Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Zara’s POV

"Beta Lupine and lady Jasmine, you're hereby sentenced to death for betraying this pack. You and your generations to come will forever be remembered as traitors."

Four years. Four years since I was forced to watch my parents' execution.

I was told that my father, the former Beta betrayed the pack by conspiring with a rival pack, but I knew it wasn't true. My father was loyal to the bone —so loyal he had put the pack above his own family. He lived and breath for them only to be branded as a traitor.

I had spent years, lowering my gaze, playing the obedient slave that they want me to be. But deep down inside me, the truth burned like widefire. My parents had been slaughtered for reasons I didn’t yet understand. And one day, I would find out why.

The icy wind cut through my thin dress as I scrubbed the blood-stains from the stone floor of the pack house courtyard. My fingers were raw, the cold water turning my skin numb. The scent of iron that filled my nostrils almost made me gag. This was my life now —cleaning up after the same people who had destroyed me.

Laughter rang out from the balcony above.

Selene, my former best friend and the Alpha's daughter. Immediately after my parents death, she suddenly changed. She was the first in line to speak ill of me. The saying that "misery has no company" is so true.

Selene's voice were like honey, laced with poison, smooth and cruel.

"Look at her," she sneered. "The fallen princess reduced to nothing but servant."

I kept my head low, gripping the brush tighter. I won't give her the satisfaction of seeing me in pain.

Kiara, her ever loyal sidekick, let out a mocking sigh. "I honestly don't know why the Alpha kept her alive. If it were up to me she'd be dead."

Dead. Like my parents. Like the family they had stolen away from me.

I clenched my jaw, scrubbing harder, the bristles tearing against my already chapped skin.

"Careful, Zara," Myra chimed in. "You wouldn't want to cry, would you?" She burst into a cruel laughter that made me wonder what was so exciting taunting a girl scrubbing the floor wearing a thin dress in the winter. "Oh... wait— you don't want to cry."

No, I didn't. Where they could see.

The blood on the floor wasn't mine this time. It belonged to a Omega who had angered one of the warriors. She had been beaten and left to die.

A sudden sharp kick to my ribs sent me sprawling. The bucket of bloody water tipped over. "Oops," Selene giggled. "You missed a spot."

I pushed myself up, my body aching as I stare at her, rage simmering beneath the surface. But I said nothing.

Selene stepped closer to me, her manicured nails trailing my jaw as she lifted up my chin to meet her eyes that gleamed with malice. "You want to fight back?"

"Fight back?" Myra scoffed like the word sounded funny. "The only thing she can do perfectly is to spread her legs for the men all over the packs," Myra added, her laugh harsh. "Can't believe even the prince is smitten by her."

I clenched my hands into fists but remained quiet. I'm not throwing myself at the men, they are the one simply attracted to me, because of my beauty. But today, I don't have the energy to fight anymore. They don't know the truth, but it didn't matter. For my own survival silence is the best weapon.

"Pathetic," Selene said, shoving my face away. "Now... Clean this up before the Alpha sees. He already despises the sight of you."

I waited for them to leave before letting out a shaky breath.

"We'll be fine," Ella, my wolf growled.

Yes we would.

But until when...

I quickly finish the cleaning before making my way to the bathroom, tears threatening to fall, but I wiped them away. I had heard their insults for years, but why does it still stung?

As I moved down the hallway, I froze when I saw Darion, the Alpha's son walking towards me, his usual smug grin plastered across his face. I groaned inwardly. His presence was the last thing I needed right now.

"Zara" he called out, stepping directly into my path. I tired to ignore him, keeping my head high and pretending not to notice his presence. But before I could pass, he grabbed my arm, pulling me close to him, his breath warm against my cheek.

"Can't you hear me?" he said, his eyes dark with anger and irritation. His hand tightened around my wrist, but I yanked it free, my voice cold and defiant.

"I choose whether to answer, Darion. Don't I?" I shot back, my tone sharp.

His gaze lingered, too long, down to my cleavage and I quickly used the bucket I was holding to shield myself. "Once I become Alpha, I’ll make sure you’re exactly where you belong. At my feet. In my bed."

I held his gaze, unfazed. "How about you become Alpha first?" I sneered. "Your father might change his mind if he learns that you’ve been lusting after a slave girl."

His eyes softened for a split second, before he glared at me. "You'll regret this day," he muttered, but I was already turning away, shoulder-brushing him with my head held high. I could feel his gaze burning into the back of my neck, heavy and unrelenting.

Just as I turned the corner, I heard hush whispers.

Two warriors were talking in low, urgent tone.

"The Alpha of Frostfang in two days time. He’s coming to ask for Selene as his chosen mate."

My breath hitched. Alpha of Frostfang.

I had heard stories —a ruthless, merciless leader. A man whose presence can silence the entire battle field.

And now, he was coming here? For Selene?

I don't know why but something about it felt wrong.

As much as I wanted to ignore it, I couldn't shake off the feeling that his arrival wasn't just about Selene.