Chapter 1

Verena

(derives from the Latin “vĕrĕor > verêri,” meaning “revere, respect, revere, fear, be afraid, look with fear.”)

I can recall the very moment I knew my life wouldn’t be what I expected, and that’s the moment I felt my Mate Bond snap into place. I could feel Lucan’s fury as he realised I was the one the Moon Goddess chose as his mate.

At the time I didn’t understand why he felt that way because I’ve always been loyal to him. But as time went on, after he claimed me and made me his Luna, I realised why he felt that way.

He had been having a secret affair with Anabella, my sister, and continued to see her even after we were married. And me, being the soft spoken girl who was completely loyal to her mate, just accepted it for what it was.

Everyone in our pack knew about this arrangement and I was the laughing stock. A weak-willed Luna, allowing her Alpha’s mistress to share their bed, while she slept in the cold. I’ve asked Lucan why he didn’t just reject me and choose my sister, but the answer he gave wasn’t one I expected.

Rejecting his chosen mate is seen as taboo in the eyes of the Moon Goddess.

So instead of sparing us all the pain, he decided to have his cake and eat it too because he’s the Alpha. Rejecting my love for my sister. Stupid me thought if I loved him enough, he would surely love me…

So why am I standing here opposite the very person responsible for my heartache and pain while she slowly embeds a dagger in my chest?

“Ana—” I gasp and she moves in close as if to embrace me, only to twist the dagger deeper.

“You should have gotten rid of it,” she whispers, referring to the child in my belly; a child Lucan was so happy to hear we would be having. He promised to let go of Anabella after, to focus on his family and be a good husband and father.

I guess my sister didn’t take the news well, seeing as you can only have children with your fated mate. Anabella would never have been able to give Lucan this gift.

She steps back and I stumble, realising too late that the dagger is silver dipped in wolfsbane, so my healing won’t kick in at all. I fall to the floor and look up at Anabella who is wearing a smirk on her face.

“Finally I’ll have him all to myself without you being in the way,” she gloats and leans over me. “This is for the best, little sister.”

I cough and blood spittle flies everywhere, but with my last breath I decide to do something I should have done a long time ago; expose my sister for what she is.

/“L-Lucan…My sister has…killed me… there’s a…she stuck a dagger…”/ I stutter my last words through the mind link.

As soon as I hear Lucan’s anguished roars reverberate through the pack house, I know this is it for me. I can feel our bond slowly start to sever, but the look of horror on Anabella’s face as she realises I must have told Lucan, is the last thing I see before my vision slowly fades.

“What did you tell him?!” she shrieks, pulling out the dagger and stabbing me again and again. “You bitch! What did…”

But my head feels like it’s being held underwater. My body twitches each time the dagger comes down, but I no longer feel pain and I close my eyes.

Oh, well. At least I know she won’t get her happily ever after even when I’m gone. She harmed her Luna and killed the Alpha’s child. Death will be too kind a mercy for her. I know Lucan, and he can be ruthless when he’s crossed.

But that is no longer my worry. They deserve each other after what they’ve put me through for so many years. They deserve the pain and anguish that’s to come after my death.

Finally, I can be free of this heartache and pain. After five long years… I’m free.