1
I was born scentless in a world where every wolf's scent signified them, their bloodline, their strength, their mate. I had nothing.
My mother, Selene, called it "a shame to the Veyne name."
My father had died when I was eight, leaving behind his company and my foolish hope that love could exist even without scent.
My sister, Cassandra, smelled like honey and milk to my mother, while I smelled like dust. She was seen as the pack's golden child.
I smelled like nothing at all. I didn't matter that much to anyone.
Yet, I believed love could bridge the gap when I met the one for me.
Kael Ronen had been my light. He held me when others mocked me. He kept assuring me that scent didn't matter at all. He promised to spend forever with me.
First time in my life, I was happy, fulfilled even. Yes, I believed him because no one has ever shown me that type of care as he'd done.
Until night he broke me.
The Mooncrest Pack's ballroom glowed gold that evening. The celebration was meant to mark our union, the night of my engagement to Kael.
I wore silver silk, gallivanting the entire corner happily. My mother had smiled that morning, proud for once. Cassandra had kissed my cheek and wished me luck.
Then Kael took the stage.
He looked beautiful in his tailored suit, his dark hair brushed back, and his smile was too cute that I fell all over for him again. My heart thudded fearfully as he held my hand, his fingers cold against mine.
"Kael," I whispered, "you're shaking."
"I just need to do this right," he said.
Then he turned to the crowd. And in that moment, everything shattered before my eyes.
"I can't do this," he announced, his voice flowing easily through the hall. "I can't mate with a wolf who has no scent. I'm not pretending to do this. I don't think I can. I cannot please her to displease myself."
My legs gave me away, my heart beating fast, my eyes rolling around the room.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by laughter in a few corners. I froze, the world shaking around me.
Kael dropped my hand.
"She's scentless," he said, as if I were a defect. "You all know what that means. Just think of it, how can I bond to someone who doesn't even have a wolf's essence?"
My mother didn't speak. Didn't defend me. She only lowered her eyes.
I tried to speak, but my mouth opened and shut back. The room blurred at the edges.
Cassandra started toward me, but Mother stopped her with a touch.
"Don't," she whispered coldly. "Let her handle her shame."
The last thing I saw before I collapsed was Kael turning away, smiles widening, smirk cruel.
And the crowd whispering, "Oh! Poor thing. No scent, no mate, no future at all."
I woke up to a strange room, smelt of antiseptic and loneliness.
The hospital room was quiet, I only heard the beeping of the machines near me.
Vandora, the pack nurse, was the only one there.
"Where's Kael?" My voice was calm, almost pitiful.
Vandora's kind eyes softened. "He left after you fainted. No one came after that."
I turned to the wall. The monitor beeped softly beside me.
"Your body's in shock," she said gently. "You need rest."
But I didn't rest. I just lay there, staring at nothing.
Two days later, they discharged me. No one came to take me home. I walked the whole way, my dress wrinkled, my shoes muddy.
When I reached home, my mother was in the kitchen with Cassandra.
"You shouldn't have shown your face here," she said without looking up. "You've embarrassed this family enough."
"I just wanted to—"
"To what?" she snapped. "Beg Kael back? He's with Cassandra now. Maybe the Goddess meant for them to be together."
Cassandra flinched. "Mother—"
"Don't interrupt me," Selene said sharply. "Lyra should be grateful her sister can save the family's name."
My heart stopped. "What did you say?"
She looked me in the eye. "Kael and Cassandra are to be bonded. He's already spoken to the council."
I forced a breath. "You're lying right?" I chuckled low, " You playing tricks on me too mom?
"Go see for yourself," she said, turning back to the stove.
So I did. Ran to the rooms, my eternal lover, still felt something for him even with this embarrassment. A part of me wanted to forgive him, but I blamed myself for existing without a wolf's scent even. I should understand him but the pain of the embarrassment isn't going away.
Kael's door wasn't locked. I pushed it open quietly, praying it wasn't true.
Suddenly, I heard laughter, they sounded familiar, intimate.
Cassandra's voice.
And immediately I stepped into the bedroom, I froze at the indecent figures at my front.
Cassandra lay naked in white sheets, Kael's arm clutched lazily over her. Both turned when they heard me.
For one endless second, no one spoke. Then Kael smiled. "Oh. You."
I wanted to laugh, to cry, to scream, no not yet. "How could you be heartless kael?"
He shrugged. "What do you even mean? How do you think I'd spend my life tied to someone scentless? But Cassandra's everything you're not. You should be happy I'm still part of your family, taking Cassandra as a replacement here. Don't be selfish please. Also, think of me here. How'd you want my mates to place me higher when they know my scentless wolf isn't half of their own mate?"
Cassandra's face twisted in guilt. "Kael, stop. Please."
He laughed. "Why? It's the truth. She can go and die for all I care. I just need to put the truth out to her face for once!" his voice yelled.
"Kael!" Cassandra gasped.
"Don't bother," I whispered, backing away. "I see what I needed to."
My mother's voice came from the hallway, sharp as steel. "Lyra! Stop embarrassing your sister. You should be ashamed to stand here and argue with them."
I turned to her, tears streaking my face. "You knew. Why do you hate me so much, Mom?"
"Oh! Not again, come off it please. I told you before," she barked. "You're a curse. You bring ruin to everyone around you, just look at how our name is on every lip in the pack. Leave Cassandra to clean this mess, let her have her peace, don't even start this now, she's building a new home now."