The wolf-less heir: Claimed by the Northern Alpha

A Birthday Without Love LUCA'S POV Birthdays were supposed to be special. They were supposed to bring laughter, presents, warm hugs, and people who reminded you that you mattered. But in the Killian household, birthdays were nothing more than another opportunity to remind me how worthless I was. Today, I turned nineteen. I stared at my reflection in the small, cracked mirror hanging above my bed. Silver-white hair fell past my shoulders, framing my pale face. My blue eyes looked tired, and the faint bruising beneath my collarbone was difficult to hide. Angelica always told me I was beautiful. Sometimes, I wondered how she could see something so wonderful in someone everyone else considered a disgrace. A loud knock interrupted my thoughts. "LUCA! GET DOWN HERE!" My father's voice. I quickly straightened my old shirt and hurried downstairs. David Killian stood in the dining room, his expression already twisted with irritation. "You're late." "I'm sorry, Father." His hand struck my cheek. "Do you think being born today makes you special?" I lowered my head. "No, Father." "Then stop wasting my time. The kitchen needs cleaning, and breakfast must be served before the warriors arrive." My cheek burned. "Yes, Father." Nicolas, my twenty-two-year-old brother, laughed from his chair. "Happy birthday, little freak." I ignored him. He stood, approaching me with a cruel smile. "How does it feel knowing you've survived another year without a wolf?" Before I could answer, he shoved me against the wall. "Pathetic." My shoulder struck the stone. I bit my lip to stop the cry escaping. This wasn't new. Even before my eighteenth birthday, when I failed to awaken my wolf, Nicolas had enjoyed hurting me. The other pack members had done the same. My inability to defend myself had always made me an easy target. After my eighteenth birthday, everything became worse. I lost my noble status, my place in the family, and whatever little dignity I had left. Now I was simply their servant. "Get to work," Father ordered. I hurried away. By midday, my body ached from hours of cleaning. I was carrying a basket of laundry when someone grabbed my elbow. "Luca!" I turned. Angelica Hale stood behind me, her warm brown eyes immediately noticing my swollen cheek. "Oh, Luca." She placed the basket down. "Was it your father again?" I nodded. Her expression hardened. "That man is going to regret everything he's done to you." "Please don't say that. He'll hurt you too." She sighed and gently touched my cheek. "Come here." She pulled a small cloth from her pocket and carefully cleaned the blood at the corner of my mouth. Then she handed me a wrapped sandwich. "Eat. And don't tell me you're not hungry." I managed a small smile. "Thank you, Angelica." "You're welcome, birthday boy." She reached into her pocket again and produced a tiny silver ribbon. "I couldn't afford anything expensive, but I thought this would look pretty in your hair." My eyes watered. "You didn't have to." "I wanted to." She tied it around my wrist. For a moment, I felt like someone had remembered I was alive. Later that afternoon, fourteen-year-old Daniel Roberts found me near the servants' quarters. "Here." He slipped a small paper bag into my hands. I looked inside. A piece of chocolate cake. "Daniel..." "It's your birthday, isn't it?" I nodded. He smiled shyly. "I asked the kitchen maid to save you some. Justin doesn't know." I couldn't help smiling. "Thank you. That's very kind." Daniel glanced over his shoulder. "I should go before someone sees me." He hurried away. I looked down at the cake. Two people had remembered my birthday. For someone like me, that was almost everything. As evening approached, I returned to the main hall to continue preparing for the Northern delegation's arrival. Jasmine stood near the staircase, dressed in an elegant golden gown. She looked beautiful, as always. Her golden eyes briefly met mine. "You're still wearing those awful clothes?" I lowered my head. "I have work to do." She glanced towards our father's study. "Then finish quickly. Father is in a terrible mood." She slipped something into my hand as she passed. A small bottle of healing ointment. I looked up, surprised. Her expression remained cold. "Don't misunderstand. I simply don't want blood staining the servants' corridors." But I knew better. When Father wasn't watching, Jasmine sometimes found ways to help me. "Thank you," I whispered. "Go," she muttered. I slipped the ointment into my pocket. ADRIAN'S POV "You're brooding again." I glanced at Dylan. My best friend was sitting opposite me in the carriage, looking far too entertained by my irritation. "Do you ever stop talking?" "Not when you're being miserable. Someone has to keep you company." I shook my head. Dylan laughed. At twenty-eight, he had been beside me through battles, political betrayals, and more assassination attempts than either of us cared to count. He was my Beta, but more importantly, he was the closest thing I had to a brother. "Tell me again why we're visiting Bloodmoon," he said. "Political negotiations." "Right. And here I was hoping for a holiday." "You're welcome to remain here." "Without you? Absolutely not. Someone needs to make sure you don't frighten every living creature in the kingdom." I almost smiled. Then the familiar burning sensation spread through my chest. The curse. My fingers tightened around the armrest. Dylan's amusement disappeared. "Adrian?" "I'm fine." "You're a terrible liar." "I said I'm fine." He studied me before leaning back. "One day, that bloody curse is going to be the death of you." I stared through the window. "Not today." LUCA'S POV The great hall had never looked more magnificent. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the polished marble floors, while servants hurried between tables carrying silver trays. I stood near the entrance, holding a pitcher of water. My birthday was almost over. Nobody in my family had wished me well. Nobody had given me a gift. And, somehow, I had expected nothing different. A sudden announcement echoed through the hall. "His Majesty, Alpha Adrian Don Alfonso, Supreme Ruler of the Northern Kingdom!" Every wolf immediately bowed. I lowered my head, gripping the pitcher tightly. Footsteps approached. I dared to glance upwards. And there he was. Alpha Adrian Don Alfonso. He was impossibly handsome, with short black hair, a sharply defined jaw, and molten-gold eyes. His broad shoulders filled his tailored black coat, which was embroidered with silver. He looked like a king who had never been told no. Beside him walked another handsome man as tall as the Alpha but little bit shorter,later learnt he wa Dylan D'ecus his Beta and closest friend. They exchanged a brief look, and Dylan whispered something that made Adrian give him an irritated glance. Despite the tension, they seemed remarkably comfortable with each other. Then Adrian's gaze travelled across the room. It stopped on me. I immediately looked down. I could feel his attention lingering, but I didn't understand why. "Who is that young man?" Adrian asked. The room fell silent. Justin stepped forward with an arrogant smile. "That, Your Majesty, is Luca Killian. Our family's unfortunate wolf-less servant." A heavy silence followed. I felt my face burn. Adrian said nothing for several seconds. Then his deep voice filled the hall. "Bring him here." My heart dropped. I looked towards Angelica, who stood near the kitchen entrance. Her worried eyes met mine. I wanted to run. But in the Bloodmoon Pack, servants didn't run from kings. And as I took my first trembling step towards the Northern Alpha, I had no idea that this birthday would be the beginning of everything. Nor did I know that the most dangerous man in the kingdom had just taken an unexpected interest in me.