Chapter 1

“I’m so sorry,” Fay mumbled. “I was just acting on instincts… I didn’t know you were behind me.”

Fay was minding her own business by the bonfire when she sensed trouble. Two rocks flew in her direction. She dodged the first one but the second one hit her glass. 

The crimson liquid in her glass spilled all over Vanessa’s crisp white dress, effectively ruining it. 

Vanessa and her groupies burst out laughing.

“What instincts?” Vanessa mocked. “You don’t even have a wolf!”

Fay knew they were trying to rile her up, but their words really hit home. She was constantly reminded of the fact that she was a wolfless werewolf. 

“You’re the only one our age who still doesn’t have a wolf,” Riley, one of Vanessa’s groupies, said out as she pushed Fey back.

Fay’s chin quivered as she tried to hold back her tears.

“It’s a curse!” someone called out from the crowd.

“Yeah! That’s what you get for killing your own mother!” Vanessa said, backing up the crowd. “Cursed by Moon Goddess!”

“You should listen to her. She knows what she’s talking about,” Luke, Vanessa’s brother, the heir of the Bloodclaw Pack, said as he stepped forward. “The largest pack in the world doesn’t need its reputation tainted by a wolfless wolf.”

“It was an accident,” Fay whispered, but her voice was barely audible.

No one stepped forward to defend her, because none of them cared.

The only people who cared, her parents, were nowhere to be found. They were pulled away from their discussion earlier, and she hadn’t seen them since. 

"You should be punished," Luke snapped. "Disrespecting my sister like that."

Fay clenched her fists as she bit back a cutting retort.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Vanessa said smugly. “You wouldn’t stand up for yourself if you could.”

“If you still don’t have your wolf when you turn eighteen, you should be banished from the pack,” Luke continued, earning a bout of cheers from the onlookers. “I’ll force you to turn rogue.”

“No one will accept a wolfless werewolf into their pack,” Vanessa scoffed.

Fay remained silent. She had always been their punching bag for as long as she could remember. The best way to deal with them was to stay silent. They would get bored eventually. 

“I’m sure your parents will be happy to get rid of you,” Luke said, crossing his arms. “You’re such a disappointment to them.”

As Vanessa stalked up to her, she instinctively took a couple of steps back. Fay hadn’t realized just how close she actually was to the fire until she felt the heat behind her.

She bit her cheek, wishing she had her wolf. 

Vanessa used all her strength to push Fay back, causing her to stumble. Fay’s arms flailed as she tried to keep her balance, but the heat behind her intensified and she knew she was about to fall into the flames.

Fay closed her eyes as she braced for impact, but a strong arm wrapped around her waist. She looked up to see that her father, Finch, had saved her a second before she could get burned.

“What makes you think I’m disappointed in my daughter?” Finch asked through gritted teeth, making it clear that he’d heard everything. 

“Being the daughter of the Alpha doesn’t mean you have the right to push pack members over petty squabbles,” Finch said as he turned his attention to Vanessa. “You’re just another spoiled brat who has no respect for members of your own pack!”

Finch was livid. He knew they would be punished for this, but he didn't seem to care. 

When Fay looked past her father’s broad frame, she saw Vanessa whimpering as tears streamed down her fair cheeks.

“It’s all her fault!” Vanessa said, glaring at Finch. “If she was normal, none of this would’ve happened!”

Fay couldn’t believe that Vanessa was trying to play the victim in this. Everyone saw what happened, but like always, none of them would go against her.

“Do you think pushing someone into a fire is a game?” Finch reprimanded.

Vanessa opened her mouth to speak, but Luke placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Being the over protective big brother, he stepped in between the two of them.

“Back off, Walker! This isn’t your fight,” Luke said in an attempt to assert his dominance over Finch.

“No,” Finch sneered, “I’ve watched you ridicule my daughter for far too long. That ends now.”

Luke’s lips curled into a cruel smile, and he leaped forward in attack. Fay let out a strangled cry as she reached for her father, but it was too late. As Luke got close, Finch threw out his arms and pushed the future Alpha back.

The force sent Luke plummeting to the ground. A wave of shocked gasps echoed through the crowd of onlookers, and Fay knew that her father had just sealed his own fate.

“He attacked the Alpha’s son!” one of the onlookers shouted as he pointed a finger at Finch.

