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THE NIGHT OF BROKEN DREAMS Myra’s pov Today was my eighteenth year birthday, and tonight my mating ceremony, the day I would get rejected by my mate and my life would change. The reflection in the mirror didn’t look like me. My hair was pinned up, dark curls falling in loose tendrils around my face, and a thin silver chain circled my brow, a single moonstone resting at the center of my forehead. I should have felt beautiful. Regal. Like a Luna about to claim her destiny. But all I saw was the hollow look in my eyes, the stiffness in my smile, the way my fingers trembled as they smoothed down the fabric of my dress. “Stop fussing. You look perfect,” Aria said softly, coming up behind me and squeezing my shoulders. My best friend’s reflection met mine in the mirror. Her bright blue eyes, usually so full of mischief, were gentle tonight, full of hope for me. “He’s going to see you and remember why the Moon Goddess chose you to be his mate.” I swallowed hard. “If only everyone else believed that.” Aria’s smile faltered, just a little. I couldn’t blame her. I knew what the pack thought, what they whispered when they thought I wasn’t listening. The orphan girl. The Beta’s daughter who couldn’t even shift. The future Luna with no wolf, no strength. They pitied me. And worse they doubted me. The only reason I stood here tonight, preparing for my mating ceremony, was because of my parents’ honor. My father and mother had died protecting the Alpha King during the great rogue invasion seven years ago. They’d been heroes. Respected, everyone loved them. And I was what was left. “I’ll prove them wrong tonight,” I whispered, more to myself than to Aria. “I’ll be a good Luna. I’ll serve the pack. I’ll make Malik proud.” Aria’s hands slid down my arms, and she hugged me from behind. “He already is, Myra. And after tonight, everyone else will be too.” I nodded, trying to draw strength from her words, from the soft warmth of her embrace. But as I turned from the mirror, I caught the faintest sound voices outside the chamber. “She looks the part, but we all know it’s a joke,” someone murmured. “A Luna who can’t shift? What will she protect us from? Goddess above, we are werewolves…” another snickered. They thought that because I couldn't shift I didn't have werewolf perks like enhanced senses, but I did. I could hear every single word of their whispers. Aria looked like she wanted to go defend me, I didn't want a fight today so I just caught her wrist and shook my head. Aria’s eyes flashed with anger. “Fucking assholes, ignore them. They don’t matter.” But their words burrowed deep, echoing every secret fear I’d tried so hard to bury. I squared my shoulders. “Let’s go.” --- The clearing was alight with torches, the full moon high above, casting silver over the gathering of my pack. Hundreds of eyes turned to me as I stepped onto the sacred stone path. There were stiff polite nods with tight, forced smiles on their faces as they watched me walk down the aisle. But Malik would come. He would take my hand, and everything would change. I lifted my chin, my heart pounding in my chest like a drumbeat. And I waited. And waited. The minutes stretched, endless. Murmurs rose among the crowd. I could feel their eyes on me… Where was he? Why hadn’t he come? Was he… changing his mind? I clenched my hands together, trying to still their shaking. I felt Aria’s presence behind me, steady, a silent support, but it wasn’t enough to stop the cold dread creeping through my veins. The crowd stirred. A figure broke through the trees at the edge of the clearing, his dark form outlined by the moonlight. Malik. His hair was tousled, his ceremonial tunic rumpled and half-unfastened, his boots dusty as if he’d been running. His face was pale, jaw tight, dark eyes stormy as they met mine. He staggered towards me like a drunken man. The whispers grew louder. What had happened? Why did he look… like this? Malik walked toward me. My heart had leapt at the sight of him, but the joy was short-lived, drowned beneath the weight of the expression on his face. Resolve. “No…” I breathed, before he even spoke. I knew what was going to happen. He stopped before me, towering, his scent cedar and smoke filling my senses, familiar and beloved. I reached for his hand, but he didn’t offer it. “Myra Sunrose,” he said, his voice carrying across the clearing, steady and clear. I shook my head, unable to stop the tears that burned my eyes. “Please—Malik—” “Stop…No…please.” I tried. “I, Alpha Malik Nightshade,” he continued, voice hardening, “reject you as my mate.” The words hit like a blade, slicing clean through me, leaving me hollow. A gasp rippled through the crowd. Aria let out a soft cry behind me. “No,” I whispered again, but I could feel the bond the beautiful thread that had tied my soul to his, fraying. The pain came, swift and brutal, searing through my chest, my head, my very bones. My knees buckled. The world spun. The last thing I saw before the darkness claimed me was Malik’s face, haunted and broken. --- The world returned slowly, blurred and full of ache. I was lying on a cot, the soft glow of lanterns casting shadows on stone walls. My chest throbbed. My head pounded. “Malik…” I croaked, the name torn from my lips without thought. My heart called for him, the bond shredded but the longing still raw and alive. I heard a small sharp laugh. I turned my head, vision swimming, and saw her. Evelyn Ashe. The she-wolf who had always hovered at Malik’s side. Very popular in the pack, she was everything I wanted to be, beautiful, graceful, fierce. She sat beside the cot, arms folded, a smirk twisting her perfect mouth. “Why would our Alpha choose a weak girl like you to be our Luna?” she said, voice dripping with venom. “Someone who can’t even shift? Someone who has always been a weak pampered little brat? You don't deserve Malik.” The words stung more than they should have. I tried to sit up, but my body wouldn’t obey. Tears blurred my sight. I wanted to be strong, to tell her she was wrong, to fight back. But I couldn’t. I was weak and useless. And he had seen that. He had rejected me. Sobs tore from my throat, ragged and unstoppable. The grief, the humiliation, the shame all of it crashed over me like a wave, pulling me under. Evelyn’s laughter followed me as I wept, as the pain dragged me down into darkness again.

✨Click to watch👉👉Beauty and The Beta 💔‘Remember who I am Bailey. You are not above me. Never will be. Could have been equal to me at most had I seen you as suitable to be my mate, but no. You were beneath that honor.' He sneers.😡 🔥I felt anger racing through me. ‘And you think I would not have rejected you?' I snapped, moving back toward the exit, not wanting to be here anymore. Until I felt a hand grabbing the back of my tank top, yanking me back.😫 ⚠️‘You want to reject me? How dare you! Who else would want such a feeble pathetic wallflower like you? No one-' he said but was interrupted by a voice, which made him shiver.😮 💥‘I want her.' I looked at the clock on my bedroom wall. I think I have delayed the inevitable for as long as I physically can. I should go to the packhouse to go and wish our pack's upcoming Alpha a happy birthday. The bane of my life. My brother’s best friend. One day to be Alpha Miles. Today he will turn 17, and meet his Alpha wolf. In all honesty, he was egotistical enough, thinking the world revolved around him, without him adding to that by finally gaining his wolf. Not your run-of-the-mill werewolf either. Oh no, Miles Davenport was destined to be an Alpha, so he would have a strong and powerful Alpha wolf, only adding to his arrogance and strength. The crazy thing is, Miles had once upon a time been one of my closet friends too. In my younger childhood... Friends, that kind of thing comes when your father is the Beta to the Alpha. The children spend a lot of time together, and become friends. My older brother, Jordan, became the wing-man to Miles. His closest friend and ally, who as his Beta when the time came, was only right. But as the years went on, the friendship between Miles and I changed. Friendship faded as he grew into a more popular sports star of our school. At the end of the day, he was always going to be popular, he was the upcoming Alpha after all, but as one of the top sports stars too, he was idolized. As was my brother. All the girls in school flocked around them like they were pop stars or something, and it was bizarre. I was nothing more to him now but a source of amusement for him and his sports buddies. A geek. Not one of the beauty queens who followed him around. Simply someone to make fun of. I had gone from enjoying time with my one-day Alpha, to hating him, in the space of a school year. He thought he was god’s gift, and in all honesty, if he was, he is a gift I would return… “Bailey!” I heard my Mum call from downstairs, telling me I was definitely running it close now for time. I know Jordan had already headed over to the packhouse a while ago with my Dad to meet his friend and our Alpha. “I know.” I yelled back, looking at the books on my desk, desperate to continue with the assignment I was working on. I would so much rather continue working on the assignment and gain the additional credit available, work toward going to the college I want to go to instead of going to a party for the big-headed bully, I got to consider almost family, considering he was the son of my Dad’s best friend. I stood from my seat, and walked to my