Amber was tortured by her father, who was the Alpha of the Brimsard Bay Pack and her sister for being born with a bad luck that killed her mother when she was born. She was banished from the packhouse at a small age and her wolf died fighting a major battle for her pack. Her only hope, her boyfriend Cooper also betrayed her and married his sister for power. Now left with nothing, Amber had no choice but to marry the most dangerous beast of the Valeford pack. He is known to kill women who don't have a wolf, so Amber has to keep it a secret. But he has a secret of his own--she's his mate. So even if Amber tries to escape his clutches, he won't let het go.

He smirked, "Yes. Everyone calls me Ray. You can call me that. Or if you prefer something else, you can go with darling, baby, or..." he stepped closer and whispered in my ear, "You can call me daddy when I fuck you."

AMBER

“I, Cooper Stone, heir of Alpha Donald Stone, of the Drevine pack, reject you, Amber Blackwaters of the Brimsard Bay pack, as my rightful mate.” His eyes burned with hatred and a blood-curdling scream left my lips as I dropped on the floor, my legs feeling weak under the load of his rejection.

I couldn’t breathe. Tears blurred my vision as I felt the burning pain on my shoulder blade where his mark was.

This was supposed to be my special day. The day I got married to my boyfriend, Cooper. I had entered the venue in hope of starting a new life with him until I found out that he was getting married, but to my sister.

I didn’t miss the disgust and disappointment in his eyes when I looked up. Those green eyes I got lost in used to hold so much warmth in them.

Cooper and I were together for a couple of years before he proposed to marry me. He was the son of the Alpha of Drevine–also known as the West pack of Elmstone.

We weren’t mates, but that didn’t stop me from loving him. Mates were rare in our world and hard to find, so people ended up with the people they fell in love with. He had marked me and I thought our bond would last forever. Never did I imagine he would reject the bond as if it meant nothing.

My lips quivered as I asked, "Why?" I looked directly at those eyes that had both given me hope and shattered it. “Why did you betray me like this?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes flashing with rage, “You dare to call me a betrayer, you unlucky, murderous freak! I am the one betrayed by a worthless slut like you. Since the time you entered my life, my life started falling apart!”

His words crushed my hope.

The day I was born, they tagged me unlucky and a murderer. It was because my mother died after giving birth to me. Bad things happened in Brimsard Bay pack when I was present.

At least, that was what everyone claimed as a valid reason to kick me out of the pack house. I was just a child but they showed no mercy. Not even my dad.

A warm hand touched my shoulder from behind. It was Angela, my guardian. The only person who stood beside me. She even paid for my education by saving the money from running her little pharmacy shop. I managed the pharmacy to repay her. Watching her work has given me sufficient knowledge in the field of medicine and herbs.

“Amber. Don’t make a scene here.” Her voice held concern as she stood behind me. “People will make you the villain if you stop the wedding.”

Cooper’s silhouette appeared distorted as bitter tears covered my vision. “Unlucky freak? I thought you didn’t see me like the rest did. Isn’t that what you used to tell me? That you would love me no matter what anyone said?” I rose to my feet, holding my head high in defiance.

“Be practical, Amber. I thought everyone was lying, so I said that. But they are right. My life became worse from the time I dated you. My friends and my pack in the West would laugh at me for dating you.” He pointed as if it was all my fault. He was the one to make the first move towards me. Yet he blamed me for everything.

He brushed the tip of his straight nose with his thumb. “I can’t be the next Alpha of my pack if I marry you. No one in the West will accept an insane, wolf-less girl as their Luna. You take drugs, for Goddess’s sake!”

Everyone present in the hall gasped as they heard the loud sound of my hand connecting with his cheek.

“They are not drugs! They are medicines I take. I can’t believe you said that out loud after knowing what happened to me!” I yelled, my chest growing tighter at his betrayal.

I had to take antidepressants for my mental health because I lost my wolf in a major battle. I was the hated outcast, but the strong desire to get recognized and appreciated by dad led me to join the military forces of my pack. The path wasn’t easy, but I had my wolf and together we got a hold of the position. I didn’t suspect why dad allowed me in the first place. Later, when I had to put my life on the line to fight the gruesome battles, I realized that my decision was benefiting him.

I trained hard and soon became a low-ranked warrior in the pack. I had fought a few pack wars and attended to the wounds of the injured whenever I could. Everything seemed to work well until that one battle.

