CINDY'S POV

"Breaking news: Alpha Luis Fenrir, leader of the respected Fenrir Pack, turned thirty today! It's time for him to choose a Luna, and his mansion is reportedly overflowing with single women vying for the position. Who will be the lucky lady to become the next Luna of the Fenrir Pack?"

The radio reporter's announcement filled the room as I mopped the floor.

"Move it, Cinderella!" my adoptive mother, Aunt Jezel, snarled, kicking the bucket of water.

The black water splashed, soaking the thick living room rug. This enraged Aunt Jezel further, and she ordered me to clean it immediately.

I spent the entire morning cleaning the house and scrubbing the rug. Her twin daughters, Stephany and Jenny, were occupied with frivolous activities. Stephany slept most of the day, while Jenny was out flirting in the park.

They're twenty-five, my age, and should be helping with the housework, but Aunt Jezel tolerates their laziness. I do all the chores—cooking, cleaning, washing, and grocery shopping—as if I were their maid. It's physically and mentally exhausting, but I can't leave.

Every day is like slavery. I wake before sunrise to boil water for their baths, chop wood for the fire, and carry buckets of water. Then I clean the house, only to have it dirtied again by Aunt Jezel's judgmental friends who lounge around all day. Her daughters devour everything I cook, leaving me with only scraps. At night, I sleep not in the large bedroom my father built for me, but in the stables, amidst the smell of horse manure.

After my father's death and his marriage to Aunt Jezel, she seized his money and manipulated him into leaving his will in her favor, ensuring I received nothing. She even manipulated him into giving her ownership of this house.

The bottom line: I'm broke and have nowhere else to go.

"When will my luck change, little mouse?" I whispered to my only companion, a white mouse.

Like the mouse, I feel like a pest in this house, an unwanted guest. I cry myself to sleep every night. Despite the pain and heartache, there was this one boy I truly loved: Henry Fenrir, our neighbor and Alpha Luis' nephew.

We were friends for three years, lovers for two. But Jenny seduced him one night during a large celebration at Henry's mansion. Everyone in town was invited, including me, but Aunt Jezel forbade it.

"Why would a trash like you be welcomed in the Fenrir mansion? Stop dreaming, brat. You'll end up dead like your mother, unloved."

Her cruelty was so hurtful I didn't try to sneak out to attend the party.

The next day, I snuck out at 3 p.m. to meet Henry at our usual spot at the forest's edge, where he taught me to control my wolf, use my strength and be intimate with each other.

But he didn't show up for five days. Worried, I secretly went to his house and found him in the garden with Jenny sitting on his lap. Worse, when Jenny saw me, she smirked and kissed him—and he kissed her back.

I ran home and cried on my straw bed in the stables.

The next morning, I was surprised to see Henry at our house, dressed in a formal suit, a stark contrast to my ragged clothes and messy bun. I thought he was visiting me, but then Jenny appeared, caressing her flat stomach.

"I'm pregnant with Henry's heir," she announced.

Everyone rejoiced, but not me. I wanted to confront them. My wolf urged me to transform in anger, but I controlled myself. I have no right to demand anything from him. I'm nothing.

The cheers were interrupted by a knock. Aunt Jezel opened the door to a messenger in a cloak who handed her an envelope.

Aunt Jezel opened it and read aloud: "Congratulations, Lunaris family. You are invited to a party at Alpha Luis' mansion to participate in the Night of Finding the Luna. Please wear formal attire and present any eligible young ladies in your household for the Alpha's selection. You might even be the one he seeks."

Stephany and Jenny squealed, saying how much they wanted to attend. But they abruptly stopped when I blurted out that I also wanted to go.

"What?" Aunt Jezel asked, disbelief written on her face. "Clean the house and cook. A slave couldn't be the Alpha's Luna."

CINDY'S POV

The day of the party arrived. It was held at 7:00 in the evening. All the beautiful single ladies in town wore their extravagant dresses for the alpha's attention.

Aunt Jezel and her daughters were busy all day preparing their dresses and applying makeup. Meanwhile, I spent my mornings cleaning and cooking again.

"Can I go to the party, Aunt Jezel?" I asked again as I knelt and fastened the high-heeled sandals on her foot.

"You?" she laughed. "A stupid, ugly servant attending a party hoping Alpha Luis will choose you? Don't be foolish, Cindy. No one will love you."

Her daughters laughed. Then, Stephany spilled the glass of orange juice I had freshly squeezed, at her request, and ordered me to clean it up.

"Whose dress is this?" Jenny asked, seeing a cheap, unflattering dress in the kitchen.

"I-it's mine."

Even if I hadn't told them the truth, the sisters would have ripped it up. I tried to stop them, but my dress was quickly torn. I cried. It was handmade. How could they be so heartless?

When night fell, the three of them went out in an automobile. I watched them from the window, filled with anguish and sorrow.

But as I cried, there was a knock on the door. I wiped my tears and opened it to see a beautiful lady in a white dress and radiating presence. She glowed so brightly I was almost blinded.

It was the moon goddess.

"Don't cry, Cindy," she said. "Come outside. Attend the party."

"B-but I can't. I don't have a dress. I don't even know where to rent an automobile."

She smiled, gently took my hand, and led me outside. There, I saw a shining black automobile with a private driver. The moon goddess held a beautiful blue dress with small butterfly sleeves.

"Wear this and capture Alpha Luis' heart."

