Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of sexual violence, abuse, and manipulation that may be distressing to some readers. Carla never dreamed of becoming the Luna, but when the ruthless Alpha King claimed her as his mate, she was thrust into a life of power, pain, and impossible expectations. To secure her place as Queen, she must accomplish one task: conceive an heir within the next twelve months. Failure means a fate worse than death-being discarded as a slave, handed over to the warriors for their pleasure. But there's one devastating problem: the Alpha King is infertile. Desperate to survive, Carla turns to the Beta-the only man who shows her kindness-and seduces him into her bed. As their forbidden affair ignites, Carla concocts a bold and dangerous plan: if the Beta kills the Alpha, they can be together, and she can finally claim the freedom she craves. Yet in the tangled web of lies, lust, and betrayal, Carla begins to question her own heart. Does she truly love the Beta, or is he just a pawn in her carefully crafted scheme? And as the walls close in, will she sacrifice him, herself, or the kingdom for the chance to be with her true mate?
Chapter 1 1
Carla.
"Carla! Please make your way over here."
When the manager of the orphanage called my name, I was deeply engrossed in having fun with the other children. Their laughter and joy surrounded me, creating a bubble of happiness that I was reluctant to leave. But as soon as I heard her voice, I immediately responded, "Right away, I'll be there," and I meant it wholeheartedly.
For almost my entire childhood, up until the age of 18, she acted as my guardian, a figure of authority and support in a world that often felt chaotic. I was completely clueless about my family history and had no idea who my parents were or why they had abandoned me. The only thing I was aware of was that I had spent the vast majority of my life in that orphanage. The manager had told me, in soft, comforting tones, that they found me in the woods when I was only about three or four years old, alone and frightened.
I tried desperately to search for my true identity, holding onto the flickering hope that my parents would somehow appear and find me, but that miraculous event never happened. So, I adapted as a she-wolf omega and lived in the orphanage, where the staff helped me study diligently until I finished high school in a rough, poor neighborhood that felt far removed from the world I longed to explore. My hopes of advancing my education by enrolling in college were dashed when I discovered that the orphanage did not have the financial resources to cover the daunting costs of my education.
Unfortunately, the alpha king of the werewolves did not support the omegas to the same extent as he did his own kind, the powerful alphas and betas. I had developed a deep-seated aversion to him even before we had ever spoken. Without even knowing who I was, he shattered all of my hopes and ambitions without a second thought.
Everyone else in the orphanage admired him, but not me. I couldn't help but wonder: what are the key differences between being from a wealthy werewolf family and being from a low-income omega family like ours? The disparities were glaring, and they only fueled my resentment.
Additionally, I was forced to work in the orphanage; I was unable to leave under any circumstances, as if I were trapped in a prison of my own making. The distance between the orphanage and the omega school was only a mile, yet it felt like an insurmountable chasm. To say that I had a miserable childhood would be a gross understatement compared to the torment I endured throughout my life. They even prevented me from participating in the annual mating ritual, which required every unmated she-wolf and unmated wolf to enter the forest and run around until they found their mates. I had hoped to find a good mate, lead a normal life, and start my own family, even if my mate turned out to be a poor omega like me. However, orphaned girls like us were not permitted to participate because we lacked a family history, and our parents' identities remained a mystery.
Because of this, the level of hatred I harbored in my heart for the alpha king was unfathomable, a festering wound that never seemed to heal.
But I did have a plan for the future. It included working as a teacher in the orphanage for a year and a half, then leaving the kingdom to find a job, a place to live, and to pursue higher education. I yearned to accomplish something meaningful with my life, to break free from the shackles of my past.
I wanted to be financially successful and to start a family of my own someday. It wasn't easy to survive on just two small meals a day for the past 18 years! It was difficult to share a cramped bed with two other girls and to wear the same dress for an entire season without washing it. The lack of comfort was a constant reminder of our situation, and I often found myself dreaming of a better life.
Even the bathroom with the showers was a communal space that I shared with many other girls, making it even more challenging to find a moment of privacy.
The situation was even more dire than that of a prison. I was confident that if I ran away, I could find a man willing to pay for my college tuition and enroll me in a college of my choice. I believed my attractive appearance would help me find a rewarding position, a way out of my current circumstances.
Why should I be interested in male wolves if they weren't interested in girls like us who had no history or family? It felt like a cruel joke.
However, I could not deny that I loved all the little girls and boys in the orphanage as if they were my siblings. They were my family in many ways, and I wished to help pass on the knowledge I had acquired. I felt it was important to offer them as much assistance as I could, to be the mentor I never had.
I went up to the manager's office and knocked on her door before entering once she gave me permission.
"Yes, Madam, you called me?"
She gestured for me to take a seat and said, "Yes, Carla. Here, have a seat. It is imperative that we have this conversation."
I indicated that I understood by nodding; she gave me an intense look that left me feeling perplexed and anxious. I then said, "Sure. I was wondering if everything was going well. I mean, did something terrible happen?"
