My mother seized my gown and mercilessly tore away its upper portion, exposing my heart, the most vulnerable point for a werewolf. Despite my frantic pleas, her actions remained heedless, as she had irrevocably lost her sanity.

It was then that an unexpected surge of power surged from within me, enabling me to push her away from my prone form. I hastily rose to my feet, sensing an intense heat enveloping my body, as if I were about to unleash fire. Something tumultuous roiled within me, as if it sought liberation from its confines.

In the end, it seemed this force succeeded, for I suddenly found myself bereft of reason, under the control of this enigmatic beast, and imbued with tremendous strength.

As I gazed at my mother in that moment, her visage had transformed into something otherworldly. Instead of her familiar face, I beheld a demonic countenance, and an overpowering scent filled the air, stoking the fires of my fury.

An overwhelming compulsion seized me, and I could not delay any longer; I lunged at her with a ferocity that defied explanation. She made a futile attempt to defend herself, but my newfound strength allowed me to mercilessly rend her flesh. I savagely gouged out her eyes, shattered her limbs, and, in the end, ripped her heart from her chest, consuming it in a manner reminiscent of a vampire.

It was precisely at that moment when the Beta's mate forcefully burst into the room, kicking the door wide open.

Upon witnessing the grisly scene, she let out a blood-curdling scream, drawing the attention of others who promptly rushed to the scene, discovering me in the midst of my mother's brutal demise.

Yet, the question remained—why had no one come to my aid when I was nearly killed by her hand?

Despite the multitude of wounds that marred my body, they inexplicably reached a different conclusion. Instead of recognizing my mother as the aggressor, they believed she had been acting in self-defense.

The powers of the enigmatic beast that had momentarily seized control of me dissipated and never returned. This life-altering incident had transpired when I was a mere 15 years old, and from that point onward, my existence spiraled into misery.

They labeled me a demon, and on numerous occasions, they summoned various sorcerers to examine me. These sorcerers would administer concoctions that would only sear my insides with unbearable pain.

Some even subjected me to baths infused with wolfsbane, inflicting injuries so severe that it took a month to heal. However, none of their efforts revealed anything beyond my wretched wolf.

It had been three agonizing years since the incident, and despite my repeated claims that my mother had transformed into a demon and sought to end my life, no one believed me. Instead, my torment intensified for accusing the deceased Luna falsely.

This year, my world descended into unmitigated hell when my father selected another woman as his new mate. Her name was Gemma, and she became not only my stepmother but also an embodiment of malevolence who relished my suffering.

For reasons I couldn't fathom, she took pleasure in witnessing my pain and heartbreak. I struggled to identify any wrongdoing on my part that would provoke her hostility.

Ever since Father brought her into the royal pack house, my existence had become a ceaseless ordeal. A few months ago, our Betas perished in a war, and my father took in their daughter. I was 18, and she was 17, but our ages held no significance, as she, too, treated me as a lowly servant. I obeyed her every command without question, for even a hint of disrespect would earn me a deep and painful cut from my father.

...

"Hattie!!!" My stepmother's voice shattered my reverie, jolting me from the bed where I had unknowingly perched.

Fear clutched at me, rendering my mind numb as I fumbled my way out of the room, my vision blurred by hot tears. There was no need for divination to discern that I was about to endure another round of her beatings.

Even her tone was a grim harbinger.

Lost in my sorrow, I had lost track of time, oblivious to the persistent blaring of the alarm.

"Hattie!!!" She shouted once more, prompting me to make a stealthy retreat to the kitchen before responding, in hopes of concealing the fact that I had remained in my room after the alarm had sounded. However, upon reaching the living room, I was confronted by my tormentor, who appeared to have been lying in wait. Every muscle in my body constricted as I beheld her towering form, her countenance more menacing than ever.

Her brown eyes gleamed with unbridled rage and contempt as she sneered at me, grinding her teeth with malicious intent. My heart raced in terror, leaving me paralyzed, unsure of what to say or do. But one thing was certain—she was preparing to subject me to another round of abuse, and as always, my father would stand idly by.

"You ignored my call?" Her tone dripped with disdain, her hatred for my very existence palpable.

"I'm sorry, I..." My voice faltered as her sharp slap scorched my cheek, the pain searing through me as if a thousand needles had pierced my flesh.

"You turned off the alarm and went back to sleep after it rang, didn't you?" She gnashed her teeth, refusing to grant me an opportunity to respond before delivering a punishing kick to my stomach, sending me tumbling heavily to the floor.

"No, I...I..." I struggled to articulate through the searing pain in my abdomen.

I whimpered, clutching my belly with one hand and rubbing my sore rear with the other, tears streaming freely down my cheeks.

"Please, ma'am, spare me this once," I pleaded in a quavering voice, my gaze shifting back to her just as she advanced menacingly once more.

The excruciating pain coursing through my body left me trembling uncontrollably. I gasped for breath, my pleas reduced to mere eye movements and quivering lips, robbed of my ability to speak due to the searing agony.

"If you've had enough of life, why don't you just end it yourself?" She snarled, delivering a brutal kick to my head with her boot, sending waves of pain reverberating through me. It felt as though life itself was draining away as my head rang like a bell. I closed my eyes, tears flowing unchecked as the pain intensified.

Her footsteps drew closer, and I sobbed harder, fully aware that my cries would elicit no help. Instead, they would likely unite to punish me for disrupting their sleep.

She squatted in front of me, her face contorted with resentment, and then uttered words that sent my heart plummeting to my stomach.

