Winter had wrapped the pack in a blanket of snow and cold, and though for most it was a season of celebration and warmth, for me it only meant another mark on the calendar of loneliness.

The festivities filled the air with laughter and singing while I watched from the shadows, feeling out of place in a home that had never been mine.

December tenth would be my birthday, but nobody remembered or cared. That day also happened to be the birthday of the Drake quadruplets, heirs of Alpha Caspian, destined to become the next leaders of the Winter Moon Pack. Wealth, beauty, and power seemed woven into their DNA, along with the contempt they felt for me. All of them except one. Ian, the youngest of the four, had moments of kindness that let me dream -- if only for an instant -- that not everyone in this place was against me.

My memories constantly dragged me back to the day my parents left me at Alpha Caspian and Luna Ivy's house. I was only seven, and fear had taken root in my heart the moment I crossed the threshold of that enormous mansion. "You'll be safe here. They'll take care of you," they'd told me. But reality was very different. Without an explanation or any promise of return, I became a burden -- one that had to pay off my parents' debt. How could they have left me to settle what they owed?

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into years, each one heavier than the last. My life in the Alpha's house was limited to an endless list of chores that seemed to grow with every passing day. While the quadruplets enjoyed their childhood surrounded by luxury and attention, I struggled to find a single moment of peace amid the responsibilities they'd piled on me.

Alpha Caspian's house was majestic -- a fortress of stone and glass that rose imposingly among the snow-covered pines. In summer, the gardens bloomed with life, but in winter the landscape became a mirror of my own existence: cold, desolate, and hopeless. I spent most of my days in the common room, a vast space with a fireplace that barely managed to warm the frigid air around me.

Tomorrow I would turn eighteen and finally receive my wolf. That thought was the only thing that gave me a glimmer of hope. Soon I wouldn't be alone anymore. I'd have someone to hold on to, someone who could understand my pain and my fears. But on the other hand, the idea of finding my mate terrified me.

What if he also despised me, the way almost the entire pack did? What if my destiny was to be alone, even after getting my wolf?

I thought back to my past birthdays, each one marked by the quadruplets' cruelty. The first, when I turned eight, had been a brutal lesson in the nature of those around me. Axel, Sam, and Ian had burst into my little imaginary party, destroying any hope of happiness I might have harbored. Their taunts and laughter echoed in my mind, a sound that never faded.

.........

It was the day before my eighth birthday -- a day just like today -- and excitement bubbled inside me like the soda I'd planned to serve at my party. I imagined balloon decorations, the chocolate cake I'd always wanted, and my friends laughing and having fun. The idea of a day full of laughter and surprises filled my heart with joy as I combed my hair in front of the mirror, dreaming about how it would all turn out.

But reality was different. When the quadruplets showed up, the magical atmosphere I'd built in my mind vanished instantly. Axel, Sam, and Ian burst into the room like a hurricane. Their laughter rang through the air, but it wasn't joyful -- it was mocking, full of a cruelty I couldn't quite comprehend.

"Look who thinks she's the birthday queen," Axel sneered, with a crooked smile that froze my blood.

His eyes were full of mockery as he glanced around.

"You really think anyone cares about your birthday?" Sam joined in, his scornful tone hitting me like a punch to the stomach. I twisted inside hearing his words; his laughter echoed like my worst fears come to life.

I tried to keep my head high, clenching my fists at my sides.

"Yes! My friends care!" I shouted, but my voice had no strength behind it.

Axel stepped closer and looked me straight in the eye, his expression hard.

"Friends? You think anyone would want to be around you, Kitten? You're not even your own friend."

Every word cut deep, tearing the veil off my dreams and revealing the raw reality around me. Ian, who'd been silent, stepped forward, watching me with a look caught between pity and defiance. But even his presence, once comforting, felt like a betrayal since he was part of this hurtful moment.

"Maybe we could come to your party," he said, trying to break the tension, but it was useless.

What he said couldn't heal the others' words. Instead, it felt like he was opening the door to more pain -- making it clear that even if they came, it would only be to laugh at me.

Axel and Sam didn't stop there. They started telling stories that never happened, inventing jokes about my imaginary friends, laughing at things that should never have been laughed at. Their cruel show went on, each joke a direct blow to my heart, each laugh an echo that reverberated through my mind.

When they finally left, leaving me alone among tears and the echo of their cruel words, I knew that on this day -- at least in this moment, in the darkest corner of my heart -- the idea of a happy birthday no longer existed.

.........

My eighth birthday had been stolen by the cruelty of those who should have protected me.

