CHAPTER 06: BETRAYED BY HER OTHER HALF

LILY’S POV

I felt the hard kick land deep in my ribs and chest. My body jerked backward, and I pressed both hands tight against my mouth. Warm red liquid seeped slowly between my fingers blood. It tasted metallic and bitter.

“Good,” Alpha Jazzen’s voice boomed like thunder. “That is exactly what belongs to trash like you.”

He stood tall in the center of the great hall, broad shoulders straight, eyes burning with cold anger. He looked down at me as if I were nothing more than dirt under his boots.

All around, people watched. They stood in circles warriors, council members, pack families, guests from nearby lands. Their faces were a mix of expressions: some confused, some curious like watching a show, a few eyes soft with pity, but most full of disgust and scorn. To them, I was the trouble‑maker. The shame.

Slowly, painfully, I dragged myself forward across the cold stone floor. Every movement sent sharp pain through my bones and skin. My dress was torn and dusty; bruises bloomed dark blue and purple all over my arms and legs. Yet I forced myself to crawl closer to him.

“Alpha Jazzen…” I breathed, voice trembling. “You told me you loved me remember? Did you not?”

He only stared harder, jaw tight, no softness anywhere.

I gathered strength I barely had left. I crawled a few steps more. “Do not do this… please, my love… I know she is blackmailing you! I know she twists everything you hear! She is the one lying, not me!”

My heart beat wildly panic rising fast inside me. I was confused, hurt, desperate. Everything felt like a terrible dream I could not wake from. Even now, while they hurt me and hated me, I did not regret ever meeting him. I did not regret loving him.

Before he could speak, Catherine rushed forward from his side graceful, beautiful, wearing fine silk and jewels meant only for high‑rank females. She lunged straight at me.

“You shameless little thing!” she screamed, hand raised high. Her long nails painted bright red slashed across my cheek.

Sharp burning pain opened skin instantly. Blood trickled down my face and fell drop‑by‑drop onto grey stone.

“How dare you speak like that to him?” Catherine hissed, leaning close. “You are nothing but a foolish, useless omega!”

Voices rose louder in the hall. Some wolves shouted, some murmured.

“What exactly is happening here?” one warrior called out from behind. “Why is there fighting in the feast hall?”

Others started asking questions too confusion spreading fast.

My tears fell freely now and blurred everything I looked at. I blinked hard, trying to focus my eyes on Alpha Jazzen’s face. I told myself: I am the victim. I am the one being tricked and hurt. Catherine has poisoned his mind she brainwashed him.

“Alpha Jazzen — listen!” I cried out loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. “I am your true mate not that woman! She is two‑faced and evil!”

Saying those words sent strange heat rushing through my chest and heart the faint, broken echo of the bond we should share. I gripped my torn dress tight, knees shaking so much I almost collapsed flat.

He frowned deeply, brows drawn together in pure dislike.

“You… you are delusional,” he said coldly. “I hardly know your name. You are nothing but rubbish I will throw away.”

“Please… I beg you…” I whispered, lifting my face toward him. “Believe me. I am your mate and I am meant to be Luna of this pack.”

“Guards!” Alpha Jazzen commanded instead of answering me.

Two strong warriors stepped forward quickly.

“Take this crazy woman and lock her deep inside the dungeon,” he ordered in a loud, steady voice meant for all to hear. “Three days from now… she will face execution. She brings shame to us all.”

“No - NO!” I shrieked as heavy hands grabbed both arms and dragged me backward. “I committed NO crime! I only loved you — and you cast me aside for her lies! You will regret this… all of you will regret it!”

They pulled me away from the light of the hall and toward dark stone passages. I struggled uselessly, legs scraping rough floor. Tears poured from both eyes without stopping.

Why is this happening? I kept thinking over and over. All I wanted was to be loved… to belong…

I thought of my adoptive parents the gentle couple who found me as a baby, fed me, protected me, taught me kindness and honesty. They had already been punished just for raising me. Now I was all alone.

Down and down we went deeper underground, colder air wrapping around me like wet cloth. The heavy iron door groaned shut behind me with a loud CLANG. Silence fell thick and heavy. I sank against damp walls and finally closed my eyes while darkness seemed to win completely.

 

CATHERINE’S POV

When Lily was dragged away, I leaned back into Alpha Jazzen’s arms immediately soft, safe, exactly where I planned to be.

“Can you believe that lunatic girl?” I whispered while tracing my fingers slowly along his jawline. “She truly thinks she is your mate! How ridiculous… especially since I have been standing beside you as your partner for two years already.”

We were alone now inside his private chambers warm light, soft fur rugs, everything rich and fine. Earlier tonight, right after the scene in the hall, we had lain together and been close completely intimate.

“I never believed in those old stories about mates anyway,” I said while resting my cheek against his chest. “Love is stronger than magic marks or bonds.”

He held me tighter, strong arms secure around my waist.

I smiled secretly to myself. Soon enough, everyone in the pack would hear the official announcement I would be named Luna. I would be respected and powerful, feared and obeyed by all ranks.

And that omega trash? I thought while caressing his neck gently. She can dream all she wants… it will never happen.

“Alpha Jazzen… my love…” I purred softly near his ear. “How shall I thank you for removing her trouble‑making presence?”

