CHAPTER ONE: BROKEN
It is said that only the one who lives in the house knows where the roof leaks. Not everyone knows the feeling of pain, but in the end, everyone gets to know it, no matter the race. Some would say it's insignificant, but it's the best feeling one can ever get, for without pain, there would be no gain.
All my life, I've known pain. Pain has lurked with me ever since I was born into the world. My mother had her pitch in it, and hers was rather fatal. I go by the name Mary Anderson, a werewolf with not an ounce of ability. I only had my fangs to prove that I was a member of the Blue Moon Pack, which sucked. My mother left me at the grave when I was just 8, and since then I have been living with my stepmother Annie Anderson, and her only daughter Jessica Anderson.
Living with my stepmother could be compared to being a maid in a palace. My stepsister had become a living princess as I got to do all the chores along with her schoolwork. I wasn't liable to speak up, nor could I do anything; I became the family's puppet. My father hated me for being weak, but he didn't want me out of his house.
Life outside my home was far worse. Everyone hit on me, taking my food and leaving me starved since I was weak. Jessica joined them whenever I was being beaten up by the other students, and I always came up bruised and dirty. My stepmother never once took care of me after I was beaten; she always added to the pain, striking me harder and harder till I was blank. I had to treat myself most of the time, and I was never allowed to rest from work, no matter the injury. I think that was the only way I could pay them for letting me stay with them.
"I wish you were never born," my father had always spat out whenever he came home drunk. He was always drunk, so I heard that every day. I tried committing suicide several times, but each time I ended up only hurting myself.
The only one who cared about me was the young Alpha Kevin Owen. His father had died after his mother left them for a rogue werewolf. He was lonely, having only the maids and his friends behind him. He took a liking to me for no good reason; he helped me whenever I was having a problem, being bullied, or getting injured. He always turned up for me, and he was never late. He was the only reason I was still alive; he had become my second half, always wanting to do things together. We grew up together as inseparable lovers; no one dared to approach us whenever we were with each other, not even my parents.
Our love for each other grew each day, and it became a tradition to meet every day and try out new things every single day. I knew he was a playboy, but he didn't talk to any females whenever he was with me, which made me respect him even more. My ideal type of man. We prayed our love would stay forever and the moon goddess would make us mates.
The mating ceremony came as expected. I was prepared to leave the house to stay with Kevin after we had been crowned mates. I had faith we would be crowned mates and we would discover the world just like always. My stepmother didn't stop insulting and downgrading me, saying all sorts of things to me. She kept on body-shaming me till I was out of the house. I couldn't let her words get me down on a special day like this. I had suffered the pain and was about to reap the gain.
The rise of the blue moon ignited the mating ceremony. People left their various locations, following their noses to the one they would call a mate and live their life with. I kept watching as new couples were formed, and the male marked his female mate on the neck.
I couldn't pick up any scent, and I began to anticipate the worst. Not getting a mate would mean I had to stay with my stepmother and my drunkard father until some man decided to mark me, which I deemed impossible. An hour into the mating ceremony, I still couldn't pick up any scent. All the couples were already at the center hall waiting for the claiming ceremony, which always took place immediately after the mating ceremony.
I felt there was no need to watch any longer. The mating ceremony was ending real soon, and being the weakest, all I had was a slim chance. Suddenly, my nose caught a scent, and I followed it. It led me to a dark location; I couldn't sense any presence of life around me, nor could I hear any movements. I scanned the area with my eyes, and I could see a masculine figure just above me on a sort of stage. I ran towards the figure, taking several leaps across the steps.
I was only a step away from the figure when the lights turned on, revealing the figure. I squealed with joy as my eyes caught hold of Kevin. I rushed towards him to hug him, but I met the unexpected. He pushed me off him in front of the many people watching. I was confused, but when people started clapping, I believed it was just tradition. I moved towards him once more, but this time he didn't let me off the hook. He grabbed me by the collar, throwing me onto the floor with force.
"Kevin, it's me, Mary," I cried out, but he ignored me, grabbing a lady by the waist and bringing her to the spotlight.
"Jessica?", I stammered as I glared at the lady.
