Chapter 1

Ariel's POV I was fifteen when the Jade Moon Pack tore my world apart, chaining me to a life of servitude. For three years, I endured their cruelty, clinging to the hope of freedom at eighteen, hoping that one day, I would be free. As if the cruelty wasn’t enough, midnight on my birthday brought a twisted fate. Alpha Bryan, alpha of the Jade moon pack, the son of the man who slaughtered my pack, was my mate. His rejection was a dagger to my heart, to be bound to a monster’s heir. His mother, Luna Pearl, and sister, Raveena, made my life hell, their taunts fueling my little moment I try to be happy. . “Sh*t!’ I cursed under my breath as hot water scalded my skin as I was trying to make coffee. I splashed some cold water on it and carried the coffee in a tray, up to Raveena’s room. If I didn't hurry up, hell would be unleashed on me. As quietly as I could, I opened the door and place the tray on the coffee table and tiptoe out of the room. “Hurry up and finish this chores, we have important guests tonight!” The head maid yelled at me. Energetically, I jumped into action, slicing, dicing, washing, cooking, steaming and doing everything possible that I could with a smile plastered on my face. Fifteen minutes later, I was summoned to Princess Raveena's room. “Are you trying to feed me poison you useless slave?” She bellowed and threw the coffee mug at me, I instinctively dodged it and it hit the wall, shattering at impact. “My apologies Princess.” I apologize, forcefully sober. She snickered and walked up to me, she grabbed my arm, digging her nails into it until it bled while I silently winced in pain, not daring to retaliate. The door flew open, a maid came in. “Princess, the alpha said to tell you that Alpha Trent is on his way.” She let go of me as her eyes lit with excitement. “Scram!” She hissed and I walked away. ‘Few hours more.’ I muttered to myself. Few hours more and I'd be free from this hellhole! By midnight I'll turn eighteen and according to the rules guiding all packs, a slave must be freed when he or she turns eighteen provided that they're captured before they're at that age. The rest of the morning, I was give more job to do and denied any access to food, courtesy of the b*tchy Princess Raveena. By afternoon, I was terribly famished and had hopes of eating after we're done cooking the main course. Alpha Bryan was to be coronated by exactly midnight and all alphas from every pack was invited. “Is everything in place?” Alpha Bryan's hoarse voice sounded and I flinched, breaking a plate. He frowned deeply. “Are you trying to level my pack with yours?” My expression darkened and I clenched my fists. How dare he? “Lower your gaze! You're in the presence of future alpha of the Jade Moon Pack!” Veronica; the head maid ordered as she lashed a whip on me, causing me to fall on my knees. “Apologize!” Veronica barked. “My apologies, my lord.” I said, through gritted teeth. Alpha Bryan took one long disgusted look at me and snickered. “If only the men of your pack had this much pride and strength, maybe it wouldn't be up in flames and long gone now.” He insulted, adding salt to the wound. I huffed, quietly of course and he stepped on my fingers as he walks away. Again, my lunch went down the drain and I was forced to continue working. It all happened three years ago, I had just turned fifteen and went out for a swim with my elder sister; Ava, by the time we came back, our Emerald moon pack was under the attack of the Jade Moon Pack, dad tried his best to save his pack but he was outnumbered. He saved Ava and I, asking us to run but he was killed right before our eyes, the survivors were taken captive and that was the last time I ever saw Ava. By evening, we were done with the main course and majority of the guests had arrived so all slaves were required to be at their beckoning. I secretly ate the leftover of one of the guests I attended to, happy my sufferings would be over in few hours. “Don't look them in the eye, be respectful, do all they say and don't embarrass me!” Veronica gave us a pep talk as the ceremony began, two hours to midnight. “Yes ma'am!” We all chorused. She dispatched us to our various places and I was in charge of serving food and snacks. Most of the guests were snobbish as usual. The women were particularly rude and none of them wanted me around their men. I served a group of young women some snacks and frowned when I recognized them to be Princess Raveena's friends. “Your highness.” I greeted them all. They snickered and threw me a dirty look while Raveena encouraged them. “I thought I smelled something rotten, guess it was you!” They all laughed stupidly and I kept mute. “What's the slave's name Raveena?or should we call her trash?” “Do you expect me to know her name? She doesn't even exist to me.” Raveena bragged. “Who's she? Heard she's from the Emerald Moon Pack, they say everyone from there has unusual strength but this one looks feeble.” “Shall we try it out? Slave! Go on all four and carry us all on your back!” Raveena ordered. “What?” I blurted. “You heard me!” She threw. I fought the urge to ram the tray I carried into her head but I slightly bowed my head. “I think I hear the head maid call me, excuse me your highness.” I lied and walked away. It was barely thirty minutes to midnight and all I had to do was endure until then. As I emerged from the kitchen a blunt force sent me tumbling and I looked up to see Luna Pearl and Raveena scowling at me. “How dare you embarrass my daughter you slave!” Luna Pearl bellowed as she landed another blow on me. Before I could say a word, Raveena pulled my hair, causing me to shriek while her mother began hitting and clawing at my face, cursing me loudly as well. I took all the hits helplessly, no one to save me. “What do you think you're doing!” They halted and instantly backed away seeing who it was. “Bryan, she disrespected me!” Raveena cried out. “Mom, everyone is here, don't embarrass me, you have forever to deal with her.” Bryan suggested and I chuckled sadistically. “But Bryan-” He silenced her with a deadly stare and they muttered curses at me before leaving. Bryan didn’t stay back either so I picked myself up and went to the nearby restroom to clean up. ‘Birds of a feather.’ I muttered, under my breath. I swore vehemently to avenge myself and my pack. A tear of joy slid down my face as I heard the bell tolls, it was midnight. ‘Freedom!’ I sang as I rushed out, I didn't look where I was going and bumped into someone. The swest scent of mint and pine filled my nostrils, a soft growl resounded in my head. ‘Mate!’ “Mate!” I heard a loud possessive growl and looked up, my eyes widened in shock. “Alpha Bryan, you're my mate?” I uttered. He looked petrified as well and he quickly regained his composure. His expressionless face made me conflicted but I know what was going to happen, I anticipated it. I laughed softly yet bitterly, was the goddess making a sick joke mating me to the son of my pack’s destroyer? “I can't have a slave as my mate, I reject you.” He spat mercilessly. An excruciating pain tore through me and I struggled to breathe, he looked unconcerned and began to walk away. “I won't be tied to the son of a murderer, I accept your rejection!” I called after him and walked away, savoring his dazzled look.