Lyric had spent her life being hated. Bullied for her scarred face and hated by everyone—including her own mate—she was always told she was ugly. Her mate only kept her around to gain territory, and the moment he got what he wanted, he rejected her, leaving her broken and alone. Then, she met him. The first man to call her beautiful. The first man to show her what it felt like to be loved. It was only one night, but it changed everything. For Lyric, he was a saint, a savior. For him, she was the only woman that had ever made him cum in bed—a problem he had been battling for years. Lyric thought her life would finally be different, but like everyone else in her life, he lied. And when she found out who he really was, she realized he wasn't just dangerous—he was the kind of man you don't escape from. Lyric wanted to run. She wanted freedom. But she desired to navigate her way and take back her respect, to rise above the ashes. Eventually, she was forced into a dark world she didn't wish to get involved with.

Chapter 1 LYRIC I never expected that my mate, whom I married 1 year ago, would reject me so coldly after his wolf pack rose, simply because I am ugly—my face has scars. "You are rejected, you ugly duckling," Roderick repeated his words as if he hadn’t broken me the first time. "You used me!" I sobbed, "Mating with me was your ladder to power, Roderick! Your Pack climbed the ranks because of me! Now that you've achieved your ambition, you don't need the ugly girl anymore, is that it? But you were willing to mate with me a year ago!" I’m the daughter of an Alpha. My family paired me with him a year ago. For a year, we lived like strangers despite being mated. I was still a virgin as he could not even bring himself to touch me. "Lyric! Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? Even once? How did you think a charming alpha like me could really love you?" There was pride in his voice, his shoulders puffed up with confidence, and his smug face clear to me. "But you never even gave me a chance to show you that love could go beyond looks," my tears blurred his handsome face that he was so proud of. "You’re ugly, Lyric. That should be enough for you to know why I can’t give you a chance," he scoffed, wrinkling his nose as he pointed at the big scar on my face. I’d been called ugly by almost everyone, but hearing it from Roderick was so painful. "I wasn’t born this way. It was a brutal attack. But if my face bothered you so much, why didn’t you tell me all year what your plans were?" I couldn’t believe I was crying in front of him while he stood cold and heartless. "Tell you my plans? Your own family never cared about you, why would I? Lyric! Your scar will never heal. You’re ugly, and I can’t look at your face another day," he hissed, shaking his head and calling me ugly again and again. It wasn’t my fault I was ugly. I was burned with a silver-based branding iron when I was a kid, leaving a big scar on the side of my face. I still didn’t know who did it, but I’d had to grow up with this sting of rejection. Even my own family hated me and were embarrassed by how I looked. But I thought Roderick would be different. I thought he’d love me. But in a world where ranks mattered most to Pack Leaders, lies were bound to happen. I glared at him. I truly loved this man and wished he’d love me back. But now, I wished he’d suffer for what he did to me. "You’re a monster," I said through clenched teeth. "And I hope you pay for this someday." He threw back his head and laughed, a hollow sound. "Cursed Lyric, how exactly is that going to happen? I’m now the third most powerful Alpha. My pack is rising while your family is below me! There’s nothing you can do to me anymore. You have always been and will always be worthless!""Listen, I’ve rejected you already, and you accepted it. Although there’s one last formality left, as far as I’m concerned, you’re nothing to me. So, get your disgusting face out of my pack! Right now, before I have the guards throw you out!" His glare was icy, and before I could answer, he walked away. I knew I wasn’t allowed to stick around. If he came back and still saw me here, he would tell his warriors to drag me out. So, I pulled myself together and started my journey back home. To my father’s pack. I hadn’t been home since I moved into Roderick’s pack, and I hoped they would be willing to take me in. My family had never really liked me. Everything started falling apart after my mother left—abandoning me when I was four. My father chose a new mate and suddenly didn’t have much time for me. Then, I got my scar, and he became even more distant. The guards let me through the gate, but when I rang the bell at the lounge, my stepsister and her mother opened the door. To my surprise, they didn’t let me in. The look on their faces told me they were annoyed to see me back. “He rejected me and asked me to leave,” I kept it simple at first. But when their harsh faces didn’t soften, I told them everything he had said to me. I was so wrong to think that would change how they looked at me. “Go back to Roderick and beg him some more, Lyric. There is no room for you here,” my stepmother said after I explained everything. Despite my attempt to get them to pity me, letting them understand I had nowhere else to go, they ordered the guards to see me out. They've always taken me to be a disgrace to the family and were happy when I left for Roderick's Pack. Now, they didn't want me back. Now that another door had been shit closed on my face, I had nowhere to go but to go to the bar where I could drink myself