Zara's POV.

"Haylee is such a beauty to behold, take a look at her dress, it must have cost a fortune,"

"She's such a little princess,"

I stood by the corner of the hall entrance, listening to the group of girls drool over my sister; it was her birthday and of course, our parents hosted the fanciest birthday party just like they always did every year.

I was genuinely happy for her; for such affection she procured from our parents but as much as I tried so hard to stay that way, I couldn't help the cold jolt of pain that surged through me as the image of the loneliness I was subjected to during my own birthday flashed through my head.

Pushing the haunting thoughts to the back of my head, I exhaled deeply and walked fully into the hall; the least I could do was enjoy the party anyway, it was shocking that I was allowed to attend this time, other times, I was either locked away in my room till the party was over, or forced to join the housemaids to handle the house chores.

"And here comes the cursed wretch," they suddenly turned towards me, mocking smirks laced on their faces.

"Why is she here? Now my mood is entirely ruined," one of them added.

Settling a warm smile on my face, I gracefully walked past them.

I was already used to the ridicule, not only from the pack members but my parents as well. My only offense being that I was born looking different from others, with an unusual mark from birth. Many called me a witch while others referred to me as a curse but none of that mattered to me.

If for anything, their ridicule and disdain built me more stronger than I could ever be.

I had only one resolve, where I pulled the courage to endure my miseries. Merlin, my boyfriend. The strongest warrior of my pack. He was the only one who wasn't hostile towards me in the pack, instead, he showered me with so much love and constantly reassured me of our beautiful future together. He was my only source of happiness amidst my misery.

A wide smile suddenly broke out on my face as I sighted him standing few feet away from me, he was sipping a glass of wine with his back turned against me.

I hurried my steps towards him and wrapped my arms around him from behind.

"Haylee, aren't you supposed to be enjoying your party and leave this till later?" His next words sent a cold shiver down my spine.

Why did he mention my sister?

"Merlin," I called softly and he quickly jolted out of my arms, turning around to face me with a nervous look on his face.

"Zara, it's you," He pulled me into his strong arms.

"I have been expecting you for so long," he whispered in my ears, soothingly stroking my back.

"You mentioned my sister."

"That was not intended, it's her party and she's been all over my face, I got confused," he replied swiftly.

"Let's forget about that, you are here now, and that's all that matters to me," I couldn't hold back the wide smile that spread through my face as he caressed my cheeks softly, flashing me the warmest smile.

"I hate to interrupt the beautiful moment but I need your help, Zara," Haylee's voice came from behind and we turned around to face her.

"Happy Birthday Haylee," I blurted.

"You've said that earlier, but thank you," she smiled.

"Here," she passed a wrapped package towards me. "It's a gift from Beta Ezra, I need you to help me pass it to Father in his chamber."

My jaw tightened as she mentioned him, he was my worst nightmare and I dreaded being in his presence, but it was Haylee's birthday and I couldn't afford a gift for her. The least I could afford was to do whatever she asked.

"I'll be back in a minute," I said, turning towards Merlin and he gave me a reassuring nod.

Grabbing the package from Haylee, I hurried towards father's chamber.

My hand was halfway through the air to place a knock on the door when I heard Mother's voice. "She can't continue to stay here, I can't bear seeing her face any longer,"

"She bring nothing but shame to this household and the entire pack, it's time I did something about it," Father's voice followed suit.

I didn't need to be reminded that I was the topic of the discussion. They are plotting to get rid of me.

I placed a soft knock on the door regardless.

"Who's it," came his reply.

"Alpha, I have a package for you from Haylee," I tried so hard not to let my voice quiver.

Yeah, that's right, I wasn't allowed to address them as my parents, rather, Alpha and Luna just like every other pack member.

"Pass it to any nearest guard," he replied coldly.

Swiftly, I turned around and ran all the way back to the party in search of Merlin. He was all I needed at the moment to keep me sane.

Since they want me out, I'll leave before they even ask, Merlin is capable of taking care of me and I'm moving in with him immediately.

Surprisingly, I couldn't spot him among the crowd in the hall.

I was about to head out when my gaze landed on a dreadful sight at the far end of the party hall. Haylee was in Merlin's arms and he stroked her cheeks the same way he did mine.

"What's going on?" I thundered as I rushed towards them.

They turned slowly to face me, not a slight remorse evident on their faces.

"Zara, you are here, just the perfect time to break the news to you," Haylee croaked out a smug laughter.

"What news?"

"Merlin and I are mates,"

"What? That's not possible, Merlin is mine,"

She bursted into laughter. "You really thought that he loved you? Stop dreaming, no one would ever want a worthless piece of cursed garbage like you, he was only with you to get closer to me." Her words pierced through my heart like a sharp dagger.

"Merlin," I whispered through tears turning towards him, hoping that he'd pull me into his arms and tell me that it was all a joke.