mirror, adjusting my black skater dress I had chosen to wear today. Something plain and simple, easy to blend into the background, but a dress all the same if anyone asked why I hadn’t made an effort. Along with my chunky black sandals, I looked presentable, not that anyone would be looking at me. Today, all eyes would be on the birthday boy, as they always were. He would make sure of that. I flicked back my curly brown hair, before I walked out of the door, already dreading the hours that lay ahead… My Mum pulled the car into the parking spaces outside the packhouse, while my younger sister Morgan was flicking at the curls around my head, simply trying to irritate me. She knew I would rather be anywhere but here right now, and was loving every last moment of it. “Aww, you want to go home Bailey-boo?” she teased. “Stop you two, come on, your Dad is waiting inside. Let us go and find the birthday boy.” Mum says, sounding cheerful, completely oblivious to the fact how horrendous this party had the potential to be. She, too, worshiped Miles. Having seen him grow up alongside my brother, she seemed to think the sun shone out of his rear-end. It had always driven me insane. “He won’t even notice us there.” I muttered under my breath as I followed her up the steps of the back house, shaking my head at my sister and how overdressed she looked. She definitely looked like she was out to impress someone today. A small part of me wondered if she hoped she might be the fated mate of Miles. After all, he was meeting his Alpha wolf today. He will have shifted for the first time today, and today could potentially be the day he can sense his fated mate out there waiting for him! There had been so much buzz around school about this, so many of the girls were excited about the potential possibility they could be his fated mate. The one chosen for him by the moon goddess. The one destined to be with him. So many of them are desperate for it to be them. While there I was desperate for anything but. I could think of nothing worse! Yet, looking at the amount of effort my younger sister had made today, I am beginning to think she was one of the many she-wolves that was holding out that hope… We walked through the corridors of the packhouse, and it was filled with various pack members. Today was a day of celebration within pack, the birthday of the upcoming Alpha. And not just any birthday, the day he came of age. The day he met his Alpha wolf. The walls of the packhouse were adorned with decorations, music was blaring from various speakers dotted around the multiple rooms. “Ooff, sorry!” a giggling she-wolf said to me as she nearly knocked me off my feet as she knocked into me. I would rather be anywhere but here right now. This was far too hectic and far too loud for me. I simply glare at the back of the girl as she moves away from me, not a care in the world. I followed my Mum and my sister, who was almost skipping as she walked, toward the main lounge area. I can only assume my Mum had mindlinked my Dad to let him know we had arrived, and he said they were there, or else we could spend all day looking around for them! It appeared almost every member of the pack had turned up to celebrate the birthday of Miles Davenport. The lounge area was laden with people, music truly blasting, and everyone seeming to have a good time. Everyone but me. I caught the eye of my brother, leaning against the wall of the lounge, the furthest away from the door we had just walked into. He nodded in my direction before simply turning away. ‘Could have made an effort, Bailey.’ he mindlinked. ‘It is a birthday, not a funeral, you know?’ I felt my heart sink at his words. Great, the insults were starting already, which meant it would only be a matter of time until Miles started too. The two of them seemed to like working together like that. Finding great enjoyment in harassing me. I was only a year younger than both of them, and had desperately hoped the name-calling and insulting would ease off as they got a little older, but if anything, they seemed to get worse. All because I wasn’t like the girls they were interested in, I was sure of it. I wasn’t like the other girls. Made myself an easy target, my Mum told me, all because I enjoyed studying. Liked reading and learning. Said, I only made it harder for myself. The plan was to make it easier for myself by finding a way out… “Jordan says your dress looks like you are going to a funeral, Bailey.” Morgan teased, fluffing up my curls again. My long brown hair fell in thick, unruly curls down my back. They drove me mad at times. Especially when my brother and sister decide to mess with them. “Oh well, I wore a dress, like you asked.” I snapped, moving away from them, feeling angry already, so tempted just to turn around and walk home, only to be pulled back by my Mum. “We are going to wish Miles a happy birthday. You will stay for a while at least. I do not need to be explaining to your Aunt and Uncle yet again why you have walked out on a social event, Bailey.” Mum warned me, her tone sounding grumpy, I swear she had to have read my thoughts on leaving the party already. I am sure she hated having me as a daughter, likely wishing for one that was more sociable, and one that enjoyed being a part of everything, instead of one that would rather have her head in a book. “Awww, Happy Birthday, Miles!” I heard my sister squeal from by my side. I swear she spoke at a pitch so high only dogs could hear. Goddess knows why she is so excited. It is only his birthday. He likely doesn’t even care, he never normally does… As I looked up, his blue eyes were locked on me, I raised my gaze to meet his, and could see his eyes shift to a darker blue… was that his wolf? I see a snarl across his face as he suddenly storms from the room. What was that about? ‘Get out here.’ Miles is suddenly mindlinking me, and I have to say he sounded far from impressed. That, combined with the angry expression on his face, told me something was off. Would he have rather I had not come? Well, he was not the only one… ‘What?’ I questioned, completely confused. Was he annoyed over how I had dressed too? Jeez, it was just a dress. Does it really matter? I would go home if it was. ‘Outside now.’ He demanded once more, sounding even more irritated this time, making me realize I had little choice but to follow his orders, so I snuck away from the ongoing party back to the doors of the packhouse. Only to find Miles pacing along the bottom of the steps, looking a mixture of confused and angry. So why did he need me here? Someone to take his anger out on? I was not willing to be that, I was sure about that… Just as I was about to walk away, he looked up. “Crap took you long enough.” He snapped. I frowned, unsure what this was all about, but it was making no sense to me as I looked down toward him from where I stood at the top of the packhouse steps. His blue eyes shifted to the dark blue once more, like they had inside, taking me by surprise. His wolf is clearly lingering… “What is wrong, Miles? Do you want me to get Jordan?” I asked. “No I do not! I do not want anyone knowing this.” He snarls, a growl slipping from his lips, though whether that was aimed at me or whether his wolf was angry at him, I do not know… “I don’t think I understand…” I began. “You soon will.” He sneers, and I simply look to him in confusion. Nothing he says makes sense to me. Until he continues. “Only today did I realize. The thought makes me sick. Why our own moon goddess would play a trick like this on me, I don’t know. I am an Alpha. An Alpha. I deserve a strong mate. A beautiful mate to be proud of. Not some feeble pathetic wallflower.” My body trembles at his words. No. I had yet to gain my wolf. I did not know this yet. Why… Why him of all people? “I am your fated mate?” I question with a shaky voice. “Are you sure?” “Are you doubting me?” he yells. “And you won’t be. The moment you have your wolf, I will decide when the time is right to reject you.” My heart twists and contorts at the thought. Rejection was meant to be the most painful thing possible. Why would he want to reject the mate chosen for him by our own moon goddess? Am I truly so repulsive? A Year Later Yet another birthday party for our beloved upcoming Alpha. Ha. Not my beloved upcoming Alpha. I hated the man. Breaking my heart without a second thought. What I had done to deserve that I had never got a proper explanation from him. Other than the frequent insults, of why would he want to be with someone like me? Did I look like Luna material to him? I had no clue. What did Luna material look like in his eyes? Some blond bimbo, no doubt. They were the she-wolves he tended to spend his time with within our pack. The ones who worshiped the ground he walked on. That would do anything he asked of them. Ones that I highly doubted read much more than the work set of them at school. “Bailey!” my Mum yelled at me from the stairway of our family home. “Will you hurry up?!” “Do I really need to come to the party?” I responded. “I am telling you, Miles will not be bothered if I am not there!” “Your Aunt and Uncle will be though. And I am not explaining to them again why you are missing.” My Mum continues yelling. “Do you not realize just how many events you have missed this year, all because you have your head in a book?” “Yeah Bai-Bai. Such a geek. No wonder you have no friends.” My sister Morgan giggles from outside my bedroom door. “Piss off.” I hissed. “I have friends.” I stormed from my room, and down the stairs toward my waiting family. I planned to greet the birthday boy, not that he would care in the slightest. I know that he would rather not see me at all. And then I would sneak home. “Ew, are you wearing that?” Morgan asked. I looked down at the skinny black trousers I had on and the white tank top. Great. I can’t win. Nothing I wear is approved of by my sister, evidently named the fashion queen without my knowledge. Oh well, I am dressed and wearing it. I think it looked good with my chunky black sandals I had on… I scowled at my sister and walked out of the door. “Are we going or not?” I snapped at them all, truly not able to wait for the following month when I leave to go to university. Get away from them, and this pack! The party was well underway when we arrived, music pounding from the speakers as couples made out in every available space, so I averted my eyes as we walked through the corridors of the packhouse to the lounge where we would no doubt find Miles reigning over his people. Being all important, like he was partial to considering himself. ‘Why are you here?’ Miles’s voice filled my mindlink, before I had even fully entered the room behind my parents. Great. ‘I didn’t get a choice. Trust me, I would rather not be.’ I snapped back. I was getting more than a little tired of the way he would treat me. Yes, he planned on rejecting me. Decided I was not for him, but he could have left it at that. I didn’t need treating like I was some sort of social pariah because of the fact he decided I was not right for him. I do not think I deserved that. I had endured enough bullying through my time in high school, for the fact I enjoyed my education. ‘Oh. Excuse me? Are you implying you were not going to come to the party of your next Alpha?’ Miles links with some serious attitude. ‘Miles, you just asked why I had bothered coming. Now you are asking if I was not going to come? Make your mind up.’ I argued. ‘Remember who I am Bailey. You are not above me. Never will be. Could have been equal to me at most had I seen you as suitable to be my mate, but no. You were beneath that honor.’ He sneers. I felt anger racing through me. ‘And you think I would not have rejected you?’ I snapped, moving back toward the exit, not wanting to be here anymore. Until I felt a hand grabbing the back of my tank top, yanking me back. My eyes darted upward to see the dark eyes of Miles. Sneering down at me. Our Pack’s upcoming Alpha. The most arrogant man I think I have ever met. One, thankfully, I did not have to be mates with any longer as the stupid had chosen to reject his own fated mate before even giving her a chance. “Going somewhere Bailey?” he asked, his voice full of spite. “Well, I do believe you asked me why I was here, so I assumed you wanted me to leave.” I told him. Miles bows his head down so it is level with mine, he inhales deeply, like he still enjoys the scent of me. He has done this numerous times of late, which I find quite bizarre. But, I ignore him as he tilts his head to look at me, “Hmm, I think my Mum and Dad may have something to say if you leave. Their clever little Bailey. Heaven forbid.” He presses his forehead against mine. “Just stay away from me, and do not spoil my fun.” I shake my head in disbelief at him, as he stalks away. Did he even think for a moment I would be going near him if I could avoid it? I would rather be anywhere but near him! “Bailey, why are you harassing my friend for?” I heard my brother, Jordan demand, as he suddenly approached, causing many people to turn around and look at me. Wonderful. Nothing like starting pack gossip is there. I am sure Miles would appreciate that! “I wasn’t harassing him, he came to speak to me. Asking why I had come.” I told him, and my brother laughed. He is as much an idiot as Miles. Any of my friends who have big brothers hate how protective they are. Me? No, my big brother is the one leading all the bullying and treating me badly. He finds great embarrassment in the fact his younger sister is far from being one of the popular group, and is, in his words, ‘far too into her books’. I think, in all honesty, my entire family found me, in one way or another, a huge embarrassment. “Well, he has a point. Not like you will be joining in with the celebrations. You will probably be sitting in a quiet corner somewhere reading.” He teases. “Well, it is certainly more intellectually pleasing than any of you would be.” I smirked at him as I walked away from my brother who was standing looking confused. I am sure he had no clue what I meant. The scary thing is he will be the next, pack Beta. Heaven help our pack. Between him and Miles they only had one brain cell between them, and that was one that they shared, I am sure of it! And even then, I think it was rechargeable and started losing power and knowledge at a rapid rate! They only graduated high school because they paid people to do their work for them. As I snuck away, out of the busy lounge to the top of the stairway, where I hoped to hide out for as long as possible, I heard footsteps behind me. I quickly turned, hoping it was simply someone on their way to their bedroom or even to one of the spare bathrooms on this floor. But, sadly, luck was not on my side tonight. No. Miles was following me. Eyebrows raised and looking quite irritated. “Oi. I want to talk to you.” he demanded. “You asked me to go away a minute ago, didn’t you?” I asked him. “Don’t think so, think it was more a case of why you were here.” Miles says with a smirk. Sitting on the top step with me. “Miles, you have the whole pack here for your birthday, I am sure whatever you need to speak to me about can wait.” I shrugged, desperately craving peace, which, considering the pounding beat of the music playing, would be difficult. “No. Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” he questions, like he is irate at the fact I had not let him know. Why would I let him know? “Why would I? We aren’t friends, Miles. You also are not my Alpha yet. It was arranged with my parents, me and your Dad, as Alpha.” I explained to him, unsure why this would even bother him. If anything, I would think he would be glad to get rid of me. “You are going away though.” he murmurs. “That is generally what happens when you go to college or university. Yeah.” I said with another shrug. “There wasn’t one closer to home?” he hisses. “Because it seems to me you picked the one furthest away.” “What does it matter to you? You hate me. I won't be here, You get your wish of being rid of me.” I snapped, truly sick of him trying to dictate to me what I should and shouldn’t be doing. I had worked hard in school, so I could do this. My parents had spoken to my Aunt and Uncle, the Luna and Alpha of our pack to allow me special permission to go to a university out of state to study, saying it was what I had dreamed of. I had nothing holding me back. And, with the fact Miles did not want me for his mate, or his Luna, I truly did not. Not that any of them knew of that. That was our own secret. Even despite the pull to him as my mate since my wolf had arrived, I still found him truly repulsive. He sickened me. Though, the pains when he slept with the many she-wolves that visited his bed, made it even easier to detest the man that he had become. I still had no clue what I had done to deserve this treatment from this man, other than not being one of the popular group. But, I knew I deserved better than him. Miles glanced at me, momentarily a thoughtful look passed over his face, almost caring, before a hardness replaced it. “That much is true. No more having to see the disappointing failure the moon goddess made of mating me to you. At least not for a few years. Who knows, perhaps you will meet someone while there. I suggest you do. That way you won’t have to come back, because, I, as Alpha, will be looking for my Luna.” “Miles, I honestly do not care if you find someone else.” I told him, going to stand and head home, not wishing to spend another moment in the same place as him. As I went to move away, he grabbed my hand, pulling me to him, so I was once more sitting level with him on the top step of the first floor landing of our packhouse. “Always so righteous aren’t you Bailey? You say you don’t care? We will see. Well, this will be on my terms. I, Miles Davenport, reject you, Bailey West, as my fated mate…” he began, and my head began to whirl as his words sunk in. The realization and excruciating pain of what was happening becoming too much for me…

