Sally

This is me, Sally Walker, the youngest daughter of one of the most important families in Portland, my hometown.

You must be wondering why this hood. Well, it's a bit complicated. My mother, Catrina Walker, has made me wear this hood since I was a child, she says it's to protect me, but I've always doubted the real reason behind this story. After all, my older sisters, Lucily and Celine, don't have to wear a horrible hood like mine. I even like wearing it, it helps me keep away greedy people who only care about what you have, your status, and your looks.

Lucily spends her life shopping and getting ready in beauty salons. I think she hates me for the mere fact that I was born. I say this because of her behavior towards me. When I clean her room or wash her clothes, she dirties everything again, and makes Mom force me to clean everything again. I realize that she is happy to humiliate me and see me suffer.

Celine is the complete opposite of Lucily. She doesn't like to dress up so much and spend a lot of time in beauty salons. She treats me well when Mom is not around. She spends most of her time in her room drawing and painting.

As you may have noticed, my mother and my dear sisters all have brown eyes, as does everyone in our pack. Unlike me, I have blue eyes. And speaking of pack, we are wolves. We live in our small town, a peaceful community, we don't attack humans, it's against our rules.

Once, I questioned my mother about the fact that our eyes are different. She said a witch put a curse on me. People wouldn't be able to see me, they would hurt me. Every day I have to put in my dark brown lenses.

My room is in the servants' wing, I am not welcome at family gatherings and meals. I don't go to parties, pack events. I study part-time and the rest of the time I spend cleaning, washing, ironing and cooking. I do my homework and schoolwork at night, or in the early morning. Everyone at school thinks I'm weird because of the way I dress. They call me "freak," "Sally the strange," among other things.

My dear father, respected by all for being the Alpha's Beta, sees me as useless and worthless. I never had his love and attention. Is that too much to ask?

I just wanted a hug, a goodnight kiss, a sincere smile, to be able to talk about things that fathers and daughters talk about. However, he just despises me.

I also have a brother, Mason. He taught me everything I know about fighting. Not to brag, but my skills are better than many of the Alpha's soldiers.

Mason can't understand how I learned to fight so well. He teaches me when he has some free time and hidden from my mother.

The time I spend with my older brother is the time that makes me happiest in this life. By his side, I can be who I truly am.

Our Alpha, Julius, will pass his place on to his son, Hakan. Next Friday. In this ceremony, Mason will be promoted to Beta. He will take our father's place.

My sisters have already ordered the most beautiful dresses and shoes for the ceremony. The Alpha hasn't found his mate yet, and all the single women in town are vying for the Luna's place.

I also feel the need to one day find my mate. Someone to accept me for who I am, love me and complete me.

I have no friends, my dear mother won't let me have contact with people. I only know my family and the employees of our house, because I live with them.

On Friday, the day of the coronation, on the next full moon, I turn 18. However, this is no ordinary full moon, it will be the blood moon. I hope that this time I will be able to transform, because I have been waiting birthday after birthday, and nothing has happened.

I don't know what's wrong with me. All the other wolves managed to transform by the age of sixteen. And although part of my family and the whole pack say I'm worthless, that I'll never be a real wolf, I believe I'll make it. And it will be on the blood moon.

I'll wait for everyone to go to the ceremony, and then I'll go to the forest, to my favorite place, on top of a giant tree, which is in front of the river. There I can relax, think, and calm down when things are not going well. It's a great place away from everything and everyone.

Meanwhile, I'm living in anonymity and well out of the spotlight. I want to get out of this town someday. My big dream is to go to Hallstatt to study medicine.

Will I be able to fulfill my dreams and get out of this chaotic situation I find myself in?

Only fate will tell.

Sally

Dawn breaks, the sun is beautiful and bright, spreading its light through the forest. The birds sing in perfect harmony, inviting me to an incredible day outside.

I'm in my little imaginary world, when I hear Lucily's screams:

"Sally! Sally! Where are you? You good-for-nothing!"

I open my bedroom door and head towards the kitchen.

"It's almost time for school! You haven't made breakfast! You useless girl!"

"You will go without breakfast as punishment for being late, Mom says with a furious look."

I grab the eggs and make omelettes as fast as I can. I already missed my breakfast, I don't want another punishment.

Lucily and Celine finish eating and drive to school. I have to finish washing the dishes and tidy up the kitchen, before walking to school.

The way is a bit long, but, I like to enjoy the scenery, and enjoy every minute of freedom I have away from home.

