*LYRA POV*

My body trembled in fear as I stared at the maid who had just been shot… By Alpha Lucian.

My mate.

> Mate…

He had tried to kill me. My mate tried to kill me!

If I hadn’t moved in time, it would’ve been me lying on that ground.

Dead.

It felt impossible..

How could that cruel heartless Alpha be my mate?

Had the goddess cursed me?

“Help… someone help us!” I cried out, pressing my hands to the maid’s bleeding chest. But no one moved. No one spoke. They just… stared.

Then I heard footsteps.

I lifted my head and he was there. Lucian. Standing over me.

His eyes were cold, sharp, and unreadable.

But I recognized the emotions etched into his face.

Disgust. Disappointment. Hatred.

He shook his head and muttered to the man beside him, “Show her to her room.”

My omega whimpered deep inside me as he turned and walked away….. Walked away like I was nothing.

I couldn’t stop the bitter thought from rising: Of course he’s disappointed.

I don’t look like someone worthy of being the mate to a powerful Alpha.

“I… I’m sorry,” I whispered to no one.

“My lady, please follow me,” the man beside me said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I looked back at the maid’s still body. “What about… her?”

The man chuckled, as if I’d asked something foolish. “The guards will take care of it,” he said like she was a thing, not a person who had just been murdered.

It was cruel.

But I had no choice.

With blood on my hands and clothes, I stood and followed the man into the house. Every step I took drew attention.

Whispers floated all around me like daggers:

“Is this the tribute?”

“Ew, she looks disgusting.”

“How can her name be Aurora when she looks like a scarecrow?”

I wanted to disappear. Shrink into nothing.

But with my body, it was simply impossible.

The man stopped in front of a room. “This is where you’ll be staying, Lady Aurora. Please, let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded quietly. “Thank you, mister…”

He chuckled. “Call me Jules. I’m the head guard here.”

“Okay, Mr. Jules,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I didn’t want to speak. I just wanted to be alone.

I pushed the door open.

The room was… lovely.

Soft pinks and warm lighting…decorated like someone had tried to make it feel special.

But I doubted it was meant for me.

If the room was meant for me, then why did he try to kill me the moment I arrived?

I sighed and leaned against the door, wrapping my arms around myself despite the blood.

Tears welled in my eyes, and I bit my lip to keep them from falling…. but when I heard Jules’s footsteps retreating down the hallway, I couldn’t hold back any longer.

I broke down.

Tears poured from my eyes as I sobbed, my chest heaving with pain. Everything hurts.

My heart. My body. My soul.

I felt completely alone.

I had always felt alone—even in crowded rooms, even surrounded by people.

But this time... this time, my omega was crumbling.

The look on my mate’s face when he realized the bond haunted me.

The pack’s cruel laughter, their taunts, all echoed in my mind like poison.

It didn’t matter where I went or which pack I entered—none of them ever looked past my body, past my belly, my height, my weight.

They saw me as nothing.

And the one person who was destined to cherish me couldn’t even bring himself to look at me.

I had dreamed of a mate since I was a child. I imagined someone who would see me for more than what I appeared to be.

Someone who would wrap me in their arms and make me feel like I belonged.

But it was just that…. a dream.

Because my mate tried to kill me before I even spoke a word.

---

I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep until loud banging on the door jolted me awake.

Groaning, I sat up, rubbing my face and pushing aside the twisted sheets. I wasn’t ready to face anyone. My body felt heavy, my heart even heavier.

Who could possibly be knocking?

“Good morning, Lady Aurora. I hope you slept well?” Jules’s voice filtered in as I cracked the door open.

Embarrassed, I quickly tucked my messy hair behind my ears. I hadn’t even looked in the mirror. I probably looked as pathetic as I felt.

“Um... yes. I slept well. Thank you,” I mumbled, avoiding his eyes.

He smiled kindly. “That’s good. I’ve been instructed to bring you downstairs for breakfast.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Downstairs?

The same place where those wolves whispered and laughed about me yesterday?

“I’m not hungry,” I blurted, slamming the door shut before he could respond.

I leaned against it, breathing hard.

What if Alpha Lucian was there?

What if he stared at me again with that same disgust?

I couldn’t bear it.

I heard Jules walk away, and I dragged myself back into bed.

My stomach growled in protest, but I didn’t care.

I’d rather starve than be their entertainment.

Hours passed. I remained curled in the same position, too exhausted to move. I wanted to bathe, but my luggage hadn’t been brought to the room.

And I certainly wasn’t going to leave the safety of this space to go looking for Jules, especially not with those wolves out there.

