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Mother: “One million gold coins. Please take my daughter as your bride”. He didn’t wait anymore, pulled the girl close and inhaled her scent. Every parent wanted their daughters to be Alpha Damon’s Luna. Damon: “Nooooooo, she’s not the one.” Alpha Damon, the most feared Alpha in the realm, rejected two hundred girls in one year. Old Pack Member: “Please Alpha, give us some way out to find your dream girl. We want our pack’s queen” Alpha Damon: “When I close my eyes… I can smell her. She’s real and I will find her.” He was obsessed behind a scent that he knew from his regular dreams. He could never see her face, but the scent was irresistible. Damon’s inner wolf: Find her before it is too late. Ask the magic mirror for answers. Save me before I fade. So Alpha Damon went to the magic mirror to demand his fate. Magic Mirror:‘‘The day you find your mate, the magic mirror will crack! You will start a pack war, and she, she will survive everything’’ That night, Damon began searching for his Luna not knowing that within 24 hours,the Magic Mirror would crack. Not because of a Luna but because of a slave. And that slave was me. Beaten. Starved and the weakest omega of the Red Moon pack. No one knew my secret that I was the daughter of the Moon Goddess. That Alpha Edward destroyed my pack in a war. He killed my parents and adopted me as a slave for eighteen years. Alpha Edward and his daughter, Marcy tortured me everyday and broke my wolf So no Alpha would ever choose me as his Luna. But everything changed the day I was forced to accompany Marcy to the Magic Mirror temple. The same mirror that reveals the destiny of the chosen ones. But little did she know the moment we entered the temple, everything was about to change. “Greetings! I am Gideon, steward of the Moon Goddess. Welcome, Alpha Edward. We are enthralled to see what the Moon Goddess has in store for your daughter.” Marcy didn’t even make eye contact. “I don’t care about the Moon Goddess. Where is the mirror?” Alpha Edward hid his embarrassment, stepping up to Gideon. “Forgive my daughter. The Moon Ceremony is a few weeks away… she’s excited, as you can see.” “All is well. Finding one’s mate is a privilege. Step inside, please.” Marcy flew through the doors, followed by Edward. I came last, carrying the heavy crate of offerings. I looked up at Gideon, who stared at me longer than usual, his eyes searching. Why is he looking at me like that? Does he know something I don’t? Inside, on the far wall, the Mirror of Selene awaited atop marble steps, bathed in candlelight, incense swirling around its frame. I stepped forward, laying the offerings at its base: petals, moon water, and folded linens. Gideon bowed, turning to Marcy. “When you are ready, miss—” “Marcy. Now hush!! This is my big moment.” She ran forward, chin high. Her reflection glittered with pride as she pressed her palm to the surface. She held her breath, waiting for the images, the sounds, whatever magic truth awaited her. Silence. She waited. And waited. The mirror remained dark… its silver surface dull and lifeless. “What is this?” she snapped. “It’s broken!” Marcy stormed back to the front of the temple, fuming. “What gives?! This mirror is trash!” “The Goddess reveals destiny. She is never wrong,” Gideon stated, not even blinking. Marcy’s eyes flashed. “My father funds your rituals! If this mirror will not honor me, I’ll have it torn from these walls!” Edward’s voice lowered. “Enough. I’m sure there’s—” But Marcy kept shouting, her fury echoing off marble until guards shifted uneasily. In the chaos, no one noticed me approaching the mirror. I was, after all, best at being unseen. I meant only to arrange the offerings, yet something drew me toward it. The air shimmered around the frame… alive, electric. My curiosity stirred. As Gideon and Edward tried to soothe Marcy’s tantrum, I moved closer, quiet as a shadow. I looked into its depths and saw only what I’d always seen… someone small, someone forgettable. Why would it show me anything? I’m wolfless… I’m weak. It was foolish to hope, yet the words escaped me anyway. “Is there a future for me?” My hand trembled as I touched the edge of the frame. I stared into my reflection, my heavy eyelids… and as I turned to leave, something caught my eye. Movement. Something was taking shape. The glass darkened, black as midnight. After a second, a shape began to emerge. The mirror rippled like water, and suddenly, a silver wolf appeared. Radiant. Calm.I froze, unsure of what I was seeing. Then it shifted again. I froze, unsure of what I was seeing—and then it shifted again. From the dark void behind the silver