............... "You're mine," Damien snarled, his voice low and strained, the wolf within him struggling for control. His body trembled with the fight, but his gaze remained fixed, possessive, and unwavering. "I'm not a property to be owned ," I shot back, fury rising in my chest. "If you won't treat me like your mate, maybe I'll find someone who will." Midnight struck-feral, wild-before I could breathe, leaving me in a blaze of painful, passionate heat. The bite slashed my skin, and while my wolf burned for it, but my human side was broken. Damien tried pleaded, but the harm was done.................. Zendaya's world spirals when her father forges an alliance with Damien, the hardened Alpha of the Raven Claw pack. Haunted by the loss of his first mate, Damien needs a partner, but neither is prepared for the bond fate forces upon them. As secrets about Zendaya's true nature unravel, danger looms, threatening her pack and her heart. Bound by duty and desire, they must fight side by side, their connection deepening with every battle. Yet, as their feelings ignite into something undeniable, one question lingers: will love triumph, or will destiny tear them apart? The answer lies in the shadows.
Chapter 1 Hell Hole
Zendaya's POV The day began with a bone-chilling shock. Annabel, my stepsister, dumped a bucket of icy water over me, jolting me from a sleep nightmare into a waking nightmare. "Wake up, weirdo," she sneered, her voice laced with malice. The satisfaction gleaming in her eyes was undeniable-she thrived on my misery. "Mum's going to kill you when she finds out you haven't made breakfast." Her triumphant smirk was the final insult before she strutted out, leaving me drenched and furious. Cassidy, my wolf, snarled within me, begging for retaliation.
Not yet, I told her, gripping the frayed edges of my self-control. Annabel loved to taunt me for my silver-blue hair and glowing eyes, traits I hid behind thick glasses. I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me snap. My bedside clock blinked blank. Annabel must've unplugged it, another petty trick to get me into trouble. The sun was already high; Luna Elena's wrath was inevitable. "This place is a hellhole," I muttered, yanking on dry clothes. I barely had time to braid my damp hair before heading downstairs. The dining room buzzed with the breakfast rush, but the tension in the air was suffocating. Luna Elena's sharp voice pierced through the noise. "Zendaya! Where's breakfast?" "Almost ready," I murmured, avoiding her gaze. "Useless, as always," she spat, her words sharp as a blade. Before I could flinch, her hand struck my cheek, the sting reverberating through me. "You're a burden," she hissed. "To teach you a lesson, I'm confiscating your art supplies until you learn respect." Her words left me hollow. My art was my refuge, the last piece of my mother I had left. Taking it away was like losing her all over again. I wanted to fight back, to scream at her cruelty, but I bit down on my tongue. "Yes, Luna," I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. Dad walked in moments later, his warm smile a brief reprieve from the storm. "How are you?" he asked. "I'm fine, Dad," I lied. He didn't notice the red mark on my cheek or the tremor in my voice. Annabel and Luna chatted cheerily as if the morning's chaos hadn't happened. Their laughter was a world I no longer belonged to. Cassidy nudged me mentally. Run, she urged. We need air. I slipped out, heading for my secret forest spot. Once there, I let Cassidy take over. Her silver-blue fur shimmered as she raced through the woods, each step a release from the chains of my reality. She howled the sound a mournful cry of anguish. Freedom. If only it could last. Eighteen. That was the age I'd meet my mate. A glimmer of hope. The thought was bittersweet. Would my mate save me from this life or turn out to be another form of torment? A sudden prickling sensation snapped me back. Cassidy stiffened. We're not alone. From the shadows emerged a rogue, his mangy fur reeking of decay. Cassidy growled."Get Ready to run. The rogue's teeth glinted in the dappled sunlight as he lunged. Run now! Cassidy barked. I bolted, weaving through trees as the rogue gave chase. My lungs burned, and fear clawed at my mind. Was this how I'd die? The rouge was close his footsteps echoing mine, My thoughts flashing to my mother. Just as panic took hold, a thunderous growl shook the forest. An Alpha's growl. The rogue skidded to a halt, knowing he was no match for an Alpha, as he turned tail and fled. I slowed, my heart racing, and turned to see a massive black wolf with piercing amber eyes step into the clearing. Our eyes locked. A pull-intense, electric, primal-shot through me. My wolf whimpered in recognition, but before I could process what was happening, I turned and fled, ignoring Cassidy's protests. Back at the packhouse, I shifted, dressed, and entered, my mind spinning. Annabel waited in the hallway, her smirk widening as I approached. "Out sulking in the woods again? Like the stray mutt you are?" Her words were the breaking point. Fury surged as I shoved her back, my voice trembling, my eye color switching from my human to my wolf. "I'm done with you, Annabel. You don't get to treat me like this anymore." She stumbled, her eyes widening in feigned shock. "Zendaya!" Dad's voice thundered behind me. I turned to see him storming toward us, his face dark with anger. "She pushed me," Annabel whimpered, clutching her arm as fake tears spilled down her cheeks. "She's lying!" I cried, but Dad's disappointment was a dagger to my chest. "Apologize to your sister," he demanded. "She's not my sister!" His gaze hardened. He didn't argue, didn't defend me. He just led Annabel away, leaving me standing alone in the dim hallway. Tears stung my eyes, but anger burned hotter. They don't see you, they never will, Cassidy growled. Storming upstairs, I slammed my door shut, leaning against it as I tried to calm the storm inside me. Then I smelled it. A dark, smoky scent lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. Cassidy stiffened. Someone's been here. I scanned the room, my heart racing. Nothing seemed out of place, yet the scent clung to the air, stirring something deep and primal within me. I moved to the window, peering out into the twilight. The forest stood still, shadows stretching long across the ground, but I could feel it-eyes watching me. Cassidy growled low in my mind. We're being hunted. The smoky scent grew stronger, wrapping around me like a ghost. My pulse quickened, and every instinct screamed at me to run, but I stood frozen, gripping the window frame as I stared into the dark. There was someone out there, waiting. Watching. Cassidy whispered, her voice trembling with fear. It's him.
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