> “You can’t keep hiding,” the little voice in my head whispered.

With a sigh, I pulled myself out of bed. That’s when I noticed a small door off to the side… a bathroom.

To my surprise, it was luxurious. Far better than anything I’d seen in my old pack.

Shadow Pack was clearly more modern than the stories let on. A deep white bathtub sat in the corner, and bottles of scented soap lined the shelf.

I stripped and filled the tub, letting the warm water soothe my sore muscles.

I scrubbed at my skin until I no longer saw blood or dirt…. until I felt just a little less broken.

Wrapped in a towel, I stepped out of the bathroom…

And froze.

My eyes widened.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, with the same unreadable expression he always wore, was none other than Alpha Lucian.

How did he get into my room?

My heart sank as my eyes dropped to my chubby, exposed legs. I stood frozen, and embarrassed..

We stared at each other for a few long, torturous seconds. Neither of us spoke.

I had nothing to say.

“Check the closet,” Alpha Lucian finally said, his deep, husky voice breaking the silence. “Jules made sure you’d have everything you need.”

“Oh… thanks,” I murmured, silently grateful for Jules. But when I opened the closet and sifted through the clothes, my stomach twisted.

None of them would fit me.

Each dress, each blouse, and each pair of pants were small. Delicate. Designed for someone slender, poised, beautiful.

Clearly not for me.

Well done, Aurora. You’ve disappointed them without even trying.

“Wait,” Lucian said suddenly before turning and leaving the room.

I shivered as cold air kissed my damp skin. I hugged the towel tighter.

Within moments, Lucian returned, holding a simple navy dress. He tossed it on the bed without a word.

“Thank you,” I muttered, surprised he would bother. For a second, a flicker of something like hope sparked.

> “Maybe he just doesn’t want to see your disgusting body,” the cruel voice in my head whispered.

I bit the inside of my cheek, grabbed the dress, and rushed into the bathroom to change. To my surprise—it fit.

With hesitant steps, I walked back into the room. He was still there sitting on the edge of the bed like he owned the air around him.

“Eat,” he said, gesturing toward the small table beside the wall. “Let it not be said that the Shadow Pack starves its guests.”

On the table was a plate of steak and roasted chicken.

“Thank you,” I said softly, making my way toward the food. My nerves had killed my appetite, but my stomach was louder than my pride.

I ate slowly, painfully aware of his gaze. It burned more than comforted.

When I finally finished, I downed a glass of water to hide my trembling hands. “Thank you, Alpha,” I murmured.

“Let’s go,” he said flatly, standing abruptly.

I blinked. “W-Where?”

He didn’t answer. Just shrugged.

I scrambled to follow him, my steps dragging as I tried to keep up. My heart pounded.

I could feel the heat of the stares as we descended the stairs. I didn’t need werewolf hearing to know they were whispering again.

Whispers. Judgments.

But I kept my eyes on the floor and followed Lucian.

To my confusion, he led me outside onto a vast open field filled with wolves…. A training ground.

Everyone went still as we walked in. Dozens of eyes turned to me.

Lucian stopped. I halted beside him.

He turned and faced me. “Aurora Valoric,” he began, his voice loud enough for all to hear, “the moon goddess has given you to me as a mate.”

Gasps erupted.

My heart thundered at his words. It should’ve been a moment of joy. Of recognition.

Instead, I felt their stares like daggers piercing through my skin.

Then he stepped closer. His breath fanned my face, and his eyes bore into mine.

“But I don’t care,” he whispered harshly. “The moon goddess should have known better than to bind me to you.”

No.

No, no, no...

The world spun beneath me. But somehow, the two of us remained still.

He grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze up.

“With the pack as my witness, I…Lucian Slade…reject Aurora Valoric as my mate.”

My skin burned. His words were knives, slashing at everything I had ever dreamed of.

Tears spilled from my eyes.

Then he gripped my neck firmly and leaned in.

“Accept the rejection,” he whispered, “or this peaceful alliance is over.”

So heartless.

He was threatening my pack, not just me.

I could’ve fought. Screamed. Demanded he honor the bond… but why beg for a love that never existed?

“I…Aurora Valoric….accept your rejection,” I whispered through my sobs.

The moment the words left my lips, he released me.

The pack cheered. They cheered for my humiliation.

Lucian smirked.

He enjoyed it. That was why he brought me here. Why he rejected me in front of everyone.

To humiliate me.

To make sure I would never dare think myself worthy of being loved.

And in that moment, I knew...

Alpha Lucian wasn’t just a ruthless leader.

He was a cruel one.