wolf, another wolf appeared. Dark. Powerful. It stood behind the silver wolf. The image pulsed, almost like a heartbeat. I gasped, stumbling back. My wolf had gone silent years ago—what did this silver wolf mean? When I blinked, the image was gone. The mirror was empty, except for a thin crack spidering across the surface. From behind me came a hiss. “You touched it?” I froze. “I… I didn’t mean—” “You dare steal my vision?” Her hand struck faster than thought, a sharp slap echoing through the chamber. “Father!” Edward turned, saw the hairline fracture crawling across the mirror, and his face drained of color. “What did she do?” “Nothing!” I cried, trembling. He grabbed me by the collar, biting his lip. “I’m terribly sorry, Gideon… we’ll deal with her when we return home.” Gideon didn’t answer. His gaze lingered on me—steady, almost reverent. It wasn’t anger in his eyes. It was recognition. What is he thinking? Why isn’t he upset? I bowed my head, clutching my cheek as Marcy’s satisfied smile reeked of gleeful smugness. The ride back to Red Moon was silent. Marcy glared daggers every time I shifted. “Touch that mirror again,” she whispered, low enough that only I could hear, “and I’ll carve that same crack across your face.” I said nothing. But in my chest, something stirred… a warmth. A pull. All the way home, I could only think about the wolves I saw. Silver. Black. A pair. What could it mean? Was I one of those wolves? Was another wolf destined for me? Could I have a fated mate? No. That was impossible. That night, while the packhouse slept, I lay in my small attic room and dreamt of the silver wolf from the mirror. This time, it turned its head toward her and howled beneath a blood-red moon.Far from Red Moon territory, deep within the frost-bitten forests of the north, another pack made their pilgrimage to the temple. The Dark Howlers. They were paying their respects. Inside, the air was heavy, a spiral of incense floating up to the vaulted ceiling. Alpha Damon, leader of the Dark Howlers—the most powerful Alpha in the realm—held open his forged arms, ready to embrace Gideon. “Alpha Damon! Wonderful for you to come by,” greeted Gideon. Damon flashed his sharp smile, perfectly aligned incisors glinting like polished stone, power in every line of his jaw. Then he paused. He sniffed the air. His inner wolf—seasoned, relentless, able to track anything—came alive. This scent… freesia. Citrus. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever encountered. He felt his heart flutter. His wolf whispered, That scent… it belongs to our fated mate. Nonsense, he thought. It means nothing. Don’t question the bond. Trust me. His wolf was never wrong—something he hated to admit. The idea of a bond, a fated mate, had always seemed childish to him. Yet… something about this scent felt different. “Was anybody of significance in the temple today?” he asked. Gideon blinked. “Alpha Edward of Red Moon and his daughter, Princess Marcy.” His jaw tightened. “No one else?” Gideon froze. Whatever he had seen in me earlier, he still couldn’t make sense of. All he knew was that I was special—though he didn’t know why. “And a servant girl accompanied them. We did not get her name.” Another Dark Howler stepped forward—Caden, Damon’s beta and most loyal friend. He pointed toward the mirror at the far end of the hall. “And that?” Gideon followed his gaze. The mirror—once smooth—was now cracked down its center, silver veins glimmering faintly in torchlight. “It fractured after they left,” Gideon whispered. “Why? It’s a mystery, even to me.” Damon didn’t usually give magic a second thought. But something about all of this stirred him, and his wolf refused to calm down. What could have caused the mirror to break? Was it something to do with what it reflected? Is it connected to the scent? He stepped closer to inspect it. His reflection split between the fragments. “What did it show?” he asked. Gideon shrugged. “No one knows.” Damon touched the frame. A pulse answered from his chest. His wolf howled. She was here. Our mate. He stiffened. “No. That’s not possible.” It’s her. He inhaled. That scent again—freesia. It had burned itself into him. He summoned Caden at once. “Inform the Red Moon Pack,” Damon ordered coldly. “I will attend the Moon Ceremony. We will remain there.” He was convinced the truth lay with Alpha Edward’s daughter, Marcy. The scent was unmistakable—ancient, compelling, resonant with the pull of a fated bond. Everything about it pointed to her. Or so he believed. What he did not know— was that the scent did not belong to the Alpha’s daughter. It belonged to me. To a servant. To the wolfless Omega who moved unseen through the