Holy Shit. These are the only words that cross my mind as I stare, unblinking at my mate.

He's staring back, eyes glowing a bright gold sending shivers down my spine, and I am frozen.

My mind is telling me to scream, run, run far away from this evil man, who has no doubt killed millions on millions of innocent wolves, just like his father. However, my bones, like the snow beneath me, are frozen still.

My wolf is clawing at my chest to be let free, to run to her mate immediately. I struggle to control my wolf, terror flooding through me as he stalks closer to me. I attempt to drag myself away from him, having momentarily forgotten about my leg wound, but I collapse onto my back, shaking. Every inch of my body shakes like a leaf in spring.

I can't decide if my I'm more terrified of his reputation, or the extreme attraction I feel to his skin, like an addict licking his lips at a needle, I gaze at this man in awe.

Alpha Octavius is looming over me, the mountain of godly beauty and vicious evil. His golden eyes scan me up and down, and another growl leaves his lips once he sees my bruised cheek and my cut leg.

In fury, I can only stare as he whirls around to Beta Kane, who takes a step back nervously. A slight smirk hints at my lips, seeing the menacing beta quiver in the presence of my mate.

Alpha Octavius strides over to him, grabbing around the neck and lifting him with ease. The sounds of choking and gurgling trickle from the beta's cracked and dry lips.

The crowd around me watches silently, scared to breath.

"Care to explain her wounds, Kane?" Oh Goddess. His voice is deep and smooth, like taking a bite of the darkest chocolate.

Beta Kane grabs at the hands around this throat, but I know he is far weaker than the Alpha. I examine the growing purple hue of the beta's face, much like a grape or some inflated eggplant.

"I-I didn't know, Alpha." He gasps out, the purple turning to blue in moments.

Alpha Octavius only growls, and looks from me to Kane, weighing his choices. I look away once he attempts to make eye contact.

I hear the thud of Kane's gasping body hitting the ground, and turn to see a dark purple bruise already forming around his neck.

"Put her back in line, Damien. I don't want another scratch on my mate." Oh his voice...wait, what?

I gape at his request. What kind of mate allows their injured mate to go unaided?

Before I can protest, Damien grabs my arm, hauling me onto my feet, and shoves me back to the front of the age group, where I land with a thud. I scramble to my feet, wincing silently as the knives shoot up my muscles.

Don't you dare fucking cry, Alessandra.

I suck in a breath of air and straighten my spine, a glare shooting from my eyes to the alpha standing tall above us.

Alpha Octavius faces the entire group now, his power and status obvious in the air around him.

"Those of you who are of the stated age will be recruited into the Blood Moon's army, where you will train, and you will be loyal to your pack. You are no longer part of Moonrise, you are Blood Moon, and betrayal to your pack is the highest of crimes. Any who attempt to resist my leadership or who do not comply with the pack's requirements will be punished accordingly. Those of you who are younger or older will live in the pack as omegas. You will cook, clean, and do any other menial labor required of you. Loyalty is expected of all age groups."

Confusion, refusal, and disbelief surge through my mind, shouting at me to scream in disapproval of his message, to stand up to this beast.

But he doesn't even give me a chance to breath before he turns on his heel and begins to walk away from us all.

Damien's gruff grip grabs my arm and his slimy tone whispers, "Ready to lead your scum?"

I shiver at his words, terror building in the pit of my stomach, as well as sadness. My wolf whined inside of me, defeated at our mate's rejection, but I am far too occupied with the cries of sorrow and despair around me, as my pack breaks apart in a matter of moments.

We walk through the snow and trees for what feels like years, a steady line of new soldiers and gammas marching towards their new hell. I am at the front of the line of soldiers, my bare feet stepping on needles with every step I take. I once found these mountain forests beautiful and mesmerizing, the intricacy with which the flakes fell from pillowing white clouds fascinating me from infancy. But now I only see the cackling branches as they scrap and grab for my hair, catching me with every trunk I pass.

Just when I felt I couldn't take another step, the trees end, and we reach the largest mansion I have ever seen, more of a castle than a house. White columns and regal windows line the front of the mansion, with gentle ivy racing up the sides of the bricks. A lovely castle for a grotesque monster. How ironic.

Guards stand at each door, their canines bared in sneers of victory.

"Attention!" Kane bellows, and we all halt, silent. He stands straight in front of us, a smirk laced on his thin lips. "Soldiers, you will be held in the tombs until we can process you. New Omegas, you will follow Damien to your new slums."

Damien steps away from me to usher the adults and children into a side section of the house, and we are left with Kane. I scan the leaving crowds for a sign of Lacy, Aunt May, anyone at all. But they leave too quick and my mind is too filled with worry and woe.

"Follow me, Soldiers." He turns and enters the opposite side of the house, as we follow him in our single file line. As we pass the two guards at the front door, I send them both a growl and a snarl, anger beginning to coat my woes with cement. But they only roll their eyes at my gesture, passing me off as some child.

We enter a dark hallway, stone walls on every side, and the only lights are lanterns hung from the ceilings. It smells of sweat and blood and I feel as I am about to vomit once again. I follow Kane down the hall to a large double door, which he opens by pressing in a keypad. I crane my neck to see the combination, but he turns back to me, raising a thick and uneven eyebrow, forcing me to turn away.

The doors creak open, and we enter the Tombs.

Bunk beds line each wall, and a two side doors indicate bathrooms. It is bleak, and cold, and damp. It is more like a prison than barracks.

"You will wait in here, and we will be calling you one by one to be processed and initiated into the pack." Kane orders, and leaves the room, slamming the door behind him.

And we are left alone in the dim light of the Tombs.

I slump into one of the beds, which creaks violently underneath me as I sit down. I drop my forehead into my hands, tears pulling at my lashes, begging to be set free.

