Chapter 1: Shocked

Ella paced anxiously across the living room, her hands twisting together as she kept glancing at the clock for what seemed to be the hundredth time.

Where was Kevin?

They were supposed to leave thirty minutes ago to pick up her dress from Maris Fashion. The shop would close soon, and they were already late for their appointment.

She pulled out her phone and tried his number again. It went straight to voicemail. Again. She bit her lip, worry creeping through her chest.

This wasn't like him. Kevin was always punctual, always reliable. Tomorrow was their engagement ceremony and her eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow, her wolf would finally awaken, and Kevin would declare her his mate in front of the entire Silver Crest pack. Tomorrow, she would become his Luna.

Her heart fluttered at the thought.

Even though the bond hadn’t been officially completed yet, Ella had never doubted it for a second. Everyone knew they were perfect for each other. They had grown up together, loved each other deeply, and tomorrow would seal their fate forever.

But there can't be a perfect engagement without her engagement dress.

So where was he?

She glanced at her wristwatch again, her heart tightening with worry.

The dress shop would close soon, and the fitting had been scheduled carefully. The manager had even reminded her not to be late in case there's any extra amendment to be done.

Ella quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Kevin’s number again.

The call still didn’t go through.

She frowned and tried again.

Still nothing.

“Where could he be?” she muttered under her breath, anxiety creeping into her chest.

Ella tried his number one more time. Nothing. She checked her watch and with a deep breath, she made a decision.

She couldn't wait any longer. The shop would close, and she needed that dress. Her beautiful engagement dress. She'd picked it out months ago, spent hours choosing the perfect one.

“I’ll just go get the dress myself,” she decided quietly.

Maybe Kevin got caught up with pack matters.

Not wanting to risk arriving at a closed store, she grabbed her car keys and dashed out of the house and hurried to her car.

The drive only took ten minutes, but it felt much longer as she pressed the gas harder than usual, trying to beat the closing time.

She pulled into the parking lot of Maris Fashion House and practically ran to the entrance, already forming an apology in her head for being so late.

She pushed open the door, breathing hard. "I'm so sorry, I know I'm late, I—"

She stopped.

The shop was empty. Completely empty. The lights were on, but there was no one at the front desk. No manager. No staff. No other customers.

“Hello?” Ella called softly.

Her voice echoed faintly through the boutique.

No response.

A strange uneasiness crept into her chest.

Had they already closed?

But that didn’t make sense.

The door had been unlocked. The lights were still on. They couldn't have closed for the day and left everything like this.

No responsible manager would lock up and leave the shop door open.

Her eyes scanned the shop and landed on the mannequin near the window. The one where her dress had been displayed.

But the mannequin was bare. Empty.

Ella blinked. Where was her dress?

She looked around, thinking maybe they'd moved it, maybe hung it somewhere else for safekeeping. But she couldn't see it anywhere.

Panic started to rise in her chest, but she forced it down.

“No… maybe they already packaged it,” she whispered to herself, trying to calm the sudden wave of panic rising in her chest.

Maybe the manager had it ready in the back since she was supposed to pick it up today.

That had to be it.

But then another question appeared in her mind.

Where was everyone?

She pulled out her phone, ready to call the manager.

But just as she began scrolling through her contacts, a sound suddenly reached her ears.

A faint noise.

It came from the back of the shop.

Ella paused. Her brows knitted together as she listened carefully.

There it was again. A low sound. Like… a moan.

She stiffened, her face flushed in shock.

Was someone actually doing that here? In a public dressing room? She felt disgusted. She should leave. She should just call the manager and come back later or have it delivered.

But before she could move, the sound came again—clearer this time.

A familiar deep groan, followed by a woman's soft, shameless moan.

The world seemed to stop. Her body froze.

She shook her head immediately. “No…” she whispered under her breath.

She must have misheard. There was no way.

Ella's stomach turned. She was about to turn around and leave, not wanting to give her ears chance to play tricks with her.

But then the man spoke and the heard it clearly this time.

"Goddess, hmmm…yes… you're so good at this.”

Ella's heart stopped.

She knew that voice.

No. No, it couldn't be.

She must have misheard. She had to have misheard.

But then he groaned again, and there was no mistaking it.

Kevin.

That was definitely Kevin's voice. Her fiance.

Ella's legs felt weak. Her chest tightened. Her mind screamed at her to leave, to run, to not look. But her body wouldn't listen. She had to see it with her own eyes. She had to be sure.

Step by step, she moved toward the dressing rooms, each step heavier than the last.

The sounds grew clearer. Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might burst.

Finally, she reached the curtain.

With trembling fingers, she reached for the curtain of the fitting room and pulled it aside.

The sight before her made her blood run cold.

Alpha Kevin sat on the small bench inside, his shirt discarded on the floor, his pants pulled down. His head was thrown back, his eyes closed, his face twisted in pleasure. And kneeling between his legs was a woman, her face buried in his lap, her blonde hair spilling over his thighs.

Ella’s eyes widened in horror. Her hand flew to her trembling lips. A scream built in her throat.

But then her eyes caught something else. Something that shattered her completely.

