Maeve POV

None of these words could adequately describe what I felt at that moment. Had I heard him correctly?

I… could go to Sarah’s party?

“Why is she allowed to come?” Sarah whined. “It’s my birthday party!”

Father approached the open car door and affectionately patted her decorated head. “I know, dearest, but the Royal family knows I have two daughters. They expect Prince Xaden to meet you both at the party.”

I could feel Victoria’s sharp gaze pierce me like daggers. Swallowing, I purposefully avoided eye contact with her.

I should’ve known. He didn’t really want me there.

“Then… why does she need a new dress?”

“Imagine if word began to spread that I mistreat my daughter. The reputation our family worked so hard to build would fall apart. You don’t want the Alpha Prince to get angry with me, do you?”

Sarah sulked. “Well… no, but…”

“Tell you what,” Father cooed. “How about you get five new dresses this time? Any five dresses you want.”

“I want ten!”

Father smiled, and the sight made my chest pang. “Anything for my princess.” I’d never seen this side of him unless it concerned my sister. He would do anything to see her happy, to make her dreams come true.

And he couldn’t even spare me a passing glance as I walked to the car.

Our driver shut the door behind me, and we left Moonstone for the capital. The drive itself was simple enough, despite being an hour long, and Sarah managed the whole trip by sitting as far away from me as the car allowed, without so much as a word. I didn’t mind—I rarely got to visit the capital, let alone leave the packhouse, so I used the opportunity to take in as much of my surroundings as possible.

The scenery, the buildings, the people…

I wanted to experience everything like it was the last time.

Something about the capital always took my breath away, and as we exited the car, the reason struck me once more. With its modern skyscrapers and clean streets filled with happy people, it was a far cry from the cold, conservative pack my father ran where I always walked on eggshells.

Breathing the fresh capital air, I felt weightless.

But this was Sarah’s territory, not mine. She knew this place like the back of her hand, whether to meet friends or shop on her own.

As we explored the capital’s grandest shopping mall, stopping at every high-end boutique Sarah could find, it was obvious she had no intention of shopping for me. Every dress she picked out and tried on was catered to her tastes alone. And she made sure to preoccupy me by making me follow her around and carry all of her boxes and bags.

It didn’t seem to matter that it meant disobeying Father’s orders. She was perfectly keen on keeping me out of the picture as much as possible.

This day was for her.

“I love this store!” Sarah exclaimed as a store clerk rang up her items. “I can always find such beautiful dresses here!”

“They’re only as beautiful as the woman wearing them.” The clerk smiled at Sarah’s delighted face before turning to me, his smile swiftly disappearing, as he handed over a bag. Of course, he was one of many who assumed I was a mere omega servant. “Don’t soil these.”

I sighed, taking the bag. This is going to be a long day.

Hours had passed since we began shopping and the sun started to set. I was overwhelmed with bundles of Sarah’s purchases, but she still wasn’t satisfied. So, we wandered through the last boutique on her list.

Suddenly, one dress in particular caught my eye, not because of its extravagance, nor did it have a trendy designer name on the label. It was a simple, white chiffon dress with delicate lacework on the bodice and sleeves that could be mistaken for one of Sarah’s nightgowns, but there was beauty in its simplicity. None of the other girls who vied for the Alpha Prince’s attentions would wear such a dress.

And that, I thought, made it special.

“Um, what about this one?” I offered. “It’s not as luxurious but it’s still quite lovely—”

“Do you even hear yourself?” she said with a sneer, not bothering to spare a glance in my direction. “If it’s not exquisite enough to catch the attention of Prince Xaden, then I want nothing to do with it. Now, be a good mutt and shut your mouth.”

My jaw clenched. “I was only trying to—”

“If you like it so much, why don’t you put it on?” she muttered, distracted by a gaudy line of rose-pink dresses. “A boring dress for a boring servant.”

Her rude comments made me fume, but I stayed silent.

I did need an outfit for her birthday, after all. And, looking at the dress, I knew I could do way worse as far as options went, and I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing something of Sarah’s style.

Maybe I should try it on…

After a few minutes in the boutique dressing room, I emerged wearing the simple dress.

