Prologue

"Sarah."

The whole Salazar mansion echoed. A girl in oversized faded clothes ran at her best speed towards the main hall of the mansion. Her face was pale and her lips quivering in horror. She was panting hard by the time she stopped in front of a middle-aged woman with a caked face and a tight dress which threatened to tear apart at any moment.

"Good morning, Madam Beatrice." The girl said in a voice barely audible.

"You filthy bitch. How many times do I have to call you?" the woman roared, making the girl shiver.

"I'm sorry, madam. I was in the kitchen preparing breakfast." The girl humbly said.

"Forget it, just one more day and I don't have to see your horrible face in this house. After breakfast come to Fiona's room. For the last time, you will get to wear something nice." With those words, the women walked away leaving a puzzled Sarah behind.

Sarah walked back to the kitchen to resume what she was doing. On the way she heard another call, but this time from the only person who loved and cared for her. She hurried towards the door on the right. She turned the doorknob without knocking because it was the only door in this mansion which she could open without permission. She opened the door to the pleasant smell of fresh flowers. There, near the window sat an old lady in a wheelchair.

"Grandma. Did you call me?" she asked with a smile.

"My child, I want your help." She said.

"Just tell me what I have to do." Sarah said.

"My princess, after you finish all your work, go and pluck all the Jasmine first, even the buds, then cut down the Jasmine plant from the roots. Not a single root should be left." Her grandma said.

"Grandma! Are you insane? I know how much you love this Jasmine. You made me grow these when I was just ten. You love the smell of these flowers and so do I. I love them and feel heavenly when I enter this room." Sarah said, shocked.

"There will be no one to look after them after you go. They are soon going to cover the whole window and block the light. It's better if you cut it down. I should make the habit of living without them because it's going to remind me of you all the time." Grandma said.

"But, Grandma, I am not going anywhere," Sarah said.

"You will know that soon. For now, just do as I say. I know Beatrice has ordered you to go to Fiona's room after finishing your work. Don't make her angry. Just go and finish your work. Remember to finish all your work in this mansion before 7 in the evening. After dinner when everyone is asleep, come to me. Now go and finish your work."

"Okay, Grandma, once I set up the dining table, I'll bring your breakfast," Sarah said and retreated back to the kitchen. She started to work like a robot and finished all the work before the clock chimed nine. She hid in the kitchen before any of the Salazar family members came. It was a routine she had been following for years. Once she heard the last footstep fading away, she came and cleared the dining table.

After cleaning everything and doing the dishes, she took the breakfast for Grandma and herself and went to Grandma's room. She and grandma had breakfast together which is another routine throughout these years or at least from the time her grandmother got a stroke. Since then her grandma was confined to this room.

Sarah went to Fiona's room and she was taken aback when Beatrice pointed to a princess gown lay on the bed and said, "Tomorrow you will be wearing this, and remember you will stay mute as you always do."

Tomorrow was the 25th of June. How could Sarah forget that day? It was the only day she got to wear something nice. Every year on the same day, Beatrice and her daughter Fiona dolled up Sarah and presented her in front of a special guest. That guest always brought lots of presents for Sarah, none of which she had ever opened. The moment the guest stepped out of the mansion, Fiona and her brothers, Ben and Jack, snatched everything from her. They didn't even allow her to eat a single slice of the cake that the guest had brought for her. She got to taste it when she cut the cake and the special guest fed her. She was aware that it was her birthday as everyone sang birthday songs for her. But she had always wondered why the name they sang was not Sarah. If she was not mistaken, it would be her 18th birthday tomorrow.

"Go and get ready, wear some old clothes of Fiona's." Beatrice said and Fiona seemed to be angry.

"Why should I give her any of my dresses? She already has such an expensive gown." Fiona fumed.

"Go and finish any pending work. We have to leave in an hour." Beatrice said to Sarah ignoring Fiona.

"Madam Beatrice, pardon me but can you please tell me where we are going?" Sarah asked.

"You should be thanking me because I am going to take you to the salon. Now go and get ready. Fiona will call you once she decides which dress to give you."

Sarah went back puzzled. It's been ages since she left the premises of this mansion. She doesn't even know what it looks like outside this mansion.

"Mom, I am not going to give her any of my dresses." Fiona howled.

"We can't take her to the salon in those rags." Beatrice said.

"I am not going to take her anywhere. What's the need for all this? She is getting to wear such an expensive dress. I just don't understand why you are giving her this dress. Let her wear any of mine as always." Fiona said.

"We can't do that, honey. It's specially designed for her and she should be wearing it when Mr. Buchanan shows up. Or else years of waiting will go in vain. We can't afford any mistakes, honey. Go and get something for her to wear. We have to stay alert and take care that she doesn't utter a single word to anyone."

"Mom, what are you going to do with her tomorrow?" Fiona asked.

"Mr Buchanan is finally going to take her back and hopefully we are going to get paid huge for taking care of her all these years." Beatrice said.

"But what if Mr. Buchanan finds out that Sarah is not dumb?" Fiona asked.

"I do have a plan for that. Only Mr Buchanan has seen Sarah. Last time when he came he seemed really sick. I hope he will have already kicked the bucket. If not, we'll make some other plan to make you replace her. If everything goes well then you will inherit her fortune." Beatrice said with an evil glint in her eyes.

After cutting all the Jasmine plants, Sarah quickly prepared lunch before getting ready to go to the salon. It was the nicest day of Sarah's life. She saw the world outside the mansion. She even got to sit in a car. It took about a couple of hours at the salon and it was already six in the evening by the time they returned back to the mansion. Sarah hurried towards the kitchen when Beatrice called her.

"You don't have to do any more work today or else your nails will be ruined. We'll order the food."

Sarah was shocked to hear her words. As far as Sarah could remember, not a single day had passed by without any work for her. Even on the day of her birthday, she had to clean the whole house after the special guest left. It was rare for Beatrice to order food at home. The whole Salazar family goes out to dine leaving Sarah and Grandma at home.

After dinner, Sarah went to Grandma's room.

"Is everyone asleep?" Grandma asked.

"Yes"

"Take the wooden basket under my bed."

Sarah had seen that basket since she was small but never saw what was inside it. Sarah pulled it out and brought it to Grandma.

"Sit down and listen to me carefully. You have to leave this mansion tonight."

Sarah looked at Grandma horrified.

"My princess, I'm sorry I couldn't stand up for you when you needed me. This is not the life you deserve. This basket has your mother's belongings that I was able to hide from Beatrice. I don't have anything else to give you other than this." Grandma gave her an old money purse.

"It's the money I have been saving for this day. It will help you to start a new life. Beatrice tried to keep you illiterate but she doesn't know that I have taught you to read and write. The world outside is not always what it seems. Always be careful and try to hide your beauty. Take this basket and money and flee through the backdoor. Just go as far as possible before the sun rises. I don't know what they have planned for tomorrow. Just remember that I love you. Your mother and father loved you a lot and I am sure they will protect you." Sarah hugged her grandma before she left the mansion to find a new life.

***

At the same time, on the other side of New York, Alpha Leo was in his wolf form howling at his people trying to vent his anger on anyone in his path.

"Alpha Leo, please calm down. Everyone is out there searching for Luna. She will be found soon." Beta Kyle tried to calm the alpha but to no avail.