HAZEL The silver bowl trembled in my reflection. I stared at it, trying to keep my hands still, but my fingers wouldn't stop shaking. The cold stone beneath my bare feet sent a chill through my body. Around me, dozens of pack members stood in a large circle, watching me with curious eyes. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Instead, I stood in the middle of a ritual circle, waiting to discover whether I would finally receive my wolf. For twenty-two years, I'd waited for this moment. My mother had been a witch, and my father was an Alpha. Their union had made me something the pack never accepted. I was a hybrid, a bastard, and a curse in their eyes. Those were the names I'd grown up hearing, especially from my stepsister, Jessica, who always found a way to remind me that I didn't belong. But I had Noah. At least, I thought I did. I searched the crowd until I found him standing beside Jessica. His jaw was tight, and when our eyes met, he quickly looked away. My stomach twisted. Why was he avoiding me? "Relax, Hazel," someone whispered from behind me. I swallowed hard. Easier said than done. "Begin the awakening ritual." The elder's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I closed my eyes as the chanting began, pressing my fingernails into my palms while I silently prayed for the Moon Goddess to hear me. Just this once, I wanted something that nobody could take away from me. I wanted to be normal. The chanting grew louder before suddenly stopping. Silence followed, and I waited for the familiar warmth that was supposed to spread through my body. One second passed, then another, but nothing happened. There was no burning sensation in my bones, no wolf answering the call, and no sign that the ritual had worked. Only my heartbeat. Slowly, I opened my eyes and found the elder staring at me with disappointment. "Unfortunately, the Moon Goddess has not blessed you with a wolf." A few people exchanged glances before someone laughed. My cheeks burned as I lowered my head. Across the circle, Diana sighed as though the entire ceremony had been a waste of her morning. My father, Alpha Mitchell Moore, didn't even bother looking at me. He simply turned away. That should have been the worst pain of the night. I was wrong. A sharp pain suddenly pierced the back of my head, making me stumble as I pressed my palm against my temple. I blinked several times, wondering what had happened, when a strange voice entered my mind. What a waste of moonlight. I froze and looked toward the crowd, but nobody was speaking. Before I could understand what was happening, another voice followed. I knew she wouldn't shift. Noah must be sick of pretending. My breathing became uneven. I turned around, searching for the person who had spoken, but every mouth remained closed. Then another voice came, followed by another. A woman smiled sympathetically at me while her thoughts filled my head with insults, and a man standing behind her wondered why the Alpha had bothered keeping me in the pack. I stared at them in disbelief. Every smile seemed to hide something ugly, and every sympathetic expression carried a secret insult. They hated me, and I had never known how deeply. "Noah..." I needed to see him. I needed someone who genuinely cared about me, someone who wouldn't look at me like I was a disappointment. Pushing through the crowd, I headed toward the exit, hoping to find him before he left. A maid brushed past me, and her thoughts suddenly cut through the noise. Noah followed Jessica into her room again. If I have to scrub another set of ruined sheets, I'll scream. My feet stopped moving. What? I turned sharply and grabbed the maid's wrist before she could walk away. "What did you just say?" She jumped, her eyes widening. "Miss Hazel?" "What did you say about Noah?" "I didn't say anything, Miss." I stared at her. Her lips hadn't moved, and somehow, I knew she was telling the truth. Slowly, I released her wrist, feeling the blood drain from my face. If she hadn't spoken, then how had I heard her? "No..." I whispered, shaking my head as the maid hurried away. I didn't remember leaving the courtyard or climbing the stairs. All I could remember was the maid's thought repeating inside my head. My steps quickened as I followed the direction of Jessica's bedroom, silently begging that everything I'd heard was wrong. Please let him still be mine. I stopped outside her door. It was slightly open, and a familiar male voice came from inside, followed by a woman's soft moan. "Noah..." My blood turned cold. I pushed the door open and felt my entire body go still. Jessica was on the bed with a man, her legs wrapped around his waist and her fingers digging into his bare back. The man turned at the sound of the door, and my heart nearly stopped when I recognized his face. It was Noah. The man I'd loved for three years. The man who had promised to marry me. They sprang apart, but I barely registered their movements. My eyes remained fixed on them until