Chapter 1: Ring In A Box

LYRA’S POV 

On the night of my 18th birthday, I walked in on my mate fucking my best friend just as I was about to propose to him!

I never saw the betrayal coming, not when I was that excited about getting married, that sure of the love we shared.

My jaw dropped in horror as I froze at the doorway. 

My mate Rowan’s jeans hung off his hips like he couldn’t even wait to get naked before shoving his cock inside her. My best friend Callia’s dress was pushed up to her ribs, and Rowan was pounding into her rough and hard. She moaned his name loudly, clearly enjoying it. 

What the hell? 

The ring box in my hand mocked me. And so did the sight in front of me. 

“What are you two doing!?” I yelled in anger, finally snapping out of my shock and storming into the bedroom. 

Callia’s head snapped up, her face draining of colour. “L-Lyra?” She shoved Rowan off her and dropped to her knees. “P-please, Lyra! This isn't what it looks like!”

I laughed bitterly. “Oh? So you didn’t just have my mate inside you?” Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. “Callia, we’ve been friends since we were kids! I shared all my nice things with you. You ate at my table, wore my clothes, slept under my roof. And you still did this?”

My father is the Alpha of our pack, and Callia is just a mere servant in the packhouse. Every day she sang my praises, swore she was lucky to be my best friend. And now this?

It was then Rowan laughed darkly. And the worst part? There was no remorse on his face, he didn't even have the decency to pull his pants up. 

“There’s no need to apologize to her, Calli. You’re the one I chose.” Rowan smirked and then he grabbed her, pulled her up and wiped her tears. She let out a shaky breath, but didn’t resist as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

What? 

A cold shudder ran down my spine and it felt like my heart had been cracked open. 

“Are you out of your fucking mind, Rowan?” I screamed, “It’s my birthday and you didn’t even bother to show up! And like an idiot, I came here to ask you to be my husband!” 

I flung the ring box across the room and it hit the wall. “And here you are….” I paused, my gaze slowly shifting to Callia, “Screwing my best friend behind my back?” 

“P-please, Lyra, I’m sorry. I never meant for this to happen but I love him. I’ve always loved him and—”

Rowan scoffed. “I said don’t waste your breath on her, Callia.” And then he turned to face me, “I was never going to mark a pathetic daddy’s girl like you anyways, Lyra.” 

With that, he pulled Callia back against him, his hands tracing the curve of her waist. Callia’s eyes moved between me and him, but she didn’t resist. Instead, she leaned into his touch, melting as he tilted her chin up and kissed her. 

A sharp pain twisted in my chest.

My fists clenched, “Enjoy it while you can, because I’ll make sure you suffer for this!” 

I turned on my heel and fled Rowan’s house before my tears could fall. I stormed back to the packhouse and went to my father Alpha Garrick's office. 

He sat at his desk and my mother, Luna Eva, was standing beside him as they discussed. They both paused and looked up the moment I entered. 

I would make sure my father gets rid of them both. 

My mother frowned, “Lyra dear, where have you been? Your party wasn’t even over before you had left.” 

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. “Rowan,” I spat his name like venom. “I found him—” I whispered, “I found him cheating on me with Callia.”

My father’s eyes narrowed. My mother’s lips parted, her hand flying to her chest.

“What?” she whispered.

“Father,” I hissed, slamming my hands onto his desk. “I want them banished. Immediately!”

Father looked up, his brows furrowing. “Lyra, calm down.”

“Calm down?” I let out a bitter laugh. “I walked in on my mate having sex with my best friend. On my birthday! I won’t share a pack with those traitors.”

“She’s right, Garrick. Rowan is just an ordinary pack member. He should’ve shown our daughter the same respect every other member does—if not more. But instead, he betrayed her and their mate-bond. And Callia, I treated that girl like my own. And this is how she repays us?”

Father exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “I understand you’re hurt, Lyra, but you need to be more understanding. Callia—”

“Understanding?” I snapped, “She betrayed me! You’ve always made excuses for her, always told me to forgive her, but this?” My throat tightened. “I can’t.”

My mother stepped forward. “Enough of this. I’m giving the order.” She turned to the guards outside. “Banish Rowan and Callia from the pack. Now.”

But before the warriors could move, my father rose from his seat and spoke. 

“Stand down.”

Silence.

I turned to my father, my whole body stiff. “You’re protecting them?”

My mother’s face hardened. “Garrick, if you don’t explain yourself right now, I swear to the Goddess—”

“I can’t banish them!” My father’s jaw clenched. He looked between us, then let out a heavy sigh. 

My brows furrowed but before I could protest, my father continued, “Because Callia… is your half-sister.”