chapter One: Power play
Samantha’s pov
“Packmates, I present to you the alpha heir of Dark Moon pack,
my daughter Mia!”
The silver tray trembled in my unsteady hands, threatening to
crash to the floor as my father’s voice sounded. I felt humiliated,
having been stripped of my rightful status and forced to wear a
humble maid’s uniform, serving refreshments to guests like a
common servant.
Everyone knew that I, Samantha Woods, was the elder daughter
of Alpha Eric in Dark Moon but they were cold to me, calling me
a cursed being for not connecting to my wolf.
I bowed alongside the others to honor my sister. My eyes welled
up with tears. I couldn’t believe how far I’d fallen. It felt bitter
and painful.
Mia lounged on the lavish throne–like chair. Her long, silk gown
with a tiara on her perfectly styled hair, which was swept up into
a chignon and secured with sparkly pins made her look like a
queen.
Even her eyes flashed with superiority, as if she knew she was
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the true center of power and attention. I looked away, unable to
meet her eyes, and instead fixed my attention on the red carpet.
that stretched out before her.
“Enjoy, my pack mates,” Mia announced, her tone excited.
“There’s plenty of food and drinks. The maids are on standby to
serve you!”
I shrank inward, trying to calm my heart. To my side, my
stepmother’s friends openly discussed my family’s misfortunes.
They were unconcerned that I was within earshot and their cruel
whispers about my downfall pained me.
“The older girl is utterly worthless. Her mother must have
committed a big offense against the Moon Goddess, for how
else could the girl fail to bond with her wolf? I’d rather die than
not connect with my wolf.”
“You’re right,” her friend agreed. “What would happen when we get attacked by rogues?Mia is a capable leader. Samantha is
useless ”
Their harsh words stung. I attempted to move, but my knees buckled, feeling like jelly. I managed to take a few steps away and distanced myself from their hurtful words.
But my suffering only worsened as my stepmother, Evelyn, publicly humiliated me.
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“Samantha, you lazy good–for–nothing! Where have you been.
hiding? There are still many guests who need refreshments!”
Evelyn’s shrill voice grated on my nerves. She sounded like at
parrot.
“Make yourself useful, girl. Your wolf is useless, but you’ve got
hands and legs. Make use of them and be happy for your
sister.”
Her ridicule cut deep and I hurried to the kitchen. The feeling of
abandonment was terrible. I no longer had access to anything.
good. Mia had taken everything from me to the point of making.
my former friends become loyal to her.
A sharp pain spread across my chest. Not emotional this time.
but physical. After completing the first round of serving drinks, I
dropped the tray and doubled over to clutch my chest and
began gasping for air.
I searched around for my boyfriend, Daniel. He was all I had and
my last hope for happiness. We’ve been deeply in love since our
high school days, and despite my recent struggles, he remained
by my side.
On my eighteenth birthday, Daniel took me in his arms under the
blooming cherry blossom tree and made a promise to me.
Phapter One Power play.
“I’ll never leave you, Samantha. Our bond is unbreakable. When
we find a way to overcome your struggles with your wolf, we’ll
return to this very spot, under our beloved tree, and get
married.”
Thinking about his promise lifted my spirits. I clung to those
words on cold, dreary nights and during times of ridicule..
But Daniel was absent. He had grown distant lately. I didn’t want.
to be a clingy girlfriend, knowing he was busy with work.
But everyone in the pack was at Mia’s party. Pushing aside my concerns, I hurried to refill drinks and bumped into the head of
the maids.
“Use your damn eyes, she snapped and grabbed my hands from falling. A stinging pain from the cuts on my body made me
wince.
Unfortunately, I was my sister’s blood bank and was always
forced to undergo weekly transfusions to neutralize the toxic
buildup in her blood due to a rare genetic disorder.
Ignoring my pain, I continued serving guests. Nothing
interesting happened until much later when I heard my sister
yelling.
“I refuse to acknowledge an omega weakling as.my mate!” Mia
Chapter One Power play
cried out. “That the goddess would choose an omega of all
people to pair with me is a curse I will never accept!”
My sister’s mate is an omega? The moon goddess must either
be drunk for pairing Mia with an Omega or she was simply not.
as perfect as I thought.
My sister’s mate was getting humiliated by her friends. Mia’s
face was flushed red like a ripe tomato. Her mom was trying to control the situation and pleaded with Mia not to cause a scene.
Suddenly, I found I knew that omega, Theo. I helped him once.
Because he didn’t satisfy my father, my father wanted to expel
him from the pack. But I pleaded with my father to let Theo stay.
Theo seemed like a nice person but that didn’t change the fact
that he Lucid Omega blood.
I was moved with sympathy for the poor guy because Mia
insulted the life out of him and even spat on his face.
After the main event concluded, I slipped away to the attic. The
dust, mice, and musty scent of old things didn’t bother me.I lay
on the rug and shut my eyes, feeling a metallic tang in my
mouth and hoping that Daniel would come to me. I needed him.
to make me happy.
While I was drifting to sleep, I heard footsteps approaching. One
chapter One Power play
of the maids informed me that my dad requested my presence.
My body screamed in protest when I got off the floor. Dad was
in his study. I knocked softly on the door and was granted entry.
He sat behind the desk, with my stepmother and Mia facing him.
Their gazes were fixed on me.
I felt uneasy, knowing that this meant trouble. What more could
they possibly demand from me? They had already taken my
rightful place as alpha and my blood, leaving me with nothing.
My dad cleared his throat and sat up. “Samantha, we need to
discuss something important and I need you to obey diligently.”
I swallowed hard and nodded, waiting for him to speak. Evelyn’s
smile widened as she stepped forward.
“Mia’s mate is an omega, and this is a problem for our family.”
I remained silent, wondering what they wanted from me.
Dad sighed and spoke. “We’ve decided that Mia will reject the
omega and get mated to your boyfriend, Daniel.”