Don't worry, Sandra. My wolf says. He didn't officially reject us. We might still have a chance.

I scoff at my wolf's reassurances, momentarily forgetting about...him.

Focus, Alessandra, focus. I grit my teeth.

I ignore my wolf, trying to hold in the tears that so desperately want to fall. I haven't cried since my parents died, and I will not disrespect them by crying over a few thorns and cuts.

"What's going to happen to us?" My friend Kyle whimpers. I turn to him, and unlike me, tears are streaming down his 17 year old face. He was so happy yesterday, carefree, careless, and innocent. Or as innocent as could be expected from a 17 year old.

The room is silent, looking to me for the answer. Shit.

"I-" What can I say to make him feel better? There is no "better" for us anymore. "We're still alive. And we have each other." I state simply, and some others in the room nod in agreement. I exhale sharply, relieved at their acceptance of my bullshit.

The room is silent again except for 11 year old tears for what seems like forever. The cut on my leg is beginning to heal, the blood already clotting. But as I put my fingers to my bruised cheek, I wince. Please don't be broken.

The silence has granted me time to think. What happened to Aunt May, I didn't see her in the large group of adults outside with me. I close my eyes, fearing the worst. I wonder if my life is cursed, that the goddess has chosen my head to lay the brunt of the world. Wouldn't be that much of a stretch.

Unconsciously, my mind turns to the most painful matter to my wolf: my mate.

It's too simple. My mate is a coldhearted monster. How could I love or be loved by someone so evil and ruthless? How can I raise pups in a society so focused on the death of others? My mind is racing in a million different directions, the ringing in my ears is a constant at the moment. The typical fairy story, of the beau falling for the beast. I always imagined myself as the powerful warrior, that much rather preferred to slay dragons than to kiss toads.

Sometime in my musings I must have fallen asleep, as I am woken up by the opening of the doors.

"Rise and Shine, worms." The cruel voice of Kane sings into the Tombs. "Time for processing. First up in order of rank, Alessandra Miranda." I struggle to stand, my leg still pained, and I stumble over to the doors, frantically trying to brush hair away from my slightly sweating face. I probably look like I just rolled out of the sewers, walking towards a man who was probably raised in one.

Kane peers down at me with blind hatred as he yanks hold of my arm and marches me down the same hall, and without warning, takes a sharp left, causing me to stumble again as he practically drags me towards a pair of polished wooden doors.

"Watch it." I hiss quietly, and his grip on my arm tightens painfully.

"Quiet, omega." He growls.

He bangs on the with his fist and shouts, "First soldier, Alpha." I freeze. I am about to come face to face with my alpha.

The alpha. I mentally scold myself.

I take a sharp breath and the door is pulled open and I am pulled inside the room.

I keep my head down and I gaze at the rich, red carpet covering what smells like an office. I can smell the scent of rich mahogany and that same addicting aroma of smoke and cinnamon. I fight against my wolf who only wants to run to her mate.

Someone clears their throat, the sound husky and distinctly masculine, and a gulp travels down my throat.

"Name and previous rank." Oh god. His voice is like a harmony to my ears, and I just want to hear him speak again. I close my eyes for a moment, basking in the glow of his voice.

When no one replies, Kane shoves me over to the desk in the center of the room, and I realize he wanted me to respond. I give a small cough, nerves coursing through me.

I look up from my still bare feet but don't meet his burning gaze, settling on the cup of pens on his desk, golden and a deep deep green.

"Name and previous rank." His voice is harsher now, impatient.

I huff at this voice, his arrogant and aggressive tone striking a nerve.

That son of a-

Goddess.

My azure eyes meet his face and I suck in as much oxygen as I can.

He is beautiful. I've never seen anyone like him, with a face, so perfect, so symmetrical, it cannot be real. His eyes, the darkest shade of blue, growing blacker by the moment. His features are sharp, cut and clean like the blade of a knife, his perfect cheekbones leading down to a full mouth.

And I realize I am openly staring, my lips parted, gaping at this god.

At this murderer.

That thought causes me to blink and my gaze to harden, my eyebrows setting into a glare.

"Previously daughter of Alpha Miranda, Alessandra Miranda." I state, my voice firm and steady. My confidence climbs a mountain, defiance bubbling in the pit of my stomach.

He mouths my name, seeming to caress each syllable and growling softly. The sound sends sparks down my spine and my wolf begins to purr. He's scanning my face now, dragging his eyes down my body and I shift insecurely. At my movements, his eyes snap up to meet mine once again, completely black now.

"Alessandra Miranda," He states, and my name on his lips feels perfect, as if any other time it has been said has been meaningless, irrelevant.

Stop, Alessandra. Just remember. Monster Monster Monster.

"You are now a member of Blood Moon Pack. You are expected to be loyal and obedient to your pack, to the end. Now, as you are injured, you will be taken immediately to the infirmary. Your living arrangements will be decided upon your discharge from the infirmary. Beta Kane will take you there."

And then he just goes back to his papers, casting me aside. Anger bubbles inside of me, and I yearn to see his real emotions. Who the fuck does he think he is?

"Yes, Alpha Octavius." I drawl with mock reverence dripping from my speech.

As soon as his name passes my lips, his head snaps up, his eyes black as ink as they meet mine. And I smirk. Gotcha.

His adams apple shifts as he gulps and I can see him gripping the pen in his hand viciously. I imagine his grip so hard that he breaks the pen, sending ink everywhere. But he breathes sharply, his self control is hanging by a thread.

I dare him to speak, my eyes bright with temptation and curiosity.

"Escort..her out, Kane." He orders breathlessly, and my glee crashes down like a falling vase hitting the floor, as Kane's grip reattaches around my arm, and I don't even get a chance to look back at Octavius before I am swept from the room.