And for a moment, Sarah actually looked rather stunned. “It’s…”

“Beautiful!” A passing group of girls stopped to gawk at me in the dress, thus attracting the attention of other nearby customers, and I couldn’t help but blush at the sudden attention. “That looks like it was made for you!”

What?

I looked into a nearby mirror, awkwardly fidgeting with the sleeves. Sure, the dress was more to my taste than anything else I’d seen in the mall and it felt nice to the touch, but… to be called beautiful?

I wasn’t worthy of the name.

“It’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” Sarah growled with a hateful glare, startling me. “Take it off immediately and get it out of my sight!” With a push towards the dressing room, I solemnly changed back into my normal attire and we left the boutique… without the dress in hand.

Resentment rolled off her body in waves as we walked to the car.

As I carefully loaded Sarah’s dresses into the trunk, I heard her address our driver: “Wait here. We’ll be back shortly.” And once I closed the hatch, she grabbed my wrist and lured me away from the car.

Her sudden resolution gave me a bad feeling. “Where are we going?”

“I have a gift for you.”

And with that, she led me further into the maze of the capital.

Soon, we stood outside an alley in a part of the capital I was unfamiliar with—one I had no interest in ever visiting again. Large buildings loomed over us, their presence foreboding in the setting dusk. Men who stunk of alcohol and scantily-clad omega women littered the street, radiating sin and trouble.

“Why are we here?” I asked, nervously looking around. “We should go.”

Girls like us didn’t belong here.

Even Sarah’s eyes swam with fright but she remained determined. “No, we’re not leaving yet.”

She approached a nearby liquor vendor and soon returned with a suspicious-looking yellow drink. “This is for you,” Sarah said with a grin that only increased my unease. “Consider it my present for you.”

I didn’t have much experience with alcohol. The few times I recalled having a sip or two were only ever at the social events I was allowed to attend as a daughter of Moonstone. With memories of being surrounded by distinguished, critical strangers and a family that loathed my very existence, along with its strong and unpleasant aroma—I had no burning desire to taste the stuff.

Especially not in this place that reeked of bad news.

“I… don’t want that,” I grimaced, slowly backing away. “Please, Sarah, let’s leave. It isn’t safe—”

Suddenly, her hand shot out and jerked me into the darkness of the alley. With little time to process what was happening, let alone defend myself, she managed to tackle me to the ground and force the drink down my throat. Instantly, a sharp, bitter taste and a peculiar plant scent overwhelmed my senses, nauseating me.

I struggled to stand. Even a breeze could’ve toppled me over. “What—” I coughed, “what was that?”

“Just a shot of alcohol… infused with Ylang essence.”

Ylang…?

“It's not poison. It’s meant to loosen you up…” she said with a leer, “maybe get a man or fifty to screw you over to their heart’s content. With the capital’s famous brothel right here, they won’t be able to tell the difference between you and one of those street walkers… so you might as well lay back and take it like the wretched mutt you are.”

I was horrified. This was a new low, even for her.

A deafening thump, thump, thump began to echo throughout my body, though whether it was because of fear, outrage, the aphrodisiac, or some potent mix of the three, I couldn’t tell. Something hot and feral and completely unfamiliar stirred within me. Panting and trembling, it felt like a terrible fever slowly took hold of me.

Is this…?

Sarah observed me. “You’re already in heat,” she remarked, sounding surprised. “What a powerful cocktail.”

“Sarah, please…”

“Enjoy your night with the wolves,” she snickered. And just like that, she was gone.

Time moved differently under the influence of the drug, and my head reeled with confusion. But one thing was certain…

A group of men swaggered their way toward me. I smelled the alcohol radiating off their bodies and I knew what they were here for. Sarah might not have intended to kill me with that drink, but she sentenced me to death, nonetheless.

One of the men ogled at me. “You look like you could use some company, little lady.”

I froze, pressing myself into the alley wall with all the strength I could muster. Drugged or not, this was my first heat and I was powerless against its influence. All my body wanted to do was yield to the will of these terrifying men, and I…

I couldn’t let that happen!

“G-Get away from m-me,” I tried to growl. “I don't w-want you!”