their thoughts entered my head again. How did I waste so many years on that frigid wolfless nothing? I looked at Noah, unable to believe what I was hearing. Then I turned toward Jessica, whose expression was slowly changing from surprise to amusement. Look at her. A pathetic little ghost. He's been mine since I decided I wanted him. Something inside me finally cracked. I grabbed the nearest vase from the dresser and hurled it against the wall beside their bed. The vase shattered, sending pieces flying across the floor as Jessica screamed and Noah jumped out of bed. "Hazel!" I stared at him, my chest rising and falling rapidly. "This isn't what it looks like," he said quickly, struggling to pull on his trousers. "I can explain." I almost laughed at the ridiculousness of his words. "Explain what? Explain how you've been sleeping with my sister for three months while swearing you loved me?" His face changed, and for a moment, he looked genuinely frightened. "How did you know?" I stared at him, wondering how he could still ask such a stupid question. "Does it matter?" Jessica climbed out of bed, completely unconcerned about covering herself. She folded her arms and looked at me with a bored expression. "You're making a scene." I turned toward her, my fingers curling into fists. "Really? That's what you have to say?" She rolled her eyes. "Did you really think someone like Noah would settle for a wolfless freak?" Her thoughts followed immediately, filled with the same cruelty. Look at her about to cry. Delicious. My eyes burned, but I refused to let the tears fall. Three months. They had been laughing behind my back for three months while I believed I was preparing for a future with Noah. "You..." My voice shook as I looked between them. "You both..." Noah stepped toward me, raising his hands as though he could somehow calm me down. "Hazel, please. Just listen to me." I slapped him. The sound echoed through the bedroom, and his head turned sharply from the impact. He stared at me, one hand slowly moving to his cheek. "Don't tell me to calm down!" I shouted. "You had a year to tell me you didn't love me. A whole year! But instead, you kept lying to my face." "Hazel, I didn't mean for you to find out like this." "Of course you didn't. You couldn't even be honest enough to end things before climbing into my sister's bed." I turned toward Jessica, who was watching the entire thing with a satisfied smile. "Congratulations. You've won a cheating coward with no future. Enjoy him." Then I looked at Noah one last time. The man I had trusted with my heart, defended whenever Jessica insulted him, and imagined spending the rest of my life with. I raised my hand and slapped him again, harder than before. The sound echoed through the room, and I walked out without giving either of them another chance to speak.

HAZEL "You're insane!" Noah's voice followed me as I stepped out of Jessica's bedroom, but I didn't turn around. My palm was burning from the two slaps I'd given him, yet I didn't regret either of them. For once, I had stood up for myself, and despite everything, a small part of me felt satisfied. That feeling didn't last long. As soon as I reached the hallway, my hands started shaking. I pressed them against my stomach, trying to steady my breathing while the truth settled inside my chest. Three months. They had been sleeping together for three months. How many times had Noah kissed me after touching Jessica? How many times had he looked into my eyes and told me he loved me? My stomach twisted, and I swallowed hard against the nausea. The bedroom door flew open behind me. "Hazel!" Noah came rushing out, struggling to pull his shirt over his shoulders. "Wait!" I turned just as he reached for my arm. "Don't touch me." "Hear me out." "There's nothing to hear." He grabbed my wrist, but I immediately pulled away. My eyes landed on Jessica's designer purse sitting on a nearby table. Without thinking twice, I picked it up and threw it at his head. It hit him with a loud thud, making him curse as he rubbed his forehead. "Stay away from me!" I turned and walked away before he could say another word. I didn't want to hear his excuses or another explanation for why he had decided to betray me. I had already heard enough. My father's office was at the end of the eastern hallway. I pushed the doors open without knocking and found Alpha Mitchell Moore sitting behind his large wooden desk. Diana was beside him, holding a cup of tea. Both of them looked up. "What's the meaning of this?" my father demanded. I ignored his tone. "Did you know about Noah and Jessica?" Silence followed. Diana slowly lowered her cup, while my father stared at me without showing the slightest surprise. He didn't even bother pretending he had no idea what I was talking about. "Yes." I blinked, wondering if I'd heard him correctly. "You knew?" "Keep your voice down." "You knew Noah was sleeping with Jessica?" "Yes, Hazel. I knew." My mouth fell open. I looked between him and