"Who is that?" Alpha Damien asked the man who had just entered the room.

"Micheal is gradually walking into our trap," his Gamma replied as he stepped forward.

"Okay, you and Van should go to the houses that didn't burn completely, get the people inside, and come-let's head back to the Blue Moon Pack, fast!" Damien ordered, his voice sharp and commanding, and his men immediately moved out.

"Move! I said move faster!" someone shouted at the people who were lined up in a queue, bound tightly with heavy chains.

"What are you looking at?" one of the guards asked Ellen, noticing her full attention was fixed on a pregnant she-wolf who was wincing in pain as though she was in labor.

"Nothing, I was looking at the tall trees, so..." Ellen tried to explain herself, but instead of listening, the man raised his elbow. Being only seventeen and not very tall, his elbow landed hard on her head, and she cried out loudly.

"Ahhhhh-ahhhhh!" Ellen screamed at the top of her voice, drawing everyone's attention to herself.

When Alpha Damien approached the scene because of the noise she caused, he froze for a moment, unable to believe what he was seeing as his wolf stirred violently within him.

'Mate! Mate!' his wolf echoed excitedly, urging him forward.

"You? My mate? Never!" Alpha Damien snapped, his face twisting in fury as he turned and stormed off.

'How can my mate be an Omega? And that too, a girl who looks so dirty? I can't be mated to an Omega. I, Alpha Damien, can never make an Omega my Luna,' he thought bitterly as he entered his car, and the driver sped off immediately.

Alpha Damien was known as an arrogant, proud, and cold-blooded Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack. He found pleasure in the pain of others, following in his father's footsteps of killing without reason. He kept everyone at arm's length and avoided any form of emotional attachment.

Ellen felt her heart shatter when she heard his words. She didn't understand why, but the pain felt like a dagger piercing straight through her chest. She only hoped it didn't mean he had rejected her, because if he had, she might never have a mate again. Then again, she hadn't even shifted yet-if she ever would.

"Alpha, we just caught him," Victor said as Damien entered his study, where he had been contemplating whether or not to reject his mate.

"Okay, take me to him," Damien replied as he rose from his swivel chair.

••••

"Micheal, your father thought he could hide you from me after he murdered my parents and sister, right? I don't understand why a murderer would never want to experience what it feels like to die or to lose someone," Alpha Damien said coldly to the man tied to the chair, his hands bound behind it and his legs secured as well.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm sure my father didn't kill anyone. He said that when he was in the room with your sister, then-" Micheal tried to explain, but Damien cut him off.

"Victor, finish him in a more painful way and dispose of everything-out of the pack," Alpha Damien ordered before turning his back and walking out without another glance.

He made his way to the Omega chamber, where he had instructed his Gamma to keep the captured members of the other pack.

"Greetings, Alpha," multiple voices echoed as they bowed their heads, but he ignored them completely.

He stopped when he reached Ellen, who had her head bent as she washed the dishes.

"Greetings, Alpha," a new friend Ellen had just met said, and Ellen immediately lifted her head to look at him.

He furrowed his brows slightly when Ellen's lips moved as though she wanted to speak, but his voice cut over hers.

"What is your name?" he asked, his tone unnecessarily loud.

"It's Ellen," she replied, her voice trembling. At that moment, she didn't want him to be her mate anymore-if she was already this afraid of him as an Alpha, what would happen if he accepted her?

"By tomorrow at this time, come to the Pack ceremonial stage," he said before turning his back and walking out of the Omega hall.

Ellen chose not to speak about the encounter with Damien, avoiding the topic as much as she could.

"Hey... Ellen," Victor called in a low tone when he saw her leaving the hall after serving food to the pack members. Before she could react, he grabbed her hand forcefully and dragged her toward a dark corner.

"Leave me alone! Where are you taking me?" Ellen shouted, struggling to free herself, but his grip was far too strong.

"Ellen, be quiet, I don't bite," Victor whispered as he pressed closer, trailing unwanted kisses along her neck.

Ellen screamed for help, but the area was deserted-no one passed by, no one heard her.

Summoning what strength she had, she raised her knee and drove it hard into his crotch. He groaned in pain and released her immediately.

