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My first touch froze my mother to gold. I was born with golden eyes. When she held me for the first time, her skin hardened beneath my fingers. At five, I grabbed a pack boy during a game He froze mid-laugh. At eight, I touched a beggar’s last bread. It became pure gold in my hands. The pack called me cursed But my father called me opportunity. He bartered me for ten million dollars. That was the beginning of my doom. Alpha Edward didn’t see a child. He saw a mine. " He burned my palms with hot iron rods, trying to force gold from my skin. Something white sparks before he could break me. And the Moon Goddess descended, “I am taking the child’s blessing, when she turns eighteen, she will take everything from you.” A golden light tore from my hands and vanished into the sky. My power disappeared. But my suffering didn’t. Alpha Edward grew afraid. So he handed me to his daughter. “Make her your slave. Suppress her before she outshines you.” Marcy obeyed. She didn’t kill me. She ended me slowly. Years of hunger. Bruises. Chains. Servitude. " Today, I cook for two hundred wolves without sleep everyday. I am 18 now but nothing changed."I want to give up", I whispered to the moon goddess in pain. I was answered. And everything was about to change in a blink. Merge- There were whispers through the pack. Electric, hushed, breathless. A visitor was coming. Alpha Damon. Leader of the Dark Howlers, fiercest pack in the realm. He was the most powerful Alpha in all of North America. Women threw themselves at him. Rulers feared him. He could seduce a she-wolf with a glance, or tear out a man’s throat just as easily. Damon was untouchable. He scorned the idea of love. Rejected every political match. Not a single potential bride, despite the many presented, could win his affection. None were worthy of being his Luna, the proud she-wolf to rule by his side. Love was a distraction, an attempt to tame him. And Damon would never be tamed. Still, there were those who tried. Alpha Edward, leader of the Red Moon pack, was desperate to secure his political power. He invited Damon to meet his daughter, Princess Marcy, beautiful, cunning, cruel. She intended to make him hers. Talia feared their union. Would Marcy succeed where so many others had failed? Would Marcy’s cruelty only intensify as Luna to such a powerful Alpha? The moment Alpha Damon stepped onto Red Moon Pack grounds with his mated Betas, Caden and Maya, something felt off. His wolf stirred uneasily beneath the surface. Damon didn’t need confirmation, he already knew: no one in the Red Moon Pack could be trusted. They all sat down in the dining hall, its gaudy opulence a reflection of Red Moon’s inflated ego. Marcy arrived fashionably late, every detail of her appearance sharpened like a blade. Shimmering blond hair, a sculpted figure. She was the type of girl who got what she wanted. Her friend, Nora, wasn’t as restrained. She eyed Damon with hunger, her gaze sliding over him like a caress. The rumors had reached her ears: about his appetite, his stamina, his size. She didn’t care that Marcy was supposed to win the Alpha’s hand. Nora wanted a taste for herself. Marcy’s mother, Luna Layla, noticed the heat in Nora’s stare… and the flicker of fury in her daughter’s eyes. “Marcy,” Layla said, too sweetly, “Why don’t you show Alpha Damon to his room so you two can… talk?” While the Red Moon Pack celebrated Damon’s arrival, elsewhere in the kitchens, Talia worked until the sweat stung her eyes. All she could dream of was the scraps she might scavenge when the feast was over. The other Omegas had different plans for her. Anna, their cruel ringleader, stepped into Talia’s path, towering over her, “Listen up, slave.” The other Omegas giggled behind her like hyenas. Anna’s lips twisted into a cruel smirk. “You’re going to deliver towels to Alpha Damon’s room.” Talia froze. “Right now? But... what if he’s inside?” Anna raised her hand, ready to strike. “Are you questioning me?” Talia flinched, her heart pounding. Without her wolf, she was defenseless against the bullies. Without another word, she took the towels and hurried off, every step dragging her closer to the Alpha’s quarters and whatever fate awaited her behind that door. When Talia entered the room, she froze. Damon was in his room. But he wasn’t alone. There was Marcy. On her knees. Between Damon’s legs. Marcy whipped around, her eyes blazing with fury as they locked onto Talia’s. The insolence! A jolt of fear shot up Talia’s spine. Retribution would be certain. Damon’s eyes snapped to Talia. “Stop!” he barked. But Talia was gone, bolting from the room, too terrified to look back. What Talia didn’t know, what she couldn’t have known, is that in that moment, Damon’s world had shifted. Her scent. It hit his veins like a spark of kindling, igniting something primal within him. Could it be? His inner wolf howled the truth within him, again and again. She, a lowly omega, a serving girl without a friend, was his fated mate? Ignoring the mocking laughter of Anna and the others, Talia ran until she reached the attic, shoving the cabinet against the door before collapsing in the corner, struggling to quiet her frantic breathing. 'Is this it? Is this the day I die?' Back in Damon’s room, Marcy landed clumsily on her backside as Damon shoved her away, his expression thunderous and unreadable. "Who was that girl?" he demanded, hastily buttoning his pants. Marcy knew exactly who she was. Talia. That wolf-less bitch. How dare she step into an Alpha’s chambers uninvited? And worse, if word got out that Marcy had been pleasuring Damon before he’d even proposed... she’d be humiliated. A laughingstock. Her reputation would be in shreds. Marcy’s jaw clenched with fury. She should’ve done more than just beat the girl this morning. But Damon didn’t notice Marcy’s simmering rage. He was too distracted, his mind replaying the moment when she walked in. How that intoxicating scent, freesia and citrus, had struck him. How his wolf had howled, wild and urgent. All he could think about was pulling her into his arms. 'Mate.' His wolf howled. In confirmation, I couldnt my wolf had been silenced years ago. My name is Talia, but no one calls me Talia except for teachers on the first day of schooling. I'm more popular as the wolfless freak. I'm a werewolf in the red moon pack. Since I'm an orphan, I'm not completely sure how old I am, but I'm pretty sure I'm 16. Also, I'm an omega, which means I'm a servant. My job is to make the meals for the werewolves who live in the pack house. Between making breakfast and dinner for over 100 wolves, cleaning up after them, and restocking the pantries of the ranked members' apartments on the 3rd and 4th floors, I do normal teenager stuff, except I don't have a lot of spare time to do so. Homework is the extent of living my teen life. Right now it's 11:30 at night. I'm putting the finishing touches on my English essay when I hear the door of the dungeon slam open. Great. Now what did I do? It doesn't take much. Alpha Edward is an alcoholic. It's really difficult for werewolves to get drunk, which means you have to drink heavily to feel the effects. This means he probably had a fight with Luna Layla about his drinking. Which means she locked him out of their room. Which means he has come down to take out his anger on me. Just an average Tuesday in the packhouse. I know the drill. I'm already on my feet waiting for him. I'm thinking in my mind. “Alpha Edward, what can I do for you?" I ask with my eyes looking at the floor. I keep my hands clasped in front of me, trying to look as small as possible. Without a word, a