Like it wasn't enough that I had to deal with my father's death alone, with the feeling that my only best friend had suddenly vanished from my life. I was still dealing with the pain of losing him when I realized that my own mother had sold me to the worthless Alpha King of the Silvermoon Pack. It felt like a knife had been driven straight into my chest at that realization. First, I had to deal with the pain of losing the only person I loved. And now, I was being sold off- all because my own mother detested me. All because I reminded her of the lover who had abandoned her while she was pregnant, leaving her with no option to marry my father. Yes, everyone said she was dealing with pain. But how long was she going to use that pain as an excuse to mistreat me? Her own child! How long could a mother treat her own child as if she were invisible? I grew up knowing that I had a mother, but I never truly experienced a mother's love. I never knew what it felt like to run into my mother's arms for comfort. Every child runs to their mother when they are hurt. Every child cries in their mother's arms. But me? I would simply find a corner, cry my eyes out, and when I was done, I would get up, dust myself off, and force myself to be strong again. That was my childhood. And now, I found myself standing as a maid in the king's residence. The moment I opened the door, a hand shot forward and clenched around my throat. His fingers tightened, squeezing the little life I had fought so hard to hold on to all these years. His eyes were dark- cold and terrifying. He stared at me as though I were the reason for his madness. Then, the only word that came from his lips was "Die." His grip tightened, I tried to break free from his grip, but to no avail. My strength failed me. I was weak wolf who had never shifted. "Die." He said it again, as if he wanted nothing more than to watch life leave my body.