She didn't wait-she ran.

She ran straight back to the Omega hall, only slowing down when she reached her mattress, collapsing onto it as she struggled to steady her breathing.

••••

"Alpha, we found out who his daughter is," Zach said as he entered Damien's study.

"Who is she? Do you have a picture of her?" Damien asked immediately, his interest piqued.

Zach handed him a photograph.

"Are you sure this is her?" Damien asked as he examined it closely.

"Yes, Alpha. According to my investigation, she is his daughter," Zach replied confidently.

A slow smile crept onto Damien's lips as he gently caressed the picture.

•••

Ellen was more than nervous as she walked toward the ceremonial stage, uncertain of what the outcome would be.

As she stepped out of the Omega hall, she was shocked to see that the entire pack had gathered, waiting for the Alpha to address them.

Her heart pounded rapidly when she saw Damien walk onto the stage, and everyone bowed in respect.

After delivering a brief speech, his gaze scanned the crowd until it landed on her. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he gestured for her to join him.

With trembling legs, Ellen made her way to the stage and stood beside him.

"This is my mate, Ellen," he announced, and the crowd erupted into applause.

When the clapping finally died down, he turned to her, staring directly into her dark green eyes.

'I can't have anything to do with my enemy's daughter,' he thought coldly.

"I, Alpha Damien, hereby reject you as my mate," he declared.

The whole crowd that had gathered made low murmuring sounds as they looked at their Alpha with doubt. They were obviously shocked at how someone could introduce his mate to the entire pack one minute and reject her the next.

"You can go," he ordered, turning to his side where Ellen stood.

She slowly climbed down the stairs as tears of opprobrium and obloquy filled her eyes, threatening to make her even more embarrassed than she already was. All eyes were fixed on her as she walked away toward the Omega hall. It was as though the entire pack formed an aisle for her to pass through, and when her tears finally rolled down her cheeks, they drew pity and sympathy from almost everyone present-something she absolutely did not need.

'I'm an Omega after all. I don't deserve to be the Luna. I am just an Omega who probably has nothing to offer. Maybe not probably-I can't offer anything to him... I can't offer anything to anyone... not to him, not to his pack...!' Ellen thought within herself as tears continued to fall uncontrollably. Her heart twisted painfully, forcing a quiet wince out of her.

Ah... she had thought it wouldn't hurt, but it did. It really did hurt to know how much people didn't want you.

Her mom and dad had both left her... her little best friend, her brother, he had also left her... not by choice, but still-they all left her. And now she was left to face the most embarrassing moment of her life-to be rejected by her mate in front of the entire pack. Maybe it wouldn't have hurt this much if he had rejected her privately, without summoning the whole pack, but he had done it deliberately-to shame her, to humiliate her, or perhaps because she came from his enemy's pack.

At a point, she began to run as fast as she could. She ran until her legs could no longer carry her, and she collapsed onto the ground when they finally gave out. Then she began to bawl uncontrollably, crying until even her tears seemed to abandon her.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked as footsteps approached her.

Ellen looked up and saw her friend, Kelly.

"Ellen, I know it hurts a lot to be rejected by your mate like that, but you don't have to dwell on it. One thing is certain-whether you have another mate or not, someone out there will love and cherish you because you deserve more than this. Ellen, stop crying and move on with your life. This is definitely not the end," Kelly said, and Ellen looked up at her as the tears she thought had dried up began to fall again like spring water.

Maybe this was what she needed-a shoulder to lean on, a friend who knew when to be there when you needed them the most.

•••

"Kelly, have you done it?" someone asked over the phone.

She looked around carefully to ensure no one was nearby before replying. "Yes, I have done it. You can come check on it by tomorrow," she said in a near whisper.

After ending the call, she looked around once more before heading back into the Omega hall.

It had been a month since Alpha Damien rejected Ellen, and just as Kelly had advised, Ellen continued her life as though nothing had happened. She had come to understand one thing clearly-no matter what happened in her life, she had to overcome it, if not for anything else, then for one important person.

For herself.

"Ellen! Ellen! Ellen!" Kelly called out loudly when she saw Ellen heading toward her mattress, probably to take some clothes to wash as she had been instructed.