She gave me a feeble smile and shook her head before saying, "Actually, you know that you turned 18 two weeks ago. As you know, you either need to leave the orphanage and find a new home and job for yourself according to the rules or you can work here."
My breath came in short, shallow gasps as I tried to decide which direction to take. "I was under the impression that we had already discussed this, and that I had committed to working here. Have you made a different decision?" She gave a disappointed sigh and shook her head. "No, but we are unable to provide you with a high salary or an attractive job. I can't hire you as a teacher, especially considering you didn't graduate from university. I just can't do it." She took a breath, and her tone changed in an odd way, making me feel even more confused.
I blinked, feeling completely bewildered. I waited for her to continue speaking with agitated anticipation until she did. At that point, she said, "So, my offer for you is to work as a nanny in the orphanage."
I was taken aback and utterly shocked. My brow furrowed in confusion as I questioned, "What? A nanny?! Do you want me to make the beds, clean the laundry, and feed the children?"
She nodded and said, "Yes. However, you have the option to decline the position, move out of the orphanage, and look for work."
After hearing this, I immediately felt disoriented and homeless, as though the ground had been pulled out from under me.
I asked her, while pondering the question, "Why? You promised me a good job here! I was under the impression that you considered me your daughter."
She creased her brows and said, "I am so helpless in this matter. And I thought you loved the kids and were ready to help them in everything!" I rubbed my face and tried to think, but my brain wasn't working very well. She, along with the rules of the kingdom, dashed all of my hopes and expectations! Why do they hold us responsible for not having parents to look after us and provide for us financially?
After that, she addressed me, saying, "Carla, pay attention to what I have to say. I will make an effort to help you. I have a scheme in mind, but for it to work, you have to carry out my instructions exactly."
In doing so, she restored my faith in the future, lighting a small spark of hope within me. I tilted my head back and gave her a thoughtful look before responding, "Yes, of course, please. I will follow all of your directives exactly. What are your plans?"
She stood up and moved closer to me, placing her hand on my shoulders and telling me, "The alpha king has decided to visit the orphanage tomorrow. As a result, I thought it would be best to celebrate the children's birthdays together and throw a modest party. I would really appreciate it if you could sing at the party and watch over the children for the entirety of the celebration. I will demonstrate to the alpha king how much you care, and I will ask him to pay your tuition fees so that you can enroll in college, or at the very least, I will ask him to give you a good job working in his castle." The question is, "Well, what do you think?"
Despite my deep-seated hatred for that king, if he was my ticket out of that orphanage and could teach me how to live a normal life, then there was no reason for me to refuse his assistance, no matter how much I loathed the idea.
I got to my feet, gave a satisfied nod, and agreed without hesitation, saying, "Sure. I promise to work to the best of my ability."
But then, just as I was about to excuse her to leave and go back to the children, she stopped me by the door and said, "Wait. You must wear this dress tomorrow if you want to make a good impression on the king and his ministers."
When I turned my head, I saw a large box; she handed it to me and instructed me to "open the box" while beaming broadly.
I was impressed and surprised to see a tight, short red dress, black heels, and even a small box containing makeup on her vanity.
I blinked twice and asked in a confused tone, "Really? Is that for me?"
She acknowledged my question with a nod and a motherly touch on my cheeks before saying, "Yes. In all honesty, I had an alternative course of action in mind for you. If the alpha king chose not to assist you, at least one of the ministers or warriors might become smitten with your attractiveness and decide to take you as their mate."
I was speechless, and my eyes watered; I had never considered that she might have organized all of this for my benefit. I threw myself at her and gave her a bear hug, saying, "Thank you so much. I'd like to express my gratitude for the care you've provided for me."
"All right, now get out of here and take the rest of the day for yourself. Make sure you're prepared, and then wax your entire body. I want you to have a day tomorrow that is bright and beautiful like the sun."
I was unaware that she was only using me as a pawn in another nefarious plot, despite her seemingly thoughtful demeanor.
Unfortunately, her plan was to take advantage of my beauty to improve her position in the workforce, to elevate her standing in a world that often overlooked the needs of the vulnerable.
However, it was too late to comprehend what was happening. I was a foolish and naive young woman, and for the majority of my life, I had almost thought of her as a family member and my mother, believing in her words and intentions, unaware of the complexities of her true motives.
Chapter 1 1
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Chapter 2 2
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Chapter 3 3
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Chapter 4 4
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Chapter 5 5
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Chapter 6 6
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Chapter 7 7
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Chapter 8 8
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Chapter 9 9
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Chapter 10 10
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Chapter 11 11
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Chapter 12 12
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Chapter 13 13
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Chapter 14 14
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Chapter 15 15
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Chapter 16 16
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Chapter 17 17
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Chapter 18 18
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Chapter 19 19
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Chapter 20 20
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Chapter 21 21
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