Eight spears laced with silver were pierced on our body, especially her abdomen. No one had returned to rescue us that day.

“Agni! No. Please let me shift back!” I begged inside her head.

“Live.” Those were the last words she had spoken in my head before she left this world. She knew we both would have died that day, so she used her leftover powers to treat my fatal injuries and cursed me to live with guilt.

For most werewolves with Alpha blood, the shifter could survive even after the wolf counterpart was dead. Agni died because she gave up all her powers to let me live.

I survived and recovered because of her sacrifice, but the gap her absence left was devastating.

The crowd beneath erupted in gossip.

“Now, please excuse my sister. She is in a bad place right now.” My sister, Abby announced. “This is such a big day for me and my future husband, so I don’t want anyone to feel upset and rather share happiness with you all. So let’s put all the sadness behind us and take the Goddess’s holy blessings for a better future.”

“Can you believe they are both sisters? She is so mature and kind.”

“Everybody, cheer for our future Luna Abby!” her friends yelled and all the guests started cheering her name as if she was a celebrity.

Angela shook her head, “Can’t believe they are cheering for a monster like her.” Only if they knew what Abby truly was–the sister who burned my skin for the pleasure of it and bullied me whenever we were together.

The wedding rituals began, and I watched Cooper exchanging vows with Abby. They smiled at each other while they exchanged rings. My stomach churned as I realized that I would never have such a fate.

I saw dad step up the stage and bless the two as per our tradition. He kissed Abby’s forehead, and they shared a hug. All I ever received were cold glares and ignorance from his side.

Angela held my hand, “I am sorry for all of this, Amber. If I knew they were setting you up, I wouldn’t have let you come here. I understand that they hate you, but to take it this far…” She looked down with a sad face.

“That’s just how things have always been. I just…” I looked at Cooper. He was smiling at the photographers.

“I don’t feel like staying here anymore,” I mumbled, and she nodded.

“Let’s get back home. I will make you a good herbal tea. You will feel better.” She said, and we were about to walk away when Uncle Crux blocked our path.

He looked at me and said in a deep voice, “Alpha has summoned you to his office.”

AMBER

Once I stepped inside, I found him sitting behind his mahogany desk across the spacious room.

“Y-you asked for me, Alpha?” I looked down at the hardwood floor. I couldn’t call him dad, both in public as well behind the doors. Once I called him ‘dad’ by mistake and they locked me inside the dungeon for days and starved me as punishment.

“Yes.” His deep voice rattled my bones.

“My apologies, Alpha..” My wobbly legs bent to kneel on the smooth floor, his powerful aura weighing on my body like a stack of bricks.

The more he ignored me and hated me, the more I craved his love and attention. Abby was lucky. Putting her life on the line wasn't required for his love.

“I called you because I have news for you. You’ll get married to the son of the Alpha of Valeford.” He declared.

I raised my head at lightning speed. “What?!”

Just then, Uncle Crux’s hand connected with my face, throwing me off guard. “How dare you look at the Alpha? Have you forgotten the rules?”

My left cheek burned with the sting of the slap. My eyes met Dad again. I don't care. “No. I can’t get married to him!”

The son of Alpha of Valeford, Raymond Dawson, was the most ruthless killer in history. I had seen it with my own eyes. A minor war had taken place two years back, between Raymond and our pack. Not a single warrior of our force was alive after it ended. Even some of our best warriors couldn’t stand against him. The mere thought made me shiver.

“You can’t do this to me! H-how did you even convince them to marry me?”

As far as I knew, the Dawson family belonged to the royal bloodline. They gave the title to the families whose ancestors shared blood with the Moon Goddess. Along with four other families, the Dawsons shared ancestral history with Selene. They had both generational wealth and the status of the largest army of ten thousand warriors.

Hence, the Wolf Weekly magazine termed them the ‘Elite of the Elites' in their front page.

Why would such a powerful family want a wolf-less girl like me for their son? Did they not care about Raymond’s status because he did not share royal blood? I heard he was their illegitimate son, titled as worthless and ugly.

“It was hard to approach them. But after a few months, Alpha Stephan put forward the proposal himself. As per his words, he needed his son to get married as soon as possible and since I had two girls, we could form an alliance. So I accepted the proposal.” He explained with a stoic face while I rose to my feet.