My fated mate rejected me at 4 AM in my own kitchen. Best thing that ever happened to me. Because here's what that @sshole didn't know when he called me tr@sh: I'm a gold wolf. The rarest, most powerful wolf alive. And my second chance mate? The Alpha King himself. So to everyone who shoved me in hallways, who laughed, who thought I was nothing— Buckle up. You're about to see what happens when your "weak little nerd" becomes your Queen. "Alaric! Brielle! Caelan! Get down here and eat your breakfast right now!" Mom—Elowyn Emberfang, our pack's Luna—her voice boomed up from downstairs. Oh yeah, forgot to mention—we're triplets. Tomorrow's our eighteenth birthday. Which means two things: we'll find our mates, and at exactly 11:59 PM—the moment we were born—we'll shift for the first time. Most wolves shift between sixteen and eighteen, but we're late bloomers. "The ABC Crew! Last call or you're gonna be late!" That's what Dad calls us when we're dragging our feet—Alaric, Brielle, Caelan. A-B-C. Real creative, Dad. I dragged myself out of bed, rubbed my eyes, and while I brushed my teeth, let me give you the rundown on the three of us. Alaric's the oldest—beat me out by four minutes. He got Dad's build—broad shoulders, all muscle, the kind of guy people just move out of the way for. Skin's that warm bronze from Mom's side, eyes this intense amber that can pin you in place. He keeps his locs tied back, always neat. Girls at the academy throw themselves at him, but Alaric shuts it down every time. Future Alpha of the Emberfang Pack can't just give his heart away to anyone. Still my best friend, though. Not that I'd admit it out loud. I'm number two. Got Dad's coloring—copper skin, eyes like autumn leaves. The Moon Goddess told my parents before we were born that my wolf would be... different. But they never told anyone. Fine by me. I learned early how to make myself invisible. Oversized hoodies even in summer, glasses I don't actually need, hair pulled up and stuffed under my hood. Let them say whatever. Being the weird one beats being stared at. And it's not just about hiding my body—it's about what happens when I shift. What my wolf looks like. That's the real secret. Then there's Brielle. My sister—if you wanna call her that—is gorgeous, I'll give her that. Honey-toned skin, deep brown eyes, hair down to her waist that she spends an hour straightening every morning. But she's also the entire reason I learned to keep my head down. Because Brielle's already claimed the future Alpha from the neighboring pack as hers. The Nightveil Pack's school bvrned down last semester, so now they're sharing space with us at the Emberfang Academy. Which means we see him every single day. Thaddeus Nightveil. I try not to think about him. We finally made it downstairs. Alaric was already good to go—dark jeans, a henley that didn't hide the muscle underneath, boots that cost more than most wolves save up for in months. I looked the same as always: oversized hoodie, baggy joggers, my most beat-up sneakers. Brielle, as usual, was dressed like she had a red carpet appearance—that top was so small you had to squint to call it a shirt, the skirt was basically a wide belt, and she had on four-inch heels. Dad was already by the door, keys in one hand, coffee in the other. "Let's move. Alaric already left." "I am NOT riding with her!" Brielle said, looking at me like I was tr@sh on the sidewalk. Dad didn't even glance up. "You're riding with her. You totaled three cars, Brielle. Deal with it for ten minutes." She whipped around to face me, eyes blazing. "Stay away from me at school! Don't talk to me, don't look at me. Don't even breathe in my direction!" I didn't answer. She's been saying the same stuff to me since we could walk. I slid into the driver's seat of the black Challenger—Dad gave it to me after my last growth spurt, and it's the only thing that makes me feel like I have any power at all—the engine rumbled under my palm. Brielle slammed the passenger door and immediately pulled out her phone, pressing herself against the door like she could teleport away from me if she tried hard enough. Long day ahead. But at least it's Friday. Thank Goddess for that. We got to school. Caelan didn't shut up the entire ride. I pulled the black Challenger into the Alpha kids' reserved spot. Next to me was Alaric's black Charger—he was already here. One spot over sat a deep blue Corvette. Caelan started screaming the second she saw it, so I didn't need to guess whose it was. Thaddeus Nightveil. Future Alpha of the Nightveil Pack. I try to avoid him. No special reason—the guy just hates me for no reason at all. He's the worst bully in this entire school. Bar none. His twin sister Wren's birthday is also tomorrow. My dad and his dad figured they'd just combine the parties—mostly because Caelan's convinced he's her fated mate. Even though Thaddeus treats me like garbage, I have to admit... he's hot. About six-three, same height as Alaric. Blue eyes—yeah, this dark-skinned @sshole has blue eyes that could svck you in if you stared too long. His short hair's always styled in perfect waves, and those tight T-shirts he wears show off abs that are way too defined. Wait. Stop. Brielle, what are you doing. I hate him. He hates me. We're even. I barely made it to my locker before the insults started flying. "Hey fatty, nerd, loser, ug1y, four-eyes—" That's just some of it. They only do this when Alaric's not around. Caelan, her crew, and Thaddeus—those three lead the pack. I don't say anything. They always say "snitches get stitches." Honestly, I'm not scared of them. Dad told me I could take down anyone, even an Alpha. When we spar, I can make him tap out. Thaddeus hates me, but his sister Wren is my best friend. Wren's always trying to get me to dress more girly, wants me to ditch these big-@ss glasses. We're wolves—she knows I don't actually need them. She walked over, threw her arm around my shoulder. "Brielle, you just gonna let them tr@sh-talk you like that? You know you could beat the sh!t out of them. Why put up with it?" I didn't answer. Just grabbed my books from my locker and sighed. "Let's get to class." Wren and I have every class together. She didn't push it, just tightened her arm around my shoulder a little. We walked to class together. Behind us, I could hear Caelan laughing. I pretended I didn't. --- Wren and I walked into the cafeteria. "Wren, why are you hanging out with that loser?" "Hey fatty, you should skip lunch." "Wren, come sit with us and leave that waste of space alone." Everyone was pointing at me, laughing. My eyes bvrned, but I wouldn't let the tears fall—no way I'd give them that satisfaction. Suddenly I wasn't hungry anymore. I turned to run and slammed into something, hitting the floor hard. "Watch where you're fvcking going, ug1y!" Thaddeus yelled, kicking me in the side. "I feel sorry for your future mate. He's gonna take one look at your face and reject you. Who'd want a weak, pathetic, fat four-eyes as a mate? I bet you'll die alone. Look at what you're wearing. Who'd want to be seen with someone like you?" He kept going. Finally kicked me in the face and walked off. I knew it was gonna swell up. I stayed on the floor, didn't move. Just wondering how people could be this cruel. Alaric walked in and saw me lying in the hallway crying. He immediately sat down next to me, pulled me into his arms, voice almost a roar. "Who did this? Brielle, who did this?" Viggo and Cade came over too. Both just as pissed—they've always treated me like a little sister. I didn't answer. Just cried against Alaric. "Brielle, you tell me right fvcking now! Who did this?" Dad was at school, in a meeting with the principal. Something about rogues showing up at the edge of the woods near campus. I didn't want him to see me like this. Someone would end up dead. I hate Thaddeus, but I don't want him to die today. Whether it's Dad or Alaric who does it, he's a dead man. My dad's the kind of Alpha you don't mess with. Piss him off and he'll snap your neck. He never jokes around, especially when it comes to his daughters. Yeah, I'm a daddy's girl. You probably figured that out already. Mom texted saying I could come home. Thank Goddess, I need to get out of this he11hole. Maybe she can get me out of tomorrow's party too. Alpha Alton, Luna Amira, Thaddeus, Wren, and his future Beta Cole and Gamma Lane are all staying on our territory to help set up for the party. Fvck. Why couldn't they just throw the party at their own pack? Caelan's POV I was sitting on Thaddeus's lap, tongue down his throat, when I caught Brielle and his sister walking into the cafeteria out of the corner of my eye. I immediately started tr@shing her. That's how you get the popular kids to accept you. Everyone was laughing. I know she's my sister, I should feel guilty, but I don't. She deserves it. Dad thinks she's so special, treats her like a princess. Yeah, she gets straight A's, does everything Dad tells her to. I know I've screwed up a lot, but fvck, I'm his daughter too. Brielle and Alaric both got new cars for their birthdays, and I'm stuck riding with that b!tch just because I totaled my last three cars. We have money. Dad could easily buy me another one, but he won't. Says I can work a few hours at his company every day like Alaric and Brielle do, save up and buy my own. Fvck that. Why should I have to do that? I'm gonna be Luna of the Nightveil Pack someday. They've got just as much money as we do. We'd just finished humiliating her when she ran out of the cafeteria. She won't tell anyone. I told her if she does, I'll make her life he11. I'll make her pathetic existence even worse than it already is. I can't wait to shift tonight. Legend says one of us three is a gold wolf, with special abilities from the Moon Goddess. I know it's gonna be me. That way my mate and I will be the strongest pair. We'll be a power couple. Brielle's weak and pathetic, so it definitely won't be her. Alaric's too soft, always running after Brielle to check if she's okay. Though maybe that compassion is what'll make him a good Alpha. He's a good brother. But I'm kinda jealous of how close he and Mom and Dad are with Brielle. Just wait. Wait till they find out I'm the gold wolf at the party. --- Luna Elowyn's POV I can't believe the triplets turn eighteen tomorrow. I remember when my mate and his father—he was still Alpha back then—came to my old pack, Ravencrest, to sign a treaty. I was nineteen, daughter of the Beta. Corvin Emberfang was twenty-one. The second our eyes