into oblivion and act like everything was fine, at least for a while. My favorite bar—Faceless Drunk. Over here, they mixed portions strong enough to get a wolf drunk, and you didn't have to worry about being recognized and judged as every customer made use of masks. It had been my favorite bar for years. If people had to see my face, they'd think I was getting drunk because I was ugly. ‘Ew look at her face’ Those words rang through my head as they have been said to me so many times. But above all, it was Roderick's betrayal that cut deep. It was even more painful that I could not do anything to him. His Pack was very powerful now, and I was an ugly, rejected girl who didn't even have a family to return to. Nobody could ever want me. What was the point of living? I emptied the last of my drink and was trying to stand when someone spoke from nowhere: "A refill for the lady, please." I was surprised to find a man taking the seat beside me. The bartender nodded and proceeded to get a refill. I furrowed my brows in surprise as I looked at the newcomer. I couldn't see his face as he was wearing a mask just like me, but something about the way he appeared told me he was sophisticated. His suit was a Mason Étoile brand, and his watch was an Aristo Tempus watch. An average Wolf couldn't afford these things. He was tall and had broad shoulders, the veins on his neck and on his arms made him look even sexier. "You've been coming here to drink alone for some time now," he said, surprising me. His voice... It was soothing and impossible to ignore. I lowered my eyes, feeling a little ashamed. How can he even tell? "I don't know what you're talking about.""Your mask." He tipped his chin toward me. "You've never changed it." Oh. "That means you also come here a lot." That was odd. Somebody had noticed me? Right! Because my ugly face was hiding behind a mask. "I do. It's not quite up to my standard, but it's my favorite place. I like it when I don't get judged by anyone." The barman returned with my drink. I thanked the newcomer before drinking from my glass. “From the look of things, you must be troubled,” he said, and I sighed. “Are you just good at guessing, or have you been stalking me?” I tried to joke but was too sad to come up with something better. “You’ve been sighing after every sip. If you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been doing that too,” he said, and I nodded, feeling awkward. “You know what can help with stress?” he asked. “And I’m not talking about booze. How about a night of fun? No strings attached, no worries about the world, just you and me alone.” I wasn’t surprised a man with such a powerful aura was this confident. The way he asked me for one night sounded like he was offering me a crown. That’s how convincing he was. “I don’t really do one-night things,” I shyly replied, even the topic made my cheeks burn. “Why? Do you hold loyalty to someone else?” As soon as he asked, something flipped inside me. He wasn’t wrong, though. Who was I saving myself for? My husband hadn’t even touched me for a year and then kicked me out. If I have to die alone, I’d rather do it after losing my virginity. "Although, I must warn you," he stated. "It will be a long night. I have... problems finishing on a woman. I never finish. So, like I said, it is simply for the fun of it." Huh? He could not climax during intimacy? But I heard that was the best part of it. How could he enjoy intimacy if he has never finished on a woman before? The thought of it was sad. Despite how absurd it sounded, a part of me was tempted. I'd always been curious about intimacy. No one has ever liked me because of my scar, not even my mate—ex-mate. After much conviction from the newcomer, I gave it a thought. "Can we keep our masks on? You'll hate me just like the others if you see how ugly I am.” My request didn't make him question me. He was just so ready for it. "Sure." He shrugged. "Your wish is my command, Princess." Princess? My stomach churned. Oh, no. He didn't know I looked like a monster. If he knew, he'd run off like the others. I was tempted to cry. Sometimes, I really did wish I was treated like a 'Princess.'

Chapter 2 LYRIC We left the bar together, heading to his hotel as he called it. We drove off in his Arcanis GT. It was one of the most expensive cars in the world. A part of me had been tempted to ask questions, but none of it mattered. We were simply going to make love and never see each other again. He guided me into the hotel room, and holy Moon, it screamed luxury. Plush carpets, floor-to-ceiling windows, city lights glittering like stars below. The bed was massive, draped in black silk, begging to be ruined. He gestured to it, his voice low. “Sit.” I sank onto the bed, my heart hammering. He shrugged off his suit jacket, then his shirt, revealing a body carved by the gods. Chiseled chest, abs like they were sculpted, biceps that flexed with every move. I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. He sat close—too close—his thigh brushing mine. I was shaking, my hands twisting in my lap. “What’s wrong, Princess?” His voice was smooth, but softer than at the bar, like he actually cared. “I’m… nervous,” I mumbled, my face burning under the mask. “I’ve never done this before.” His eyes widened through the mask, shock flickering. “You’re a virgin?” No judgment, just surprise. He leaned closer, his breath warm. “I’ll be careful, Princess. I promise.” My heart stuttered. No one had ever promised me anything. He leaned in, his lips brushing my neck, soft and slow. Sparks shot through me, my pussy tingling. He pulled back, eyes locked on mine. “You ready?”