“But…why will they accept me? I am…” I asked.

“ I considered Abby marrying Raymond, but Stephan wouldn't let an illegitimate person be the Alpha. Abby will end up with no power over the pack.”

“So you sold me off to them? If they realize I don’t have a wolf—”

He smirked. “They will throw you off to the dungeon. Might even shun you from their pack. That is not my problem. Stephan has already signed the pact and he won’t be able to step down from it. Once I send you to them, how they deal with you is their problem.”

“They can kill me!” I screamed in rage.

“So?” He raised a brow.

I gasped and took a step back, my trembling legs looking for support. He didn’t care.

“How could you?I am your own blood, for Goddess’s sake!”

He scoffed, “You are a mistake. A mistake I shouldn’t have made. You killed my mate!” He slammed the table with his fist and his eyes turned glowed in a flash, showing his wolf.

I shuddered. “S-she was my mother, too. I don’t have control over what happened. You know that too.” My voice shook as my throat turned dry.

Every single day, I wished I could change the past. I wanted to bring her back.

“Shut your mouth, you murderer! You are a sin I have been carrying for years. It's best if you die. I would be the happiest to see you writhe in pain for killing my Isabella!” He spatted.

His ignorance was one thing. But to hear Dad wish for my death—it was the final blow to my hope. I couldn’t breathe.

Footsteps approached the office, and the door opened, revealing Abby. She strutted inside and looked at Dad. “Is it done? Did she sign the paper?” She asked as if she knew about it already. So they were together in this.

Dad remained silent and looked at me with a scornful look. Abby followed his sight and when she saw me, she sneered.

“Ah, I see. So the bitch is putting up a fight.” She sighed, “I am surprised. How can someone be so shameless? Especially after what happened at the wedding?”

I wiped my eyes with my arm. “You are right. I am shameless to believe that you people have a good heart.” I said, and her sneer disappeared.

She didn’t expect me to talk back to her.

“Aww, but don’t worry, sis. You will get lots of dick in the dungeon of Valeford. I heard the male there are very energetic. Or maybe you can warm the bed of that ugly beast who’ll be your husband soon. Be careful though. I heard he killed a woman who tried to seduce him.” She smirked, watching me sweat in sheer terror.

“I–I will not marry him!” I said, my trembling voice betraying me.

Her brown eyes hardened and her tone did a one-eighty as she said, “And I am done listening to your nonsense. Let’s get this over with.” She grabbed me by the collar of my gown and dragged me towards Dad’s desk.

“Abby, let me go!” I said, resisting her hold. I grabbed her wrist and twisted it.

“Ow! Bitch!” She turned around, hissing, and slapped me. I didn’t let the slap deter me from turning around and reaching for the door. But a sturdy pair of arms grabbed me from behind. It was Uncle Crux.

“Stop fighting or I will use my belt.” He warned. My body stiffened as it revisited the burning pain in my arms, legs, and back, the whipping sound of his belt buzzing in my ears. Blood pounded in my ears. No, not that belt.

My head slammed against the oakwood desk and a set of papers landed in front of my eyes.

“Sign it.” Dad’s booming voice held the power of the Alpha, one that made anyone submit to his demands.

“No–Ah!!!” I yelled as Uncle clutched the wrist of my right hand tight with enough pressure to snap it in half.

“Sign it. Now!” Dad growled and Abby pushed the pen between my fingers.

A piercing pain ran down my arm as Uncle increased his pressure on my wrist. The tip of the pen pressed over the line where I was supposed to sign.

Suddenly, something sharp and cold pricked my neck. It was a silver dagger.

“Sign it or I’ll slit your throat right now.” Abby pressed the dagger against the skin of my neck.

My hand moved on its own, its grip on the pen like an anchor on which I survived. Tears trickled down my eyes and soaked the paper on which my signature flashed in bold blue ink.

I had signed my death certificate, and now I was married to Raymond Dawson since his signature was already there.

AMBER

"I am sorry, Agni. I failed you. You always told me to be strong and be myself but I guess I was so blinded by my desire to get some love and acceptance, I didn't notice where it would lead us." I mumbled while rocking back and forth on the soft seat.

They had locked me up in the piano room after forcing me to sign the paper so that I wouldn't run away. Not that I had a choice. They would find me and if I rejected the pack bond, I would turn into a rogue.