pack halls. The girl whose presence was dismissed, whose existence no one bothered to remember. Yet my scent had crossed borders. Signaled his wolf. Stirred a power the mirror itself had recognized. Now Damon was coming to the Red Moon Pack—not for ceremony, not for politics— but for truth. To uncover what the mirror’s reflection truly meant. To face the reality of his mate. Damon left the temple… but the thoughts did not leave him. The mirror’s fracture lingered in his mind. The scent still burned in his lungs. His wolf remained restless—unwilling to be silenced. And somewhere far away— I stirred in my sleep. My brow furrowed. My breath faltered. As if a call had crossed distance and found my heart. Back inside the temple, Gideon approached the cracked mirror, his fingertips trembling. “The prophecy warned of this,” he murmured. “When the mirror breaks, fate itself begins to bleed. Her chosen will awaken.” The fracture shimmered, widening, until silver liquid—like blood—dripped from the mirror onto the floor. Just before midnight, I woke to the sound of my door slamming open. Alpha Edward’s footsteps thundered against the stone as he stormed toward me. The stench of whiskey clung to him—stronger than usual, sharp enough to warn me he was already furious. I leapt out of bed instinctively. And lowered my eyes to the floor. “Alpha Edward…” I squeaked. He didn’t answer. His silence was heavier than his rage. When he finally spoke, his voice trembled with barely restrained fury. “You touched the mirror.” A long leather whip dropped from his hand. I began to shake. “You,” he snarled, raising the whip as though it were an extension of his rage, “a wolfless servant, dared interfere with a sacred ritual! I told you to stay silent and let Marcy have her day!” “I didn’t do anything,” I whispered. “I didn’t know it would react—” He struck without hesitation. The lash sent me crashing to my knees. Another blow landed before I could even gasp. Then another. “You embarrassed my daughter in front of the Goddess’s steward,” he spat. “You cracked the mirror. You made a mockery of our pack.” “I swear I didn’t mean—” Another strike silenced me, white-hot pain ripping across my back. My legs shook beneath me. My vision smeared at the edges. “You will never rise above what you are,” he growled, lifting the whip again. “A mistake. A curse on this entire pack.” More blows followed—too many to count. The pain blurred into one overwhelming, burning weight, my mind slipping away from it in desperate self-preservation. At last, my body gave out. I collapsed forward onto the cold stone floor. The last thing I saw was Alpha Edward’s boots planted inches from my face… before everything went black. Is this what being dead is like? It’s peaceful, but a little bit boring. I don’t know how long I lay there… half-conscious, trapped between pain and darkness. Eventually, awareness crept back in. Slow. Reluctant. I tried to move… and the cold stone floor bit into my skin. Every inch of my body screamed in protest. Bruises throbbed. Muscles burned. I forced myself up anyway, shaking, unsteady, dragging my weight toward the washroom. I rinsed my hands, my face, watching red swirl down the drain. I wiped at the bruises, the swelling, the marks left behind like proof of something I couldn’t forget. Then I finally looked up. And froze. The reflection staring back at me was not the face I remembered. My face is still bruised… but that’s not the part that steals my breath. My left iris is violet. Not the reflection. Not the lighting. Violet. I blink. Rub my eye. Look again. It doesn’t change. Then I noticed my right eye. My breath hitched as I leaned closer to the mirror. its color matched the left. Not a trick of the light. Not exhaustion. I splashed cold water into my eyes, desperate to prove myself wrong. The chill burned, but when I looked again, the color remained…deep, unnatural, alive. My heart began to race. That’s when I saw it. A single silver strand peeking through my hair. I reached up, fingers trembling, and touched it…. It wasn’t just one strand. I parted my hair slowly, dread curling in my chest. Almost half of it had turned grey… silvered, pale, as if moonlight itself had threaded through me overnight. I staggered back, gripping the sink. This wasn’t injury. This wasn’t shock. Something inside me had shifted. Awakened. And whatever it was… it was no longer hiding. “What is happening to me?” I whisper. “Is this because of the mirror? Because of what I saw?” These changes weren’t normal. I had seen others awaken their wolves… This was nothing like that. My hands began to shake as the truth settled in. Whatever was happening to me… it wasn’t