My heart leaped with joy as the automobile stopped in front of Alpha Luis' mansion. Many people were ascending the huge staircase to the entrance. My mouth gaped. The mansion was so large it seemed like a castle.

"Cindy, be authentic. Spread love. Alpha Luis will choose you as his Luna. But remember, come back home before midnight strikes or else, the dress, the automobile, the private driver, everything I lend to you will vanish," the moon goddess reminded me.

I was overwhelmed when I went inside. There were so many people that I bumped elbows with others constantly.

Suddenly, a bell rang. Everyone stopped talking, eating, or walking. We all faced the top of the grand staircase where Alpha Luis stood. Even from a distance, I sensed his dominating aura. He exuded authority.

My heart pounded as he slowly descended the stairs.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, I will choose my Luna. I have traveled the world to find her, but to no avail. Tonight, these beautiful ladies will have the chance to show me they are worthy to be my mate."

The girls squealed and rushed to the front to line up. Seeing Stephany approaching, I quickly moved forward with the girls to hide. But then there was a commotion. The girls stampeded. I couldn't breathe so I struggled to get to the front for a space. And suddenly, I found myself falling at Alpha Luis' feet.

I stiffened at the sight of his boots. Looking up, my breath hitched. I noticed his pupils dilated and his eyes widen.

My wolf, Citi, thrashed. She became restless, and her howls nearly shattered my ears when I looked at him.

Then, a pair of arms helped me up. Alpha Luis raised me to my feet. When our eyes met, I heard Citi whisper, "mate.

"You're my mate," I heard Alpha Luis say.

I could feel the eyes of the people on me. They gasped and murmured, wondering who I was.

"Is she from here?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen her in our town."

"Maybe she's a witch."

Everyone's attention was on me. I wanted to leave, but I heard a familiar voice.

"I know her," Aunt Jezel said, stepping forward from the crowd. "She is my stepdaughter. She is the one who killed her father."

The crowd was shocked, especially Alpha Luis. Was she trying to portray me as a villain in front of him?

CINDY'S POV

"No, I didn't," I retorted.

I looked at my stepmother, who was surprised to see me fighting back this time.

"How can an 8-year-old kill an adult? As a matter of fact, you were with him when I found him lying on the floor unconscious."

"How dare you—"

"Enough," Alpha Luis cut Aunt Jezel off. He stepped in front of me to protect me from her.

"Don't accuse without proof. If you won't respect this event, you may leave now. Guards!"

In a second, two guards grabbed her arms and dragged her away. People moved aside to give way as Aunt Jezel tried to break free from their grip and screamed at the top of her lungs.

Stephany and Jenny ran towards their mother, hoping they could talk the guards into releasing her.

When the three were cast outside, the atmosphere of the mansion slowly returned to normal. The music continued, people talked, and Luis and I danced the night away. Everyone watched us as we devoured the wide space in the center with the gracefulness of our dance.

After our dance, Luis and I went to the balcony, where no one else was present. It was just the two of us. We talked under the full moon, sharing childhood memories and secrets that strengthened our connection.

But I heard a bell ring again. I remembered what the moon goddess said. When Luis said it was already 12 o'clock, I hurriedly excused myself and ran outside the mansion.

"Please tell me what your name is."

I heard Luis ask from the entrance, but I couldn't answer him because I was already running down the stairs while holding my dress up. I noticed my necklace slipped and fell on one of the stairs. I was about to retrieve it, but I saw Luis running down to stop me from leaving, so I left the necklace and ran towards my waiting automobile.

When I arrived home, a painful slap to the face greeted me.

"You, bitch! Making me embarrassed tonight? Is it because Alpha Luis is your mate, so you think you're superior now!?" Aunt Jezel shouted at me.

Jenny stepped forward, pointing at my cheap, worn, tattered clothes. The beautiful gown I wore was gone, and I was back in my old clothes. "And look at you. You're a piece of trash. You shouldn't belong here, Cindy. You should be grateful mom adopted you, so you should show some manners."

"You're nothing like your pet mice," Stephany interjected. "Both of you are pests in this household."

They were so angry that they started pulling my hair and slapping my face. I cried so much I almost couldn't breathe. I yelled for help, but no one came. Our house is far from our neighbors.

But they weren't satisfied. They put me in the dark storage room with nothing but old, broken furniture; dust and cobwebs were everywhere. They imprisoned me there.

"Let me out!" I yelled as I banged my fist on the door, but all I could hear was laughter from the other side.

That night, I cried until I fell asleep.

———

ALPHA LUIS' POV

I need to find the girl I danced from the party who also owned the necklace. I know she's my mate. My wolf is reacting to her presence, and for some unexplainable reason, I'm drawn to her. I want to protect her.

So I went to her residence, Lunaris family. My messenger indicated this is where she lives.

"Alpha Luis! What brings you here?" A middle-aged widow greeted me at the door. "Was it for my daughters, Stephany and Jenny?"

Her daughters, who were obviously lazy and nosy, peeked out from beside the door.

"No, I came here for your stepdaughter."

The lady frowned. "Who? Cindy?"

I didn't know her name yet, but maybe it's Cindy. "Yes," I said, unsure.

The lady frowned. "Oh, dear, Alpha. After she disrespected me last night, she went home and packed her things. She said she's going to your mansion to marry you for your money. I tried to reason with her, but she said it was her chance to escape this poor life since she had effectively seduced you that night."

What the lady said made me uneasy. My mate was after my money? Is that why she didn't tell me her name last night?