Amelia Miller thought she'd endured the worst life had to offer. Rejected by her mate, betrayed by her own blood, and cast out from her pack, she had nothing but the scars. When Alpha Kaelan of the Shadow Moon Pack comes to her rescue, Amelia dares to dream of a new beginning. But the shadows of her past are unwilling to set her free. Amelia's vengeful half-sister Caroline and her first mate Jackson finally unite for one purpose-to bring Amelia to ruin and tear down the Shadow Moon Pack along with her. But when Kaelan's trust falters, Amelia's world comes crashing down all over again. This time, she has to dig deep for a strength to rise, not only to save the man who gave her a second chance at love but also to put an end to the circle of betrayal and pain once and for all.
The air was cold and bitter that morning, but Amelia Miller barely felt it. Hurrying down the path to the packhouse, she clutched the bundle of freshly laundered clothes to her chest. Her fingers were numb from washing in icy water, her cheeks raw and red from the chill, but her mind barely registered the discomfort. She had grown used to it-used to being ignored, used to being invisible.
Today, though, was different. Today she turned 18, a day she had hoped would bring change, finally. The day she finds her mate.
The pack had always made Amelia feel like an outsider. Her half-sister, Caroline, was the golden child, the favored daughter of Alpha Miller and Luna Hannah. Amelia, the product of a short, regretted relationship before her father had met Luna Hannah, had never belonged. Her father seldom spoke to her, and Luna Hannah treated her with thinly veiled disdain. The rest of the pack followed suit, making sure Amelia knew she was only tolerated and never loved.
The idea of finding a mate had been Amelia's hope, her one wish. Perhaps he could see her and understand her-even love her. Maybe this was the one to break chains binding her in loneliness since childhood.
She reached the door of the packhouse, took a deep breath, and smoothed tangled brown hair, adjusting the plain brown dress. The door opened abruptly, and she found herself face-to-face with Caroline, who smirked in her smugness.
"Oh, look, the little servant girl thinks she's part of the family," Caroline sneered. Perfect blonde curls bounced as she crossed her arms. "Don't forget your place, Amelia. You're not wanted here."
Amelia's eyes dropped to the floor, her heart sinking in her chest. It was her birthday, yet somehow, the sting of Caroline's words felt as if it could never get any different-as if there was nothing she could do to fit in. But she swallowed her pride, clinging to the one hope she had left: her mate.
As she stepped into the main hall of the pack, an overwhelming presence nailed her feet to the ground. She spun around, her heart jackhammering in her chest, her gaze setting on him-the Alpha himself, Jackson Rainer. His gaze was piercing, and at that moment, as their eyes met, something lit in her chest. Her heart beat wildly.
The bond. It was true. Alpha Jackson Rainer was her mate.
She didn't even have time to process the shock before a scornful laugh cut through the silence. Caroline stepped forward, her hand slipping possessively onto Jackson's arm. Amelia's blood ran cold as she watched her half-sister entwine herself with the Alpha, looking at Amelia with a satisfied smirk.
"Isn't it sweet?" Caroline cooed, glancing up at Jackson with adoration. "I've waited so long for this day.
Jackson's eyes held on Amelia's for the span of a heartbeat, before turning to ice. He glanced at Caroline and back to Amelia, and in that instant, Amelia felt the knife of betrayal pierce her chest.
"Amelia Miller," he said, his voice cold, "means nothing to me."
And in that instant, her world came crashing down. The connection that had bound them, the hope she had held on for, disappeared in less than a second. She opened her mouth to protest, but words wouldn't flow. Her Alpha was hers, her partner, yet here he was dismissing her as if she didn't mean more to him than the speck of dust on the floor.
Then Jackson turned to Caroline and, in front of the whole pack, pressed his lips onto hers. The room was filled with gasps, but nobody came to intervene, because they knew exactly what it meant: he chose Caroline for his Luna.
Amelia's heart wrenched in pain as the rejection seared right through to her very soul, a dull ache settling within her chest as Jackson and Caroline simply walked away, leaving her there, humiliated and abandoned.
Her half-sister had taken everything: the love of her family, her place in the pack, and now her mate. Amelia turned to run out of the hall; though behind her, the laughter echoed on. The packmates formerly ignoring her now looked upon her with sneers, mocking grins.
Tears pricked at her eyes, and she did not stop running until she was outside on her knees in the snow. The rejection oozed into her heart like a chunk of ice-cold, unyielding.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."