natural. And somehow, deep down, I knew… This was only the beginning. I was still lost in my thoughts when the sound reached me… Footsteps. They echoed from the dungeon stairs. Instantly I freeze. I can smell Marcy's scent getting closer. Instinctively, I scramble and stand in the middle of the room just as she gets to the doorway. I look up just enough to see Marcy standing and I can feel tears starting to sting the corners of my eyes. Marcy reaches forward and claps the back of my neck. She forces me to stare at a mirror on the wall. “You think you can steal what’s rightfully meant for me?!” A squeak escapes my throat. I am so scared I feel like I am going to pass out. It almost felt what Alpha Edward began, Marcy was here to finish. Her face is contorted with anger. She grabs my shoulders, shaking me roughly, “You ruin everything! That trip to see the Magic Mirror was supposed to be about me and my future Alpha!” I try to speak… it lands me a hard crack in my face. Marcy shakes me again. “You will only speak when spoken to!” 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. I regret ever stepping foot inside the temple with them. 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? 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. The past twenty four hours have been nothing short of miraculous. Is it possible something about me is different? 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. 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. It was at that very moment that a messenger arrived in Alpha Edward’s hall, bearing news from the outer paths. Alpha Damon was coming to the Moon Ceremony. And he had requested an audience with Marcy. Edward’s expression changed instantly. Excitement flared in his eyes… not pride, not honor, but ambition. The arrival of the strongest Alpha in the realm was no coincidence. Edward sensed the unspoken message beneath the formality. Damon was searching for his mate. And in that instant, Edward made his decision. Damon was the perfect one for Marcy. A union that would elevate his bloodline beyond question. He would present her as destiny itself. Edward was ready to seize the moment.. to shape fate in his favor, to use the ceremony not as a ritual… but as an opportunity. An opportunity he had no intention of wasting. He announced it before everyone…. The preparations were to be flawless. Every corridor polished. Every banner raised. Every corner of the pack adorned for the Alpha’s arrival. With that declaration, he left. The day stretched endlessly. Somehow, I finished my chores and dragged myself back to my room once night fell. It is well after midnight when I flop down and close my eyes. 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……” No. Its impossible. I’m wolfless. I don’t have a wolf… do I? “Sylvie…. Are you my wolf?!” “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.” My curiosity is burning. I have to ask her about what I saw in the mirror. Was she one of the wolves? Does she know what it means?! “Sylvie, what happened back at the Temple? What did the Mirror’s vision mean with the two wolves? Sylvie stirred inside of me, as if she was pacing around for an answer. “I will tell you everything in time. For now, trust me.” The next month and a half are the worst of my life. Alpha Damon’s arrival preparations exhausted nearly every servant in the pack.Thank the Goddess for Sylvie — she’s the only reason I’m still standing. My motivation’s gone; every moment is work. Now I make breakfast, lunch, and dinner, still on pantry duty, with no rest between. Cooking with Sylvie is my only peace. No one bothers us in the kitchen, and we talk freely while we work. I even found a few old recipe books and taught myself new dishes. At least I can create something others enjoy, the one part of my life that still feels mine. Everywhere else, misery rules. Alpha Edward lets the pack torment me, and he visits often to hurt and humiliate me. Sometimes Marcy watches… once she even fetched the whip for him, smiling as she stood by. Sylvie urges me to fight back, but that would be suicide. If I fought or shifted, I’d be dead. I try not to think about that night. She keeps insisting everything will change when I shift. “You’re a daughter of the Moon Goddess,” she says. “Her warrior.” She hates that I hide her and claims my silence makes her weaker. “Okay, Sylvie,” I sigh for the hundredth time. “First, I don’t know when I’ll have time to shift — I’m up from five till after midnight. Second, if the Alpha finds out I’m talking to someone in my head, he’ll think I’ve lost it and kill me. And lastly, I’m a slave, not a warrior.” “Talia,” she says firmly, “you are