It was a dark room, my sole diversion the slender beam of light that pierced through the gaps in the bricks while he was there, using my body without consent, slapping and biting my skin as my mind searched for an escape to ease my overwhelming despair. Weeping was useless; in the early days, I cried, I screamed, I begged for mercy, and all I got was a slap and shouts to shut my mouth. I felt dead, lifeless on the floor, merely feeling him enter and leave me, he wouldn't look at my face, nor did he make any sounds of pleasure, perhaps my lack of resistance took away his enjoyment, my inner wolf whimpered in my mind, pleading for an end.

The soft sound of his zipper ascending, signaling closure, was when I allowed just a single tear to trail down the side of my battered face – that subtle noise indicated that for today it was over, and he would return to his mansion where his parents were, while I'd remain here to decay in that cell, merely waiting for that tiny beam of light to filter through the bricks again. The same question circled my mind, how did I end up here?

3 years earlier

"Excited, Cassie?" My older cousin's voice broke the silence as I stood staring at a wedding dress in a storefront window. Indeed, in a few short weeks, I would marry Zedekiah Vasile, the firstborn of the tribe of the south.

My family, all who reside in the eastern tribe, are Werewolves, and not just any Werewolves. We are descendants of the original Werewolves blessed by the goddess.

"It's not every day your childhood love becomes your husband!" My cousin adjusted her reflection while appraising me.

"Don't be silly, Daphne…" My voice was soft; like any teenager, I felt a bit childish for having a crush on the strongest alpha's son from the South.

The sound of the shop bell indicated someone entering, pulling my cousin away as the store owner needed to greet the newcomer, but before she could get to the door, a woodsy scent enveloped me in bliss.

"Cassandra… We need to talk." That slightly sexy, gravelly voice made me close my eyes, wondering what it would be like to wake up to him wishing me good morning in bed every day.

"Just a second, Zedekiah." I replied, trying to hide my smile, Zed simply marched into the room where I was, disregarding Daphne's protests about him being presumptuous and unwelcome, as usual, she was very protective.

Zed was so grave that I thought for a moment it was something urgent, so I assured her it was okay.

"Speak." I gestured for him to continue.

"The wedding's postponed, no new date set yet." Even though I maintained a facade of understanding, it was impossible not to feel like that piece of news was a punch in the stomach, making my gut churn. Daphne growled in shock and slapped him across the face; I knew she was acting as my protective elder sister with the best of intentions, but did she need to hit him?

"Is there a problem?" My voice struggled to emerge, and after several attempts, I smoothed my sweaty hands on my dress.

Daphne left us alone for a few minutes, I knew she was raging on my behalf and if she stayed, she might go for his throat.

"Did you tell my father?" I finally asked, before noticing my cousin's return with a stern look, followed by the figures of my father and mother, both approaching to offer their support.

"No, just want you to spend some time at Vasile Mansion, so we can get to know each other better." Zed's eyes sparkled amusingly at that moment, and like a naive one, I was charmed by the shine in his blue eyes.

"Postponed? This is the fifth time just this year!" My father's voice was firm, and after he accidentally shattered the kitchen table with a punch, my mother strategically positioned herself beside him as if to calm him.

"She hasn't received her wolf yet; I will not marry her this way... You know full well that mating without the wolf can be deadly for her." Zed stood serious in front of my parents, explaining how I was weak without a wolf that I didn't notice the signs that something was deeply wrong.

"She will be trained as soon as we arrive, I don't want a weak Luna, nor a useless one, only after that will I be able to say we have a marriage, I first want to assess her. To see if she is worthy." At that moment, Zed's words stung a bit, was I really an useless and weak girl? I would prove to him that I wasn't, that I could be a good wife and Luna.

After much arguing, my parents told me to pack and that I would spend some time with the Vasiles, if only I had known the hell that would follow, if only I had paid attention to the signs, perhaps today I wouldn't be where I am.

I should have paid attention to the signs.

The landscape shifted as the car sped down the highway; within less than five hours, I had left behind my tribe, my parents, and the people who held me dear. Inside the vehicle, Zed remained mostly silent, playing some low, elevator-like music and kept his focus on the road.

I'm not certain how long it had been, but eventually, I dozed off, my head resting against the window, only to be awakened when the car engine was turned off. Opening my eyes, I beheld the vast house where we had parked, and outside stood the figures of Alphas Vasile—Zed's father—and his Luna, Zed's mother.

"Finally! Cassie, it's been a while since we last saw you!" Alpha's wife opened the door with care, allowing me to step out, her arms wrapping around me with strength and excitement as my practiced eyes fixated on my future mate. Zed stood with tense shoulders, flanking a blonde woman with blue eyes. There was an intimacy in their slight touch of fingers that indicated a connection, one his parents chose to overlook. Was that why he kept postponing our wedding? I hardly had time to formulate a thought, for Alpha's embrace enveloped me warmly.

"So, my dear, eager for the wedding?" the elder female inquired, and at that moment, my brow furrowed in confusion.

"Zed... Zedekiah said the wedding was delayed so that I could spend some time here and get to know each other better," I responded. As soon as the words parted from my lips, a tension swept through their shoulders, and their gaze upon Zed became almost lethal, yet he looked back at me with the remnants of anger, swiftly concealed as the blonde whispered something to him.

I detested not having my wolf yet. Tradition held that my wolf would appear when I turned sixteen, merely two weeks away. It only then dawned on me that I would spend my birthday far from my family.

"Father, Cassandra is still a child... I want her to have a normal adolescence, and once her wolf appears, we'll marry," Zed expressed, casting my spirits down. After all, he had turned eighteen, which rendered me a pitiful fifteen-year-old girl dreaming of marrying her prince charming.