Diana, waiting for one of them to explain that there had been a misunderstanding. Nobody did. My father simply returned his attention to the papers on his desk as though we were discussing something unimportant. "How long?" I asked. "That isn't important." "How long, Father?" He sighed impatiently. "Three months." My knees almost gave out. Three months. Even my own father had known about the affair, and he had allowed me to continue believing I was loved. "Why?" I whispered. He leaned back in his chair. "Noah is one of our strongest warriors. The pack has invested years into training him, and he has a promising future." I stared at him, struggling to understand what that had to do with my relationship. "And Jessica?" "Jessica has a wolf. She's a suitable match for him." I almost laughed. Was he seriously discussing my relationship as though he were choosing a new warrior for the pack? "What about me?" He didn't answer, but his thoughts filled my head. Wolfless. Useless. Unwanted. My chest tightened as another thought followed. She has no future here. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Then why did you keep me at all?" His expression darkened. "Watch your tone." "No!" The word escaped before I could stop it. "For twenty-two years, I've tried to make you proud of me. I've done everything you've asked. I've stayed quiet when Diana insulted me, endured Jessica's cruelty, and accepted being treated like I don't belong in my own home. And now you've allowed her to take the only person I thought cared about me?" My voice broke, and I hated myself for it. I didn't want to cry in front of him, but the pain was becoming too much to hold inside. Diana placed her cup on the table. "Don't be dramatic, Hazel. Noah has made his choice." I turned toward her. "Stay out of this." Her expression hardened, but before she could respond, my father slammed his hand against the desk. "Enough!" I flinched. He opened a drawer and pulled out a black envelope before pushing it across the desk. The silver wax seal immediately caught my attention. I recognized the crest stamped into it, and my stomach tightened. "The Blackwood crest?" I whispered. "There's something else you need to know," my father said. I stared at the envelope. "What is this?" "An invitation." "To what?" Diana smiled, and the sweetness of her expression made my stomach twist. "Alpha Lucas Blackwood is selecting a bride." I looked at her before turning back to my father. "And?" "Jessica was originally invited to attend the selection." I frowned. "Then why are you telling me?" My father folded his hands on the desk. "Because you'll be going in her place." For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood him. "What?" "Alpha Lucas has requested six potential brides. You'll be one of them." I stared at him, unable to process his words. Alpha Lucas Blackwood was the ruler of Blackwood Pack, a powerful Alpha whose name alone was enough to frighten other Alphas. People called him the Demon Alpha, and there were terrible stories about the women who had entered his castle before me. Six women had reportedly gone to his castle. None had returned alive. "You're afraid he'll kill her," I whispered. Nobody answered. I looked at Diana, then at my father. Their silence was already telling me everything I needed to know. I could hear my father's thoughts clearly. Jessica is too valuable to risk. My throat tightened. "And if I die?" My father didn't move. Diana lowered her eyes, pretending to be interested in something on the table. Neither of them offered me an answer, but my father's thoughts came again. If she dies, we lose nothing. Something inside me broke. "No." My father raised his head. "What did you say?" "I said no. I'm not going." His expression turned cold. "Hazel, this isn't a discussion." "I won't go!" I stepped backward, my heart pounding so hard that I could barely hear anything else. My father rose from his chair, and the pressure of his Alpha aura immediately settled over the room. "Guards!" The office doors opened, and two warriors entered. Before I could move, one grabbed my right arm while the other seized my left. Pain shot through my shoulders as they tightened their grips. "No! Father, you can't do this!" "Take her." I struggled, kicking one of them in the shin. He cursed but didn't release me. I twisted my body, trying to pull free, but the warriors were stronger. "Stop fighting!" "Get off me!" I turned my head and sank my teeth into the wrist of the warrior holding my right arm. He shouted in pain, and his grip loosened immediately. I stumbled backward, nearly knocking over a chair. For one brief second, I was free, and I thought I could run. Then something struck the back of my head. White pain exploded behind my eyes. My knees buckled, and the room tilted violently. I reached for the desk, but my fingers only brushed its edge before I crashed onto the floor. My vision blurred as I heard someone approaching. "Make sure she's ready before morning," my