whiskey bottle whizzes past my ear and smashes against the wall above my cot. I flinch and can't help but start to tremble and hug myself. Whatever is about to happen it's going to be worse than usual. He lunges forward and grabs me by the throat with both hands. I feel tears coming to my eyes as the lack of oxygen turns the edges of my vision dark. I desperately claw at his hands, trying to escape his grip but it's no use. He picks me up by the neck so I'm at face level with him. His eyes are pitch indicating his wolf Ruckus is at the surface. His breath stinks because of alcohol. I start gagging and choking from the lack of oxygen. Without warning, he throws me across the room as if I weigh nothing. My back slams against the wall and I land on my back on the cot. The shards of the broken bottle pierce the skin on my back through my thin t-shirt. The whiskey makes the cuts burn. I try to muffle a scream as the pain sears through me. He comes across the room and picks me up roughly by the hair. I feel the shards of glass cutting deeper as he pulls me up. He throws me to the ground. The glass bits are grinding deeper into my back. I can feel something wet soaking through my shredded shirt. I don't dare move and make him even madder. I feel my ribs snap when his foot makes contact. One of his feet lands on my jaw. I feel a sickening snap. Rattle in my brain. The metallic taste instantly fills my mouth. Alpha Edward has been using me as his punching bag for years, but this was way more intense than it has ever been before. In the past couple of years, he started dipping the whip in wolfsbane, which makes me heal slower, so now I have gnarly scars across my back and arms. I managed to eke out. My voice is small and garbled. He abruptly stops and walks out of the room. He comes back a moment later with the whip and starts lashing my back relentlessly. The whip is dripping with wolfsbane. The lashes, combined with the glass shards still in my back, combined with the wolfbane are too much. My vision turns blurry and I pass out. Numbness surrounds me. Is this what being dead is like? It's peaceful, but a little bit boring. At least I don't have to feed the pack. Oh dang, I didn't get a chance to turn in that English essay. It was a good one too. The constant soft beeps are soothing. I don't know how long I've been dead, but I feel like I want to open my eyes, ready to take on the afterlife. After what seems like forever, I'm able to open my eyes and find I'm alone in soft comfort in a brightly lit, clean room. This is the afterlife? Maybe this is some sort of waiting area, but where's the lobby? Is there a receptionist? My mind slowly becomes more clear and I realize I'm not dead.I'm in the pack hospital. I need to leave before the Alpha finds me outside the dungeon. I try to get up but I can barely move my body. Every move causes excruciating pain. I start to panic, making the beeps in the room become faster. Oh, I'm hooked up to a bunch of machines. I try to figure out how to unhook them so no one hears the noises. Too late, I hear people in the hallway getting closer. I try to sit up. I need to ignore the pain. I have to escape. I slowly slide off the side of the legs. My legs were wobbly. The tubes and wires sticking out of me prevent me from getting too far. The door opens and the pack doctor comes in with a nurse. The doctor is an older person. “Ah, Talia. You're awake. Let's get you back on the mat, shall we?" The doctor says gently. He and the nurse come to either side of me and reach out to hold my arms. A deep growl escapes my chest. “Don't touch me," I snap, shaking them off. My voice is scratchy and raw and my mouth feels like a thousand needles are poking into it. “It's alright, Talia. No one is going to hurt you here. We're trying to help you heal. Let's get you back to and get you a drink of water," the doctor raises his hands in surrender. I look at him hesitantly before accepting their help. The nurse hands me a cup of water with a straw. The water feels good on my throat. The doctor sits in the chair beside the bed as the nurse checks my vitals and starts messing with the tubes and wires attached to me. “Talia, you had surgery to remove hundreds of shards of glass from your back, we also had to reset some ribs, your jaw, and you had a lot of wolfsbane in your blood. We gave you a transfusion to clear it from your system so you could heal," the doctor explains, "You're lucky your wound isn’t badly serious.” Sure about that last part, doctor? I think to myself. “When the pack realized breakfast had not been prepared, Tony went to get you and found you on the ground in your...uh...room," he looked at me with sympathy, "Talia, who did this to you? It's a crime that could be grounds for banishment from the pack. Based on the scarring, this isn't the first time you've been attacked.” I can't answer him. I stare at my hands on my lap quietly. How can I tell him Alpha Edward is the one who caused this? There's no way he'd believe me, even if he did, what are they going to do? Banish the Alpha? Fat chance of that. I decide my best move is to just shake my head no. I don't want to get out of the pack for lying. I have nowhere to go. I would be nothing. “Okay. Let's move on to the next question. When do you turn seventeen?" He looks at the papers inside his folder. “I-I don't know exactly, sir," I say honestly. He looks at me with a furrowed brow. He glances at the nurse and asks her to give us privacy for a few minutes. Am I in trouble? I just woke up, I don't know what I could have done. She finishes what she's doing and leaves the room. “You don't know your birthday, Talia?" he asks, confused. “M-my father brought me here when I was a baby. He was a bad guy. Alpha Edward, well...he..." I feel my face burning with embarrassment. My hands tremble and tears threaten to escape my eyes. I didn't think I would have to tell this story to the doctor. I thought everyone already knew. My father was a bad guy. Alpha Edward ended his life for coming into pack territory without permission. They didn't realize he was carrying a baby until they unzipped his jacket and saw I was tucked inside. It was a miracle I survived. Since I was just a baby, they couldn't just get rid of me but they didn't know anything about me. I was wrapped in a blanket that had the name 'Talia’' embroidered on it. So, that is what they called me. My father could have been a kidnapper for all I know. The only reason they gave me the last name Jackman is because after they took down my father, they looked through his wallet to identify him. The only form of ID he had was a library card that said Brian Jackman on it. I've tried an internet search for his name on the computer in the school library before. Nothing comes up in the search. “You don't need to finish, I know what happened to your father.” “Well, after that...happened...Luna Layla took me in until I was old enough to start school. Then she moved me into the dungeon. I've kinda been on my own since then. I never found out when my actual birthday was. To be honest, you're the first person who has ever asked. I mean, I guess I'm sixteen. My wolf hasn't woken up yet.” The doctor nods, looking at me with pity. Almost like he cares. He asks me a few more questions about my medical history, but there's nothing to speak of. I don't remember ever being treated by a doctor before. “I see," he closes the folder and tucks his pen into his shirt pocket, "Well, I know you haven't had a chance to look in the mirror yet, but when you do, you may find you look a little different. Don't be alarmed. I've done as many tests as I could think of. It is not