The Girl Without A wolf
966 Words
Seventeen years passed like a lie the world not to question.
The Crescent Moon Pack had changed in small ways—new alliances, new borders, new wars whispered at the edges of territory—but inside the heart of the pack, life continued as if nothing had ever been stolen from it.
And in the middle of that life stood Golden.
She moved quietly through the pack house kitchen, balancing trays of food and drink for the upper-ranked wolves gathered for morning meetings. Her uniform marked her as an omega staff member—low rank, easily overlooked, replaceable.
No one in the room ever looked at her for long.
Except when they did.
Because something about her made people pause without understanding why.
Golden Vale.
Seventeen years old.
Beautiful in a way she never seemed to notice.
And still…
She had no wolf.
The Whispered Problem
“Still no shift?” one omega muttered near the dish station.
“She’s almost eighteen,” another replied. “That’s… not normal.”
Golden pretended not to hear them.
She scrubbed the counter harder than necessary.
Her chest tightened, but she didn’t stop moving.
In the world of wolves, shifting usually happened before sixteen. Sometimes earlier for strong bloodlines.
No shift meant one thing.
Weakness.
Or worse.
Broken blood.
Golden lifted the tray again and forced herself to walk forward.
She refused to let it define her.
That evening, Golden returned to the Vale estate.
It wasn’t the largest home in the pack…
But it was one of the most respected.
Angelica Vale stood in the doorway the moment Golden stepped inside.
“You’re late,” she said gently.
Golden sighed. “Kitchen was busy.”
Angelica studied her carefully—always studying her.
Not in suspicion.
In concern.
“You overwork yourself,” Angelica said softly.
“I like working,” Golden replied, slipping off her shoes.
That wasn’t entirely true.
But it was easier than admitting the real reason.
She liked feeling useful.
Angelica stepped closer and brushed a strand of Golden’s hair behind her ear.
“You don’t have to earn your place here,” she said.
Golden gave a small smile.
“I know.”
But she didn’t believe it.
Not fully.
GABRIELS WARNING!
A heavy presence filled the room as Gabriel Vale entered.
Even at home, he moved like a commander.
Controlled.
Sharp.
Unshakable.
His eyes landed on Golden immediately.
“You were in the lower kitchens again,” he said.
Golden stiffened slightly. “Yes.”
“You’re a Vale,” Gabriel said firmly. “Not an omega worker.”
Golden looked away.
“I don’t mind.”
That made Gabriel pause.
Because she should have minded.
He stepped closer, voice lowering.
“People are starting to talk.”
“I know.”
“And?”
Golden met his gaze.
And for a moment, something unspoken passed between them.
“I can handle it,” she said quietly.
Gabriel didn’t look convinced.
But he said nothing more.
The doors of the estate opened again.
The temperature in the room changed instantly.
Lucian Vale entered.
He was not like Gabriel.
Not calm.
Not restrained.
Lucian was power held on a blade’s edge.
Every step he took carried danger.
He looked at Golden first.
Always first.
“You’re late,” he said immediately.
Golden groaned. “Everyone keeps saying that.”
Lucian ignored her complaint and walked closer, scanning her face like he expected injuries.
“You walked home alone?”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightened.
“I told you not to.”
“I live five minutes away,” Golden said.
“That’s five minutes too many.”
Angelica sighed softly from the side. “Lucian—”
But he wasn’t listening.
His attention stayed locked on Golden.
“You’re not doing kitchen work anymore,” he said.
Golden blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I spoke to Gabriel. Starting tomorrow, you stay inside the estate.”
Golden frowned. “You can’t just decide that.”
Lucian leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped.
“I can.”
A pause.
Golden stared at him.
“You’re not my father.”
“No,” Lucian said coldly. “I’m the reason no one touches you.”
The room went silent.
Even Gabriel didn’t interrupt.
Because that part was true.
Lucian Vale was the most feared warrior in the pack.
And everyone knew—
He protected Golden like she was something sacred.
Or something that belonged to him.
The Banquet Approaches!
That night, the pack buzzed with anticipation.
The Annual Moon Banquet.
The most important gathering of the year.
Foreign Alphas were arriving.
Mate bonds would be revealed.
Political alliances decided.
Golden stood by her window that night, watching the moon rise.
A strange heaviness pressed against her chest.
Something was coming.
She didn’t know what.
But her body reacted like it did.
Like it was waiting.
THE NIGHT OF FATE
The banquet hall was glowing with gold and silver light.
Music echoed through the towering stone walls.
Wolves from every rank filled the hall.
Alphas stood near the center.
Omegas served quietly along the edges.
Golden moved through the crowd carrying trays.
She kept her head down.
She didn’t notice him at first.
But he noticed her immediately.
Damian Ashford.
He stood at the entrance of the hall like he owned the air itself.
Tall.
Controlled.
Dangerous in a quiet way that made people step aside without thinking.
And then—
His gaze locked onto Golden.
Everything stopped.
The noise of the hall faded.
Damian’s wolf surged violently inside him.
His breath slowed.
His eyes darkened.
Across the room…
Golden finally looked up.
Their eyes met.
And something snapped into place.
A bond.
Invisible.
Unbreakable.
Fatal.
Damian whispered:
“…mine.”
Golden dropped the tray.
- Writer
