Chapter 1

• Five Years Ago
• Seventeen-year-old Samantha stood frozen in the doorway, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched her father, Alpha Alfred, unleash a torrent of angry words at her mother. His voice reverberated through the room, filling the air with tension and fear.
• Her mother stood with her head bowed, her shoulders slumped under the weight of his words. Samantha could see the pain etched on her face, the silent tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to rush to her mother's side, to shield her from the onslaught of her father's rage, but she was rooted to the spot, unable to move.
• Alpha Alfred's voice rose to a crescendo, his words sharp and cutting like knives. Samantha winced with each verbal blow, feeling the impact as though it were directed at her. She clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms, but she refused to make a sound.
• Her father's tirade seemed to go on forever, each word more venomous than the last. Samantha's breath came in shallow gasps, her chest tight with suppressed emotion. She longed to scream, to shout back at him, but she knew it would only make things worse.
• As the minutes dragged on, Samantha felt a surge of frustration and helplessness wash over her. She hated seeing her mother treated this way, hated feeling so powerless to stop it. But what could she do? She was just a teenager, caught in the middle of her parents' stormy relationship.
• Finally, Alpha Alfred seemed to run out of steam, his voice tapering off into a sullen silence. He glared at her mother for a moment longer before storming out of the room, leaving behind an atmosphere thick with tension and unspoken words.
• Samantha let out a shaky breath, her body trembling with pent-up emotion. She stepped forward, her legs feeling like lead as she crossed the room to her mother's side. She reached out a hand, hesitating for a moment before gently touching her mother's shoulder.
• Her mother flinched at the contact, as though startled by her presence. She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen from crying. For a moment, there was a flicker of recognition in her gaze, a silent acknowledgment of Samantha's silent support.
• Without a word, Samantha wrapped her arms around her mother, holding her close as though trying to shield her from the pain. Her mother clung to her, her body shaking with silent sobs. They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, two souls bound together by their shared anguish.
• In that moment, Samantha vowed to herself that she would never let her mother face this kind of pain alone again. She may have been young, but she was strong, stronger than she ever thought possible. And no matter what her father threw their way, she would always be there to stand by her mother's side.
• As they stood there, locked in their silent embrace, Samantha felt a sense of peace wash over her. Despite the chaos and uncertainty that surrounded them, she knew that as long as they had each other, they would be okay. And together, they would weather any storm that came their way.
• Eventually, the tears dried, and the tension in the room began to dissipate. Samantha and her mother pulled apart, their eyes meeting in a silent understanding. They may not have been able to change the past, but they could face the future together, one step at a time
• Samantha stood before her mother, her heart heavy with a mix of anger and concern. She watched as her mother, Luna Selene, sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes downcast and her hands trembling. The aftermath of her father's tirade still lingered in the air, casting a shadow over the room.
• With a deep breath, Samantha stepped forward, determined to break through the suffocating silence. "Mom," she began, her voice soft yet firm, "we can't keep living like this. You deserve so much better."
• Luna Selene looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and sadness. "Samantha, I... I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared."
• Samantha felt a surge of frustration rise within her. She had seen her mother endure years of emotional abuse at the hands of her father, Alpha Alfred, and she was tired of standing by and doing nothing. "Mom, you can't keep living in fear," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "You deserve to be happy, to be free from his control."
• Luna Selene shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. "But what about the Pack? What about my responsibilities as Luna?" she asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
• Samantha took her mother's hands in hers, squeezing them gently. "The Pack needs you, Mom," she said, her voice unwavering. "But they need you to be happy and healthy, not trapped in a toxic relationship. Elder Max showed us that it's possible to break free, to start over somewhere new."
• Luna Selene's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of Elder Max, the former Alpha who had left the Pack a year ago to start a new life. She had admired his courage, his willingness to defy tradition and forge his own path. But she had never dared to entertain the thought of leaving herself.
• Samantha saw the flicker of hope in her mother's eyes and pressed on. "We could leave, Mom," she suggested, her voice growing more urgent. "We could start over somewhere far away from here, where he can't hurt us anymore. We could be free."
• Luna Selene's breath caught in her throat at the suggestion, the idea of leaving both terrifying and exhilarating. Could she really leave everything behind and start over? Could she find the strength to break free from the chains that bound her to her husband and the Pack?
• Samantha watched as her mother wrestled with her inner turmoil, her heart breaking at the sight of her pain. She knew that the decision to leave would not be easy, that it would require courage and sacrifice. But she also knew that they deserved a chance at happiness, a chance to live without fear.
• Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Luna Selene looked up, her eyes shining with determination. "Okay, Samantha," she said, her voice steady. "Okay, let's do it. Let's run away and start over."
• Samantha felt a surge of relief wash over her at her mother's words, a sense of hope blooming in her chest. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that they had each other for support.
• As they began to make plans for their escape, Samantha felt a sense of empowerment wash over her. She may have been young, but she was determined to be her mother's champion, to fight for her happiness no matter the cost.
• Samantha knew that they were taking the first step towards freedom. And with her mother by her side, she knew that they could conquer anything that came their way.