The Moon Goddess had always been cruel to me. I had no proof, but the way things always seemed to go wrong in my life made me believe that she had cursed me from the start.

Tonight, that was supposed to change.

My mate, Alpha Owen had promised me this would be the night our lives would finally begin.

Tonight was the retirement ceremony of Alpha Owen's father, the current leader of our pack. It marked a new chapter for the pack, one that would see Owen take his place as the new Alpha. And soon, I would be Luna. But beneath the excitement, I knew that the joy of this night might come with a price.

I was born into shame. My father, the once-respected Alpha of the Iron fang Pack had been overthrown by his own Beta, a man he had trusted. It was said that my father had committed a grave sin, something unforgivable that had caused the pack to turn against him. Some said he had consorted with rogues, others whispered of a darker crime, one that had marked my family forever.

Whatever it was, the punishment was harsh. My parents were exiled. And I, a child still in my mother’s womb was left to face the consequences. I was only a baby and yet they insisted I stay to "pay for their sins." Therefore, I grew up alone and isolated.

I had no wolf when I turned sixteen unlike any other Alpha blood and the pack shunned me, calling me an Omega, a curse from the Moon Goddess herself. But on my eighteenth birthday, something changed.

I shifted.

I can’t explain the elation that had flooded through me. It was as if the years of isolation, the stares, all melted away in that single moment. I had my wolf. I was no longer the cursed girl, the one without power, the one whose existence was a mistake. But I knew better than to let the pack know. I hid my wolf, masked it, pretending to still be the same powerless Omega they believed me to be.

Only one person knew the truth, Owen, my mate.

Tonight, he promised me everything I had longed for. Tonight, we would be together and he would mark me as his Luna. Finally, I would be accepted. Finally, my wolf would be recognized. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had a future and a purpose.

I pushed those thoughts aside as I made my way to Owen’s room. The ceremony had ended and the pack was still celebrating. Owen had promised me that once the festivities died down, we would have our moment. But as I approached his door, my heart began to race. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

I opened the door to a sight I would never forget.

Mara, a she-wolf from the pack lay in a pool of blood on the floor. Owen stood above her, holding a knife in his hand. “What... what happened?” I stuttered.

“It’s not what it looks like,” His eyes were wide with shock as he turned around.

“What did you do?” I whispered as I stepped into the room fully. My legs was suddenly feeling like they were made of stone.

“She came to me,” he said quickly, his words tumbling over each other. “She tried to... throw herself at me. I told her no, but she wouldn’t stop. There was a struggle, and... I didn’t mean to. You have to believe me.”

I tried to process what I was seeing. My mate, standing over a dead body. The bloodied Knife in his hand was an evidence he had really done this.

“I didn’t want this to happen,” Owen continued. “But if anyone finds out… if the pack knows… they’ll exile me. They’ll never accept me as their Alpha. You know how they value loyalty above all else.”

His eyes locked onto mine as he continued pleading. "Please... you have to help me. You have to take the blame."

"What exactly are you asking me to do?" My voice was steady despite the scene before me.

"They won't believe me," he pressed on. "But if you say it was you, they'll never suspect me."

"A murder confession." I stared at the knife in his hands understanding what this meant.

"Please, Ariana. You're the only one who can save me. When I become Alpha in five days, I'll release you. You'll be my Luna and we'll have our happy ending."

I couldn’t process the emotions crashing over me. The man I loved, the man I trusted was standing here asking me to lie for him to take the fall for something he had done.

“If I do this…” I whispered. “You promise you'll come for me?”

He nodded quickly. “I promise, just five days.”

I couldn’t bring myself to condemn him. I knew how badly he wanted to be Alpha. I knew how much he had worked for this moment. If the pack found out the truth, everything he had worked for would be destroyed. I understood that and I couldn’t bear to see him lose it all.

The door burst open before I could say more. His Beta Caleb and a group of warriors stormed in. Their eyes widened as they took in the scene.