met, we knew we were fated mates. I remember thinking, this gorgeous brown-skinned man is mine. That night after everyone went to sleep, he snuck into my room. We went at it all night. Then the next morning, he rejected me. Said a Beta's daughter wasn't good enough to be his future Luna. "I, Corvin Emberfang, future Alpha of the Emberfang Pack, reject you, Elowyn Ravencrest, as my fated mate and future Luna." I accepted his rejection. What neither of us knew at the time—he wasn't just leaving me. He was leaving three little surprises behind. I was halfway through my pregnancy with the triplets when the Emberfang Pack held a ceremony celebrating Corvin becoming the new Alpha. Beta families had to attend. My parents knew my situation, but I begged them to let me handle it myself, or I'd run away. They were always supportive. I was packing my stuff in the guest room at the Emberfang Pack when Corvin burst in and grabbed my arm, hard enough to scare me. "You let another man touch what's mine?" I yanked my arm away. "I don't belong to you. You gave up that right." His voice got deeper, his eyes darker. I knew his wolf had taken over. "Whose kids are those, Elowyn?" I wasn't scared of him. I was just as pissed as he was. I met his gaze head-on. "The only man I've ever s1ept with—if I'm still willing to call you that—is you. You're the sperm donor for my three kids. You don't get to go near them. You rejected me, which means you rejected them." That day, he completely broke. A single tear slid down his face. Then he jumped out the window, shifted mid-air into that beautiful black wolf of his, and took off into the woods. Thinking back on all this now, I'm busy getting ready to welcome my old pack for the party. I definitely didn't make it easy for him to win me back. I finally forgave him before the kids were born, and we got married. Not necessary for us wolves, but he wanted the pack to know I was his fated mate, and humans to know I was his wife. Eighteen years ago, I officially became Luna of the Emberfang Pack. I love that Alpha to death! Brielle's POV Party day. Four in the morning, wide awake. Eighteen. Can't believe it. Even though I won't shift till 11:59 tonight, I'll be able to sense my fated mate before then. Maybe it'll be someone from Mom's old pack, someone who can get me out of here. I've already got enough credits to graduate early. I'll miss Mom, Dad, Alaric, and Wren, but the rest of those @ssholes? Not one bit. Can't sleep anyway, might as well go downstairs and grab something to eat. Suddenly craving Oreos dunked in milk. Threw on my oversized hoodie and matching baggy pants, ran downstairs. The second my feet hit the first-floor landing, a scent hit me. Best thing I've ever smelled in my life. Musk mixed with my favorite cologne. I know this scent—Alaric wears it too, but this definitely isn't him. I stood there, pinned in place by that scent. Who? I think I'm already in love with him. Then a hand slapped across my face, snapping me out of it. Then fingers wrapped around my throat. Sparks. Those sparks I've been dreaming about, bvrning from his fingertips into my skin. Then I heard the words. Don't know why, but I always knew these words would come someday. "It's you! You're fvcking tr@sh to me. How could the Moon Goddess make this kind of mistake, pairing me with a disgrace like you. You're weak! Ug1y! Fat! No class at all! Just a nerd!" "I'd rather die than be seen with a pathetic b!tch like you! I, Thaddeus Nightveil, future Alpha of the Nightveil Pack, reject you, Brielle Emberfang, as my fated mate and future Luna." Fine. Fated mates are supposed to be loyal, kind. What about those love-at-first-sight stories? I remember Mom telling us the story of how Dad rejected her then won her back. She forgave him, and he's treated her like a queen ever since. But I won't forgive this @sshole. And I won't chase him back—though a heartless piece of sh!t like him probably won't come begging anyway. He already fvcked Caelan, I don't want him. Disgusting. Strange thing is, the rejection didn't hurt like they say it does. Didn't hurt at all. Just pure rage. I yanked his hand off my throat and looked him straight in the eye. "You think I want you? The guy who screwed my b!tch of a sister? The guy who's treated me like sh!t from day one? I, Brielle Emberfang, accept your rejection!" That shocked look on his face. Beautiful. I turned and went back upstairs. Completely forgot about getting snacks. --- Alpha Corvin's POV Sitting in the conference room, still doesn't feel real. My three kids turn eighteen today. Eighteen years ago, I almost lost my beautiful Elowyn. The moment she accepted me again as her fated mate, I became the happiest man alive. Those sparks when we touch still send shivers down my spine. Just thinking about it is making a certain part of me react. Should I go back and get in bed with my sєxy Luna again? Someone's walking toward the office. Getting closer, I recognize Brielle's scent. My girl. I can feel her emotions too. Before she even knocked, I told her to come in. "What's up, princess?" She sighed. "Dad, that offer you made—about me going to the Alpha King's territory to train his female warriors. I accept. They all know I'm the strongest she-wolf alive anyway." "What made you change your mind?" She gave a small smile. "Don't get mad. Thaddeus rejected me. I just don't want to see him at school anymore." I was pissed, but I didn't let her see it. I told her they'd be thrilled she changed her mind. I'd arrange for her to get her diploma early, she could leave Monday morning. I told her to go get ready for tonight's party. She doesn't know the real reason I want her to go. But she'll find out soon enough. That punk rejected her? I'm actually glad. It's all part of the Moon Goddess's plan. Oh yeah, I left a surprise in her room. Tonight my daughter's gonna make everyone's jaws drop and eyes pop out. Her beauty's gonna shine like moonstone tonight.

PERSONAL NIGHTMARE ASTRA The hallway smelled like cheap body spray and desperation. “Is the little piggy gonna cry?” one of the jerks sneered, his voice loud enough to bounce off the lockers. They circled the other girl like hyenas, poking her, laughing when she flinched. I recognized her shaky hands clutching her books to her chest. Same hands I’d seen on myself in the mirror too many times. I pulled my own hoodie up higher, letting the fabric swallow my hair and half my face. Keep moving. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t exist. I knew the rules: if they saw me, I’d be next. And nobody—nobody—ever stepped in when it was my turn. Why should I play the hero now? I took another step. Then a pair of expensive sneakers planted right in front of me. My heart slammed so hard I tasted it in my throat. “Going somewhere, Trash-tra?” That voice. Low, lazy, laced with venom. Zane freaking Ashton. I froze. Of course it was him. The king of this hellhole. Star quarterback. Golden boy. My personal nightmare. He wasn’t with the piggy crowd, he ran with his own pack. Four of them flanked him now, all smirks and letterman jackets, like they’d rehearsed this in the locker room. Zane tilted his head, dark hair falling just over one eye, and flicked my glasses with one long finger. They slid crooked across my nose. “S-stop it,” I whispered. He leaned in closer, mocking my stutter perfectly. “S-stop it.” I hated how my whole body vibrated when he got this close like every nerve remembered every time he’d made me feel small. I hated him. I hated the way the entire school worshipped him. Yes, objectively he was stupidly handsome: sharp jaw, bright green eyes, broad shoulders that filled out that jersey like it was custom-made. But to me? Ugly. Rotten. A walking red flag in cleats. This wasn’t random hallway cruelty. This was personal. I glared up at him through my smudged lenses, channeling every ounce of sass I kept buried deep. “Move.” His lips curved not a smile, more like a predator deciding whether to play with its food. “Or what, Trash-tra? You gonna write me a strongly worded essay?” His friends snickered. One muttered something about “nerd.” My cheeks burned, heat crawling up my neck, but I didn’t drop my stare. I’d learned early: looking away was surrender. The bell rang suddenly, sharp and deafening. Everyone scattered like roaches, rushing to class. I tried to sidestep him. Zane shifted, blocking me effortlessly. He leaned down until his breath brushed my ear, voice dropping so low only I could hear. “Keep walking around like you’re invisible, and maybe one day you will be. But not to me.” A shiver raced down my spine, cold, unwanted, electric. He straightened, smirking like he’d won something, then turned and sauntered off with his squad, leaving me rooted to the spot. The hallway emptied. I sucked in a shaky breath, fingers trembling as I fixed my glasses. “It’s almost over,” I muttered to myself, the words barely audible. “Senior year. One more semester. Then I’m gone.” But deep down, I knew better. Guys like Zane didn’t let things end that easily. The rest of the school day dragged on in a haze of lectures I barely heard and hallways I tried to disappear in. I kept my head down, hoodie up, weaving through corridors and avoiding any spot where Zane or his crew might appear. When the final bell finally rang, I didn’t wait around. I bolted out the side exit, grabbed my scooter from the rack, strapped on my helmet, and slung the delivery bag over my shoulder. I kicked the scooter to life and headed straight to the