Chapter 1 Chapter 1

SARA

“The winner of the contest would be declared the Luna of Alpha Ronan and would sign a marriage contract with him.” The loud voice of the beta boomed through the crowd.

I stood waiting in line. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I wasn't even comfortable being anywhere next to this… display. I did not want to be part of the contest. I had no desire to be mated to Alpha Ronan, I was already promised to another.

However, my older stepsister, Carla had asked me to keep a place for her while she went to the loo. If I left the line now, and she returned only to be at the back, she would insist on punishing me severely. And what was worse, my step mother would name me the reason why her daughter didn’t become Luna of our pack. She would never forgive me.

“Next,” the beta in charge of the line called, and I shivered as the last person standing in front of me goes into the room in front of us.

We were all standing out in the open, in a line, and as each girl gets called in, she walks through a door in front of us. They never come out – at least, not through the door from which they entered.

Where did they go? What happened in there? The rumors had to be true.

I had heard a lot about Alpha Ronan’s ruthlessness. Why would anyone want to get mated to him? Right. Power. That's all it was. I shuddered at the thought of ever meeting the said man.

“Three little girls, dancing in the rain…” I started to sing my favorite childhood rhyme under my breath to calm myself down.

“Silence!” The beta thundered at me and I froze, zipping my mouth shut while my skin pebbled with apprehension.

The girl who just left had been gone for a while. Which meant…I was next. Where the hell was Carla?

Relief washed over me as I saw Carla headed my way, running. She obviously wanted to get to me on time before they called her in, otherwise, she’d have a hard way explaining that she was the one on the line.

Just when she was about to reach me, the beta announced.

“Next!”

I panicked immediately, holding out my hand to Carla, beckoning on her to bridge the gap between us and take her spot, so that I could go home and forget that I was ever here.

“Next!” The beta barked again, and before I could even reply, strong hands grabbed me, propelling me forward, into the room.

No! No!

“I’m not – I am not the one that is supposed to be on this line.” I tried saying, but my voice was low and shaky, and even if he heard me, he obviously didn’t care.

My feet barely touched the floor as I was pulled forward, my heart thundering in my chest.

This was it. This was how I was gonna die. I wouldn't come out of that room like the other girls who walked in.

As we neared the door, my heart nearly stopped.

“Wait, noㅡ” the protest died on my tongue when I was suddenly shoved inside, sending me stumbling and almost collapsing to the floor.

For a second, I didn't move. Just stayed there, half expecting someone to snap my neck but I was met with silence. Where was I?

I slowly raised my head and my heart stopped as I realized this was what they called the testing room.

I’d expected the room to be some dark room with a bed on it, and dark sex toys, but surprisingly, the room was empty of any furniture. It was white, with white tiles, and white light and…empty.

There was another door on the opposite end of the room, and I was just struggling to stand upright when it creaked open and I froze, watching a man step in quietly.

He was dressed in black, and had on a mask so I couldn’t see his face, but he radiated an energy that had be rooted in place.

I couldn't move. This was my worst nightmare. How had i ended up here? I would tell him. Maybe he would let me go. I had only to tell him that I was the wrong girl.

“This is going to be very easy. I would give you a test. If you are the true Luna, you would win, if not, you would face the consequence of failing the test.” He suddenly boomed, his gaze piercing into me.

My eyes widened and I shook my head. “I am not supposed to be here. I was helping my step sister keep a spot.”

The man merely shook his head. “Nothing that happens in Starkwood is a mistake. Perhaps, the moon orchestrated everything to turn out this way.”

I shook my head frantically as I looked for an opening to escape. I wanted nothing of this. What did he mean by all these? I did not want to be Luna in a pack that did not take responsibility for their actions, but instead pinned it on the moon. While I was still contemplating, the beta stepped into the room, bowed his head slightly and began reading out the rules of the test.

“The test is simple. You would drink a portion out of this cup,” he held up a cup, “and stand under the part of the room where the room is open. If the moon accepts you as Alpha Ronan’s mate, and therefore Luna, you would be saved. If not, you would be destroyed, your wolf taken away from you, and you would be caned on your bare back for dating to deceive Alpha Ronan.”

“Deceive Alpha Ronan?” I asked in surprise. None of what he said made any sense. I had been forced here. How on earth had I planned to deceive Alpha Ronan. I knew how cruel the Alpha was, and I knew he would not take lightly to being deceived.

“I think there has been a mistake –” I began, but his harsh voice interrupted me.

“Nothing is done by mistake in Starkwood. Now drink this portion or I’d call the guards in, and have them pin your hands down while I pour it down your throat.”

My heart raced but seeing I had no choice in the matter, I took the cup from him and drank, spilling some on myself out of nervousness.

Tears filled my eyes as I walked over to the part of the room where the roof was open.

This would be over soon.

“Now repeat these words. The moon disclosed to Alpha Ronan’s Luna, that she is his mate. He asked her to come, but so did other fakes. I have come here of my own free will. If I am the imposter, destroy my wolf but if I am she, bind me to his wolf.”

I shook my head, refusing to utter those words. I had not come here of my free will. I had no idea when the Luna announcement was made. I just wanted to go home! “I am not here of my own freewill,” I said instead, and I felt the crack of a whip at my back.

I cried out in pain, and immediately repeated the words he words he had spoken.

As soon as I said it, I waited. First, nothing happened to me, then it was as though the moon shone brightly, through the opening on the roof, and it’s rays struck me, draining me of all my strength.

I felt an excruciating pain as I felt the essence of my wolf leave me.

“Ahhhh!” I screamed, collapsing to the floor in agony.

“You have failed the test,” the man said. “You are a fake who tried to deceive Alpha Ronan, you are not his Luna.”

As tears poured from my eyes, strong arms gripped me, and my back was bared. The man who had been speaking to me stepped forward, a whip in his hand. He raised his whip, and I closed my eyes and waited for the pain that would come, but the whip did not hit my back.

The man who had stepped in earlier pulled back the cloak over his head, his brows drawn together as he looked me over again.

I immediately froze. I was looking right into Alpha Ronan's eyes.

His gaze darted to the person who held the whip.

“Stay away from my mate.”

My heart stopped. Mate?