Chapter 1

_Aria's POV_

I hated parties.

Especially parties that reminded me of exactly where I stood in my own family.

I tightened my grip on the silver tray in my hands and forced myself to keep walking through the crowded ballroom. Laughter echoed from every corner. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above everyone's heads. Expensive dresses swirled across the polished floor.

The entire pack house was glowing with light. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration. At least for my sister but not for me.

I stopped beside a group of guests and offered them drinks.

"Thank you, dear," one woman said.

I gave her a small smile before moving away. My feet already hurt. I had been working since sunrise. While everyone else prepared for the party, I had spent the entire day cleaning, decorating, carrying furniture, arranging flowers and helping the kitchen staff.

Not because I wanted to but because my mother had ordered me to. After all, tonight was a very important occasion. Tonight was Selene's birthday. My older sister's twenty-first birthday.

The entire pack seemed to worship Selene. She was beautiful and perfect.

I glanced across the ballroom. Selene stood near the center of the room wearing a sparkling silver gown. Her blonde hair fell in perfect curls down her back. People surrounded her from every direction.

She laughed at something one of her friends said. Several young men immediately laughed too. Not because the joke was funny but because Selene was the one telling it.

A familiar ache settled inside my chest. Three weeks ago had been my birthday. Nobody had thrown me a party or bought me a present.

In fact, nobody had even remembered. I remembered sitting alone in my room that night. I heard my parents arguing downstairs about pack matters.

I had been waiting....waiting for someone to knock on my door and say happy birthday. But nobody even remembered.

"Aria!"

I flinched.

My mother's voice cut through the ballroom. Several guests turned to look at me. Heat rushed into my face. I hurried toward her.

"Yes, Mother?"

Her eyes immediately narrowed. "Why are you standing around?"

I blinked. "I wasn't. I was serving drinks."

"Then serve faster."

I lowered my eyes. "Yes, Mother."

She adjusted the sleeve of her expensive dress. "The Alpha family will arrive tonight."

My stomach tightened. The Alpha family? Here?

"Everything must be perfect."

"Yes, Mother."

She glanced at me again. "And for goodness sake, try not to embarrass us."

The words hit harder than they should have. I nodded silently. My mother turned away without waiting for a response. I stood there for a moment.

Embarrass them? That was all I ever seemed to do. Sometimes I wondered what I had done wrong. I wondered why it was so easy for them to love Selene and so impossible to love me.

"Aria."

A familiar voice made me turn. My father stood beside me. Hope instantly rose inside my chest. Maybe he wanted to talk and ask if I was okay. Maybe tonight would be different.

"Father."

His expression remained cold. "The guests from the Northern Pack have arrived."

"Okay."

"Go help in the kitchen."

The tiny spark of hope died immediately. "Yes, Father."

He didn't wait for another word. He simply walked away. I stared after him for a moment. Then I forced myself to move.

The kitchen was chaos. Servants rushed everywhere. Cooks shouted instructions. The smell of roasted meat filled the air. I picked up another tray.

"Aria."

I turned. One of the older servants smiled kindly. Mrs. Willow had worked here longer than I had been alive.

"Come here, child."

I walked over. She opened a small kitchen cabinet and pulled out a wrapped pastry.

My eyes widened. "What's that?"

She smiled. "A honey bun."

I stared at her. "For me?"

"Of course."

I swallowed hard. Nobody ever gave me gifts. Not even small ones.

Mrs. Willow pressed the pastry into my hands. "You've been working all day."

"I can buy my own food."

"I know."

Her smile softened. "But sometimes people deserve kindness."

Something painful tightened in my throat. I quickly looked down before she could see the tears gathering in my eyes. "Thank you."

She patted my shoulder. Then she lowered her voice. "I remembered your birthday."

My breath caught. For a moment I couldn't speak. Out of everyone in the entire pack.....Mrs. Willow remembered. The elderly servant remembered.

I blinked rapidly. "Thank you."

She smiled. "You deserve better than this."

Before I could answer, another loud burst of laughter echoed from the ballroom.

I looked through the doorway. Selene stood surrounded by admirers again. My parents were standing proudly beside her. Their smiles were warm and loving. She had the kind of attention I had spent my whole life wishing for. Something painful twisted inside me.

