The first thing I felt was the cold. The damp chill of stone against my cheek, seeping into my bones. Then came the smell—rusted iron, sweat, and something sharp and coppery. Blood.

My head throbbed, my wrists ached, and when I tried to move, I realized why. Shackles. Heavy iron cuffs dug into my skin, chaining me to the wall.

“Get up!”

The growl came from somewhere in the shadows. A rough boot kicked my side, and I cried out as I was yanked to my feet by the chains.

My eyes darted around, trying to take in my surroundings. A cage. Bars, thick and rusted. Beyond them, glowing eyes stared back at me—yellow, red, unblinking. Werewolves.

“Where… where am I?” My voice cracked, barely a whisper.

The werewolf tilted his head slightly, like he was studying a bug under a glass. “You’re in The Pit, little bird. A nice little auction house for humans like you. You’re here to be sold.”

Sold? No. No, no, no.

“There’s been a mistake!” my voice rising in panic. “I’m not supposed to be here—I was just walking home!”

The memories came rushing back—walking down the quiet street, my school bag slung over one shoulder. I’d been so close to home, just a few blocks away. Then... someone had grabbed me from behind, an arm wrapping around my waist. I’d screamed, kicked, but they’d punched me hard in the stomach, knocking the air out of my lungs. After that... nothing.

The werewolf just chuckled, like my panic was entertaining.

Before I could beg or scream again, the heavy clang of metal filled the air.

“Lot number 42! Bring her out!”

Two more wolves appeared. They unlocked the cage door and lunged at me. I thrashed, kicked, screamed—but it didn’t matter. They were too strong. They dragged me out into a large, open space lit by flickering torches.

“No! Stop! Let me go!” I screamed, thrashing against their grip, but they didn’t care.

The corridor outside the cages was lined with others like me—humans, young and scared, clutching at the bars of their prisons. Some stared blankly, others cried softly. I couldn’t stop shaking.

When we reached the auction hall, I froze. It was massive—rows of wolves seated like an audience, a spotlight in the center where a raised platform waited. The scent of sweat, leather, and raw animal filled the air.

“Next lot!” a sharp voice echoed, and the wolves shoved me forward.

“No, please!” I tried to dig my heels into the ground, but one of them raised a whip. The sharp crack of leather sliced the air before it came down on my back.

Pain exploded across my skin, and I screamed.

“Move!”

Another lash. And another. My knees buckled, and I sobbed as they dragged me onto the platform, the whip still biting into me until I collapsed in the center, gasping for air.

The spotlight blazed down on me, blinding, hot, and cruel.

“Lot number 42!” the auctioneer announced. “Human female. Young. Healthy. Perfect for breeding or labor.”

The crowd erupted with low growls and murmurs. My body shook uncontrollably as I forced myself to look out into the sea of glowing eyes.

“Bidding starts at 50 thousand dollars!”

“Sixty!”

“Eighty!”

“One hundred!”

The numbers rose higher, but I couldn’t focus. My back burned, my face was wet with tears, and my throat felt raw from screaming.

Then his voice cut through the chaos—calm, commanding, and utterly final.

“Two hundred thousand.”

Silence.

I turned my head slowly toward the voice. He stood at the back of the hall, arms crossed, sharp eyes locked onto me. He didn’t blink, didn’t flinch—just stared, like he already owned me.

“Sold to Alpha Ronan!” the auctioneer barked, slamming down the gavel.

The wolves dragged me off the platform, my body limp and trembling. But as we neared him—panic overtook me.

No. I couldn’t let this happen.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I jerked free from one wolf’s grip and bolted. My bare feet slapped against the stone floor as I ran, my lungs burning with every gasp of air.

“Get her!”

I didn’t make it far. A strong hand grabbed my hair, yanking me backward with so much force I thought my neck might snap. I crashed onto the floor, pain radiating through my back and elbows.

Before I could react, Ronan loomed over me. His cold silver eyes locked onto mine as he crouched down, his gloved hand wrapping around my throat.

“Running was a mistake, little one,” he said calmly, his grip tightening.

“Let me go!” I choked out, clawing at his wrist. My voice was hoarse, desperate. “Please…”

He stood, pulling me up by my arm with terrifying strength. Without thinking, I swung my free hand and slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the hall, and the world seemed to freeze.

Ronan’s head turned slightly with the impact, but he didn’t flinch. Slowly, he looked back at me, his jaw tight, eyes blazing with something sharp and dangerous.

And then he slapped me back.

The force of it whipped my head to the side, and I staggered, falling to my knees. Blood dripped from my nose and smeared across my lips as I gasped, my head spinning.

