Chapter 1

"Are you okay?" Ariel's voice interrupted me as I quickly nodded my head. I had been lost in my thoughts and didn't even realize I had arrived at school yet. Today is my birthday and the day I would get to meet my mate but I was feeling nervous about it.

"You're thinking about Asher aren't you?" She asked with a cocked brow as her grey eyes stared deeply into my soul. It mostly amuses me on how quickly she could read my emotions but then she's my oldest friend after all and also the sister to Asher who happens to be my boyfriend.

"Maybe" I answered in a low tone.

"Snap out of it okay, today's your day and I'm not going to let some random dude ruin it for you, if he happens to be your mate so be it and if not then you're one lucky girl" she waved her arms in a dramatic way.

I really couldn't put down the fact that she hated Asher even though he was her biological brother but she claims he's a jerk. She got upset the moment she found out I loved him and almost killed me when she found out that I confessed my feelings to him and proposed a relationship. I guess love could really fuck me up sometimes.

"You do realize he's your brother right?" I teased with a smirk.

"Unfortunately, the moon goddess wasn't being fair" she pouted and I couldn't help but let out a smile as we both left the classroom for the cafeteria.

"I'll leave you to it, I really don't want to be around when he happens to be your mate and y'all do all of those icky stuff so we'll meet after school today and I'll take you on a treat since it's your birthday" she gave me a small punch on my back before walking to the opposite direction as she wiggled her tiny backside in an attempt to make me laugh.

On walking to the cafeteria, different thoughts kept on roaming in my head and I couldn't stop the small smile from finding its way on my lips when I thought of how happy he would be with me. The only thing I might be concerned about is being the future Luna if we mated. Hell, I couldn't even face my class, not to mention talking to the whole pack.

My heart kept racing the closer I got to the cafeteria and I started to perceive a really strong smell, my inner wolf started to purr and jump in happiness and in no time my senses were intensified and my thoughts were clouded, all I could think of was meeting the person already.

I entered the room to meet Asher sitting on his usual desk, the smell grew stronger the closer I got to him and this day couldn't get any better for me to find out my mate is actually my boyfriend.

"Asher!" I squeaked in excitement as I wrapped my arms around him but he didn't respond like he used to nor did he hug me back. I slowly pulled away from the hug in an attempt to figure out what was wrong.

"Asher, it's my birthday!" I smiled as I looked deep into his dark grey eyes, similar to those of Ariel.

"I know, happy birthday!" He coldly replied and I knew something was wrong. I took a few steps back because I didn't want to be affected by his attitude. Perhaps he'll be happy when he knows I'm mated to him.

"I have good news," I said in enthusiasm but there wasn't still any emotion on his face as he stared at me with a blank expression.

"Let's save it for later" he abruptly said and pushed the tray of food on his desks as he stood up from his seat.

"Asher!" I yelled his name because I was getting anxious, at least I deserve to know what was the cause of his sudden behavior on my birthday. Calling out his name worked because he stopped on his tracks as he tucked his hands in his pocket bringing out his manly figure which I still couldn't get out of my head.

I walked up to him and circled to meet his face, his chiseled jaws were clenched and there was disgust clearly written all over his face.

"You're acting weird Asher" I complained but he immediately scoffed.

"Maybe you're the one thinking weirdly" he responded with a smirk and I felt my heart breaking. He has never spoken to me this way before so why now?

"I'm mated to you Asher"

"No, you're mated to yourself because I can never be with someone like you, I, Asher, hereby reject you as my mate" he said with lack of emotion.

I could feel the painful sting in my chest the moment he said those words and not only was I hurt but my wolf was wounded and traumatized. Never had I thought I would be easily rejected by someone I spent two whole years loving. His voice came out loud and other students were attracted to our discussion whereas most of them began to laugh at me already.

"Why are you saying all of these to me?" My voice broke as I stared at him in dismay.

"Because I clearly can't be your mate Lenora, I regretted ever accepting to be your boyfriend at first because I felt I needed to pity you."

"I've never loved you Lenora, I thought you'd be stronger since you were only fifteen but now you're seventeen and still the weakest wolf I've ever come across"

"You're literally the worst wolf in Serene high school, you're the weakest and you think I'll ever want you as a mate? Come to think of it, I'll be the next Alpha and I need a strong Luna not a weakling like you" he outrageously said and at this point I couldn't comprehend what was happening because it was happening too fast.

"I'm sorry" I apologized as I blinked my eyes rapidly in an attempt to stop the tears from flowing. A part of me wished he would call it a joke and hug me tight but my hopes were shattered the moment he walked past me. I couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore as I ran out of the cafeteria with tons of students mocking and laughing at me.

