stless with excitement, faces lit in orange glow, eyes bright with hunger for the spectacle about to unfold. I stood among them, invisible as always, but this time the weight of my invisib

er head back, and bit down hard into the curve of her shoulder. Her scream tore through the clearing half pain, half pleasure and my knees almost buckled. That scream was supposed to have been mine. The bond was sealed. The elder raised his arms again. "It is done. The union is blessed!" The pack howled as one, the sound tearing through the night like a storm. Wolves shifted, their bodies shimmering with silver light as they celebrated. My father stood near the front, pride in his eyes, not a single glance spared for me. I wanted to vanish into the earth. But the ceremony wasn't over. A feast followed, tables groaning under roasted boar, venison, and honey wine. Liana sat at Caius's side, glowing in her triumph. Every time she laughed, her hand tangled in his hair while his lips brushed her skin, I died a little more. I walked up to my father with the little courage I had left "Father...." my voice cracked, shaking, raw. "Please. Don't do this. Father, please. I can't-" "Enough Rain!" He barked, loud enough that the people around us stopped to stare. " you are going with them, you will serve your purpose. And if ever you step your feet back here you will be severely punished" The words hit harder than a hammer to a nail. Liana's laugh slipped like venom into my ear. She pressed herself against Caius's side, her hand resting on his chest as she smirked at me. "Don't worry, sister. I'll make sure you're useful. Someone has to lace my dresses, clean my shoes, fetch my water and tend to my cubs when I have them. And who better than you?" Tears blurred my vision. My throat burned. "Please," I whispered, softer this time, broken. "Please don't let them do this." But my father turned away, raising his cup, joining the cheer. Their laughter filled my ear and my father's betrayal felt worse. He loved me once. He cared so much that I was assigned every servant to tend to my needs. Not until my mother died. And Grace and Liana came. The night dragged on, endless, suffocating. Eventually, the fires dimmed, the songs grew slower, and preparations for departure began. We were leaving. Tonight. The rule was clear. Once marked, the mate must be carried back to the Alpha's pack before the night ended, before the bond settled too deep to break, so the park members could officially welcome their Luna. Caius's pack lay far beyond the forest to the east. The carriages were loaded with trunks of silk and jewels, gifts from my father to show off our pack's wealth. My own meager belongings fit into a single small bag an afterthought. I climbed into the s