BETRAYAL IN DISGUISE

NORA’S POV 

“Don’t worry, there’ll be no need for that anyway.”  I pulled away, as the maid tried to cover the scar on my face with makeup. 

The maid didn’t say anything, yet the glaring question was all over her face. 

A soft knock sounded against the door, “I’ll take it up from here, you may leave.” The door swung open, and I saw Celeste’s reflection walking towards me from the mirror. 

“Happy anniversary, best friend!” Celeste squealed. 

I managed a grin. “Thank you so much,” she pulled me up, and gestured for me to do a three-sixty. 

“You look amazing.” 

I sighed. “Thank you,” I said softly. “I wish my husband would see the same thing.” 

Her face turned forlorn. “Nora, you shouldn’t worry yourself about Aiden. He’s your fated mate afterall,” 

I simply nodded. 

Celeste wasn’t done. “Look, I hate to say this. Aiden cannot afford to be with a wolfless Omega,” Her tone was clipped. “Meanwhile, I think he’s silly for treating you with disrespect. You’re his mate, his wife!” 

“Hmm. I shifted first before most wolves our age,” If that counts for something. 

Celeste shrugged. “It’s unfortunate. I—“She stopped abruptly mid-sentence when her phone vibrated. 

Her shoulders tightened the instant her gaze landed on the screen. “I- um. I have to go now,” Celeste sounded urgent. She gave me a brief hug, and started making her way to the exit, when I called out to her. 

“Celeste!” She stopped in her tracks, and turned to face me.

I hesitated for a bit. “Aiden said he was in love with someone else,” The words felt like metal on my tongue. “You’re always with Aiden. His personal assistant. You should know the other woman.” 

“Nora—”

“I’m not done yet,” I cut her off, surprised at myself. 

Speaking up, cutting people off to air my voice was a luxury that wasn’t opened to an Omega. Even if said Omega was the pack’s Luna. 

I was only Riverstone’s pack Luna in writing, nothing  more. 

“Wh-Wh-what are you talking about?” Her voice was frantic. 

The tightening around her shoulders intensified. Her knuckles turned pure white I almost feared her phone would crack under her grip.

I might’ve lost my wolf. But, I still had the ability to feel. There was only one explanation to Celeste’s sudden change of attitude— she was hiding something. 

There was another woman, and Celeste knew about it. 

Tears rushed to my eyes. “You know about her, don’t you?” 

No response. 

“Tell me, please…” 

Celeste managed a smile. “Nora, why don‘t you get out of your head instead, and enjoy your anniversary,” 

“Celeste, I cannot bear the pain of a broken mate bond.” My voice was weak. 

She pouted. “I’m sure you won’t,” her phone rang with a notification, and her cheeks turned pink. “I have to fix some things. See you,” she immediately rushed out, giving me no room to say anything else. 

                             ~~~

Guests flocked every corner in the grand hall. Sipping wine, and giving me formal nods. From the looks on their faces, it was obvious they still had animosity towards me for the death of my parents. 

Albeit, I blamed myself everyday. Perhaps, if I didn’t shift that day, they’d still be here with me. 

My father was a protective Beta wolf who’d not blink twice before giving up everything for his family. 

My mother on the other hand was soft, with the brightest smile. I miss them every single day. I never said this to anyone, but I wanted my wolf. I wanted to feel her again, to bear the sweet pain of shifting to my wolf’s form. 

‘Moon goddess, a second chance to feel her again,’ 

I wanted to prove to Aiden, and the rest of the Riverstone pack that I was capable of being the strong Luna they’ve always wanted. 

I brushed the thoughts aside. My eyes scanned the environment searching for a wisp of brown hair, and his scent. 

“Oh there she is, Riverstone Luna,” A familiar feminine voice reached my ears. 

“Thanks for coming Doris. ” I tipped my head in a small bow. 