Fay gasped at the accusation. “No, that’s not what happened!” she protested, but no one paid any attention to her.

“Take him to the Alpha! He deserves to be punished for his actions!” another onlooker called out.

From her position, Fay could see her father’s body tensing up. His fists clenched and released in a blatant display of his anger, which could only mean one thing. Her father was preparing to strike.

“Finch!” Melanie, Fay’s mother, reprimanded as she threw a bucket of iced water at him.

With the shock he received from the cold water, Finch’s wolf was subdued. When he looked over at his daughter, Fay could see the realization in his eyes. He knew he’d pushed things too far.

“I’m so sorry, Luke,” Melanie said, offering the boy a sincere smile. “I’ll bring them to Alpha Jared for punishment.”

Once Luke nodded, Melanie grabbed them by their wrists and pulled them away from the bonfire. As they disappeared from sight, she released her grip. The party picked up their pace, heading toward the border.

The family reached the treeline and slipped into the forest unnoticed.

“What’s happening?” Fay asked, still in a state of confusion.

“We’re leaving this horrid pack so we can start a new life somewhere else.” Melanie said as she glanced at Fay.

“Why?” Fay asked as a frown etched into her forehead.

“It’s not safe for you to stay with the pack anymore,” Finch said, giving Fay a warm smile. “When I got pulled away from our conversation earlier, it had something to do with your security in Bloodclaw territory.”

Before Fay could question her father’s words, both her parents took their wolf forms. Finch stepped up to his daughter and motioned for her to get on his back.

With one final look at the place that Fay knew as home, she slipped onto her father’s back. She knew they were doing this to mask their scents, which could only mean that they would never be coming back.

Her parents sprinted to the border, and they only stopped when Bloodclaw was nothing more than a distant memory. When they shifted back to their human forms, they wrapped their arms around their daughter.

“I know it’s sad to leave the only place you’ve ever known,” Melanie said as she tightened her grip. “But this is a new beginning, and I’m sure it will be much better than our past.”

Finch let out a heavy sigh. As they turned away from the border, he led his daughter to what would become their new home.

“Where are we going to live now?” Fay asked, somewhat scared of what the future had in store for them.

“We contacted the Moonfang Pack a couple of days ago. They’ll take us in,” Melanie said as she playfully bumped into Fay. “Rumor has it that they have the scariest Alphas in the world.”

Fay hoped she was joking about that, but she wouldn’t object either way. They didn’t have any other options, and Fay was just happy that they had some place to call home. If the Alpha was scary, she would just avoid him.

As a family, they stepped out of neutral territory and into the land of the Moonfang Pack.

A few minutes into their walk, Fay picked up on something. A sudden sense of unease surrounded her, letting her know that something wasn’t right.

Something caught Fay's eye. A magnificent black wolf whose shiny coat matched the darkness of the night sky. Fay had never seen a black wolf before, but she had heard stories of them. 

He was much larger than the rest of the wolves, which could only mean that he was the Alpha. 

His piercing eyes were locked on her, their molten depths drawing her in. She unknowingly took a step forward but was stopped in her tracks when the wolf huffed.

The Alpha wolf and the others led Fay and her family to the Pack house. Once there, the black wolf took his human form. 

The man, who was just as magnificent as his wolf, held a hand out toward her. Fay’s arm lifted, seemingly on its own, allowing her hand to slip into his.

The Alpha gave her a dazzling smile before gently kissing her knuckles. “My name is Elias Spell. I’m the Alpha of the Moonfang Pack.”

~

Chapter 2

Fay tried her best not to look at the Alpha, but she could sense that his gaze was still on her. To distract herself, she turned her attention to the newcomer.

“I’m Tybalt, Beta of Moonfang,” he said, eyeing her curiously as he shook her hand. “If you need anything, just come to me.”

A low growl thrummed in Elias’ chest as he gripped onto his Beta’s shoulder, and Tybalt instantly let her go. Fay found the interaction rather strange but paid it no mind.

Her parents didn’t seem to see things the same way, though. They shared a look before Melanie stepped forward as Finch moved closer to Fay.

“We are sorry about burdening you with our problems,” Melanie said, offering the Alpha a sincere smile. “But we had no other choice.”