“Yes,” I whispered, barely audible, my body screaming yes. His hands were gentle, guiding my blouse off, then my jeans, until I was naked. I crossed my arms over my round, perky tits, my thighs clenched tight, hiding my pussy. I felt so exposed, so fucking shy. He eased me back onto the bed, his voice low. “Don’t be shy, Princess. You’re perfect.” I wanted to laugh. Perfect? He hadn’t seen my face. My scar. He tugged off his pants, and my breath caught. His dick was hot, thick, the pink cap glistening with precum. I chuckled, shy and nervous, my cheeks burning under the mask. He smirked, then kissed me—gentle, soft, his lips tasting like whiskey and sin. My first kiss. My head spun, my pussy throbbing as his tongue teased mine. His hands found my tits, cupping them, thumbs circling my nipples. I gasped, my body twitching, pleasure sparking through me. “Fuck, you’re so responsive,” he murmured, his voice rough. Then he leaned down, sucking my nipple softly, his tongue flicking over the sensitive bud. I moaned, my back arching. It felt so good, like my body was waking up for the first time. He kissed lower, trailing hot kisses down my belly. His hands spread my thighs, and I froze, my pussy bare and glistening. “Fuck, Princess,” he breathed, eyes locked on me. “Your body’s fucking gorgeous.” I wanted to cry. He’d hate me when he saw my face. My scar. But his words… they felt so real. His finger slid into my pussy, slow and gentle, stroking my slick walls. “This okay?” he asked, his voice soft, checking on me again. I nodded, breathless. “Yes. I love it.” No one had ever touched me like this. Ever cared. He rubbed my clit, slow circles that made my hips buck, pleasure building like a storm. Then he shifted, his dick—pink cap shiny with precum—pressing against my pussy. He slid in, slow, stretching me. I moaned softly, a mix of pain and so much pleasure. “You good?” he asked, voice tight, holding still. “Yeah,” I breathed. “Go… harder. Faster.” He groaned, thrusting deeper, faster, his dick filling me perfectly. My pussy clenched around him, pleasure spiking with every stroke. “Fuck, you feel so good,” he growled, his eyes burning through the mask. I was lost, moaning, my nails digging into his shoulders. Then his rhythm faltered, a deep groan ripping from his throat. He came, hot and warm, spilling inside my pussy. I felt it, the warmth spreading, and my own orgasm crashed over me, my pussy pulsing around his dick. I gasped, trembling, tears prickling under my mask, I… I loved every second of it. He got off me almost immediately, sitting on the edge of the bed. "That is strange," he muttered to himself. I was equally confused. I thought he couldn't finish on a woman? He looked at me, and from how long it was, I could tell he was staring at me like I was a puzzle. I was still lying on my back, exhausted. Soon, he joined me, lying beside me. He held his head up with his elbow. "Who are you?" He ran a finger along my jaw. The touch was electric. I swallowed hard. I am just an ugly girl who has been abandoned by everyone she's ever come across. To my surprise, he took off his mask. My mouth fell open in shock at the face before me. Good Moon! If he wasn't the most stunning man I'd ever met! He was too good-looking. I could never have someone like him. He was too good for me. I pulled the duvet further to conceal my body. "You should've told me you were a virgin at the bar," he said. What did it matter? I didn't care about being a virgin anymore. Slowly, his hand reached for my face. Realizing what he had in mind, I gasped and recoiled. "No." I shook my head, gripping the duvet tight. "Why? You've seen my face." Still, I shook my head. "Our deal still stands. There's nothing to be afraid of." He added. You don't understand! You'll hate me if you see my face. The night was going too smoothly. I didn't want anything to ruin it. "I'm ugly." I mumbled, dipping my head. He seemed surprised. He reached for my face again and this time, I didn't try to stop him. This was my fate. He pulled off the mask, put a finger under my chin and tipped my head up to meet his gaze. Tears glistened in my eyes as I stared into his—his silver charming eyes. He was staring right at my face; at my scar. He was going to run away now. I shivered and closed my eyes when he ran a finger along the scar. What was he doing? "What happened?" His tone was soft, his fingers still caressing my face. I met his gaze and so far, there was no resentment in his eyes. "S—Someone attacked me." I swallowed. "I was abducted and blindfolded while they hurt me. I've visited a lot of doctors, but none has been able to help" Seconds passed. He didn't take his eyes off me. "You're beautiful," he murmured. I frowned. What was he talking about? "You really think the scar makes you ugly?" I shook my head, pulling my face away from his grasp. "I am ugly. Everyone tells me." More to my surprise, he pulled me in beside him, wrapping his arms around my shoulder. "Until tonight, I don't think I've ever met a lady as stunning as you, Princess." My heart quickened as I listened to his heartbeat with my head on his chest. Uncontrollably, a tear escaped my lid. He was lying. He only wanted me to feel better. "Do you think we could adjust our deal? I'd love to spend another day with you," he said, shocking me to the core. What!? This was not possible. "I—I—""Please." My heart melted instantly. For the first time in my life, I was being begged to stay. Not leave. I buried my face in his chest as I responded: "I'd love to." ........ But like everyone else, he lied to me. Like everyone else, I was deceived. By morning, he was gone. I woke up and couldn't find him in bed. There was no note, no trace that he had even been with me aside from the ache in-between my legs. And to make it worse, someone showed up at the door, asking me to leave. "The man I came with last night, do you think he'd come back?" I asked the man, my heart racing in my chest. "No. It was his idea to get you to leave. He said he doesn't want to see you anywhere near this property. Please, leave this instant," the man said and left. And just like that, my heart was shattered all over. But surprisingly, it hurt more than when I had been rejected by Roderick. ........ After leaving the hotel that day, I felt really homeless and loveless. What made me even more desperate was that after a while, I realized that I was pregnant. The father of my baby was the man I had a one-night stand with. I knew that in the cruel werewolf world, no one would accept me and my poor baby. Male werewolves could be praised for their strength, but why could female werewolves only be admired for their beauty? Why should ugly female werewolves be discriminated against and abused? With a heavy burden of rejection from everywhere, I decided to say goodbye to the werewolf packs and start a new life somewhere fresh. Going back to my father’s pack wasn’t an option either. My stepmother had kicked me out. And I didn’t want to go back and beg Roderick again. Under the scorching sun, when I wandered around aimlessly for hours and saw the looks on everyone’s faces, I realized I didn’t belong here. So I went to Draconis, where humans live. To my surprise, humans are much friendlier than werewolves. I spent five years here and even became a doctor. In the past five years, I experienced many significant things in my life.I gave birth to two babies and lost them quickly. I discovered my special identity and healed the ugly scar on my face... "Lyric, do you want to come to my house for dinner?" My thoughts were interrupted when a gentle human lady knocked on my door. I had known her almost since I arrived in Draconis. She was so kind and welcoming. Instead of staying away from me because of my scar, she offered me a lot of help. Even the bad news of my babies’ premature death was told to me by her. At that time, I fainted due to severe pain, and when I woke up again, she was the only one by my side. She said that my poor babies died at birth, and I didn't even see them. Although I don't understand why she disposed of my dead children so quickly, I am still very grateful for her care for me. I suppressed the sadness of recalling the past, forced a smile and opened the door. Just as I was about to accept the invitation, a familiar strange feeling came through the mind-link. I knew it came from my father, who had been trying to call me back to the wolf pack frequently recently. "Thank you, dear. I...can't do it today. I'm not feeling well. " After seeing my human friends off, I sat alone by the window. I wanted to ignore all those requests of my father, but then an urge to visit those cruel people who never believed I could do anything with my life surged inside me. I wanted them to see—the once ugly Lyric was now a divine beauty.

Chapter 3 Lyric "I'm sorry, ma'am; but I'm here to pick someone. I can't give you a free ride, if that's what you're asking." I struggled to hold back my laughter as I listened to Rufus, one of my father's oldest guards say, his eyes darting past my shoulder, looking out for the person he had been assigned to pick from the airport. "I know. You have been sent to pick Lyric Harper, right? It's me, Rufus." His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You still haven't told me how you know my name. And...And how can you be Lyric? It's not possible." He shook his head. "Lyric is—""Ugly?" I finished for him, a broad smile on my face. He frowned as he shook his head. Back then, Rufus was the only one that had never been able to call me ugly. He was among the very few that had cared about my feelings, and even now, to a stranger, he still couldn't call me ugly. I laughed. "Well, would it help if I reminded you that your favorite soup was butternut squash and you and little Lyric used to play chutes and ladders?" Recognition beamed in his eyes. His jaw dropped in astonishment. "Seraphis have mercy! Lyric, it's really you!" He opened his arms, and I didn't hesitate to fall in for a warm hug. Back then, Rufus and I barely had time together, but he always made the few times we met worth it. He was the closest thing I had to a parent. "How is this possible?" He inquired after asking how I was. "Your face... My goodness! You look gorgeous! You've only been gone for five years and... I—I can't believe this.""It's a long story, Rufus. But for now, let's just say fates decided to smile on me.""Oh, Lyric! You do not know how happy I am to see you. I am sure your father must be delighted seeing you're not...un-beautiful anymore." I laughed at his attempt to not use the word 'ugly' on me. Well, as for my father, I rolled my eyes in my head. I felt a little sad that I was forced to return here after five years because of him. My life was perfect in Draconis. "Here. I'll take this to the car," Rufus said, taking my luggage. "You do that and I'll meet you in the car. I need to pick up an extra luggage. Don't worry, I'll be quick." I turned around and had barely taken three steps before Rufus called my attention, "You dropped something." Looking at the floor, I found the scanned image. My heart