Clara
I wanted Sisley to choke on her words.
Yes, I was technically her family. It must have galled her, for her power-hungry father to take me into her family.
Sisley’s father Bernard Dover, that filthy Gamma, “adopted” me after my parents’ death. Bernard took me in as his ward. The pack thought he did it out of kindness and mercy. But no. It had nothing to do with goodwill. It was just a pathetic political plot. Bernard had always eyed the position my late father once held. He had always wanted to be the second-in-command, the Beta of Moonstone.
But our Alpha had the last laugh. When the leader announced to the shock of all that he would abolish the rank of Beta in the pack, Bernard flew into a fury.
I still remember the look on his face, and the red tinge in his eyes. It was as if I had been the one to dash all his dreams of power.
I was just a child. He tore into my flesh with his teeth and punched me repeatedly until my bones cracked. I still have the scars on my back, where the bones did not mend well.
“You… damned… Grey! You mongrel!” he had screamed at me. “All my work! All of it! All of my flattery of the Alpha, my loyalty, and for what? Just for the Alpha to spit on my face! You wretched, wretched girl! You’ll pay!” he screamed at me.
Bernard’s wife Cordelia and Sisley had watched with amusement as I wailed in pain and terror. Not a single word left their lips.
I would have died, if it wasn’t for Hazel. She had seen me after my “step-father” had finally cast me out of the basement, taken pity on me, fed me, and nursed my wounds. She’s the only one who cared about me in this pack.
Oh, once there was also Prince Griffin.
He had been my hope, my love, and everything I needed to endure this abusive life as the pack’s punch bag. He said he would bring me out of this living hell.
But what had he done to me? He abandoned me. He picked my abusive step-sister as his mate. He said he would love her on the last mating ball when I was alone, waiting him in the forest for our sweet secret date like a fool.
I lifted my head high to stare at Griffin.
His freckles faded a little over time, but the bright sweetness of his emerald eyes had never dimmed.
I won’t lie; he looked beautiful tonight. His shirt was opened slightly at the top, and I could see a hint of his lean, but muscular chest.
There was a hunger in my belly that went beyond innocent kinship with a childhood memory. I could feel a tight pressure and ache in my chest.
“Yes. She’s lovely,” Griffin said.
His voice was emotionless and controlled. Despite all that, I could sense his sincerity behind his words. “It will be easy to find a suitable mate that may raise your standing in the pack, Clara.”
His words were addressed to me. The fact that he spoke directly to me would inspire salacious gossip for weeks. I could not help tilting my head. Was this a confession of still caring for my well-being? A consolation that I might be able to escape this hell?
Murderous rage flashed over Sisley’s features for only a second, but I saw it.
I wanted to laugh at her, but the hopelessness of this situation quelled any joy I might have had at still holding a place in the heart of her mate.
Naïve fool! I wanted to shout at Griffin.
Why didn’t you wait for me, then? Why didn’t you grow some backbone and defy your father? Why did you whisper all those sweet words when we were children?
But I remained silent.
Silly, silly. Elena barked with cruel laughter. You still fancy yourself in love with him, don’t you? Idiot.
Shut up, Elena. I hissed to her.
Her head suddenly swiveled, as if she heard something in the distance.
But I was too slow to react. A rough hand grabbed my shoulder and twisted me down into a low bow. I winced at the pain.
I could recognize the rich perfumes of musk and amber of my oppressor and step-father, Bernard Dover.
I have long associated that scent with pain; bile rose to my throat instinctively. Through a haze, I remember seeing his furious red eyes and feeling his knuckles shattering my cheekbones.
I shuddered.
“How dare you even look at the Alpha Prince, you worm,” he snarled. “Bow! You should be sniveling on the ground like the insect that you are. Have you forgotten your place already?!”
Claws ripped into my shoulder blades. I gasped in agony. The bitter scent of my own blood reached my nostrils, and I could feel it trickling down my back.
That brute! Elena screamed, wanting to take in control.
But I forced her back.
“No,” I said with gritted teeth to my tormentor. I had to suppress the child in me that still shrank in fear at this monster.
“Keep that flapping thing you call your mouth shut,” Bernard hissed. “Or I’ll tear out your wretched tongue myself. It should have been done a long time ago to spare us all your idiotic prattling.”
“Stop it. Lord Dover,” said Griffin.
Bernard then himself stamped his chest and saluted before Griffin.
“Your dedication to my standing is admirable, Lord Dover,” said Griffin, and he waved his hand nonchalantly. “But I would command you to let go of the girl. On this night, every werewolf should be unblemished and unharmed to show their qualities to their potential mates.”