Every year I tried to ignore them, tried to keep alive the illusion of a special day, but it always ended the same way. The hurtful words and cruel laughter destroyed whatever happiness I might have felt. My birthdays became a reminder of my place in the pack: alone, unwanted, and always in the shadow of the future Alphas.

I gazed out the window, watching the snowflakes fall slowly, covering everything in their path. Life inside the house went on as always, with preparations for the quadruplets' grand celebration in full swing. I was just a shadow in the background, busy fulfilling my duties.

I went to the small bathroom off the common room and showered quickly, wishing I could vanish with the steam that filled the room. The reflection in the mirror showed me a tired face, with shadows under my eyes and an expression of resignation I couldn't shake.

I'd grown, but the weight of my past years still pressed down on my shoulders.

With my hair pulled into a tight bun, I headed to the kitchen to start making breakfast for everyone. Although the house was enormous, full of luxurious rooms and endless comforts, I'd been assigned a tiny, barely furnished room. It was a reflection of my place in the pack -- a constant reminder that I didn't belong.

That day, like every other, I would work without rest, tending to the needs of those who despised me. But a small spark of hope burned inside me: soon, all of this would be over. And when it was, I'd leave behind the Alpha's house, the Winter Moon Pack, and the quadruplets who had turned my life into a living hell. My freedom was only six months away, and though the road ahead was uncertain, I knew I wouldn't look back.

The pack house was always warm, thanks to the excellent heating that contrasted with the relentless cold outside. I finished getting ready, pulling on a pastel pink long-sleeved shirt and a pair of worn black jeans, then headed to the kitchen to make the quadruplets' breakfast.

It was the quadruplets' week, and ever since they were little, a week before their birthday they'd be pampered and spoiled with whatever they wanted. It was like a seven-day birthday, culminating in an extravagant celebration on the seventh day.

I prepared a spread of dishes -- fluffy waffles, golden pancakes, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, and juicy sausages. I set out the butter and maple syrup and brewed the coffee. I quickly gulped down some sweet coffee with milk for a boost of energy and started setting the table. I wasn't allowed to eat with them, or even eat the same food they ate. I had to make their breakfast first, let them eat, and then make my own.

Luna Ivy, a woman with pale skin, green eyes, and golden curls, walked into the dining room to make sure everything was arranged to her liking. She looked at me with distaste.

"Have you washed the dishes? Make sure you do it properly before you eat. The quadruplets will be down soon," Luna Ivy said coldly.

Alpha Caspian strolled in, kissed his Luna with deep affection, and gave me a nod. He was neutral when it came to me -- not harsh, never demanding, but not kind either. It was as if my very existence meant nothing to him. Trailing behind him like an entourage came my tormentors: the quadruplets.

They stood six foot five, a full eight inches taller than me. They took after their father with their thick, glossy black hair that fell to their shoulders, chiseled faces, baby-blue eyes, dimples, and cleft chins. As Alphas, they all had broad, muscular shoulders, blessed with super speed and super strength beyond what was already considered extraordinary for a werewolf.

They were perfectly identical and perfectly awful -- at least to me. Their deep voices rang out as they shouted with excitement, shoving each other playfully. They'd be turning twenty-one tomorrow, but they still acted like they were twelve.

Alex was the oldest and most serious, the one who would likely rule with an iron fist. He was also the hardest to approach. I had deep respect for him; he never had girlfriends. Whenever anyone asked why, his answer was always the same: that title belonged only to his Luna.

Then came Samuel -- or Sam, as everyone in the pack called him. He was second in the birth order. While he was also serious, he was a little easier to approach, though when he got angry you'd better not be anywhere near him. He was the most explosive of the four. Unlike Alex, he always had some she-wolf hanging off his arm, but they never lasted long. His longest relationship had been three months.

After him was Axel, the classic playboy and bad boy. His girlfriends rotated every two months like clockwork. He'd never been with the same girl longer than that; sometimes they lasted even less. He was also the one who went out of his way to make my life miserable whenever he could -- which was always. He and Sam were the ones I feared most.

Then came Ian, the youngest of the four. He was the sweetest, most spoiled, and most charismatic. He'd never had a girlfriend. In my eyes, he was the best of the four.