They seemed to dismiss Zed's comments as they led me inside the house, but I noticed his mother stayed back to block the blonde's entry, and I'm pretty sure I heard something akin to growling, though they didn't allow me to look back.

"I understand it must be a bit frightening, being away from family, and I know your birthday is coming soon... But don't worry, I'll take care of you as if you were my own daughter, because soon, you will be!" Zed's mother was so kind and loving, my smile was involuntary when she kissed my forehead.

"Uh... The woman you didn't let in... Who is she?" I asked as I shifted from foot to foot, redirecting my gaze to the elder's face, which seemed to grasp my underlying question. She smiled while stroking my hair, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"She's nobody, now rest—your journey must have been quite exhausting. Tomorrow, I'll show you around!" Her excitement returned to her voice as she walked towards the door, carefully closing it, leaving me alone in the room with a suitcase to unpack and a huge window revealing the moonlit, starry sky.

Before I could unpack, I sat on the small bench beneath the window and sat in silence gazing at the sky, losing track of time until soft knocks drew me out of my reverie.

"Come in..." I replied, redirecting my attention to the door as Zed entered, followed by the same woman who was stopped by his mother.

"Cassandra, I'd like to introduce you to Sapphire. We train together, and she'll be joining you in your training starting tomorrow," Zed finished, as a subtle smile appeared on the woman's lips.

"Your training begins tomorrow with the other she-wolves of our tribe, and there will be no special treatment for being a Baumer," Zed said icily. Yet, before he could leave the room, I saw the blonde lace her fingers with his, igniting a surge of anger in me, relishing the thought of making her swallow her teeth.

By dawn, I was already at the training center, despite never being a morning person. Sapphire entered with a smile that almost made me sick. From just one glance, I knew I'd be heading home battered and bruised, but I was determined to prove Zed wrong about me being weak.

The week whizzed by, with training turning into an ordeal; each step forward seemed like two steps back. Zed was indifferent to my injuries, and I suspected that Sapphire was taking something out on me, but I wasn't certain yet.

"I believe it's not a good idea for Sapphire to continue training Cassie." Lydia's voice echoed from behind the door as I returned from another exhausting day.

"Mom, you've always been supportive of me, why can't you just accept my choice?" Zed's voice emerged from a corner of the room.

"I've always supported you, and where has that led us? You've become a spoiled and weak boy, so desperate to fulfil a commitment that you don't even stop to consider what your fiancee's family expects of her... I will send Sapphire to the Western Tribe next week, I don't want to see you two together anymore. Enough." Lydia's voice was different, more serious and somber, as if she wanted to avoid the topic.

A glass was thrown at the door where I stood eavesdropping, causing me to jump back, but a growl pulled me from my shock.

"Haven't we taught you manners? Clean that up before you leave." Lydia opened the door, her eyes sweeping over mine as Zed growled under his breath. Before she could say more, I walked until I reached the threshold of the door, looking coldly at Zed.

"I want her sent to the Western Tribe today." My chest was burning with rage while Zed met my gaze with fury.

"Who do you think you are? You're nothing but a child..." He snarled at that moment, and I simply raised one finger in his direction.

"A spoiled child still believing in fairy-tale princes, let me tell you something, Cassandra, our marriage is arranged, not to my liking, so know if we ever marry, I will ensure everyone knows that Sapphire is my chosen Mate, not a pathetic child like you." His words deeply wounded me, my eyes filling with tears. His mother stood there, hand over her lips, looking at her son unsure of what to do, only breaking her stillness when a smile crossed Zed's lips and his father entered the room, growling like a truly ferocious alpha.

"If you do not marry Cassie and make her your Mate, know that you will not be the alpha of this tribe. I'm tired of your whims; this is my decision. If you want to lead the Southern Tribe, then marry and love your wife. Enough, it's time to act like a man!" The growl from his father grew louder and as Zed attempted to respond, I heard only the faint sound of bones cracking. Lydia quickly pulled me from the room—it seemed she wasn't concerned with whatever might happen within those walls.

Maybe to soothe tensions and to slip from memory, Sapphire was no longer training nor was she seen much around the mansion. From my bedroom window, I could see a tall tower that appeared abandoned.

My birthday was in two days, and as a gift for finally receiving my wolf, Lydia said that my family would join us for a celebratory dinner, and they would also take the opportunity to set the date for my marriage to Zed.

As my parents arrived for my birthday, I noticed the tension fall upon Zed's shoulders, perhaps fearing I would reveal what he had said. My cousin was with them, and upon seeing her, I ran to embrace her.

"I've missed you all so much!" After releasing her from my clumsy hug, she kissed the top of my head and asked how I was being treated. Before I could answer, Zed towered over me, hands resting on my shoulder.

"She is being well taken care of." His voice was steady, but his gaze was cold, something Daphne must have noticed since she subtly pulled me by the arm after glancing at her partner, Lucian.

"I believe Cassie has a voice and can answer for herself." Her response didn't please him at all.

Ignoring Zed, I took Daphne by the hands after asking Lydia for permission to show her the whole house, only stopping when we reached the garden, where, knowing me well, Daphne pulled me aside to chat.

There were no secrets between Daphne and me, and as soon as I finished telling her everything, she growled and pulled me into a tight hug.

"If you want to leave, just say the word and we'll jump in that car and go!" Daphne was, without a doubt, my favorite person in the whole world, and her words brought out a weak smile from me.

"The priority here isn't your marriage to Zedekiah Vasile, the priority is you! My dear, the family's priority will always be you." My cousin's words filled my eyes with tears.