Another man laughed. “Looks like we got ourselves a feisty one, lads.”

Tears started to well. “I-I’m warning you!”

“Come on, baby,” a third slurred, reaching his large, grotesque hands towards me. “Let us show you a good time…”

My heart lurched in my throat and I gasped, shutting my wet eyes. I couldn’t resist my heat any longer—these urges were suffocating and it felt like I couldn’t breathe unless I gave in. Any moment now, my weakened resolve would break and I’d be stuck with these ruffians all night long—

“LEAVE HER ALONE!”

—or so I thought.

Xaden POV

“Take me home, please,” I sighed. “And don’t stop for anything.”

My driver nodded. “Yes, Prince Xaden, sir.”

It had been a long, long day… and I wanted nothing more than to go home and rest.

I’d met with yet another Alpha’s daughter tonight. Hypothetically speaking, the girl was perfect—dressed to the nines in nothing but the finest clothes, well-educated on both pack duties and the rules of high society, and all backed up by an impressive Alpha lineage nearly worthy of the crown.

By all accounts, she was an ideal candidate for the Luna of the Alpha Prince.

But… I felt nothing for her. Every word she spoke, every move she made seemed rehearsed.

I lowered my window. As we drove through the capital, past building after building, the cool evening air helped calm me down. It wasn’t long, however, before I found myself in an area of the city that I wasn’t particularly fond of.

The Diamond Cage. The capital’s famous brothel.

It was full of nothing but drunks, perverts, and bad news… a place I wanted to avoid at all costs. I prepared to roll up my window when, all of a sudden, I caught a whiff of something. The sweetest, most delicious scent I’d ever smelled enveloped me… like something out of a dream.

“Driver, stop,” I ordered. “Now.”

As instructed, the car came to an abrupt halt. The partition slowly rolled down, revealing my slightly concerned driver. “Is… everything alright, Your Highness?”

I paid him no mind.

No matter what, I had to find the source of that wonderful scent. Exiting the car, I followed the trail to a dark, dank alley that led behind the brothel. And as I peered down the alleyway, I found it: a terrified young woman, dressed modestly in plain clothes, surrounded by a group of belligerent drunks.

A prostitute? Impossible.

How could she smell so good?

I watched those lowlives reach their filthy hands toward her—and I just saw red. Before I knew it, I yelled at the top of my lungs with all the force my royal Alpha blood could muster: “LEAVE HER ALONE!”

Vaguely, I heard one of the men scoff. “Back off, hero, and go find your own whor—”

“Wait. I recognize that face…” another stammered.

“...Shit… y-you’re…”

I approached them and the girl they’d cornered, glaring murderously, feeling a twisted sense of pleasure at seeing them cower in my presence. “If you know what’s good for you,” I growled, “get lost.”

And with that, they fled the alley like the vermin they were. I turned my attention to the girl.

“Leave...I don't...want...” she whispered.

“What happened?” I prodded. “Were they… clients of yours?”

The second those words left my mouth, a wave of awkward tension and embarrassment washed over me. I wasn’t sure if that was an appropriate question to ask the poor girl, but the more information I had, the better I could help resolve the situation.

She shook her head lazily, in complete discordance with the fear that lingered in her face. “Not… here… I-I’m not from here…” she slurred, and I realized the problem was more severe than I could’ve guessed. “Th-That drink… it—it tasted wrong…”

My jaw clenched.

This girl had been drugged.

“Don’t… don’t like it h-here…” she mumbled. Tears began to well in her clouded eyes, and I was quick to wrap an arm around her quivering body, unsure if it was to comfort her or keep her securely upright. “I w-wanna… leave… please…”

I didn’t need to hear anymore.

I swept her up into my arms and carried her to my car. “Don’t worry,” I said reassuringly, placing her onto the leather car seat, ignoring the startled remarks made by my driver. “You’ll be alright. Where is your home?”

“It's far... away from here...” she whispered.

“Drive to the nearest hotel.”

My driver appeared momentarily stunned but composed himself. “Y-Yes, sir.”

To say that the drive to the hotel was the longest drive of my life was the understatement of the century.