He'd never been with a she-wolf. At first he'd wanted to experiment and tried seeing a few girls, but he always came back disappointed. One day, out of nowhere, he declared himself celibate. He said he was saving himself for his Luna. His exact words were: "No she-wolf has managed to light a spark in my heart. I'm not going to waste my time on empty relationships. I'll wait for my Luna, and when she comes, I'll love her with everything I have, making her feel like the shining jewel she is." I remember Luna Ivy was ecstatic when she heard that. After the Alpha, Ian was the one she guarded most jealously. There was something about Ian that drew me in. Maybe it was because he always tried to make me laugh or saved me from his brothers. I didn't really know. The only thing I did know was that without him, my life would be even worse than it already was.

"Did you make all this for me, Kattie?" Ian said with a gorgeous smile, pulling me out of my thoughts.

As he passed by me, he tried to pull the bun out of my hair and let it fall loose. I wasn't afraid of Ian; he always said he liked my hair down, and every chance he got, he'd steal my hair ties. But this was the last one I had -- I couldn't let him take it. I dodged him, stepping backward without looking, and bumped into something solid. I turned around, and there was Axel, watching me with a playful grin. I knew that meant nothing good. He gripped my shoulders and brought his face dangerously close to mine until our noses touched.

"Naughty Kitten," he said with a smile.

"If Ian wants that hair tie, you'd better give it to him. Got it?" Sam finished, positioning himself behind me and pulling out the tie himself.

He turned and tossed it to Alex, who caught it and slipped it into his pocket. With one of them on each side of me, they started pressing in, burying their faces in my neck and breathing in my scent. I felt trapped, nearly suffocating.

I started wondering what was going on -- they'd never acted like this before. My eyes welled up with tears at what felt like another attempt to humiliate me, but I refused to let them fall. I'd promised myself I wouldn't cry for them. I wasn't going to give them that satisfaction.

With a quick move, I broke free of their grip. It was my last hair tie -- I couldn't lose it. But the future Alphas weren't about to let me go that easily. Ian, seeing my attempt to resist, stood frozen, while Axel and Sam exchanged knowing glances, savoring the situation.

"Come on, Kitten. You don't want this to get more complicated, do you?" Axel said, stepping closer. His tone was playful, but there was an edge of threat in his voice.

"Don't touch me, Axel. Give me back my hair tie!" I shouted, trying to keep my voice steady even though I knew I was losing the battle.

Sam let out a laugh that rang through the air, and it made my cheeks burn with shame and rage. They enjoyed my struggle; they fed their egos on my small defeats. I tried to step back, but Sam's body blocked my way.

"Why don't you just give up?" Sam murmured, leaning toward me, his warm breath brushing my skin. "You can't win."

My heart was pounding, and a knot was forming in my throat. I'd never wanted to fall into their game, but the pressure of their bodies and their words was wearing down my resistance. I looked at Ian, who was still watching the scene with interest, making no move to help me. Disappointment took hold of me -- he was supposed to be the sweetest and most caring of them all, yet he just stood there watching like it was a show.

"Why are you like this?!" I screamed at them, feeling the tears starting to surface.

I knew I had to stay strong, but the helplessness was overwhelming.

"Because we can," Axel answered, flashing a mocking grin. I lifted my chin, trying to defy him, but deep down, my resolve was crumbling.

Then I felt them closing in even more, the air growing thick with the challenge they were throwing at me. Desperate, I shoved Axel to break free, but that only made him laugh harder.

"Hey, relax. We're just playing," Sam said, as if that justified everything.

My brave resistance crumbled slowly, and in the face of their mocking laughter, their cruelty, and the feeling of being trapped, I let the sobs escape. I couldn't fight anymore. The tears were inevitable, and I surrendered to their amusement, staring at the floor in defeat.

"Fine. You can have it, Alphas," I whispered through tears, my voice broken. "Just... leave me alone."

Axel and Sam exchanged surprised looks before grinning in unison.

"That's our Kitten," Sam said, reaching out to touch my arm with false gentleness.

Axel burst out laughing.

As they walked away, leaving me trembling with shame clinging to my chest, I understood that even though I'd lost this battle, the war wasn't over. I'd have to find a way to change the rules of the game.

"I'm hungry. Quit messing around," Ian said in a weak attempt to lighten the mood.

When I turned to try to escape, I caught Luna Ivy's gaze -- pure hatred. If looks could kill, I'd already be six feet under.

Before I could get away, Alex approached me. I always tried to avoid him, tried not to look him directly in the eye. I was terrified of making him angry. While he was one of the calmest of the four, when he snapped, he was the most ruthless. He leaned down to my height and lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"You will respect your Alphas, Kattie. Understood?" he asked, his gaze severe.

Looking into his eyes, I nodded, too drained to even answer.

"Words, Kattie," he said, not breaking eye contact.