I had a bad feeling about this day and my instincts were right because it's the worst birthday of my life. Screw the fact that I came from an important part of the pack where we get to meet our mates a year earlier, perhaps if I turned eighteen I wouldn't be this hurt.

I wanted to run home but I couldn't because that would be against the rules and I might be severely punished by the school's wolf mistress so I ran to the library instead because no one in this school ever uses the library.

I couldn't blame him for all he said because I was truly a weakling after all, my family treated me like an outcast and favoured my sister more because she was tougher and stronger while I was just this stupid girl who goes around confessing her love to people. I never wanted this life for myself but unfortunately that was how the moon goddess created me and now I wish I didn't exist.

"What the hell happened?" The library door banged open as an angry tall girl rushed into the library with a fierce look on her face. I immediately wiped the tears off my eyes because the last thing I would want right now is another drama between her and her brother.

"He rejected and insulted you?!" She yelled and I could see her eyes changing its colour. She was really upset about it and I was glad she cared about me but her shifting into her wolf form for war wouldn't solve any issue.

"It's fine Ariel, just chill" I tried to feign a smile to assure her that I was okay but she wasn't buying it, I wouldn't buy it if I was the one too.

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down because that bastard needs to be taught a lesson!" She roared as she flipped the table beside her causing me to flinch. She could be really aggressive whenever she's angry.

"I'm okay with it Ariel, snap out of it. It's my business not yours so just drop it already" I yelled at her and almost regretted yelling but I wasn't in my right state of mind after I was rejected, I was starting to transfer the aggression to her. Who knew a rejection could hurt this much.

"Of course, it's your shit to deal with anyway!" She angrily stormed out of the library and I buried my head on the desk. Just great, I got rejected today and somehow managed to make my best friend upset even though all she was doing was looking out for me.

I patiently waited for the school day to be over as I cried my heart out in the library. The bell finally rang and I carried my backpack to leave for my house, not caring if my eyes were swollen like I received a blow on it. I wouldn't feel any better at my house because my mother would definitely blame me for being rejected but I just had to leave this school immediately.

Everyone in the hallway was talking about how Asher rejected me and it would have been better if they weren't pointing at me or laughing at me right in front of me. I managed to get out of the building but my eyes couldn't help but notice the horrifying image in front of me.

My sister, Tala and Asher were making out right in front of me, the image of her tongue sticking into his mouth broke me but the fact that my sister noticed I was staring and proceeded to deepen the kiss with a smirk shattered my heart. I knew she hated me but I had never imagined she would be the reason why Asher would reject me.

Chapter 2

I literally had nowhere to go because the last place I would want to be is in the same house with her and my unsupportive parents. I would have wanted to apologise to Ariel and sleep over at her place but then Asher lived in the same place with her. I guess my only option is to sleep at the rogue's hostel.

The rogue's hostel wasn't the best place for a female student to be found but I went there regardless of the harm that could happen to me. Luckily nothing happened and I soon found myself laying flat on the bed as the sun rays shone brightly on me.

The thoughts of me going back to school weakened me because I wasn't sure if I wanted to return back there or be around either Asher or Tala. The rogues were surely going to go to school according to the new rule and no one was to be left behind at the hostel.

I carried my backpack as I walked out of the hostel room not caring about taking a shower or fixing my messy hair. I could feel some eyes staring at me and probably laughing but I couldn't care more about them. My life was technically ruined already.

"Assemble!" A man's gruff voice commanded and I assumed he must have been the master around here. In no time everyone lined up in an orderly manner, well everyone but me because I didn't feel the need to line up with the rogues.

His eyes fell on me and a scornful look appeared on his face, "who the hell do you think you are for ignoring my command" he roared as he walked up to me with a whip in his hands. My heart started to race really fast the more he appeared to be closer because not only was his voice filled with threats but his face was dreadful with the long scar that passed through the two ends of his face.

I tried to say something but my mouth wouldn't cooperate, I wasn't a rogue and my parents were really popular in the pack because we were natural hunters but then I couldn't blame him for not knowing who I was because they've always hidden me like I wasn't a child.

He twirled the really thick whip in his hands and I tightly closed my eyes as the whip was about to land on my skin but then after some few seconds nothing happened and I didn't feel any pain on my skin.

I opened my eyes to see a hand holding the whip, I raised my head up to look at the tall figure holding the whip but I wasn't able to see his face because they were covered with a hoodie and a bandana around his nose.