“What happened here?” Caleb’s gaze landed on Owen before it met mine.

I opened my mouth immediately without hesitation. “It was me. I killed her.”

The looks on their faces were unreadable, but I could see the disbelief in their eyes. But it didn’t matter, I had made my choice.

“Take her to the cells.”

I was dragged away and soon enough, my only friend, Cynthia ran after me. “Ariana!” she cried out, grabbing my arm. “Tell them you’re not the one who did it. Tell them the truth.”

Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t speak. All I wanted now was to protect Owen. I was finally dragged to the cell and it got slammed shut behind me. I was alone in the darkness, with nothing but my thoughts.

The Moon Goddess had always been cruel to me.

And tonight, she had been crueler than ever.

"Ariana, daughter of the exiled Alpha James,” Owen's father, Alpha Marcus spoke. “You stand accused of taking the life of Mara, a respected member of our pack. Do you confess to this crime?"

I knelt before the pack council, my hands bound with chains behind my back. The room was filled with pack members who all looked at me with pure hatred. Every face seemed to scream that I was guilty before I even spoke.

This was my chance to tell the truth about what really happened that night. But when I glanced at Owen and saw the silent plea in his eyes, I remembered his promise. I turned back to the council and forced the words out. "Yes, I confess."

Gasps and whispers filled the room. Of course they would react this way, the girl they already hated had finally committed a terrible crime, proving them right all along.

Alpha Marcus raised his hand and silence fell over the room instantly "Ariana, you have admitted to a grave crime. Before we pass judgment, do you wish to explain your actions?"

I tried to form a story through my panicked thoughts. "We argued. She said horrible things about my status, called me a cursed omega and insulted my family. I lost control." I knew this would be the most believable story.The outburst of a rejected, powerless girl.

Alpha Marcus narrowed his eyes and circled me slowly. You want us to believe that a mere Omega, a girl the Moon Goddess herself has cursed from birth could overpower and kill a warrior’s daughter?”He stopped directly in front of me. “Ariana, do you take us as fools.”

He was right, my story sounded absurd. But I had made my choice, I had to see it through.

“Yes,” I repeated, trying my best to look as convincing as possible though I could feel sweat trickling down my face.“I did it.”

He shook his head slowly and turned to a warrior standing nearby. "Bring forward the body."

The warrior nodded and left through a side door. Moments later, he returned with two others carrying a covered stretcher. They placed it in the center of the room and at Alpha Marcus's gesture, they removed the sheet.

The sight of her made my stomach turn. not because of the violence but because I knew who had really wielded that knife. I forced myself to look away, focusing on a spot on the wall behind the elders.

"This is the result of your actions, Ariana," Alpha Marcus said grimly. “You're….”

Suddenly, a cry broke through his words. "YOU!" Mara's brother, Lucas pushed through the crowd. Before anyone could stop him, he ran forward and reached out to grab my throat. "You worthless omega! You killed my sister! You cursed, good-for-nothing creature!" Lucas's fingers squeezed around my neck, making it hard to breathe. I gasped and struggled for air, and my vision began to blur.

Two warriors quickly intervened, pulling Lucas away. He struggled against their grip but his eyes was still fixed on me. “My sister! You took her from me! Your family has always been cursed, bringing nothing but misfortune to this pack!” He spat on the floor near my feet.

“Enough! This is a matter for the Alpha to decide.” The Alpha commanded by raising his hands. The hall fell silent, the only sound was the heavy breathing of the warriors holding Lucas back.

“This… this act cannot go unpunished,” Alpha Marcus announced. “This crime… this stain on our pack… it must be cleansed.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Ariana will be held until after the coronation. On that day, under the light of the full moon, she will face her judgment. Her execution will serve as a cleansing for our land, a reminder of the consequences of such heinous acts.”

Jeers and insults rained on me as the crowd ran forward, throwing rocks and clumps of dirt. The guards tightened their grip on me, shielding me as best they could but some of the projectiles still hit their mark. I felt a sharp sting on my cheek as a small stone grazed my skin.