"Yes, Alpha Alex," I said in barely a whisper, knowing he could hear me.

When Alex let me go, I bolted to the kitchen. My heart was racing so fast it felt like it might burst out of my chest.

I started washing and putting away all the dishes. I still hadn't eaten anything -- the only thing in my stomach was the coffee I'd managed to gulp down earlier, and I was starving. I felt a little dizzy. That was just how my body worked: when I went too long without solid food, I'd get lightheaded and my head would start throbbing. This morning I'd only had a few sips of coffee and nothing else.

When I came out to clean the dining room, I saw there was a waffle left with some bacon and egg. My mouth watered at the sight. Perfect, I won't have to cook for myself, I thought, since I didn't have time -- I was going to be late for school. I hurried to grab the plate when I heard a voice that made my blood run cold.

"What do you think you're doing, Kattie?" Axel asked, his tone calm but dripping with mockery. I froze, waffle in hand, remembering what had happened just minutes ago, unable to respond.

"Can't you wait until you finish your chores?" Sam said with a malicious grin.

"Let her eat," Ian stepped in, his voice softer. "She needs energy to work too."

They both looked at him but said nothing more. I met Ian's eyes and nodded quickly, grateful for his intervention. I took the waffle to the kitchen and ate it fast, barely tasting the food. Then I went back to the dining room to finish cleaning. While I wiped down the table, I could feel three of the quadruplets' eyes on me -- especially Sam's, always watching me with that smile that made me shudder.

Finally, I finished my chores and headed to school, trying to leave the weight of breakfast behind. I knew the day was only beginning and more challenges awaited, but I also knew I had to be strong.

Ian's POV

When I woke up this morning, I felt strange. I'd spent the night dreaming about Kattie -- my beautiful, gorgeous Kattie.

She was always on my mind, but today there was something different, a longing I couldn't ignore.

My wolf was restless, urging me to find her. The first thing we wanted to do was see her. Even if we couldn't get as close as we truly wanted, we craved having her near. I washed up and changed as fast as I could, doing my best to look good so she'd notice.

I practically ran out of my room, but I wasn't fast enough. My brothers were already about to head downstairs. I had no choice but to calm myself and follow them. Axel and Sam started wrestling on the stairs, shoving each other and laughing, while Alex just watched, chuckling and ruffling my hair.

Normally that wouldn't bother me, but today I wanted to look presentable for my goddess, Kattie. With a quick swat, I knocked his hand off my head. He looked at me in surprise -- I'd never done that before.

"Someone woke up in a bad mood?" he asked with a smile, trying to lift my spirits.

"Sorry, bro," I mumbled, staring at my feet. Alex was the one who worried about me most, always paying attention to what was going on with me.

When we reached the dining room, there she was -- the one, the most beautiful girl in the world. From the moment she arrived at the pack house, I'd fallen hopelessly for her. Even though she was only seven and I was ten, she was the most stunning girl I'd ever seen.

The first time I saw her, she looked like a princess from a fairy tale. Her straight black hair, a little damp from the falling snow. Her hazel eyes, brimming with tears, broke my heart. She wore a pretty sky-blue dress with thermal tights and brown boots. I fell for her completely in that instant.

I tried dating other she-wolves, hoping they'd make me feel the same way, but none of them came close. During every date, I wished Kattie were the one beside me. After a while, I decided that if I couldn't be with my goddess, I wouldn't be with anyone.

"Did you make all this for me, Kattie?" I said, smiling at her. She smiled back, and my heart swelled with joy. I loved every little thing she did. I loved being the only one who got those kinds of smiles.

As I passed by her, I tried to mess up her hair, to pull out the bun that held back her beautiful black locks. But she stepped backward, laughing -- and crashed right into Axel. Her smile vanished instantly. He started messing with her alongside Sam, and what they did left me stunned: they buried their faces in her neck, breathing in her scent.

My instincts went haywire. Anger and the urge to protect her clouded my mind. I'd always kept my distance. What they'd done was an outrage. My eyes went black, and the desire to defend her surged immediately -- but then the fear came. The fear that if I stood up for her, my mother would take it out on her later, and instead of helping, I'd only make things worse.

I remembered a time when I had stepped in to defend Kattie.

It was at a family gathering, and my brothers had been mocking her, shoving her around. Without thinking, I got between them and Kattie, shouting at them to leave her alone. My mother, seeing my reaction, was furious -- but her anger wasn't aimed at me. It landed on Kattie.

That day taught me that openly defending her could bring catastrophic consequences.