"I wonder how you managed to escape your demon-possessed mother's attempt on your life. Remember what she told you about the demons, don't you?" She inquired, a smug smile playing on her lips.

Confusion swirled within me, my limbs heavy, and I could only stare with parted lips, unable to voice a response.

What was she talking about?

"Gemma, are you...a demon?" I stammered loudly, a tremor in my voice, my gaze locked on her, bewildered and contemplating her recent revelation.

My mother, possessed by demons that fateful day, had mentioned that I had to die for the demons to reign. How on earth did Gemma know about that?

Gemma's eyes scrutinized my face for a few moments, and then she chuckled before rising to her feet.

"Who did I hear you call a demon? My Luna? Are you accusing my mate of being a demon, just as you accused my destined mate, as a pretext for her death?" My father's voice boomed as he descended the stairs, jolting me to my feet, the hairs on my skin standing on end in fear.

When had he arrived?

His countenance contorted with anger, accentuating the scars on his face that lent him a menacing appearance. His dark green eyes gleamed with hatred and repulsion as he glared at me.

"I... I... didn't... I was just ask...ing..." My lips quivered as I stuttered out each word, cowed by the menacing intensity of his gaze.

"She called me that because I told her to start her chores. Can you believe I found her still sleeping even after the alarm went off?" Gemma complained, wiping her eyes, which had suddenly welled up with tears.

This woman was utterly incredulous!

My father, however, seethed with anger and lunged at me like a predator, oblivious to Gemma's possible dishonesty. His imposing figure drew nearer, casting a shadow of terror that loomed over me, shrouding my world in fear and desolation. I instinctively shut my eyes, bracing for the impending blow.

As expected, a searing slap landed on my cheek, sending waves of burning pain coursing through it, like an unrelenting inferno. I cried out, clutching my throbbing cheek, crimson droplets trickling from my lips. My body quivered as I whimpered and grew numb from the heart-rending agony, yet he showed no signs of satisfaction, poised to strike me once more.

"I will break you until you plead for death, you evil murderer! I despise the air you breathe. Your shadow, even the ground you tread upon! I detest that I can't strangle you to death with my bare hands just because you have royal blood. Kill yourself so I won't ever have to see you again!" He bellowed, his heavy foot stomping forward, his voice laden with sorrow, fury, and sheer loathing. Fortunately, Gemma intervened, grasping him firmly.

"Don't exert yourself by striking her. The previous sorcerers I brought along have already neutralized all her demonic powers. Another one might come today to assess her condition," Gemma whispered, casting a reassuring smile at my father.

Dread clutched at my heart upon hearing her words. I couldn't endure any more torment from her sorcerers, who appeared to do nothing more than feigning the exorcism of demons from within me.

"Get up there! Start your household chores, you wretched creature! My daughter shouldn't be delayed for school because of you!" My father sneered at me, his gaze filled with disgust, and it cut deep, especially since he no longer regarded me as his daughter.

He had just referred to the Beta's daughter as his own.

They both walked away, his arm encircling her waist as she leaned on his shoulder. Halfway, she glanced back and flashed a mocking smirk in my direction, churning my stomach as I struggled to hold back tears.

...

"Mum, Dad, I'll be late for school today because of that useless girl, Hattie. I don't know why..." I heard Betty, the Beta's daughter, complain, but she halted her words upon noticing my entrance into the dining room.

The three of them were seated around the table, and the scene triggered a rush of memories. It reminded me of the times when I would sit with my mother and the father who had once been loving.

Things had changed so abruptly. Now, I was the servant who served them, replacing the place I once occupied at the table. The Beta's daughter had taken my spot.

"Here are your meals..." I muttered with a slight bow as I began distributing their plates, silently praying for the peace and quiet to persist until I could leave.

They should spare me from any beatings now. I sent a silent prayer to the moon goddess, and it felt as if she answered when I had served the plates and turned to depart.

"Hattie!" My father's voice, cold and menacing, called out my name, causing me to freeze in place, on the verge of tears. I wished I could just ignore him and walk away. I detested standing in front of Betty, bearing all the humiliations and beatings.

With hesitant steps, I turned and approached them.

"Come and eat this food first. I don't trust you anymore," he ordered, my cheeks reddening as I sniffled away my tears.

I had forgotten that it had always been like this. They perpetually suspected me, while the true culprit – Gemma – sat right next to them. Even though my father had assigned bodyguards to closely monitor me while I cooked, he still found it necessary to humiliate me and break my spirit.

I took a spoonful of my father's food, then some from Betty, and as I reached Gemma, she shot me an icy glare that made my hands tremble.

Shivering uncontrollably, I dipped the spoon into her plate, taking out a spoonful as well. But the instant I moved to put it in my mouth, she slapped the back of my hand with her palm, causing the stew-laden spoon to splatter on my face and into my eyes.

"My eyes!!!" I screamed in agony at the fiery pain, which stung so intensely that I lost my balance and collapsed onto the floor.

My eyes clenched shut as I groped in pain and screamed for help, desperately pleading for water to rinse my face. Instead of assistance, I heard laughter echoing around me.

"Can you believe she's trying to fill her belly with my food?" Gemma chuckled, and they all laughed heartily while I felt as if my eyes were being gouged out, tears flowing uncontrollably.

"I'm going blind! Please, someone get me some water!" I cried out, trembling violently, my hand trying to wipe away the pain, but no one paid any attention. All I could hear was the clinking of cutlery and plates, indicating they were happily eating, utterly indifferent to my agony.