They stared each other down, and Lord Dover bowed his head. His claws retracted from my shoulder, and I tried not to quiver as my right shoulder burned.
“Perhaps the effort of my dedication would be better spent on other matters,” breathed Lord Dover. “Your father and I are only concerned that you are much too soft on the daughter of the traitor who nearly killed the Alpha.”
Griffin’s face darkened.
I knew how his comments must grate on Griffin.
Loyalty to the Alpha and the pack, or continue a stupid childhood dream with me? Griffin had to make a choice.
Our pack valued ruthlessness, pride, and blind loyalty to the Alpha.
Other werewolves in the hallway watched us with bated breath. None dared to speak in the presence of Griffin, but I could see smiles and open-mouthed stares.
A cold smile crossed Griffin’s face. Then, he stooped down to kiss the top of Sisley’s hair. She basked in the affection and ruffled his flaxen hair.
His answer was clear.
He chooses her. He always does. You fool! Elena snorted.
For the longest time, I thought Griffin might have the guts to go against his father and mate me. But that was just my delusion.
My eyes watered. I quickly bowed to them and dropped my head down.
Sisley intertwined her fingers in Griffin’s hands and deigned to look at me. Her voice was deceptively gentle, but her words were a dagger in my side. “You should watch us, dear step-sister. Together we will open the ball with our dance. Perhaps it will give you a hint what a pairing blessed by Diantha looks like. Will you ever know what it feels like to have a mate intertwined in your arms?”
I murmured, “Diantha extends her mercy on whom she wills, but I have no need of her generosity. I will make my own fate.”
Sisley’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. Lord Dover beckoned towards the glowing blue hearth hall with his gloved hand. “Enough of this farce. We need to go. The Alpha awaits.”
The iron doors of the leading to the hall creaked open slowly. An electrical current of excitement flowed through all the werewolves. They all flocked to the entrance.
“Do you see them?” whispered a young female wolf behind me to her friend.
“Who?”
“The Dark Shade! I can’t believe they’re here. It’s the first time they attend a mating ball hosted by another pack. I hear that their Alpha will be here. I believe he’s still unmated.”
“No way!”
The girls giggled.
Clara Maybe that’s why the Alpha family had gone all out with the banquet hall. He might want to impress the elites from the Dark Shade – the most powerful and prestigious pack in the entire South. An uneasy sensation turned in my stomach. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s my burning shoulder. I entered through the doors with other lesser werewolves. The hall was meticulously cleaned. Elites like Griffin, Sisley and Lord Dover were given special trios on the second floor. I watched them enter the large balcony that jutted out like a perch – one could see everything that occurred on the floors from that position. One lone werewolf stood behind the balcony’s black railing, watching everything. He was a tall older man with features I’ve associated more with a crow than a wolf. Everything about him was sharp: his eyes, his lips, his chin, and well-trimmed beard. He was the only one allowed to not conceal his claws. They were black and elongated. His arms were held behind his back in a pose
Clara I stared wild-eyed into the calm, pretty face of Hazel. She wore a crimson silk gown that accentuated her shining black hair. Red was after all the color of luck for us werewolves; it is the color of blood after a fresh, clean kill. The other color of luck was the deep dark blue hue that I clothed myself in. It was the inky indigo sky that the moon swims through. “Hazel, goddess above, I’m so sorry,” I said in embarrassment. Hazel smiled sadly at me. There was no blame in her pretty features, and a surge of guilt and sisterly affection rose like a rock in my throat. She turned me around, and I could feel her cool hands caressing my torn shoulder where Lord Dover had dug in his claws. “Was this the work of Lord Dover?” she asked in a low voice. “Who else?” I growled. “Come,” she said. “This won’t do. You can’t be battered and bruised tonight.” “Hazel—” I said, but she pulled me through the swath of werewolves. “You don’t need to watch,” Hazel said. She knew of the love
Clara Who was him? How long had he been eavesdropping our conversation? Hazel and I made no move or sound, but we both tensed up. The werewolf yawned. His beauty was ethereal and his movements foxlike. Unlike the muscular meatheads of our pack, this male seemed to prize lithe grace over bodybuilding. Yet, I could tell he was strong. I had never seen him. He must be an outsider, a foreigner from another pack. And I did not recognize his exotic scent – there was a strange spicy aroma that I couldn’t place. He drew out a long black pipe from his tunic and filled it with some kind of dried powder. Every movement was slow and calculated, as if he didn’t mind my growing discomfort. Hazel gave a short but graceful bow. “I apologize for disturbing your repose, Prince Legiere.” She clasped my hand. “I wished to tend her wounds before the coupling began.” I could sense her body tense up, stiffened. Prince? He stretched and yawned again loudly. Once again, I was reminded of a crafty fox
