Chapter 1

• Katherine's POV
• "Who's your daddy?" he asked while he moaned, sinking his dick in and out of me. I resisted the urge to sigh, feeling bored.
• I tried to fake a moan, hoping to mirror his excitement, but I was unsuccessful. His hands moved over my body with a sense of urgency and possession, as if he believed he had a right to it, but each touch felt commonplace. I looked in the direction of the faint morning light shining in through the curtains, while his language became dirtier and more demanding.
• "No one can rock your world like I do baby. This pussy belongs to me. Only I can hit it right.’’
• “Yes Alpha Wendell.’’ I answered with a fake smile, trying not to sound bored. Three years of terrible sex, engaged to a man I did not love. Today, we will finally get married.
• “I’ll make you a mommy, baby. You’ll carry our pups.’’ He rambled on, his pace increasing more and more. While he aimed at dominating me, all he ended up doing was annoying me. Everyday, I prayed to the moon goddess to tie my womb. I didn’t want to get pregnant for him.
• I released a slight sound of agreement, almost a nod, but couldn't find the words to respond. He failed to notice as he was too engrossed in himself, consumed by his own enjoyment, ignoring my distracted thoughts.
• He let out a louder groan, holding my waist tighter as he hit his climax, shaking with a long moan. He whispered, out of breath and gasping, "Say it, I’m your daddy. No one can make you feel like I do.’’
• I forced a smile and quietly said, "Yes."
• “Say it,” he murmured, breathless and panting. “Say I’m going to be a father.”
• I plastered on a smile and whispered, “Yes. This time for sure.”
• Inside, I felt a familiar dread. I prayed, as I did every time, that this wouldn’t be the time he succeeded.
• Satisfied, he collapsed beside me, sighing heavily, his arm thrown over his eyes. He lay there a moment, his breathing slowing, until finally, he sat up, glancing over with that detached, courteous smile of his. “I’ll be getting dressed now,” he said lightly. “You’d better go get ready. Don’t want to keep our guests waiting.”
• I slid out of bed, wrapped a robe around myself, and walked to my own suite. As soon as the door closed, I leaned against it, exhaling a shaky breath before heading to the bathroom. The hot water washed over me, and I let the steam rise, drowning out everything else.
• I was an unmated wolf, in my culture, it was best to marry the next suitor than live life alone. Unmated wolves are sold to the highest bidder. I’m 23 now, convinced I won’t ever find my mate. So instead, I accepted my father’s offer to be married off to his friend's son, an Alpha.
• It’s been three years since our engagement, all which were filled with passionless sex and attempts to make a baby. Three years ago, the moon goddess heard my prayers. I didn’t get pregnant. Finally, the day was here. I would get married to Alpha Wendal and officially become a mated woman. That ought to keep me protected.
• —
• The pack hall was adorned with white roses and silver ribbons, sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows. I stood at the altar in my ivory dress, my heart beating steadily as I awaited the words that would seal my fate. The pack elder's voice echoed through the hall as he performed the ceremony.
• "Do you, Luna Katherine, take Alpha Wendal to be your mate, to honor and cherish, until death parts you both?"
• I met Wendal's eyes, forcing a smile. "I do."
• The elder turned to Wendal. "And do you, Alpha Wendal, take Luna Katherine to be your mate, to honor and cherish, until death parts you both?"
• The silence stretched. One heartbeat. Two. Three.
• Whispers rippled through the crowd as Wendal remained quiet, his expression unreadable. My smile faltered.
• "Alpha Wendal?" the elder prompted.
• "No." The word fell like a stone in still water. "I cannot."
• My world tilted on its axis. "What?"
• Wendal's eyes, usually warm with false affection, now held only pity. "I found my true mate this morning, thirty minutes before our wedding."
• The bouquet trembled in my hands. "But... but you promised. Three years, Wendal. You said you needed time to arrange pack politics."
• "I know." He straightened his shoulders. "But I cannot deny the mate bond. However, I can offer you protection. You could stay here, as part of my household staff. It would spare you from auction."
• The words hit like physical blows. "Staff? You mean a slave?"
• He gestured to someone in the crowd. "Marcy, come forward."
• My blood turned to ice as I watched my newly hired maid rise from her seat, her face glowing with triumph. The same woman I'd given a chance to this morning, offering her work in what was supposed to be my future home.
• "Katherine," Wendal's voice softened with fake kindness, "please remove the dress. It belongs to my true Luna now."
• The flowers dropped from my hands. I couldn't breathe. The whispers started, growing louder until they filled my ears. Three years. Three fucking years of my life, and this was how it ended.
• I backed away from the altar. My dress caught under my heel and I stumbled. Someone laughed. I wanted to scream, to shift, to tear through everyone in this damn hall - but instead, I ran.
• I pushed through the heavy doors and kept running. My heels were slowing me down, so I kicked them off. Fuck the dress too - it caught and ripped on everything I passed, but I didn't care. Let it get destroyed. Let it get ruined like everything else.
• My feet hit the ground hard as I ran past the pack houses. People stared through their windows. Let them stare. Let them see what their Alpha had done. My hair came loose, my makeup was probably running down my face, but none of it mattered anymore.
• I ran until my chest burned. Until my legs shook. Until I couldn't see through my tears. Someone was calling my name from behind me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
• I didn't realize I'd reached the pack borders until I felt the wards buzz against my skin as I crossed them. The human road stretched out ahead of me, empty and dark. My bare feet slapped against the cold asphalt.
• I heard the car before I saw it. By the time I turned my head, the headlights were already blinding me. Tires screeched. The driver tried to swerve.
• The impact knocked me off my feet. For a second, everything went quiet. Then I hit the ground, and pain exploded everywhere. I tasted blood. The last thing I saw was red spreading across my white dress.
• Then everything went black.