medically related.” I look at him with confusion, "Y-yes, sir." I assume he means I'm healing faster but, why did he need me to look in the mirror? Why not just tell me? I look at the nurse who is staring at me. When she realizes I caught her, her eyes dart away. What's that about? Okay, lady. Rude. “I'll leave you now," she says, "You can go in the bathroom and wash up. Just take that pole with the IV solution with you. There are lounge shorts and fresh underwear in the bag. You need to leave the hospital gown on until your back heals. Alright?” “Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Diane," she nods and leaves the room. It's the first time in my life people have been kind to me. I mean, I think it's part of their job but still. All I have known so far were insults, physical misery, and hard work. Never any kindness, never any. I feel like I can trust the doctor but I'm still wary of Nurse Diane. The way she stared at me just now makes me uncomfortable. I pick up the duffle bag and go to the bathroom. I avoid looking in the mirror. Everything in the bathroom is fresh. There's a shower, but I'm worried the pressure of the water will hurt my back. I decided to fill the tub halfway and get in. The water is warm and soothing. There's a washcloth and a fresh bar of soap. I clean myself until the water is gross. I drain the tub, wipe out the ring of dirt around the edge, and fill it again. The water is not nearly as dirty as this time when I finish washing. I find it hard to raise my hands, but I don't want to call the nurse to help me. I gently wash my hair, dry off and wrap the soft towel around my head. There's a toothbrush and a small tube of paste on the shelf by the sink. I'm living in the lap of luxury in the pack hospital! I pick them up and start brushing my teeth. I can't avoid it anymore, I need to look in the mirror. I finally worked up the courage to take a peek. What I see makes me drop the toothbrush. My face is still covered in bruises, but that's not what made me drop the toothbrush. The iris of my left eye is violet. Not like a shade of blue that could be a little purple in the right light. No. My right pupil is still the drab gray I'm used to but my left pupil looks crazy. I blink my eyes hard a few times. Still the same. I tried rubbing my eye but it doesn't make a difference. There's no mistaking it - my eye is bright, practically glowing...violet. The two days seem to last forever. I'm not complaining though. I've never gotten so much in my life and as a bonus, I get three meals a day. Three! I keep looking in the mirror. I can't get over how weird my purple eye looks. I wake up on the second day and go to the bathroom to freshen up. I stare at myself in the mirror for the millionth time. My left eye is still violet. Now my right eye seems like it's starting to turn violet as well. There was nothing I could do about it, so I decided to try not to worry. Since Red Moon is a pretty big pack, we have a high school on pack territory. The library has a really big werewolf lore research section. I will do some research during lunch. As I tilt my head to the side to brush my hair, I notice a chunk of my hair has changed color. Instead of my normal mousy brown, it is silvery gray. Okay seriously now. What is going on? What is happening to me? Is this a trick? Is there bleach in the shampoo or something? If it is a trick, it isn't funny. I pick up the bottle and smell it. It smells like strawberries, not bleach. Weird. I have never heard of a wolf's eye or hair color changing when they are coming of age but that's what the doctor thinks is happening. Diane comes in just after lunch with paperwork and pamphlets for me. She hands me another little bag, "Just a little something to help you stay incognito until you are finished healing," she says. "Thank you for everything," I say as I open the bag. There is a baseball cap and a pair of dark sunglasses. "How do I look?" I ask as I model them for her. She giggles at my poses, "You're a star, darling." Maybe she isn't so bad after all. She gives me a gentle hug and sends me on my way. I have another two hours before I need to start prepping dinner. I decided to take my new clothes to my room and clean up the mess down there so I can tonight. Something smells different as I walk down the hall of the dungeon, like a cleaning solution. I turn on my lamp to find the room has been transformed. My lamp is not sitting on an old stack of milk crates. It is on a nightstand. There is a new one too, my old cot is gone. I have a proper. Complete with new sheets and blankets. There is also a small desk and chair with all my school books arranged in a basket next to it. I must be dreaming. That or I walked into someone else's room by accident, except no one else lives down here. You can barely tell it was an old dungeon cell. It looks like what I imagine a dorm room would look like. I peek out of the doorway to make sure I am in the right place. I seem to be. What gives? I walk over and sit carefully as if it will disappear if I move too fast. It is like a cloud. The gray and turquoise linens are fresh and new. There are even two pillows. I never had a proper pillow before, let alone two. As far as I know, Diane is the only one who came down here while I was in the hospital. Could she have had all this done? Surely she will get in trouble when Alpha Edward finds out. Then I remember she doesn't know how much the Alpha hates me. I don't know how I'm going to explain it when he finds out but I won't tattle on anyone for trying to help me either. I put my new clothes away in the drawers of the nightstand. I stash the duffle bag under the mattress. Once I am seventeen, I will figure out a way to get out of this place. Find a new pack that will accept a violet-eyed weakling of a wolf. I sit at the desk and write a thank you letter to the doctor and Nurse Diane. I turn in the chair looking around the like-new room. I am in awe that someone would do this for me. I must have been daydreaming because I don't hear the door at the top of the stairs, but I hear two sets of footsteps coming down the hall. Instantly I freeze. I can smell Alpha Edward's scent getting closer. I don't know who the other scent belongs to. Instinctively, I scramble and stand in the middle of the room just as they get to the doorway. He leans against the frame and crosses his arms in front of himself. I can feel my whole trembling as he stares. My eyes are glued to the ground. I do not want him to see my new eye color shining through. "C-can I help y-you, Alpha Edward?" "That little stunt you pulled cost me a lot of money," he says with a calm, gravelly voice, "And when you cost me money, you cost my whole family money." "I'm sorry, sir," I apologize, although I have no idea what stunt he is talking about. I look up just enough to see Marcy, the Alpha's daughter, is also standing in the doorway. Marcy takes a step closer and I can feel tears starting to sting the corners of my eyes as my arms shake uncontrollably. How am I going to face her at school? I haven't had a conversation with her since her mom made me live in the dungeon, anyway. But as far as I know, she had no idea I live down here now. She is going to tell everyone for sure. "Surgery and hospital stays aren't cheap, Talia," Alpha Edward sneers from the doorway, "And do you know how disgusting the food has been for the past two and a half days?" I just nod, still looking at the ground. I'm not trying to argue with a lunatic. It isn't my fault I had to have surgery. He's the one who broke a bottle and threw me into the broken pieces! If he hadn't, I would have been just fine. I would