Episode 1

Winter had enveloped the pack in a blanket of snow and cold, and although for many it was a season of celebration and warmth, for me it only meant another mark on the calendar of loneliness.

The festivities filled the air with laughter and songs, while I watched from the shadows, feeling out of place in a home that had never been mine.

December 10th would be my birthday, but nobody remembered or cared. That day was also the birthday of the Drake quadruplets, the heirs of Alpha Caspian, destined to become the next leaders of the Winter Moon pack. Wealth, beauty, and power seemed to be part of their DNA, as was the contempt they felt for me. All except one. Ian, the youngest of the four, had moments of kindness that allowed me to dream, even if only for a moment, that not everyone in this place was against me.

My memories constantly took me back to that day when my parents left me at the house of Alpha Caspian and Luna Ivy. I was only seven years old, and fear had taken root in my heart from the moment I crossed the threshold of that immense mansion. "You'll be safe here, they'll take care of you," they had told me. But the reality was very different. Without explanation or promises of return, I became a burden, one that had to pay my parents' debt. How could they have left me to settle their debt?

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into years, each one heavier than the last. My life in the Alpha's house was limited to fulfilling an endless list of tasks that seemed to grow with each passing day. While the quadruplets enjoyed their childhood surrounded by luxury and attention, I struggled to find a moment of peace amid the responsibilities that had been imposed on me.

Alpha Caspian's house was majestic, a fortress of stone and glass that rose imposingly among the snow-covered pines. In summer, the gardens flourished with life, but in winter, the landscape became a reflection of my own existence: cold, desolate, and hopeless. I spent most of my days in the common room, a vast room with a fireplace that barely managed to warm the frigid air that surrounded me.

Tomorrow I would turn eighteen and finally receive my wolf. This thought was the only thing that gave me a glimmer of hope. Soon, I wouldn't be alone anymore. I would have someone to hold on to, someone who could understand my pain and my fears. But, on the other hand, the idea of finding my mate terrified me.

What if he also despised me, as almost the entire pack did? What if my destiny was to be alone, even after getting my wolf?

I remembered my past birthdays, marked by the cruelty of the quadruplets. The first one, at eight years old, had been a cruel lesson in the nature of those around me. Axel, Sam, and Ian had barged into my little imaginary party, destroying any hope of happiness I might have harbored. Their taunts and laughter echoed in my mind, an echo that never faded.

.........

It was the day before my eighth birthday, a day like today, and excitement bubbled inside me like the soda I had planned to serve at my party. I imagined the balloon decorations, the chocolate cake I had always wanted, and my friends laughing and enjoying themselves. The idea of a day filled with laughter and surprises filled my heart with joy as I combed my hair in front of the mirror, dreaming of how it would all be.

However, the reality was different. When the quadruplets appeared on the scene, the magical atmosphere I had built in my mind vanished instantly. Axel, Sam, and Ian burst into the room like a whirlwind. Their laughter echoed in the air, but it wasn't laughter of joy; it was mocking, filled with a cruelty I couldn't quite comprehend.

"Look who thinks she's the birthday queen," Axel exclaimed, with a twisted smile that made my blood run cold.

His gaze was full of mockery as he looked around.

"Do you really think anyone cares about your birthday?" Sam joined in, with a sneer in his tone that hit me like a punch in the stomach. I writhed inside upon hearing his words; his laughter echoed like my worst fears.

I tried to keep my head up, clenching my fists at my sides.

"Yes! My friends care!" I shouted, but my voice barely had any strength.

Axel came closer and looked me straight in the eye, his expression hard.

"Friends? Do you think anyone would want to be with you, Kitten? Not even you are your own friend."

Each word cut deep, tearing the veil from my dreams and revealing the harsh reality that surrounded me. Ian, who had been silent, took a step forward, looking at me with a mixture of pity and defiance. But even his presence, once comforting, felt like a betrayal, being a part of that hurtful moment.

"Maybe we could come to your party," he said, trying to break the tension, but his effort was in vain.

What he said couldn't erase the words of the others. Instead, it felt like he was opening the door to more pain, making it clear that even if they attended, it would only be to laugh at me.

Axel and Sam didn't stop there. They began to tell stories that had never happened, inventing taunts about my imaginary friends, laughing at things that should never have been laughed at. Their cruel show continued, each joke a direct blow to my heart, each laugh an echo that resonated in my mind.

When they finally left, leaving me alone with tears and the echo of their cruel words, I knew that on that day, at least in that moment, in the darkest corner of my heart, the idea of a happy birthday no longer existed.

.........

My eighth birthday had been stolen by the cruelty of those who should have always protected me.

Every year I tried to ignore them, I tried to keep alive the illusion of a special day, but it always ended the same way. The hurtful words and cruel laughter destroyed any happiness I might have felt. My birthdays became a reminder of my place in the pack: alone, unwanted, and always in the shadow of the future Alphas.

I looked out the window, watching the snowflakes fall slowly, covering everything in their path. Life inside the house went on as usual, with preparations for the grand celebration of the quadruplets underway. I was just a shadow in the background, busy fulfilling my duties.

I went to the small bathroom in the common room and took a quick shower, wishing I could vanish with the steam that filled the room. The reflection in the mirror showed a tired face, with shadows under my eyes and an expression of resignation that I couldn't shake off.

I had grown, but the burden of my past years still weighed on my shoulders.

With my hair pulled back in a tight bun, I went to the kitchen to start preparing breakfast for everyone. Although the house was huge, with luxurious rooms and endless amenities, I had been assigned a small room barely furnished. It was a reflection of my place in the pack, a constant reminder that I didn't belong there.

That day, like all the others, I would work tirelessly, attending to the needs of those who despised me. But a small spark of hope burned inside me: soon, this would all be over. And when it did, I would leave behind the Alpha's house, the Winter Moon pack, and the quadruplets who had turned my life into hell. My freedom was only six months away, and although the path was uncertain, I knew I wouldn't look back.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***