"Who the hell do you think you are!" The master was getting annoyed as his eyes immediately changed its colour, one could tell he was down for a fight.

Without saying any words the boy who saved me released his hands from the whip and walked back to where he was lined up. I looked at the Master's face and was astonished because after the boy released his hands from his whip he became heavenly scared and it was really easy to sniff out his fear. Who could he be?

Chapter 3

Everyone soon entered the long coaster bus that was going to take us to school. I found the only empty seat in the front of the bus so I sat down there.

I tried to scan through the whole bus for the boy and maybe show my gratitude to him but he was at the other end of the bus. There was no way I would be able to walk past all of these rogues to the end of the bus, I was too shy for that.

I hadn't realized I was staring at him until his face caught mine and I adjusted myself in embarrassment. Something about his eyes were weird and strange but I decided to shove the thoughts away. I would probably thank him after the long ride back to school comes to an end.

After what seemed like forever, we finally arrived at school with two heavily loaded wolf guards waiting outside the bus and examining every rogue before they came down from the bus.

"Lenora?" A guard's voice called and I immediately recognized him. He used to be really close to our family when I was younger but for some reason he never showed up at our house anymore.

"Gerald!" I greeted with a weak smile, knowing that I wasn't a complete ghost might have made me a little bit happy.

"What the hell are you doing with the rogues? They could turn out really dangerous!" He scolded me and I broadened my smile to reassure him that I was fine.

"It's a long story for another day, but hey! Nothing happened to me and I'm fine"

"Okay" he finally said after examining my facial expression like he was trying to dig out the truth, he must have probably realized that my self centered parents had done something.

I tried to look around for the boy that saved me earlier but I couldn't find him anymore, he must have been examined by the other guard and probably left. It's a really big school and it'll be really hard to find him. I guess I'll just have to forget about him.

I entered the school's building and inhaled a deep breath hoping for today to at least not be harsh to me. I was having history and I always have history with Ariel. I owe her an apology and hope she accepts.

I opened the classroom door and the teacher's face fell on me with a scornful look before she continued her class totally ignoring my greetings.

"Over here!" Ariel gestured at an empty seat for me with a smile on her face. At least if everyone hated me, my best friend still loves me. I knew she wouldn't stay mad at me for that long but I was extremely happy she forgave me and was cool with me.

"I'm sorry Ariel!" I mouthed an apology to her as I sat down on the empty chair beside her. She gave me a light squeeze on my hand with a smile on her face.

"It's fine" she responded but as I was about to bring out my notebook from my bag the alarm went off and we could hear footsteps of hundreds of students trooping all around the hall.

"Everyone out!" The teacher yelled, Ariel and I both looked at our faces with awe before running out of the classroom but the main doors were locked. Even the strongest wolf couldn't break it open.

I spotted Asher running towards the panicked students as he tried to break the door open with his strength. He couldn't break it open and I could smell blood coming from his body,he was bleeding. I knew I wasn't supposed to care about him but I hated to see him in pain even after what he did to me.

"Don't stress!" A calm yet powerful voice echoed across the hall, immediately silencing the panicking students and everyone was trying to find where the voice came from.

My eyes widened in awe as I spotted the same guy who had saved me standing elegantly behind us all, on his hand was a bloody arm that was immediately recognized. It belonged to the Alpha.

The students all gasped in horror at the sight before them.

"You bastard!"Asher roared across the hall and ran towards the boy in an attempt to pounce on him but the boy immediately dodged his attack and twisted Asher's arm. We could all hear the sound of his bones cracking and all of a sudden I could smell the fear building up in everyone.

"I am Alaric, the son of Adolph your new Alpha" his thick voice effortlessly said as he removed the hood from his head revealing his long wavy hair that fell right on his shoulders. He removed the bandana that was tied across his nose revealing how perfectly built his face was, but he looked different.

Chapter 4

"Adolph my father is the Alpha of the most powerful pack; the Crescent pack but we chose to expand our territory and now I'm the official ruler of the Serene pack" he tossed the arm on the floor.

It was easy to tell he wasn't just an ordinary wolf but he looked more like a god with his smooth and perfect face unlike a typical wolf's rough face filled with scars. He looked really young but spoke and behaved like a full grown wolf.

"No you're not!" Asher tried to fight back with his broken arm but Alaric brought him back to the ground with a kick. I couldn't bear the much amount of pain Asher was feeling that I didn't realize when tears started to flow freely down my eyes. I still loved him and couldn't bear him in pain.

My face met with Tala's face and there wasn't a tiny feeling of pity on her face, rather she was busy gawking at the new boy.

