My elder sister died.

She was murdered by rogues at the age of sixteen coming from playing in the woods.

So I was the one whom my parents chose to give to the cruelest man in the world.

The man I was supposed to marry was ten years older than me which should not be a problem if he was actually my mate.

But he was not, he was my sister's mate.

So I planned to escape.

And I succeeded, accompanied by my best friend, Simon.

I opened the door of the small two—bedroom apartment we just been given keys to. It took us three years to finally have enough money to move to the city, it was not normal for us to separate with our pack, but under that situation, I had to.

"Phoebe, are you okay?" Simon asked.

"I'm fine. I'm just" I breathed shaking my head. "being paranoid I guess. Don't you think it was too easy?" I questioned, trying to make sense of everything.

We ran away last night before midnight when I actually turned eighteen. I knew Alpha Jerk was going to fetch me today as arranged by my parents. But I couldn't let that happen. I was not his mate, certainly not his Luna.

"Phoebe, I think you analyze things a lot. What do you think is going to happen?" He paused for dramatic effect, knowing I won't answer him.

"Maybe he will chase us with touches and screaming bloody murder. Or, listen to this one, it's really good. Or Alpha Jerk will be lurking in the woods ready to drag your fine ass to his precious pack."

I sighed because he was telling the truth. We ran away and nobody knew where we were, so why did I still feel uneasy?

"You're right. Let's just unpack. I will make drinks for us to cool down before we actually rest." He rolled his gold eyes. His short light brown hair was lying on his eyes as always, but he didn't seem to care.

"Whatever, just stop thinking okay? We did it. The fact is we outsmarted all of them. Now you will have time to look for your real mate before Alpha Jerk finds you."

Alpha Jerk was the nickname I made up for that ruthless beast.

I never actually met him. The fact is he asked my parents for me, as a replacement for my sister.

"Thank you for doing this. Thank you for leaving your life behind just for me." I went next to him in order give him a hug.

Simon was my rock.

We had been friends since our childhood when his parents joined our pack. My father and mother were the first Alpha and Luna to welcome his family. One look at each other. We knew we were inseparable.

"You know I will literally walk through the hell for you, right? I love you Phoebe. You were there for me when no one else was. I hated the place anyway. We need a positive atmosphere as a growing teenager."

I could still hear the hurt in his voice but I had learned not to ask since we both knew the reason.

"You're right. Now let's unpack and then have a rest." I pulled from the hug that always lasts longer than normal beings needed to hug for. But we didn't care. We should not be judged by worldly standards.

"How about we start to unpack till we get fully rested and fed?"

"You're such a lazy ass. But you're right, we…" I got interrupted by the knock on the door.

"I'll get it. Perhaps it's our friendly neighbors bringing us food to welcome us."

I shook my head at his craziness, he watched too many movies.

"Go ahead, I will pick a bedroom while you're at it." I laughed, running to the rooms. The first one was smaller than the room I had in the pack house but the beige color made it seem cozy. The second one was painted cream white. It was also cozy but a little bigger.

"I'm taking the first one." I yelled, knowing Simon would think it was the biggest but since he sacrificed so much for me I thought he deserved it.

I turned when I didn't hear his answer.

"Simon, who is at the door? And why are you being so quiet?" Simon was never the quiet type. That's why I instantly got worried. I walked back to the front door and came face to face with big muscles trapping Simon on the wall.

My breath got caught in my throat. For a whole minute, I froze on the spot.

"Leave him alone!" I commanded in my Luna voice.

"Why princess? Give me one reason why I shouldn't end him right here right now?"

He didn't even turn to look at me. But from his voice, I could sense the anger of his wolf. And from what I’ve heard, Alphas hated disrespect and any men who looked at what they claim as theirs.

But women were not properties.

"Because I said so." I wasn't going to let him rule me.

I'm a Luna, even if he's an Alpha, I will not allow him to disrespect me.

"That's not enough." He sneered at me and strangled Simon whose feet were forced to lift from the ground. It was very easy to tell he was struggling to breathe.

"Stop! Let him go and I will go with you." I screamed.

"My Alpha will be very happy to hear that. The car is waiting outside."

I was shocked by his words. I thought he was the Alpha since his aura implied so. If he was not Alpha Jerk, then who he is?

"Who are you?" I demanded to know but he smirked, showing his pearly white teeth.

"I'm sorry, forgot to introduce myself. I'm Drake, Beta of the Blackmoon pack."

His words shocked me again. So Alpha Jerk sent his beta to do this dirty stuff for him. I didn’t know why I was disappointed when finding out he didn't come himself. But soon the sound of Simon clearing his throat cleared my silly thoughts.

"I'm alright in case you two were wondering."

He rubbed his neck.

I tried to come close to him.

But I was stopped by a ferocious growl.

"Alpha will not like his scent on you unless you want him dead."