not just a warrior — you are a child of the Moon Goddess. She is your mother.” My eyes widen when she says that. Impossible. There's nothing special about me. Why would I be saved only to be turned into a slave, trapped in a life of vicious abuse? Amid these conversations, the Alpha’s personal omega bursts in. “He wants to see you. Now.” I drop everything and go. I knock softly. “You called for me, Alpha?” I ask, keeping my voice low. Fewer words mean fewer reasons for him to lash out. “Don’t just stand there. Come in,” he snaps. I step inside, staying near the door…always ready to run. “Talia,” he says, “Talia, as I announced earlier, a delegation from the Dark Howlers Pack will be arriving next week.” Twenty wolves in total, all of the ranked members, their mates, the heads of their security and guards. 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. 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 their Alpha…Damon, who is coming Tuesday. We'll be having a party after dinner to welcome him. Make sure there is enough food for the party. If everything goes according to plan, he will be wed to Marcy and our packs will be united forever. Give George the information for the additional food you need to make. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir." "Good. We need to ensure Marcy gets her powerful Alpha and happy ending… If you do anything to screw this up, I will break every finger on your hand. 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 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! "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 sweat 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 hits me square in the face. The back of my head slams against the wall so hard I see stars. 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 just beginning to awaken to how special you are. 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." This is all so much. “Sylvie, tell me. What happened that day in the temple with the mirror… Are you the silver wolf?!” Sylvie chuckled, “The Moon Goddess is not done with you. This is why you must trust me.” If Sylvie was the silver wolf I saw, who… or what…. Was the black wolf?! I picked up a towel to wipe the stain from my nose. Sylvie is already healing me. 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. Besides, 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 don’t know what my 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. “Don’t pretend, Talia,” she murmurs. “You heard the news, didn’t you? The Dark Howlers visited the temple of Selene after we left.” Her lips curl smugly. “And their Alpha—Damon—he believes his mate was there that day. He knows she was.” She leans in, breath ghosting over my ear. “And he’s coming,” she whispers. “He’ll come straight to our pack to find the woman destiny set in front of him. And when he sees me…” Her smile widens into something triumphant, feverish. “He’ll recognize what we are to each other. He has to.” Her arm tightens around me possessively. “Once I’m Luna, you’ll be exactly where I want you.” I try to pull away, but she presses closer, feeding on my fear. “Marcy, stop. This is insane.” “Is it?” she hums. “You should be grateful I even bother with you. Once Damon chooses me…and he will…you’ll be nothing but a shadow under my feet.” Without warning, she shoves me down against the table. Pain shoots up my spine. She bends low, voice a poisonous whisper. “You’ll learn your place soon enough. After the ceremony… I’ll make sure Father grants you to me. And when he does?” Her nails trace lightly down my arm, just enough to burn. “You’ll scream exactly the way I want.” Before I can react, she flips me, tears open the back of my shirt, and drags her claws across my skin, marking me like property she assumes she’ll own once Damon crowns her Luna. Then she straightens, smoothing her clothes, and walks away…smiling like a queen already sitting on a throne Damon has never promised her. I slump off of the table. 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 up to the roof several times contemplating my existence. Each time, I stand with my toes at the edge and stare down at the pavement. Even now, 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. "Remember our little chat, 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 down 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. 