Chapter 1 Broken Fairytale

• Janelle's Point of View
• I believed the start of my fairy tale was supposed to be the day I had turned eighteen. I met my wolf, Genie, and she gave me the elated news that my wolf mate is none other than the man in my dreams, Zack, the Alpha heir of our Pack- Dark Moon Pack.
• For the first time after many years, I thought the Moon Goddess had given me her favor. I still remember how happy I was, dancing back to my house. I was thrilled to provide the news to my dad.
• "He's going to be so proud of me," I murmured, picturing how happy he would be once he found out that her daughter would be the Luna of the pack. However, that happiness began to subside as soon as I stepped inside the house.
• "Mom! Please! I can't marry that rogue! You have to do something!"
• A piercing, panicked voice reverberated within our home. I stopped dead in my tracks and glanced into the living room, where my half-sister, Maggie, was kneeling before my stepmother, Victoria. Her perfect makeup was stained by tears as she held on to Victoria's skirt. It was a sight that didn't fit her since she typically treated herself like royalty.
• What's happening? Did I really hear Maggie talking about marrying a rogue?
• That's when I started thinking about that rumor around the town - that there was this cursed wolf named Lucas, a miserable rogue searching for his bride. A rogue so scary that many felt his mere presence spelled disaster. They said that Lucas was looking for his bride. The problem was that he was a figure from nightmares, cursed in a way that could kill anyone who ventured to approach his side.
• Therefore, being his bride might be the other words for death.
• "I can't handle it, Mom!" Maggie cried. "You need to do something! You can't let me marry that monster!"
• If Maggie is really Lucas's bride, she may die in the end. I felt empathy towards Maggie. However, that was short-lived. Maggie's tear-streaked stare met mine, and her melancholy turned evil.
• "You!" Maggie exclaimed, lunging at my direction. Her fingers dug into my shoulders, causing me to flinch in discomfort.
• "Maggie, that hurts so much! Let me go! Please!" I tried to free herself, but Maggie's grip just got harder.
• Even so, Maggie continued. "You've always wanted to leave here, right?" she asked like a madwoman, even chuckling at the end of her voice. She then added, "Well, here's your chance, Janelle! You can leave... by replacing me and marrying Lucas."
• “Wa, What did you say?” I stuttered.
• My stepmother pointed her finger at me and exclaimed. “That’s right! You should marry Lucas!”
• My eyes widened in horror. The two of them all knew what would be my ending if I marry Lucas! But they were telling me to marry him in instead of Maggie?
• 'They wanted me to die,' I thought, shoulders slumped and gaze dropped to the floor.
• “It’s the least you can do after all we’ve done for you!" Victoria added.
• After all they’d done for me? I really wanted to laugh. What had they done, except make my life a living hell? They treated me like a servant, working to the bone while barely eating enough to survive. Maggie used me as her punching bag whenever she was upset, and now they wanted me to sacrifice myself for her sake?
• Enough was enough!
• "I won't do it," I stated firmly. "Zack is my wolf mate. I do not have to marry Lucas because I will be Zack's Luna."
• For a moment, the room was silent. Then Victoria and Maggie exchanged glances before busting out laughing.
• Victoria hissed, "Zack? Do you truly believe Zack, the Alpha heir, would ever want you?"
• Maggie moved closer, her eyes flashing with hatred, and gripped my chin, "Look at yourself, Janelle. You're just a scrawny, unattractive little nobody. Zack needs someone like me, who is attractive, strong, and fit enough to be the ideal Luna."
• The remarks cut deeper than I wanted to admit. I had always avoided mirrors, but suddenly my gaze was drawn to the mirrored surface of a polished pot on the table. My ribs protruded from behind my thin, ragged shirt, my pale skin was a tribute to many missed meals.
• "It doesn't matter if your wolf picked Zack,” Maggie whispered. “You simply don't deserve him. I mean, all people in this pack know that a rat would be a better Luna than you. Are you too blind to see that?"
• I clenched my jaw and peered straight at her. "You're mistaken. The Moon Goddess has chosen me whether you approve or not. You can't change my destiny, as well as yours, Maggie."
• Maggie's face hardened, and before I could respond, her hand shot out, slapping across my face.
• "Ahh!" I shouted in pain. Even so, I stood firm, refusing to back down. "I won't marry Lucas for you. I will only marry my mate.”
• “No way!” Maggie screeched, her voice rising to a fever pitch. “Zack will never pick you over me!” She kicked me in the stomach, sending me sprawling to the ground.
• “Ahh!” I gasped as the pain radiated through my ribs. Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You can insult me all you want,” I said through gritted teeth. “But you can’t change the fact that Zack is my mate.”
• Maggie tightened her lips into a grimace. "We'll see about that," she said as she marched out of the house.
• I fought to stand, my legs trembling. I couldn't bear to be in this house any longer. I had to flee, even if only for a time. Without saying anything further, I left the house and went to the Pack's hospital, something I was all too familiar with after years of suffering at the hands of Maggie and Victoria.
• "Back again, Janelle?" Doctor Josephine asked, fists on her hips and a doubtful brow raised. "Looks like you had quite a fall tonight."
• "It's me... again," I admitted, lowering my gaze. "I stumbled accidentally and.."
