"Now, you know the rules, Madison. Be polite and don't eat too much. You're a lady, not a rogue," my father warns, and I nod, my curly white hair bouncing with the movement. From a young age, my parents set high expectations for me. They taught me to sit with my back straight and hands folded in my lap. I must never rush while eating, only consume what's on my plate, and never ask for more. Additionally, I should refrain from speaking unless spoken to, as breaking this rule in public could lead to punishment from my father.

"I understand, Father, and I will behave properly," I answer quietly, catching Finn clenching his fists and glaring at our father from behind. After the first and only punishment for not following these rules, Finn and our cousin Gracie helped me with my wounds caused by my father's rage. I remember those long and painful four weeks I endured last year. It seems like my brother is thinking about it too.

Just as my parents were about to add more warnings, the front door opens behind me, revealing the easy-going smile of Alpha Artemis as he walks in and ruffles my curled white hair. A tall man with black hair and tanned skin, Alpha Artemis treats me like his own daughter, just like he does with Eloise, his own child. With him around, I feel safe, and I often wish he were my father, not the man who yells and threatens me.

"Sorry I am late, Caspian. Cosmo was trying to find his new toy car to show Maddie here. You know how kids are," Alpha Artemis says, looking down and winking at me. I overheard my father and Alpha Artemis talk about my potential as Cosmo's future mate. The thought makes me uncomfortable.

"It's fine, Alpha. I understand," my father replies, smiling. My mother remains silent but gives me one last warning look, reminding me to behave before excusing herself and heading into the kitchen. I can't understand why my parents always warn me to behave. Can't they see that I am a good girl?

I stay quiet as the Alpha and my father discuss pack matters, and Finn gives me a reassuring smile. He telepathically links to me, [Remember to tell me all about your day when you get home tomorrow.] After agreeing happily, he winks at me and quietly slips out of the room, probably heading up to his room to take care of the responsibilities he has as the next Beta.

"Well, we should be heading out now before it's too late. Caspian, I will bring Maddie home tomorrow safe and sound. Have a good night. You ready to go, Maddie?" Alpha Artemis finally concludes the conversation between the two grown wolves, extending his hand towards me. I pick up my bag, which contains some clothing and a sleeping bag for tonight, and gladly take his hand as we prepare to leave.

"Yes, Alpha," I answer Alpha Artemis, taking his hand and skipping out the door, without saying goodbye to my parents. The excitement of getting away from this house and them makes me extremely happy. As we walk towards where Luna Everleigh waits with Cosmo and Eloise, Alpha Artemis asks about my school life and what I've been up to since seeing the Alpha Family last. The pathway through the pack leads us closer to the dense forest on the west side of Deep Water. I love the smell of our forest, a mix of wildflowers, tall Canadian Maple trees, and sturdy pines. I'm almost done telling the Alpha about the book I'm reading when I'm tackled to the ground, greeted with giggles filling my ears as Eloise's scent fills my nose.

"Hi, Maddie!" she greets, and we giggle together as we sit up and start chatting about our trip today. Alpha Artemis chuckles as Eloise and I jump to our feet excitedly, my friend pointing to where Cosmo and Luna Everleigh stand waiting for us. As usual, Cosmo is holding a Nintendo D.S. gaming device in his hand, the sounds of a video game audible. I frown in his direction, knowing it's not his fault that my brother is forced to spend more time with him than me, or that my parents prioritize my future over me. But I can't help feeling a bit resentful, even if he is cute.

Eloise pulls my attention back, babbling about the Full Moon tonight and how the unicorns will appear under the full moonlight, bringing their foals to play in the pink crescent moon-shaped lake. I pretend to be surprised, but I've already been informed about this by Genesis. The unicorns would be celebrating their foals gaining powers blessed by the Moon Goddess.

The pink water in our pack holds magic that only unicorns can absorb, and when foals reach a certain age, drinking the water helps their powers manifest. Genesis told me about overseeing this event and the treaty she made with the first Alpha of Harvest Moon to protect the unicorns during this time. It's probably why Alpha Artemis took his family and me out for the picnic and campout tonight.

Little does anyone know that a small stream flows from the lake into a hidden valley where Genesis and the unicorns live, and into a small pool that mixes with regular water from the river, which Genesis calls a moon pool. I've often watched the foals play and run around the pink water, mesmerized by the shimmer of magic in the air, each drop twinkling like diamonds. To say, I'm excited to see this at the pure pink lake instead of the small moon pool. It is an understatement.

With a nod from Cosmo and a hug from Luna Everleigh, the five of us set off towards the lake, Eloise and I chasing each other around the trees, giggling. Alpha Artemis reminds us to stay in sight and takes away Cosmo's game, forcing him to play tag with us. I avoid Cosmo as much as I can, chasing Eloise until she stops abruptly, causing me to crash into her.

"Maddie, I see the water! It's so pink," my friend squeals in excitement, causing me to cup my hands over my ears and wince. But in front of us, just peeking past the trees, is the lake. With a call of 'Last one there is a Crescent,' the three of us race to the water's edge and happily spend the day splashing each other, eating the delicious picnic packed by Luna Everleigh herself. It's a day free from the fear of my parents and filled with pure happiness.

As the day turns into night, Eloise and I huddle under a tree, our sleeping bags blending into the background, hiding us while we wait for the full moon to reach its peak and the unicorns to come out.

"A few more minutes," I jump as Cosmo's voice surprises me. He rolls out his sleeping bag, sits beside me, wraps his arm around my shoulder, and grins. I blush and nod before looking out to the lake, my eyes blurry with the need for sleep as I manage to catch a glimpse of the creatures I love to watch so much, beginning to come out and frolic in the water...