"Courtney!" Alaric called and the whole students gasped again, no one had dared to call the school's mistress by her name, not even Asher himself.

"Yes master" she kneeled before him with her head bowed leaving the whole school in awe. My thoughts were right because I doubt he was just a mere Alpha heir, he appeared stronger.

"Next time try not to raise an alarm else you won't like it, you could have made these kids end up dead if I hadn't sealed the door. My men wouldn't think twice before killing them all if they had ran out that way" he threatened and I stared at how her shaky knees trembled before him.

"Take care of your kids, make them behave well, and also teach them respect!" he ordered and she immediately responded with a "yes master!".

His face fell on Asher who was groaning in pain on the floor. He was about to give him another kick but I couldn't bear it in me any longer. My wolf, Lora, couldn't bear it anymore, it was deeply breaking our hearts.

"Just stop it!" I yelled at Alaric as I ran to where Asher was laying in pain. Never had I imagined I would actually make my voice be heard in a place filled with a lot of people like this, not to mention being in the presence of death himself.

The whole school stared at me as I kneeled on the ground beside Asher and covered him with my body in an attempt to help him.

He was the son of an Alpha and was supposed to immediately heal, but with the throne being taken away from him I doubt he would heal on time.

I bit open my wrists and tried to feed him my blood since I came from a renowned and special family but instead, he shoved me off of him making me hit my head really hard on the floor. I couldn't hold back the tears in my eyes as I winced in pain on the floor with tears flowing freely, neither could I tell if they were from the impact of the fall or from the fact that he wouldn't even let me help him.

I looked up to see Alaric staring at me with a confusing emotion on his face, he immediately walked away from the hall with his fists clenched together and I realized he left with anger boiling in him but why should he be angry. I had expected him to hit me or probably give me a punishment for raising my voice at him but he just left.

"To your classes!" The mistress ordered with a shaky voice as she embarrassedly stood up. Everyone hurriedly left for their various classes before she would transfer her aggression on them.

I spotted Ariel standing alone in the middle of the hall with hurt in her eyes,I was sure she didn't care about her brother but for the fact that her father had been brutally killed by the so-called rogues.

She was the main reason why the Alpha allowed rogues to stay in the kingdom despite their dreadful threats. Her mate was one of the rogues that landed in our territory and because of their relationship the Alpha let rogues come into our territory in an attempt to let other wolves find their mates. He did it for her but he's also dead because of her.

Her eyes were heavy and filled with tears but she was trying to control it. I have never seen her cry because she happens to be a really strong wolf and it broke me to see her hurt. Her tears were going to fall but she ran away from where I was.

Asher had started to heal by himself even though it was a slow process but he was now on his feet as he angrily leaped away from me without glancing at my face or saying a word to me.

I decided to take whatever was happening to me as fate, perhaps I was never meant to find a true mate who would love me equally. My wrist had healed back and I wiped away the blood stains on it as I ran to look for Ariel.

I knew where she would have ran to, the spot she likes to go to whenever she wanted to be alone to clear her mind off of some things. The last time I saw her this sad was when the Luna passed away and I felt like a really bad friend for choosing to help Alaric without considering the fact that she also had just lost her father.

"Ariel!" I called out her name on arriving at the school's abandoned classroom that she somehow turned into her own personal space.

On entering the room I spotted her seated on the bare floor with her back turned away from me. I walked up to her and sat beside her as I rested her head on my shoulders while stroking her hair, she didn't bother to wipe her tears away and it hurt me more to know she was this pained, it was literally the first time I've seen her cry yet there's nothing I can do about it.

"Aren't you two supposed to be in your classes?!" A familiar thick voice growled in a tone that came out as a command rather than a question.

Chapter 5

"Aren't you two supposed to be in your classes?!" A familiar thick voice growled in a tone that came out as a command rather than a question.

We both turned to see Alaric standing straight beside the door with his hands tucked in his jean pocket. He wasn't on the bloody stained cloth he was putting on earlier rather he changed into another shirt even though they were both white.

"We were just leaving, I'm sorry" Ariel stuttered as she stood up in an attempt to balance herself. I kept on staring in awe because I couldn't put down why everyone was like this around him. I have known Ariel to be fearless but she's literally scared of this big thug in front of us.

"Let's go Nora" she held my hands as she dragged me out of the room, her hands were shaky and feeble under mine and I felt really bad about it.

I could feel the hatred and anger growing in me because of the pain he was inflicting on the people I loved. I looked back to see his emerald eyes piercing into mine and for the first time my eyes didn't shy away but I was staring straight back at him.

