Julia did not remember being carried out of the throne room. Everything had become a blur of tears, burning silver against her skin, and the crushing weight of betrayal.
By the time she awoke, she found herself in a small, cold room inside Blackthorn Manor — not a guest room, not a Luna suite she was destined for before everything shattered.No.She was thrown into a servant's room. A narrow bed, a wooden stool, a dusty window, and nothing more.
The Moon Goddess had given her a mate.But the Moon Goddess had also given her hell.
When Julia slowly sat up, her body ached from the silver restraints that had only been removed moments before she blacked out.
Elara, her wolf, whimpered weakly inside her mind. I can't shift…not with all this pain.
Julia touched her stomach, steadying her breath. We have to survive. For our parents. For the truth. For Mary.
A loud knock startled her.
Before she could answer, the door opened, and Olivia walked in — her hips swaying, her green eyes gleaming with sickening delight.
"Well, well," she purred. "Blackthorn's precious mate is now a servant. Fitting."
Julia clenched her jaw but stayed silent.
Olivia's smile sharpened. "Alpha Alan wants you downstairs. Now."
Julia rose shakily, following Olivia through the corridor. She felt the eyes of pack members on her — whispers behind hands, a mix of pity, confusion, and disgust.
"Isn't she the Alpha's mate?"
"He stripped her clan. She's nothing now."
"She almost killed Mary…"
Julia swallowed hard. She wished she could scream the truth at all of them — but even if she did, none would dare believe a disgraced mate over their Alpha's word.
When they reached the main hall, Julia's heart clenched.
Alan stood there.
Tall, furious, drowning in exhaustion. His eyes, once warm and pulling her in like gravity, were now shards of ice cutting through her soul.
He didn't even look at her.
"Olivia," he said flatly, "take the reports to my office."
Olivia's smile widened as she brushed her hand across his arm — a touch that made Julia's stomach twist painfully. "Of course, Alpha."
Alan didn't pull away.He didn't even blink.
When Olivia left, he finally turned toward Julia.
"Follow me."
Julia obeyed, steps trembling as he led her into the vast, high-ceilinged library. It smelled of ink, old books, and the rainstorm pounding outside.
He faced her with a blank expression.
"You will stay in the manor and work here every day," he said. "Cleaning. Organizing. Whatever tasks I assign."
Julia swallowed. "Alan…please—"
He held up a hand. "Do not call me that."
Her breath hitched.
"In this house," he continued coldly, "you will call me Alpha."
Julia felt something inside her tear.
"Do you understand?"
She whispered, "Yes…Alpha."
He nodded once, emotionless. "Your duties begin now."
Julia stared. "Now? But I—I haven't even—"
Alan stepped forward, towering over her. "You exist here because I allow it. Don't forget your place."
Her heart pounded painfully.
He handed her a list — an impossibly long one.
"Complete all of it before sunrise."
Julia's eyes widened. The tasks were endless. Laundry for the entire manor. Cleaning the Alpha wing. Tending the damaged garden despite the rain. Preparing breakfast for thirty warriors.
This wasn't work.This was punishment.
"And if I don't?" she whispered.
Alan's voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "Then your parents suffer."
Julia felt her knees weaken. "Please…spare them. They've done nothing—"
"They raised you," he snapped. "That is enough."
"Alan, listen," she pleaded, tears burning behind her eyes. "I didn't attack Mary. There were rogues—"
"STOP." His roar shook the entire room.
Julia flinched violently.
Alan grabbed her jaw, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Every time you lie, I see Mary's blood on your hands. I see her fall. I see her cry. YOU DID THAT."
Julia's tears streamed freely now. "I didn't—"
"You should be grateful I haven't killed you," he whispered. "You're alive only because you carry my mark."
His grip loosened before he stepped back, chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Now get to work."
Julia nodded numbly, and as she turned away, Alan muttered—"Sometimes I wish I never found you."
Those words hit harder than claws.
Hours Later
Julia scrubbed floors until her hands bled.She dragged buckets of rainwater from outside.She cleaned rooms warriors had trashed during training.She worked until her bones felt hollow.
Every time she faltered, Elara whispered, Just a little more. We can't break now.
But she was already breaking.
By midnight, she stood in the manor's kitchen, staring blankly at piles of ingredients she didn't have the strength to cook.
Her vision blurred.Her breath trembled.Her knees buckled—
—and strong arms grabbed her before she hit the floor.
Julia gasped when she looked up.
Beta Lucien. Alan's right hand. His expression wasn't cruel like the others — it was conflicted. Sympathetic, even.
"Julia…you need to sit," Lucien murmured. "You're burning up."
"I can't," she whispered. "He'll punish my parents."
Lucien cursed under his breath and guided her to a chair. "I'll finish the meal prep. You breathe."
Julia's hands trembled. "Lucien…Alan's wrong. I didn't hurt Mary."
He swallowed hard. "I know."
Julia's breath caught. "W-what?"
"I know you wouldn't." Lucien's jaw clenched. "But the Alpha…he's not himself. Mary is his world. Seeing her like that…" He sighed. "He lost his mind."
Julia wiped her tears. "Please. Tell him the truth. Help me."
Lucien looked away, guilt consuming him. "If I speak against him now, he'll reject me as Beta. Maybe worse. He's on the edge."
"So I suffer instead?"
Lucien didn't answer.
Because they both knew the truth.
Yes.
Just Before Dawn
Julia barely finished half the tasks when Alan returned, expression unreadable.
"You didn't complete the list."
Julia bowed her head. "I…I tried. I'll do the rest after—"
He stepped closer. "Look at me."
She lifted her eyes, exhausted and trembling.
"You failed."His voice was emotionless.
"Alpha, please—"
"You failed," he repeated.
Julia braced for a blow, a threat, anything.
Instead, Alan leaned close, eyes cold as midnight.
"From tomorrow," he said softly, "you will also warm my bed."
Julia's blood froze.
"Whether you want to or not."
She stared at him, horrified. "No…please—"
"You belong to me," he said. "Every part of you."
His fingers brushed her cheek — a cruel mockery of the tenderness he once gave her.
"Remember that."
Julia's tears fell freely as he walked away.
Elara whispered brokenly, Mate shouldn't harm us.
Julia's voice cracked. He's not our mate anymore. He's our cage.
The sun rose.
But Julia felt like she would never see light again.