Chapter 1 Fallen Trust

"Mate!"

My muscles tensed when he repeated the word a second time, his voice dropping to a husky whisper that sent shivers down my spine. The sensation of our mate bond forming was remarkable, like electricity dancing beneath my skin.

I'd known Noah Winchester since childhood—meeting at the playground when we were five, sharing popsicles in summer, building snow forts in winter. He was the only constant in my life as Mom and I moved from town to town.

"Come on! Do it!" Noah smiled, cornering me by the lockers.

My first day in twelfth grade had me nervous. After being homeschooled my entire life, high school felt like a zoo, and I was the new exhibit. The hallways seemed endless, voices too loud, scents too strong—everything overwhelming my senses.

Thankfully, my mother had contacted Mrs. Winchester about my first day, so Alpha Noah met me at the door. His familiar face had been such a relief in this sea of strangers.

"Here?" I asked, glancing around the empty hallway, my heart racing.

"It's empty. Don't you want to be accepted by your popular Alpha mate on your first day?" he insisted. I couldn't help but nod weakly.

His yellow and red varsity jacket screamed popularity. Having someone on my side would help me navigate this new world. My wolf stirred inside me, unusually alert despite the medication Mom had made me take this morning.

"I, Ember Blake, accept you as my mate," I said, rising on my tiptoes to reach his lips. This would be my first kiss ever. I had no experience, but I trusted him completely. My eyes fluttered closed, waiting.

My lips never reached his. A painful slap struck my cheek, knocking me to the ground with such force that my vision blurred. Something damp covered my face. When I touched it and looked at my hand, I realized it was shaving cream Noah had smeared on me.

Within seconds, cheers erupted in the corridor. Students emerged from nearby rooms, mocking me relentlessly. Their laughter echoed in my ears, each sound like a physical blow. My backpack fell open, spilling textbooks across the floor.

I looked at everyone with tear-filled eyes, then at Noah, still smirking down at me. It crushed me that my childhood friend would bully me just to look cool. His blue eyes, once warm, now held nothing but cruel amusement. The betrayal stung worse than the slap.

"That's how you treat a bitch," another boy said, stepping out from behind Noah. He was taller and commanded more respect. Clearly, he outranked Noah in popularity. Something about his presence made the air feel heavier.

"What are you looking at, freak?" he growled when he caught me staring.

He yanked me up by my arm, forcing my face toward his groin. "You like what you see? Want to give it a kiss?"

The crowd erupted in laughter. Someone shouted, "Noah, she thought you were serious!" Another called out, "Did you see her face? She actually believed it!"

It wasn't difficult to understand that Noah and his friend had planned this humiliation. What I couldn't figure out was why. We'd been friends for years.

"She really thought an Alpha would accept her," a girl with glossy dark hair laughed, making me cover my face and sob silently.

"Bullying turned her panties wet," another girl commented as I hid my face deeper in my hands, wishing I could disappear.

"I bet she loves riding dicks," someone else said, making my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Each crude comment felt like another layer of shame coating my skin.

"Aww, look at her crying. Did you think Ethan's friend would accept you?" The taller boy introduced himself with a smirk. I noticed his light brown eyes and sharp jawline.

"Everyone out! Didn't you hear the bell?" A teacher dispersed the crowd but didn't bother checking if I was okay. Just another adult turning a blind eye.

I scrambled to my feet and sprinted toward the exit, my lungs burning. Outside the gate, I spotted my mother's Honda Civic, its familiar shape a sanctuary in my storm.

The moment I slid into the car, my mother examined me, her eyes widening with concern. Her dark brown hair contrasted with my silvery blonde—we never looked alike, but her protective instincts were unmistakable.

"What happened? How did this foam get in your hair?" she asked, noticing my sobbing, her fingers gently wiping my cheek.

"They bullied me. Noah mocked me," I explained between ragged breaths, omitting the mate bond part.

Mom never liked me talking about finding mates. She always told me to save myself for a "special day"—whatever that meant. I'd obeyed, and now I wished I'd never strayed.

"That's why his mother was so sassy on the phone. I should have known they didn't want us around," Mom said, her knuckles turning white on the steering wheel. "Don't worry anymore. Things are changing for us. You'll have someone to protect you from bullies every day."

I noticed our bags in the backseat. "Where are we going?" I asked, confused.

"Not far, just somewhere better. Remember I told you I was seeing someone? It's time you met him," she smiled, driving us toward a vast, beautiful mansion nestled among tall pines. Its white walls gleamed in the afternoon sun.

"Mom, why are we here?" I felt uneasy as guards stared at us, their posture rigid.

"This is our new home. Lord Blackwood has chosen me as his mate. We'll finally live the life we deserve," she explained with triumph. "You're getting four stepbrothers—the future Alpha Kings of North, South, East, and West. They'll protect you."

She then warned me sharply. "But remember, Ember—don't let them touch you or get in your head. Your wolf is a seductress. Avoid everyone at all costs." Her fingers dug into my arm, emphasizing each word.

"But why would they do anything? I'm their sister now," I asked, watching her face fall.

"That's what you need to remind them. They can't mess with you because you're their stepsister. We can't ruin this chance at a better future."

As we stepped out of the car, the guards nodded respectfully and invited us inside.