strip on Maple Street, the busy stretch with the pizza place, burger joint, and coffee shop where orders came fastest after the school rush. It was my daily routine: park near the curb, open the app, wait for the first ping. The city air hit different out here, cooler, freer. My regulars were the only people who ever smiled at me like I mattered. “Extra pepperoni, just how you like it, Mrs. Hannah.” I handed over the warm box at her door. The old lady’s wrinkled face lit up. “You’re a blessing, sweetheart. Here…” She pressed a crumpled five into my palm. “For your trouble.” I tried to wave it off, but she wouldn’t hear it. “Thank you, Mrs. Hannah. Have a good night.” Next stop: Mr. Brown’s apartment on the third floor. He opened the door in his usual bathrobe. “Saved me from another frozen dinner,” he said, chuckling. “You’re keeping me alive, kid.” I laughed—real, for the first time all day. “Happy to help, Mr. Brown.” I ran four more deliveries before the sky turned bruised purple. My legs burned, my throat dry, but every dollar counted. I had no idea this would be my last normal night. When I finally pulled up to our building, my stomach dropped. Everything was outside. Mom’s faded quilt, my textbooks, clothes spilling from ripped bags, a cracked lamp, my old stuffed bear half-buried under papers, scattered across the cracked sidewalk like trash. A couple of little kids from the next building were poking through it, giggling as one held up my old sketchbook. “No—drop that!” I lunged forward, snatching it back. My voice cracked. “That’s mine.” They scampered off, laughing. I knelt, trying to gather things, hands shaking so badly I couldn’t hold anything. The door creaked open. Mrs. Delgado, our landlady, stepped out with her arms crossed, face scrunched in a familiar frown. “Two months, Astra. Two months behind. I warned you.” I stood up fast, heart hammering. “Please, Mrs. Delgado. I’m working every day after school. My mom’s in the hospital, you know that. The bills….” “I know.” She cut me off. “I feel for you, girl. But I got my own bills. This ain’t charity.” People were staring, neighbors on balconies, a guy walking his dog. Heat crawled up my neck. I dug into my pocket, pulled out the crumpled bills from today’s tips, maybe forty bucks total and thrust them toward her. “Please. This is all I have right now. Take it. I’ll get more tomorrow, I swear.” She looked at the money like it insulted her, then snatched it anyway. “Not even close to what you owe.” She pocketed it and turned away. “You’ve got till morning to clear this mess off my property.” The door slammed. I sank to my knees on the cold concrete. Everything hurt, my chest, my eyes, the back of my throat. Tears came hot and fast, silent at first, then choking sobs I couldn’t stop. No one came over. No one asked if I was okay. Neighbors watched from windows, then looked away. I had no friends to call. No aunt, no cousin, no one. Books and TV always gave the lonely girl a secret support squad, but real life didn’t work that way. At Harrington Academy, the fancy private school I’d clawed my way into at thirteen after winning that stupid statewide science competition—nobody had ever really wanted me around. The scholarship covered tuition, not belonging. My one almost-friend freshman year drifted away when her real friends decided I was too “weird.” Too raggedy. Too poor. I stopped trying after that. I started packing what I could salvage into my backpack and two grocery bags, clothes, books, Mom’s favorite scarf, the bear. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. An old voice behind me. “Child, you got somewhere to put all this?” Mrs. Rivera, the elderly lady from 3B. She leaned on her cane, eyes soft. I sniffed, wiped my face on my sleeve. “No. I… I don’t.” She sighed. “Bring what you can carry up to my place. I got space in the closet. Come get it tomorrow or the next day when you figure things out.” I stared at her, throat too tight to speak. “Thank you,” I managed. We hauled what we could, two trips. She didn’t ask questions, just patted my arm when we finished. I slung the heaviest bag over my shoulder and started walking. No money for bus fare, but the hospital wasn’t far. Three miles. I could do three miles. The streets blurred past. My sneakers slapped pavement, shoulders aching. By the time I reached St. Mary’s, the sky was full dark. Nurses at the entrance gave me weird looks, a girl with bags, tear-streaked face. I didn’t care. I found Mom’s room on autopilot. Fluorescent lights buzzed. She was asleep, small and pale under the thin blanket, IV dripping slowly. She didn’t stir when I came in. Dr. Ray was in the hall, clipboard in hand. He saw me and his face changed—concern, then alarm. “Astra? What’s going on?” I opened my mouth. Nothing came out at first. Then the dam broke. I slid down the wall, bags tumbling, and just… bawled. Ugly, wrenching sobs that echoed down the corridor. Everything poured out—the eviction, the money, the stuff on the sidewalk, Mom not remembering my name last week, how I was failing her, failing everything. Dr. Ray knelt beside me, voice low and steady. “Hey. Hey, breathe. Tell me what happened.” But all I could do was cry harder, because saying it out loud made it real. And I wasn’t sure I could survive real anymore. NEW JOB ASTRA Dr. Ray’s office smelled like disinfectant and stale coffee. I sat across from him, clutching the handkerchief he’d handed me, pressing it hard against my eyes until the fabric was damp. My voice came out small and shaky. “Everything is too much,” I whispered. “I’m really trying my best, juggling three part-time jobs with school and Mom’s hospital bills and rent and everything else. I just… I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” Dr. Ray stayed quiet for a moment, letting me breathe. He leaned forward slightly, his expression steady, patient — the way he always looked when delivering bad news. “You’ve been carrying more than most adults,” he said gently. “Anyone in your position would feel overwhelmed.” A weak laugh slipped out of me. “I must look terrible.” “You look exhausted,” he replied calmly. “Not terrible.” His voice was kind, but professional — the reassuring tone of a doctor, not someone crossing a line. He slid the tissue box closer across the desk. I wiped my face quickly, trying to pull myself together. “I’ll figure something out,” I said. “I’ll take more shifts. Maybe another job after school. Even if I have to drop out—” The words caught in my throat. Dropping out. After four years at Harrington Academy. After fighting so hard to stay there. I swallowed hard. “And… my mom,” I asked quietly. “Is she getting any better?” Dr. Ray exhaled slowly and leaned back in his chair. “The prognosis hasn’t changed,” he said. “Early-onset Alzheimer’s progresses differently for everyone, but her memory loss is accelerating. She’s having more confusion episodes, and physically she’s starting to struggle — balance, coordination. The medication can slow things down, but it can’t reverse the disease.” My chest tightened. Tears slid silently down my cheeks again. He paused, then added carefully: “And the hospital can’t continue extending credit much longer. I’ve advocated for you as far as I can, but the billing department will need payment soon. Otherwise, they’ll begin discharge planning.” The words landed like bricks. I stared down at the floor. “I understand,” I whispered. Silence settled between us for a few seconds. Then Dr. Ray shifted in his chair, his tone changing slightly — more practical now. “There may be another option,” he said. My head snapped up. “What kind of option?” “A job,” he replied. “A live-in position.” My heart skipped. He continued: “I know a family — very wealthy, very private. They come here regularly for treatment. They’re looking for someone responsible to stay in their home and help care for their children. The pay is generous. And it includes housing.” Housing. A place to sleep. My spine straightened instantly. “Yes,” I said, breathless. “Yes, I’m interested.” He studied my face for a moment, making sure I understood. “They’re particular people,” he said. “They value privacy and discretion. Not everyone is comfortable in that environment.” “I don’t mind,” I said quickly. “I just need the job.” Another pause. Then he nodded. “All right,” he said, reaching for his phone. “Let me call them.” My fingers curled tightly in my lap as he stepped to the side of the room. My pulse hammered in my ears. Please. Please let this work. I listened to fragments of the conversation: “Yes… I have someone suitable… Responsible, hardworking… Final-year student… Yes, she can start immediately.” A short pause. Then he ended the call and turned back toward me. “You got the job,” he said. For a second, I just stared at him. Then the tears came again — not from fear this time, but relief. I pushed out of the chair and hugged him without thinking. He stiffened in surprise for half a heartbeat, then gently patted my shoulder — formal, reassuring. “It’s going to be okay,” he said. And for the first time in days, I believed it. **** “Relax,” he said again, softer this time. “They’re going to love you.” “I’m… relaxed,” I lied. He chuckled. “No you’re not. That foot-tapping has been going for the last ten minutes.” I looked down, my left foot was drumming against the floor mat like it had its own heartbeat. I pressed my palm hard against my thigh to stop it. “Sorry.” “You have nothing to be sorry for. Everything’s going to be fine.” He glanced at the bags between my legs. “And is that everything you need?” “Well, yes, most of my things. I don’t really have much, and the rest of my stuff is with Mrs. Rivera, one of my neighbors. If I start this job, hopefully I can keep some of it in the room they give me, and the others I can pick up later when I get paid.” Dr. Ray nodded once, eyes on the road. “You will,” he said calmly. “This job pays well enough that you won’t have to worry about storage fees or losing anything. Just focus on settling in tonight.” I nodded, but my stomach stayed knotted. The city lights blurred past the window, and every mile felt like it was pulling me further from the life I knew. Dr. Ray’s hands tightened slightly on the wheel. “They’re… particular about who they let in,” he said quietly. “Just be careful what you ask about.” I blinked. “What do you mean?” He shook his head, eyes forward. “Nothing. Just… trust me on this one.” That didn’t make me feel better. We turned off the main road onto a quieter street lined with tall trees. Then the gate appeared, black iron, massive, with a gold crest at the top. It slid open automatically as we approached, smooth and silent. My breath caught. “Oh my god…” Dr. Ray gave a soft huff of amusement. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s the reaction most people have the first time.” We rolled through the gate and up a long, curving driveway lit by soft lanterns. The mansion rose ahead of us, three stories of pale stone, arched windows glowing warm gold, ivy climbing the walls like it had been there forever. It didn’t look like a house. It looked like a place with rules. I turned to him. “How rich are these people?” He smiled faintly. “Rich enough,” he said. “Come on.” He parked near the fountain in the circular drive. I grabbed my bags, heart hammering, and followed him up the wide stone steps to the double oak doors. They opened before we even knocked. A beautiful blond woman stood in the doorway, tall, elegant, wearing a cream silk blouse and jeans that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. Her posture was straight, composed, like she was used to being obeyed. Behind her, a man in a crisp black suit, definitely a butler, stepped aside silently. “Ray,” she said warmly, stepping forward to hug him. “Elira,” he replied. “Good to see you.” Then her gaze shifted to me. She didn’t smile immediately. She looked. Slowly. Carefully. Taking in my clothes, my shoes, the bags in my hands. Then, at last, her lips curved. “You must be Astra.” I swallowed. “Good evening, ma’am.” “Oh,” she said softly, studying my face. “You’re very pretty.” The compliment didn’t feel casual. It felt like an observation. “Come in,” she said. “Please.” We stepped inside. The foyer alone was bigger than my old apartment. Marble floors. A chandelier the size of a small car. Fresh flowers arranged on every surface perfectly spaced, perfectly placed, not a single petal out of line. Everything looked beautiful and…….controlled. As Elira led us down the hallway, my eyes caught on a closed door at the far end. There was a lock on it. Old, heavy and out of place in a house this polished. She noticed where I was looking. Her smile came quickly. A fraction too quickly. “That’s just storage,” she said smoothly. “Nothing to worry about.” I nodded. But something in my chest tightened anyway. She led us into a living room with plush cream sofas, a roaring fireplace, and a long glass table covered in food, trays of macarons, tiny sandwiches, fruit tarts, chocolate-dipped strawberries, little cakes. Everything was arranged perfectly. Too perfectly. “Help yourselves,” Elira said, gesturing gracefully. My mouth watered, but my stomach twisted too hard to eat. Dr. Ray picked up a macaron and popped it into his mouth like this was completely normal. Elira sat across from us, crossing her legs neatly. “So, Astra,” she said. “Tell me about yourself. You have experience caring for children, yes?” I sat up straighter. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve babysat for my neighbors, younger kids, sometimes infants. I’m good with routines, feeding, bedtime stories, homework help. I’ve never had any complaints.” She listened without interrupting, her expression thoughtful but unreadable. “That’s good,” she said. “What school do you attend? Ray mentioned you’re in your final year.” “Harrington Academy.” Her brows lifted slightly. “My boys go there too.” I blinked. “Boys?” “Yes,” she said. “Three. One is in his final year just like you. The other two are twins. Eight years old.” A senior and two little boys. Manageable. Hopefully. She continued asking questions about schedules, discipline, cooking, schoolwork, routines. Each one calm. Precise. Like she was checking boxes in her head. Then she paused. “And your family?” she asked gently. Her gaze stayed steady on mine. “Who would expect you home in the evenings? Anyone who might object to you living here?” My throat tightened. “It’s just me,” I said. “My mom’s in the hospital. Early-onset Alzheimer’s. I’m her primary contact, but I can manage my time. I always do.” Silence settled between us. She studied me now not politely. Carefully. Evaluating. “And you won’t bring drama into my home?” she asked softly. “No boyfriends or distractions?” Heat crept up my neck. “No, ma’am. I don’t really… have time for that.” A flash of Zane’s face crossed my mind, those green eyes always finding me in a crowd. I shoved the thought away. Another pause. Long enough for my palms to start sweating. Finally, she leaned back. “You understand,” she said slowly, “this is not just babysitting.” My chest tightened. “My family values privacy. Loyalty. Discretion. If you live here, you represent this household.” I nodded quickly. “I understand.” Silence again. Heavy and measured. Then she leaned forward slightly, studying me one last time. The room felt too quiet. Then…. She smiled. “You’re hired.” My breath caught. “The position pays five thousand dollars a month, room and board included,” she continued. “I will also authorize a two-thousand-dollar advance tonight so you can handle any urgent expenses.” Five thousand. A month. My hands trembled. She slid a folder across the table. “This is the contract,” she said. “Take a look.” I lifted it carefully. The pages felt thick, Official and Important. My eyes skimmed the lines, live-in duties, childcare, confidentiality, no outside jobs without permission. The pen hovered over the paper. Just for a second. Then I signed. Elira took the contract back, her smile warm. Satisfied. “Welcome to the Ashton family, Astra.” Ashton. The name hit me like ice water. Zane Ashton. I had just signed my life away… to the house of the boy who made mine hell. INSTABILITY ASTRA “This is going to be your room,” Elira said as she pushed open the door and led me inside. My breath caught. The bedroom was bigger than any room I had ever seen or been in. Soft cream walls. A massive queen bed piled with white linens that looked untouched. A wide window overlooking the dark garden. An ensuite bathroom. There was a sleek desk by the window, a side table with a lamp glowing warm gold, and a velvet chaise in the corner like something from a magazine. A closed door on the far wall probably led to a walk-in closet. Everything smelled faintly of lavender and new paint. I stood frozen in the doorway, bags still dangling from my shoulders, feeling like I had stepped into someone else’s dream. Elira watched me quietly, a small, knowing smile touching her lips. “It’s sparse right now,” she said. “But you can decorate however you like. The walls were painted recently, so no nails for now. But you may add plants, posters whatever makes it feel like yours. This is your space while you’re here.” My throat tightened. No one had ever given me permission to make anything mine before. “Thank you,” I managed. “I… I don’t even know where to start.” “You will.” She stepped back toward the door, then paused. Her posture shifted slightly, the warmth still there, but something firmer settling underneath it. “But before I leave you to settle in,” she continued, tone gentle but unmistakably serious, “there are a few rules you’ll need to follow.” I nodded quickly. My glasses slid down my nose. “Of course. Anything.” She raised one manicured finger. “First: privacy is sacred in this house. You do not enter rooms that are closed or locked. You do not ask questions about matters that do not concern you. If something feels… off, you come to me or my husband. Not the boys or staff. Me.” The locked door from earlier flashed in my mind. The heavy metal latch. Her too-quick smile. “Understood,” I said. She studied my face for a moment, making sure. Then she continued. “Second: the twins come first. Always. If they wake at two in the morning because of a nightmare, you respond immediately. No complaints or delays.” Her voice softened slightly. “They have had enough instability already.” I wondered what kind of instability she meant. “Third,” she said, meeting my eyes again, “no outside drama. No friends staying over. No boyfriends sneaking in. No posting about this house or this family online. What happens here stays here.” The way she said it didn’t feel like a request. It felt like a boundary carved in stone. Heat crept up my neck. “I don’t have anyone to bring over,” I said quietly. “And I don’t really post much.” She held my gaze for a long beat. Weighing. “Good,” she said at last. Then she stepped slightly closer. “Fourth and this is the most important one.” Her voice