Harper pov

I pushed the door to Alpha Lucas's office open, my heart racing with fear. The air inside speaks of dominance and submission, a constant reminder of my place. My body trembled as I entered, the glass cup of red wine vinegar clutched in my hand like a fragile lifeline. Lucas's eyes never left Amelia, his fiancée, as they devoured each other with lustful abandon. Their moans and groans filled the room, a stark contrast to my silent fear.

I cleared my throat, a meek attempt to announce my presence. Lucas's gaze finally shifted, his eyes narrowing as I spoke. "Lucas, you asked for your wine." I bowed my head, a reflexive gesture of submission.

Amelia's voice sliced through the tension like a whip. "How dare you call your Alpha by his name?" Her anger was a palpable force, a reminder of her disdain for me.

I'd addressed him as "Lucas" for years, a habit formed during my journey from a lonely child to a subjugated slave within the pack. But Amelia's wrath was swift and merciless. Before I could even flinch, her hand cracked across my face, sending the glass cup shattering to the ground. The sound echoed through the room, a stark contrast to Alpha Lucas's deafening silence. He lounged on his couch, his gaze fixed on us, yet his voice was absent.

"Lu-" I began, but he cut me off, his tone firm.

"Amelia is my fiancée, and you will respect that," he declared, his eyes narrowing. "It's high time you addressed me as your Alpha, Harper."

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Amelia's chest heaved with indignation. I felt a trickle of blood trace its way down my cheek, a tangible reminder of my place. My heart raced, and my eyes fixed on the shattered glass, a symbol of my fragile existence.

Amelia's gaze seared through me like a razor, her eyes flashing with a possessiveness that made my skin crawl. Lucas's hand encircled her waist, his fingers digging into her flesh as he pulled her close. His eyes blazed with a fury that made my heart race, their combined glare pinning me in place.

"Clear the mess," Lucas growled, his voice dripping with malice.

I scrambled to obey, my hands shaking as I gathered the shattered glass. The sound of the door slamming shut behind them echoed through the room, leaving me alone with my tears.

I sank to the floor, my knees thudding against the cold surface. Glass fragments bit into my palms as I gathered the pieces, my gaze drifting upward to the ceiling. Tears streamed down my face, my body trembling with despair.

"Oh, Moon Goddess," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Please grant me a mate who will love and cherish me, not a heartless Alpha like Lucas. Please hear my plea."

My words dissolved into a sob, my body shuddering as I prayed for a fate different from the one that seemed destined for me.

I wandered through the corridor, lost in thought, a smile playing on my lips as I counted down the minutes until my 16th birthday and the arrival of my wolf. But my reverie was shattered when a hand yanked me into a dark room, the sudden brightness of the light making me squint.

"Lucas!" I exclaimed, my voice laced with surprise and fear.

His grip on my arm was like a vice, his fingers digging into my skin. "I'm an Alpha, not your plaything," he sneered, his eyes blazing with fierce intensity. "Get used to it."

I struggled to break free, but his hold was unyielding. "What do you want from me, Alpha Lucas?" I asked, my voice trembling.

His gaze bore into mine, his eyes flashing with sinister intent. I felt my skin burning under his grip, my heart racing with fear. "Let me go, please," I begged, my eyes darting to the clock on the wall. 11:50. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized my birthday celebration would be spent in this cold, dark room, trapped in Lucas's cruel grasp.

His hot breath whispered against my skin, his face inches from mine, when the door burst open and his Beta strode in, shattering the tense silence. The interruption gave me the opening I needed to escape, and I darted into the kitchen, seeking solace in the mundane task of washing dishes.

But my reprieve was short-lived, as a voice echoed in my mind. "Harper Franklin, nice to meet you." My eyes scanned the room frantically, searching for the source of the voice.

"Hey, look in the mirror; it's me, Piper, your wolf," the voice said, and I spun towards the mirror, my heart racing. Our eyes met, and I gasped as my gaze locked onto my wolf's fiery red eyes. I couldn't help but chuckle at the mischievous glint in her gaze.

"Let's wait for our mate; he's on his way," Piper said, her voice laced with confidence.

My heart skipped a beat as I asked, "Who's my mate, Piper?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

Piper's response was cut short by the sound of the door swinging open and Alpha Lucas's imposing figure filling the frame. "Alpha Lucas is our mate, Harper," Piper finished, her voice dripping with a sense of destiny.

My eyes locked onto Lucas, my mind reeling with the revelation. The same Alpha who had tormented me, who had claimed me as his slave? Fate couldn't be that cruel, could it?

"You knew I was your mate, yet you continued to torment me." I asked, my voice laced with pain and betrayal.

Alpha Lucas's expression remained indifferent. "It's not important, Harper."

I felt a surge of anger and hurt. "Not important? You detested me, despite our bond!"

"I, Alpha Lucas, reject Harper Franklin as my mate," he declared, his words slicing through the air like a knife.

I felt the bond between us tremble, then shatter. "I, Harper Franklin, reject you, Alpha Lucas, as my mate," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The bond snapped, leaving me feeling drained and weak. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.