2. Alpha's Death

~Sai

Theodore's words broke my heart. That was the worst utterance I ever expected.

I couldn't believe it. After everything I did for him? After allowing him to live under our roof for so many years. Even letting my father accept him and treat him like his own child.

So after doing all these for him, this is how he repays me?

By betraying me, deceiving Me and now?

Rejecting Me?!

I never wanted to accept this REJECTION but I couldn't imagine myself being in a relationship with Theodore.

He is such a cheat, and there could only be one solution to this which is accepting his rejection.

Without thinking twice, I sighed. "Is this what you really want?"

Theodore didn't even say a word.

I smirked at him. "If you are going to reject me, then I should also be accepting your Rejection!"

"I, Sai Ray, the Alpha's Daughter, accept your rejection!"

Immediately after my declaration, the mate bond shimmered before us and broke in an instant.

Pain ripped through my chest, sharp and burning.

That was the usual feeling. Once you're not strong enough as a SHE-WOLF and your mate rejects you, then you're hit hard in the chest and sometimes, the pain may even kill you.

"What is going on here?" a voice asked from behind.

We all turned and saw Father. Though I was still reeling from the broken bond, I caught the unmistakable look of disgust on Father's face.

My heart sank deeper. I wished he would support me— even if it's just once. But no, he had always believed whatever Beatrice told him, even the lies about me. To him, Lola was his favorite daughter. Not me.

But even with that, I still had to try my best.

I ran up to him.

"Father, I am no longer interested in becoming Theo's mate. He cheated on me with Lola and even rejected me—"

"I am very much aware of that, Sai," Father cut in, his voice as cold as the moonlight.

I froze, dumbfounded, struggling to process what he had just said.

Behind him, Beatrice—Lola's mom, was grinning with a vicious kind of satisfaction.

"What do you mean by you are already aware of this, Father?! Theodore just rejected me and...."

"Theodore has his reasons for cheating on you with your sister, Sai! It is because of her wolf. Lola has a wolf and a strong one at that. But you? You don't have any." Father said, cutting Me off.

I blinked twice, extremely shocked but it seemed like be wasn't done. wasn't done.

He continued. "Theodore needs a Luna who is strong so that our pack won't collapse. And who do you think is more capable of this role if not your sister?"

I smirked bitterly.

I couldn't believe what I just heard. So, he knew about this all along and said nothing.

I tried to understand better but nothing was there to understand. Only tears fell.

"I understand how you feel, my dear, But Theodore and I have reached a decision!"

I wiped off the tears in my eyes. The both already reached a decision?

Father nodded. "According to the agreement I had with Theodore, you will be his Shadow Luna, while Lola becomes his real Luna. What I simply mean by this is— While the world sees Lola as his Luna, you will remain the standby Luna."

Hearing what Father just said, I scoffed bitterly!

Was Father being serious right now? What does he mean by I will be Theodore's shadow Luna?

All these things only exist in movies. Do they even happen in reality? Where an Alpha has two Lunas—the real and the fake. The fake stands in public while the real one works in silence, unacknowledged.

"If you don't mind, we can do that," Father added.

I clenched my fists. "I won't accept Theodore as my mate!” I slammed my hands on the wall. “Theodore already rejected me! Do you expect me to stand in Lola's shadow? My stepsister's shadow?" I asked, tears brimming in my eyes. "You all only love Lola. Whatever she says, you believe. Just because she has a strong wolf…"

"No, my dear—"

"I don't need anyone to tell me what to do. I'm done with this relationship, and that's all!" I shouted, cutting Father off,

In that moment, a servant entered, bowing deeply.

"Alpha, the Priest is here already! it is almost time for the Mating Ceremony to begin."

Beatrice's face lit up with joy. In her mind, her daughter was about to be crowned Luna.

"Come on, Lola. You need to get ready for your big night. Once the pink moon rises, you'll be declared Theodore's wife."

Lola walked to her mother and they both exited the room. Father followed, and as Theodore turned to leave as well, I stopped him.

"Why are you doing this to me, Theo?" I asked. "Remember what happened between us three weeks ago, it resulted in a pregnancy."

I finally said it.

And within that second, his entire mood changed.

He dragged my hand and push it to the wall. "You can't be serious about this, are you?"

"And why would I be lying? You got me pregnant, you should take responsibility for the thing you have done..."

"Get that child in your womb removed before the ceremony!" Theodore cut me off with a violent tone. "You better abort the life in your womb because the moment If I find out you still have it when I become Alpha, I will ruin both your lives."

He kicked my hand away and walked out.

Tears fell from my eyes.

I thought revealing the truth would change something but all I saw was hatred. Raw and real.

Father didn’t love me. No one did. Even my mate—the one I thought would be my greatest gift, rejected me. There was nothing left for me in this pack.

It was time to run. Time to escape and never look back.

I picked myself up from the floor and ran to my room, throwing my clothes into a bag with trembling hands.

With my things ready, I sneaked out quietly. But before leaving, I decided to see Father’s face one last time.

As I stepped into the Lounge, I saw Father holding the Ancient Wolf Tooth—an artifact passed down from Alpha to Alpha. It glowed faintly with ancestral power.

Standing before him were Theo and Lola, both dressed in ceremonial white.

"This is the Ancestral Wolf Tooth, signifying your position as the Alpha of Red Moon Pack. By the power vested in me, I declare you, Theodore Kaiser, the new Alpha of Red Moon Pack."

Father handed the box to Theodore, who smiled—desperately, like he’d hungered for this moment his entire life.

With the wolf tooth shining bright in his hands, Theodore declared.

"As the new Alpha of Red Moon Pack, I vow to take care of this pack and your daughter, Lola. Especially when you're gone…"

Gasps echoed around the room. Even Father blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean by that? Don’t think I’m dying anytime soon, because I’m not! Hahaha…" he chuckled awkwardly.

But Theodore didn’t laugh. His face was stone. Obviously, it wasn't a joke!

Without looking back, He pushed Father roughly. "Don’t fool yourself, old man," he said, gripping the Wolf Tooth tightly. "Your time is over. Both in this life and in this Pack! It's time for you to leave!"

I was baffled. What's up with Theodore and why is he speaking to father in such a manner?

My thoughts had barely settled down when Theodore grabbed Father by the collar.

Before Father could react, Theodore raised the Ancestral Wolf tooth high—and stabbed him in the chest.

"Uhhhhh!" Father groaned and fell to the ground.

"Fatherrrrrrrr…." I screamed from where I stood, frozen in place.

Theodore and Lola exchanged wicked smiles. Even Beatrice’s eyes glittered with satisfaction.

It had all been planned.

"With the blood of the old Alpha on this sacred tooth, I will become the strongest Alpha and wolf in the world!" Theodore proclaimed, his voice thick with madness.

Lola stroked his chest proudly.

"Well done, Alpha," she said, then looked up and our eyes locked.

"Sai!" she gasped.

Beatrice and Theodore turned toward me, shaking their heads in disbelief.

At that moment, I knew they would definitely come for me. It is either I run for my life or I die.

I didn't waste anytime. This was my time to escape. I don't have to delay, thus, I urged hard to run off but just when my feet could leave the ground, someone grabbed my hand tightly.

In panic, I turned and saw Beatrice.

"Where on earth do you think you are going, Sai? You think you can hide from us?!"

I shook my head as my eyes met with Beatrice's.

Her eyes glowed green. Her lips parted to reveal a flicker of emerald flame.

Only witches had such power.

This means that Beatrice is a witch.

I spoke hesitatingly. "Let me go!"

"No running, Sai. You’re about to join your father in his grave."