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 put on a small cap, wanting to hide my hair, but then feel a warm feeling begin to rise somewhere inside of me. As I stare at my reflection, I think of the mirror. The silver wolf. It’s Sylvie. It’s me. But I still don’t know… who is the black wolf?! The Dark Howlers arrive in the early afternoon. I try to keep my head down, and on top of the chores. The rest of the day goes without a hitch. The guests seem pleased with dinner. Plates are finished and drinks continue to pour. In the evening, I go to each guest suite to make sure everyone is happy with their accommodations. I keep my head down, always hiding my face. 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 been hitting you? 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." 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. Was she going to tell Alpha Edward about my unusual features? Was she going to call him out for letting someone abuse me? The next morning, Edward comes down later and whips me for not having every item our guests wanted. By morning, Sylvie still hasn’t healed me completely. The pain is brutal; even cooking, carrying trays, or leaning over to clean tables makes my scabs tear open, dampening my shirt with blood. I stay hidden in the back kitchen, but Maya enters through the doorway a few times. She meets my eyes a few times. She knows something’s wrong but says nothing. Sylvie, meanwhile, is buzzing in my head all day. I can tell she’s pacing, I check in through our mind link. “Sylvie, I can feel you buzzing. What's wrong?” Her reply nearly knocks me off my feet. “Talia, I want to meet the Alpha. There’s something about his wolf...” “Sylvie, we’re not meeting anyone. We’re going to melt into the wallpaper and pretend we don’t exist.” “I want to meet him.” I couldn’t afford to argue with her right now. If I fell behind on any chores, it would be a severe beating, and my body couldn’t handle any more bruises. My plan is to stay invisible. Needing air, I step outside. I try to catch my breath, take in the sun rays, the warmth feels nice on my bruised skin. Then, I catch an unfamiliar scent…rich like coffee and dark chocolate. In the distance, a tall man in a suit stands on the other side of the courtyard. That must be their Alpha. Damon. I can feel Sylvie getting frenzied. What has gotten into her?! I panic, and flee back into the kitchen. Dinner’s a four-course meal: Caesar salad, bacon-wrapped shrimp, beef wellington with Brussels sprouts, and key lime pie. For the party, I add appetizers and desserts, bruschetta, fritters, calzones, veggie trays, truffles. Cooking actually makes me happy again; maybe it’s Sylvie’s influence, or maybe serving someone new. I stay in the kitchen, making sure every plate’s perfect, and remaining hidden. Guests seem pleased. Edward drinks too much, despite Luna Layla’s attempts to stop him. I never see Alpha Damon. Afterward, I help set up the ballroom: food, drinks, decorations. When the guests arrive, I slip out the back to restock upstairs, humming softly, oddly calm. “You’re in a better mood” Sylvie teases. “Guess so. Not sure why. My back and feet still ache.” “Well, I’m happy you’re happy for once. I hope you trust me Talia. You need to trust me.” “Thanks, Sylvie… I am trying.” Part of me thinks Sylvie knows something she is not telling me… I restock the ranked members’ rooms on the fourth and third floors, then move to the guest suites on the second. The cleaning staff’s already handled everything; I just replace toiletries, pantry items, and fridge stock. I make quick work of it, as the rooms are empty, I can still remain unseen. It's almost midnight by the time I finish. The ballroom’s still alive with music. I closed the Betas’ suite door 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 Alpha Damon! But he wasn’t alone, Marcy 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? 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. In that moment, I felt Sylvie almost tear through my chest, as if she was trying to latch onto something inside of him. “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 hurt my daughter! 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. 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 he were a tiny pup. I began to shake. I could feel Sylvie roaring inside of me, as if she was sensing imminent danger, or something else. I couldn’t check in with her… I was barely even able to stand. 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. What is happening?! My senses began to overload. 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 Talia truly Damon’s fated mate? Could his wolf be the dark wolf from the mirror’s vision? 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 what happens next, listen to every thrilling episode of The Alpha’s Bride, available only on the Pocket FM app. Download it for free now!

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