Being stuck in such a confined space during a powerful, drug-induced heat seemed to worsen the girl’s condition. She squirmed uncontrollably, whimpering and panting and moaning the whole time, and her lustful scent only intensified. Something began to stir deep within me seeing her like that… smelling her like that…

Calm down, Xaden. You’re probably just worried about her.

I took a breath. I needed to focus.

Once we were finally in the privacy of the hotel room—disregarding the intrigued looks the staff gave us on the way up—I led her to the bed and sat her down. “You’ll be safe here,” I said stiffly. “Take however long you need.”

“W-Wait.”

That was the most I’d be able to help her without losing any more of my senses. Any moment longer and her scent would further drive me into a corner, which neither of us needed right now. I was not willing to take advantage of her, regardless of how bewitched I was by her presence.

I have to leave and lock the door behind me.

“I wish you luck.” I had started to make my way to the door when a hand suddenly took hold of my arm.

She looked up at me through dark, long lashes, her eyes black and wild with lust, yet wide with fear and confusion. Her trembling hands clung to my arm for dear life. “What should I-I do…?”

Puzzled, I frowned. “Are you a virgin?”

Her face turned bright red and she nodded without breaking eye contact or saying another word. I felt an immediate pang in my chest—I couldn’t help but feel for this girl, how alone and scared she must have felt. And, at the same time, I was incredibly drawn to her—that charming innocence… those pink, luscious lips and a soft dusting of freckles hidden behind unkempt hair and rags… the dark desire that swirled in her eyes. I’d only just met her and she was already so unlike any Alpha daughter I’d ever met.

To stay would be a terrible idea, but how could I possibly leave her alone like that?

Against my better judgment, I sat down next to her. “What’s your name?” I asked gently.

“... Maeve…”

“Do you want me to help you feel better?”

Maeve POV

Help?

If I’d been in my right state of mind, I might have taken a minute or so to consider just what that meant. But I wasn’t… and all I heard was that I would finally get the relief I so desperately needed...from someone I was magically attracted to.

I didn't know this man, but ever since I met this man, I got the distinct feeling that I would be taken care of… that I could trust him. I knew he was different from the drunkies who tried to take advantage of me.

I eagerly nodded, giving him my consent and relinquishing control.

Please make me feel better—!

He swallowed and gave a brisk nod. “Alright.”

hifting closer to me, his strong hand slid delicately under my skirt. My heart pounded furiously against my chest—I wasn’t sure what he planned to do, and yet, I spread my legs for him without hesitation, my body knowing what it needed before my mind did.

“Good girl,” he purred. And then he moved his fingers down there.

“O-Oh…” I bit my lip, moaning softly as he touched me.

Whatever he was doing, it was exactly what I needed and, at the same time, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more… and more. The second that thought crossed my mind, two fingers dipped inside me.

I gasped and instinctively wrapped my hand around his wrist.

His hot breath brushed against my cheek. “Trust me,” he whispered, and I gulped, feeling warmer and warmer by the second. My grip eased ever so slightly, allowing him to continue but still, I held on, guiding him as he pleasured me, and I lost myself again.

He sighed into my ear. “You… you’re beautiful…”

Just then, I realized that a grand mirror stood opposite the bed. Gazing into it, I saw a feral creature of a woman, feverish and flushed with untamed arousal. What a force of nature she appeared to be… but I was taken aback.

I didn’t know this woman.

She was not the one I saw in my reflection every day.

Breathless and blushing, I shifted my gaze to his reflection, who could not seem to take his own eyes off me. His kind and considerate eyes which were originally a lovely shade of green quickly morphed into something dark and unrecognizable before me. And suddenly, there was a pleasant, sweet scent in the air that wasn’t there before.

I whirled around to face him.

“Strange…” he murmured, licking his lips as his eyes—black and intense and swirling with desire—bore into my own. “No one has ever triggered my heat before, let alone an omega...."

“You know what—it doesn’t matter right now,” he muttered.

It was all a blur. Somehow, I ended up flat on my back in the middle of the bed with a shirtless man hovering above me as he slowly pulled my underwear off and tossed it to the side.

