The sound escapes before I can stop it-just a small "tsk" when I see my sister Victoria smoking in the hallway. "What was that?" Her voice cuts through the morning air like a blade. I freeze. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid.' "Did you just make a sound at me?" Victoria's eyes narrow, and I know I'm in trouble. Before I can answer, my brother Tristan's fist slams into my stomach. The air rushes out of my lungs in a painful whoosh. "Looks like little sister has an attitude problem," he sneers. My brother Ethan's punch catches me in the ribs before I can recover, sending me stumbling sideways into Marcus, my third brother, who shoves me hard against the wall. "Hold her still," Victoria orders, taking a long drag from her cigarette. They grab me then-Tristan's hands clamping down on my shoulders from behind, Ethan on my left, Marcus on my right. Their grips tighten until my bones ache, and I'm trapped between them and the wall. I don't struggle-learned that lesson years ago. "You think you can judge me?" Victoria steps closer, the lit cigarette dangling between her fingers. "You think you're better than me?" "No, I-" "Shut the fuck up." The cigarette comes closer to my arm. "You don't get to speak." The burning starts slow, just a kiss of heat against my skin. Then Victoria presses harder, and the pain explodes through my arm like fire racing through gasoline. I bite down on my scream, tasting blood. "That's for thinking you have the right to judge anyone in this family," Victoria whispers, twisting the cigarette deeper. Her eyes light up with genuine pleasure as she watches me struggle not to cry out. Tristan laughs. "Look at her trying not to cry." "Pathetic," Marcus adds. Ethan just holds tighter, his fingers digging into my shoulder blades. The smell of burning flesh fills my nostrils, and my stomach lurches. But I don't make another sound. I learned long ago that screaming only makes it worse. 'One more day,' I tell myself, the words a lifeline in the darkness. 'Just one more day, then I'm eighteen. Then I can leave.' I'm Moira Castellano, and tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow I'll finally be free from this house. Free from my stepmother Clarissa who makes my life hell. Free from my brothers Tristan, Ethan, and Marcus who love making me suffer. Free from Victoria-my younger half-sister who orchestrates most of my torture with the precision of a master puppeteer. And free from my father Dominic, who used to be the worst of them all but lately has been distracted, pacing and muttering, not making full attendance at my torture sessions. At least Jaxon doesn't participate anymore. My oldest brother used to join in, but now he just... watches. Victoria finally pulls the cigarette away, studying the angry red mark she's left behind. "There. Now you'll remember not to disrespect me." "Alright, boys, we're done here," Victoria announces, flicking ash onto the floor. "I'm bored now." They release me so suddenly I stumble, my knees hitting the hardwood with a sharp crack. Pain shoots up my legs, but I don't move. I stay there on the floor until their footsteps fade down the hallway. 'Tomorrow,' I whisper to myself. 'Tomorrow I turn eighteen, and I can finally get out of here.' "MOIRA!" Clarissa's voice screeches from downstairs. "GET DOWN HERE AND MAKE BREAKFAST! NOW!" My stepmother's voice could shatter glass. I push myself up from the floor, my arm throbbing where Victoria burned me. The hallway spins for a moment, but I force myself to move. Downstairs, Dad sits on the sofa, his eyes glued to the morning news. The tension radiates off him in waves-something's definitely wrong, but asking questions would only make things worse for me. He sees me coming down the stairs and his face twists with disgust. "About fucking time, you lazy bitch." The chair flies before I can react. It crashes into my ribs, sending me sprawling across the bottom steps. "I said make breakfast! I'm starving, and you're moving like a damn sloth!" He's on his feet now, looming over me. "Useless piece of shit, just like your worthless dead mother." 'Don't react, don't cry, don't give him the satisfaction.' I scramble to my feet and run to the kitchen, my ribs screaming with each breath. "Where's the bread?" I ask Clarissa, scanning the counters frantically. Her hand connects with my cheek so hard my ears ring. "Don't you dare come into my kitchen and start demanding things! You think you run this house?" "I'm sorry, I just-" "You worthless fuck!" Another slap, this one splitting my lip. "The bread is in the pantry where it always is, you stupid girl!" I taste copper and salt, but I don't touch my lip. I find the bread, my hands shaking as I start making breakfast for everyone. Toast, eggs, bacon-the works. The smell makes my stomach clench with hunger, but I know better than to expect any for myself. When I'm done, I set the plates on the table where Victoria is now sitting, looking fresh and perfect in her school clothes. Dad takes his plate without acknowledgment. Clarissa fusses over Victoria, asking about her classes, her friends, her plans. "And what would my beautiful daughter like for lunch today?" Clarissa coos. "I was thinking of eating out with friends," Victoria says sweetly. "Could I have some money?" "Of course, sweetheart! Anything for you." I watch this display from the corner, my heart