2. Alpha's Death

His words struck my heart like a train. That was the worst utterance I ever expected. I never wanted to accept this 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–accepting his rejection.

Without thinking twice, I sighed and said, voice trembling slightly with rage,

"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 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. It was Father. Though I was still reeling from the broken bond, I caught the unmistakable look of disgust on his face. My heart sank deeper. I wished he would support me—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.

"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 was grinning with a vicious kind of satisfaction.

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

He said it like a verdict.

"Theodore needs a Luna who is strong so that our pack won't collapse."

I couldn't believe it. So, he knew about this all along and said nothing. A lump grew in my throat as I turned my eyes toward the heavens, hoping to find comfort in the stars. Nothing happened. Only tears fell.

"I understand how you feel, my dear…" Father said, but his tone was hollow.

"But Theodore and I have reached a decision. You will be his Shadow Luna. While the world sees Lola as his Luna, you will remain the standby Luna."

I turned to him slowly, disbelief written all over my face. Was he serious right now? Shadow Lunas 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, my nails digging into my palms.

"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, not caring that it was the first time I'd ever been rude to him.

As the tension hung in the air, a servant entered, bowing deeply.

"Alpha, 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, my voice barely more than a whisper.

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

There. I said it.

But his reaction? A dagger to the heart.

He pushed me aside with disgust.

"Get that child in your womb removed before the ceremony. 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.

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 him 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.

"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…" Theodore said, lifting the Wolf Tooth from the box.

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

He leaned closer. "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.

He pushed Father roughly. "Don’t fool yourself, old man," he said, gripping the Wolf Tooth tightly.

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

"Uhhhhh!" Father groaned as he fell, the crowd erupting in screams.

"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 I had to run or die.

I spun around to flee, but a hand clamped down on my wrist.

It was Beatrice.

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.

"No running, Sai," she said, stepping closer. "You’re joining your father in his grave."

I tried to run away, but her grip was iron.

The time had come. For war or escape.