Chapter One, The Mess Of My Life

Gemma’s POV

“Get to your room now, you stupid mutt!” Richard roared as his fists slammed into me again and again—my face, my arms, my ribs. Everywhere he could hit, he did.

By the time he finished, I was a bruised, trembling mess.

“Please stop! Leave me alone! I’m sorry—for everything… for even being born,” I cried, gasping for air. “I can’t breathe…”

Begging only made things worse.

Richard grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me toward the basement door. As soon as he opened the basement door, he shoved me down the stairs.

I crashed onto the concrete floor, pain exploding through my back and skull as my head slammed against the ground.

A scream tore out from my throat.

Every inch of my body hurt. My chest burned, my vision blurred, and breathing felt impossible. Curling into myself, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to steady my breathing.

Why do I suffer like this?

Maybe dying would finally bring me peace.

“Why the fuck do I keep you alive if you can’t even clean properly?” Richard shouted from the top of the stairs. “You’re useless! That’s why nobody wants you!”

I stayed silent. Answering him would only earn me another beating.

Hell.

That was all my life had ever been.

My name is Gemma Star. I’m fifteen years old, and I live in the Blood Moon Pack.

I have no parents. No siblings. No friends.

Only my uncle Richard and his mate, Khloe—a witch and one of the cruelest people alive.

My bedroom is a filthy basement with nothing but a stained mattress and a bucket for a toilet. Sometimes I wonder what kind of monsters could treat someone this way.

Richard always tells me my family wanted me dead—that they planned my murder so the werewolf council would never find out.

Maybe I should’ve been left to die.

At least then I would’ve known peace.

Groaning, I dragged myself across the floor toward my mattress. I wasn’t allowed a bed. I wasn’t even allowed upstairs during the night, which was why the bucket sat in the corner beside me.

I was only permitted to shower three times a week for fifteen minutes. If I stayed one second longer, Khloe punished me.

And her punishments were worse than Richard’s.

I’m sure she uses black magic on him sometimes, but honestly, I don’t think anything could make Richard more evil than he already is.

Lying down carefully, I winced as agony shot through my bruised ribs and spine. Purple and black marks covered my body, making it impossible to get comfortable.

Eventually, exhaustion dragged me into darkness.

It felt like only minutes had passed before Richard’s voice ripped me awake.

“Wake up, you bitch! I want breakfast before I leave!”

Pain shot through my body as I tried to sit up. I grabbed the wall beside me and waited for the dizziness to pass before forcing myself to stand.

I pulled my clothes from the floor.

I only owned two pairs of faded jeans and two long-sleeved shirts. Khloe hated when I wore them. If she caught me in anything besides the maid uniform she bought me, she threatened to burn my clothes.

As if humiliating me wasn’t enough already.

I tied my tangled hair into a bun and brushed my teeth with barely any toothpaste and no water.

Then I slowly climbed the stairs, each step sending pain through my legs and back.

When I reached the kitchen, Richard and Khloe were already eating.

Richard smirked at me. “Because you took so long getting up, you’ll be punished when I get home.”

Fear twisted in my stomach.

“I’m going to pass out,” I whispered. “Please… can I have something to eat or drink?”

Tears blurred my vision.

Khloe slammed her hand onto the table and stood. “I’m sick of listening to you.”

Before I could react, she grabbed my arm and threw me out the front door.

I hit the ground hard, scraping my chin, hands, and knees. My jeans tore even more on the concrete.

Biting back a cry, I pushed myself up and slowly started walking toward school.

Every step hurt.

But staying home would hurt worse.

By the time I reached the school gates, the bell had already rung.

Perfect.

The hallways were eerily quiet as I entered through the double glass doors. Quickly, I stopped by my locker to swap my books before heading to class.

Then I remembered I had Miss Shaw first.

Great.

“You’re late again, Gemma,” Miss Shaw snapped the moment I walked in. “Care to explain why?”

I kept my head down and moved toward the empty seat at the back of the classroom.

