Chapter 1

Five years ago, I got banished by my Alpha father and evil stepmother after being accused of fooling around a random guy. On that same day, I found my wolf Eva and she told me that I was pregnant.

After living as a rogue for five years with my lovely twins, I decided to join a pack and settle down. On my way to the mating gathering in Shadow Forest, I ran into a guy Blake and got attracted, not because he was handsome but because I thought I'd seen him somewhere before...

Catherine's POV

"Look at that worthless slut, she doesn't even have a wolf, yet she delusionally seeks her mate. How stupid."

I stood in the corner of the conference hall, watching the couples come and go while listening to others' malicious gossip about me.

It was a tradition that werewolves living in New Jersey held a mating ritual in Shadow Forest every year.

Alpha and Luna of every pack would bring their unmated werewolves here, looking for their mates at the ritual.

Of course, if one didn't find one, the ritual next year was waiting for him.

Once the ritual started, I strolled around with a drink, with no desire to find my mate.

Well, you must wanna know why, because I was wolfless.

I attempt to diminish my presence, yet it doesn't deter some malicious individuals from approaching me.

I was merely standing in the corner, directing a gentleman from some unknown tribe, but some seconds later I noticed my stepsister Gina Wyatt and her lackeys closing in on me.

"Hey Catherine, since you enjoy putting on a show in front of men, why don't you give us a good performance?" Gina Wyatt sneered at me.

"Wretch, this is Gina's gift to you, drink up." Soon her lackeys handed me a glass of red wine. Naturally, I was unwilling to consume anything they gave me, but quickly I realized it was not a matter of whether or not, but have to.

Her lackeys restrained me, leaving me no room for resistance. One held me down while the other pressed my chin, forcibly prying open my mouth.

"No! I don't want to drink, please help me." As I was being restrained, I pleaded with the people around me for assistance, but they seemed more eager to witness what would happen next. They all stepped back, fearing that my hands might touch their clothes.

Meanwhile, Gina, like she was watching a show, slowly aimed the glass towards my mouth, and soon I felt the icy liquid flow down my throat into my stomach.

They only released me after confirming that I had finished the red wine.

"That's a good girl, my dear sister. I've prepared a gift for you, I'm sure you won't be disappointed." Gina casually patted my shoulder and quickly left with her lackeys, laughing and chatting.

Gina and I are both daughters of Alpha, but that doesn't stop one of us from becoming the beloved princess of everyone, while the other becomes the despised trash of everyone.

My mother was Paisley Davis, the last Luna of the pack. Yet she died when I was three years old.

To be honest, I knew that Luna was indispensable to a wolf pack. However, my father married Elena only two months after my mother died. That was why I found it hard to believe my father was sad about the death of his mate.

Elena had been targeting me ever since I could remember. Obviously, not every pack was lucky enough to have a nice Luna.

I was the outlier in the pack,I realized this fact at a very young age. My speed, scent, and reflexes resembled those of humans more than werewolves. As my peers around me gradually completed their shifts, more and more whispers emerged in my surroundings.

"I can't believe she's the Alpha's daughter, she'll be torn apart by the Rogues in the forest sooner or later."

"She's truly the Alpha's disgrace. I suspect she's Luna Paisley Davis's illegitimate daughter."

Gradually, my father's gaze became increasingly disappointed. Every time he saw me, he would scrutinize me from head to toe, frown, turn away, and sigh heavily.

Everyone's reactions felt like sharp daggers deeply piercing me, and I constantly felt like a rag doll.

Until one day,

"Are you Catherine?" In my loneliest moments, a girl appeared before me.

She was the only one at my age willing to be friends with me. She was intelligent and could do anything, whether it was training or socializing.

Everyone smiled at her, surprised by her name, and even my father didn't conceal his affection for her.

I thought she was sent by the Moon Goddess to save me, but soon I realized I was wrong: she was here to take away my last shreds of dignity.

She was Gina, my father's illegitimate daughter, and soon she became the universally acknowledged daughter of the Alpha.

Everyonr, including my father, condoned her insults and bullying towards me. I've become the pack's disgrace, an existence that my father refuses to acknowledge.

"Look at this beauty, need some company?"

After confirming that the drink Gina gave me wasn't poisoned, I still couldn't relax. They must have wanted to see me embarrassed, so I stepped off the field to find a place to rest.

There's a small bridge near the border of the forest. I went there, from there, I can see the moon reflecting on the lake, which calms me.

But the tranquility didn't last long. Soon, I heard footsteps beside me. I turned to see two ugly men trying to approach me.

Instinctively, I tried to flee, but quickly realized there were two men behind me as well, surrounding me.

"Back off! Stay away from me."

I tried to roar at them, assuming a fighting stance, hoping to intimidate them into stopping, but clearly, they weren't scared off. I realized something was wrong with my body: a warmth spread from my abdomen and quickly engulfed me.

Damn it! It was the drink Gina gave me.

I felt my body overcomed by a surge of heat, longing for something cold to ease it, but I forced myself to remain rational.

My situation was perilous now, with four men approaching me with lecherous expressions. I knew I was no match for them at this moment. Looking around, just as their hands were about to touch me, I decisively climbed over the railing and jumped into the lake.

I could hear the men cursing on the surface of the lake. I was actually afraid they would dive in after me, but luckily, they didn't.

The cold water relieved my heat, and I swam in the direction away from the bridge, regardless of whether there was danger in the bordering forest or not. I climbed out of the water straight from the lake.

I ventured deeper into the forest, the heat within me intensifying once again. I felt my vision blur, my nails digging into my flesh, hoping the pain would keep me alert.

I didn't know where I ended up. In the moment when I was about to lose consciousness, I stumbled, and a strong pair of arms caught me.

Suddenly, I caught a whiff of vanilla.

I smelled countless scents before, but I swore none were as enticing as this.

Following the scent, I found it emanating from the man who caught me.

Instantly, a rich vanilla aroma enveloped me. Though my consciousness was hazy, I couldn't see the guy's face, but I knew he wasn't one of my pack members.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously. His breath was heavy, and I felt him staring at me in the darkness. In this situation, I dared not make any sudden movements.

Suddenly, he lunged at me, pulling me into his arms. My face brushed against his sexy Adam's apple.

The icy sensation of his skin was fatally attractive to me at that moment, and I pressed myself against him, disregarding everything.

Realizing his clothes hindered me, I tugged at his buttons forcefully. His shirt fell open as I stripped him off his clothes, then I attempted to rid myself of my soaked garments.

Until we were about to stand bare before each other, his hand stopped mine.

"Muddy girl, are you sure?" His deep voice resonated from above me, and I didn't give him an answer, but my hand reached for his belt.

The next moment, I felt a whirlwind of sensation as the man pushed me down to the ground, and a fierce kiss landed on my lips.

Damn! It was hotter than mine.