Chapter One

Celine’s POV

Beta Arianna is sick. The wedding is off.

My throat felt parched as I let out a dry, sarcastic laughter. Of course the wedding is called off- for the eighth time.

Wedding called off through a text. Romantic.

Pitiful sighs and muffled tones all around reminded me I was still wearing my wedding veil, waiting at the altar for a man who repeatedly trampled on my heart like it was dirt.

Dozens of notification flooded my phone, I opened it to find pictures of my supposed husband-to-be, carrying Arianna- the woman he truly cared about, in his arms, softness in his eyes

I scoffed softly. ‘So much for hoping for the best.’

With my heads held high, I walked out, elegantly holding the excess of my dress, every breath painful- every step laced with blazing determination.

When I arrived home, the maids whispered- they were expectant of the ‘unavoidable situation’ but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get out of the wedding gown I'd worn.

“Are you alright?” Granny Bridget asked as she brought me a cup of coffee.

It had rained throughout the day, heavily at that and he didn’t come. I was curled in a corner in my room, staring at the message on the pack’s group chat.

‘ They look perfect together’

‘I wish someone would look at me the way Alpha Trent looks at Beta Arianna’

‘They’re the perfect couple’

‘He called off his wedding because of her’

‘Are we sure they’re not mates?’

‘I bet Luna Celine also agree.’

I let the tear slid down my face and sniffled, Granny Bridget pulled me into a warm hug and I cried silently.

“Everything is going to be fine.” She assured me.

I slept off while she soothed me. The next morning, I woke up with a banging headache and checked my phone only to see more disturbing messages. For five years have I bore the ridicule, watching Trent leave me for Arianna whenever something came up.

“is everything okay?” Trent asked me over breakfast. He looked the least sorry about his actions.

“When did you get back?” I asked, weakly.

“I just got back, I couldn’t leave Arianna, she needed me.” He explained.

I chuckled. “You called off the wedding over a text?”

“It was an emergency, her kitchen caught fire and she inhaled some smoke, she could’ve died if I didn’t arrive in time.” He said, defensively.

I wanted to haul a spoon at him and hit him on the heads until he realized the foolishness in his words but I decided against it. The disrespect was evident.

It wasn’t the first time Trent would leave me or an important occasion of ours for Arianna, at first it was for training and then every little detail of her life. She called him one day to get her sanitary pads, claiming she forgot to buy some and he complied.

‘Arianna is my beta and a member of the pack, I have to protect her.’ He claimed when I confronted him about it.

“You let me look like a fool, as usual.” I noted, sarcastically.

“Don’t be silly, she’s a member of the pack, I can’t just ignore her needs, the pack comes first!” he scolded.

I dropped the spoon, anger and pain stirring inside me. “Everything comes first except me, this is the eighth time you cancelled the wedding because of her!” I blurted.

“Do you expect me to leave her because of you? You should be a Luna who cares about the welfare of the people!”

“That's rich coming from an Alpha who doesn't value his mate.” I replied, softly- scared my shaky voice would betray my emotions and I'd burst into tears.

But his eyes were devoid of compassion, he looked at me as if I was a spoilt entitled brat. “I cared enough to let you stay considering you're a stray!” He retorted.

“Of course, how dare I forget that I have no known roots? If you'd excuse me, your majesty, this stray will take her leave.” I replied calmly, slightly curtsied and turn to walk away, hiding my tears from him.

The maids gossiped about my ineligibility as Luna and how Arianna would be the perfect fit, that night, Arianna sent me a video of Trent feeding her some apples and also posted a video of him taking care of her with the caption; Alpha Trent takes care of those he values the most, thank you for being a part of my life Alpha Trent!

I was awoken by a gentle voice the next morning and I frowned upon seeing Trent and Arianna in my room.

“What’s happening?” I asked as I saw that she was settling in.

“Good morning Luna, I’m really sorry to bother you.” Arianna greeted, half-heartedly.

“Arianna will stay here henceforth, we have reasons to believe the fire was an attack from the rival packs, it would be unsafe for her to stay in her house, she’ll be here where I can properly look after her.” Trent announced.

I watched him help her get comfortable in my bed and I could only watch in disbelief. “What do you think you’re doing? This is my room, she can stay in the guest room!” I yelled, agitated and Trent looked at me like I was insane.

Arianna wore a smug look and pouted, holding Trent’s arm.

“I’m really sorry Luna, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just scared and didn’t want to be alone.” Arianna explained, cunningly.

Before I could speak, Trent cut in. “There’s no need to apologize Arianna, you’re not making her uncomfortable.”

“I disagree.” I insisted. “She can stay in the guest room.”

Trent shot me a dirty look. “What is wrong with you Celine, show some compassion! If we were married, you’d be the luna, is this how you’d treat my beta?”

I wanted to retort, to tell him his beta could go to hell and yell at him to see that she was obviously pretending but there was no need, for years has she caused a rift between us, having him take her side, always.

“I’ll make preparations, you should stay in the guest room until it’s safe for her to return home.” Trent ordered.

“What!” I exclaimed

“Yes, it would be easier to check up on her and protect her. I need to be closer to her than you at the moment.” Trent blurted and the corner of Arianna’s lips curled in a smirk, I could tell she was mocking me, she always did.

“I’m the Luna of the pack, your mate and you want me to vacate my room for her?” I asked, in disbelief.

“I’m really sorry the Alpha made this decision for-“

“Shut up!” I barked at her.

“She’s the beta of this pack, you seem to forget she’s a member of the pack and you’re not neither are you Luna because we’re not married.” Trent reminded me.

I laughed hysterically and walked out of the room, hurting so excruciatingly that I couldn’t weep. I went to the guest room and soaked myself in the Jacuzzi, my thoughts ran wild as I sobbed quietly to myself.

The entire day, I barely said a word to anyone, not even to Granny Bridget who raised me as her own daughter and cares deeply for me. By evening, Arianna had posted more pictures and videos of her and Trent in a party with suggestive captions and positions.

Meanwhile it was my birthday so I ordered a cake and some wine. I cried as I ate the cake- a tradition I'd blindly refused to embrace. I waited for a text- desperately. It would be my conviction that there's hope for us- Trent and I.

But, all that was going to change because a photo of Arianna kissing Trent was sent to me by an unknown number and that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

I resorted to the last thing I'd sworn to do. I sent a text- but not to Trent.