She’s taking over

(IVORY’S POV)

I jolted upright, drenched in sweat, my throat was parched as a desert. Again! The troubling dream of the Alpha King had returned, and this time, it felt too real. An untouchable figure, the king of all kings. Few had seen him eye to eye, and I was no exception, only on paper. Why was he invading my dreams?

Swallowing hard, I became acutely aware of my surroundings. Holy shit! I was still in the office; papers sprawled all over my desk. It’s ironic how this very place I hated—the same place that constantly reminded me I was just a mere lab assistant, had become my sanctuary from the pack gossip and my thoughts.

“What are you doing, slacking off, huh? Get to work, ceremonial Luna!”

Startled by the abrupt intrusion, I looked up to see Professor Sly, my superior at work. True to his name, he was a cunning old man who never bothered to hide his disdain for me.

I plastered on a fake smile. “Professor Sly, I was about to take my leave. As you know, it’s Alpha Alaric’s birthday celebration.”

Rising to my feet, he scoffed, muttering under his breath, “Pathetic.” I heard him loud and clear. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him today; my head already hurt.

He was always trying to poke at me, biased and undermining the work I poured my blood and sweat into, only to dismiss it as “basic.”

“Look, Professor Sly, I’ve really tried to keep up with your unpleasant attitude, and I'm tired of it. So please—”

Professor Sly burst into a sarcastic laugh. “Tired of what exactly? What have you achieved so far that makes you tired? My bad, maybe tired of your position as a Luna, right? Or tired of lying, hiding that you’re a witch who eats the Alpha’s pups?”

My body started shaking uncontrollably from rage. In the back of my mind, Lilly snarled at me for suppressing her; she wanted to rip his head off, but I wouldn’t let her. Ignoring him, I packed my belongings and headed for the door.

“Misfortune! That’s all you bring wherever you go, all because of your cursed life. That’s why no one has ever chosen you as their number one, not even your father. Disgraceful. Even the Moon Goddess didn’t choose you to breed an heir for your own pack. That says a lot about you.”

This was it? Unloading the resentment he’d carried for so long?

But I was not surprised.

Allegations swirled in the pack, claiming I was cursed by a witch and had failed miserably in my duties as Luna. Everyone seemed to enjoy discussing how hard I was trying to cope. But were these just rumors? It wouldn’t be labeled as such if there was some truth behind it. I wasn’t cursed by a witch but by the Moon Goddess herself.

On a second note, screw him! I wouldn’t ignore him this time. I turned back to him, anger blazing in my eyes. In a low voice, I threatened, “Don’t you ever dare speak to me in that manner. Do not forget, I am still the Luna of this pack and can have you prosecuted without questions.”

I moved closer until I was at eye level with him. “I would rather never age than become a sad, pathetic old professor like yourself.”

With that, I stormed off to the office mailroom to check on the gifts I had arranged for the celebration. I had a personalized dagger crafted from Damascus steel and a signet ring featuring the pack’s crest, made from sapphire. I had prepared them for a long time, using top-notch specialists.

How time flies; it had already been a month since Valerie moved into the pack house, yet it still feels like yesterday.

The elders had also summoned Alaric, claiming that the bad luck plaguing the pack stemmed from our bond. Honestly, not only did they expect Alaric to reject me, but I did too—and I was ready to accept it. When he didn’t, I found myself harboring enemies in the pack. They never liked that he accepted me.

Speaking of him, he had grown more distant than before. Yes, I knew he was thrilled with his incoming heir, but he didn’t have to rub it in my face. It hurt every time I saw him smile, knowing I wasn’t the reason behind it.

At first, I couldn’t control my emotions, spiraling out of control just to console myself that he was mine. But lately, I had learned to keep to myself, letting things slide for the sake of peace—even with Valerie’s side comments. She was hailed and praised while I was labeled as the ‘problem.’

The only person who kept me in check was Evans, my right wing. She was an omega from my former pack, the Red Blood Pack, gifted to me by my father when I became Luna of the Silver Pack. She had been with me through it all—not just as my confidant but as my best friend.

