NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 1: 1. Shattered.
Olivia's mother's grip tightened in her hair as she was dragged from the kitchen to the living room. Wincing from the pain, she was shoved roughly onto the cold floor.
"Just look at how useless you are! The moon goddess should have ended you at birth," her mother spat, her voice laced with venom. "You're mute, unable to form a proper sentence. A burden. I regret having you as my daughter!"
Olivia wondered how a mother could be so cruel. None of this was her fault—being mute was beyond her control. She tried to speak, to defend herself, to plead for even a shred of kindness. But the words, as always, would not come.
Her life had been a relentless struggle. Today, she turned eighteen—unnoticed and uncelebrated. Years of mistreatment and endless comparisons to her younger brother had worn her down, each day a reminder of her supposed worthlessness. And the worst part? She saw no end to it. In this world, weak wolves like her had no place except among humans as servants. Her only hope was to find a mate—someone who would love her, someone who could save her from this life.
"I'll make sure you starve for breaking that dish today, Olivia," her mother's voice echoed as she stormed away.
With a heavy heart, Olivia dragged herself to her bed, the ache of hunger as familiar as the bruises on her skin. She had been so weak from days of starving that the plate had slipped from her fingers, but her mother hadn't cared. Neither had her father. Her entire family despised the sight of her. But none of that mattered now. Today, she would find her mate and finally leave.
She rushed through her bath, slipping into a simple pink gown. Standing before the mirror, she traced the freckles on her face with gentle fingers. A natural blush colored her cheeks, soft and delicate despite the turmoil inside her. Thick brown hair cascaded around her shoulders as she combed through the tangles, her large, cat-like eyes staring back at her with quiet determination.
"Today is the day, Olivia. The day you find your mate at the Golden Arc pack and leave this evil behind you," she told herself, her voice barely above a whisper. Despite everything, hope flickered in her chest.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture. She would believe, if only for today, that things could change.
Pushing aside the familiar ache in her heart, Olivia stepped out of her room, her footsteps light but her spirit heavy. The house felt like a cage. The scent of breakfast lingered in the air—buttered bread, sizzling meat, spiced tea—meals she had prepared but wasn't permitted to taste. The sting of making food for others while being denied even a crumb burned deep, but she had learned long ago to swallow both her hunger and her pride.
As she descended the stairs, her younger brother, Elwood, stood by the door, arms folded, a smug smirk playing on his lips. His dark eyes glittered with amusement as he leaned against the wooden frame.
"Well, well, look who's off to find a mate," he drawled. "Tell me, dear sister, what kind of wolf would ever choose you?" His tone dripped with mockery, his words sharp as claws. "You're wasting your time."
Olivia's fingers curled into fists, her nails pressing into her palms as she willed herself to stay calm. She met his gaze, refusing to let him see the hurt his words inflicted.
"Step aside, Elwood." She gestured, her hands trembling slightly.
He chuckled, relishing the cracks in her composure. "Or what?"
She refused to engage. Instead, she lifted her chin and gestured again, more impatiently this time. For a moment, it seemed he would let her pass. But just as she reached the threshold, his hand shot out, fingers tangling in her hair. A sharp yank sent pain exploding along her scalp. Olivia screamed, her eyes stinging with unshed tears as Elwood erupted into laughter.
"You look like a child," he sneered, tightening his grip.
With a growl of frustration, Olivia twisted around and sank her teeth into his wrist. He yelped, releasing her with a curse. Without hesitation, she bolted through the open door, his laughter echoing behind her.
Outside, the morning sun bathed the land in golden light, but Olivia had no time to appreciate its warmth. Her heart pounded as she ran, weaving between roads and dense thickets, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The pack's village stretched out behind her—a mixture of stone dwellings and wooden buildings, balanced uneasily with the surrounding wilderness. Though the wolves prided themselves on being the second most dominant tribe after the dragons, civilization was only tolerated in small doses. The untamed wild remained their true home.
The mating grounds lay beyond the village, deep in the ancestral forest, where towering trees whispered the secrets of those who came before. It was a place of tradition, of power, of fate. Sacred—but brutal. For wolves, mating wasn't just about love. It was about strength. Survival. Bloodlines.
Olivia ran, her bare feet light against the earth. The pain from her brother's cruelty still clung to her, a dull ache beneath her skin, but she wouldn't let it hold her back. Not today. This was her chance—to prove, if only to herself, that she was more than what they believed.
The ceremony took place in a cave within the Alpha's compound, where he could oversee every pairing and ensure order. As Olivia stepped inside, the air shifted. Conversations hushed. Eyes turned toward her—some filled with open scorn, others with something colder. Indifference.
The useless mute. The outcast. The unwanted.
But today, none of that mattered. Today, everything was supposed to change.
She watched as the ceremony unfolded, wolves sniffing out their destined mates, the Alpha observing from his throne, the chief priestess standing beside him, blessing each union. Olivia couldn't help but smile, her heart hammering with nervous excitement. Any moment now, she would find him. Her mate. The one meant for her.
But as the minutes stretched on, doubt crept in. No one approached her. No one even turned in her direction.
Her smile faltered.
She knew it then. No one wanted her.
Her brother had been right.
Why had she come? Why had she hoped?