Chapter 1

Elina POV

“It is wrong, we aren't…I am sorry, Elina. This should never have happened between us. I only see you as a little sister, and you will always be that little girl to me,” Kieran apologized to me. I wrapped the blanket around my body. I sniffed back my tears.

“But I am not a child anymore. I am not your sister. I don't want to be your sister. I love you,” I argued as I grabbed his hand, holding it tighter.

“No, you don't, and I don’t love you like that. You are my sister,” he said, removing my hand from his. He looked around the room and sighed.

“One day, you will find your mate, and you will know that what you felt for me is not love, E,” Kieran said.

“Don't call me that. Don't treat me like a child,” I told him as I looked at him seductively. I removed the blanket, showing him my body.

“Put your clothes on, Elina. I am sorry. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me one day,” he begged.

“I hate you. I hate you. You can't do this to me, Kier. I love you,” I wept, begging him. I love him.

“Come for breakfast tomorrow in the pack house. I will make you breakfast,” Kieran offered as he walked out of my room.

We had just lost both our parents from the rogue’s recent attack. I had been blaming myself for my mother's death. Mom died trying to save me from a rogue, and my dad, the Beta, died trying to protect Alpha Kieran’s father. I was the weakest wolf in the pack. I couldn't shift; I could only talk and feel my wolf, Elle.

Kieran had come to confront me since I was not talking to anyone or eating, but we ended up sleeping together. I have always had a crush on him since we were kids, but he just sees me as his little sister. I thought what we did together would change everything, but I was wrong.

I could feel my wolf, Elle, whimpering from the rejection. It hurts, but he is not my mate. Why? Why does it hurt so much? I cried myself to sleep.

The next morning, I didn't go to the pack house for breakfast. I preferred to rot in my bed than to see him. My brother, Ezra, walked into my room. I watched as he placed a tray on my nightstand. He sat on my bed beside me.

“E, you haven't been eating. Kieran made breakfast for you. He said you shouldn’t starve yourself,” Ezra muttered. He held my hand as he stroked my hair.

“I am not hungry,” I muttered slowly.

“It is not your fault, E. I will never blame you for that,” Ezra said warmly. I couldn't tell him…it would ruin the friendship between Kieran and Ezra. “When is the accession?” I asked instead.

“This full moon,” Ezra answered. The accession day is the day Kieran fully becomes the Alpha of the pack and Ezra becomes his Beta. I nodded. I love him, and I will prove it to him before then and become his Luna.

★★★

I walked to the pack house. I wore the dress that Kieran bought for me. He had always loved the dress on me. I asked around the pack members, and they told me he was in the Alpha office. As I walked closer, I heard moans. I opened the door to see Naya bent over the desk and Kieran thrusting into her.

“Mate,” he growled as he almost bit Naya's neck.

My presence made them stop, shocked. I stepped back as tears poured from my eyes. I ran outside and down the stairs leading to the pack house door. When I got to the door, I bolted and ran into the woods. I didn't stop until I reached the waterfall. I fell to the ground, my face soaked with tears.

“Elina! Elina! Elina!” I heard Kieran call for me. I didn't answer. I wiped the tears from my face and stood up.

“Elina, are you okay?” he asked as he rushed to my side. He tried holding me, but I moved back.

“Why did you run off like that?” he asked, walking closer to me.

“Why am I not your mate? I thought you felt something for me. Was I not enough? Is it because I am weak?” I asked, staring at him. Kieran and Ezra had always protected me from the other pack members who bullied me, but right now I wanted to know if it was because I couldn't shift or because I was the weakest.

“I thought we were over this, Elina. Naya is my mate, and you are my sister. Let's go back to the way things were before that day,” he pleaded as he held my hand.

“You called it ‘that day.’ It was my first time, and I gave it to you,” I wailed.

“I am sorry, Elina. I am so sorry. I will make it up to you,” he said softly.

“Me or her?” I asked, hoping he felt something for me too.

“She is my mate, and you are my sister.”

“No! I am your mate,” I said. I know it sounds pathetic right now, but I don't care. I want him.

“You what? Elina, you are no longer a child to be pampered…” he voiced.

“Yes, I am not a child to be pampered. I want you,” I said softly as I touched his chest. I lowered my hand lower, but he held my hand and pushed me. I fell back onto the ground.

“From now on, you will refer to me as Alpha Kieran and stay away from me and Naya. If not, there will be consequences,” he ordered angrily.

“I am sorry,” was the last thing he said to me before leaving.

As he walked away, Ezra ran to me and asked what happened. I told him nothing happened.

Days later, I took a walk to clear my head, but I was stopped by Naya and her friends.

“Go away,” I growled. She and her friends were my number one tormentors. Now I knew why Kieran was always ignoring her bullying by just telling her to stop…if it were others, he would have them punished.

“Me? Are you referring to me, your future Luna, like that?” she asked with venom in her words.

“I am not. Please, just go away,” I said softly as I remembered what she and Kieran…

“Hold her, girls. We need to teach this little wretch bitch a lesson,” Naya ordered her friends. I struggled as they held me.

“Did you think I didn't know you tried seducing my mate? He is mine,” she said as she hit my stomach. I groaned in pain.

“Are you sure he is yours?” I said smugly, staring at her with hatred. She smirked.

“Oh, you didn't know, did you? He mistakenly marked me before our mating night. That is how crazy he is about me,” she said as she slipped her top off her shoulder for me to see the mating mark.

Pain crept into my heart. My wolf, Elle, whimpered in pain. He is not my mate, but why does it hurt this much? Elle had been quiet since Kieran told me to stay away from him.

“You are just a little wretch who doesn't know her place. I wonder why we keep useless wolves like you,” Naya spat. I tried to stand, but one of her friends pushed me down.

“Oh, I forgot…you are not a wolf or a human. You are more of a piece of trash that wasn't supposed to exist,” she taunted. Tears rolled down my eyes as I bit my lower lip, my fingernails digging into my palm.

“You don't want the pack members to know you are trying to seduce a mated wolf. It will ruin your Beta family name, won't it? Stay away from Kieran,” she warned.

“Let go, girls. We have a lot to do,” she said as they left me there.

I stood up weakly and saw Kieran coming toward me.

“What did you say to Naya?” he asked angrily. He noticed I was clutching my stomach.

“Who did this to you?” he demanded.

I looked at him, tears welling in my eyes. I smiled and said, “Don't ask as if you care, Alpha Kieran. And I didn't say anything to Naya. Therefore, stay away from me,” I said as I walked back home weakly.

I entered my room and cleaned my face. I needed to leave. I didn’t want to be here when Naya and Kieran got married. I didn’t want to stand in a crowd pretending to be happy for them or be known as the one who almost seduced their Alpha to leave his mate, their Luna.

I knew Naya would tell everyone I tried to seduce Kieran. I wouldn’t be able to stand the humiliation or Ezra losing his position because of me. I reached my closet and pulled some clothes into a small traveling bag.

I picked up my wallet and walked over to the box of gifts Kieran had given me. I picked it up, closed the door to my room, went outside, and threw it into a bin. I locked the front door. At this time, everyone would be at the pack house celebrating the Alpha and his mate, including my brother.

I left a text for my brother before leaving. I looked around one last time, left, and whispered, “Goodbye,” to the air.