have been able to bounce back the next day and make breakfast like I was supposed to, even if I was banged up. There is a pause and he finally growls, "Where did all this furniture come from? Did you steal it?” “N-no, sir. I-I...it was here when I g-got back from the hospital wing. I don't know wh-who brought it.” "You owe me, Talia. You also owe whoever turned your room into this comfortable space. You'll work in the packhouse until you pay it back every cent. For the rest of your life if necessary. No more school. You don't need education to cook and clean." He uses his Alpha tone. I cannot disobey. With those words, the small flame of hope in my heart extinguishes. I don't get paid so I don't know how I could ever pay back any debt. Luna Layla told me years ago that the room in the dungeon was payment enough for my services. I am less than an omega now. I am a slave. "Marcy, teach her a lesson for wasting our money." "Yes, Alpha.” Tears stream down my face as the reality of my fate sets in. Alpha Edward is passing the torch of his cruelty down to his daughter. But I know better than that. He will never stop. Marcy reaches forward and claps the back of my neck. She forces me down into a bowing position and growls deeply, "You should be grateful my father doesn't banish you. If you were a rogue, I would make sure you never made it to the border of the territory." A squeak escapes my throat. I am so scared I feel like I am going to pass out. Marcy turns to her father, "Don't worry, Alpha. I've got this situation covered." I hear Alpha Edward's footsteps walk back down the hallway as he leaves the dungeon. Marcy tightens her grip on my neck, extending her wolf claws, making me yelp. As soon as the door slams, Marcy releases my neck and kneels in front of me. Her face is contorted with anger. She grabs my shoulders, shaking me roughly, "What did you do to make him so mad?" Why isn't she doing anything to me like she told Alpha Edward she would? I stiffened my whole body, avoiding eye contact with her. I'm shaking, I can't even speak now. The thought of two people doing something bad to me regularly for the rest of my life...it just can't be real. Can it? How can the Moon Goddess allow this to happen? I want to leave the world. That's not an exaggeration. That's not me being dramatic. Please, Moon Goddess, don't let this happen. Just let me go. I shake so badly that I fall to my knees. I start to sob hysterically and my brain shuts down from being able to think rationally. Marcy grabs my chin and forces me to look at her in her cold gray eyes. She looks at me in horror for a moment, "What happened to your eyes?” She moves her hands up from my chin to just below my eyes. It feels like her hands are trembling against my face. "A-are you a mixed-blood or something?" All I can manage is to shake my head no between sobs. As I shake my head, I feel her starting to press her thumbs against my lower eyelids obstructing my vision. Oh no, she’s going to poke my eyes out. She saw the violet color. She was going to blind me. I place my hands on top of her trying to push her away. I hear myself screaming, "NO! STOP!! Don't take my eyes out! PLEASE!!!” For just a moment, time freezes. I don't mean like it feels like time is standing still because I'm in the middle of a traumatic situation. No, time is frozen. Well, frozen for everything except for me I should say. I can feel it in the air. It only lasts for a moment. I pulled Marcy's hands away from my face easily. The look of anger combined with confusion is stuck on her face. Next to her, a fly is suspended in mid-air. The second hand on the clock has stopped on the wall behind her. Drips of water aren't finished falling, leaving umbrella-shaped splashes in the puddles on the floor. What? Did the Moon Goddess hear me? Did she have mercy on me? Did she let my dream come true? I look back at Marcy with wide eyes. My hands are glowing purple. As quickly as it stopped, time started again. Marcy starts screaming and pushes herself away from me. The tops of her hands where my hands were touching her were burnt. I look down at my hands. They are normal again, not glowing purple. Seriously though, what happened? I shut my eyes tight, waiting for Marcy to retaliate. “If you tell anyone, I will kill you," she says in my ear. Then she punches me in the stomach, knocking the air out of my lungs. I hear her footsteps running down the hall, then out the door. I don't know how long I sit like this but when I finally open my eyes I breathe a sigh of relief. I lean against my body for a while longer, sobbing, shaking, and trying to catch my breath. She didn't harm me? Surely she was coming back. I sniff the air but her scent is gone. I listened carefully but there were no sounds in other parts of the dungeon. I'm alone. “Moon Goddess, thank you for saving me. Thank you," I say out loud, just in case the miracle I just experienced was because of her. I feel exhausted, but starting to feel calmer. Okay Talia, focus. I need to make dinner for the pack or Alpha Edward will find me and kill me. I don't think it's an exaggeration, either. Even if I try to run away, either he or Marcy would find me before I could get off the territory. I take a few deep breaths and make myself go down the hall to wash up at the sink. I splash cold water on my face and look in the grungy mirror. Both of my eyes are pure violet now. The silver streaks are starting to take over my hair now. It isn't like an old person's hair. It is silvery that almost shimmers, even in the low light of the dungeon. So weird, there's no way I'm going to be able to get used to this new look. I go back to my room and get dressed in leggings and a T-shirt. I put on the baseball cap Diane gave me, pulling the brim low to hide my eyes. Throughout dinner, I receive murderous glares from Alpha Edward. I make sure to keep my eyes to the floor so Alpha Edward would avoid seeing the color. Marcy glares at me every chance she gets. After dinner, it takes longer than usual to stock pantries because whoever did it while I was in the hospital had no idea what they were doing. It is well after midnight when I flop down on my and close my eyes. June 20th, I think to myself. It's the last day of school. Well, for other people anyway, not me. You don't need the education to cook and stock pantries, Alpha Edward's words ring in my ears. Just another day for me, I suppose. I wallow in self-pity for a bit before I roll over and try to fall asleep. I'm almost asleep when I hear a woman's voice. "Hello!" I quickly scramble to my feet, looking everywhere for who it could be. I'm the only one in the room. I peek into the hallway and look around but no one is there either. "Hello?" I whisper loudly down the hallway. "Ugh, Talia. This is no way for a warrior to behave. Get yourself together," the voice chides. I realize the voice is coming from inside my head. "Who.. who are you?" I ask hesitantly, worried that I've gone insane. "I am the messenger of the Moon Goddess. The whisperer of the moon. But I like you, so I’ll let you call me Sylvie." "Whisperer of the moon? Are you my Angel, Sylvie?” I asked in shock. “Maybe. Who knows?” came the quick reply in my head. “You came a day too late. Our Alpha just turned me into a slave less than twelve hours ago. We have no way to escape now," I feel tears welling up. I explain everything to her. What the Alpha did, how the Luna made me live in the dungeon, all of it. I sob through the whole thing. "I'm here now, Talia. Don't worry. You are a child of the Moon Goddess, you are a warrior. Which means you are strong. You will get through this.” “Sylvie, earlier, when my