twisting. This is how it used to be with my mother and me. Before she died when I was ten, before Clarissa took her place and decided I was nothing but a burden. Mom used to call me her "little sunshine," used to pack my lunch with little notes that said she loved me. She used to brush my hair and tell me I was beautiful, special, destined for something wonderful. Now Victoria gets everything that should have been mine-the love, the attention, the gentle touches. My throat closes up as I watch Clarissa stroke Victoria's hair the same way Mom used to stroke mine. Victoria glances at me over Clarissa's shoulder, and there it isthat familiar gleam in her eyes. The one that means she's thinking of new ways to make me suffer. She leans forward and whispers something in Clarissa's ear, so quietly I can't hear it. Clarissa's face darkens as she looks at me. "Victoria just told me you've been stealing food from the pantry." "What? No, I" "Don't lie to me!" Clarissa's voice rises to a shriek. "My daughter doesn't lie!" Victoria sits back with the most innocent expression, but I catch the tiny smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. She's enjoying this. She made it up just to watch me get punished. "I wasn't" "LIAR!" Clarissa backhands me so hard I taste fresh blood. "No breakfast for you today. Or tomorrow. Maybe hunger will teach you not to steal from us." Victoria catches my eye again and mouths the word "hungry?" with mock concern, then covers her mouth to hide her silent laugh. 'One more day,' I think as I grab my backpack. 'Tomorrow I turn eighteen, and tomorrow everything changes.' When they're done, my brothers and Victoria leave for school first, laughing and joking like a normal family. I wait until they're gone before heading to the door. The morning air hits my face as I step outside, and for just a moment, I can breathe. Freedom is so close I can almost taste it. 'Just hold on a little longer, Moira. Tomorrow, you'll finally be free.'

The school looms ahead, its brick facade cold and unwelcoming in the morning light. 'Just get to class. Don't let them see you.' I clutch my backpack straps tighter and sprint toward the entrance, keeping my head down. My ribs ache with each step, but I push through the pain. The hallways blur past as I weave between students, dodging conversations and avoiding eye contact. Lila Morrison's laugh echoes from somewhere behind me, sharp and cruel. My heart hammers against my chest. 'Please don't see me. Please don't see me.' I slip into my first-period classroom just as the bell rings, sliding into my usual seat in the back corner. The hard plastic chair presses against the fresh burn on my arm, and I bite back a wince. "Miss Castellano, you look like you ran a marathon," Mrs. Henderson says without looking up from her lesson plan. I keep my eyes fixed on my desk. "Sorry, Mrs. Henderson." She launches into her lecture about quadratic equations, and I try to focus on her words instead of the throbbing in my ribs. The other students scribble notes half-heartedly, but I write down everything. Perfect grades are the only thing I have leftthe only proof that I'm worth something. A girl in front of me glances back, her eyes scanning the bruises on my arms. She turns away quickly, like looking too long might infect her with whatever plague makes me untouchable. 'Top of the class, and still invisible when it matters.' The period drags on forever. When the bell finally rings, I pack my things slowly, waiting for the room to empty before standing. My legs shake as I walk to the door. Mrs. Henderson doesn't look up from her papers. She never does. The hallway swarms with students heading to their next classes. I need to get to the washroom before second period, so I keep my head down and weave through the crowd. I catch a glimpse of blonde hair near the lockersLila Morrison laughing with her usual group. My stomach clenches, and I quickly look away, hoping she didn't notice me. 'Just get to the bathroom. Stay invisible.' I duck behind a group of football players and dart toward the nearest bathroom. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure everyone can hear it. The bathroom door slams behind me with a satisfying bang, and I lean against it, gasping. The fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting harsh shadows on the white tile walls. I rush into the last stall and lock the door with trembling fingers. For a moment, there's blessed silence. I close my eyes and try to breathe. Then the bathroom door crashes open. "I know you're here, little slut!" Lila's voice bounces off the walls, dripping with venom. "What, not happy to see me?" My hands freeze on my jeans. I hold my breath, praying she'll give up and leave. The first stall door slams open with a violent bang. My heart jumps into my throat. 'Someone will come. Someone has to come.' The second door crashes open. Then the third. Bang. Bang. Bang. Each sound sends shock waves through my chest. I pull my feet up, balancing on the toilet seat, hoping she'll think the stall is empty. 'Please, someone come in. Anyone.' The fourth stall door explodes open. I'm shaking so hard I can barely stay upright. There's only one stall left between her and me. 