“Luke, Alpha Jared’s son, was hurting my daughter, and I had to step in,” Finch said, shaking his head. “Things went too far… I laid my hands on the kid… I didn’t mean to, but my wolf had already taken over at that point.”

“That boy never knew what was good for him,” Elias agreed. “But none of that matters to us. We’re just happy you decided to move your family here.”

Once again, the Alpha’s full attention was on Fay. The primal look in his eyes sent a chill down her spine. She didn’t know if it was because of fear or the weird connection she felt toward him.

“I’ve set you up in a house that’s deeper into the woods on the north,” Elias said with a wolfish grin before turning his attention back to her parents. “It’s farther away from the other pack homes, just like you asked. So you shouldn’t have any problems there.”

“Thank you very much, Alpha Spell. We appreciate your kindness,” Melanie said.

“Please call me Elias,” he said with a slight nod. “One of my pack members will come by shortly to show you to your new home.”

Even though Finch was trying his best to hide it, Fay picked up on his subtle sigh of relief. They were finally safe, at least for now. 

She cast a quick glance at Elias, who was leaning against his desk with his arms folded over his chest as he watched her intently. 

“I came as soon as I could,” a girl, about Fay’s age, said as she ran through the door, drawing Fay out of her thoughts. “What can I do for you?”

“Sabel, these are the Walkers,” Elias said, not paying much attention to the girl. “I need you to show them to the cottage.”

“Wonderful!” Sabel said, clasping her hands together.

Fay watched the girl in astonishment. Her strawberry curls bounced along with her body, and her green eyes shone with her excitement.

Sabel led the family along the rows of pack homes and into the forest in the northern part of the territory. It only took them a few minutes to reach a clearing that housed a stunning little cottage. It had three bedrooms and was fully equipped with everything they needed.

“Elias wanted to make sure you were well taken care of,” Sabel said as she swayed from side to side. “I hope I got it right… If you need anything else, please let me know.”

“This is perfect, thank you, sweetheart,” Melanie said as she pushed a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear.

A proud smile spread over Sabel’s cheeks. “Can I hang out with Fay for a while?”

The family shared a look. Fay prayed her parents would see her reluctance. They knew she never had any friends so it was obvious that she found this a little awkward.

“Of course you can,” Melanie said with a wide smile. “She just loves meeting new people.”

Though she was afraid at first, Sabel's infectious behavior soon put Fay in a good mood too. She felt relaxed and happy to have someone of her age to talk to. 

“Did you have a good trip?” Sabel asked, looking as joyful as ever.

“Yeah, it wasn’t too bad?” Fay said, unsure of how the conversation was supposed to go.

She didn’t want to chase Sabel away by being awkward or unapproachable.

“I’d be lying if I said I’m not super excited right now! My mind is whirling with the encounter you shared with Elias earlier,” Sabel said, intriguing Fay.

“What encounter?” Fay asked, feigning innocence.

Sabel giggled as she sank back on the couch. 

“Come on, I saw the way you were looking at him,” Sabel said, fanning a hand in front of her face. “There is some serious chemistry between you two. That’s something even you can’t deny.”

Fay’s fair cheeks flushed a bright red with her embarrassment, and she averted her gaze. She didn’t know her gawking was that obvious. But those words had her wondering what Elias would make of her behavior.

“It wasn’t like that,” Fay mumbled as she fiddled with her shirt. “He’s just…”

“So handsome you couldn’t resist?” Sabel teased. “I have to warn you that you’re not the only one who feels that way.”

“Who are we talking about?” Fay asked, trying to sound calm.

Sable moved closer, seemingly fascinated by Fay’s response. “Her name is Cassidy. She’s one of the pack members who has a huge crush on Elias. She'll do anything to get him back.”

“What do you mean by getting him back?” Fay asked as she clenched her jaw.

“The two of them used to date not so long ago,” Sabel said, eyeing Fay cautiously.

~

The moment Fay and her family walked out of the room, Elias felt an emptiness creeping into his soul. 

His mind was shrouded in disbelief, his thoughts were racing at a thousand miles per hour. 

He sank down on the couch, rubbing his chest in delight. His lips curled into a proud smile.

“What’s with the look?” Tybalt asked as he took a seat next to Elias.

“It’s her…” Elias mused. “Fay Walker is my fated mate.”