"I'm sorry Zara, but Haylee is the one I truly want," he mumbled, sending stabs of pain through my already torn heart, slicing it into a million tiny pieces.

That was it, I lost the only thing that I cherished the most to the cruel hands of the Blue Moon pack.

Zara's POV.

"That's right, nobody wants you, not even our parents," Haylee's next words tore the tiny string of control I had left.

My hands quivered uncontrollably and my claws scooted out, with a loud growl, I leaped into the air and landing back to the floor, I had shifted into my form.

I was about to dash towards her when I suddenly felt a pair of strong hands grab me by the neck and forced me to the floor. I tried to struggle out of the grip but I was no match for whoever it was.

Unable to breathe, I transformed back, only to land my gaze on Father. It was him who had fought me.

He roughly pushed me to the floor and held me down. "You dare try to hurt Haylee?"

"She took what belonged to me,"

"Merlin is her mate, you are going to give them your blessing," and he thundered.

He was doing it again, choosing Haylee over me even when she was wrong, it's always going to be like this.

"I'd rather leave the pack," I stared back at him dead in the eyes as I spoke.

"You won't do that either," he chuckled dryly.

"Hyde is hosting a search for a bride, you shall be in attendance," his next words hit me hard access the ear.

Hyde?

The name resounded horrifically through my head.

He was the wolf king but most people called him the Demon King.

He was wildly known for his cruelty and ruthlessness. He was fright itself. his eyes held coldness that no heat can melt. Everything you'd hear in a mystical horror story as described by people that have encountered him.

Suddenly, finding out about Haylee and Merlin felt like a lightweight compared to the bomb that had just been dropped on me.

I had only one question running through my head. What if he picked me to be his wife?

Father has always wanted me out, this was his perfect opportunity.

"Hyde is a nightmare, Alpha! I can't marry him!" I managed to protest but the mocking laughter that fled his mouth was enough to tell that I had no choice.

"Funny how you think you have a choice," I swallowed hard, tears beginning to well up in my eyes as his harsh words filtered into my ears. "Do you think anyone want you Zara? not even your supposed lover, that's because you are cursed, and as such, useless, Hyde is your only ticket out of shame," that is if he chooses you.

"Please Father, I will do anything," my voice trembled as the tears finally escaped my eyes, streaming freely down my cheeks

"There's nothing left for you here except humiliations and disgrace, Zara, and it's only going to rub off on my reputation."

**

I exhaled deeply for the umpteenth time, rolling all over my tiny bed as the events of the previous day flashed through my head.

I was no longer concerned about Haylee and Merlin's betrayal, rather I was consumed with thoughts of the wolf king's bride selection and my mandatory to be in attendance.

There's no way I'll risk getting married to him, I needed to do something.

A wide smile suddenly broke out on my face as an idea struck me.

Abruptly, I stood from the bed and headed out.

I didn't find it surprising seeing the guards standing at my doorstep. Of course Father was prepared to hand me directly over to the wolf king.

"Go back in, you're not allowed to step out," one of them blurted.

"I don't intend to go anywhere, I just want to speak to Father," I replied.

I watched as they glanced at each other, exchanging knowing looks before turning back to me.

"We'll have to take you to his chamber ourselves," one of them replied and I nodded frantically.

Luckily, he was already on his way out together with mother when we arrived at his doorstep.

"Why did you let her leave the room?" He turned to the guard with a huge scowl on his face.

"Alpha," I quickly knelt before him.

"Forgive me for throwing a tantrum about Haylee and Merlin's relationship, truly, she deserve him more than I do,"

"What's going on?" His voice was calm and uncertain indicating that I was doing great.

"I have accepted my fate and I'll be in attendance for the wolf king's bride selection, but I only have one request,"

"Speak." He blurted curtly.

"I would love to take a walk around the pack, because it might be my last days here before the wolf king takes me away," this time, I tried to sound as pitiful as I could.

"Is this some sort of trick?" Mother raised her brows at me.

"She's right, it's her last days here, the wolf king will definitely chose someone with the same trait of plague as him," father spoke.

"Take a walk as you request but the guards will go with you everywhere,"

It was taking everything to hold myself back from smiling widely. My plan was perfectly falling in place.

Without sparing me a second glance, they walked away.

**

For close to an hour, I walked around the pack with the guards closely marking behind while I plotted out the best time to swing into action.

Mindfully, I took a lane that led towards the pack boundary.

"I need to urinate, wait here," I suddenly turned around to face them. "Or do you want to watch me do that too?"

"You have less than five minutes," the lead guard replied.

Nodding frantically, I dashed into the bush and never stopped until I had crossed the pack boundary.

As I continued running through the woods with no particular destination in mind, it suddenly dawned on me that I was alone in the world now and would be responsible for myself hence forward.

For the first time in my life, not minding all the hurt I had gone through, a strange word escaped from my mouth.

