Chapter 1
Krystal POV
I was in the hall, carefully putting up decorations for the upcoming banquet. The task should have been simple, but nothing ever was when Rose was around.
“Do that properly, dummy!” Rose’s shrill voice cut through the air, followed by a sharp jab in my side with the end of a long stick. The unexpected poke made me stumble, nearly dropping the ribbon I was holding. Rose’s glare bore into me as I managed to regain my balance.
“You’re so fragile, just like a pathetic little weakling,” she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.
I tucked a strand of my long black hair behind my ear, my weary blue eyes flicking up to meet my stepsister’s disdainful gaze. “I'm trying to help you here, Rose. You’re not being nice,” I sniffed, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Nice?” Rose scoffed, flipping her golden curls over her shoulder. Her green eyes glittered with contempt. “You want me to be nice to a good-for-nothing, wolfless nobody like you? Keep dreaming, idiot!” She jabbed me again with the stick, forcing me to continue with the decorations in silence.
I glanced back and caught Rose smirking as she looked around the hall, her excitement evident. “Tomorrow is going to be a great day. John is coming to the banquet, and I can’t wait for him to notice me and pick me as his mate.”
I dared to mutter under my breath, “You’re assuming a lot.”
“What did you say?” She snapped, her expression darkening with loathing.
I couldn't repeat that twice. I shook my head, but before I could deny, Rose poked me harder, making me shriek in pain. Just then, Alpha Steve, our father, and Annie, my stepmother, entered the hall.
“Father, Annie, Rose has been treating me wrongly,” I immediately pointed out, hoping for some semblance of justice.
Rose’s expression quickly shifted to one of feigned innocence. “I did nothing to her, Father. Mother, I only told her that she’s wolfless and that it’s not good.”
I wasn’t surprised; Rose was a perfect liar. My stepmother’s response was as expected. Annie’s face twisted with spite as she said, “She only spoke the truth, Krystal. You’re insignificant.”
But it was my father’s words that struck me the hardest.
“You’re worthless, Krystal. You’re just a huge embarrassment to me,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. His eyes no longer held the warmth they once did, a change orchestrated by Annie’s manipulation.
Rose, sensing the opportunity to wound me further, whined, “Father, I told her that Prince John is coming tomorrow and will choose me as his mate, but she called me undeserving.”
My heart sank as I watched my family turn against me once more, the weight of their cruelty pressing down on me, leaving me feeling utterly alone.
"You said that? How dare you?" Alpha Steve's voice thundered through the hall, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me. The intensity of his gaze made my heart pound in my chest, and I felt like I might collapse under its weight.
I shook my head, trembling uncontrollably. I hadn't said anything of the sort, but what did it matter? No one would believe me. No one ever did.
“The banquet is in honor of Prince John. Rose will end up becoming his mate and no one else,” Alpha Steve declared with finality. His words pierced through me, each syllable like a dagger to my heart.
"And you better make sure my daughter looks the best tomorrow,” Annie added, her voice dripping with scorn as she shot me a disdainful look.
As they turned to leave, Rose grabbed a pitcher of water from one of the passing servants and, with a wicked grin, poured it onto the floor in front of me. “Clean it, you worthless, wolfless douchebag,” she spat, before trailing after our parents.
I dropped to my knees, tears streaming down my face as I began wiping up the water with a rag. Memories of better days flashed through my mind—days when my father still loved me, when I had hope, when I wasn’t just a burden to everyone around me. Those memories felt like they belonged to someone else now.
Exhausted from crying, I curled up on the cold, hard floor, the rag still clutched in my hand. My body ached, my soul felt empty, and my mind drifted as sleep overcame me. In my dreams, I saw the Moon Goddess, her light gentle and comforting. I prayed to her, my voice trembling even in my sleep.
“Please,” I whispered into the void, “send me a wolf... send me a mate... take me away from this life.”
The darkness of sleep pulled me deeper, but the ache in my heart remained, a constant reminder of the life I longed to escape.
The next day, the banquet hall buzzed with anticipation. I trailed behind Rose, my steps barely making a sound on the polished floor. My attire, a simple, faded gown that had seen better days, contrasted starkly with Rose’s elaborate dress of deep crimson silk. Her golden curls were meticulously styled, and jewels adorned her neck and ears. I, on the other hand, wore nothing but the barest trace of hope that I might pass through this night unnoticed.
Rose walked with the confidence of someone who had the world at her feet, and I stayed a few paces behind, carrying the edge of her train. My appearance—unadorned, almost invisible—was just as our stepmother wanted.
Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over me. My heart skipped a beat, and my chest tightened as if some invisible thread had been tugged. I froze in place, my pulse quickening.
When I looked up, I saw him.
Prince John.
Tall, with broad shoulders, he exuded an air of regality that demanded attention. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, framing a face that was both sharp and alluring. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, held a quiet intensity that made my heart race.
“Greetings, Prince John,” Rose’s voice was unnaturally sweet, dripping with the kind of politeness she rarely afforded anyone but herself. She curtsied low, her eyes batting as she stepped closer. I hurried to catch up, keeping my head down, but I couldn’t help noticing the prince’s gaze shift in my direction.
Rose blathered on about his handsomeness, “You look even more dashing in person than I imagined, Prince John. I’ve heard so much about your bravery and leadership.”
But his attention lingered on me. Why is he looking at me like that? Could he… could he possibly have some special interest in me? The thought seemed too ridiculous to entertain, so I dismissed it as wishful thinking. There was no way someone like him would notice someone like me.
Just then, Alpha Steve appeared behind me, nearly knocking me off balance as he stepped forward.
“Welcome once again, Prince John. I suppose you’ve met my pretty daughter, Rose?” He gestured proudly at Rose, who blushed prettily under his praise.
The prince smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was something off, something almost… fake about it. When he glanced back at me, Alpha Steve’s gaze followed and hardened. “And this,” he waved dismissively toward me, “is one of Rose’s servants. Nothing more.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to react. The familiar sting of being reduced to nothing in my father’s eyes was something I had learned to endure.
“I see,” John nodded, his skepticism barely hidden. He seemed to contemplate something before Alpha Steve eagerly pushed Rose toward him. “Why don’t you both get better acquainted? My daughter would be honored to speak with you.”
Rose seized the opportunity, launching into a conversation about their shared noble lineage and the splendor of her family’s estate. “Our lineage traces back to the most prestigious wolves. I’m sure you’ll find our pack’s history fascinating, Prince John.”
Despite the throngs of young women hoping to catch the prince’s eye, John remained focused on Rose, though his gaze occasionally flickered in my direction. It was strange.
I kept my distance, staying just close enough to fulfill my role as Rose’s shadow, but far enough to avoid any direct interaction.
After some time, Alpha Steve reappeared, brimming with excitement. “You should both dance together. My daughter is an excellent dancer.”
Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the prince’s reply. I tensed, certain he would agree, certain that Rose would have her moment of glory. But to everyone’s shock, John shook his head.
“I’m afraid I must decline,” he said, his voice firm yet polite.
What? Did he just reject Rose?
The entire hall fell silent, all eyes on Rose, who stared at the prince in disbelief. The rejection hung in the air, heavy and undeniable, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it all meant.