They finally dragged me away, back to the dark damp cell that would be my prison until my execution. The insults followed me even after the heavy door clanged shut behind me.

Despite the despair that threatened to consume me, a tiny hope remained. Owen had promised to release me once he became Alpha. Five days and I'll be free from this misery.

But the days that followed were a blur. The food they brought was barely edible, and the constant fear of the crowd’s hatred kept me on edge. I spent most of my time in a corner, shivering from the cold, my mind replaying the events of that night over and over again.

On what I thought was the fifth day, I heard familiar footsteps approaching.

"Ariana?" Cynthia's whisper came through the bars.

I crawled to the front of my cell. "Is anyone watching?"

"No, I made sure." She quickly passed some bread and dried meat through the bars. "I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner. They caught me twice trying to bring you food."

I devoured the food, trying not to cry at the first real meal I'd had in days. "Thank you," I managed between bites.

"Owen's ceremony is tomorrow," Cynthia said, settling down on the other side of the bars. "He'll be crowned Alpha."

My heart leaped. "Tomorrow? Then I'll be free soon?"

"That's what he promised, right?" Cynthia's voice held something I couldn't quite read. "Ariana... are you sure about all this? Something doesn't feel right."

"He loves me," I insisted. "He's my mate. Once he's Alpha, everything will be different. The pack will have to accept me when I'm their Luna."

Cynthia was quiet for a moment. "I hope you're right. I'm coming back tomorrow with something special – we should celebrate your last night here."

"You're the best friend anyone could ask for," I told her, reaching through the bars to squeeze her hand.

After she left, I couldn't sleep. Freedom was so close. I imagined walking out of this cell, standing proud beside Owen as he announced me as his Luna. No more whispers and no more shame. Finally, I would have everything I'd dreamed of.

The next day crawled by. Every footstep made my heart race, wondering if it was Owen coming to release me. Finally, as evening approached I heard multiple sets of footsteps.

Owen appeared at my cell door, looking magnificent in his new Alpha robes. My heart swelled with pride and love.

"You did it?" I asked, though I could feel the power radiating from him. "You're Alpha now?"

"Thanks to you, my love. I couldn't have done this without your sacrifice." He smiled.

"When can I leave?" I tried to hide my eagerness. "Are you going to release me now?"

"Tomorrow," he said. "There's just one more thing I need to show you first."

My heart sank a little but I managed to whisper. "What's that?"

Before he could answer, more footsteps approached. Cynthia appeared beside him and my spirits lifted. She must have brought the surprise she promised. But the way they looked at each other made my stomach turn. Owen then reached out and pulled Cynthia to him, his hand settling possessively on her waist.

"No," I whispered.

He looked at me and smiled cruelly, before he kissed my best friend. Passionately, right in front of me.

A deep kiss that shattered my world into a million pieces.

I stood there as they kissed like nothing else in the world existed. Owen finally pulled away, but his gaze slid past Cynthia to land on me. The torchlight from the corridor left dancing shadows on his face, making his expression even more sinister.

"Why?" My fingers now wrapped around the metal bars trembled as I whispered the word. The bars were the only thing keeping me upright. "I gave you everything, Owen. My trust, my loyalty, my heart. You were the only one I told about my wolf..."

"Exactly," Owen cut in as he stepped closer to my cell. "The only one who knew what a threat you really are."

Cynthia's eyes widened slightly, and I realized even she hadn't known this part of the truth.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

Owen laughed loudly. "Did you think I actually loved you? The daughter of James Darkwood, the most powerful Alpha our territory had ever seen? The same bloodline that produced wolves strong enough to challenge the Moon Goddess herself?" He shook his head. "I kept you close because I needed to know what I was dealing with."

"But I never..." I started.

"Never what? Never planned to challenge me?" He slammed his hands on the bars making me jump. The sound echoed through the cell block and somewhere in the distance, a prisoner screamed.