"I want to live." I cried sadly in pain.

Zara's POV.

I dragged my legs heavily down the street, I had successfully found my way out of the woods.

My eyes were heavy and my head throbbed painfully but then I had no choice but to keep moving, straining my eyes to see through the dark alley.

I was extremely tired following the miles I've covered but I couldn't stop for a second as I was making sure to go as far away from the Blue Moon pack as possible.

Though I had no destination in mind, I felt a lot better than where I ran off from, the ugly ordeal that no one deserved. It's behind me now, and I'm glad to call it my past.

Suddenly, I halted on my spot as my ears instinctively caught a roaring noise.

I couldn't help the deep smirk that washed through my face as I realized where my legs had dragged me to, I was standing right in front of a buzzing bar.

It suddenly hit me, this was exactly what I needed right now. I needed something to vent my pain on and alcohol isn't far from being the great solution.

I suckled in a deep breath and staggered in.

***

Dragging my feet frustratedly into the club, I went straight to the bar section

"A shot please," I said to the waiter.

I grabbed the tiny glass like a desperate predator clutching onto it's prey and gulped down the shot of liquor down my throat in a flash, dropping the empty glass with a loud thud on the counter. "More!" I howled.

He filled it up and I gobbled it all the way in again.

The burning sensation right from my tongue, then throat and right down to my stomach was all I needed to keep me as miserable as I needed to be at that moment.

"Are you okay miss?" I heard the waiter ask.

"Just continue refilling the glass and I'll be okay," I mumbled passing the empty glass towards him.

Suddenly, I sighted someone walk into the club quietly, I definitely wouldn't have noticed if he had managed to look a bit less hotter than he is.

I was strongly resisting the urge to wipe my eyes with my hands to be sure it was a human walking right in, clad mysteriously in an all black outfit, his hair deep black and slightly ruffled, amazing hazel eyes and perfectly structured jawline, his height and muscular arms were second to none.

He had the looks of a complete Greek God. I was lost staring for several seconds,

I seemed not to be the only one caught up with his sudden appearance into the club.

Surprisingly, he walked towards the space beside me and leaned on the counter. His head snapped towards me almost immediately and I looked away quickly.

Snapping back to my business, I grabbed my filled cup, pouring it down my throat in a flash.

I could also hear the mysterious stranger demanding for bottles after bottles of liquor as well.

With each gulp of the drink, their faces flashed before my eyes. Father, Mother, Merlin, Haylee, and everyone who contributed immensely to my misery.

My breath was becoming heavy with each passing second and the walls of the club spun in different directions setting my head in a hassle, I felt my stomach contrast, and next thing, I was throwing up heavily.

Staggering to climb down the seat, I lost balance of my foot on the floor, which had me spiraling towards the ground.

I was almost reaching the floor when I felt a pair of strong hands grab my wrist pulling me back up, surprisingly, I never landed on my feet instead I crashed into a warm body.

I suckled in a deep breath, grateful that I hadn't fallen and broken my bones but suddenly a strange but adorable fragrance hit my nostrils hard. It was nothing like I've ever scented before.

It meant only one thing.

"Mate!" Narla, my wolf rumbled in excitement.

Slowly, I raised my face to get a glimpse of who or whatever I had crashed into, and surprisingly, it was him. The handsome stranger that had walked into the bar few minutes ago.

I felt the breath in my lungs dry up as his gaze lingered on me.

Then he did the unexpected.

He grabbed my waist, lifting me off the floor and headed out of the club.

I couldn't make out where he was taking me following how drunk I was, not until I felt a door shut behind. He dropped me to the floor and slammed me gently against the door.

In a swift movement, he raised his hands to rest on the door beside the both sides of my head, pinning me in-between, as his hot gaze peered into my face.

"Look at me," his cold voice sounded through my head.

I slowly raised my face to meet his heated gaze.

I felt my wolf squeal in excitement as our gazes met, all I felt at that moment was a strong force pushing me towards him. The fright coupled with excitement was unlike nothing I had felt before, a feeling I knew I would never feel for someone else.

"It's you," he muttered.

"Your scent is different," his voice sent cold shivers down my spine.

"So strong, so delicious, it can never be mistaken," he breathed out, his gaze fixed intently on me.

I mopped at him, my lips too heavy to utter a word.

Surprisingly, all I could see in his eyes was admiration and yearning.

I parted my mouth to mutter a word but it was hooked up in my throat as he claimed my lips in a sloppy heart melting kiss, our tongues battling for dominance, his hands roamed my body igniting fire underneath my skin as I burn and craved more of his touch.

After a short while, he pulled away, trailing soft kissed down my neck, he was extremely gentle as he claimed my body, my wolf howled in pleasure and excitement as our body became one.

"You are mine, those were his next words as he scooped me into his arms, heading towards the bed.