1

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make!"

Instantly, everyone turned to face the host of the grand party, Alpha Frederick Carter, the 5th most powerful Alpha King in the world. He ascended the throne after his father's death five years ago and has led the pack to great heights, pushing them from a 15th-ranked pack to a fifth-ranked pack. And so, everyone here respected him.

The musicians immediately stopped playing to give their leader, the silence that he needed. A pin could be heard if it dropped at this tense moment.

On the platform were three people, two of whom were seated on thrones- a male and a female. The seated male was the organizer of this party and the one beside him was his Luna, Xylia Carter, a woman whom they also respected as she was more than a pretty face.

The one standing behind the Alpha's throne was his Beta, Harold Jones, with a slightly darker skin tone than his masters. Black sunglasses covered his eyes and made him look strict.

The young Alpha stared at his pack members for a few minutes while they did their best not to look uneasy.

A smile soon materialized on Alpha Frederick's lips and he gazed at his Luna with what everyone thought were loving eyes.

"Xylia, you've been there for me and I appreciate what you've done. But I have found someone who is better, someone to accompany me till my old age."

The moment their leader said those words, everyone looked shocked.

What did the Alpha mean?

"Alpha..." the Luna's voice trembled upon hearing this revelation.

"You... found your mate?" she asked in a whisper while trying her utmost to repress tears that were flooding her eyes right now from cascading down her cheeks.

As a Luna, she mustn't show any weakness publicly, even if the world was weighing down on her.

"Yes, I found her three months ago." The Alpha said with a stony expression. The 'love' in his eyes from before was gone.

"And you didn't bother to inform me? You felt it was better to say so in front of all these people?" Xylia questioned, her hands were already fisted beneath her sleeves.

Destined mates paired by the moon goddess, Seline were rare. Most werewolves today choose their own mates. Many others were betrothed from childhood, and this was the case for this royal couple.

Xylia and Frederick were betrothed since young and when Frederick turned 19 and Xylia was eighteen, they got married.

"What difference does it make?" The Alpha said coldly.

Xylia's chest heaved and she opened her mouth but since she couldn't find any words to say, she closed it again. She could only stare at him accusingly. She watched as he faced the audience again without a care regarding her feelings.

"You all know that destined mates have a bond that can't be denied. What I feel for my true mate is a million times better than what I feel for Xylia. There can't be two queens in one mountain, and so, I have to let go of one of them." He then turned to Xylia and motioned for her to stand and face the audience.

Though reluctant, Xylia obeyed, after all, he was the Alpha. Disobeying him was considered an insult and could in severe cases result in her death.

"Darling, please come out," Alpha Frederick called out. His tone this time was not cold and uncaring as it was with Xylia just now.

 A minute later, a woman stepped into the hall and everyone parted ways for her. She was tall and possessed pepper-and-salt hair and enchanting amber eyes.

"Wow, she's beautiful!" someone exclaimed.

This was followed by several murmurs and whispers among the crowd with most praising the stranger's beauty.

She was taller and much more beautiful than the current Luna; She even carried herself with much more charm and elegance.

Many began to nod their head, approving of this beautiful mate that was destined for their Alpha. They felt the goddess really gave their pack a boon and take it they must.

Xylia, on the other hand, was like a firefly compared to the moon. She wasn't that pretty, nor was she blessed with curves, ample melons and mindboggling backside like this strange woman coming towards the platform. Compared to her, she looked more like a clown. The strange woman's clothes and jewellery were even more expensive than what she was currently attired in.

Seeing the conceited stranger sit on her husband's thigh made her clench her fists tighter till blood flowed out. A tear sneakily streamed down her eyelid but she quickly wiped it off with her sleeve. No, she couldn't look broken to them this early.

She stared at her chosen mate with a blank expression, expecting the worst to happen.

"This is Lily Morgan, my true mate," the Alpha took Lily's hand and kissed it, eliciting cheers from the audience.