hands turned purple and burned Marcy. Was that you?” “Sort of. That was you, but I helped a little to activate your power. I can explain more later.” The next month and a half are the worst of my life. Thank Goddess for Sylvie . She keeps me going. Any motivation I ever had is gone now. Instead of just breakfast and dinner, now I make lunch too and I'm still on pantry duty. Every moment of my day is filled with work from the time I wake up, Sylvie convinces me to enjoy the time that she and I get to spend together, which is when I'm cooking meals. I find I do enjoy cooking while Sylvie is with me. No one comes to bother me, so we get to have great conversations without interruptions. In the end, I have created something people will enjoy. I even found a couple of recipe books in the back of one of the kitchen cupboards and taught myself some new techniques and dishes to make. Everything else in my life is complete. Alpha Edward allows pack members to bully me and verbally mock me and they take full advantage at every opportunity. He comes to my room multiple times a week to harm me and berate me for imaginary offenses I haven't committed. Sometimes Marcy comes and watches. A couple of times she even gets the whip for her father but she never actually does anything bad to me. I swear I see her smiling while she watches. Sylvie tries to convince me to fight back, but that would be a death sentence. If I fight back or even worse, if I shift, I'm certain I'd be dead. Sylvie keeps telling me everything will change when I shift. She keeps saying you are a daughter of the Moon Goddess and you are her warrior. She is frustrated that I submit instead of fighting back. She is angry at me for keeping her a secret. She says doing so is making her weaker. "Okay, Sylvie , a couple of problems with all of this," I try to tell her for the millionth time after we plop in, "First, I have no idea when I'm going to be able to let you help me to shift. I'm up and working every day from five a.m. until after midnight. Secondly, if the Alpha finds out I am talking to someone in my head, he might think I’ve gone nuts and he will banish me or maybe just skip banishing me and straight out kill me. Lastly, I’m a slave, not a warrior. I am not even an omega." "Talia, you are not just a warrior, you are a child of the Moon Goddess. She is your mother." I just roll my eyes, "Okay, I don't know when I can let you help, but at the first opportunity, I will take it, Sylvie . I promise." This seems to satisfy her. We keep having the same argument about werewolves all being children of Moon Goddess versus being an actual child of the Moon Goddess. She doesn't understand the difference. I think she believes the Moon Goddess is my mom, like, in the literal sense of the word mother. Every day, I'm completely exhausted by the time I get back to my room. It's an even longer day if I'm visited by Alpha Edward. Sylvie has been the best friend I could ask for, even if she is frustrated and getting weak. She is always supporting me and pushing me to not give up. I feel guilty that I can't support her in return. One day, Alpha Edward's personal omega comes running up to me while I'm making lunch and tells me the Alpha wants to see me in his office right away. I drop what I'm doing and hurry to his office. I knock on the door quietly in case he's busy. "Come in," he calls from inside. I pull open the door and peek inside. “You called for me, Alpha?" I asked as quietly as possible. The easiest way to get away from him is to use as few words and ask as few questions as possible. "Don't just stand there, come in," he snarls. I rush inside and close the door behind me. I stay as close to the door as possible in case I need to make a run for it. "Talia, we have a delegation coming from the Dark Howlers Pack next week. Twenty wolves in total, all of the ranked members, their mates, the heads of their security and guards, and security detail for all of them. If all goes well, we'll be forming a pact with them. They must be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. Bring lunches to the conference room every day and make a formal dinner every day next week, keep their pantries stocked, and stay out of the way. Got it?" I look up from under my hat, still keeping my face low enough that he can't see my eyes. Yes, even after almost two months, he still hasn't noticed that I have purple eyes. Or if he has, he hasn't pointed it out. He also hasn't said anything about my silver hair. Which is just fine with me. "Yes, sir." "Everyone will be here on Monday. Except for the Alpha, who is coming Tuesday. We'll be having a party after dinner to welcome him. Make sure there is enough food for the party. Give George the information for the additional food you need to make. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir." "Good. We need to keep the Alpha happy. If not, I won't hesitate to let him harm you. Do you understand?" He stands up with his hands leaning on the desk looking very intimidating. "Y-yes, sir." "Now get out of my sight," he points to the door behind me. I scramble out of the room as fast as possible to find George. George is in charge of ordering supplies for the packhouse. He should be in his office right now. My mind is already churning through the special foods to make and the groceries I need for them. I also need extra supplies for the guest suite pantries. I wonder what kind of foods the Dark Howlers Pack likes? Dark Howlers is the largest pack in the northern region with my pack, Red Moon, being the second largest. Alpha Edward says Dark Howlers is vicious and strict. Most of their pack has served in the military at one point or another. They employ dark magicians and witches to help them keep power over neighboring packs. I wonder if they are going to bring any dark witches here. I hope not. I also hear their Alpha expels pack members who fail training tests because he doesn't want weak wolves in his pack. A guy I don't want to cross paths with. I get to George's office and knock on the door. I can hear noises coming from inside but he doesn't answer. I knock a little louder. What the hell, he has to know I'm here. He knows my scent. Just tell me to come in, already. “I don't like this guy, Talia. He's creepy. He stares at you," Sylvie complains. “Well, we don't have a choice but to work with him, Sylvie. He's the money” “Ugh. Fine, but let's make it quick.” I knock again. More impatiently this time. "What is it?" He finally growls from inside. I open the door to find there's a female wolf sitting on his desk. She hides her face in his chest. I can't see who she was, but there is no denying whose scent it is. George is not wearing any pants and he is sweating. "Get the hell out, Talia! I'm busy here!" I stand there wide-eyed, jaw slack for a moment. I can't be seeing this. George is having a fun time in his office...WITH MARCY, the ALPHA’S DAUGHTER. "GET OUT, Talia!" He yells louder. I come to my senses and slam the door closed. I run back to the kitchen as fast as I can. I can feel the drip from my face. If anyone finds out what I just saw, I am finished. Sylvie thinks it's hilarious. She laughs in my head throughout lunch preparation. I'm just trying to erase the scene from my mind. I'm about to take the platters out to the dining room, George comes charging into the kitchen. He makes a beeline at me, grabbing me by the throat, and pinning me against the wall. He hauls back and punches me square in the face. The back of my head slams against the wall so hard I see stars. I can feel my nose is sour as I slide down the wall with a groan. "You didn't see anything!" He growls at me. I