Chapter 3

I woke up with a splitting headache. What the heck happened?

"Oh Serene, I am so glad you’re awake. You gave us a scare," Mom says, rushing to my side.

She places a cup of water down and sits beside my bed.

"What happened?" I ask groggily.

"I don't know, Alpha Zander brought you unconscious. He said he found you in the bush unresponsive. The doctor said it might be a rogue attack. I am just glad you are okay," she hugs me.

Attacked?

My bedroom door opens again, my eyes meet hers, and that is when everything starts coming back.

Crystal and Alpha Zander.

They were kissing.

Him choosing her over me.

The rejection.

Averia's pain.

'Ria,' I called out to her.

'Yeah,' her weak voice responds.

'What is wrong? Are you okay?' I ask worriedly.

'I am trying to be strong for us. I am dying by any minute. I need mate,' she whimpers weakly.

'He rejected us, Ria,' I almost yelled at her. She whimpers in pain and retreats to the back of my head.

"Oh Serene, I am so glad you are okay," Crystal says and rushes to climb my bed.

She takes my hands into hers, and I immediately pull away as if she burned me.

She did burn me.

In the worst way possible.

"Don't touch me," I glared at her.

"Serene! Don't be rude to your little sister. You don't know how much she has cried for you," Mom scolds and walks into my bathroom.

"Did you tell them the truth?" she asks worriedly.

"How can I do that if I just woke up? You already know Mom is going to know her little daughter is a two-faced whore and mate stealer," I tell her.

"Don't call me that! I loved Zander way before he even became the Alpha. Don't pretend I didn't notice how you looked at him; I knew you also liked him, but I was too deep to let him go. I am sorry this happened, but nothing can be done about it," she says.

"A lot of things can be done about it. You can find your own mate and leave mine alone. You are so young, Crystal,it will be very odd for you  to find before your 19th  birthday!" I tell her.

"I can't, " she whispers.

"Why can't you?" I asked.

"I am sorry Serene but I can't, I am already carrying Zander's child," she says, and my face falls and my heart drops.

"What! What! How can you do that! Why will you do that to me ! Does Mom know about any of this? You are only 18 fucking years old."  I asked,my voice was full of anger.

"No.. Keep your fucking voice down. Mom doesn't know about it, we were planning on telling them once your birthday was over and you weren't his mate. We didn't know this would happen! I know I am young but I love him and you won't stop me. My age is a rightful age to find a mate. A lot of wolves are married at my age." she says.

"Shut up, Crystal. I can't believe you are even my sister. You being my sister doesn't mean I forgive you. You hurt me so much. I hate that. You two are so horrible; you plan on sending me away!" I yell at her.

"Keep it down, Serene; Mom will hear you. I am sorry that this has to happen, but nothing could be done about it," she keeps on saying that.

"Why do you keep saying that?!" I shout in anger.

"Because Alpha and dad spoke this morning.Our wedding date has been set. We have already announced our engagement"she says and I feel like the walls are closing in on me.

My mom walks out of the bathroom with my dirty laundry.

"What..mom is it true. Is crystal getting married"I ask tears well up in my eyes

"Oh yes,I forgot to tell you that. Alpha Zander is her mate after all and we have already given them our blessings. The wedding will be on the next full moon. I can't believe it took hid wolf so long to figure out my youngest daughter is his mate"mom says and walks out with the laundry.

"I am sorry, Serene. You need to accept his rejection. I love him," my sister says and stands up, leaving me in a sobbing mess.

I can feel Ria wallowing in pain.

"I am so sorry I disappointed you, Ria," I whispered, and she responded with a whimper.

Later in the afternoon, the pack doctor came to check on me and said I was fine but would heal with time.

Something tells me he knows what is going on but has been made to keep quiet.

I didn't leave the room until 6 PM when my brother came to call me downstairs for dinner.

I stopped in my tracks when I spotted four foreigners in the room.

Alpha Zander, Beta Darius, Alpha Eli, and Luna Nara.

"Serene, my oh my, I am sorry for what happened. I hope those rogues are caught and dealt with," Luna Nara says and gives me a hug.

"Luna. Alpha Eli," I bow to them.

"Alpha and Luna are here to help us with the wedding preparation. We are going to be a family after all," Dad says, and they chuckle.

At that moment, I wish I hadn't raised my head.

Alpha Zander has his hands wrapped around my sister's waist, and she is hugging his side with her head on his torso.

"That is wonderful. I think I am going to go for a walk. The doctor said I need it," I tell them.

"Nonsense, you can go for a walk tomorrow," Mom says.

"Yes, sis, I need you here since you are going to be my maid of honor," my sister says with a sweet smile.

"Sure, why not," I went back to my seat, and the dinner began.

.

The following weeks were torture. I watched as my sister and Zander paraded around the village as if nothing happened. I always tried to keep Ria under control every time we were around him. He practically ignored our presence.

I sometimes wondered how he kept his wolf under control, or if he too was in love with Sansa, my sister's wolf. She found out on her 17th birthday. She was an early bloomer.

But today seals my fate. The night of the full moon is tonight, which means my sister's wedding is today.

The house has been quiet, but I stayed in my room. It is bad enough to watch your mate with another woman but also to stand by their side as they make a complete fool out of you.

That night, I watched them get married and perform the rituals. That night, I felt him mark her, and I nearly died.

A part of me was lost.