"Who do you think is best to be the Luna and who should be the assistant?" the Alpha asked.

At that, many in the audience began to shout, "Luna Lily! Luna Lily!"

It was obvious that, after being smitten by this angel-like female, they wanted to do away with the one that now looked like a monkfish.

The Alpha turned to a still-expressionless Xylia, "You heard what they said. And I love to make my people happy. So, from this very minute, you are deposed of your queenship and can no longer bear my surname. From now on, you are Xylia Wilther, the personal assistant of my dear Lily who will be crowned Luna in 5 days."

"Alpha Frederick, I'm glad you found your true mate. She's really very beautiful, I can't hold a candle to her in any part, I guess. I can accept being dethroned as Luna, I can accept that I'm no longer your wife. But I will not accept being discomfited by becoming a slave to this woman. Over my dead body!" Xylia growled.

This caused many to gasp in shock. This bitter Xylia was speaking disrespectfully to their leader; Did she have a death wish?

The Alpha frowned upon hearing her words, "You should be happy that I still keep you close by on account of your help to me in the past years,"

"Alpha, I request to be banished from this pack. I have no desire to breathe the same air as you shameless souls tomorrow." Xylia raged. This made many let out gasps of shock and they began to murmur amongst themselves.

With a stony face, the alpha decided, "If you can defeat her, then I'll grant that wish. Otherwise, forget it,"

"Fine, let's fight now," Xylia said, rolling her sleeves. Then she beckoned towards the hateful woman.

Lily also rose and headed to her opponent with a confident smile. By the Beta's count of three, the two ladies charged at each other, with their nails lengthened and their fangs making an appearance. Their eye colour changed to yellow, a sign that they were both beta wolves too.

It took only 2 minutes but Lily suddenly fell.

Xylia didn't attack her but waited for her opponent to get up. The Alpha looked worried but her didn't get up as Lily signalled him not to move an inch, mouthing the words 'I'm fine,' to him.

This eased his expression a bit.

"Hurry up, future Luna. I don't have all day,"

"Uhm... I don't feel so good. Please help me up,"

Xylia raised a brow at the woman's request.

"Why should I?"

"You pushed me and even hit my gut. So you have to help me up, we're not arch enemies,"

"You have a mate, let him do the honours," Xylia folded her arms.

"But you pushed me," Lily began to sob, eliciting pity from the audience who began to scold her.

"Help her up now, you witch!" the alpha commanded.

Xylia stared at him for a few seconds before obeying his order. She helped the hateful Lily get to her feet. But suddenly, Lily covertly used Xylia's hand to push her backwards and she fell to the ground miserably.

"Xylia, I know you don't like me but do you have to go this far?" she said with gritted teeth, her hand placed on her belly.

"I didn't push you, stop pretending!" Xylia was bewildered.

"Do you want to die?" the alpha raged. Before he could say the next word, Lily suddenly screamed, her eyes depicting fright.

Everyone's attention was drawn to her. Lily's lips were trembling and her hands were on her belly. "N-no... Blood... my child...no," Lily muttered, seeming scatterbrained.

Xylia, on her part, was astounded at the turn of events. The first time, Lily fell, she didn't even touch her, she fell by herself. She only helped this vixen up on the Alpha's command. But this sly woman fell again and started bleeding from down there. Was she having a miscarriage?

Lily looked towards the Alpha who had already risen from his seat, wearing a worried look, "I'm sorry, our son couldn't see this world..."

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant with my heir?" the Alpha said with a pained voice as he made his way to her.

"I didn't know she would be this cruel to push me down twice. I'm so sorry," she said in a weakened voice and then she fainted.

"Lily!" the Alpha caught her before her head could hit the floor. Then, in a rage he ordered for Xylia to be taken to the dungeon and not be fed with food or water.

As the guards dragged Xylia away, the Alpha carried his beloved mate in his arms and the Beta asked someone to get the royal physician.