I have already spoken with my teachers about my tardiness, and they understand my situation.

When classes are over, I walk back home. Upon arriving, I have to make lunch and take care of household chores.

Just when I'm happy to be almost done, I hear my mother yell:

"Sally! Where are you, you useless girl?"

She finds me, I'm finishing cleaning the porch.

"I'm finishing cleaning the porch, Mom."

"Come quickly and prepare something for me and your sisters. We are starving."

"But…"

"No buts! Or, want to pay a little visit to the basement?"

"No Mom, please, don't take me to the basement. I'm already going."

I quickly finish my chores and go straight to the kitchen. I make a snack and take it to my sister Lucily's room, where my mother and Celine are also.

They are all elated talking about the Alpha's coronation.

"I will be the Luna, there is no other woman in this town more capable and beautiful than me. And the new Alpha knows that. Lucily says confidently."

"My dear daughter, I am very proud of you. Keep up the good work, soon he will be in your hands."

"And why can't I be the Luna? Celine says unhappily."

"Because you weren't born for that, little sister."

I enter the room and unintentionally blurt out:

"The new Alpha should choose better. He can't even make a simple snack and he wants to be Luna?"

"What did you say, you useless girl?"

"Mom! Put her in the basement!"

"No Mom, please! I... I... I didn't mean to..."

"Who do you think you are to talk to my daughter like that?"

Lucily doesn't prepare anything in the kitchen, because she was born to be served, not to serve. Unlike you, being useless! You will live to be a maid for the rest of your life! Now, I'm going to show you your rightful place!

"No Mom, please, not the basement!"

She drags me and throws me into the basement. I fall to the floor, and with the impact, I hurt my ankle.

The pain is strong, I'm in the dark, alone.

If only my brother was home, he would get me out of here. But, he went out with the new Alpha and won't be back until Friday, the day of the coronation. Three days from now.

I've been here for hours, hungry, in pain, and very cold.

I ask the moon goddess to get me out of here. I don't know if I will survive this time, I feel very weak.

Suddenly, I see a very bright light, and from within that light, she emerges.

"Selene? You mean... goddess... moon goddess?"

"Yes, Sally, be calm, my girl."

"The passage of the blood moon will bring transformation. A black cloud will appear in your life, nothing is what it seems. A new pack will welcome you. He who wears the crown, the true one will complete you, and with his help, you will face the great evil."

As she says this, she disappears.

"Selene? What did you mean? I don't understand. Selene?"

After the splendid visit from the moon goddess, I fell asleep.

I woke up, lying in my bed, in my room, and my brother calling me.

"Sally? Sally? Wake up, Sally?"

I opened my eyes slowly, the light was strong.

"Mason?"

"Found you in the basement. Why did Mom do this? How long have you been there?"

"I think, a few hours."

"Now that you're awake, I have to go."

Today is crazy because of the coronation.

I brought you lunch and some fruit. You need to eat, you look very weak.

Tomorrow I'm going to talk to Mom, she can't put you in that basement. Take care, sis.

He leans down and kisses my head.

"Have a nice day, brother, and a great coronation."

I slept for three days? The moon goddess must have done that so I wouldn't suffer too much.

I ate everything Mason left, I was starving.

"Now I'm going to lie down for a bit. My ankle still hurts."

Everything is quiet until I hear:

"Sally! You good-for-nothing! Get out here!"

Here I go again, will I live like this for the rest of my life?

Today, coronation day, is a rush. I have to go to the store to get Mom's, my sisters', and my shoes and dresses.

They spent the day at a spa; I don't know why all the fuss.

"Don't be silly, Sally, of course, you know. All this is to try to hook the future Alpha, and make Lucily become Luna.

Every pack has its Alpha, and when they find their destined mates, they become Lunas.

Our pack is the pack of warriors. The men who live here are the best warriors, below the royal pack, of course.

In the royal pack, its members are not normal wolves like us. They are Lycans, taller, stronger, and more powerful.

I heard that when a Lycan finds his mate, she being a normal wolf, upon being marked, she becomes a Lycan.

Here I am, in my room. I finished all my chores, and I'm reading a good book.

Someone knocks on the door; it's my brother.

"How's my favorite sister?"

"I'm fine, how's your day going?"

"A little rushed because of the coronation. I brought you something."

He hands me a present.

I open it and I'm surprised, a beautiful red cape.

"It's beautiful! Thank you!"

