Scarlett’s POV
It was a day like any other, and I was buried in chores when the heavy door creaked open. My stepmother, Luna Elena, strode in, her eyes sharp and lips curved into that cruel smile she wore so well.
“We’re going to the ball,” she declared with authority. “And you’re coming with us.”
The words hit me like a slap. “What?” My voice barely escaped my lips. A ball? For people like me? It seemed impossible.
“Are you deaf?” she hissed, taking a step closer. “Or should I carve it into that thick skull of yours?”
“No, Luna— I mean, yes— I mean… why?” I stammered, my thoughts racing. A ball was for nobles and alliances—people who mattered. People like Nina, her perfect daughter. The werewolf kingdom didn’t even know I existed. I was just a secret kept behind closed doors, a stain