“How do you know?” Tybalt asked eagerly.

“I sensed it the moment I saw her crossing into our territory.” Elias threw his head back and laughed. 

Tybalt leaned forward, a look of utter confusion etched into his face. Elias knew that look all too well. It usually came when Tybalt had more questions than he could ask.

“Spill it,” Elias ordered.

“Why didn’t you say anything about it?” Tybalt asked.

“Because it seems like she didn’t sense the bond and I don’t want to rush this,” Elias said, furrowing his brows.

He didn’t understand why she didn’t sense it. Was it because of her age? Or was there more to it?

Elias knew she was young, probably around seventeen. That would explain her reaction, since the bonding usually only happens after the age of eighteen. 

“It looked like she felt something, though. I mean, she could hardly keep her eyes off you,” Tybalt offered.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t change anything… She shouldn’t be forced into this.” Elias sighed as he rested his feet on the table. “I want her to find out about it in her own time.”

~

Chapter 3

A few days later

Fay was making breakfast for the family but her mind was on Sabel and how close they had gotten since she arrived at Moonfang. She not only made a friend, she made a best friend, and Fay loved it.

“Who put you in such a fabulous mood?” Finch asked as he took a seat at the dining room table. “I hope it isn’t a boy.”

Fay giggled at the thought. “It’s Sabel. She said she’d take me shopping today.”

“It’s nice to see you having fun with people your own age,” he said, sipping on the coffee that Fay made for him. “As long as you stay away from the Alpha, I’m happy.”

“Why should I stay away from Elias?” Fay asked, bewildered by the statement.

“We didn’t tell him that you don’t have your wolf yet.” Finch said honestly.

“Why would you lie about that?” Fay asked in a panicked tone.

“Because we were afraid he wouldn’t allow you into the pack if he knew,” Melanie answered as she walked in. “You saw how you were judged at Bloodclaw. We don’t want that to happen again.”

Fay was completely taken aback by their confession.

“I know you’re doing this to protect me, but we can’t just lie to an Alpha,” Fay said anxiously. “We could be thrown out of the pack… If Elias is in a good mood.”

“And if he isn't, things can be a lot worse,” her father said as he took her hands in his. “But we don’t care about any of that, darling. All we care about is you.”

“I promise I’ll avoid him at all cost,” she mumbled as pushed her food around on her plate.

They had finally settled into their new home, and even though Fay felt guilty about lying, she knew it was for the greater good. At the end of the day, her family’s safety was what mattered most so she would do whatever it took to protect them.

Fay was busy washing the dishes when someone knocked on the door. She looked down at her watch, thinking she might’ve lost track of time, but Sabel wasn’t supposed to arrive for another hour.

“Hi, Bestie!” Sabel chimed as she threw her arms around Fay when she opened the door. “I know I’m early, but you guys have been summoned by Elias.”

“Summoned?” Fay asked in shock.

“Yes, he wants to see all three of you,” Sabel said with a nod. “Now.”

Fay’s heart pounded in her chest. 

What did he want with them? Did he figure out that she had no wolf? 

A searing pain ripped through her head, nearly bringing her to her knees, and suddenly she felt a reassuring hand roaming over her back.

“It’s okay,” Melanie’s voice echoed in her mind. “Everything is fine. Just calm down.”

The mind link she shared with her parents must’ve alerted them of her dismay, which she was grateful for. Melanie’s soft voice always had such a soothing effect on Fay, and she really needed it at that moment.

“What’s wrong?” Sabel asked, her concern evident.

“I’ve just been having some headaches lately. Nothing serious,” Fay lied. 

As they arrived at the Pack House a great sense of unease overwhelmed Fay. She didn’t know what it was until they bumped into Tybalt, who was blocking the way.

“Elias wants to see each of you individually,” Tybalt said, raising Fay’s concern even more. “Mrs. Walker, please go through to the office.”

Tybalt waved Melanie in while Fay shared a look with her father. This was an investigation, there was no doubt about it.

“Promise me you won’t reveal your secret about being wolfless,” Finch said through the mind link. “It doesn’t matter what happens, you have to keep this secret.”

“Mr. Walker, you can wait in the room around the corner,” Tybalt said, motioning to the corner he meant.

“Promise me, Fay!” Finch said. His panic could be felt through the link.

