CHAPTER ONE

Celine’s POV. 

Beta Arianna is sick — The wedding is off.

I scoffed softly as I read the text message and dozens of notifications flooded my phone, I opened it to find pictures of my supposed husband-to-be, carrying Arianna in his arms. 

There was softness in his eyes and I could tell that he has been gentle with her.

‘Not anymore.’ I muttered to myself, determinedly before yanking off the bridal veil and walking out of the living room. 

“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 while Granny Bridget pulled me into a warm hug as I cried silently.

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

I slept off while she soothed me, as she was the only one who felt my pain. 

The next morning, I woke up with a banging headache and I realized Granny Bridget wasn’t with me. 

I stretched forth my hands and checked my phone only to see more disturbing messages. 

For five years 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 apologetic 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 head 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 now, it’s for every little detail of her life. 

She once called him 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 had 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 fifth time you’re cancelling 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!

I scoffed and walked out on him. 

The pain was just too much to bear. I grew up in the pack as an orphan and the former Alpha took me in, five years ago; I realized I and Trent were mates and the alpha was happy because he was fond of me but Trent never cared for me or had tried to put me first. 

The maids gossiped about my ineligibility as Luna and how Arianna would be the perfect fit. 

As I was still brooding, I lost count of time…. a notification from my phone jolted me back to reality and that was when I realized it was past 9pm in the night.

I checked my phone and realized it was a message from Arianna. 

I didn’t want to open the message, but curiosity took the better side of me. 

I opened it slowly, and saw a video of Trent feeding her some apples. 

She 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 truly didn’t know how to feel nor react — so I curled myself on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling, different thoughts rummaging in my mind. 

*****

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 inisisted. “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. She has caused a drift between us for two years, 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 here. 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, I was 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.

I barely said a word to anyone the entire day, not even to Granny Bridget who raised me as her own daughter and cares deeply for me. 

Later that day, 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 alone, and it was the second time I felt so devastated in my entire life. 

‘Happy Birthday, Celine.’ I muttered to myself and waited until after midnight hoping to get a text from Trent yet I got none. 

While I sat in a dark corner, his words resonated in my head and I realized that no matter how hard I tried, he would never see me as his Luna nor acknowledge me as his mate, or as a member of the pack.  

The painful truth was that — he’s always going to choose her.

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 dialed a number; ‘You said to call when I need a getaway, I need one now.’