I didn't want to be a rogue. There were rogue hunters assigned by the Council everywhere and if they found me, I would be sent to the Haven’s Edge. The Edge was a messed up place where rogues were beaten up or turned into slaves. Women were trafficked to other high-ranking wolves and I didn't even want to think about what was done to them. It was worse than a person's nightmare.

If I was powerful, they wouldn't have been able to force me into anything. My life wouldn't have been this terrible. I had trained hard when I was with Agni, but I put all my strength into the wrong places. It went into caring and protecting a bunch of heartless people who didn't deserve to be protected.

I was going to be with a dangerous man who might kill me. If he doesn't, his pack surely would. But I would have to survive. At least I had to try.

Suddenly the door sprang open, startling me and Cooper stepped in. He looked around the large room and his eyes found me. "Amber." He exhaled in relief and locked the door behind him.

A chill ran down my spine as he approached me. Why was he here?

"I looked for you everywhere but I couldn't find you. Finally, Abby told me where you are so I ran here." He said and before I could speak, he pulled my hand. His eyes fell on the mark on my hand, "Did they do that to you?!"

I was shocked to see anger blazing in his eyes. My jaw clenched and I yanked my hand away.

"Don't touch me." I spat and he looked taken aback by my response.

He ran his hands through his hair and spoke, "Amber look, I am sorry for what happened out there. I–I didn't have a choice."

I raised a brow, "Why? Did they threaten you?"

He exhaled and looked around, avoiding my sharp gaze on him, "It's complicated. I can't explain–"

"Yes, Cooper." I interrupted him, "You seriously can't explain why you cheated on me for so many years, that also with Abby." I said and looked away.

"Did she tell you that? Fuck!" He slammed his fist against the wall, "See, she tried to seduce me and I was–it just happened."

I scoffed, "It just happened? I don't think one person can cheat on someone for so many years. Stop trying to defend your actions, Cooper. It's not going to make it right."

I used to be naive and thought that the times he canceled on me were because he was busy training. He was the Alpha's son so he had a lot to work on. I should have been a little doubtful.

"I know, I know. I screwed up. But try to understand why I did it. Amber, you know how my pack is. I kept a good relationship with Abby because it came with privileges." His eyes sparkled as he spoke, "I finally got the power I deserved. You know, Dad said he would hand over his Alpha title to me and not to Lydia because I have managed to gain a powerful alliance!" Excitement flashed through his eyes like a maniac who had finally received the gold he was chasing for so long.

Cooper's dad, the current ruling Alpha of the pack of West, the Drevine Pack, had a bad relationship with Copper. He looked down upon his son's capabilities because Cooper always lived a flamboyant life, running away from responsibilities. So he had declared he would make his younger sister Lydia the future Alpha of the pack.

When I met Cooper, he was in a difficult place and he used to share how his dad's indifference towards him hurt him. I used to relate to him because Dad was no different and that's how I connected with him. But I made a mistake. I thought he would work hard for his position but it turned out that he took the other path, which was to marry my sister and hence create a powerful alliance with the West and South.

The West was going through an economic crisis and the alliance with the South would benefit them a lot.

"No, Cooper. I don't get it. If you were hell-bent on marrying my sister for power, then why did you approach me? You could have simply gone for her. Why put me through all of this?!" I demanded with my voice cracking a little.

"I know, I am sorry. I shouldn't have done what I have done but–" he sighed again, "It was a bet."

"What?!"

"Yeah, my friends in Drevine dared me to date you. Initially, I thought it would be just a fun dare–"

"You thought it was funny to play with my feelings just because of a dare?" I said and gritted my teeth. Goddess, how could I not see through any of that?

"No! Not at all. I would have told you before it got worse but–"

"But what?! You thought it would be funnier to watch my heart break? To mark me and then reject me?!"

"Of course not, Amber." He flinched at my outbreak. "I-I thought it would be a small affair but then I fell in love with you."

Silence.

I was speechless.

"Yeah. I fell in love with you. You were so kind and supportive. I would tell myself every single day that I would break up with you, but I guess I was getting too attached to you."

"Really? And what about marking me?" I pointed at my neck, "You knew how it would affect us both, and yet you marked me!"