*******

Arriving at the pack house, I felt my heart sink as I took in the altered decorations and ambiance.

“No, this is an eyesore! Drape the throne in another cloth!” Valarie strutted around like she owned the place, barking orders as if my hard work meant nothing. I was furious. She knew I had planned this day down to the last detail, yet here she was, changing everything without consulting me first.

“What do you think you’re doing? How dare you overstep your boundaries?” I confronted her, my voice steady despite the rage boiling inside.

Her mock surprise only fueled my anger. “What? You have horrible taste; I had to redecorate it. This is what the Alpha’s heir wanted,” she said, rubbing her stomach with a smug smile. “It’s best to honor the wishes of a first pup, especially if it’s the pack’s heir.”

She gasped, holding her left hand over her mouth. “Oops, my bad. I forgot you don’t know what it feels like to carry a healthy pup.”

Her words struck a nerve. I had never acted impulsively, but this cunning woman made me question my sanity. I wanted nothing more than to smack her hard across the face until she lost some teeth. Yet I forced myself to stay calm and turned away, heading to my room. I knew that if I spent another moment around her, my restraint would shatter.

Time blurred into a chaotic rhythm; the sounds of drums filled the town, and the packhouse began to swell with guests. I examined myself in the mirror once more. My long, dark hair shimmered in waves; the kohl and mascara accentuated my dull eyes, which strained on the birthmark on my nose. The red gown I wore showed my figure, complemented by a ruby necklace and black pumps. I looked like a happy wife, contrary to the reality I felt.

As I descended the stairs, I felt like an outsider at my mate’s birthday celebration. Everyone ignored me, showering their attention solely on Valerie and Alaric. His hand wrapped protectively around her waist. From where I stood, I finally understood—it was clear why others saw them as a powerful couple.

They mingled with the guests, giggles and exchanging glances. Valerie carried herself with confidence and poise, something I had always struggled with. She was good at outshining others, eager to prove why she was better.

Not wanting to shatter my already bruised heart, I darted across the room, searching for Evans in the crowd. At least with her, I didn’t have to pretend. But she wasn’t there. Where could she have gone?

A waiter offered me a drink, and I grabbed one, gulping it down as the fizz burned my throat. Perhaps this would ease my mind, but still, Evans was missing, and I was starting to feel weary of the event, of waiting.

Moments later, the world around me tilted, making me suddenly dizzy. “It’s just stress,” I reassured myself when someone pressed a note into my hands. Before I could respond, the anonymous person vanished into the crowd.

Opening the note, I recognized Evans’ handwriting: Meet me at the Omega’s quarters, the light room. I’m Stranded Here.

My heart skipped a beat, unease settling in. Something wasn’t right. What if she was in trouble? I rushed toward the quarters, the note clenched tightly in my right hand.

This is it. The light room. I held my head tightly, waves of dizziness crashing over me again. The room spun as I stopped momentarily to catch my breath, suddenly feeling nauseous. Something was wrong with my immune system.

The door squeaked open as I pushed it. A yelp escaped my lips as a large, cold hand gripped me tightly, tossing me onto the bed. Panic set in.

My vision became unstable as I thrashed around, desperate to scream or call for help, but only a meek sound escaped my lips. I could feel my clothes being torn away. I tried to pry the hands off me, but no energy remained within me. I felt myself slipping into darkness — unconsciousness.

I can’t recall what happened afterwards, but a sharp pain brought me back to reality.

Arghh, what is this pain? I groaned, the sound barely escaping my lips. I opened my eyes, but my mind was still shrouded in fog, a heavy weight pressing down on me.

A whip! Someone was stroking my back with merciless strokes. Help me! Panic wrecked through me as I tried to move, but my body felt like it was ablaze.

The whip lashed down again, and I cried out in agony, my voice a raw plea for mercy. A familiar scent invaded my senses, cutting through the haze. As my vision began to clear, I focused on the figure looming above me... Alaric?