SKY

He's broken my spine. I heard it snap....a horrible, dry crunch that echoed through my bones. I can barely breathe. The pain burns through me like fire, spreading down my back.

"Right blood?" Lamen sneers. I don't even know what he means. He says it all the time, but never explains. Maybe it's just his twisted way of reminding me I don't belong.

I'm doomed. Completely and utterly doomed. The only thing that's ever kept me sane is burying my head in my books. Now, I can't even stand.

"And stay down, weakling, before I snap your arm next," Aria growls. Her voice drips with cruel amusement. That's her version of a compliment, I guess.

I stay where I am, face down in the mud, trying not to move. The pain is unbearable. My back feels like it's been ripped apart, and I can't stop the sobs that escape me. Why don't they want me in the pack? Why do they hate me so much?

I've asked my father the same thing so many times. "Lamen bullies me, Father. He hurts me. Can't you make him stop? Why do they keep calling me impure? I'm a Silver Moon wolf, just like the rest of them!"

But Lucien, my father, the alpha of the Silver Moon Pack and a cold, sharp businessman, would just look at me with that empty stare he's worn since my mother died. His voice would always be distant, calm, and cruel.

"It's a rite of passage," he'd say. "You're the heir, Sky. You need to start acting like it. Maybe once you shift, Lamen will respect you." Then he would look away, drowning himself in paperwork like I wasn't even there.

Since my mother's death, he's avoided me completely. Maybe it's because I look too much like her, with her soft lips and delicate nose. But I've been hurting too, just as much as him. He just refuses to see it.

I press my face deeper into the wet earth, my tears mixing with the mud. Rage, fear, sorrow, everything crashes inside me at once.

The forest around me dims as dusk settles. The sky turns violet, and the shadows stretch long and heavy. I try to move my hips, terrified that my spine might be shattered. Pain spikes through me, sharp and relentless, but I can still move. Barely.

Holding my back, I spit out leaves and groan. I have to get up. I have to survive this.

The only thought that keeps me going is that I'll soon be leaving for school in New York, far away from this cursed pack and their cruelty. Just a few more weeks, and I'll be free.

I drag myself up, trembling as my bones crack and my tears fall again. My body burns where Lamen kicked me, a strange heat pulsing through that spot. It's not normal, but somehow, it always helps me heal.

To stay strong, I think of my mother, my gentle, beautiful wolf. She was silver-gray and radiant, graceful as moonlight. She could run faster than the wind. I want to be like her someday. I want a wolf strong enough to fight back, to protect me from the endless torment.

By the time I limp back onto the Silver Moon grounds, the mist has rolled in, wrapping everything in ghostly silence. No one's around to see me. No one ever is.

I make it to the showers and stand under the hot water until my skin stings. The warmth soothes the bruises on my back and legs. When I finally look in the mirror, my emerald eyes stare back at me-tired, sunken, and full of pain.

I examine the mark on my back, still aching. I know the drill. A soak in Epsom salts, then to bed in the small attic I've been forced to live in.

That night, I toss and turn, pain radiating through me. When I wake up, I move cautiously, then realize I can move freely. The pain is gone. Completely.

I turn to the mirror and bend forward, touching my toes. "It's like it never happened," I whisper. My eyes widen in disbelief. My body heals faster than it should. No one understands why, not even me.

Downstairs, Lucien is already in the kitchen, reading reports. "Morning," he mutters without looking up.

"You came in late last night. Extra studying?"

My stomach tightens. Lamen often visits my father's main quarters. He's like Lucien's favorite protege-a wolf he's been grooming for leadership since childhood. Even back then, Lamen was a bully, picking on anyone weaker than him. My mother was the only one who ever stood up to him.

"Leave him, Lucien," she used to say when my father praised Lamen. "That boy is cruel. That's not strength, it's savagery."

But she's gone now, and my father only sees the leader he wants Lamen to be.

When Lamen walks in, he freezes at the sight of me standing straight and unharmed. Shock flickers across his face. His jaw tightens, but when my father turns to him, Lamen forces a smile. It doesn't reach his eyes.

It's a small victory for me, to see even a hint of confusion in his expression. I might be healed, but the memory of his boot against my spine lingers. The fear doesn't fade.

I keep my gaze down as I open the fridge, pretending not to notice him.

"Something like that," I mutter, answering my father's question.

"Hmph." Lucien's grunt is dismissive, already back in his work.

Lamen smirks, his voice mocking. "Morning, Sky."

"Morning, Lamen," I answer shortly, my voice tight. I can't stand being in the same room with him. My pulse quickens. I grab a few snacks and rush for the door, praying he doesn't follow.

"Be careful walking through those woods," he calls after me, his tone playful and cruel. "You never know who's out there."

My heart pounds. I don't look back.

