Chapter 1

I couldn't sleep. I lay there in the silence of the night but couldn't find any semblance of comfort. There were simply too many thoughts coursing through my mind. Tomorrow, I was to be married off.

My father wouldn't tell me to whom, only that it would benefit the pack. I knew deep down that he despised me. I was the reason he lost his Luna, the reason he would never have a son to lead his pack. I was always the reason; I was to blame for everything negative that happened in his life.

"Was I cursed?" I thought to myself as I wiped the snot from my nose, tears rolling down the sides of my face into my wavey brown hair.

A howl rang out as the clock struck twelve. "Happy birthday to me." I muttered as I wiped the tears. I prayed to the Moon Goddess, "Please, help me." I knew by now that all my prayers would go unanswered. I mean, they had thus far. What would make this time any different?

Poor little Kara. Her mother died during childbirth. Poor little Kara. She is treated like shit despite being the Alpha's only heir. Poor little Kara. She never shifted when she came of age. Poor little Kara. She will never find or be with her true mate, instead she'll be married off to a complete stranger. Poor little Kara.

…

I awoke to a loud pounding on the door of my room; if you could even call it that, it was more like a closet, no window, only a small bed with a nightstand and a tiny three-drawed dresser. "Get up, you worthless piece of shit!", a voice snarled from outside. I knew instantly that it was my father.

My eyes were still heavy from the restless night. "Happy birthday to me.", I whispered groggily. His footsteps faded away into the distance. I lay there, attempting to find the motivation to get out of bed.

My eyes sprang open a few seconds later as my door opened briskly. The panic subsided when I saw her friendly smile. "Layla!", I yipped. Layla had been my mom's best friend before she passed. She truly cared and tried to treat me like one of her own when we weren't around the others.

Though she was nineteen years older than me, she was still gorgeous. You could only tell she was a bit older because of the crow's feet slightly forming at the edges of her eyes. I always attributed them to the fact that she consistently seemed to have a warm smile on her face.

"Happy birthday, sweet girl.", she said softly through her grin. Before I could respond she revealed a small box from behind her back. Her grin erupted into a smile so large you could see her gums exposed. She truly did have the prettiest smile.

"Shh, before you say anything, I just wanted to give this to you. Your mom would have wanted you to have it." The box was gold, wrapped in a silky scarlet ribbon. I took it eagerly as a smile crept onto my face. Layla's smile was infectious.

I carefully removed the ribbon. I had never received any gifts, much less something that had belonged to my mother. Tears crept into my eyes as I started to lift the lid of the small golden box. "Don't cry, sweet girl." Layla cooed. Inside was a golden ornamental hair comb decorated with pearls and small aventurine gemstones in the shape of five jasmine flowers.

"Thank you.", I managed to get those words out despite the lump formed in my throat.

I looked up at Layla, tears welling in my eyes, admiration exuding from my person.

"You look so much like your mother, Kara." She sighed. "I know that the circumstances aren't the best, but I thought you could wear this during your wedding. I want you to have a piece of her with you to give you strength for the road ahead."

Layla's soothing voice reassured me as she grabbed my shoulders and led me out of my room. I couldn't utter any more words as the gathering tears started trickling down my cheeks. "Come on now, we need to get you ready.". She coaxed.