Darcy’s POV
The sound of the cup hitting the back of my head made me wince in pain as I turned to see my stepmother glaring at me. She looked so angry that no matter what I did, I knew she wouldn’t calm down.
“Are you trying to kill me and my child?” She yelled, my mouth opened to apologize, but no words could come out. It wasn’t because I was at a loss for words. It was because I couldn’t speak.

Unable to say anything, I retired to the kitchen to continue my work. Being the only disabled wolf in the pack came with many cons. I could barely go outside without people staring at me.
Some of them even went as far as talking slowly so that I could make out what they were saying, and if I did, it always turned out to be an insult. I had no sense of danger, and I would walk right into it without knowing.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I washed the dishes. If only I could speak, there would be a lot of things that I was going to say. If only I weren’t cursed with that high fever.
My mother had given birth to me with an intense fever that didn’t seem to go down, and after realizing that I was disabled, she thought divorcing my father would be the next best thing to do.
I would’ve felt wanted if she took me along, but she didn’t. She abandoned me, and really, I don’t blame her because no one would want to live their life with a disabled werewolf.
My father married again, a turning point in my life, especially since the woman was pregnant. He completely overlooked me and took care of my stepmother and her baby.

“I’m sorry, Darcy, there’s nothing I can do to give you a voice. It will always be like this no matter how hard you try.” The words of the pack doctor wouldn’t stop ringing in my head as I cried.
Why does my life have to be like this?
Gathering my courage, I finished with the dishes and went to find my father so I could tell him what the doctor had said. It’s hard trying to express myself but being with me for those years taught him how to understand me.
“What do you want?” He snapped at me when I eventually found him. My throat went dry, and I hoped I wouldn’t get him angry with what I was about to tell him.

‘The. Doctor. Said. That. My. Voice. Can’t. Come. Back.’ I said as I tried to mime and gesture, ‘He. Asked. Me. To. Take. Vocal. Lessons.’ I finished as I drew in a breath.
“And you’re going to need money for that?” He asked and hope-filled me as I nodded affirmatively, “And you think I’m going to give it to you?” He bursted out laughing and my hope came crashing down.
“I would rather spend that money on your stepmother and stepbrother, where I know that the money would be useful rather than spend it on a worthless thing like yourself.” He barked at me.
My chest clenched, and my stomach tightened. I opened my mouth, trying to force the words out of it, but I couldn’t make any sound, and when my father came at me as though he was going to hit me, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.
With no hope and nothing to do, I resorted to practicing by myself like I’d been doing for years, just like the doctor suggested again, and although it took years before I started making little sounds, I was glad there was progress.
I could say hi without a problem, and although other words I told always came out slurred and meaningless, I was more than happy that I could finally make a sound.
Everyone thought I was still the same Darcy who couldn’t speak at all, but I could try. I kept it to myself and decided to talk when ready.
It’s a secret that no one, not even my father, knows about.
Walking towards the market square, I saw everyone staring at me. After years of ridicule, I’d gotten used to the glares, and I tried to shake it off as I walked, but I couldn’t.
The mating convention is nearly starting. It happens annually, and everyone finds their mate during the convention, but after I turned 18, I haven’t been so lucky.
It’s my 23rd birthday, and I’m still without a mate. Thinking about it hurts because everyone my age is either married by now or enjoying their love life with their mates, and here I am, still hoping to find the one that the moon goddess had tied my destiny to.
I was growing impatient, but I knew better than to question the goddess, ‘My mate would come when the time is right.’ I said to myself, it has always been my yearly mantra even though nothing of that sort had happened yet.
And if he comes, I will beg him to take me away from this pack. I want to be everywhere but here.
The bell of the convention rang, and I stopped in my tracks as beads of sweat formed on my forehead. My body shook, and I could feel the heat engulfing me.
Looking around, fear and shock gripped me when I saw the male werewolves their eye color had changed, and they were approaching me. I tried to scream for help, but nothing.
I tried to run, too, but it was as though my feet had been glued to the ground, and deep down, I knew that no matter where I ran, they would find me. It took a while for me to realize what was going on finally.
It’s the Stealer pheromone.
“Mate,” they muttered at the same time, their eyes bloody and fiery red and their fangs showing as they came closer to me. Some were even drooling, and my breathing paced.
My heart raced as I took steps backward while they approached me. My throat went dry, and my heart pounded as they came closer to me like they wanted to attack me.
My breath caught in my throat when one of them gripped me and drew me towards him while another dragged me in his direction.
‘Someone, please save me,’ I cried in my mind, knowing that I could never utter that kind of word. I tried to move away from them, but they were too strong.
The market square had become chaotic as everyone dragged and fought for me while I fought for my freedom. My eyes lit up, and I was hopeful when I found my father in the crowd.
He was with Alpha Anthony and the Beta, Michael, and I was glad that help had finally come for me. I managed to push the few men off me as I ran toward my father and the beta.
‘Help. Me.’ I gestured, but he walked past me like he hadn’t seen me. My jaw dropped as I turned to see my father walking away from me, and at that point, I knew that there was no help coming for me.
A touch on my hair made me turn, and my eyes widened when I saw that the Beta’s eyes had changed too, “mate.” He said as he walked towards me. He’d also gotten affected by my pheromone.
Tears filled my eyes until they landed on Alpha Anthony. He didn't react, and it was as though the stealer hormone did not affect him, and for a moment, I felt like I could go to him for help.
Garnering every ounce of strength I had left in me, I managed to push the male werewolves away from me, and without thinking, I ran into Alpha Anthony’s arms.
What I felt was right. His arms were safe.