• "Please don't expect me to buy that same lies all over again. Come on now, Janelle. You have to be kinder to yourself. Just say the words and I'll let your dad know right quick," she tried to convince me.
• My father is the Beta of our Pack. But, despite his influence, I lacked the confidence to tell him the truth. Not when he appeared so content after remarrying Victoria.
• "But will you endure their abuse? Be brave! Step out and tell him the truth!" My wolf, Genie, whom I just met after my birthday, also encouraged me to be truthful.
• I opened my mouth, ready to release the weights I'd been carrying for far too long, secrets I'd concealed from my father like a buried treasure. "Actually, I..."
• Just as I was going to tell Josephine about my strained relationship with my stepmother and half-sister, my phone rang in my pocket.
• ‘Huh? Who might have given me a message at this time?’
• I checked the sender, and it was from a number I didn't recognize. The moment I opened the message, my heart skip a beat! It was my wolf mate, Zack!
• "Hey Janelle, it's Zack. I've got something important to share with you. Let's meet up."
• My heart began to rush, and a maelstrom of questions erupted in my mind.
• What would Alpha Zack like to chat about? And why now? Despite the uncertainty, I felt a rush of excitement! Without thinking twice, I sprung from my hospital bed and dashed for the door.
• "Where are you going?! Janelle!" Dr. Josephine's voice faded behind me.
• Despite the fact that I was still recovering from my injuries, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Zack. I was over the moon! It was the first time he contacted me first. So, without any doubts, I ran toward the trees.
• The moon hung high in the sky, sending a dazzling radiance across the Dark Moon's borders. There stood Zack, my magnificent Alpha heir. His beautiful blonde hair shone like the sun, and when his piercing gray eyes met mine, they sparkled like the most precious pearls.
• "I'm glad you showed up, Janelle," Zack said, grinning.
• My mate was pleased to see me, and I couldn't believe it! I imagined myself dancing under the stars as I said, "Of course, Zack. I'd never dream of defying your wishes. After all, you are my mate."
• He smiled confidently and approached, adding, "Just what I expected from you."
• "May I ask what brought you to see me?"
• Zack did not say anything when he approached me. He gripped me tightly, and before I knew it, his hand had slid beneath my skirt, exploring the most intimate parts of my body.
• "H-Hold on a second!" I tried to push back, but my inner wolf, Gennie, was already loving the feel of our mate's touch. The Pack had warned me this was all part of bonding, but I couldn’t shake the fear as Zack’s fingers roamed over my most sensitive spots! “No! Stop it!”
• I fought to get away from him, but the raw power of this Alpha heir was too strong for me. His hand kept exploring my areas, sending chills through me and lighting a fire I couldn’t ignore.
• “Ahhh,” a moan slipped out. “N-No…”
• My protests were weak, just soft sounds against his desire. He didn’t care about what I wanted; he was only focused on his own cravings.
• "Please, stop! I don’t want this, Zack!" I pleaded, but he just chuckled and kept going, ignoring my cries. "Zack, I hate this! Just stop!" I snapped.
• His jaw was tight with rage, and I braced for what was coming. Instead of letting me go, he ripped my clothes with a ferocity!
• Rip!
• "Let me go!" I cried, pushing against him with all my strength.
• When he finally let go, I dashed away. But just when I thought I was free, he struck at me, slamming me across the face and sending me tumbling back.
• "Ugh!" I yelled in pain before dropping to the ground.
• Everything around me seemed fuzzy. My vision became distorted by disappointment, ridicule, and self-blame. I shook on the floor, grasping my burning cheek where he had slapped me, and when I finally looked up, I saw him smirking down at me, the way Maggie had in the past - the devil's grin.
• "You really thought you could be my Luna? You can't even meet my basic needs with that skinny body of yours," Zack said with a laugh.
• "Zack," I said quietly, saddened.
• "One little blow, and you're already whimpering like a worm. You look hideous, Janelle. I can't believe I gave a second thought about you just because your face can do a job. Now, looking at your body, damn it, you repulsed me!" His cruel remarks made me weep.
• How could the person I thought was my mate be so cold? It was impossible to think that I'd spent years fantasizing about a bright future with this beast.
• "I'd rather die than marry a girl like you," he spat, then delivered a kick to my already damaged thighs, courtesy of Maggie.
• Wanting to get out of this nightmare, I feverishly searched the woods. While I was looking for a way out, Zack's voice came back.
• "As the Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack, I, Zack, reject you as my mate, Janelle, from the same pack."
• I was completely astonished, halting in my tracks as I tried to process his remarks. I slowly turned to face him, my eyes wild with shock.
• Deep agony rushed through my skull. "Argh! Ahhh!" It hurts so much. So much! "Ahhh… Haaa," I murmured, fighting to get up. But my limbs felt like lead, heavy and unyielding, as if my own body had turned traitor and refused to follow my commands. I can't take this any longer. I felt as though I was fading away.
• The world around me began to whirl, and I felt myself sinking into darkness. The last thing on my thoughts was Zack's voice, which haunted me like a distant symphony. And then...
• "We have to get Janelle out of here, Zack," Maggie, my half-sister's voice, echoed through the haze.