jumped into my throat as I quickly crouched to retrieve it. Rufus watched with me with surprise. Obviously, he had seen the X-ray and would be wondering why the hell something of that nature had been in my back pocket. Oh, Lyric. You couldn't be a little careful? "It's—It's not mine," I cleared my throat, hoping my lie was plausible. I mean, who carried X-ray photos of fetuses in their back pocket? Tucking it back into the pocket, I hurried away. ..... I had my hands crossed over my chest as I waited at the collecting center. My extra luggage would be brought to me any moment. As I waited idly, disturbing thoughts ran through my mind. Father wanted me home for two reasons. The first was to completely cut ties with Roderick. In our world, when two wolves were getting mated, they tied a ribbon as a sign of their union and have it stored in a temple. So, when they wanted to part ways, there were two steps involved. First, they'd have to denounce themselves as mates with the words of their mouths, and secondly, cut the ribbon together. After Roderick denounced me as his mate, we didn't get the chance to see each other again. Circumstances happened that pulled me away. But now, he was desperate to finish the final steps. Apparently, he'd chosen a new mate but couldn't accept her when he was still partially bound to me. Well, I'd been looking forward to the day when I get to end things with the asshole. He was my past, and the stupid ribbon was the final thing holding us together. "Excuse me, Ms. I'd like a moment of your time, please," someone said behind me. I turned to see a well-built man in a black suit and dark shades over his eyes. I didn't need anyone to tell me he was a guard. "Can I help you?" I furrowed my brows. "Kind of. The Alpha over there demands an audience with you." I looked to where he pointed—a mini bar—but couldn't see the man he was referring to. His face was shielded by a counter. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. These days, it was tiring. It was obvious there would never be a day where I'd step out without garnering attention from the opposite gender. "I'm in a hurry. Tell him I'm sorry." I responded. The guard's jaw tightened. "You can't ignore him." I read the unspoken words from his tone: He's a powerful Alpha. You can't simply ignore his request. But I really wasn't interested in meeting anyone. "I'm sorry. I really am." I looked away. It was disrespectful to ignore an Alpha's call. In a world where ranks mattered, he could be one of the powerful ones and could punish me severally, but I really wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. "It's Alpha Roderick of Nightshade." The guard added as if to entice me. But he had no idea, he had just reopened old wounds. My eyes moved to him, then quickly flicked to the bar where the man was seated. Roderick? As in my ex-mate Roderick? The one I was here to end things with? No way. My chest tightened with pain and it was all I could do to keep my emotions intact. "More reason not to see him," I mumbled, turning away. "Did you say something?""I said I am not seeing him." I gritted the words, my nails digging into my palms. The guard gave me a disapproving stare before walking away, and I released a shaky breath. Now, where the hell was my luggage? I met one of the workers and demanded for an update, and he assured me it'd be here any minute. Unfortunately, they were not fast enough as shortly, I saw Roderick approaching me.

Chapter 4 Lyric The one man I'd hoped would love me but never did. As I watched him walk over to me with a smug look on his face, I couldn’t help but squint my eyes to get a better look at him. Why the heck did I waste my tears and one whole year of my life on a man like him? I felt regret, but more than that, anger. He wasted a whole year of my life! His personality was like a broomstick. Seeing him again made me regret ever wanting his attention. He wasn’t all that special. I shook my head at myself in disbelief. When someone is desperate, they make people like him feel special. “So, I had to come over and speak to you myself,” he said, leaning against the counter beside me. “How daring.” He obviously didn't recognize me as the Lyric who was used and abandoned by him. Because I was no longer ugly, I was very confident about my current beauty. I could see that he was very interested in me, a strange beauty. Nothing about him was interesting. The only thing I did remember was his smug face. And I smiled to myself a little, feeling like a fool for my past mistake. Three guards hovered beside him, their eyes darting around. Roderick looked sophisticated, like he'd obviously been having a good life. What was he even doing here? Was he picking someone? "What's your good name?" He tilted his head as he asked. I said nothing, but passed him a quick head to toe glance, judging him. "Hello?""I don’t feel like giving my name to strangers," I finally said. My voice was a little tight, because I was worried that he would recognize me by my voice. But God forbid, he didn't. Maybe he never cared about me in the past. His eyes shone with amusement. Here was a man who never smiled at me during the whole year we were together. "Let’s just say I’m overly excited today," he sighed, making me wonder what made him think I’d be interested in his small talk. "I’m here, waiting for a certain bitch to arrive." When I gave him a confused look, he added, "Ex-mate." I took a sip of coffee and muttered under my breath, “Who’s the lucky lady?” He chuckled, “I’m not here because I care about her or want her back. We’re done with the first step and just have one tiny step left. I’ll finally be free of her.”