"Kelly, I didn't hear you. I'm sorry," Ellen said apologetically.

"No need for that, I urgently need your help with something," Kelly replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her along without giving her a choice.

On their way to wherever Kelly was taking her, they saw Victor heading toward the Omega hall with several pack warriors behind him. Ellen felt nervous at the sight of him, but when he glanced at her and continued walking, she felt slightly relieved.

When they returned, they were shocked to see Victor scattering the corner where Ellen slept.

"What are they doing?" she asked the person standing beside her.

"They're searching for the Alpha's ancestral staff that was given to him by his late father," the person replied.

Ellen looked closely and noticed that the way he searched others' belongings was not the same way he searched hers. She became infuriated and was about to step forward when he suddenly raised his head from her bag, holding a short cane-like object in his hand.

"Where is Ellen!" Victor shouted.

Everyone immediately stepped away from her, leaving her completely exposed. Even Kelly moved away. Ellen had thought Kelly would stand by her, but she was the first to distance herself.

She thought they were friends.

"Take her to the ceremonial stage-now!" Victor ordered the warriors.

Before Ellen could react, she was dragged by her hands toward the ceremonial ground. They didn't care that she wasn't as strong as them. At one point, she fell to the ground, but they continued dragging her, her body scraping painfully against the floor until they reached the stage.

At that moment, she held onto a tiny glimmer of hope-that the Alpha would at least give her a chance to explain herself.

The Alpha was already standing on the stage when they arrived. She looked up and met his gaze, clinging to that last bit of hope until-

"Burial her alive!" he ordered.

The moment those words left his lips, tears streamed down her cheeks. This was supposed to be her mate... how could he hate her so much without reason? Maybe her greatest mistake was being his mate-but that was never her choice.

Victor, as though he had won a prize, immediately began tearing off her clothes, touching her in ways he had always wanted. Ellen screamed in protest, hoping the Alpha would hear her and stop them-but he didn't. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

And now she was here.

"Let me out... let me out! Please, let me out... I didn't do anything to deserve this... I didn't steal anything..." Ellen cried as she banged against the top of the coffin they had sealed her in.

As she continued hitting it with all her strength, she began to notice something-her strength was failing. Her breathing grew weaker with each passing second. She realized she was no longer inhaling fresh air... only the same air she exhaled.

And death...

Death was waiting for her.

With open arms.

She stopped hitting the coffin when she realized it was useless. Her own breath began to suffocate her.

She was dying.

Tears rolled down her cheeks-perhaps the only thing she still had left.

'I don't deserve this... I'm sure... I don't... Life, you have been so cruel to me... as if I wasn't human to begin with... why did you make my life worse than death...?'

Her breathing became even more strained, and her eyes began to close weakly. Gathering the last strength she had left, she whispered-

"If only I am given another chance at life... I vow to make all of you feel what pain is like... I will make sure you experience nothing but pain... if only life permits me again..." she muttered as her eyes slowly shut, and darkness consumed her.

Her soul faded into darkness.

THREE YEARS LATER...

"Simon, it's been close to six months since my daughter has been on this sick bed, lying lifeless," Alpha Felix said to his friend, his voice heavy with pain as he struggled to keep himself composed.

"Felix, calm down. What did you say happened to her again?" Simon asked, gently patting his shoulders in an attempt to console him.

"She went swimming in a strange river, and then someone shot her with a poisoned arrow and fled immediately. When he was caught by her bodyguards, he refused to talk, insisting that no one sent him, and then I killed him with my own bare hands, albeit that didn't bring her back to life, but I had to do that-she's my only heiress after all. I have no one else except her," Alpha Felix explained, his tone laced with grief and helplessness.

"Don't worry, she will be fine," Simon said reassuringly, though his expression turned thoughtful as he touched his temples, clearly debating something in his mind.

"Do you know that my son studied Medicine and Surgery in the human world before I handed over the Alpha title to him? That had always been his dream since his mother died of an unknown illness, so I think he can help your daughter," Simon added, a proud smile spreading across his face.

"Really? Oh, Simon, you're truly a friend indeed. I don't know how best to thank you," Felix responded, grabbing Simon's hands tightly, hope flickering in his eyes for the first time in months.