father ordered. I tried to lift my head. "Father..." My voice was barely audible, but he didn't come closer or even look down at me. Instead, his final thought reached my fading mind. Finally. That problem is taken care of. My eyes filled with tears before the darkness swallowed everything. When I woke up, I was no longer in my father's office. A strange ceiling stretched above me, and for several seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. Then everything came rushing back: the ritual, Noah, Jessica, my father's betrayal, and the black envelope. I sat up too quickly and winced as pain spread through my head. Looking around, I noticed the luxurious bedroom, the expensive furniture, and the thick curtains covering the windows. Someone had changed my clothes while I was unconscious. A navy silk gown lay across the bed. Before I could reach for it, the door opened. A middle-aged woman entered, looking at me without any warmth. "You're awake." I watched her cautiously. "Who are you?" "Madam Alison. I'll be guiding you through today's ceremony." My stomach dropped. "Today's ceremony?" I looked toward the window and saw sunlight streaming through the curtains. How long had I been unconscious? "Where am I?" "Blackwood Pack." My blood ran cold, and I pushed myself off the bed. "No. I don't want to be here." Madam Alison looked at me without sympathy. "Your father has already completed the necessary arrangements." I stared at her, unable to believe how easily she said it. "Please. Take me home." She sighed. "Get dressed, Miss Moore. Alpha Lucas doesn't appreciate being kept waiting." I looked at the navy gown before raising my eyes to the woman standing in front of me. My father hadn't simply abandoned me. He had delivered me to the man everyone feared, and nobody intended to let me leave.

HAZEL The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked nothing like the person I remembered. My hair had been styled into soft waves that fell over my shoulders, and my face was covered with carefully applied makeup. A pair of diamond earrings glittered against my ears while the navy silk gown hugged my body perfectly. Whoever had dressed me had taken their time making sure I looked beautiful. I looked like a bride prepared for slaughter. "Can't send damaged goods to the devil, can we?" The words escaped my lips before I could stop them. I let out a bitter laugh, but the sound died quickly when I remembered why I was here. My birthday ritual had been nothing more than a public performance. My father had wanted everyone to witness my failure so nobody would question why he was sending me away. Jessica got Noah, while I got a death sentence. A knock sounded behind me. "Miss Moore. Are you ready?" I turned and found Madam Alison standing at the doorway. She wore a black gown, and her hair was pulled into a tight bun. Her eyes moved over me from head to toe before she gave a small nod. "Almost," I answered. Silverpine must be desperate, sending a wolfless embarrassment. My jaw tightened. I had heard enough insults to last a lifetime, but I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me react. I simply adjusted my gown and walked toward the door. "Then let's go," I said. She turned without another word, and I followed her out. The hallway was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking beautifully maintained gardens. Expensive paintings decorated the walls, and the marble floor reflected the light from the chandeliers. Everything looked like something out of a royal palace, but I barely noticed any of it. My mind kept returning to the same question. What would happen when I met Alpha Lucas Blackwood? Would he kill me immediately, torture me first, or simply reject me and have his guards throw me into a dungeon? The stories about him were terrible, and nobody from Silverpine had bothered to tell me what I should expect. I swallowed against the tightness in my throat. Perhaps dying would be easier than returning to Silverpine. At least nobody there would pretend to love me before stabbing me in the back. We approached a pair of enormous double doors, and Madam Alison pushed them open. The moment I stepped inside, my head nearly exploded. I only came because of the eighteen million dollar severance package. If he rejects me, I'll finally be free. I stopped walking. Why is that woman so beautiful? Look at her dress. Who does she think she is? Another voice followed before I could make sense of the first. Please don't let him choose me. Father said he'll destroy my family if I return without his approval. My hand flew to my temple. What was happening? The voices grew louder, crashing into one another until I could barely separate them. I looked around, but nobody seemed to be speaking. A woman sat on a chair with her hands folded neatly in her lap, while another adjusted her necklace. Their lips remained closed, yet their thoughts continued pouring into my head. It felt like a thousand bees were buzzing inside my