'She's going to find me. She's going to' The fifth door slams open so hard it bounces off the wall. And then she's there. The final door flies open, and Lila Morrison stands in the doorway like an avenging angel of cruelty. Her blonde hair is perfectly styled, her makeup flawless, her smile sharp enough to cut glass. Despair crashes over me like a tidal wave. "There you are, you little bitch." She grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks me off the toilet seat. I stumble forward, my jeans still around my ankles, too shocked to pull them up. "Lila, please" "Shut the fuck up!" She drags me out of the stall by my hair, and I fall to my knees on the cold tile floor. "Jade! Get in here!" Jade appears like a loyal dog, followed by two other girls I barely recognize. They form a circle around me, blocking any escape route. "Look at this pathetic little whore," Lila sneers, still gripping my hair. "Can't even dress herself properly." I scramble to pull up my jeans, my face burning with humiliation. "You know what your problem is, Moira?" Lila crouches down until we're eye level. "You can't even do a simple favor for your friend. What, think youre too good for me?" "Thats" Her hand connects with my cheek so hard my ears ring. "I told you to shut the fuck up!" "You're going to get me that date with Tristan," she continues, pacing around me like a predator. "I don't care what you have to do. Make it happen." Jade kicks me in the stomach, and I double over, gasping. "Yeah, you think you're so special with your perfect grades and your holier-than-thou attitude." "Time to teach you some humility," Lila says sweetly. They fall on me like vultures. Fists and feet connect with my ribs, my back, my arms. I curl into a ball on the filthy bathroom floor, protecting my head as best I can. 'Stay quiet. Don't let them see you break.' "Fight back, you coward!" Lila screams, landing a particularly vicious kick to my kidney. "At least make this interesting!" But I know what happens when I resist. So I lie there and take it, counting the tiles on the ceiling until the pain becomes a distant roar. "God, you're pathetic," Jade pants, stepping back. "No wonder nobody likes you." Lila grabs my hair again, lifting my head. "Maybe this will get a reaction out of you." She slams my head against the edge of the sink with a sickening crack. The scream tears from my throat before I can stop it. Pain explodes through my skull, white-hot and blinding. Blood trickles down my forehead, warm and sticky. "There we go!" Lila claps her hands like she's watching a circus act. "Finally, some emotion!" My vision blurs, and the room tilts dangerously. I can taste copper in my mouth. "Come on, girls. We're done here." Lila straightens her skirt and checks her reflection in the mirror. "Remember to get me that date with your brother." Their laughter echoes off the walls as they leave, the door swinging shut behind them with finality. I lie on the cold tile floor for a long time, waiting for the world to stop spinning. When I finally manage to sit up, my reflection in the mirror is a horror show. Blood streams from a gash on my forehead, my lip is split, and bruises are already forming on my cheekbones. 'Get up. You have to get up.' ***** The school nurse barely glances at me when I stumble into her office. Mrs. Patterson sits behind her desk, filing her nails with methodical precision. "What now, Moira?" she sighs, not looking up from her cuticles. "I need" My voice comes out as a croak. I clear my throat and try again. "Where are the bandages and ice packs?" She finally looks at me, her lip curling in disgust. "Supply closet. Help yourself." I can feel her hatred radiating off her in waves. Lila's lies have poisoned everyone against meeven the woman who's supposed to help injured students can't stand the sight of me. I grab some paper towels from the dispenser and wet them in the sink. The cold water stings the cut on my forehead, but I grit my teeth and clean the blood away as best I can. Mrs. Patterson returns to her nails, dismissing me completely. I take what I need and leave without another word. She's already forgotten I exist before the door closes behind me. ***** The library welcomes me like an old friend, its silence broken only by the soft hum of fluorescent lights and the whisper of turning pages. This is my sanctuarythe one place in school where I can breathe. The smell of old books and furniture polish wraps around me like a warm blanket, and for a moment, the pain recedes. I make my way to my usual spot in the far corner, past the fiction section and ancient encyclopedias nobody uses anymore. It's hidden from view, with a comfortable chair and decent lighting for reading. But someone is already there. Jaxon sits in my chair, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor. He looks up when he hears my footsteps, and something flickers across his faceguilt? Fear? I can't tell. "Moira." His voice is quieter than usual, lacking its typical cruel edge. I freeze, every muscle in my body tensing. 'Is this another trap? Another way to hurt me?' "What do you want, Jaxon?" I keep my distance, ready to run if necessary. He stands slowly, his hands raised slightly as if approaching a wounded animal. "I need to talk to you. It's important." His voice sounds urgent, almost frantic. I can almost sense worry threading through his wordssomething I've never heard from him before. My chest tightens with an unfamiliar dread, like standing at the edge of a cliff and knowing I'm about to fall.