The room was silent.

“Get up,” he said quietly.

I didn’t move. Couldn’t move. My entire body shook as warm blood dripped down my chin.

He grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet again, his grip bruising.

“Alpha Ronan,” one of his men approached cautiously. “The car is ready.”

“Good,” Ronan said, his voice low. “She’s coming with me.”

I struggled weakly in his grip as he dragged me outside, my bare feet stumbling over rocks and dirt.

Ronan glanced at me but said nothing as he opened the door to a sleek black SUV and shoved me inside.

The door slammed shut, and the world outside disappeared as the car began to move.

My head throbbed, my face stung, and my wrists ached from the cuffs still digging into my skin.

“Where are you taking me?” I whispered.

Ronan’s eyes flicked to me in the rearview mirror.

“Home.”

The word felt like a death sentence.

I pressed my forehead against the cool glass of the window, tears silently streaming down my face.

Whatever home meant to him, it wasn’t going to mean safety for me.

***

The car screeched to a stop, and before I could even gather my thoughts, the door flew open. Ronan grabbed my arm, yanking me out with no more care than if I were a piece of luggage.

“Get up,” he growled when I stumbled, my knees scraping against gravel.

My face was still throbbing from the slap, my legs shaky from the whip, but his iron grip dragged me forward. The cold night air hit my skin, carrying the scent of pine and smoke.

We were at some massive estate—dark stone walls, towering gates, and a pack of wolves standing guard. They watched silently as Ronan hauled me past them, their glowing eyes following every painful step I took.

I wanted to scream, to fight, but the humiliation from earlier had drained me. My face was swollen, blood still crusted on my nose and lips, and my back burned with every movement.

The inside of the house was worse than I’d expected. It wasn’t luxurious or welcoming—it was cold, cavernous, and smelled faintly of wet dog and decay. Wolves crowded in the main hall, their chatter stopping the moment Ronan stepped in with me in tow.

“Listen up!” Ronan’s voice boomed, commanding instant silence. He shoved me to my knees in the middle of the room, his hand pressing down hard on my shoulder.

“This is Elena, she a human,” he announced, his tone sharp, like he wasn’t talking about a person at all. “She’s mine now.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd, low and mocking.

I glared at the floor, my fists clenching at my sides.

“She’ll do what I say, when I say it. If anyone touches her without my permission, they’ll answer to me.”

He turned his head slightly, speaking directly into my ear. “That goes for you too. Understand?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t trust my voice not to betray the rage and fear swirling inside me.

Ronan’s grip tightened painfully. “I said, do you understand?”

“Yes,” I spat, my voice trembling with anger.

“Good.” He released me, stepping back. “Now, show us all that you know your place.”

I glanced up at him, confused. “What?”

“Kneel,” he barked.

“I’m already kneeling!”

“Lower.” His voice was ice.

My stomach twisted in humiliation. Slowly, I sank down further until my forehead nearly touched the cold, filthy floor. The wolves around us erupted into howls of laughter.

“Good girl,” Ronan sneered.

I wanted to die.

But it didn’t stop there.

“Get her a mop,” Ronan called out. “She can start earning her keep.”

Someone shoved a grimy mop and bucket into my hands. I stared at it, my hands shaking.

“I’m not—”

“You are,” Ronan cut me off, his voice sharp and final. “Clean the hall. Every inch of it.”

The wolves jeered and threw scraps of food onto the floor, making the task even more degrading. My hands tightened on the mop, my jaw clenching so hard it hurt, but I swallowed my pride and got to work.

The night blurred into a nightmare of mopping, scrubbing, and being shoved around by sneering wolves. My back screamed in pain from earlier, and my knees felt raw from kneeling.

Hours later, when I was finally done, Ronan appeared again.

“Follow me,” he said curtly, turning without waiting to see if I’d comply.

I didn’t have a choice. I followed him through the winding halls of the house, my legs trembling with exhaustion.

He stopped at the base of a grand staircase, his hand gripping the railing.

“You’ll stay out of the upper floors unless I tell you otherwise,” he said. “And if you even think about running...” His eyes glinted dangerously. “Well, you won’t like what happens.”

I nodded silently, my throat too dry to speak.

But as I followed him to my assigned “room”—a cramped, windowless space that smelled of mildew—I couldn’t help noticing the faint flicker of candlelight coming from the upper floors.

Later that night, when the house was quiet, curiosity got the better of me. I crept out of my room, my bare feet silent against the cold floor.