"Come on, baby, it's not a big deal. My friends mark girls now and then. I couldn't just let you hold my mark while I got married to Abby. They wouldn't have let me marry her. So I did what I had to."

"Seriously, Cooper? It was not a big deal? How can you say that after all the pain you caused me!"

"Fucking shut up!" He growled and I stiffened, "I am trying to be reasonable with you and here you are, acting like some stupid schoolgirl! You forget that I went through the pain too, okay? So stop acting like a victim here!"

I was shocked at the change in his tone. What kind of person had I been dating for so many years? Was he wearing a mask all this while I thought that he was a good person?

"I am not acting like a victim! It's you who cheated on me. You betrayed me, rejected me in front of an entire crowd, and at this point, you are saying that you felt the pain? You destroyed five years of my life and all you can say is that it's not a big deal?!" I growled back. I wanted to punch him right in the face.

Cooper growled back in his Alpha tone and a cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

"Don't you use that fucking tone with me, Unlucky freak!" He smirked, "What are you even acting so entitled for, huh?" He asked.

I held the edge of the window as I stammered under his presence, "W-what do you mean?"

His smirk grew and he took a step closer to me, the heel of his shoes clicking against the marble floor, "You are just a pathetic girl who is hated by everyone in the pack. You murdered your own mother, you endangered the life of others. No one wants you, Amber."

He leaned closer and grabbed me by the chin. "I did you a favor. You should be thankful to me for eternity because no one in their right mind would love someone like you." His words cut through my heart like a blade.

"Th-that's not true. I–I…" My lips trembled.

He grinned an evil one that spooked me to the core, "You…are…just…unlovable, Amber. Accept it. And I cared for you." He ran his index finger down my neck and what used to feel like a loving touch felt like a stinging burn. I just wanted to get away from him and wash my entire body until it had no traces of him.

"Stop it. Please…" I didn't want to beg, but his aura and the way he looked at me scared me.

"I still care for you, baby. I talked with Abby and she's fine with my proposal."

"What proposal?" I felt an icy drop of sweat slide down my back.

"Once the Valeford pack learns that you are wolf-less, they would want nothing to do with you, right? I'll take you under me."

"I don't want to do anything with you," I said while pinching the bridge of my nose in disgust.

He laughed menacingly, "Don't be so petty, baby. How are you going to spend your days with your ugly husband? I know you will regret it and run back to me. I will be there for you, I promise." He inched closer to my lips and dug his nails into my lower lip.

I yelled in pain and tried to fight him, but my body couldn't move. The aura of his rank pressed over me and since my fight back at Dad’s office had left me exhausted, I was powerless against him.

"I'll take care of you after that ugly crap rejects you. You will be a good girl and warm by bed then, right?" He asked and placed one hand on the neckline of my dress. "Maybe I should make it easier. I will taint your body a little and when that beast will smell me on you, he will want to reject you immediately. Nobody likes used goods." He chuckled and my knuckles turned white.

Cooper and I had our share of intimacy when we were in a relationship but after he had unmarked me, I was pretty much like a virgin again. But if he did what he said at this moment, then anybody with good senses could smell him on me.

He tore my sleeves and I used all my strength to push him away, but I was no match for his strength.

"No! Stop it!" I launched a punch right at his face but he held my wrist and I yelled in pain as he twisted my hand, especially in the area which was already bruised. My healing was slower than others because I lost my wolf so he used that opportunity and pushed me.

I fell onto the floor with a thud and my body trembled in fear as I saw his wolf flash in his eyes.

"You are mine to ruin. It is better if you accept it already! " He stomped on my foot and I yelled in pain.

Black dots danced in front of my vision and the room spun as I struggled to hold onto my consciousness. Was there no hope left for me? Was my luck going to screw me up even if I tried to change it?

My eyes felt heavy and tears ran down my face as I witnessed my own destruction.

"It's okay, Amber. Just relax there. I will be quick–"

Just when I thought there was no hope left, the locked door shattered right in front of my eyes. Through the gap emerged a tall figure draped in a tailored black three-piece suit. My heart raced as I caught sight of his face concealed under a matching black mask.

Despite my blurred vision, the sheer force of his presence overwhelmed the piano room as he stepped forward. His powerful aura seemed to fill every inch of the space, leaving no room for any other aura. "Get your hands off my wife!" he growled, his voice a low, commanding rumble that sent shivers down my spine.