skull. My vision blurred, and the hallway seemed to tilt beneath my feet. I pressed my palm against the wall, trying to steady myself while my lungs struggled to take in enough air. Breathe, Hazel. Just breathe. "Miss Moore?" Madam Alison turned toward me with an irritated expression. I tried to answer, but my throat felt tight. "I'm fine." She looked unconvinced. "Then stop holding up the line." I forced myself to straighten and followed her into the waiting room. The space was filled with women, at least thirty of them, all dressed in expensive gowns. Some sat quietly with their hands folded in their laps, while others paced around nervously. Every woman had come here for the same reason: to become Alpha Lucas Blackwood's bride. Before I could find an empty seat, the receiving room doors suddenly burst open. A woman stumbled out, her makeup running down her cheeks and her hands shaking violently. Two guards followed closely behind her. "Please..." she whispered. One of the guards stepped forward. "Move." She shook her head, looking as though her legs could no longer support her. Her thoughts struck me before I could look away. Cold, heartless. He looked at me like I was dirt. My stomach tightened. Another woman followed, wiping tears from her face as she hurried toward the exit. Monster. Those eyes... He looked at me like a predator deciding when to kill me. A third woman came out crying, holding her hands against her chest. I should have listened to Mother. I should never have come here. I stumbled backward as the voices filled my head again. My fingers pressed harder against my temples, and I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the noise would disappear. "Stop..." I whispered. "Miss Moore!" Madam Alison grabbed my elbow, making me flinch. "What's wrong with you?" "I... I can't..." "Pull yourself together. You're next." I stared at her, my heart pounding. Next? My eyes moved toward the enormous doors, where two guards stood on either side. Both watched the waiting women with stern expressions, and neither looked as though he would allow anyone to leave without permission. My instincts screamed at me to run. I searched the room for another exit, but there was none. Even if I somehow managed to get past the guards, where would I go? Back to the father who had drugged me and handed me over? Back to the sister who had stolen my boyfriend and laughed while doing it? No. I had nowhere to return to. I swallowed the lump in my throat, straightened my back, and lifted my chin. If this was where I was going to die, I wouldn't walk in with my head lowered. Madam Alison studied me briefly before turning toward the doors. "Come." I followed her. The moment I entered the room, I felt it. Power. It pressed against my skin, making every step harder than the last. The room was enormous, decorated with dark wooden furniture and expensive ornaments. Thick curtains covered the tall windows, while a large fireplace stood against the far wall. But my attention went straight to the man seated on the leather sofa. Alpha Lucas Blackwood. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and sharp features that made him look intimidating even while sitting. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves folded to his elbows, and one arm rested against the back of the sofa while his other hand held a glass. His green eyes were fixed on me. I swallowed, suddenly aware of how small I must have looked standing in front of him. So this was the man who had sent six women to their deaths? The man people whispered about whenever they thought nobody important was listening? I tried to look away, but something about his gaze held me in place. My heart began pounding, and I felt the familiar pressure building behind my eyes. Another one. The thought came from somewhere inside the room. I wonder how long she'll last. I clenched my fingers. Poor girl. The voices were coming again, and I knew I wouldn't be able to endure another wave of them. I lowered my eyes, silently begging for the noise to stop. Then Lucas shifted slightly. His green eyes met mine. And suddenly, everything went silent. I froze. The buzzing inside my head disappeared so completely that I almost stumbled. I blinked several times, wondering whether I had imagined it, but the silence remained. I could no longer hear the guards' thoughts, Madam Alison's private judgments, or the frightened women waiting outside. For the first time since the awakening ritual, there was nothing inside my head except my own thoughts. I drew a slow breath, then another. My shoulders relaxed without me even realizing it, and the tightness in my chest finally eased. I looked at Lucas again. He was still watching me, his expression unreadable. I didn't know why this was happening or what made him different from everyone else. I only knew that I could finally think without hearing the entire world inside my head. The one man most likely to kill me was the only reason my mind was finally quiet.