Chapter 1 The Weak Wolf

I was born cursed—or so my mother used to say. In a world where strength determined your worth, having a weak wolf was the same as having no wolf at all. Yet, the Moon Goddess had a twisted sense of humor because she chose me, the weakest of them all, to be mated to the strongest Alpha in the pack—Alpha Kaden. The moment his scent wrapped around me, cedarwood and pine, I knew he was my mate. My heart raced, and my wolf, though frail, howled in joy. But his eyes, cold and unforgiving, looked at me with nothing but disgust. "You?" Kaden’s voice was laced with disdain as he took a step back. "You’re my mate?" My heart sank. His reaction was everything I feared. I glanced at my best friend, Lila, standing beside him, her emerald eyes wide with shock before her lips curled into a cruel smile. “Alpha, this must be some mistake,” she purred, wrapping her arm around his. “How can she, of all people, be worthy of you?” I tried to speak, to explain that it was the Moon Goddess’s will, but Kaden’s growl silenced me. “I, Alpha Kaden of the Black Crescent Pack, reject you, Bella Thorn, as my mate.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Pain shot through my chest as the bond shattered, leaving a hollow ache behind. I stumbled, clutching my chest, gasping for air. But then, something strange happened. A surge of power, brief but potent, rushed through me. My vision blurred, flashing with white light, and for a moment, I saw him—Kaden—kneeling before me, his eyes full of remorse. The vision faded as quickly as it came, leaving me breathless and confused. Kaden’s eyes flickered with uncertainty before hardening once more. “You’re nothing but a weakling,” he spat, his voice colder than ice. “From now on, you’ll live in this pack as my slave.” Lila’s laughter echoed as she leaned into him, her victory evident. I could see it then—the triumph in her gaze. She had always wanted him, and she had won. But there was more. “I saw her sneaking into the herbalist’s hut last night,” Lila continued, her voice dripping with malice. “She must have put some spell on you, Alpha. That’s the only way she could be your mate.” My eyes widened. “No! I would never—” “Silence!” Kaden’s roar shook me to my core. He turned to the guards. “Lock her up. Let her rot in the dungeons until she learns her place.” Before I could protest, rough hands grabbed me, dragging me away. I struggled, panic clawing at my chest. “Kaden, please! You don’t understand—” “I understand perfectly,” he sneered, his eyes cold. “You’re nothing but a scheming, pathetic weakling who tried to use dark magic to claim me. You’ll pay for your insolence.” As they dragged me away, I caught Lila’s gaze. She winked, a cruel smile playing on her lips. That’s when I realized the depth of her betrayal. She had planned this—all of it. And I was powerless to stop her. *** The dungeon was cold and damp, the stone walls pressing in on me as the heavy door slammed shut. Darkness swallowed me whole, and the faint echo of Lila’s laughter haunted me. I sank to the floor, my body trembling from the shock of rejection and betrayal. I had trusted her. We had grown up together, shared secrets, and dreamed of finding our mates. But she wanted Kaden, and she would do anything to have him—even destroy me. A searing pain shot through my chest as the remnants of the shattered bond twisted like thorns around my heart. My wolf whimpered, the rejection weakening her even more. Hours passed, or maybe days—I couldn’t tell. The dungeons were devoid of light, a place where time stood still. My stomach growled, but no food came. My throat burned, dry from thirst. The door creaked open, and I squinted against the sudden burst of light. Lila stepped inside, her green eyes gleaming with triumph. She sauntered over, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Poor, pathetic Ella,” she cooed, crouching down to look me in the eye. “Did you really think you were worthy of him?” I tried to speak, but my throat was too dry, my voice barely a whisper. “Why, Lila? We were friends…” Her laughter was cold and sharp. “Friends? Oh, you really are naive. You were nothing but a stepping stone. A useless weakling who didn’t know her place.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a sinister whisper. “Kaden is mine. He was always meant to be mine. And now, he is.” My blood ran cold. “You... you lied to him.” Her eyes gleamed with malice. “Of course, I did. But he believed me, didn’t he? Because no one would ever believe the word of a weak wolf like you. You don’t matter, Ella. You never did.” She stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her dress. “Enjoy your stay down here. It won’t be long before Kaden decides to get rid of you for good. Until then, maybe you should get used to being on your knees, where you belong.” With one last smirk, she turned and left, the door slamming shut behind her. Her words echoed in my mind, each one slicing through me like a blade. I felt the sting of tears, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of breaking me completely. My wolf was weak, my heart shattered, and I was all alone. But deep within me, a spark of defiance flickered. I wouldn’t let her win. Not completely. Not yet......