A belt unbuckled. “I will do everything in my power to make you come,” he swore ardently, huskily. “Do you still trust me, Maeve?” It was probably unconscious on his part, but the way he spoke my name… so full of passion and care…

It melted me.

I let out a breath. “I-I do…”

He kissed me, and nothing else existed but him and I.

Maeve POV

The first thing I felt when I woke up was the most splitting headache of my life.

Second, was an uncomfortable and unfamiliar soreness… down there. Resisting a groan, I knew I’d have some trouble walking.

And lastly, I was in a bed that was not my own in a room I didn't recognize.

What happened last night…?

A light snore suddenly broke the silence in the hotel room and, for a moment, I froze with alarm. Cautiously, I peered over at the sleeping body next to mine and met the handsome face.

And then the details of last night came flashing back to me.

I slept with a stranger. My mind whirled.

I stifled an abrupt yawn. Admittedly, I hadn’t gotten much sleep—most of the night was spent as we both worked out our primal urges very… very thoroughly. I could still feel the graze of his lips against my skin, pressing kisses over every inch of my body that he could reach… the weight of his muscular, hot body on top of my small frame as he pounded into me…

My face grew hot.

Despite mistaking me for an omega, he displayed the utmost kindness and respect and was willing to help me in my moment of need without a second thought.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest.

I wouldn’t have needed his help at all if Sarah hadn’t forced that drugged drink down my throat. Why did she do it…?

What a predicament I was in. I sighed, glancing towards the window at the far side of the room, fully expecting to still see the pitch-black of night but instead saw a muted blue begin to stretch across the sky.

Panic rose within me—it was almost sunrise!

My father is going to be so mad at me.

I sprung out of bed with no time to waste and hastily threw my clothes on. Digging through my skirt pockets, I was desperate to find any amount of money to afford a trip back to Moonstone. I needed to get home before my family woke up and discovered I’d been out all night. With an ecstatic grin, I finally pulled out a few dollar bills and some change—just enough for me to take the bus.

Money in hand, I raced to the door as quickly and quietly as possible. The second my fingers touched the knob, however, I paused.

I… never got to thank him for saving me…

With a heavy heart, I couldn’t help but look back at his peacefully sleeping face before disappearing with the waning moon.

It was almost six in the morning by the time I returned to Moonstone. With the sun having barely risen and the morning dew still covering the earth, it was much too early for my family to wake up. Usually, this was when the omega servants began to prepare the packhouse for the events of the day.

Nothing that Alphas or Lunas needed to bother themselves with.

Quietly, I slid in through the front door and pushed it closed with a triumphant sigh. Finally, I was—

“Look who finally decided to come home.”

A cold chill crept up my spine. That was a voice that should not have been awake yet. A thick hand wrapped around my arm and twisted me to face its owner. In front of me stood my livid father, with my sly sister right behind him, and Victoria seated on one of the armchairs wearing a tight scowl.

I was caught and there was nowhere to hide.

“Where the hell were you all night?” Father demanded.

I sealed my lips. Nothing good would come from telling him the truth.

“I told you, Daddy!” Sarah latched onto his arm. “She ran off to play around with strange men! Oh, I said you’d be so displeased if she didn’t come home but she wouldn’t listen!”

What a lying, little brat!

Trembling, my fists balled at my sides. “That’s not what—”

Father grabbed me harshly by my jaw, forcing me to look at him. With a quivering gasp, I froze—I couldn’t move… I didn’t dare to even breathe in his presence. And for a few moments, he just stood there, staring at me intently… sniffing me, before he suddenly released me with a sharp recoil.

“It’s true,” he mumbled, initially looking mortified but quickly growing more furious with every passing second, and I couldn’t help but cower silently where I stood. “I smell another wolf all over you.”

In the background, I heard startled sounds of delight.

“But—”

“You—” Father pointed his finger, cold and accusatory at me. He was red with rage, something I’d never seen on him before. “You have disgraced the entire pack with your shameless actions!”

I paled, lowering my gaze. Maybe none of this would’ve happened if I’d taken the time to shower, bathe—whatever I had to do to wash off that scent before coming home. “I… I didn’t mean for—”

“We can’t let her ruin Moonstone with this disgusting scandal,” Sarah insisted, her eyes radiating a sinister, dark glow. “She should be banished forever and exposed as the slut she is. A true Alpha’s daughter would never behave like this.”