dropped just enough to pull my full attention. “Zane can be… difficult. He is protective of his brothers and of this house.” My stomach flipped. This was his house. Zane Ashton’s house. The boy who made my life miserable. “But if he pushes your boundaries,” she continued calmly, “or treats you unkindly, you come to me immediately. Do not attempt to handle him alone.” The word difficult landed like a stone in water. “Yes, ma’am,” I said automatically, then winced at how small my voice sounded. Her lips curved slightly not quite a smile. “I expect you can follow the rules,” she said. “I can,” I replied. She reached out and squeezed my shoulder lightly. The touch felt almost maternal, reassuring. “You’re going to do well here, Astra. Get some rest. The twins will be up early tomorrow, and they will be very excited to meet you.” She turned to leave, then paused in the doorway. “Oh… one more thing.” Her eyes flicked briefly toward the closet door. “If you hear anything strange at night, footsteps, doors opening it is likely just the house settling. Old homes make noise.” A small smile returned to her face. “Don’t worry about it.” She stepped out and closed the door softly behind her. The click sounded louder than it should have. I stood there for a long moment, heart thudding unevenly. The room was beautiful. The bed looked soft enough to swallow me whole. The air smelled clean and expensive. But her last words lingered. If you hear anything strange at night… I set my bags down slowly. Then I crossed the room. My hand hovered over the closet handle. ***** I stepped out of the shower with a small smile. I had spent nearly an hour under the hot spray, letting the steam wash away the day’s grime and fear. The bathroom was ridiculous, marble tiles, rainfall showerhead, heated towel rack. I wrapped myself in one of the fluffy white towels and padded back into the bedroom. The room felt less overwhelming now. Almost… mine. My gaze drifted back to the closet door. It had been staring at me since Elira left. I sighed, shook out my damp hair, and crossed to my bags. I pulled out my faded pajamas, an oversized T-shirt and soft shorts that had seen better days and slipped them on. Comfortable. That was all that mattered. Then I turned back to the closet. I counted to three. Then I opened it. The door swung silently. Inside: rows of empty shelves, hanging rods bare, a full-length mirror on the back wall. A faint scent of cedar and nothing else. No boxes. No secrets. Just space. Normal. I exhaled slowly. Maybe I was being paranoid. My phone buzzed on the side table. One new message from Dr. Ray. Ray: You settled in okay? If anything feels off, call me. Anytime. You’re not alone in this. A grateful smile tugged at my lips. Me: Thank you, the room is beautiful. I’m okay. Really grateful for everything. I hit send. My stomach growled loudly. I pressed a hand against it. I had barely eaten all day. Elira had said the kitchen was open. Still… it was late. The house felt too quiet. But hunger won. I slipped on my socks so my footsteps wouldn’t echo, cracked the bedroom door, and listened. Silence. I padded down the hallway past closed doors and expensive paintings. The staircase curved into shadow below. Just fruit. In and out. The kitchen was massive, gleaming counters, double ovens, a refrigerator that looked like it belonged in a showroom. Moonlight spilled through tall windows, turning everything silver. Then I saw it. A plate on the counter. Covered in foil. A sticky note sat on top. Astra in case you're hungry. Heat it if you like. — E My chest tightened. She had remembered. She had expected me. I peeled back the foil. Steam drifted upward. Grilled chicken. Roasted vegetables. Creamy mashed potatoes. A small salad. It smelled incredible. I blinked quickly. Don’t cry. I carried the plate to the microwave and set the timer. Then I turned to the fridge. Rows of labeled containers. Fresh fruit. Yogurts. Juices. I grabbed the orange juice and searched for a glass. The cabinets were high. I stretched onto my tiptoes and pulled one open. The hinge creaked softly. Then…. A voice cut through the silence behind me. Cold, sharp and familiar. “Who the hell are you… and what are you doing?” I froze. Every muscle locked. I knew that voice. I had hoped, prayed even that I wouldn’t have to see him until morning. But he was here. Now. And standing right behind me. NOT OVER ZANE I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine, the low rumble dying into silence. Stepping out, I rolled my shoulder, feeling the ache from practice still buried deep in the muscle. The house was dark except for the soft glow of the security lights. Everyone was asleep or at least they should have been. I fished the spare key from my pocket, unlocked the door, and slipped inside. The foyer was dead quiet, marble cold beneath my sneakers. I was halfway to the stairs when a soft rustle drifted from the kitchen. I stopped. Not loud. Just… movement. I knew this house. Knew the hum of the fridge, the settling groans in the walls, the old pipes knocking at night. This wasn’t that. Mom would never be in the kitchen this late. Dad wasn’t home. The twins were out before nine, and the staff knew better than to wander around after midnight unless something was wrong. So who the hell was in there? My pulse kicked up. I eased my backpack off one shoulder, set it silently against the wall, and moved toward the kitchen doorway. I reached the threshold. There she was. Back to me, standing on tiptoe in front of an open cabinet, reaching for a glass she couldn’t quite grab. Short. Curvy. Dressed in an oversized T-shirt and faded shorts. Hair damp and clinging to the back of her neck. I didn’t recognize her at first. “Who the hell are you,” I said, voice low and sharp, “and what are you doing?” She froze. Then she turned. And my whole body went still. Astra Hawthorne. Trash-tra? For one second, I genuinely thought I was hallucinating. Her eyes went huge behind those stupid glasses. “I…I’m not stealing,” she stammered. I stared at her, my brain refusing to catch up. Astra. In my kitchen. In my house. At midnight. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I snapped, stepping closer. “How did you get in?” She gripped the edge of the counter. “I live here……now” I laughed, short and disbelieving. “You live here?” Her chin lifted, shaky but stubborn. “Elira hired me. I’m the new live-in babysitter for your brothers.” The words hit like a punch to the throat. Astra Hawthorne. Sleeping under my roof, walking my halls, and touching things in my house like she belonged here. My jaw clenched. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” “I’m not,” she said, trying for steady even though her hands were shaking. “I signed the contract. I’m staying.” I moved closer until she had to lean back against the counter. “You think you can just walk into my house and act like you belong here?” I said quietly. Her breath caught, but she didn’t look away. “I’m not acting. I was hired.” My gaze flicked to the counter. Foil-covered plate. My mother’s handwriting on the note. Astra followed my stare. “She left food for me,” she said. “I have permission to be here.” That made something ugly twist in my chest. I planted one hand on the counter beside her, boxing her in without touching her. “You will go upstairs,” I said, each word clipped, “pack your things, and tell my mother this isn’t happening.” Her throat bobbed. Then she said, “No.” I let out a harsh laugh. “You think that was a suggestion?” Her eyes flashed. “I’m not leaving because you told me to.” That answer lit a fuse. My hand shot out before I could think. I grabbed a fistful of her damp hair and yanked her head back hard. “Ahhh,” She gasped and then let out a low groan of pain as her neck arched, exposing the soft line of her throat. “You don’t belong here,” I said. “You didn’t belong at school, and you sure as hell don’t belong here.” Pain flickered across her face, quick and sharp, but it didn’t break her. She swallowed and whispered, “That’s not your decision.” For a second, I just looked at her. At the trembling shoulders. The fear in her eyes. The stupid, stubborn way she still held my stare. Then the kitchen lights snapped on. “What is going on here?” My mother’s voice cut through the silence like glass. I straightened immediately, stepping back half a pace but not taking my eyes off Astra. Mom stood in the doorway in a silk robe, her face calm in that way that meant she was furious. “Zane,” she said. “Why are you cornering her?” “I don’t want her here,” I said flatly. “Get rid of her.” Mom walked farther into the kitchen, placing herself between us. “She is staying,” she said. I looked over her shoulder at Astra. She was still pressed against the counter, breathing too fast, one hand braced behind her, her face pale. “This thing?” I said coldly. “She has a name,” Mom replied. “And she works for this family now.” I laughed once, bitter. “You hired her? Seriously?” “Yes,” she said. “And you will treat her with basic respect.” Astra looked like she wanted to disappear into the floor, but her chin was up again. That look got under my skin. Still scared and shaking but refusing to fold. I stepped back fully, hands flexing at my sides. “Fine,” I said, voice low. “Let her stay.” My gaze locked on Astra one last time. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I turned and walked out of the kitchen. I could feel her staring after me. And deep in my gut, I knew this wasn’t over. Not even close.