I was twenty years old and I hadn't shifted yet. I still didn't have a wolf. Among werewolves, that was practically unheard of. Children usually shifted by sixteen. Late bloomers shifted by eighteen. Most pack members thought something was wrong with me. Sometimes I wondered if they were right.

"Aria?"

Mrs. Willow's voice pulled me back.

I quickly looked away. "I'm okay."

The older woman gave me a sad look. I wasn't sure she believed me. Honestly, I didn't believe myself.

Hours passed and more guests arrived. The ballroom became even more crowded. Pack members from different territories filled every corner. The music grew louder. The laughter became endless.

I kept working. I was trying my best to stay invisible. That was what I did best; being invisible.

Suddenly a voice called from across the room. "Where is Selene's sister?"

Several people looked around. I immediately froze. A woman pointed directly at me.

"There."

The group turned. For a second, dozens of eyes landed on me. I wanted to disappear. The man who had asked the question blinked.

"Oh, that's her."

A group of women stood near one of the tables. One of them was looking directly at me.

"She is Selene's sister?"

Another woman frowned. "Really?"

Their eyes moved over me. They were judging and comparing. I already knew who would win. Selene always won.

"Poor girl."

One woman shook her head. "She's still wolfless."

"At twenty?"

"That's embarrassing."

Another woman lowered her voice. "I heard the Alpha's son is coming tonight."

The group immediately brightened. "Future Alpha Kael?"

"He's incredibly handsome."

"Any girl would be lucky to have him."

One woman laughed. "Well, not that one."

She nodded toward me. The group laughed quietly. Heat rushed into my face. I quickly turned away. I pretended I hadn't heard them. I had to act as if it didn't hurt.

I was backing away when I nearly collided with my father. His expression darkened immediately.

"Watch where you're going."

"I'm sorry."

He sighed heavily. "Honestly, Aria. Sometimes I don't know what to do with you."

I stared at the floor. "Sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix anything." The disappointment in his voice hurt worse than shouting.

It always did. He walked away and left me standing there. I was alone again. A few minutes later, I slipped onto one of the balconies for fresh air. The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin. For the first time all day, everything felt quiet.

I looked up at the moon. It was bright and beautiful.....but distant. My wolf should have been there by now. Everyone else's was. Sometimes I wondered if I had been cursed. Maybe, the Moon Goddess had forgotten me.

A door opened behind me. I turned. Selene stepped onto the balcony. Her silver gown shimmered beneath the moonlight. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, she smiled. Unfortunately, it wasn't a kind smile.

"You look miserable."

I sighed. "What do you want, Selene?"

She leaned against the railing. "You could at least pretend to be happy for me."

"I am happy for you."

"No, you're jealous."

I laughed bitterly. "Of what exactly?"

Her smile widened. "The attention."

I stared at her. She wasn't joking. She genuinely believed it.

"I don't want your attention."

"Sure."

She looked me up and down. "You know, if you smiled more, people might actually like you."

The words stung. Not because they were true but because they sounded exactly like our mother.

Selene pushed away from the railing. "Oh well. At least one daughter turned out right."

Then she walked back inside, leaving me alone beneath the moonlight. For a long moment, I simply stood there. Then I took a deep breath and forced myself back inside.

The party was still going strong. The music was louder now. The guests seemed more excited. Something felt different.

I noticed several warriors moving through the ballroom. Whispers spread through the crowd. Conversations abruptly stopped. My father suddenly straightened. My mother's eyes lit up. Even Selene looked excited.

Then the ballroom doors burst open. One of the patrol warriors hurried inside. The entire room fell silent. Every eye turned toward him. The warrior looked directly at my father. Then he announced loudly,

"Alpha Victor's convoy has entered the Silver Moon territory."

The ballroom erupted into excited chatter. Guests rushed toward the windows. My mother's face transformed with excitement. My father broke into the biggest smile I had seen all year.

Meanwhile, I tightened my grip on the tray and quietly stepped backward into the shadows.

Nobody noticed me.

Nobody ever did.

But for some reason, a strange feeling settled deep inside my chest as the guests hurried toward the entrance.