can feel his claws extending into my neck drawing blood, "You understand, you little monster!" I'm paralyzed with fear. I can't answer. I can't even nod. Suddenly I feel like I'm falling backward in my mind. I blink quickly a few times. It feels like I'm looking out of someone else's eyes. "Let her go!" The voice comes from me, but it isn't my voice. It's Sylvie. Her voice booms and sounds almost ethereal. The dishes on the counter shake as she growls deeply at George. I watch helplessly, as my hands glow violet and grab George's wrists. As I grab him, his eyes widen in fear and he starts howling in pain. A sizzling sound comes from where my hands connect with his skin. He quickly releases my neck and we both fall to the ground. "How are you doing this? What are you, Talia?" I stand up feeling much taller than my five-foot-tall frame. Sylvie’s voice booms from me, "I'm a warrior child of the Moon Goddess. If you tell anyone what has happened here today, I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER," Sylvie threatens. George scoots back on his backside away from me, wide-eyed, then clambers up and runs away as fast as he can. Suddenly, I come back into my normal state of mind and I fall back to the ground, exhausted. My hands are no longer glowing but they feel like they are on and full of static electricity. " Sylvie! What was that?" I scold her, but mostly because it scared me. "I couldn't help it. He was threatening you." "Okay, but what was with the glowy purple, burnt hands thing?! That's not normal!" "Talia, we've been through this. You are a child of the Moon Goddess. You are special. There is more too. You will see after we shift for the first time. Until then, I'm not strong enough to show you. Besides, it isn't like I hurt him badly; his wolf will heal him before he is back in his office." "I-I don-, wait, you mean the Moon Goddess is my actual mom? Like she gave birth to me, specifically? Not just, like, mother of all werewolves because she created us a gazillion years ago?" "That's what I've been saying since I came. It's not my fault you didn't believe me." I picked up a towel to wipe the stain from my nose. Sylvie is already healing me from the break. But my face is going to be bruised for a couple of days. I pull my hat down low so no one can see the bruises then pick up the first two platters and rush out to the dining room. "Okay, well if you're able to do that to George, how come you can't do it to Alpha Edward or Marcy?" "Well, I think it happened one time before, but I wasn't fully in control then. I can't do it now because he's your Alpha, Talia. I can't go against what he says. I can't attack your Alpha or his daughter." "Fine," I concede. I don't want to argue with her. I'm just trying to figure out the rules. I'm in uncharted territory here. I mean, it's cool territory but I don't know what our limits are. Once all the platters are out, I make the list of extra supplies I need and put it in the box hanging outside George's office. That way, I don't have to face him again. I clean up the dining room from lunch and still have about forty-five minutes until I need to start dinner. I decided to go to the stockroom and put supplies on the pantry cart for later. As I'm working, I hear someone clear their throat behind me. I look up to find Marcy standing uncomfortably close to me. "Can I help you with something, Marcy?" I try to swallow the panic that instantly builds in my throat. "Talia, I just wanted to say, when I'm in control of the pack, you won't be treated the way you are now," she takes a step closer, forcing me to back up against the cart. "Marcy, please stop," I put my hands up and push lightly against her to get her to move, but she's stronger than me and doesn't budge. I look up at her to see an evil grin distorting his face. "I see the way my dad treats you, Talia. You never complain. You just take it," she moves closer, breathing deeply until she's fully pressing himself against me, "I think you like when he does it. Don't you?" he whispers in my ear. What?! There is no way I heard her right. Did I? "Marcy, I do not enjoy what your father did to me," I say in disbelief, "and you're no better, standing there watching him instead of stopping him.” I can feel tears stinging the corners of my eyes as she slips an arm around my waist. I cannot believe this is happening right now. "Don't lie to me, Talia. I do like men, but I can’t deny your scent does something to me no man ever can. The way you beg before my father turns me on. It makes me crazy to think about what I'll do to you if I find you alone. I can't wait to get my hands on you. I want to hear you moan with pleasure when I am with you. I want you on your knees so I can whip you instead of him. I want you to be my toy, Talia, not his. You'd like that, wouldn't you? Bowing down to me with that pretty hairs in the air? We'll turn the dungeon into a playroom just for us, instead of just your bedroom," She's nuzzling against my neck right below my ear making me cringe, but I don't have anywhere to be able to move to get away from him. I can feel her fingers pressing against me, trying to make their way between my legs. "Are you insane?" I yell. I push hard against her but she's too strong. She doesn't budge, "Get off of me, you sicko!" This whole time, she's been turned on by watching her dad torture me? What is wrong with this family? The look on her face contorts from happy evil to disgusted. Without warning, she takes a step back. She elbows me in the back, dropping me onto the table. Then she bends over behind me, and whispers in my ears, "I know you want me, Talia. Don't worry, you'll be mine as soon as I convince my father to let me have you. I want to make him proud when I make you squeal in pain but I don't think I can wait," Her voice is rough and ragged with excitement and her hands are all over me and groping me. All I can do is sob. I'm afraid to fight back or to even say anything. Sylvie can't help me because she's the Alpha’s daughter. 'Moon Goddess, if you're my mother, please help me! Please save me from this!' I cry in my mind as Marcy bites my ears, gropes me and her hand runs all over me under my clothes. She pulls my leggings and underwear down, tearing them both in half with her wolf claws extended. I feel her pressing her fingers against my entrance. I know what was about to happen and I can't take it anymore. I turn my mind off. Just like her father beat me within an inch of my life. My mind cannot be present for what is happening to me. She finally gets off me and I fall to the floor. She tears the back of my shirt open and strikes with her claws on my back as if to mark me as her property. I lay on the floor of the supply room crying. "Get up, Talia, " Sylvie commands in my mind. “I said get up," she repeats. Her voice is stern but caring, "You're better than this. You will survive this." "I want to leave the world, Sylvie . I can't do this anymore. I can't." "You can and you will. You will find your mate soon enough and things will change. I promise." "How can you be so sure?" "You will see. Glowy, burning hands are not your only gift." I get up, find an old cardigan in the back of the stockroom, and put it on. I go back to my room to find new clothes before making dinner. The next four days go without incident. Unless you consider I have gone to the roof several times contemplating my existence. Each time, I stand with my toes at the edge and stare down from the four-story building. I can't bring myself to do anything except cry and go back to my room. I can't do it to Sylvie . I can't take her life because I want to take mine. Sunday