"Your father's power runs through your veins, Ariana. I saw you that day in the training grounds, pretending to be weak while your wolf vibrated with strength. The same strength that made your father unstoppable."

The pieces started falling into place. "So everything... every moment between us..."

"Was me making sure you stayed exactly where I needed you - powerless, hated and alone. The perfect plan, until Mara had to complicate things."

"Mara?" My knees felt weak.

"She saw you shifting in the woods," He leaned forward, close enough that I could smell the wine on his breath from the celebration. "Came to me all excited about defending your honor, about telling the pack they were wrong about you. She didn't understand what a threat you really are."

I wrapped my hands around myself as the final piece clicked into place.

"So you killed her," I whispered. "And made me take the blame."

“Two birds, one stone. It worked out better than I could have planned." he smirked, spreading his arms wide. "The pack's hatred for you grew even stronger, and now..." He gestured to his Alpha robes with a flourish. "I have everything I want."

Cynthia pressed closer to him even as she traced a finger along his chest. "And I get to be Luna. The position you thought was yours."

My fingers shook as anger flowed through my veins. "You spineless coward! You murdered an innocent woman and let me rot in here because you were afraid? Some Alpha you'll make—"

The air rushed from my lungs as his arm shot through the bars. His fingers dug into my throat and I could feel him crushing my windpipe. "Watch what you say. I'm your Alpha now." His grip tightened as he pulled me closer to the bars. "Your life belongs to me."

I clawed desperately at his hand, black spots dancing in my vision. My nails drew blood but he didn't even flinch. "What..." I wheezed as I struggled for each word. "What happened to...your promise?" I kicked weakly at the bars. "You said... you'd release me when you become Alpha."

He left my throat, and I collapsed against the floor, coughing.

"Oh, I'll release you as promised," he paced around. "But I promise you this—the release will be worse than staying in these cells."

"What do you mean?" I whispered.

"You'll see tomorrow. Consider it my final gift to you, my dear mate." He spat the last word like it was poison.

They turned to leave, but Cynthia paused as she looked back. "You know what's truly pathetic, Ariana? How eagerly you took the blame. The perfect little martyr, right until the end."

I listened as their footsteps grew fainter along the corridor. I crumpled to the cold floor, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed in my chest. The truth hit me then, I hadn't been cursed by the Moon Goddess.

I'd been cursed by my own foolish heart.

—--------------

“Ariana James, you stand before the pack to face judgment for your crimes,” one of the werewolf council declared loudly across the pack clearing. "Tonight, the Moon Goddess shall bear witness to your punishment."

The crowd shouted both happy and angry sounds, and I could feel how much they hated me.

I kept my gaze fixed on Owen, silently pleading for him to keep his promise. But when our eyes met, I saw no love or regret. I only saw emptiness, it was obvious he didn't care at all.

Owen raised his hand and the crowd fell silent. "Stop the execution," he commanded firmly. The murmurs died down as everyone turned to him in confusion.

"Owen," one of the council members said cautiously, "the judgment has been passed. Execution is—"

"I have a different punishment in mind," Owen cut in, smiling in a way that made me feel cold all over.

"What are you suggesting?" The council members looked at each other nervously, but Owen’s eyes gleamed as he stepped forward.

“Death is too merciful for her. She deserves something far worse.” He stared at me intensely. “A punishment fitting the crime… and the betrayal.”

My stomach dropped and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. What could be worse than death?

The pack members also shifted nervously in their seats clearly confused.

“Speak plainly, Alpha Owen. Go straight to the point.” another elder said.

Owen looked at the council members and then right at me. His cold stare made me feel completely exposed. “Sell her… as a slave.”

Both the crowd, the councils and I gasped collectively.

“Slavery is hardly a punishment fitting such a crime!” one elder protested. “If anything, it’s too easy a fate—”

“You didn’t let me finish,” Owen interrupted in a cold voice. “She will be sold as a slave… to the Night Walker Pack.”