I watched his expression change his eyes darken a little as he thought about punishment.

“She is just an omega,” he said low and firm. “Lowest rank in the pack. She must learn exactly where she belongs.”

“Exactly,” I agreed sweetly. “Omegas know nothing of power or duty.”

He lifted my face with both hands and looked deep into my eyes. “Catherine… you are my chosen Luna. You will never be replaced in my heart.”

His voice sounded sincere and tender. Warm shivers ran all through my body even though I knew deep down I was not truly his destined mate. I also knew he had not yet felt the full bond pull away completely… but I worked carefully to make him forget it existed at all.

Love conquers fate, I told myself again and again.

I rested fully against him, breathing in his scent and feeling satisfied. I loved him truly in my own way and I would never let anyone steal him. Not even Lily… the foolish girl who actually was his destined mate.

But she was nothing: an omega. Lowest possible level. Poor, uneducated, weak.

What harm could she possibly do to me? I laughed quietly inside my mind.

None.

If she ever became Luna, she would only make the pack a laughing‑stock. I was doing her a favor keeping her away from disgrace.

Tomorrow, I planned to go visit her myself deep underground. I wanted to see her face crushed completely. I wanted her to know exactly who rules here.

I closed eyes happily while Jazzen stroked my hair. It felt like a perfect ending to the day. But inside my mind I kept repeating: Tomorrow… tomorrow she will pay for daring to covet what belongs only to me.

 

LILY’S POV — CONTINUED

Now it was morning… or perhaps second or third night? In the dungeon time moves differently.

Everything felt heavy physically, emotionally, mentally drained completely since what happened last evening.

They always say: When you meet your mate, he will accept you exactly as you are. Everyone teaches that in pack lessons. But I realized it was nothing but empty words… lies repeated over and over.

“Maybe… I am just the unluckiest omega born in history,” I whispered to the damp air. “Why must I suffer like this?”

Today should be the day they end everything. Three days were already counted down.

I heard footsteps echoing and heels clicking sharply on stone corridors. Then I heard familiar cruel giggles echoing closer and closer.

Catherine.

She walked into my cell passage wearing deep red silk dress, tight and shiny, high red stilettos shining even in dim light. Her hair was styled perfectly, jewels sparkling. She looked like a queen visiting dirt.

“What a lovely view!” she said loudly, voice echoing. “There she sits the most shameless omega who ever lived… now at rock‑bottom.”

She stopped right in front of iron bars and leaned forward with a wicked grin.

“How could Alpha Jazzen ever like you?” she mocked slowly. “You are dirty, useless, low‑born… exactly the kind who never belongs in high halls. You dreamed of being Luna? That is funny indeed. Serves you perfectly for acting foolish.”

I lifted my head slowly and spat deliberately at her red shoe tip.

She stepped back fast, eyes blazing.

“Now look at me,” I said weakly but clear and sharp. “Who is truly threatened here? You came running down just to stare at me… you are afraid. I have nothing left to lose now nothing at all.”

Catherine narrowed eyes and clenched fists. She stepped closer until bars almost touched her dress.

“Just wait,” she hissed. “We shall soon see exactly who laughs last.”

Before she could speak further or order guards to beat me again loud shouting echoed from far away passages, growing louder rapidly.

“EMERGENCY! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!”

Running footsteps thundered everywhere. Warriors shouted, weapons clattered.

Catherine jumped visibly, composure breaking instantly.

“What?” she cried out, turning toward corridor entrance. “What is happening?! Who attacks?! Is Alpha Jazzen safe? Tell me is he safe?!”

She ran fast toward exit, dress flaring behind her.

I leaned forward weakly from cold wall. “Wait… what happens now… what will happen to me?” I asked the empty air and guards who also rushed away.

Only faint voice drifted back as they left:

“Hope you rot deep here forever!”

Then silence rushed back… but this time filled with distant war noise horns, battle cries, swords clashing, wolves howling wild and angry.

“I was seven years old…”

I sat beside my mother by the fire. She was not my birth‑mother but she loved me as if I came straight from her own heart. Father sharpened knives and taught me survival skills.

“Listen carefully, Lily,” he always said. “Even if you are omega even if people say you are lowest you have worth. You have eyes that see truth and heart that feels deep. That is strength many alphas never learn.”

Mother stroked my hair. “Also remember sometimes the person meant to protect you might hurt you most… but your true power will rise when you need it.”

I did not understand fully then… but now deep in dungeon I understood clearly.

Short simple dialogue version:

“Lily is dangerous,” Catherine said sweetly but firmly. “She spreads bad rumors. She disrespects leaders. She tries to confuse Alpha’s mind.”

Council members nodded — already paid or influenced.

“Then execution is proper,” they agreed quickly.

 

Sometimes late night he felt ache in chest… faint and strange. He thought: Why does thinking of that girl hurt?

Catherine always noticed quickly. She hugged him closer. “It is just tiredness… just old stories… forget her.”

 

Catherine's Side:

She hid in safest tower room. Her hands shook. “Bring me news NOW!”

Lily’s Side:

Iron bars were old and rusted in many years. She remembered father’s lesson: Find weakest spot… use leverage… use stone corner… work slowly…

She began moving carefully, quietly.