The soft glow of the mirror lights reflected off my peach asymmetrical one-shoulder evening dress, and I couldn't help but feel a momentary pride in my creation. I had spent days making this dress just for tonight and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. Tonight, the Sky Pack was hosting a party but how my dress turned out great was just one of the many reasons I was happy tonight. Anticipation courses through me; these gatherings are prime opportunities to meet one’s mate. Even though I'm not yet eighteen, by midnight, my mate will be revealed to Poppy. A delighted squeak escapes me—I can hardly contain my excitement.
The prospect of my heart's desire turning out to be my mate dances through my thoughts, and the idea brings a wave of joy. Yet, beneath the surface, a sobering reality casts a shadow. Even if he is revealed as my mate, a heavy concern gnaws at me—he may not accept me. He and his brother already had their eyes set on her as their Luna, and they were just waiting for midnight for the universe to give her to them.
I force a smile onto my face, attempting to push aside the disquieting thoughts. A silent prayer escapes my lips, hoping against the odds that my mate is someone else—someone who will cherish and rescue me from this emotional abyss. It pains me to label my home as a hellhole, but ever since she entered this house, everything changed. It transformed from a place of joy and happiness into one of sadness.
If only my brother hadn't... I hesitate, unable to voice the sentiment fully. The shame holds me back from openly wishing harm on someone. I wished she never arrived, yet a conflicting part of me hesitates to wish for her demise.
I give myself a final once-over in the mirror. The doe brown eyes that once sparkled seem dimmer now, and my pitch-black hair is pulled up into a high ponytail. Rosy lips are adorned with just a touch of lip gloss. I take a deep breath, mustering the strength to face the night ahead. With my purse in hand, I walk out, ready to step into the evening.
As I descend the stairs, the familiar voices of my parents and hers reach my ears. Mentally preparing myself, I join them at the foot of the stairs.
“Finally! ” Mom exclaims upon seeing me. She, a poised woman with auburn curls cascading gracefully down her shoulders, is dressed in a beautiful black gown. Her makeup is subtle yet elegant, accentuating her features with a touch of sophistication. A hint of annoyance lingers in her tone, something I choose to ignore.
“Hi, Mom,” I greet with a smile, attempting to overlook the undertone of irritation.
“You should learn to be more like your sister. She didn’t keep us waiting,” Dad remarks, adjusting his cufflinks, visibly annoyed. Dad is the Alpha of our pack, the silver pack. He stands tall with black hair framing a strong, chiseled face, and his brown eyes.
My tongue dares to remind him that Alice, my adopted sister, has also just arrived, but I wisely hold back.
“It won’t happen again,” I assure.
“It’s okay, Dad, we can get going,” Alice says, adjusting his tie. She hadn’t seen me as her back was facing me.
“Hello, Alice,” I say, and she finally turns around. Her green eyes widened, and a flicker of anger crossed her face before being replaced by a fake smile.
“Oh my goddess, Hannah, your dress…” she fakes a gasp, running toward me. I take a step back, narrowing my eyes at her.
“It’s so beautiful,” she gushes, her eyes sparkling as she admires it.
“Thank you,” I reply cautiously. Her compliments are unusual, and I sense something more behind them.
“Don’t you think it would look great on me, Dad?” she asks, batting her eyes at him.
I should've seen it coming.
“It would, dear. Anything you wore would look beautiful on you,” he responds, and a pang hits my heart. He didn't compliment me upon arrival, but the same dress would be beautiful on Alice.
What about me, your real daughter? Doesn’t the dress look beautiful on me? I wish to shout, but I keep my feelings bottled up as always.
“Too bad Hannah is wearing it. I would have loved to,” she pouts.
“If you wish to wear it, Hannah should give it to you. You're her sister, after all,” Mom adds, shocking me with her words.
“Yes, Hannah, give the dress to your sister,” Dad chimes in, and my shock intensifies. Are they serious right now?
I stare at them, lost for words. They didn’t compliment my dress upon my arrival but scolded me, and now they want me to hand over my dress to Alice just because she wants it—no valid reason given.