after dinner service, I see Marcy in the hallway while I'm refilling pantries. She quickly approaches me and grabs me by the arm. She extends her claws into my bicep, drawing blood. "Talia, if you tell anyone and I mean anyone what you saw in George's office, I will make you suffer again," she says in a low threatening tone. Not again! I'm fed up. Does she want to bully me? Okay, fine. I lift my hat and let my violet eyes look directly at her. She gasps at the unusual sight. "Marcy, it would be a relief and I would welcome it. You don't care how I'm treated by this pack. Including you, your father, your mother, and your lover, too," Tears choke up in my throat. I cannot take any more punishment or threats from anyone else. I'm at my wit's end. If she takes my life right here in this hallway, it would be a relief. "I'm sorry, Sylvie. I just can't do it anymore," I say to my angel as I'm staring down Marcy. She doesn't respond, she shuts our mind link and crawls into the corner of my mind. Marcy pushes me away, "Insolent bastard! You should be grateful for your life! The Alpha will hear about this." "I'm not grateful for this life, Marcy. And if you think I should be, you are part of the problem. If you want to tell the Alpha about this incident, I'm more than happy to tell him what instigated it." She stares at me with pure anger and hatred before walking away without a word. I guess fate has other plans for me. I stand in the hall for a few minutes to see if she is coming back, but she doesn't. I'm certain she is going to sabotage me. Maybe she's going to smother me in my sleep or just stab me straight in the back. Either way, I was serious when I told her I welcome her. I finish pantry duty making sure everything is set in the guest rooms. I had George order bouquets for each of the suites as an extra touch. In the guest Alpha's suite, I also added a bottle of champagne. If this is the last thing I ever get to do, I want it to be something that makes someone else happy. It is almost one-thirty in the morning before I plop into my bed totally exhausted. It has been a day. If Marcy has anything to do with it, it will probably be my last. Sylvie is exhausted too. She stops sulking long enough to tell me she needs me to shift, but I can't. I have no time or energy. I keep promising her I will, but I feel like I've broken that promise. I float off to the sounds of her whimpering in my head while I cry into the pillow. To my surprise, my alarm wakes me in the morning. Sylvie makes me promise to hang on for one more day. We go through the motions of the life I hate. While I'm getting ready, I look in the mirror to find my hair is completely silvery now. I tuck it into a bun to try to avoid people noticing it. The delegation from Dark Howlers arrives in the early afternoon. They are all tall and intimidating with tattoos and big muscles. Some of them have visible scars on their arms and faces. They're wearing matching business clothes or security uniforms. Luna Layla directs them to the sitting room while I quietly bring in pitchers of water and ice tea for them to drink. I do my best to try not to be noticed when one of the women calls me out. "You there, omega," She says abruptly. I look around and realize she is speaking to me. " For everyone." "Maya, of course, right away," Luna Layla says quickly, then nods her head to me. I rush to the cellar and pull out two cases of napkins, and glasses, prepping the drink service cart and head back to the sitting room. I open three bottles, leaving the rest for them to do as they wish and I back out of the room so I can start preparing dinner. The rest of the day goes without a hitch. The guests seem pleased with dinner. In the evening, I go to each guest suite to make sure everyone is happy with their accommodations. A couple of people ask for more bags of chips or soda but on the whole, everyone seems satisfied. The last door is the Beta's room. Maya opens the door, looking much more relaxed than earlier. She has a large tattoo of a rose and a dagger on her forearm. Her dark hair is still pulled back but she isn't wearing makeup. I can see now, she looks only a few years older than me. I can hear her mate inside talking on the phone. "Thanks for checking on us. Everything is wonderful. The flowers are a beautiful touch. You have good taste," she smiles at me. I bow to her slightly, then turn to leave. "Wait, what's under your hat?" I stop in my tracks and turn around. "I'm sorry ma'am?" I ask. I feel the blood drain from my face. "Your hat. Why is it so low? What are you trying to hide?" she asks, "Come closer." I come closer and slowly take off my hat. Keeping my eyes to the ground. My silver hair cascades down my back. It is embarrassingly greasy and visibly dirty. I feel myself blush. "Oh, I see," she says with surprise in her voice, "Now. Don't be disrespectful. Always look me in the eye when I speak to you." I look up at her. The light from her room shines right into my eyes. She looks at me blankly for a moment trying to process what she is seeing. "What are you? A hybrid?" "No, ma'am. The pack doctor did tests but doesn't know why it happened. He thinks it must be a transformation related to my wolf getting ready to wake up," I mean, it's not a lie...it's just not the whole truth, right? How am I supposed to tell a stranger that my wolf says I am the Moon Goddess's actual daughter and that is why I have silver hair and violet eyes? She grabs my chin and pulls my face closer to hers, inspecting closely, "And does the pack doctor know someone has broken your nose recently? You still have bruises." "He's treated my injuries in the past," I'm not trying to elaborate or implicate anyone to this person I don’t know. "Who's at the door, Maya?" the Beta inside calls to her. "Just the omega assigned to us, Caden. What's your name, again?" "It's Talia, ma'am but please call me Talia. I'm not an omega, though. I'm just a servant." "Her name is Talia. She picked out my beautiful flowers," she's still talking to her mate but she hasn't taken her eyes off me as if she is trying to size me up for some reason. Her brow furrows slightly as she stares. She's making me self-conscious. "That's nice. Ask her if I can get bubbly water in the refrigerator." "No problem, ma'am," She and I share a smile at 'bubbly water', "I will bring it shortly and leave it at the door.” "Thank you. Oh and Talia, if those bruises aren't healed tomorrow morning, find some powder. Alpha Damon does not tolerate seeing injuries like that." "Ye-yes, ma'am." I run to the stockroom, get four bottles of San Pellegrino, and put them in front of the door, then run away as fast as I can. One million questions run through my head. Would their Alpha be angry for being weaker than other wolves even if I was not part of his pack? Was she going to tell Alpha Edward about my unusual features? Was she going to call him out for letting someone break my nose? I mean, lady, if you think that is bad, I got some news you're not gonna like and then I'm dead meat by your Alpha for sure. Alpha Edward comes down later and whips me for not having all the items our guests wanted. By morning, Sylvie has still not been able to fully heal me. I’m in so much pain, everything is a struggle. Cooking, carrying breakfast trays, leaning over to clean tables. Every move causes scabs to open and bleed, making the back of my shirt damp with blood. Maya makes eye contact with me a couple of times. She can tell something was wrong but doesn't say anything. For some reason she can't explain, Sylvie is bouncing around in my head all morning. “The Beta is so nice! I can't wait to meet the Alpha and