Madison, wake up... please, my love...

A soft voice flutters through my ears, and I yawn, looking around the night, my dream of watching over the forest and some blurred faces now gone. Dizzy, I gaze at the still pink lake and the eerie silence of the forest causing goosebumps to form. Soft snores from my left and right make me aware that Cosmo and Eloise are still fast asleep, but the Alpha and Luna are missing. That's when I hear it.

Growls and howls come from everywhere, and my first thought is to wake up Cosmo. I shake the sleeping boy awake as the growls and howls get closer, fear closing in on me. What if they were Crescent?

"What is it, Maddie?" He asks as he swats me away.

"Wolves, and lots of them," I whisper, sobbing with fear, watching him bolt up and silently slip out of his sleeping bag while motioning to Eloise. I quickly shook my friend awake.

"I smell blood," my friend says as she rubs her eyes, and she's right. The copper tang hangs in the air, and we both look in fear, knowing to whom exactly this scent belongs.

"Where is she?" A scream echoes through the lake, and all three of us freeze.

"I don't know who you're talking about," the Luna is crying. She never cries, her answer filled with fear, fear she has never shown any of us.

"The Future Moon Goddess. Your wolves took her from her as a newborn," the voice rings again, and a loud smack rips through the air.

"I don't know anything about this," Luna Everleigh wails. Cosmo and Eloise are frozen in their spots, but I slowly crawl forward. I see wolves in both human and wolf form standing around the lake, but I can't see Luna Everleigh or Alpha Artemis. However, I have a feeling this night will not end well.

"I do not believe that you know nothing about the kidnapping of the Moon Goddess' pup stolen the night of her birth. We have searched everywhere, and the only pack whose wolves gained a new pup that same night is this one. For your insolence in this incident, you will die just like your husband." A cold voice shakes the trees as the sounds of something tearing and the Luna's screams fill the air. All is silent except for a thud of something or someone falling to the ground. The strange wolves leave the lake, but Cosmo, Eloise, and I are too terrified to leave our hiding spot. The Alpha's children are curled up by the tree, sobbing, while silent tears fall from my face. I know what that tearing sound means; I heard it while my father slaughtered Crescent in front of Finn and me.

The day passes until the sun is setting when wolves from the pack come, calling out our names and looking for us. My parents are the first to find our hiding spot.

"Thank goodness you're alright, Cosmo and Eloise," my parents coo over the Alpha pups, and I stand in the background, everyone fussing over Cosmo and Eloise but forgetting about me. They block the sight of the lake from the sibling pair, but I see everything.

The lake is dyed red in spots where the bodies of wolves with the scent from last night lay, the ground holding small puddles, but not of the lake water. What hurts the most is seeing the Alpha and Luna both missing their heads and both dead just at the edge where the water slowly laps at their fallen forms.

"Do you remember much of what happened?" My father asks, the tension in the air so thick that it feels like the walls are closing in on me. Cosmo and Eloise sit to the side on the small couch with tear-stained faces while my parents force me to stand. Today, we buried Alpha Artemis and Luna Everleigh, and the idea of dealing with my parents after everything that's happened in the last three days was not a good one. So, I kept my gaze towards the window, watching the drops pitter-patter on the glass.

"I don't remember much. We fell asleep watching the unicorns play. Madison woke me up because she heard something and then woke Eloise up," Cosmo answers, his voice wavering. I turn to look at the older boy to see my mother comforting him and sending her seething glare my way.

"Madison, if you woke them up, then why didn't you come get help!" It isn't a question; it's an accusation that my mother throws my way. I can feel her hatred from halfway across the room where I stand.

"I woke up and got Cosmo up right away, then Eloise. There were too many wolves, and if any one of us tried running, then we would have been caught and most likely killed too," I answer, meeting her gaze with a pleading look, hoping my own mother would listen to reason.

"That's just an excuse!" She snarls at me, standing protectively in front of the Alpha pups and staring at me with contempt, a look I know all too well.

"It's the truth. They killed the Alpha and Luna because they were looking for the Moon Goddess' lost pup and believed that they were hiding her in this pack. If we came out, we would have been in danger, and if I left Cosmo and Eloise there, they would have been in dan-" I stop mid-sentence, flinching as my father slams a fist onto his desk, causing me to jump in fear. Anger radiates off of him in waves, and my attention turns to him.

"Enough of your lies, Madison. You're the reason why our Alpha and Luna, Cosmo and Eloise's parents, are dead!" His voice bellows, the bookshelves rattling from the power. I stand frozen with shock and fear.

"Since Cosmo won't be of age to take over for another eleven years, I will be in charge as acting Alpha, and so will my wife. You, Madison, will be nothing but an Omega, a slave to this pack for your insolence and failure to protect our leaders," he continues, his words a finality on my fate in this pack. I turn to look at my friends, knowing that their words would help me keep my status as a Beta female, but Cosmo and Eloise glare at me with hatred before turning away. I know right there that in this room, I am alone. Alone, disowned, and an Omega.

Beta Caspian dismisses us, and my face now bears a bruise from the slap he gave me just minutes ago when I tried pleading my case and calling him "Father" one more time. An Omega with a car waits for me, his job is to drive me to the Beta's house, a place I can no longer call home, and leave me there to pack up whatever can fit into a single duffle bag. After that, I will have to find my own way back to the pack house and to the small room that will be assigned to me. The car ride is quiet, the Omega giving me a look of sympathy with his eyes too large for his sallow face.

"We know it's not your fault, Madison. The Omegas know what happened was a freak event. We believe you," he reassures me before we return to the quiet drive. It feels nice knowing that the Omegas have my back now that I will be one of them. I have a sinking feeling that Beta Caspian will make our lives worse.