Kattie ended up in tears, and my mother, in a fit of rage, decided to take it all out on her. She tore into her with harsh criticism, belittling everything from her appearance to the way she behaved. She banned Kattie from joining family activities and even confiscated her favorite things as punishment. The brutality of her words left Kattie so humiliated and rejected that she couldn't hold back her tears. I stood there, powerless, watching my mother inflict that cruel punishment, feeling like I hadn't just hurt Kattie -- I'd drawn a line between us.

The guilt of having made things worse tormented me. Instead of cheering her up, I'd caused her more suffering. From that moment on, I decided to stay silent, convinced that my desire to protect her only brought more trouble. Every time I saw her sadness, it was like a weight on my heart growing heavier, knowing I'd failed her in the most painful way possible.

"I'm hungry. Quit messing around," I said, trying to raise my voice into something that could pass for authority. My brothers looked at me and finally left her alone, but the flat tone of my own voice left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Still, Alex didn't let the opportunity pass. He told her she needed to respect her Alphas and forced her to look him in the eye. That was typical of him -- he just wanted her to look at him, demanding respect. Meanwhile, I was desperate to act on what I felt, but my mother's shadow kept whispering that it was dangerous. Kattie didn't deserve to be treated this way, and I needed to find the courage to stand up for her -- against everyone and everything.

Alex's POV

Ian was acting weird today, but I decided not to read too much into it. I figured it was just nerves about our upcoming assumption as the pack's Alphas.

To calm him down, I ruffled his hair the way I always did, but this time he pulled away -- then apologized. I couldn't blame him; he was my baby brother. He was probably just wound too tight.

"Easy, pup. Everything's going to be fine. Don't be nervous," I tried to reassure him through the mind-link, but got no response.

When we reached the dining room, there was Kattie. She'd lived with us since she was little, handling every household chore. She was essentially a servant, with the difference that she received no pay for her work.

My parents said she was "paying off her parents' debt," but that had always struck me as wrong. How could a seven-year-old girl take on her parents' burden? It made no sense -- but I wasn't the Alpha of this pack yet. I couldn't do anything about it. That would change tomorrow.

I had mixed feelings about Kattie. Something about her sparked my curiosity -- an intense attraction that only grew with time. But she also stirred up anger and frustration in me.

She always kept her distance, as if my mere presence disgusted her. But why? I'd never done anything to hurt her -- or at least I couldn't remember doing so. Of the four of us, I was the only one who didn't treat her well or badly, simply because she wouldn't let me get close.

I envied Ian, whose ability to make her smile was so obvious. The few smiles I'd ever seen from her were all for him. Nobody else seemed to notice that he was always there, swooping in to rescue her from Sam and Axel whenever they harassed her.

That need to be noticed, without being able to find a way to reach Kattie, gnawed at me from the inside. My position as the future Alpha should have been enough to earn her respect, but her indifference only left me frustrated. I felt a pull of curiosity and irritation that I couldn't ignore. Every time she turned her back on me, something tightened in my chest. The balance of power had always been essential in our pack, and as Alpha, I couldn't afford to be ignored. So with authority in my voice, I pushed to make Kattie notice me -- even if that meant being heavy-handed.

That was why I liked making her look me in the eye and demanding her respect. It was the only way I'd found to make her see me, but her indifference still filled me with frustration.

One day, she was so pale she nearly fainted. No one was around to help because she'd been cleaning the dining room alone after breakfast. I moved fast, catching her in my arms before she hit the floor. It was the only time I'd ever held her close, and it felt incredible. But the second she realized what had happened, she pulled away, staring at her feet and apologizing. That infuriated me. I asked her what was wrong, whether she'd eaten breakfast. Her answer, halting and uncertain, was that she hadn't been able to eat anything, and that was what caused her dizziness and headaches.

From that day on, every morning I served myself a little extra and left it in the center of the table, as if it were leftovers. It was my way of making sure she always had something to eat for breakfast. At first I tried different options, hiding nearby to make sure she actually ate. That was how I discovered her favorites: she preferred savory food, except for vegetables -- whenever I left her some, she'd separate them out and push them aside. She didn't have much of a sweet tooth; she'd eat a little just to have something in her stomach.

Today was no different. There was one waffle left. I made sure to set it aside along with some eggs and bacon. Axel, however, had his eyes locked on me the entire time. He was the biggest eater of the four and turned red with anger when I didn't let him have the last waffle. Furious, he stormed off to his room. But I couldn't stick around to make sure Kattie ate -- I had a meeting with Dad to discuss pack business.