Luna!” “Sylvie , come on. We're not going to get to meet the Alpha and Luna. We're going to melt into the wallpaper and pretend we don't exist.” “I want to meet them.” “Okay, well I hate to disappoint you, but you're gonna get disappointed.” Layla comes in while I'm prepping lunch to let me know the Alpha has arrived and I need to make lunch for him as well. There is no Luna. He doesn't have a mate? And according to Layla...he's handsome. Not that it matters to me, because I'm going to be wallpaper. I don't want him to notice me at all. I take the trays to the conference room. Alpha Damon is not there but there is a spot at the table where he is supposed to sit. I leave his meal at the empty seat. Everyone from the Dark Howlers Pack politely thanks me as I lay plates in front of them. Their manners betray their intimidating features. No one from the Red Moon pack says a word to me as I serve them. I collect the trays and walk out quietly. Layla lets me know she will clean the plates so I can focus on dinner and food for the party. I go to the kitchen but need a minute to collect myself before I get started on dinner. I go out the back door and stand on the stoop. In the distance, I don't recognize him, it must be the Alpha from Dark Howlers. He is too far away for me to see his actual features though. All I can see is a tall figure with dark hair and a suit. It smells like but I swear it smells like coffee too...or dark chocolate. This guy was a mocha drinker? I laugh to myself at the thought of the big bad Alpha of Dark Howlers sipping on a mochaccino. I make a four-course meal of Caesar salad, bacon-wrapped shrimp appetizers, beef wellington with braised Brussels sprouts for the main dish, and a key lime pie for dessert. I also make bruschetta, tomato fritters, mini calzones, assorted veggie trays with dip, and chocolate truffles to serve for the party. I finished the desserts and veggie trays between breakfast and lunch so there was less for me to worry about now. I realize Sylvie 's advice of finding happiness in cooking has helped me enjoy making this dinner. Maybe because I'm serving people other than my pack or maybe it's because I'm making special food, not just the regular stuff I make for the pack? Either way, I don't mind my work today. I felt a sense of pride in it. There are servers for dinner service since it's a formal event. I stay in the kitchen and make sure everything is plated and going out the door in perfect condition. I'm in the zone, as they say. I peek out from the kitchen after each course is served. People seem to enjoy the food, which is a relief. I notice Alpha Edward is getting pretty drunk. Luna Layla keeps taking his glass away from him, but he keeps ordering the omegas to give him more. The dining room is extra crowded, so I don't get a better look at Alpha Damon. Maya sees me peeking out from the kitchen and gives me a wink and thumbs up. I smile and give a little wave before pulling my head back. I help the servers take the party food to the tables at the edges of the ballroom. I also make sure the bars in the corners are fully stocked. The DJ is finishing setting up and colorful lights are sliding across the floor. Party balloons and streamers are hanging all over the place. The first few guests are starting to wander in which is my cue to duck out the back door. Luckily, the dinner servers will clean up the dinner service tonight, which gives me extra time to restock pantries. I head upstairs to the stockroom and load the cart up. I'm humming to myself as I go from room to room. I feel an odd sense of calm as I go. "You're in a good mood," Sylvie says. "I guess. I'm not sure why though. My back and feet still make me feel bad. " "Well, I'm happy that you're happy for once. This version of you is pretty cool." "Thanks, Sylvie . You're not half bad yourself." I finish stocking the ranked pack members' rooms on the fourth and third floors. Then head to the second floor where the guest suites are. The cleaning staff has cleaned the rooms and bathrooms. I just need to restock the toiletries, pantry items, and refrigerators. I make quick work of the rooms. I remember to stock the Betas' room with more bottles of San Pellegrino, refresh the flowers, and leave a little tent card with a handwritten smiley face on the kitchenette counter. It was almost midnight by the time I was wrapping up, and everyone was still in the ballroom. I closed the door to the Beta's suite and moved on to the Alpha's suite door. It's the last room left. He must be at the party too, but I knocked before entering just in case. I put my ear against the door and heard nothing, so I slipped my key in the lock and opened the door, but the moment I looked inside, my heart stopped, and I froze. Standing there was the most handsome werewolf I've ever seen in my life. Easily six foot, six inches tall, looked to be about two hundred fifty pounds of solid muscle with the broadest shoulders, but he wasn’t alone, an icy Blonde stood in front of him with her hands undoing his belt. The smell of coffee and dark chocolate filled the air, and my mind went hazy as I froze, seeing two piercing blue eyes staring back at me. "Stop!" He shouted. 'Is this it? Is this the day I die?' I wondered. I was only doing my job, but that did not change the fact that I had witnessed something that should not have been seen. Before I could move, he lunged forward and roughly pinned me against the floor outside the room with a low growl. He placed both hands on my shoulders, preventing me from escaping, put his face against my neck, and inhaled deeply. My heart was pounding in my chest as overwhelming panic began to set in. “Alpha Damon, is this Omega trying to steal something?” A guard said, seeing the struggle. “Get back.” He snarled, flashing his large fangs. “Mine,” he growled. Over his shoulder, I could faintly see Marcy staring daggers at me, and down the hall, I heard Alpha Edward shouting. ‘What a disaster’ I thought, ‘they’re all going to kill me.’ My head started swimming, and I felt even dizzier, maybe I was finally dying. “Look what, you’ve done you little bitch!” Marcy yelled as she reached out to grab me, but she never touched me, Alpha Damon snarled, snatching her hand out of the air and snapping her wrist. Alpha Edward roared, “How dare you! This is war!” I watched them fight as if it was a dream. They looked as though they were moving in slow motion. Alpha Edward yanked Marcy, pulling her back as Damon snarled at them, he was vicious, beautifully vicious. A guard tried to separate them as Beta Caden and Maya took defensive positions around Alpha Damon, and George lunged at Damon, but he was no match for the Alpha. Damon grabbed George by the throat and threw him into the wall as though her were a tiny pup. I almost laughed, but I was shaking all over, barely able to stand, but in the chaos, I managed to crawl away and slink down the stairs. I looked around to see if anyone noticed me, but they were all too busy arguing. I looked down to see blood running down my legs, dripping onto the floor. I started to lose consciousness, and then I heard it, the most guttural, ear-shattering roar. “WHERE IS SHE?!” “Where is who, Alpha Damon?” “WHERE IS MY MATE?!” Is it possible? Is Talia truly Damon’s fated mate? What will Damon do to protect her? Will their bond ignite a war between the two most powerful packs in the order? Will any of them leave Red Moon territory alive? To find out, listen to the hit werewolf romance series, “The Alpha’s Bride,” available only on Pocket FM! Click the download button to get the app for free, and keep listening to this thrilling audio series right now!