Despite the tension and my dignity being at risk, Sarah’s words perked me up a bit.

Banishment from the pack—it sounded like a bittersweet dream come true! This might be my chance to finally escape this nightmare of a house. For once, I eagerly awaited what my father had to say.

Instead, he shook his head firmly. “Out of the question,” he said in a tone that left no room for debate, shocking the whole room, including myself. “We cannot let this information leave this household.”

“B-But—how?” Sarah sputtered. “How is that not grounds for banishment?”

“I have put blood, sweat, and tears towards building the honor of this pack. All it takes is a scandal to burn it all to the ground… and thanks to your brazen big sister, we now have two to worry about—her little nightly escapade in the capital and her illegitimacy,” he paused with a glare directed at me. “To protect this family, she can never be allowed to roam free as long as I am Alpha.”

A chill forced its way into my hopeful heart, and my world came crashing down. His words rang in my ears like a cruel bell. Now I understood why he always refused to meet with me or have any discussion about my freedom.

He was never going to let me go…

I would always be their prisoner.

And, for the first time in a long time, a lone tear dropped down my cheek in front of my family.

Father continued to speak, either painfully oblivious to my sorrow or he simply didn’t care. With all my broken heart, I believed the latter. “Maeve is to be confined to her room until the day of Sarah’s birthday party. Effective immediately.”

Silence.

“Is that understood?”

My mouth quivered. “Y-Yes, sir…”

He turned to my sister, who fumed quietly in her seat. “And you, Sarah?”

“...Yes, Daddy.”

And just like that, I was dismissed.

The walk to my room seemed especially long this time around. What was normally a safe haven quickly transformed into a foreboding space and I stood in front of the entryway for the longest time, feeling an all-consuming dread. The moment I opened that door and crossed the threshold, I said goodbye to the rest of my life.

Inhale…

One foot entered the room, followed by the other. I shut the door behind me.

Exhale.

Like the flip of a switch, I was overcome by tears as they cascaded down my face and I threw myself onto my bed, lost in my misery. I blindly reached under my pillow for a little cotton satchel, gently pulling out a purple crystal pendant that lay protected within. Father had forbidden me from ever wearing it, so I’d hidden it.

The last and only reminder I had of my real mother.

I wasn’t sure where she’d gone or why she’d abandoned me, but I felt the truth in my heart as clear as day—any life with her would’ve been a dream compared to what I endured here.

“Had fun last night?”

I jerked my head towards the door and saw Sarah, for once with a blank expression. My immediate reaction was fury—I didn’t have the patience for her little games. “Why did you do it? I’ve never done a thing to you.”

“Don’t you dare play the victim with me, you filthy mutt,” she spat as she jabbed her finger at me. “I am a pureblood daughter of the great Alpha Burton and his Luna. Why should you—his bastard child—get the same treatment as I? You don’t deserve nice dresses, you don’t deserve to meet the prince, and you certainly don’t deserve Father’s love.”

“What?”

“I know what I see—you desire his approval so badly that it pains you. He should’ve just tossed you out. I can’t understand why he didn’t.”

Her logic only exasperated me even further. All of this burning jealousy she harbored toward me was completely unfounded. I had no place in our parents’ hearts and I wanted nothing of hers.

Thanks to Sarah, everything I ever wanted had been painfully torn away from me. I closed myself off to her.

There was nothing left to say.

Having gotten no further response, she let out a bored huff. “At least Father completely loathes you after what happened, and that’s enough for me.”

Before leaving my room, she paused and lingered by the door. “Things could still be worse. After all, you might end up pregnant.” Upon hearing those haunting words, my eyes immediately snapped to hers in alarm. She gave me a sly smile in response and shut the door behind her.

Pregnant? Suddenly, it was all I could think about.

That’s impossible, I tried to reason, frantic for any sort of consolation. That would only make sense if we didn’t use protec—

And the sinking realization hit me. I couldn’t remember if we used any sort of protection.