“I promise,” Fay whispered as she watched her father walk away.

Fay just stood in the doorway, frozen in fear and feeling extremely uncomfortable. She had no idea what to expect. But the more she thought about it, the more dreadful the situation seemed.

They had never been questioned like this before, not even by Jared, and they’d never been separated. 

“Why don’t you take a seat?” Tybalt asked, drawing her from her thoughts.

He gave her a sweet smile as he gestured to the couch in the corner. Knowing that she didn’t have much of a choice and that they’d probably be waiting for a while, she sat down.

“Are you guys enjoying yourselves here?” Tybalt asked as he joined her.

Fay nodded and looked down at her entangled fingers. She suspected that her father’s words counted for the Beta as well. And since Fay didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble, she decided it would be best to just keep quiet.

“Are you afraid of us?” Tybalt questioned, catching Fay completely off guard.

Her eyes widened at the sudden realization that she might be putting her family in danger, or making them look suspicious with her silence. At that exact moment, Melanie walked out of the Alpha’s office, looking less afraid than she did when she went in.

Fay relaxed a little, as she watched her father being called into the room next. 

“I guess anyone would be afraid under these circumstances,” Fay mumbled as she fiddled with the hem of her dress. "We have nothing to hide and yet we're being interrogated. Can you really blame us?"

Tybalt barked out a laugh as he leaned back. “This isn’t an interrogation. It’s Elias’ way of welcoming you to our pack.”

“So… he won’t hurt us?” Fay asked. For the first time since they arrived, she looked at the Beta.

“Of course not!” he said incredulously. “What makes you think he would?”

Fay felt her nervousness dissipating the more time she spent with Tybalt. The Beta had a way of making her feel comfortable, just as she was with her parents. 

“We’ve heard rumors,” she said, leaning back as well. “Some say he’s the most feared Alpha in the world.”

“I guess that would be true in some cases,” Tybalt said, moving closer to her. “Elias can be very authoritative, but he’s also loyal, especially when it comes to the people he loves.”

“Does that mean he found his mate?” The question slipped out before Fay could stop it.

“If he did, the whole world would know about it.” Tybalt chuckled as he winked at her. “Elias might look strict, but that’s only because he has an image to uphold. But he’s just like the rest of us, searching for the person who can make us whole again.”

Fay could see a great fondness in Tybalt’s eyes when he spoke about Elias. They must have known each other for a long time.

Through their chat, she also realized that the way Tybalt described and spoke of Elias didn’t match any of the stories she’d heard. He didn’t seem like the monster those tales painted. He seemed like the complete opposite.

Even her own experiences with him proved that. From what she’d gathered, she could tell that Elias was tough but that didn’t make him a devil or some kind of demon.

It just showed that he was a good, respectable Alpha.

“What about Cassidy? I heard she has a… crush on him,” Fay said cautiously.

“If that isn’t a perfect example of how quickly rumors spread around here,” Tybalt laughed. “Cassidy doesn’t stand a chance! Especially not now when his eyes are set on someone else.”

"He does?" she asked with excitement. 

But as quickly as the spark appeared in her heart, it disappeared. She was reminded of what her father had asked of her. Perhaps it was best to stay away from the Alpha after all, pretend like he did not exist. 

“Do you have any other questions?” Tybalt asked, seemingly intrigued by her reaction.

Fay pointed at Elias’ office. “What will happen in there?”

“Nothing too serious.” He gave her a charming smile. “He’ll ask you some questions to find out if you’re a danger to the pack and you’ll be free to leave.”

“I’m a little nervous,” Fay admitted.

“I could come with you if that would help,” Tybalt offered, as he placed a reassuring hand on her knee.

Fay was about to accept when the office door opened. When her father stepped out he still looked as skeptical as he did when he went in, which frightened her. It was clear that Finch didn’t share the same experience as Melanie, and Fay couldn’t help but wonder what she would face.

Elias stepped into the hallway. The sight of him was enough to make Fay’s heart stop beating. He looked extremely irritated by her presence, and that could only mean that she was in a world of trouble.

“Dad?” she questioned through the mind link.

But the only reaction Finch gave was a slight shake of his head.

“Fay,” Elias said as he motioned to the door.

She looked over at Tybalt, who had a look of utter confusion etched into his face.