Doris hissed. “You have a long thing coming, if you think I came here for you,” She huffed. “The moon goddess made a grave mistake mating you to my son,” 

My heartbeat picked up again, her words echoing at the back of my mind. Doris raised her glass of champagne. “The moon—” 

“Listen up everyone!” She said in a raised voice, the room was death silent, I could hear the sound of a moth breathing. “My son, Alpha Aiden has something important to say,” 

I looked around, and my gaze descended on Alpha Aiden. Dressed in a black three piece suit, Aiden looked devastatingly handsome. 

My heart skipped double beats, my lips parted into a smile. He inched closer to me, a dark shadow etched on his face. Doris shoved me aside, and it took my quick reflexes to keep my balance. 

“There you are, son,” she sounded giddy. Doris was always stoic, her expressions rarely giving much of what she was thinking. However, her facial expressions lit up the instant she saw her son. 

Aiden bowed his head, and kissed his mother on the cheeks. He was the perfect Alpha to his pack. A monster in a scary way, when it trickled down to me. 

Alpha Aiden Reynolds couldn’t stand me, neither could anyone else. 

“Go ahead, tell them about your engagement, and your pup,” 

It was one thing to be hated— Go ahead, tell them about your engagement, and your pup. Wait what! I replayed Doris’ words a thousand times in a split second. 

My heartbeat slowed to a crawl. 

It was almost like I was floating through another world. I opened my mouth to speak, but I couldn’t muster any words. 

When Doris turned to face me, there was no streak of remorse on her face. “Go on, Aiden, tell her,” her tone brought no room for argument. 

Aiden let out a strained sigh. For the first time in two years, I saw a flicker of fear in his eyes. “Nora, everyone in the pack knows I never loved you. I only agreed to be with you because you were goddess fated mate…” his voice trailed off. “I’m in love with someone else, and I want to claim her, right now.” 

Two ladies giggled behind him. “Good riddance.” they muttered under their breath. 

My body felt limp, my legs were barely holding me in place. My lungs were stripped of oxygen, I opened my mouth to drag in air, it felt like poison. 

“Why—why do you want to do this to me?” The lame question dropped from my lips, but that was all I could think of. 

“Have you seen your face?” He said in one rushed breath. “Even worse, your Omega body is too weak to carry my child. You’re useless to me, Nora Howard.”

I collapsed on my knees. “I’m sorry. I’ll give you a child,” I clasped my hands. I couldn’t bear the pain of my mate's rejection. 

I was too weak for that. 

Adrian scoffed. “Let’s get this over and done with,” he said instead. “I, Aiden Reynolds, Alpha of Riverstone pack—

I sniffled. “Aiden please…” 

“I reject you Nora Howard, as my fated mate,” Aiden said in one rushed breath.

In that instant, my world turned upside down. Pain, mixed with agony sliced through my chest like molten lava. The fated mate bond stretched between us, twisting and pulling. 

Then, it snapped. Slow, and excruciating. 

I groaned, tears pooled at the corner of my eyes. My legs gave way under the weight of the pain. “This is a good step, son,” Doris’ voice echoed in the background. “It is time for you to mark your second chance mate,” 

I writhed in pain, hugging my body so tight to suppress the pain that punched at my delicate nerves. From the dark shadows crested on Aiden’s face, it was obvious he was feeling the pain. He was just better at hiding it. 

Aiden cleared his throat, and began. “Riverstone pack, today marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one…” his voice trailed off. “Today, I’m going to mark the love of my life. The moon goddess might not have fated us, but I choose her,” 

Suddenly, the hall went deathly silent. The sound of heels clicking against the marble tiles reached my ears, each sound clearer as it edged close to me. 

I managed to lift my head, and I saw Celeste. I pushed myself up, allowing the tears to flow freely. She was the only one who’d sympathize with me. 

“Celeste—” 

Doris sidestepped me, and pulled Celeste into a hug. “Oh there she is. Our new Luna, come my child,” She said. Doris rubbed her hands over Celeste’s stomach, 

before placing a soft kiss. 

I couldn’t feel half of my body. My stomach churned with an urgent need to throw everything out. Almost immediately, it struck— Celeste Rodriguez was the other woman.