Earlier That Day Dominic's POV "You know what this means, don't you Dominic?" His lips curve into what might charitably be called a smile, showing teeth like a shark. "Fucking my sister and giving her chlamydia. That's grounds for exile. Not to mention losing your Beta position." Alpha Sterling's voice cuts through the chamber like a blade. My stomach drops, cold dread flooding my veins. He sits on his throne above me, and I'm kneeling on stone that feels like ice against my knees. "Alpha, please, I'll do whatever it takes" "Whatever?" He chuckles, the sound like grinding glass. "Good. I want your daughter." "Moira?" "I want her as my personal fuck toy. To use however I want, whenever I want, however rough I want. In exchange, you keep your position and your comfortable life continues unchanged." His eyes gleam with dark hunger. "She's eighteen tomorrow, isn't she? Legal. Perfect fucking timing." The throne room seems to shrink around us. Sterling leans forward slightly, and the full weight of his Alpha presence crashes over me like a tidal wave. Every instinct screams at me to submit, to grovel, to give him whatever he demands. 'My daughter for my position. My worthless daughter for everything I've worked for.' Moira has never been anything but a burden. A reminder of her dead mother, a constant source of irritation and expense. She contributes nothing to this family except pain and aggravation. But my Beta positionthat's everything. The respect, the power, the comfortable house, the deference of lesser wolves. That's what matters. That's what I've built my life around. "She's yours," I say, and I'm surprised by how steady my voice sounds. Sterling's smile widens, predatory satisfaction rolling off him in waves. "Excellent. I knew you were a practical man." Relief floods through me, warm and intoxicating. My position is safe. My life can continue exactly as it has. All it cost was one worthless girl who was nothing but trouble anyway. "Tomorrow evening. After her birthday." He waves a hand dismissively. "I expect her delivered to my chambers by eight." "Of course, Alpha." I can already feel my hands itching for the satisfaction of it. 'One last chance to teach her some respect before she becomes Sterling's problem.' "Good. You're dismissed." I rise to my feet, my knees protesting after kneeling on the stone. As I turn to leave, Sterling's voice stops me. "Dominic?" "Yes, Alpha?" "Don't disappoint me." The threat hangs in the air like poison. I nod once and walk toward the doors, my legs steadier now that the deal is done. ***** The fresh air outside the pack house feels like freedom. I open the mind-link to Victoria first. 'Princess, I have something special for you.' 'What is it, Daddy?' Her voice practically purrs through the connection, sweet and eager. 'Your sister is being given to Alpha Sterling tomorrow. As a gift.' I can't keep the satisfaction out of my mental voice. 'But first, we need to make sure she understands what her life is going to be like. I want you to be in charge tonight.' 'Really?' The excitement in her voice makes me smile. 'I can do whatever I want to her?' 'Whatever you think she deserves, sweetheart. You know her better than anyone.' 'This is going to be so much fun, Daddy. I have so many ideas.' 'I knew I could count on you. Get your brothers ready. Make sure they know you're running the show tonight.' 'Leave it to me.' I expand the mind-link to include the boys. 'Boys, listen up. Victoria is in charge of tonight's... family activity.' 'Finally,' Tristan's voice comes through, eager and cruel. 'What's the occasion?' 'Moira is being given to Alpha Sterling tomorrow,' Victoria cuts in, her mental voice sharp with authority. 'But first, we're going to have some fun with her. And I'm running things tonight.' 'About time someone put her in her place permanently,' Marcus adds. 'What about Jaxon?' Tristan asks. I pause. Jaxon has been... distant lately. Uncooperative. But family is family, and this is too important. 'He'll participate. Victoria, make sure of it.' 'Don't worry, Daddy. I'll handle him.' I close the connection and start walking home, my steps light for the first time in weeks. Everything is falling into place. Sterling gets what he wants, I keep what I need, and Moira finally serves a useful purpose. 'One last night of fun, then she's Sterling's problem forever.' ***** Moira's POV I can't believe what Jaxon just said. The words echo in my head, each one hitting like a physical blow. My legs give out, and I sink into the chair across from him, my whole body trembling. 'Tomorrow. They're giving me to Alpha Sterling tomorrow.' "That's why I had to tell you." Jaxon's voice sounds hollow, distant. "You need to run, Moira. Tonight. Before they" "Before they what?" The words scrape out of my throat like broken glass. His face goes pale. "Dad's planning something. For tonight. Victoria's in charge." He can't meet my eyes. "I heard them talking. They want to... have their final bonding session with you." The library spins around me. The safe haven of books and silence suddenly feels like a trap, the walls closing in. 'One more day,' I'd told myself this morning. 'Just one more day and I'll be free.' I was so wrong. Tomorrow isn't freedom. Tomorrow is the beginning of a nightmare I can't even imagine.