until the metal finally gave way.

Zaria Morales, the rogue who had been taken in by our pack, stood with my father, Alpha Derrick Rivera, and my uncle, Beta Zen Cruz. She covered her face, feigning disgust as she leaned into my uncle’s shoulder. “How repulsive,” she murmured, her voice dripping with mockery. “She doesn’t even look like a wolf anymore.”

My uncle’s gaze was cold, devoid of the warmth he’d once shown my mother. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he ordered, “Enough of this. Begin the extraction. We’ve had our fun.”

My father, his hand resting protectively on Zaria’s, added casually, “I’ve heard the essence of a blessed healer makes for a powerful scent enhancer. And the heart—perfect for a strengthening elixir. Let’s save the essence for Zaria to use.”

My uncle nodded eagerly. “Brilliant idea! Zaria mentioned just the other day that her scent needed enhancing.”

Zaria batted her lashes, clinging to their arms like a spoiled pup. “You’re both so thoughtful! I can’t believe you remembered something so trivial.”

My father’s smile was cruel as he turned to the pack warriors. “Proceed. Make her into nothing.”

I watched in horror as the warriors approached my mother, a container in hand. My heart pounded, my vision blurring with tears as I threw myself forward, breaking free from the remnants of the chains. My body ached, my wounds reopening with every step, leaving a trail of blood behind me.

I flung myself over my mother, shielding her with my own body, screaming, “Stop! This is my mother! The Luna of the Rivera Pack!”

My father’s eyes narrowed, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a suffocating weight. “Cadence,” he barked, his voice sharp with authority. “This is not the time for your childish antics. Move!”

I clung to my mother, her skin icy despite the summer heat, and cried out, “This is her! Father, Uncle, please! This is your mate, your sister!”

Zaria pouted, her voice dripping with false innocence. “Alpha, the Luna is at the healing sanctuary today. How could she be here? Cadence is lying again, and now she’s accusing me!”

My father grabbed me, his grip bruising as he dragged me away from my mother and threw me onto the raised platform. “Look at what your mother has turned you into,” he sneered. “Disrespectful, disobedient. You’ve crossed the line this time, Cadence. Go home.”

His words cut deeper than any wound. I struggled against him, but his Alpha tone left me trembling, powerless to resist. “No!” I screamed, my voice breaking. “You can’t do this to her!”

The warriors moved forward, their expressions blank as they prepared to carry out the order. I thrashed, trying to break free, but my uncle stepped in, grabbing the back of my shirt and hauling me up like a misbehaving pup.

“Cadence, be a good girl,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “Don’t ruin Zaria’s mood, or your mother will have to punish you when we get back.”

The pain in my scalp was excruciating as he held me by my hair, my body dangling helplessly. I could no longer cry, my voice trapped in my throat as I watched the warriors approach my mother, their hands steady and their eyes cold.

And then, my wolf stirred within me, a quiet but furious presence. *We’ll make them pay,* it whispered, its voice dark with promise. *Every last one of them.*