"I saw it in a store, and I thought you'd like to wear something different."

"Mason, I loved it, but, I don't know, if Mom..."

"Don't worry, no one will see you, you'll be hidden just the same."

"Thank you, you are my favorite brother!"

"I'm your only brother, Sally. (Laughs)"

I hear noises outside.

"Is someone with you?"

"The future Alpha, we were close, and I asked to stop by and give you the cape."

I look out the window and see the future Alpha.

He's beautiful; I feel a strong urge to hug him. I don't know what's happening to me?

I go down with Mason, still wearing my black cape.

The Alpha looks at us and calls my brother.

"We need to go."

Mason says goodbye, and they leave.

No one has ever seen me without the cape except my mother.

Everyone thinks I'm horrible, a freak.

Hakan

Today is the big day, I will become the Alpha of the warrior pack.

I can't wait to be crowned, and rule everything, and everyone, in my pack.

Everything is ready, my future beta and I finished our duties for the day, and on our way back, he asks to stop by his house to deliver a gift to his sister.

I agree; I think the sister he mentioned is Lucily. I've been getting close to her lately.

Lucily has the natural beauty of the warrior pack, brown hair and eyes and a body with beautiful curves. If I delay finding my mate, she will make a great Luna.

I see Mason coming down; he's with that freak he calls sister. She must be very ugly to wear that cape, as I've never seen her take it off. Not to mention, she's never been able to transform into her wolf. He's affectionate with her; he must feel sorry for her.

We went back to the pack house to finish the last preparations.

Sally

It's nighttime, everyone is ready for the big celebration. Mason has been with the Alpha since early this morning.

Dad, Mom, and my sisters get in the car to go to the coronation.

"Sally, you are coming, after all, we need someone to serve us. And don't you dare go without a cape. I, your father, and your sisters, will wait for you in the main hall."

Catrina Walker

I had three children and I was happy with my husband. Until one day, I found a baby on my doorstep, it was a girl, she had a handkerchief with the name Sally.

My husband decided to keep her; the girl could be useful in the future.

No one noticed that she was not our daughter, as the gestation of a wolf only lasts 3 months.

A few months passed, and the color of her hair and eyes changed. She was blonde with blue eyes. I had to hide her, dyed her hair and put honey-colored lenses in; she must be from another pack.

When she grew up, before she turned 16, which is when the first transformation takes place, I went to a witch and paid her to do a spell, where it wouldn't let the transformation happen and her mate wouldn't smell her scent. Then, she gave me a black cape, and said that Sally couldn't take it off under any circumstances.

I've been making her wear that cape for years, and she's our private maid.

Mason, my eldest son, knows the girl is adopted, so he lives to protect her.

He wanted us to treat her the same, as an equal, and remove the cape. (He doesn't know the reason for the cape). I threatened him, told him I would tell everyone she wasn't family and kick her out. So, he gave up because he didn't want to see her suffer anymore.

Sally

I forgot to ask Mom if I could wear the cape Mason gave me. Maybe it won't make a difference; I'll be completely hidden.

I put on my cape and went to the ceremony. When I arrived, I saw that everyone was in the main hall.

Lucily was clinging to the new Alpha's arm.

When I get to the middle of the hall, something strange starts to happen.

I start to smell a great smell, I had never smelled such a delicious aroma, warm moss, contrasted with citrus essences.

Suddenly, the Alpha releases Lucyle and starts sniffing the air, coming towards me. When he stands in front of me, I hear something that makes me tremble:

"Mate."

"Mate..."

But how can this be happening? I haven't transformed yet; I saw him this morning and didn't feel anything.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized everyone was looking at us, and suddenly, I heard my sister yell:

"It can't be! That freak? That useless girl? She can't be the Alpha's mate!

The former Alpha asks everyone to calm down, and suddenly, my world seems to fall apart when I hear my mate pronounce:

"This freak will never be my Luna! She is useless to the pack."

I feel a sharp pain in my chest, like I've never felt before, as if I've been stabbed by Hakan. The one who was destined to love me, to care for me for eternity, has just made me feel one of the worst pains a wolf can endure, being humiliated in public by her mate.

However, the humiliation doesn't stop there; he decides to make another big surprise, a terrible birthday present.

"My Luna will be Lucily Walker, both of you will move into the pack house tomorrow. Lucily Walker, as my mate, and Sally Walker, as our servant."

All I can do is let the tears fall and run aimlessly into the forest.