“That’s why I asked—who’s the lucky lady escaping from someone like you?” I said quietly, grinning as he misunderstood. "I'd have done this sooner, you know? But the horrid girl has been missing for years. Stressed us the hell out to find her." He spoke with raw disdain. “What makes you call her horrid?” I asked, thinking that if I ever faced him, I’d know exactly where and how to hit him. He chuckled. “Trust me, honey, she’s a monster. If you saw her, you’d think the same. She’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.”“So tell me, who do I have to do to get your number?” He really thought he was so charming that anyone would want to give him their number after he just showed how twisted his mind was. “Probably just leave me alone,” I said, watching his smirk slowly fade. He had no clue what I was capable of now. The good thing was, I didn’t have any pity for my enemies. It made sense why he was waiting at the airport. He clearly wanted to drag me to the temple for some public nonsense. Well, I wasn’t going to let him embarrass me in front of everyone. Not again. Thankfully, my luggage finally showed up. “Sorry for the delay, ma’am,” the young man said, rolling it over to me. Without looking at Roderick, I started to walk away. That must have caught him off guard. “I’d love to talk to you another time. Your contact, if you don’t mind.” His arrogance didn’t let him see the clear rejection. With a chuckle, I shook my head in disbelief again. I turned back and gave him the politest answer I could: “Even if I had to give up my number to save myself from you, I wouldn’t. Alpha.” When my words sank in, surprise danced in her eyes, followed by a hint of hurt. Something blossomed in my chest. It was pride. So, I rolled my luggage away, leaving him standing there in shock. Rufus and I arrived home to the party. It was my stepmother's birthday party. Not that I had any intention of attending—may the moon forbid it—I just arrived at a coincidentally perfect time. I wasn't dressed for the party. Had my simple jeans and shirt on with my hair in a ponytail. Yet, when I entered into the hall, heads turned in my direction. I felt awkward for a moment. The whole attention thing was still new to me. I never knew I could receive so much compliments until I was free of my scar. Now, people could hardly stare at me without telling me how beautiful I was. My stepsister, Nora, walked up to me with a smile. "Hi! You're a little late for the party. What's your name?" Typical Nora. From young, she's always wanted to be friends with the hot girls. She despised me so much as I brought a 'stain' to her name. A scarred lady being her sister. Five years ago, she had slammed the door in my face, not letting me in despite my pleas. Now, she was being all nice. "I'm not here for the party," I answered her coldly and looked away, scouring around for my father. I found him in a corner with my stepmother and some guests. He was the reason I was here. I needed to know what was so urgent aside cutting ties with Roderick. He had his eyes on me, staring suspiciously. I went toward him. "Hey! Who are you?" Nora came after me, sounding a little hurt. But I ignored her until I reached father. My father was a well known Alpha, hence the party filled with dignitaries. I did well to bow my head to them as I stood before father. "Who are you?" My stepmother asked. I met her gaze with a smirk. "Am I that different that you can't recognize me?" I looked to father. "What about you, father? Am I too different?" Audible gasps rippled around me. Nora's hand went over her mouth. "It's not possible," she muttered, shaking her head. "Lyric?" Father's eyes were filled with shock and recognition. "Who's this impersonator?" My stepmother snapped. "Do you think we lack knowledge of what Lyric looks like? You think we'd fall for this scam?" I focused my gaze on dad. "I'm only here 'cause you said there was something important you needed to talk to me about. If you don't mind, I'd like for us to have that conversation now." Father took me to his study, leaving numerous shocked persons behind who couldn't utter a word. I wouldn't deny how good it felt to know I was the reason they were speechless. They couldn't call me ugly. As a matter of fact, I'd never be called ugly by anyone, ever again. "What happened to you, Lyric? Your scar was impossible to get rid of," Father asked. "I don't wish to discuss it now." Or the horrible things that happened within five years. I was still trying to run from them. "Just tell me why you needed me here.""Yes, that." his countenance soured. "You have no idea how happy I was when. I found you after searching for years. You just... vanished." He sighed. "We have a problem, Lyric. Our Pack is in a deep mess with Darkspire. I—I made some mistake and lost a lot of money—a whole lot—making me indebted to Darkspire." Okay, I did not like where this was headed. Darkspire was a generational wolf pack, known to produce only the strongest Alphas. The Alphas that always ranked first in the hierarchy system. They were avoided as much as possible as they were known to be vicious. One did not get tangled with them for any reason. "If word of this gets out, we'd be doomed. We'd go down the ranks, and coming from a pack that was used to being at the top, believe me, it is not a good thing for us. But they're willing to let it go." I furrowed my brows. It didn't make any sense. I sensed a huge 'But' coming. "But they need a Luna from this family, for just a year."