Closing my eyes, I exhale. I shouldn’t even be surprised; I should be used to it by now. But how could I? These two people were my parents, the ones who created me and loved me until she came along. Tears begin to fill my eyes.
“No problem. I will head upstairs and change,” I turn away from them as the tears drop.
I rush up the stairs into my room, quickly pulling the dress off. Handing it to an omega who followed me up, I instruct her to give it to Alice.
“You shouldn’t have given the bitch your dress. You spent hours making it,” Poppy's angry voice echoes in my mind.
“And what else could I have done? Said no and made Dad and Mom hate me more because of her.”
“No! But you should’ve lied or done something. That bitch doesn’t even like the dress. She probably just wanted to wear it because it looks so beautiful on you.”
“I know.”
“Fuck! Sometimes I really wish your brother didn’t bring her home.”
“Too bad he did, and I lost him in the process too.”
“You know if he was here, this wouldn’t be happening, right?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Poppy sighs. “Let’s just pray tonight your mate ends up being someone amazing and takes us far away from her, and we never have to worry about that bitch.”
“Hopefully.”
I cut off my connection with Poppy and finish putting on my second dress. Heading outside, I join my family to be on our way. Alice smiles at me as I settle into the backseat beside her, and I force a smile in return. Even if she doesn’t say it, she's gloating right now that she got to wear the dress, I spent tireless nights sewing. Poppy growls in my head, but I continue to hold my smile all the way to the venue. Once it's midnight, I won’t have to put up with her anymore. I can't wait.
We arrive at the venue, and the atmosphere is buzzing with werewolves from all corners of the country. It's no surprise, as parties hosted by the Sky Pack triplets are not to be missed. They are the heirs to the most powerful pack, considered by many as the royal family of the werewolf kingdom, and the triplets themselves are regarded as princes.Mom and Dad step out first, followed by Alice, who receives assistance from two hands that belong to Cameron and Lorenzo, two of the triplets. Cameron, with jet-black hair and piercing blue eyes, glares at me, while Lorenzo, sporting a similar look, is equally unfriendly. Both have ripped biceps that catch the attention of many she-wolves. The triplets have always been hostile towards me, and I can't figure out why. I don't recall doing anything to provoke their animosity.“Hannah,” Alice calls, pulling me from my thoughts.“Yes,” I reply, and she grabs my hand, leading me a few feet away from Cameron and Lorenzo. I look at her in confusion.
As we enter a room in the pack house, confusion etches my face upon realizing that my parents are present. I move toward them.Alex paces the room with palpable fury, his brothers sharing the same anger."Why are you stopping us from claiming Alice as our mate?" Alex demands, his frustration evident."Because one of you is already betrothed to someone else," Alpha George stated, and his gaze shifted toward me. Confusion mirrored my expression. Why is he looking at me?“What!” The triplets exclaimed, their eyes widening in shock and confusion at their father's unexpected revelation. They exchanged incredulous glances, the weight of their father's announcement settling heavily over them."Yes, one of you must marry Hannah, daughter of the Alpha of the Silver Pack. So, you boys can't claim Alice as your mate,"My heart quickens, confusion and disbelief marring my features. "What?" I blurt out, my eyes searching for confirmation or denial from my parents. They avoid my gaze, refusing to m
“Do you realize how utterly foolish we look right now, trailing after his scent?” Poppy grumbles in my head.“What other choice did I have?” I reply, walking down the pathway where Poppy is skillfully picking up Alex' scent.“You had the choice to say no,” Poppy retorts sharply.“I didn’t, and you know it.”“You did, and you should have. Alex would never have bothered chasing after you if the situation were reversed”“You don’t know that,” I argue.“I do, and you know it too. Alex would have left you to rot in this forest.”“Poppy!”“I’m just stating the truth,” she says in a matter-of-fact tone.“You can't be certain of that.”“I am, and despite convincing yourself that you only came because his parents requested it, I know that's a lie. Deep down, you would have sought him out to ensure he was alright.”I remain silent, acknowledging she's right.“I can't control it, and you know why,” I finally admit after a pregnant pause.“I do, and that’s why I sometimes wish you had a heart as
