Chapter 1: Lunar Lottery [I]
Starlight stumbled backward, her vision blurring through tears as Otto and his friends advanced on her. "Please... please don’t do this, Otto," she sobbed, rubbing her trembling palms together frantically, her skin chafing under the friction of her terror. "Please, I beg you. Don’t do this to me." Her heel struck the edge of the bed.
The realization that she had nowhere left to run sent a wave of panic crashing through her chest. Otto stood in front of her, tall and handsome in a way she had once found comforting.
Now his smile looked wrong. Cruel. Empty.
"Looks like you’re more eager to give yourself to me than you let on," he said, his voice dropping into a mockery of the gentle tone he usually reserved for her. The two boys flanking him, Preston and Ambrose, let out low chuckles under their breath, their amusement making the room feel even smaller.
"Otto..." Her voice cracked. "You love me. You said you loved me."
"Of course I love you," Otto replied, his tone sickeningly gentle. "That’s why I want to share you with my beloved friends. Love is sharing."
Ambrose and Preston chuckled harder.
Regret burned in Starlight’s throat. If only she had listened to the quiet, persistent warning in her chest. If only she had trusted the unease that had followed her all evening. If only she had stood firm and refused his pleading. Then she would not be standing here now, trapped and terrified. "No... please, just let me go home. Please." More tears streamed uncontrollably down her face as she shook her head.
"You said your body belonged only to me, Star." Otto’s smile widened. "I have the right to do with it as I see fit, and I want to share it. Get her, boys."
Fear exploded through her as Preston and Ambrose lunged forward. Starlight shrieked, thrashing her limbs as four strong hands clamped down on her, tackling her onto the mattress. She fought with every ounce of strength she possessed. "No!" she cried. "Otto, please! Tell them to stop! Tell them to let me go!"
"Not happening," Otto said coldly, stepping closer to the edge of the bed. Ambrose grabbed her wrists while Preston caught her around the waist. Starlight kicked wildly, her foot connecting with something solid.
Otto cursed and staggered back, clutching his shin. "You little piece of shit." He glared at her. "Hold her still! How hard can it be to pin down a single human girl?"
"No! Let me go! " Starlight screamed as Preston’s heavy weight shifted over her thighs, pinning her down with brutal force. Her lungs burned, and her throat felt raw from screaming.
"Tie her mouth too," Otto snapped, adjusting his belt. "We don’t want her waking the neighbors."
The room spun around her as tears blurred her vision. "Otto... ple—hmmhmmm!"
A thick strip of fabric was shoved into her mouth and pulled tight behind her head, turning her pleas into muffled, desperate sounds. She struggled harder, twisting her wrists so violently against Ambrose’s grip that the wolf nearly stumbled off the bed.
Ambrose grunted, his fingers digging into her skin like iron cuffs. "How strong is this bitch? Just stay calm and let us take care of you."
With a rough, coordinated heave, the two boys tore away her clothes, stripping her bare before tying her wrists above her head. They spread her legs apart, each holding one thigh down with crushing strength. Starlight lay completely exposed, tears pooling in her ears as they streamed down her face. She sobbed silently against the gag, her chest heaving with panic and terror. Otto’s eyes gleamed with raw lust as he took in her helpless form on the massive bed. He palmed the hardness in his trousers, a slow smile returning to his lips. "I can’t believe I’m finally getting what I suffered for."
Preston laughed, his grip tightening on her ankle. "The long-awaited prize. Dig in, boss."
"Well, if you say so," Otto said, stepping forward. He slowly licked his lips as his gaze roamed over her. "Who am I to refuse a well-presented offering?" He rubbed his palms together. "Time to dig in." Starlight shook her head frantically against the pillows, her eyes wide with horror as Otto started to undress.
"Sister Star!"
A loud, piercing voice shattered the horror.
Starlight bolted upright with a sharp gasp, her lungs hitching violently as she sucked in air. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and cold sweat clung to her skin. For several disorienting seconds, she could only stare at the familiar walls of her bedroom while the nightmare slowly loosened its grip.
