CURSED HEARTS, FATED SOULS

WREN’S POV

I smiled as I looked at the cake. It was perfect. I had decorated it myself, soft pink roses made of icing, golden beads lining the edges, and Anneliese’s name written in the middle in curly letters. It took me hours, but for once, I felt proud.

Maybe she’d like it.

I turned around to clean up the mess of frosting tools and empty bowls. But when I turned back…

Smash.

I froze.

Anneliese stood there, smirking, her hand still raised after shoving the cake onto the floor. The beautiful cake I made... ruined.

“Oops,” she said with a fake pout, licking the frosting off her finger. “My hand slipped.”

My chest tightened, and I knelt down, trembling. I wanted to scream. I wanted to ask why she hated me so much, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t speak. I never could.

The kitchen door slammed open. Gertrude.

“What is this mess?” she barked.

She didn’t wait for an answer. Her sharp eyes landed on me, then the cake, then Anneliese, who already had her innocent face on.

“Wren did it,” Anneliese said quickly. “She got clumsy again.”

I shook my head fast, trying to point to the floor, to Anneliese, but it was useless.

“Get up, you useless girl!” Gertrude shouted, walking over. Then…

Kick.

Her foot hit my ribs hard. I fell back, gasping silently. She leaned down, her face cold and cruel.

“Clean it up, and clean yourself up while you’re at it,” she snapped. “You smell like trash. But don’t you dare use the shower.”

I swallowed the pain and reached for the notepad I always carried. My hands shook as I scribbled a few words:

“I’ll go to the nearest creek.”

Anneliese peeked at the note and burst out laughing.

“Oh, right,” she giggled. “The nearest creek is in Alpha Hunter Silver's territory. You know, the one who eats virgins for breakfast.”

She mimed a bite and laughed louder.

“Don’t forget to scream,” she added with a smirk. “Oh wait... you can’t.”

They both laughed as I grabbed an old towel and ran out the door, the cold air slapping my face.

I didn’t care.

I just had to get away.

I ran through the trees, not stopping even when my lungs burned. The creek wasn’t far.

But just as I got close, I saw something move in the shadows.

A tall figure.

Watching me.

Waiting.

And I froze, heart pounding.

I shook my head as I got to the edge of the creek. Anneliese was lying. There was no Alpha Hunter Sliver who ate virgins. That was just another story to scare me.

I looked around. The forest was quiet. The water moved softly, and the wind brushed through the trees. It was peaceful. For once, I could breathe.

I slipped off my dress, careful not to be fully naked. I wore a thin slip under it, and I knelt near the water, using my towel to clean the dirt and cake icing from my arms and face.

Then…

A hand grabbed me.

I didn’t even hear him coming.

I gasped, my body freezing as he yanked me away from the water and threw me beside a tree. My back hit the bark, rough and cold.

It was Nicholas.

Anneliese’s fiancé.

The same man who stood in the kitchen earlier. Watching. Smirking. Saying nothing when the cake hit the floor.

His eyes were dark now, full of something I didn’t understand.

“I’ve been waiting to get you alone,” he whispered, a sick smile on his lips. “After I marry the Alpha’s daughter, I’ll be the next Alpha. And you…”

His fingers moved slowly from my shoulder down to my waist.

“You’ll serve me. From the kitchen... to my bed.”

I shook my head fast. My heart raced. I wanted to scream. To yell. But I couldn’t. My voice was silent. Always silent.

He leaned closer.

“You can't even scream,” he whispered against my cheek. “That makes it more fun.”

No.

I bit him. Hard.

His hand jerked away and he cursed.

“You little…!”

He raised one hand and suddenly…

Two strong men appeared. Like shadows out of nowhere. They grabbed my arms tight, holding me still.

Nicholas licked his lips and stepped closer. He was about to rip off my slip when…

Crash.

A body flew across the forest.

Nicholas hit the ground hard.

The men holding me turned around, but it was too late.

A tall stranger, fast as lightning, knocked one out. Then the other.

He fought like no one I’d ever seen. Like a real wolf in human form. Strong. Furious. Deadly.

Nicholas stood back up, blood on his mouth. “How dare you touch me?! I’m going to be the Alpha of the Wolfhart Clan!”

He charged at the man, but he was too slow.

Punch. Kick. Slam.

Nicholas fell again, this time not moving.

The stranger turned to me, breathing heavy, then came closer, slowly, as if not to scare me.

“It’s okay,” he said gently. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

I backed away, afraid. But when his hand reached out to touch my shoulder, it was soft. Warm.

No one had ever touched me so gently before.

He was... handsome. Too handsome.

He took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. My hands trembled as I held it close. Then, he reached out his hand.

“Come,” he said.

I stared at his palm. I didn’t know why, but I took it.

And then…

A red glow circled our hands.

Mate bond.

I gasped. My knees gave in and I fell into his chest, but he caught me, holding me steady.

He looked just as shocked as I felt.

Before I could write anything, a second man, his Beta, rushed over. He paused, sniffing the air.

“You okay, Alpha?”

Wait... Alpha?

The stranger looked at me and smiled slightly.

He leaned closer and sniffed my hair. “You smell like... cake?”

He reached out and wiped a little icing from my cheek. Then, he licked it.

“Mmm. I like it,” he said softly.

I blinked fast. My eyes stung. At least someone liked it.

I looked down at his wrist. A shiny gold watch. My eyes widened. I had lost track of time.

I was going to be late for the party.

I grabbed a pen from my pocket and quickly wrote my name on his hand: Wren.

Then, without looking back, I ran. Ran fast, heart pounding.

I had to make it back before anyone noticed I was gone.

The lights were bright. Laughter filled the air. Music played softly in the background. Everyone was smiling, dancing, and drinking.

The engagement party had started.

I walked carefully, holding a tray of drinks. I wore a plain dress. No jewelry. No makeup. Just the same old shoes I’d been wearing for two years.

People turned to look at me. But not with kindness.

“She looks dirty,” someone whispered.

“I heard she’s mute. Can’t even talk.”

“Is that the Alpha’s real daughter? Doesn’t look like it.”

They laughed behind their glasses of wine.

But when Anneliese walked in wearing a silver gown, everyone turned to her.

“Beautiful.”

“She looks like a true Luna.”

“Alpha blood. You can see it.”

I held my breath. I kept walking, my eyes low. I didn’t want trouble.

Then, I saw him.

Nicholas.

Standing near the table. Laughing. Talking. Like he didn’t try to hurt me earlier.

My hand shook as I reached for a glass.

I stepped closer to him, trying to give him a drink.

But when my eyes met his, the memory hit me.

His touch. His words. The fear.

I froze.

The glass slipped from my hand and crashed to the floor.

Smash.

The party went silent.

“WREN!” Anneliese screamed.