The fourth floor was eerily silent, the air heavy and still. The light led me to a room at the very end of the hall.

Pushing the door open, I froze.

A woman lay on the bed, pale and motionless. Her long hair fanned out over the dark sheets, and her chest rose and fell so faintly I wasn’t sure if she was breathing at all.

My stomach twisted uneasily. She wasn’t dead, but she wasn’t alive either—not fully.

Before I could move, I heard footsteps behind me.

“What are you doing here?”

Ronan’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

I spun around, my heart hammering in my chest. His face was unreadable, but his eyes burned with quiet fury.

“Who... who is she?”

Ronan stepped into the room, his presence suffocating. “That’s none of your concern.”

“Why is she—”

“She’s my mate,” he snapped, his tone final. “My Luna.”

Something about the way he said it sent a chill down my spine.

“She’s... she’s not alive,” I whispered, glancing back at the unmoving woman. “What are you doing to her?”

Ronan’s jaw clenched. “She’s sick. And you’re going to help me bring her back.”

“What?” I took a step back.

He grabbed my arm, pulling me close. His voice dropped to a cold whisper.

“You’re not here to be part of this pack, Elena. You’re here because humans are useful in rituals. And in two weeks, I’m going to kill you to save her, whether you like it or not.”

His words hit me like a slap in the face.

“Two weeks,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “You’re going to kill me... in two weeks?”

Ronan smirked, leaning back against the doorframe as if we were discussing the weather. “On the blood moon. It’s the perfect time for rituals. And with the witch’s help, your sacrifice will ensure Luna’s return.”

Sacrifice. The word twisted in my chest like a knife.

“You… you can’t be serious,” I said, my voice trembling.

“Oh, I’m fucking dead serious,” he replied, his tone almost bored. “But until then, you’ll stay here. Do what I tell you. And you’ll start by looking after her.”

He jerked his head toward the woman on the bed—his Luna. Her pale face was peaceful, almost serene, but the energy in the room felt... wrong.

“You want me to take care of her?”

“You’ll do more than that,” Ronan said, his voice hardening. “You’ll bathe her, feed her, keep her clean. If I so much as smell neglect on her, I’ll make sure your death is slow.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. “What if I... what if I hurt her by accident?”

Ronan’s expression darkened. He stepped closer, towering over me.

“If you try anything— anything—to harm her, I’ll fucking throw you to the rogues. Let them tear you apart piece by piece and feast on your remains. Understand?”

A shiver ran down my spine. His tone wasn’t a threat; it was a promise.

I nodded quickly, not trusting my voice to work.

“Good.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me out of the room. “You start now.”

***

The first thing I learned about taking care of Alpha Ronan’s Luna was that it wasn’t about her. It was about him.

He wanted her pristine, perfect, untouched. Every detail had to be just right—the water temperature for her baths, the way her hair was brushed, even the position of her hands on the bed. It was obsessive, and the weight of it pressed down on me with every passing second.

I carried a basin of warm water into the room, my arms shaking under its weight. The Luna lay exactly as I’d left her, unmoving, her chest rising and falling so faintly I had to lean closer to be sure she was still breathing.

I set the basin down and hesitated.

This was insane. I was supposed to be in school, worrying about exams, hanging out with friends, maybe daydreaming about my future. Not... this. Not bathing a woman who was basically a corpse while her psychotic mate planned to kill me.

My hands shook as I dipped a cloth into the water and wrung it out.

“Just get it over with,” I muttered to myself.

The cloth brushed against her skin, and I froze. Her body was cold—colder than it should’ve been—but there was a faint warmth beneath the surface, like embers buried under ash.

I worked quickly, trying not to think too much. Every movement felt surreal, like I was watching myself from outside my body.

When I finished, I stepped back, wiping my hands on my pants.

“Good enough,” Ronan’s voice said from the doorway, making me jump.

I turned to see him leaning against the frame, his arms crossed over his chest.

“She looks... decent,” he said, his eyes scanning the Luna’s form. “For now.”

I bit back the urge to snap at him. What was I supposed to do? Give her a makeover?

“Get out,” he said abruptly. “You’ve got other work to do.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

***

The days blurred together. Ronan didn’t just assign me to the Luna; he made sure I was his personal slave too. Cleaning, cooking, running errands—every task was designed to remind me of how little I mattered.

But the worst part wasn’t the work. It was the looming shadow of the blood moon, ticking closer with every passing day.

I tried to push the thought away, but at night, alone in my cramped little room, it was all I could think about. How would it happen? Would the witch drag me to some altar and carve me open? Would Ronan watch? Would anyone care?