Chapter 5 Lyric It had to be a joke. Or at the very least, not what I was thinking. Father's eyes turned more serious as he moved toward me. "I thought of offering Nora to him, but she's already with someone else, and the Alpha King might become furious if he thinks we're trying to offer him someone else's woman. This is the reason you're the only choice we have, Lyric. And... you have no idea how perfect it is that you have your face back. Initially, I had been worried we'd have issues with the Alpha King accepting you, but now, I am confident he'll be thrilled.""Hold on," I scoffed, placing a hand on my thigh. "Please don't tell me you made me travel all the way from Draconis just to be told that I am about to be sacrificed to a demon." No wolf was stranger to the name ' Darkspire'. Even me who knew little of Pack matters still knew how dangerous they were and nobody wanted to have anything to do with them; not in this life, not in another. "Alpha Jaris is not a demon," Father said with surprise. "But that is exactly what he is. Years ago, you said the same thing." Alpha Jaris Dreadmoor was the most vicious man I'd ever heard about. Tales of how he had conquered his enemies—and sometimes, his friends—were no news to the Pack. Being from a family that produced only the strongest Alphas, he was currently the Alpha King of Darkspire, a man everyone feared and didn't wish to end in his bad books. I didn't know what he looked like. I'd never been privileged enough to meet someone like Jaris Dreadmoor. Not that I ever wanted to. "There are rumors that he killed his own father and brother!" I raised my hand in the air. "How do you want me to be with someone like that?""Those are mere speculations, Lyric. Besides, you'll only be with him for a year.""You don't need a year to kill someone, dad. All it takes is a minute, tops. But for someone like Jaris, I'm sure half a minute would do. Besides, why does it even have to be for a year?" From what I heard, Darkspire didn't have a Luna yet since Jaris' rise to ascension. But if he wanted to take up a Luna, wouldn't it be long term or something? Why was he only asking for a year? "Honestly, I don't know, Lyric.""And you don't care," I cut in, pain edging toward my heart. "All you care about is giving him a Luna so you can get the problem off your back. You don't care about the problem you're putting on mine." For a fraction of a second, wonder flashed across his face. The Lyric he knew would never argue with him. She'd have humbly agreed to anything he wanted. Well, let's just say I got to know my worth when I realized how beautiful I was. This Lyric was tired of being people's puppets. Father came close enough to take my hand. This time, he looked so troubled, I feared he might go on his knees. "Lyric, please." He gave my hand a little squeeze. "This is the last I'll ask of you as your father. Just do this for me, for only a year. And I promise, you'll make me the happiest father." Hours later, I stood in my room—or what used to be my room—staring at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing a long red dress with my hair falling over my shoulder. I was fully ready to meet Alpha Jaris, even though I'd rather I don't. Something didn't feel right. Him wanting a Luna for only a year....it was wrong. But father had nearly gone on his knees begging me earlier. I could disappoint him. Besides, before he got mated to his second wife, there were times he'd been good to me. I tried to resist the temptation as I stared at the drawer before me. But failing woefully, I still opened it and retrieved the scan. My heart fractured completely, old wounds reopening. It was the one picture in the world that had the power to kill me every single time I looked at it, yet it was like a drug to me. I was addicted and could barely go an hour without touching it. Feeling it. A tear dropped from my eye as I glided my finger across the images outlining the shapes of the unborn babies in the womb. Five years, yet still the best thing that's happened to me. And the worse. But I'd rather hold onto the fact that it was the best. It hurt so bad staring at them, but I couldn't stop. The sound of someone trying to open my door broke into my thoughts. I jerked back to reality and quickly hid the picture. I'd made sure to lock the door a while ago, not wanting anyone to see me with the photo. Getting the door, I found Nora, fuming. "How did you get rid of your scar?" Her voice blared with indignation. "And what exactly is your plan? You want everyone to see the beautiful you, don't you?" I rolled my eyes, my earlier pain dissolving temporarily. "Please, don't tell me you knocked on my door just to whine about how good I look. What, you really thought I'd look that heinous forever?" Her glare turned even icier. "Well, just so you know, this won't change a thing between you and Roderick. Soon, he'll be here, both of you would go to the temple and finish your breakup." It dawned on me instantly. Oh, no. "Wait," I blinked. "You and Roderick?" A triumphant smile played on her lips. "Years ago, things didn't work between us. But now, he's ready to choose me." Well, if Roderick wasn't a bigger bastard. "Ugh, you disappoint me, Nora. Using my leftovers?" I asked. "Considering you've always thought yourself the pretty one, I expected better from you." A tense glare pulled her brows together. She opened her mouth to say something, but I caught her off. "You don't have to worry. I'm done with Roderick and can't wait to fully end things with him." I slammed the door in her face. A while later, father and I arrived Darkspire in one of his luxury cars. The Pack, which was known to be the biggest and wealthiest, was just as beautiful as people said. I was dazzled by the sight and couldn't believe for a moment that I'd be Luna here. Alighting our car, father and I were led into one of the buildings by some maids while his guards remained outside. The Grand Luna—Jaris' mother—was in the large living room to welcome us. "Bennett! I am so glad you made it," the Luna said, her eyes holding little amusement. "Greetings, Luna." I dipped my head. She regarded me with surprise. "Is this your daughter?" She asked dad. "Well, bless Seraphis, she's gorgeous!" I couldn't help my smile. Luna Isolde, during her time, was a formidable Luna. She had ruled beside her late husband with an iron fist, destroying everyone who dared cross her path. I'd always wished to meet her. "Please, come sit while we wait for Alpha Jaris. He'll be joining us shortly," she showed us to the couch. Her version of 'shortly' turned out to be almost an hour later. Father and I were already exhausted and kept staring at the door, wondering how long it'd take the Alpha to arrive. Wasn't he aware he'd be having guests? His... new Luna? At a point, Isolde looked angry and left. When she returned, she reassured us he'd soon be here. And indeed, he did come. The air shifted in the room the second the door opened, revealing a man and two others behind him. The Luna drew in a breath of relief as she rose to her feet. Father and I did same. It was easy spotting who the Alpha was as the two other men flanked him. But the moment I had a clear view of his face, my world shattered. Memory of that passionate night five years ago flashed through my mind. The man who caressed me gently, the man who pounded me violently, the man who made me pregnant, the man who left without saying goodbye... I once thought we would never see each other again. No. No. Horror gripped my chest, squeezing it until I felt pain. This had to be some twisted joke. Because how in Selene's name was I staring at the face of the very man that had ruined me five years ago?

