Chapter 1 One

• Sophia's POV
• The jab to my stomach sent me crashing to the floor with a groan.
• “Everest, up now!” The command snapped across the training ground.
• I forced myself off the ground, pain stabbing through my side until I was doubled over. Lucy Hart didn’t care. She never did.
• As the strongest female wolf in our age group, and the Beta’s daughter, she trained us all. She’d gained her wolf early, earning herself the respect I could only dream of.
• In my case, I was terrified of her. She targeted me every session. Maybe because I was weak. Maybe because I hadn’t won a single spar since training began.
• I swallowed thickly as I looked at my opponent. Her murderous expression told me I’d leave with more than bruises tonight.
• I picked up the wooden sword, clinging to useless optimism.
• The whistle blew. We charged. Within seconds, my sword flew from my grip and pain exploded in my stomach as her blade slammed into me. I tried to counter but she tossed her sword aside and shoved me down.
• Straddling me, she rained blows until blood filled my mouth. I waited for the whistle, praying for it, until it finally shrilled and she climbed off me.
• I spat blood onto the dirt.
• “Up, Everest!” Lucy snapped. I turned away, clutching my ribs. “I said up!”
• “I… can’t…” I whimpered. If I stood, I’d collapse again.
• She stalked over and kicked me onto my back. “Do you think you’re here to occupy space?” she hissed. “Considering your background, you should be desperate to prove yourself useful. But you’re not, are you?”
• I stayed silent. It was a familiar insult.
• They found me at the pack border when I was barely a year old. The former Alpha took me in because I carried wolf blood. For that, I was grateful. The rest of the pack never saw it that way.
• I was an outcast. Scrubbing floors, washing linens, serving meals to those who despised me.
• But I couldn’t complain. They fed and sheltered me, even paid my school fees – a rare privilege for female maids. We were educated to serve the future Luna with dignity.
• What were beatings and insults compared to food and a roof?
• “Everest!” Joel’s voice broke through my haze. He ran to me, eyes wide with worry. “Are you okay?”
• “They beat the shit out of me again,” I sighed as he helped me up. “I didn’t think it was possible to feel this worthless.”
• “Hey.” He cupped my face. “Don’t say that. Who cares if you’re strong or not? It’s our duty to protect you, not the other way around.”
• I smiled weakly. “You’re my best friend. You have to say that.”
• He chuckled. “Maybe. But I mean it.”
• “I won’t stay weak forever,” I said, a flicker of hope lighting inside me. “Tomorrow by moonrise, I’ll get my wolf. And my mate will protect me.”
• My eighteenth birthday was hours away. I could already imagine the thrilling agony of my first shift. The connection with my wolf. The freedom to run through the forest like everyone else.
• Most of all, I longed for my mate. After years of humiliation, finally having someone who loved me unconditionally was all I wanted.
• I glanced at Joel, lost in thought beside me. As one of the Alpha King’s guards, he was respected. The idea of him being my mate made my chest flutter. He was the only one who ever showed me love. Being bound to him would deepen what we already shared.
• “I hope you do,” he murmured.
• Maybe if I’d prayed harder, things wouldn’t have turned out the way they did.
• The day passed in a blur. My birthday arrived. The Alpha’s cousin sister shared my birthdate, so the pack threw a celebration for her and the other girls. Everyone except me. I was the servant girl meant to scrub the floors after them.
• But tonight was special, so I wore my nicest dress, brushed my hair, and put on light makeup. The makeup was a gift from Joel. I really wish he would be my mate.
• As evening fell, everyone gathered for the ceremony. The full moon rose, anticipation buzzing as girls prepared to shift.
• “Sophia,” Joel said softly behind me, holding out a cupcake and a small box. “Happy birthday.”
• Tears burned my eyes. “Thank you,” I whispered. No one ever remembered my birthday except him.
• “I hope you get everything you wish for,” he smiled. “The moon is almost out.”
• “I can’t wait.”
• Soon, the moon was high. Bones cracked as girls shifted before our eyes, fur sprouting as they ran into the forest, their howls echoing.
• My smile faltered. I felt nothing. Maybe I needed direct moonlight. I stepped to the altar, letting the light soak into me. My head throbbed painfully, and then—
• Finally. An unfamiliar voice echoed inside.
• It was her. My wolf.
• Hello, Sophia. I’m Isla.
• Joy bubbled inside me. If she was awake, I would shift soon. I waited, breathless.
• But nothing happened.
• “I… I don’t understand…” My voice trembled. “Why am I not shifting?”
• Isla was silent. Seconds stretched into minutes. Dread twisted in my gut.
• “Isla…”
• I’m sorry, Sophia.
• Tears blurred my vision. “No… no, please… I’ve waited my whole life… you can’t do this to me…”
• She didn’t respond. My dreams were crumbling. What would happen when they realised I was eighteen with no wolf form?
• Laughter broke the silence. I turned, wiping my tears quickly.
• “Oh look, it’s the useless outcast,” Lucy sneered, leading the crowd inside. “You didn’t think we’d forget your birthday, did you?”
• I swallowed hard, fighting fresh tears.
• “Oh, don’t look so shocked. You dressed up and did makeup. Did you really think we’d believe it was for the princess?” She laughed coldly.
• My gaze dropped in shame.
• She stepped closer. “Your birthday mates are outside. Shouldn’t you be with them?”
• Tears fell down my cheeks.
• “Oh, that’s right, you didn’t get a wolf like everyone else.” She picked up the cupcake Joel gave me and smashed it into my mouth. “Congratulations, you’ve proven yourself a true outcast.”
• She clapped mockingly and the others joined her as they left, their laughter echoing.
• I dropped to my knees, sobs wracking my body. Then a thick, woody scent hit my nose. My head shot up.
• Mate…
• I staggered to my feet, following the intoxicating scent through the crowd, pushing past bodies until it overwhelmed me completely. I collided into a hard chest and froze.
• Dark eyes stared down at me with cold intensity, and my heart stopped.
• It couldn’t be…
• “Mate,” I blurted. Silence fell as everyone turned.
• The Alpha’s gaze hardened.
• “This must be a joke.”
• His words shattered the last pieces of my broken heart.