The woman was wearing a dress. A white dress with delicate lace and an open back.

The dress she was looking for.

Her engagement dress!

The scream broke free before she could stop it. "What's going on here Kevin?!”

Kevin's eyes snapped open. The woman stopped.

Kevin turned around slowly, irritation flashing across his face as if someone had interrupted something important.

His eyes landed on Ella, and instead of guilt…anger filled them.

“Who let you in?” he asked coldly.

His tone was sharp with annoyance.

“I told the manager to clear the place. I didn't want anyone here.”

Ella stared at him, stunned. Her mouth slowly fell open.

She just caught her fiance cheating, but he wasn't even ashamed. He wasn't even surprised. Instead he was angry… at her. For interrupting him.

The woman suddenly laughed softly and turned around fully.

“Ella?”

The familiar voice made Ella’s heart skip.

Her gaze slowly lifted to the woman’s face and her world shattered again.

“Sandra…?”

Her stepsister was wearing her dress. She had been on her knees in front of her fiance. She was looking at her now with a smug, satisfied smile.

“Dear sister,” Sandra said sweetly. "What took you so long?”

As she spoke, she reached down and wrapped her hand around Kevin's still erected dick, stroking him slowly. Kevin's eyes fluttered closed, and a low moan escaped his lips.

Ella felt bile rise in her throat. She couldn't breathe. "What is happening?" Her voice cracked. "What are you doing?”

Kevin opened his eyes and looked at her like she was stupid. "Isn't it obvious? I'm having a good time with my mate. And you're interrupting."

The word hit her like a physical blow.

Mate.

He called Sandra his mate.

Ella's eyes darted to Sandra, waiting for her to deny it, to say something, anything. But Sandra just smiled wider and leaned down to press a kiss to Kevin's lips. He kissed her back, his hand coming up to tangle in her hair.

"How—" Ella's voice shook. "How is she your mate? What about me? Tomorrow is our engagement. Tomorrow you're supposed to declare me as your Luna.”

For a few seconds, silence filled the dressing room, then Kevin and Sandra burst into full blown laughter.

The cruel sound echoed through the dressing room, slicing her heart into pieces.

Kevin chuckled, “You? As my Luna? An adopted daughter with no heritage.”

"Delusional," Sandra said, shaking her head. "Goddess, Ella, you're so delusional and that's so sweet.”

Kevin smirked. “I was never going to announce you as my Luna.”

His voice was cold. “Honestly, it's better you found out now. It saves you the embarrassment tomorrow.”

Ella felt the ground sway beneath her. "But you said—"

"I lied," Kevin said simply. He shrugged like it didn't matter. Like she didn't matter. "I've known for a while that Sandra was my mate. I just needed you to keep planning the engagement. You're good at that stuff. Making things perfect.”

Sandra gently traced her fingers along the bodice of the dress she was wearing. "Thank you, by the way. For all the hard work. And for picking such a perfect gown. It fits me beautifully, don't you think?”

Ella stared at her. At the dress. At Kevin's hand resting possessively on Sandra's waist and then it clicked.

Kevin had requested she pick the one with a little space, when she asked him why, he had said just In case she added extra weight. But if she didn't, it would be much easier to adjust it to her size.

She had thought it made sense then, but seeing Sandra fit perfectly into the dress, she realized he had actually been picking a dress for Sandra.

Her vision blurred. This couldn't be real. This had to be a nightmare.

But Sandra wasn't done.

“We only kept you around because you were useful. The engagement meant so much to you, and we knew you’d make sure everything was perfect… for us.”

Ella’s legs nearly gave out beneath her. She grabbed the doorframe to steady herself.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Her chest hurt.

Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

“You… monsters…” she whispered. "You're disgusting," she choked out. "Both of you. You're disgusting!”

Then suddenly she turned and ran.

She ran out of the boutique as fast as her legs could carry her.

Behind her, Kevin and Sandra’s cruel laughter followed her like knives in her back.

She fumbled with her car keys, her hands shaking so badly she could barely grip them. She dropped them once, twice, before finally managing to unlock the door.

She threw herself into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut.

And then she broke.

Sobs tore from her chest, loud and raw and painful. She doubled over, her forehead pressing against the steering wheel, her entire body shaking.

Kevin wasn't her mate. He never was. He'd known. He'd known all along and he'd lied to her. He'd used her. Kept her around like some kind of servant to plan an engagement that was never meant for her.

And Sandra. Her stepsister. The girl who had always hated her, always competed with her, always wanted what she had.

Now Sandra had everything.

The dress. The mate. The title of Luna.

And Ella had nothing.

Tomorrow was supposed to be the best day of her life. Her eighteenth birthday. The day her wolf awakened. The day she became Kevin's Luna.

Now?

Now she had nothing to look forward to but humiliation. Public humiliation. Everyone in the pack would be there tomorrow.

Everyone would see Kevin declare Sandra as his mate. Everyone would know that Ella had been rejected. Replaced. By her own stepsister.

Ella pressed her hands to her face and screamed. A broken, anguished sound that no one could hear.

With a blurry vision and a trembling hand, she stared the car with one destination in mind.