The Awakening

The silver thread glimmered like a dying star between my fingers as I pulled the final stitch. I had spent weeks carving a masterpiece out of a mess, breathing life into a gown that was little more than a hand-me-down from Nora, the chief maid. It was a relic of the royal palace, salvaged from the scrap heap of a life I was never meant to lead.

Lia stood beside me, the yellow of her dress blending seamlessly with her pale skin. She looked like a soft sunbeam, a stark contrast to me. With my almond-tinted hair and emerald eyes that seemed too large for my face, my fair skin was a curse, it made me stand out in a pack that preferred I remain invisible. No one ever looked past the surface to see the girl drowning in a pathetic, orphaned story.

“What if you get mated to Alpha Kai tonight, June?” Lia whispered, her eyes dancing.

“You know the tales. The Moon Goddess loves to bridge the gap, mating the lowest beta to the strongest alpha to create a perfect balance. That could be you.”

I held up the gown, watching the moonlight catch the beads. It glowed with an ethereal, haunting light. No one would ever guess this was once junk. It was my armor, built on sleepless nights and desperate hope.

“Can you imagine the fallout?” I countered, my voice tight.

“The Alpha of the Crescent Pack tethered to an orphan? The clan would be the laughingstock of the territories. I’d be humiliated far beyond the small cruelties we face now. Kai is a warrior, Lia. He isn’t the kind of man who knows how to mend a soul as shredded as mine.”I pulled the dress on, the fabric cooling my heated skin.

“Besides, I don’t want to spend my life serving a pack that never offered me a home. Why should I shred my spirit to lead people who treated me like a ghost?”

We walked toward the palace hall, the grand stone arches looming like the mouth of a beast. With every step, the rhythm of my heart grew louder, a frantic drumming against my ribs. By the time we reached the heavy oak doors, the sound was deafening. Music sounded like senseless noise and the smell of celebration suddenly made me feel nauseous.

“I can’t wait for us to finally belong somewhere. Good luck, June,” Lia whispered, squeezing my hand before drifting toward the dance floor.

The moment she left, I vanished into the shadows of the crowd. I watched the room like a spectator at my own execution. Slowly, the moon reached its peak. It felt like a cruel competition. Every passing second, a gasp would erupt, another Beta finding their mate, another couple entwining their souls.

I stood in the corner, my knuckles white as I gripped the silver fabric of my skirt. I began to pray, a silent, choking plea to the Moon Goddess.

Life has taken enough from me,