The bedroom door burst open with a loud bang. Aiden rushed inside like a whirlwind. "Sister Star, it’s time for the Lunar Lottery!" he yelled. Before she could respond, he launched himself onto the mattress and began bouncing excitedly.
"Come on, let’s go watch it"
"Aiden, stop that," Starlight managed tiredly. "Stop jumping. You’re going to hurt yourself."
Her younger brother ignored the warning, dropping to his knees and pulling hard at her hand. "The broadcast is starting. Let’s go! Everyone’s in the living room! Hurry! We can’t miss anything! "
Starlight looked down at her small, enthusiastic brother with a weary smile. "Can I... can I just sit this one out, Aiden? Please?"
"No, you can’t!" Aiden declared, pulling harder. "You have to watch with us. Today’s lottery is different."
Starlight narrowed her eyes. "Different how?"
"I’m not telling." Aiden grinned mischievously. "But you have to come right now, or I’ll keep jumping on your bed."
A reluctant laugh escaped her. "Okay, okay. I’m coming. No need to threaten me."
Aiden puffed out his chest in victory and immediately grabbed her hand again, attempting to drag her out of bed. Starlight swung her legs over the side and allowed her younger brother to pull her toward the doorway. Aiden’s enthusiasm was infectious, but it did little to ease the suffocating heaviness in her chest.
"Hurry! We can’t miss anything!"
What’s so special about today’s annual lottery?
Starlight forced a smile as she followed him into the narrow hallway. If she were being honest, the last thing she wanted right now was to watch the Lunar Lottery. Every year, the entire empire treated it like a holy event. Millions of humans entered their names in hopes of being chosen. To them, there was no greater honor than attracting the attention of a werewolf. The winners received scholarships to Asterion Academy, the most prestigious institution in the empire, and the opportunity to become future mates to members of the empire’s most powerful clan.
People talked about it as though it were humanity’s greatest honor, a dream come true. The media painted it as a fairy tale, a blessing bestowed upon the chosen by the Moon Goddess’s children. Starlight nearly scoffed.
She couldn’t blame them too much. She used to be like them once, until she learned what those monsters were truly like. In the cramped living room, the old box television flickered with static before settling on a bright broadcast image. Her mother, Clara, sat on the worn couch with baby Angel cradled against her chest. She looked up the moment Starlight entered.
"Aiden," she scolded. "I thought I told you not to disturb your sister’s afternoon nap. She already has enough trouble sleeping."
Aiden immediately pointed at Starlight. "She was already awake when I got there!"
Clara raised an eyebrow. "With all that yelling, I’d be surprised if she wasn’t."
"It’s alright, Mom. He’s just excited," Starlight said softly. Leaning over the couch, she gently poked Angel’s chubby cheek and cooed.
"Hey, Angel. Care to share some of your delicious food with big sis?"
Clara laughed softly. "Go find your own, young lady."
A cheerful female voice suddenly rang from the television. "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived!"
"That’s right," her male co-host added. "Tonight, a new group of fortunate citizens will become the envied elite of our great empire."
"It’s starting! It’s starting!" Aiden whispered loudly, hopping onto a small wooden stool.
Starlight chuckled despite herself.
"Aiden," Clara warned. "Settle down and watch quietly, or I’ll turn it off."
The boy instantly folded his hands in his lap and sat perfectly still. The sight was so comical that Starlight almost laughed again.
Shaking her head, she settled onto the couch beside her mother. She might as well endure the shenanigans and get this over with.
"I heard the twin alpha princes are participating in this year’s lottery," Clara murmured, her gaze fixed on the flashing screen.
"Humph."
Starlight continued teasing Angel’s tiny hand. She couldn’t care less who was participating in that glorified mating lottery.
Clara glanced at her thoughtfully.
She had long since noticed her daughter’s dislike for anything involving werewolves, though Starlight had never fully explained why. She hadn’t always been like this. Something had changed a few years ago, something Starlight refused to talk about.
What Clara didn’t understand, however, was why her daughter continued forcing herself to sit through these broadcasts every year when it was obvious she wanted nothing to do with them