If my mother were still alive, she would have protected me. She always did.

But now, I have only myself and the faint hope that one day, my wolf will be strong enough to fight back.

SKY

I somehow make it through two whole days without any trouble from Lamen and his friends. It feels like a miracle, but I know it won't last. This morning's Silver Moon Pack meeting is bound to change that.

When I step into the large hall where the pack gathers, I keep my head low and slip into a seat at the back. My shoulders hunch forward as if hiding will make me invisible. Wolves fill the room quickly-chairs scraping, low voices rumbling, the familiar scent of fur and pine mixing in the air.

At the front, my father, Lucien Silver, stands tall behind the podium, his presence commanding as always. Around him, the Silver Moon elders sit in a half-circle, their serious faces giving away nothing. I twist my fingers nervously in my lap, my stomach in knots as I wait for Lamen and his crew to appear.

A few pack members I barely know take seats beside me. They're polite but distant, and I don't try to talk. The Silver Moon wolves are calm and respectable-good, loyal people, but to me, they've always felt dull. Maybe that's why I dream of leaving for New York. There, I can start over. No whispers, no stares. Just freedom.

Even here, surrounded by my own pack, I feel like an outsider. Their glances tell me I don't belong, like I'm a rogue among my own kind. If I study hard enough, maybe Father will let me handle the business side of things, far from pack politics and cruel eyes.

The door slams open. Lamen strides in, followed by his friends-loud, arrogant, and dangerous. My whole body stiffens. As they pass, Aria, his loyal sidekick, leans close to my ear. "Hey, bitch," she whispers, tugging my ponytail hard before flicking it back over my shoulder. I roll my eyes, trying not to give her the satisfaction of seeing me react.

Then it happens, our eyes meet. Lamen's dark gaze locks on mine, and something hot sparks inside me. My chest tightens, and a strange, unwanted heat spreads through my body. His smirk deepens as if he knows exactly what I'm feeling. His messy black hair falls over his face, shadowing his sharp eyes, and I can't look away.

He snickers. "Morning, Sky. Birthday girl, huh? Got a surprise for you." His voice drips with mockery as he moves past me, his friends laughing under their breath.

What does he mean by that? My stomach twists with both fear and something else, something I don't want to name. I hate how aware I am of him. His broad shoulders, the way his muscles move under his shirt-it all makes me dizzy. Aria glances back and catches me staring. Her glare is sharp enough to cut, and I quickly face forward, cheeks burning.

This day is already off to a terrible start. And it's only getting worse. My birthday. Once, it used to mean something good. I can still hear my mother's sweet voice in my mind: "Happy birthday, Sky! You're five now, such a big girl!"

Back then, Lucien used to smile more. Our house used to feel alive. But ever since she died, everything changed. He's become distant, like a stranger living under the same roof.

His deep voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "Take your seats, Silver Moon Pack. This meeting will be brief. We have several matters to address."

I sink lower in my chair, hoping he doesn't mention me, but of course, he does. "As most of you know, it's Sky's eighteenth birthday this Sunday. As per tradition, we'll be holding a shifter celebration in her honor. Everyone is expected to attend. The festivities begin at four in the afternoon."

A few members from the social committee-Clare and Susan, look my way with blank expressions. My heart sinks. They don't care. No one ever does. Now my father's just made me a bigger target.

Lamen starts clapping slowly, his grin wide and mocking. "Whoo hoo! Big shifter party for Sky!" he calls out. Aria joins in, laughing too loudly, and the rest of his crew follows, their snickers echoing across the hall.

My father chuckles, completely oblivious to the cruelty behind their laughter. "That's the spirit of the Silver Moon Pack!" he says proudly, smiling like everything is fine.

But it's not. Not for me.

The meeting goes on, something about property investments-but his words blur into background noise. My chest feels tight. My breathing comes shallow. And that strange pull toward Lamen won't fade. I can feel him even without looking, like a magnetic force humming under my skin.

Maybe it's because my first shift is near. Maybe this strange attraction happens to every wolf before they change for the first time. I don't know. All I know is I need to get out of here before I lose my mind.

I grab my bag and slip out quietly, heading straight for school. My thoughts spin with dread. Two days until the party. Two days until my birthday.

And somehow, I already know, something about it won't end well.

SKY

I take one last look in the mirror, studying the messy bun I learned to do from a video online. It isn't perfect, but it will have to do for tonight. My fingers smooth the soft fabric of my midnight-blue dress - the one I bought with months of tips and savings from Jersey Store, the small café where I've worked for years. Every coin I've saved went into this dress, though if I could trade it for a real friend in the pack, I would in a heartbeat.

