Chapter 1

Isabella The chirping of the birds outside my window hints that it’s early morning and I, as the useless addition of this pack, have nothing exciting to do other than my normal pack errands. Sitting upright in my bed, I yawned and stretched out my hands when suddenly a knock came from the closed door, interrupting my thoughts. Who could it be? I have no friends or any important person for someone to come all the way to the back of the pack building to come look for me. The knock came again. So dragging in a deep breath, I stood up and went straight to the door to know who it could be. Holding the door, I slightly pushed it open and my gaze instantly widened in surprise. “Good morning, beta." I greeted but he dismissively waved it off and went straight to the point. “The Alpha requested your presence right now." The Alpha…. My heart skipped multiple times as his words reechoed in my head. Opening my mouth, I nervously closed them instantly, I could feel a wave of nerves washing all over me. “Okay," I managed to say. Whenever Alpha Reginald summons me, it's usually a sign that I'm in for some kind of punishment. It was definitely not a good sign. “Good," Beta Edward said and started walking away. Closing the door behind me, I followed him instantly. I am Isabella Whitlock, the apparent heir and the only child of the late Alpha Harold Whitlock. My father was the Alpha of this pack but everything became incredibly tough after losing my parents to a rogue attack five years ago. It's a tragedy that has left a lasting impact on my life. After their passing, my uncle took control of the pack. And at a point, it seemed like power had gone to his head. He's become power-hungry and will stop at nothing to maintain his position, even if it means harming me. It's surprising that I've managed to survive despite all the danger. Though I was reduced by them from the Alpha's heir to the lowly rank of Omega. And since my uncle ascended the throne as the new Alpha and leader of the Crescent moon pack. Getting beaten, tossed around, and bullied by his wife Evelyn and his son Killian has become a sickening routine in my life. It was the worst experience, yet I had to hold onto this little shred of hope, thinking that maybe I'd find my mate and escape this hell or fight back for what's rightfully mine. But that hope was crushed on my eighteenth birthday when my wolf didn't show up. I was then again ridiculed and tagged as the disgraceful wolfless daughter of late Alpha Harold, and that attracted more hatred on my side. Making my life in this pack more miserable. “Be fast," Beta Edward’s voice interrupted my miserable thoughts. I didn’t say much but nodded, not like my opinion matters anyway. It wasn’t long and finally, we reached our destination, standing before a massive, imposing gray iron door. I watched Beta Edward knock on it twice before those horrified commanding voices of Alpha Reginald that had tormented me for years echoed through the closed door. “Come in." And for the first time, I saw a sympathetic look on Beta Edward’s face. My heart raced, thumping faster as I wondered what awaited me inside. Holding the door, he graciously gestured for me to go in first. Clenching my fists by my side, I managed to exhale a deep shaky breath before walking inside. Somehow the atmosphere inside doesn’t seem so comforting, I can feel the tension in the air, making my stomach churn. Unlike his usual demeanor, Alpha Reginald seemed unusually excited today. "G-Good day, Alpha," I stammered, lowering my head in a display of respect and submission. “Sit down, Isabella,” My eyes snapped open, widening in surprise as his words echoed back in my head ‘Sit down, Isabella.’ Gulped* I slowly turned to glance at Beta Edward, who nodded, giving me a reassuring smile to sit down. This is strange. Swallowing hard, I cautiously sat down, facing him. Alpha Reginald wasn’t looking at me, his gaze was fixed on the prenuptial agreement in his hand and after like an hour. He dropped the file and lifted his gaze to look at me. I can feel my heart throbbing, waiting to hear the new punishment or lecture of how much of a disappointment I am but instead of a stern look, I noticed a hint of mischievous glint in his eyes. “Isabella, the good news is that you have been married off to the Alpha of the black moon pack as his new wife.” I felt like I had been sucker-punched! "What? Alpha! What… I mean it's a lie, right?" I gasped, the shock causing tears to well up in my eyes. Alpha Reginald looked relaxed, "You don't get to question me." He retorted, his voice dripping with authority. "We need to settle our debt... It's for the pack's financial stability. And think of it as your way of repaying us for providing apparel and shelter for you all these years, after all not like you are of any use here," I felt a lot of emotions coursing through my body at once, every one of his words, repeating back in my head. I know that my life here is miserable but getting married to a total stranger, an old man, is the most miserable thing. I blinked back my tears, shaking my head defiantly. "You can't just marry me off without my consent! It's against the law!" I might be wolfless but still, getting married against our own will is against the law. "Who gives a damn about the law? Or do you want your father's legacy to crumble because you refuse to be with Alpha Lucius? The pack is in debt!" He guilt-trips me, knowing how deeply I cherish this pack. My parents poured their hearts into building it from the ground up. If not for the rogue attack, they would still be here. Not able to contain my emotions any longer, my tears burst out and I fell to the ground, trying to crawl toward him but he instantly stopped me with a raise of his hand in the air. Disgust and irritation etched on his face, “Go pack your stuff because you will be leaving as early as the sun sets tomorrow." What!* My head jerked up, his words struck me like a slap across the face, leaving me stunned. But before I could plead with him one more time, he abruptly interrupted, "You are dismissed…" “No. No. I can’t marry him," I tearfully voiced out. Pain, fear, panic, and every emotion tugging hard against my chest. “Then consider yourself banished from this pack and I believe you know what that means." I held my lips, shaking my head as more tears rolled down. Glaring at me, Alpha Reginald turned to Edward who had been standing beside the door all this time. “The beta of the black moon pack will be here early tomorrow morning. Please make sure that everything goes according to the arrangement tomorrow,” he said as if I wasn't there. Shaking my head in so much pain, I quickly rushed out of his office straight back to my room. Tears were roaming out of my eyes as I hurried out of the hallway, passing some pack members but I didn’t care or interested in their taunting words. Their ugly remarks were nothing compared to the pain in my heart. His words were vivid in my head, the deal had been sealed, and my opinion doesn't count. Running away is the worst idea, I don't have a wolf and would barely survive outside the pack. I will become the easiest prey for the rogues to feast on, and what happens when I am gone? How do I fight back for the position and right that truly belongs to me?