"Don't worry, what are friends for if I can't do this little thing for you?" Simon replied warmly, returning the smile.

"So when will he come over to my pack? I want to use this opportunity to see him. You know, the last time I saw him, he was just a little boy," Felix inquired, chuckling softly as memories of the past resurfaced.

"Yes, he will be here unfailingly by tomorrow. Expect his presence in your pack," Simon replied as he stood up from the edge of the bed, clearly preparing to leave.

"Thank you so much," Alpha Felix said as he pulled Simon into a warm embrace.

Alpha Felix was the Alpha of the Night Walker Pack. He had lost his son in a bloody war between his pack and another rival pack, a loss that shattered him deeply. Just when he thought all hope was gone, fate blessed him again-his Luna conceived and gave birth to a daughter, Annabel, whom he loved beyond words. However, her birth came at a painful cost-it took away the life of his beloved mate. Despite that, it never stopped him from loving Annabel with everything he had.

He loved her so deeply that her pain became his pain, her joy his joy, and her laughter alone was enough to light up his entire world. She was brighter than the sun itself to him. He refused to bring another woman into their lives, unwilling to share her love with anyone. He wanted her all to himself. He raised her with his own hands, guiding her through every stage of her life.

She completed him. She filled the emptiness left behind by his mate. If she had left him too, just like her mother did, his life would have been completely void and meaningless. If there was one thing he constantly thanked the goddess for, it was for bringing Annabel into his life. She was his everything-his all in all.

He shook his head lightly, as if trying to shake away the painful thoughts that always flooded his mind whenever he saw his daughter lying in that vegetative state. He took her right hand into his and gently caressed the back of her palm before lowering his head to place a soft kiss on it.

"My darling, my love, my all in all, my sweet little daughter, please hang in there-for your father's sake at least. Don't give up. Keep fighting, and trust me, I will do everything in my power to bring you out of this. Just trust me like you always have. I promise to get you out of this, okay? Remember this-your father loves you and will always love you, no matter what happens," Alpha Felix said, his voice trembling as he placed gentle kisses on both her cheeks before finally forcing himself to walk out of the room and into his study.

His life had been nothing but empty and monotonous ever since she became unconscious. Nothing felt the same anymore. His world had grown silent, lonely, constantly reminding him of the missing piece of his heart.

The next day, a loud knock on his study door pulled him out of his thoughts. He stood up and walked towards the door, opening it to find his Beta and Gamma standing there with a young man behind them.

"Greetings, Alpha. You mentioned you were expecting Alpha Simon's son, so we didn't seek permission before allowing him in," his Beta, Daniel, explained respectfully.

"Oh... my son, Caine, is this you?" Alpha Felix asked as he stepped forward, pulling him into a brief embrace.

"Greetings, Alpha. It's been a long time," Caine replied with a slight smile on his lips.

Felix returned the smile and gestured for him to come in. "Please, make yourself comfortable. This is your home as well," he said before stepping out momentarily.

Caine looked around the house, quietly admiring the elegant décor, the detailed paintings on the walls, and the overall grandeur of the space.

He was brought back to reality when a maid walked into the living room, heading straight to the dining area where she placed a tray on the table.

"Alpha, your meal is ready," she said, bowing her head so low that Caine felt the need to respond.

"You can go," he said immediately, and only then did she raise her head before quietly leaving the room.

"Alpha, according to what my father told me, your daughter was poisoned with an arrow, right?" Caine asked as they both walked towards Annabel's room.

"Yes... she was," Felix replied in a low tone.

The moment they stepped into the room-

'Mate! Mate! Mate!' Caine's wolf roared instantly the second his eyes fell on Annabel's unconscious body.

Caine couldn't explain the overwhelming surge of emotions that hit him at once. Joy, disbelief, relief-his mate... he had finally found his mate.

Without hesitation, he walked towards her and gently took her hand into his, his thumb softly caressing the back of her palm, and as if by magic-

Her eyes fluttered open.

She blinked slowly, her gaze wandering around the room before finally settling on the hand holding hers.

"Where am I?" she asked softly, her voice weak yet clear as she looked directly at Caine.