Chapter 6 Lyric "Jaris, you're here." Isolde said with relief. "Please, meet Alpha Bennett of Ravencrest. This is his daughter we talked about." I'd stopped breathing since he walked in. At that moment, nothing else, other than the pain in my chest, seemed to exist. Memories I'd been fighting so hard to stay buried reared their ugly heads at me. And the name 'Princess' echoed in my head, hauntingly, I wanted to scream. He had been Jaris? Alpha of Darkspire? I couldn't believe this. Unlike that night, when he looked at me with those charming eyes and called me beautiful, his eyes were very cold now; devoid of emotion. He didn't look like the man I'd wanted to spend an extra day with. He looked ruthless, like a man I wanted to run as far away as possible from. Now it made sense. That night, he'd only been sweet 'cause he wanted to deceive me. Oh, how foolish I had been. And how he must have laughed at me when I laid my head on his chest. He must have been disgusted too. I contemplated running. I didn't want to be with him; I didn't want to be his Luna. But before I could make a move, he walked away, not without giving me an icy stare. Luna Isolde looked taken aback and embarrassed. "Um. Ex-Excuse me." She went after him. Father and I returned to our seats. But unlike him, I was battling to hold back my tears. It hurt. So so bad. He had been a monster like everyone else and deceived me. I never thought I'd see him again. I suddenly realized how disrespectful he had been to father. My father was an older Alpha, yet he hadn't even acknowledged him. My head was a jumbled mess. I couldn't do this. I rose to my feet and started toward the door. "Lyric?" Dad's voice halted me. "Where are you going?" When I looked at him, I suddenly didn't have the courage to tell him I was done with this. "I—I just need to use the restroom.""I'll show you, ma'am," a maid stepped forward, wearing a warm smile. I filled her up the stairs to the second floor where I was shown to a row of restrooms. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I burst into tears, my facade finally dissolving. I leaned against the door and cried for a long time, letting it all out—the pain, the rejection. I'd only known him for a night, yet his betrayal had cut deeper than anything else. After getting my scar, he was the first man to ever make me feel loved, and the first to take it away so quickly. It'd have been better if he never said those words to me and made me think he was different. I had to put it behind me. It was a thing of the past now. I shouldn't let it bother me this much. When I was done getting the tears out, I wiped my face and left the room. The maid was gone. I was trying to find my way back to the ground floor when I heard tiny running footsteps and turned to see a little kid running toward me. My brows furrowed, and for a strange reason, there was a sharp ache in my heart. She couldn't be older than four or five years of age. She had familiar silver eyes, hair styled into a ponytail and was the most beautiful kid I'd seen in a long time. But she looked sad as she ran toward me. She stopped in front of me, having to tilt her head back to stare into my face. "Aunty, can you help my brother?" I stared at her in amazement. "Your brother? Is he in trouble?" More to my surprise, she took one of my fingers and began pulling me toward the direction she had come from. Okay; this was odd. I didn't even know who she was or where she'd come from. But for her to come to me for help, her brother must need it. I'd be helping a little kid. As I followed her, I glanced down at the part where our hands were joined. Why did I feel so at ease with her touching me? Why did she feel so... familiar? "Uh...what kind of trouble is your brother in, honey?" I asked. "A serious one." She sounded so sad. Now, I was curious. We finally got to a door which she pushed open, and the moment I stepped into the room and saw what she had brought me in to see, my body froze.