Clara How could I be this ignorant? Girls in the line had talked about them. Dark Shade. Of course. They were the Elite of all the Elites. That absurdly wealthy pack in all of the Twin Canines. And Deanneth Legiere. He was their notorious Alpha. Like my parents, he was traitor to his pack. Only he was not only able to survive, but he also had succeeded in subjugating the most powerful pack in the entire South. He took over the pack from his elder brother Bruess Legiere who should have been throned after their late father’s death. He was a usurper. Just imagine how dangerous he would be. And I had just told him that he was a disgusting pig. My mind swirled with various thoughts and assumptions. I pondered on what I had just done and what it meant. My blood froze, my heart sank. A wild, heady feeling churned in the pit of my stomach. It was a mix of fear and self-destruction. I need to run. I have to run, now! I would run tonight anyway, and I just needed to prepone it. I tri
Trigger Warning: This chapter contains abuse, violence, and emotional relapse. Please read at your own risk. Clara Gerald was a monster of a werewolf with massive muscles; he was matchless in any one-on-one fight. They said that he had fought every Elite and lower class werewolf in the gladiator trials for physical supremacy, and he never lost once. I would be a fool if I thought I could defeat him. But it didn’t matter if I lost. I was dead anyway. If I wasn’t beaten to a pulp by the Lieutenant, then I would be taken to be questioned and tortured. At least I would go down on my own terms. I snarled at Gerald and threw myself at him. The stone was in my hand. A grim smile was on his face. The rock collided with his upper arm, as he raised them in time to block. Any lesser werewolf’s arm would have shattered instantly, but Gerald was built like a mountain. He lifted his giant fist and let it crash on my head – or he would’ve gotten my head, if I didn’t dodge just in time. Instead
Clara A crying child standing alone in front of a hall of werewolves. Rumors of betrayal. The yellow eyes of our Alpha as he sat in a highchair, listening to his advisers. Their urgent whispers. “Kill her too. Kill her before she grows old and takes her revenge. The seeds of treachery must not be allowed to take root.” “Am I that weak to need to kill a mewling child?” The matter was settled. The Elites and advisers all spoke at once in consternation and shock. An ambitious red-haired werewolf with a goatee put himself forward. His tones were flattering. “Let me take her as a ward, then, my Alpha. I shall house her until you decide what to do with her.” “I have already decided, Lord Dover. But do as you wish.” The tall werewolf then stood up and stared down at me. I saw his claws. They dripped with blood. The scent of blood in nostrils. Sharp and bitter. Pungent. Spicy? Why did it smell like spice? Oh gods, why did it smell like burning mushrooms? ** I groaned and tried t
Clara Freedom? I could barely believe what I was hearing. The Prince of the Dark Shade pack had played a card game to grant me my freedom? Why? And why in hells would our Alpha of the Moonstone Pack even agree to it? I must be still dreaming. I could see the Lieutenant angrily pacing the floor, as Prince Legiere unlocked the iron gates of my cell. He waltzed inside the gates and took off my gag. I gulped in air greedily. My head felt light, and I didn’t have it in me to give sarcastic commentary. Gerald had beaten that out of me quick enough, and I wasn’t stupid enough to do it again. The Alpha Andelle had watched these proceedings in silence until now. “You are free to have her, but I wonder what exactly you plan to do with her? Surely you were not serious about making her your mate?” he asked. “Concubine,” Prince Legiere said brightly. “I already have a destined mate for me back at home waiting for me. I’m sure she and my lovely brother would be quite sad to hear if I had sud
Clara Servants scurried in and out of the Alpha’s mess hall with plates of hot food and drink on wooden trays. Pale gleams of light flowed in from the large windows on all sides. There were several tapestries and paintings that told the story of the Andelle ancestors. The tantalizing smell of appetizers and entrees made me drool, but I found that I couldn’t relax enough to shovel food in my mouth like I usually did. Not with the Alpha, Sisley, Prince Griffin, and Gerald in the same room with me. Prince Legiere gently tugged at one of my loose brown braid to get my attention. I stared angrily at him. I wanted to throttle him. “No,” I said with gritted teeth. He was smiling and holding a spoon of piping hot porridge mixed with sweet milk, scallions, and seared pork rinds. It smelled absolutely delicious, and my stomach rumbled in agony. Gladly would I have tried to take a bite, but not in this embarrassing manner. “Don’t be like that. Say ‘ahhh.’” I turned my face away at the last