Chapter 1 The Girl Without A Mark

Lana’s POV

The mop water turned red as I scrubbed the training hall floor. Again.

"Missed a spot, Empty," Jace called out, and his friends laughed. Empty; that's what they called me because I was born without a wolf mark. Every wolf had one somewhere on their body. A small moon shape that proved the Moon Goddess chose you.

I had nothing.

I kept my head down and scrubbed harder. Fighting back only made things worse. I learned that when I was seven and tried to tell the Alpha his son was lying about me stealing food. The Alpha just laughed and said a markless girl's words meant nothing.

"I said you missed a spot." Jace's boot came down on my hand, pressing until I gasped. The other wolves in training just watched. No one ever helped the markless omega.

"I'll clean it," I whispered.

"What was that?" He pressed harder.

"I'll clean it, Future Alpha."

He lifted his boot, leaving my hand throbbing. "That's better. Oh, and Empty? My father wants to see you after dinner. Something about your future in the pack." His smile made my stomach twist. "Or lack of one."

The training hall went quiet. Everyone knew what that meant. When the Alpha called you about your future, it was never good news. Especially not for someone like me.

I waited until they all left before I let myself shake. My eighteenth birthday was last month. Most wolves shifted by sixteen. I was already two years late, and without a mark, I'd never have a wolf anyway.

The pack house kitchen was my next stop. I worked there every evening, washing dishes while real wolves ate the food I could never afford. My parents died when I was five, protecting the pack from rogues. You'd think that would count for something.

It didn't.

"Lana, you're late," Martha snapped. She was the only one who used my real name, but she wasn't kind about it. "The Alpha's having important guests tonight. Everything needs to be perfect."

I tied my apron with shaking hands. "Yes, ma'am."

The kitchen buzzed with activity. Fancy foods I'd only seen, never tasted. Meats that made my empty stomach growl. I got one meal a day; usually leftover bread and whatever vegetables were going bad.

"Did you hear?" Two servers whispered near me. "The Blood Alpha took another territory. That's numerous now. We've lost count"

"They say he kills anyone who looks at him wrong."

"They say he's looking for something. Or someone."

"Shh! Don't even speak about him. It brings bad luck."

The Blood Alpha. Everyone feared him. He ruled the wild territories where pack law didn't exist. Where only the strongest survived. Some said he wasn't fully a wolf. Some said he made a deal with dark magic for his power.

I focused on the dishes, but my hand still hurt from Jace's boot. The water was too hot, making it worse, but I didn't dare complain.

Hours passed. The important guests ate and left. The kitchen slowly emptied until it was just me and mountains of dirty plates. My stomach was cramped from hunger, but I kept working.

"Empty."

I jumped. Jace stood in the doorway, his beta friends behind him. My heart started racing.

"My father's ready for you."

I dried my hands on my apron. They were shaking again. "I'm not done with-"

"Now."

The walk to the Alpha's office felt like walking to my death. Maybe it was. Jace and his friends surrounded me, making sure I couldn't run. Not that I had anywhere to go. The pack territory was all I'd ever known.

The Alpha's office smelled like leather and power. Alpha Luca sat behind his huge desk, his wolf eyes glowing in the dim light. He didn't look up when we entered.

"The markless one, Father," Jace announced.

"Leave us."

Jace looked disappointed but obeyed. The door clicked shut, and we were alone.

Alpha Luca finally looked at me. His expression wasn't angry. It was worse. It was like I was a problem he'd finally figured out how to solve.

"Lana," he said, and hearing my name from him felt wrong. "You're eighteen now."

"Yes, Alpha."

"Still no mark? No wolf?"

"No, Alpha."

He stood up, walking around his desk. I wanted to back away but forced myself to stay still.

"The pack has been patient. We fed you, housed you, despite your... condition. But patience has limits."

My mouth went dry. "Alpha, I work hard. I earn my-"

"You're cursed," he interrupted. "Born without the Goddess's blessing. And curses spread."

"That's not true-"

His hand wrapped around my throat, not squeezing but warning. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"No, Alpha," I whispered.

He let go. "Tomorrow night, there's a gathering at the border. The rogues have been causing problems. They want... compensation for staying away from our lands."

I already knew where this was going. My legs felt weak.

"You'll be… that compensation."

"Alpha, please…"

"It's decided. You'll be chained at the border tomorrow at midnight. What the rogues do with you is their business. At least this way, your worthless life protects the pack. Your parents would be proud."

My parents died protecting these people. And this was how they repaid that sacrifice?

"Guards will watch you tonight," he continued. "Don't try to run. It'll only make things worse."

He opened the door. Two large wolves stood outside.

"Take her to the punishment cells. Can't have her go back to the quarters in case she attempts something stupid. She will stay there until tomorrow night."

The guards grabbed my arms. I didn't fight. What was the point?

As they dragged me away, I heard Jace laughing with his friends down the hall. By tomorrow night, I'd be gone. Dead or worse. And no one would care.

The punishment cells were in the basement. Cold, dark, with silver bars that would burn any wolf who touched them. They didn't burn me. I had no wolf to burn.

The guards shoved me inside and locked the door.

"Try to run and we'll break your legs," one said. "Alpha's orders."They laughed.

They left me in the dark. I sank to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest.

Tomorrow night, they'd feed me to the rogues. The rogues who killed for fun. Who did things to lone wolves that made grown warriors sick to talk about.

I was going to die at eighteen, markless and alone.

A tear rolled down my cheek. Then another. I hadn't cried in years, but tonight, in the dark where no one could see, I let myself break.

Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled. It didn't sound like any pack wolf I knew.

It sounded like death itself was calling.