Chapter One

Two things reminded me of my failure; living in the sisters’ sanctuary, where mateless females above eighteen spent the rest of their lives, and returning home once a year to celebrate my birthday with my hateful family.

I should be excited. It was my twenty-first birthday, and we only got to leave this horrible place on our birthdays and return the following day.

Instead, I was afraid.

My dad's house was horrible. He was alpha and never failed to remind me how the omega blood in my veins made me worthless—for the life of me, I couldn't figure out why the moon goddess cursed me with such blood.

Unfortunately, I was already bundled home like a lamb. I stared at my reflection in the van’s mirror, and what I saw was a sad soul staring back at me. Sighing, I tied my unusual hair color back. It was a natural blend of chocolate brown and burgundy.

Too bad it would not be passed down to any kids.

“Could you please slow down?” My trembling voice pleaded with the driver because I wasn't in a hurry to get home. As usual, he ignored me.

It was a year ago that I last saw the outside of the sanctuary. My fear prevented me from appreciating the snow-capped mountains.

When we arrived at my dad's four-story townhouse, my stomach turned. A wedding or an initiation ceremony must be taking place inside, judging from the music and cars parked outside.

I stepped into the foyer without realizing my stepsister, Bianca, was behind me until she spoke.

"Such an unfortunate girl," she sneered, followed by a bark of soft laughter. "You choose to show up today of all days.”

“It's my birthday,” I answered flatly. "Everyone knows that I'd prefer to stay at the sanctuary, but they forced me to return home."

She shook her head and lifted her three-year-old son, who was to become the next alpha since I was omega and mateless.

“You don't want to know what’s going on inside, I'd advise you to leave. Once you step in, you'll never be able to unsee it.”

This aroused my curiosity. I could tolerate Bianca's insults despite her meanness toward me because she was not as bad as her twin.

“What’s going on?”

She was about to respond when Serena, her twin, aka the spawn of Satan, approached us.

“The wrinkly virgin appears! I'd given up on seeing you this year. How's your crusty honey pot fairing these days?”

Like a dragon, her words burned me no matter how mildly they sounded.

"Have you come to watch your ugly boyfriend get married to his true mate?”

“Serena,” Bianca hissed at her sister. “Why did you tell her?”

Like a fist, shock struck me. Serena’s words echoed in my ears and I stopped breathing. Has Ethan found his mate?

Serena's laughter echoed across the foyer. “Come see for yourself. They are about to jump the broom, and once they do, it is all over. Nobody can undo their bond—not even a pitiful and weak omega.”

I pushed through Bianca's attempts to stop me and entered my father's large hall, where he held pack activities. My feet wobbled when I saw Ethan, my last hope of getting out of the sanctuary, jumping the broom with his mate, a beautiful woman with a face like an angel.

I swallowed back my tears without realizing it. Ethan was supposed to save up some money, and then we would find a way to escape the pack to a new one. We had a detailed plan.

I guess his wedding explained his prolonged silence. He stopped visiting me or writing me letters for more than three months. It was weird at first, but I accepted it, figuring my dad had threatened him.

Victoria, my stepmother and pack Luna, moved closer to me, her eyes shining with disgust.

News has it that after my mom's death, my dad didn't grieve for three months before taking Victoria in, who was already married to another man and even had two daughters.

"Iris, what a surprise! You'd have been a bridesmaid at your darling Ethan's wedding; I told your father to write to the Sanctuary to let you attend. It's good you showed up before the ceremony concluded.”

She lowered her tone. “His wife’s a beauty. She's got beta blood. Lucky Ethan wouldn't have to worry about Omega contamination anymore.”

I ignored her and pushed through the crowd while Ethan's promises filled my head. Four years ago, I ran my blood test —a special test known as the ABDO ranking, where we were ranked according to our blood types—alpha, beta, delta, or omega.

We never got to know our blood type until we turned seventeen. I realized that I was the weak link on test day. Everybody laughed at me, except Ethan. He promised to stay by my side.

What changed? Where was that loving boyfriend full of sweet promises?

His face went pale when our gazes locked. I fought back tears, hating not only the moon goddess for causing me pain but also Ethan for raising my hopes and dashed them to the ground.

My dad's deep baritone filled the room. Dad was kinder to strangers than he was to his child.

"Who let you out?"

“It’s my birthday," I choked out and turned to face Ethan. “Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any trouble at your wedding. I'll just leave. Happy married life.”

Ethan's wife must have heard about my relationship with her husband because her eyes were glazed with malice.

Packmates had different reactions. Some laughed at me, others gazed at me with fake sympathy.

“Go upstairs to your room,” Dad commanded.

“I'd rather go back to the Sanctuary. Please, could you tell one of your drivers to take me back?”

"Oh, that's great. Save us the stress of having to see your miserable face," he said while sizing me up and dragging me out. He released me from under his arm, but not before giving me a painful slap across the face.

"You worthless spinster. I should have realized that your ugly mother was fucking an Omega slave. I hate your presence!"

My eyes became blinded as tears filled my voice. His rejection crushed me beyond imagination, but growing older had taught me that his feelings for me were never going to change.

“Then tell them you never want to see me again. Because honestly, the feeling is mutual.”

Another heavy slap landed on my left cheek, and then I was pushed to the ground. My family stared down at me with disgust, except Bianca, who looked very sorry.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, my ex-boyfriend, Ethan, rushed out.

"Iris."

"My dear boy, don't bother yourself about her,” my stepmother said to him. “You did well by dumping her.”

He scratched the back of his head in hesitation before speaking. "Iris, I'm sorry but you're weak and destined to spend your life as an old maid in that sanctuary. Of course, you aren't so delusional to think I’d settle for an Omega."

I didn't expect anything positive from Ethan, but hearing those words hurt. He walked away without giving me a second glance.

“I’d rather forget that I have a child as long as I live,” Dad said and commanded a guard to seize me.

“Take her back to the sanctuary and make sure she doesn't escape your sight.”

Relieved that I wouldn't have to endure this shame, I rushed out with the guard. The drive back was painfully silent with only the radio playing.

I exited the car in front of the sanctuary; the sky was darkening, and it was going to rain. A cold wind ruffled my skin as the guard zoomed off.

“Who's there?” said an old maid who was on guard at the gate. She was so old that she could hardly walk. She had white wisps of hair poking out from under her cap and small wrinkles designing her once-beautiful face.

As she slowly opened the gate and allowed me entry, an idea struck my head.

I could escape the sanctuary to the Valley Pelt pack, where my mom's only sister lived. A single push and the old maid would be sprawled on the floor.

Guilt consumed me. She didn't deserve such treatment. But did I deserve to live this life of confinement forever?

I sucked in the air and turned around to run. Shockingly, the old lady wasn't as weak as I thought. Just as she was about to grip my ponytail, I turned around and pushed her to the mud with all of my might.

She fell face down onto the ground. For several seconds, I stood frozen in place, afraid I'd killed the woman. My heart broke for her when I heard a painful whimper.