"Why the hell are you all scared of him this much!" I groaned in frustration immediately as we entered the classroom but luckily there wasn't any teacher there yet. It seemed they were all having a meeting.

"Please lower your tone," Ariel begged, "He's the son of Adolph and they're not just wolves but lycans, no one has ever won a fight with them and they're so ruthless to the point that they kill people If they breathe too loud" she rubbed her palm on her forehead and I could notice depression written all over her face.

"We're all just slaves now" She said but in a much lower tone. It amuses me how a young boy could come to the Serene pack in a day and take over the whole pack.

It saddens me to know there was nothing I could do about it since neither Asher or Ariel were able to do something and they're by far the best wolves around here not to mention me; the weakling.

"Let's eat something at least?" I gave her hands a light squeeze as I led her to the cafeteria. I doubt she would want to eat something because of what was happening but I was proven wrong as I saw her requesting a large amount of food as she immediately dug her spoon in the tray.

I watched In awe as she ate her food effortlessly and I wondered if she was the same girl I saw ten minutes ago. She was literally crying her eyes out for the first time but right now she's eating like nothing happened.

"Why are you staring, your food will be cold if you don't eat now!" She complained.

"I'm just amused that's all" I honestly replied before taking the first bite out of the food on my tray.

"I know" she slightly chuckled but it wasn't a good one but rather a painful one, "I am meant to be strong and not weak, crying or not eating won't solve any of the problems on ground but if I'm filled with energy then something good might happen " she said and gave a slight smile afterwards.

I couldn't help but admire her courage, I wished I was like her and perhaps my parents would have accepted me. As much as I hate to admit it but I wished things were different between my sister and I. We would have been good friends but the moon goddess had to just make me a weak wolf.

"Hey Brandon!" I greeted Ariel's mate as he walked up to us with a smile on his face.

"What's up Ariel" he greeted with a high five, he's literally the only boy in this school that doesn't find me disgusting.

"Babe?" He wrapped his arms around her shoulder with pity on his face.

"Get those off!" She slapped his hands making him chuckle a little.

"That's my girl, let's go" he held her hands and with the blink of an eye they were out of sight. I knew what they were up to but it's definitely not comfortable to think about their affairs. The only thing that amuses me was the fact that I really was the weakest wolf in the Serene pack because most of them literally never get emotional but me.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I smelled Asher walking past me with a tray of food in his hands. He didn't glance at me and it broke me again. I missed the days when he would wrap his arms around me with a smile on his face.

I missed when I never questioned my purpose because I felt I had him and he mattered most to me. I miss the days when he would embrace me and tell me he loved me the way I was but everything was just lies.

A part of me still thinks he never meant what he said to me yesterday because of the other things he had said to me when we were still happy together.

I decided to summon up courage in me to walk up to him and maybe talk things out with him but as I stood up from my seat, Tala walked fearlessly past me slightly shoving me with her perfectly moulded body causing my drink to spill on me. The whole cafeteria's attention was on me as some started to laugh, I still wasn't affected by it and was determined to talk to Asher but another thing happened and caused me to quietly sit back on my seat.

Asher had immediately embraced Tala into his arms as she sat down on his lap, he instantly kissed her and she was literally grinding him in public. I shouldn't be this affected since he already rejected me but my chest suddenly became tight making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

I had to leave this place immediately if I wanted to breathe and live, I ran out of the cafeteria and luckily the main door was open. I knew I would be in trouble for leaving the school's premises during school days but I needed fresh air to breathe in, without thinking twice I ran outside the school and into the nearest woods or so I thought.

I laid on the bare ground as I tried to calm my chest down but the tight knot wouldn't loosen. It sucks that I had to love someone that doesn't care about my feelings, or perhaps he was only doing all of these for my benefit.

No matter how hard my wolf and I try to forget and hate him, we still somehow think he might still have a soft spot for us. I let the fresh breeze in the woods take over my entire body for some while then I finally stood up to return back to school before anyone noticed that I wasn't in the school compound by this hour of the day, who knew a lot would have happened during these couple of hours after school's resumption.

I ran back to the school even though it took quite some minutes, I hadn't realized I went really far from the school compound because I just wouldn't stop until my legs were tired.

I finally reached the school but was dumbfounded when I found the doors locked.

"Shit!" I cussed as I tried to pull the door open even though I knew my efforts were in vain.

"We're in trouble!" My wolf cried, I looked around for the perfect spot to hide so no one would notice me and finally found a small space in between two bushes.