My green eyes shimmer under the faint light, that same emerald glow that never seems to dull, even when I'm hurting inside. A little makeup makes my pale skin glow, and I swipe a clear gloss over my lips before stepping out into the night air. My heels click softly as I cross the courtyard toward the Silver Moon Pack hall, my pulse quickening with each step.

The hall is draped with silver and blue streamers that shimmer under the light. Wolves of all ranks fill the room, laughing, talking, waiting. My heart races as I step inside. Nobody turns to look at me. That's fine. I prefer it that way. I lift my dress slightly to avoid tripping and quietly take in my surroundings.

Tonight is the night of my first shift. Midnight will mark my change, the moment when I'll finally become one of them - a full wolf. But the stories I've heard make my stomach twist.

"I thought my bones were going to break."

"My wolf was so big, I didn't even recognize myself."

"I couldn't stop craving meat afterward."

Their words replay in my head. I've never seen a shift before, only heard the sounds. The cracking. The screaming. I grip the edge of the table, my mind fogging. Where's Lamen? Why do I keep thinking about him? His name echoes in my head again and again until I can barely breathe. My chest tightens. The air feels heavy. My skin burns, and the heat spreads until I feel like I'm on fire.

"Happy birthday, Sky. Good luck with your first shift. Would you like some punch?"

Susan's voice startles me. She smiles politely, but her eyes are dull and lifeless. I manage a small nod, clutching my throat.

"Does it have alcohol in it?" I ask, my voice trembling higher than I intend.

"Oh yes," she says, almost amused. "You're going to need it. The change is already starting."

Sweat drips down my temple. The room suddenly feels smaller. Then I feel it - that familiar, powerful presence. My heart stutters. Lamen. He's here.

I turn just as he walks in, dressed entirely in black. The sight of him steals the air from my lungs. His movements are strong and sure, every step filled with confidence.

That same dark energy rolls off him, pulling me in like a magnet. My body reacts before my mind can catch up, heat pooling low in my stomach. I silently beg the Moon God to stop this from happening. Please, don't let Lamen be my true mate. Anyone but him.

But it's too late. Every breath he takes matches mine. I can feel his heartbeat syncing with my own. Faster. Harder. Closer.

He stops just inches from me, his breath brushing against my face. My cheeks burn. I probably look a mess. Without a word, he pulls a tissue from his pocket and gently wipes the sweat from my forehead. The gesture makes my stomach twist in confusion. The room fades away - it's just him and me.

Susan hands me the punch, but my focus stays locked on him. I take a shaky sip, hoping he'll walk away. He doesn't.

"Don't run from me," he murmurs, voice low and rough. "It's you. You're my mate. I can feel it. I can smell it from my house."

My breath catches. "Wha-what are you talking about?" I whisper, clinging to denial.

"You know what I'm talking about," he says softly. "I won't hurt you anymore. Not now that I know you're mine. We should talk somewhere private."

The alcohol burns down my throat, giving me false courage. "Forget it, Lamen," I manage to say. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

For a moment, his face softens, the cold edge fading. "I don't hate you," he says, his tone raw. "I've always wanted you. Liked you."

He reaches for my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine. My body betrays me, trembling under his touch. I notice the curve of his lips, the warmth in his eyes that wasn't there before.

"You have a funny way of showing it," I whisper.

"Let's talk," he insists. "You look beautiful, Sky. I want to make things right. For everything I've done."

There's pain in his voice, maybe even regret. I want to believe him, but my heart is racing too fast to think clearly. My body feels drawn to him - a magnetic pull I can't explain. Then, before I can stop myself, his lips find mine.

The world falls away. His mouth is warm, hungry. My arms wrap around his neck, his hands tracing my waist. The kiss deepens, stealing the air from my lungs. I lose myself in it, until reality crashes back in.

I pull away, dazed. The room spins. "Wait-you have a girlfriend. Aria. What about her?"

He shakes his head, eyes locked on mine. "Don't worry about her. You're my true mate, Sky. I'm sorry for everything." He kisses my hands tenderly. My mind screams no, but my body aches yes.

Then the microphone crackles. My father, Lucien Silver, stands on the stage with a glass in his hand, smiling at the crowd.

"Well, it looks like we have ourselves a mate bond," he announces. "Lamen, am I right?"

Lamen gives a slow nod, still holding my hand. My voice catches in my throat. I can't speak.

The room erupts in whispers. Aria stands near the front, her cream dress glowing under the lights, her expression twisted with rage. My stomach sinks. I'm trapped in a nightmare I can't wake from.

Lucien lifts his glass. "Then it's settled. With the sealing of a kiss, we have a new mate pair. A mating ceremony will be arranged at once!"

The crowd murmurs, some disapproving, others stunned. My head spins. My heart pounds so hard I can barely breathe.

This night was supposed to mark my first shift - a moment of pride. Instead, it's turned into chaos. And I have no idea how to escape it.