I didn’t have friends.

Nobody here liked me.

And honestly, I didn’t know why.

“Gemma, Gemma, Gemma,” a mocking voice drawled.

One of the Alpha brothers spat directly in my face.

Humiliation burned through me.

I stood up quickly, but the oldest Alpha shoved me back into my chair.

“We’re not done with you,” he said coldly.

“I just need the bathroom,” I whispered. “Please… I haven’t done anything to you.”

Alpha Jayden laughed while Alpha Logan grabbed my hair and yanked my head backward.

“You distracted us by showing up late,” Logan sneered.

Then Alpha Asher suddenly went still.

His eyes locked onto the scars along my neck.

Something shifted in his expression.

“Forget it,” he muttered to his brothers. “She’s not worth it. Let’s go.”

The others exchanged confused looks before following him away.

The bell rang moments later.

“Gemma, you’ll stay after school for detention,” Miss Shaw said sharply. “And we’ll be calling your guardians.”

My stomach dropped.

I grabbed my things and hurried from the classroom, only for someone to stick their foot out.

I crashed face-first onto the floor.

A sickening crack echoed through my skull.

Pain exploded through my nose as blood poured down my face.

Usually, I never cried in front of them.

This time, I couldn’t stop.

“Ew, get away from us!” Mia shrieked. “You’re getting blood everywhere, you disgusting tramp!”

As she walked past me, she kicked me hard in the back.

I bit down on a scream.

Richard’s cuts were still open beneath my shirt.

Somehow, I managed to stand before stumbling toward the girls’ bathroom.

The second I realized it was empty, I broke down completely.

I cried until my chest hurt.

After cleaning the blood from my face, I noticed my bag sitting against the wall.

Frowning, I picked it up and spotted a folded note tucked beneath the strap.

Gemma, I thought you’d want this back. —Asher

I stared at the note in confusion.

Why would Asher help me?

He hated me.

They all did.

I still remembered the last time the Alpha brothers beat me badly enough to send me to the hospital.

Richard and Khloe had been furious about the medical bill.

Realizing I was already doomed when I got home, I decided not to stay for the rest of the day.

I ran.

Ignoring the pain tearing through my body, I sprinted from the school as fast as I could.

Once I reached the front gates, I slowed down slightly—

And slammed straight into someone.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I gasped.

The girl laughed softly. “It’s okay. Where’s the fire?”

I blinked at her.

She was beautiful, smiling warmly despite the fact that I’d nearly knocked her over.

“Are you alright?” she asked gently. “What’s your name? Shouldn’t you be in class?”

Something about her felt… safe.

“My name’s Gemma,” I said quietly. “And I’m done for today. I’m just heading home.”

A lie.

But she didn’t need to know that.

“I’m Emily,” she said brightly. “I’m new here. My aunt died, so my family moved back. Today was just enrollment paperwork.”

She smiled.

“Want to walk together?”

Before I could stop myself, I nodded.

“Okay.”

We had barely started walking when sudden agony exploded through my arms.

I screamed and collapsed to my knees.

It felt like my skin was on fire.

“Please make it stop!” I sobbed, clawing at my sleeves.

Emily crouched beside me in panic. “Gemma—what’s happening?”

With shaking hands, I pulled up my sleeves.

Words were burning themselves into my skin.

GET HOME NOW

Emily stared in horror. “Who’s doing this to you?”

“My uncle’s mate,” I whispered. “She’s a witch. She’s punishing me because I left school.”

That was the last thing I remembered before darkness swallowed me whole.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized someone was carrying me.

I froze.

Alpha Asher.

Panic surged through me and I immediately struggled free, nearly collapsing when my feet hit the ground.

“Gemma, stop,” Asher said carefully. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

As if I could believe that.

I turned to Emily instead. “I need to go. I’ll see you around.”

Then I ran.

Because if Khloe’s message had appeared on my skin…

It meant they were waiting for me.

And somehow, I knew I wasn’t alone anymore.

Someone was following me.