ALEXThe walk back is shrouded in a heavy, suffocating silence, the unspoken tension hanging thick between us. As I trail behind Hannah, I become an unnoticed shadow, my steps echoing the distance that has grown. Our return to the room where our parents await is met with an oppressive stillness, a palpable discomfort that lingers in the air. Dad, his face etched with anger, shatters the quietude as soon as we enter."Where were you? We were worried sick," he demands, the visible distress etched on his face."With my mate," I retort, meeting his gaze defiantly."The sooner you reject her, the better for you," Dad advises sharply."I will never reject her. Alice is my mate, and if I become Alpha, she'll be my Luna, not Hannah," I declare, casting a disdainful glance at Hannah, who wears a pained expression that goes unnoticed by me."Alice can't be Luna; that position belongs to Hannah!" Dad insists, his voice raised."No, it doesn't," I argue back."As the eldest son, you should be wil
I lean against a tree, arms crossed, positioned a few feet away from the pack house where the ballroom is located, waiting for Alice. Our pack house, nestled in the heart of the woods, is surrounded by tall trees, emphasizing our close connection to nature as werewolves. Although the night is young, I couldn't care less for its beauty. My mood is so sour that I can't even appreciate the starry night sky, with the moon shining brightly. I sent an omega to call her. My gaze fixates on a solitary stone beneath my feet, the minutes ticking away with excruciating slowness. The relentless howls of my wolf echo in my mind, a storm of conflicting emotions urging me to reconsider my decision with every passing moment of Alice's impending arrival. I truly wish I could, but the past hour has shown me I couldn't.I thrust myself away from the tree as the unmistakable scent of Alice wafts through the air. As she materializes before me, she wastes no time, throwing her arms around me in a gesture f
HANNAHWith a gentle thud, I close the car door, my eyes lifting to behold the grandeur of the Sky Packhouse. The sheer magnificence of the colossal mansion, designed to house thousands of werewolves, stands as a testament to the power of the pack. Werewolves move purposefully in and out, already bustling with activity in the early hours. As I turn around, the car purrs to life behind me, and I watch my parents drive away without a farewell. A pang of hurt clenches my heart.The memory of last night's conversation with my mom about the impending photo shoot with Alex and the forced marriage resurfaces. The tears well up as I ponder if they couldn't see the pain this loveless marriage would inflict. I understand the duty to my pack, but sacrificing my happiness seems an exorbitant price to pay. The realization that my parents don't perceive it that way stings deeply.Releasing a breath, I shake my head, deciding to proceed with what brought me here. As I approach, I step inside the gra
Staring at Alex, I'm rocked to the core by the revelation that Poppy has just voiced. His recent rejection of Alice leaves only one conclusion: I am his second mate. The weight of that realization settles over me like a heavy shroud. Me? His second chance, mate. It's a concept I struggle to wrap my mind around, disbelief mingling with the years of longing for the day I would finally meet my mate. And yet, here he stands before me, the very man I've yearned for. But amidst the whirlwind of emotions, Poppy tells me she can still sense the raw pain of his recent rejection. My heart aches for him, empathy flooding my being.In that fleeting moment, Alex slowly unwraps his arms from around my waist, creating a physical distance between us. I maintain my gaze, my eyes betraying the pity and compassion swirling within me.Running my eyes over his form, I take in the sight of the white vest he wears, its fabric clinging to his muscular arms and offering a tantalizing glimpse of what lies bene
I lock eyes with Alex, feeling the slow burn of lust igniting within me as his hands rest on my waist. My heart races with anticipation, wondering what will unfold next. But just as I'm lost in the moment, Poppy, in control of my body, moves slowly and deliberately, guiding Alex's hand to my breast.A shiver runs down my spine as a soft moan escapes my lips. My eyes widen in shock at my own behavior, the realization of what's happening sinking in with each passing second."Poppy, stop this instant," I whisper-yell, my voice trembling with a mix of arousal and apprehension as I struggle against the overpowering urge to surrender to Alex's touch. The fire he ignites within me is undeniable, and I'm torn between the intoxicating pleasure and the need to resist.But Poppy refuses to relent, her voice echoing in my mind with persistence."No, Hannah. You have longed for this day for so long," she insists, her words a reminder of the desires that have simmered beneath the surface for far to