FRAMED

Whip!

Whip!

Whip!

“Confess, or we do this until you breathe your last, you traitor!” The pack’s disciplinary chief barked, amusement thick in his tone.

Cold silver chains cut deep into my wrists, barely supporting my weight. Blood trickled down my battered body, soaking the torn wedding dress that clung to me like a mockery of everything this day was meant to be.

My wedding day.

The day I, Moon Reign Alderio—daughter of the great Alpha King Alderio—was supposed to ascend as Luna of the Silverwood Pack beside my mate, Alpha Aldrin.

But instead, here I was, tortured nearly to death over something I knew absolutely nothing about.

A sharp blade slashed across my back, making me explode in a painful growl.

“Speak!” the chief ordered again.

I had already told the truth—my truth. I had pleaded, explained, and even begged, but they called me a liar. A traitor.

My wolf, Mina, lay silent deep inside me, too wounded to rage, too broken to even howl.

My vision blurred as I stared down at the red carpet now desecrated with images scattered like a predator’s markings—incriminating pictures of me and Alpha Enzo of the Northwood Pack, the male I was accused of betraying my mate with.

I won’t lie. I knew Alpha Enzo well—too well for my own good.

I had confronted him countless times during border disputes and throughout the endless months of the futile searching for my missing father. Enzo was the alpha of our greatest rival pack and the top suspect behind my father’s abduction. My elder sister was rotting in the dungeon for that crime, awaiting her sentence.

Even the Moon Goddess knew I would never have anything to do with that twisted man. If anything, I would have torn his throat open if it meant knowing the whereabouts of my father. I would have dined with him, which I did, if that was all it took to clear my sister’s name.

That was supposed to be my first mission after becoming Luna today.

But fate twisted its claws.

Cold metal tore my skin again.

Ironshards. Merciless and unforgiving.

There was a good fucking reason why those illegal bloody weapons were outlawed. I had never seen them used on anyone—not even enemies. Until now, on me, an innocent daughter of the great Alpha King.

Another harsh whiplash landed on my back. Mina snapped weakly inside me, agonized.

“Speak! Confessing would lighten your punishment!” My torturer snarled.

“For the last time…” I was barely breathing, but the words scraped from my dry, cracked lips. “I could never betray the Alpha… or my pack.”

More lashes fell, merciless and deaf to my cries. My growls filled the sacred hall, but no heart softened. My pain moved no one.

Not even him.

Not even the male whose presence hurt me more than the lashings—Alpha Aldrin Moore Malik.

My mate.

He stood there coldly, his silver eyes glowing like frozen moons. His expression was carved in disgust. He watched me suffer without flinching—and this torture was his order.

Behind me, roars of “Shameless traitor!” echoed. The council’s eyes burned with judgment.

But Aldrin’s gaze cut deepest.

He approached slowly, his boots echoing against the stone floor—Alpha dominance rolling off him like a storm. His wedding suit still clung to his glorious form, as if he still expected the ceremony to continue.

He stopped far enough to keep my blood from touching him. His fists clenched so tight his knuckles whitened.

“You are such filth, Reign. A disgrace to the Silverwood Pack. Sleeping with our greatest rival, really? Such kind of betrayal is unforgivable!” He growled, each word slicing through me.

My heart ached at his voice—my Alpha, my mate. Still, I clung to that little hope. He loved me once. He still loved me, his soon-to-be Luna. Surely he could sense the truth.

“I swear to you, Alpha Aldrin…” My voice trembled with pain and sincerity. “My loyalty belongs to you alone… and to this pack. Please… believe me.”

His bitter laugh echoed through the hall. “Believe you?” he scoffed. “The evidence is formidable. Nothing you say against the evidence will paint you any different than the traitor you are!”

Something inside me shattered. He did not believe me. He was not even making a small, bloody effort to listen to me. Not even a little.

The truth was that I had followed Alpha Enzo to Northwood territory, hoping to find clues about my father. I ended up in one of his hideouts. He acted welcoming, docile, and harmless. I didn’t know it was a trap until it was too late. He took photos—clear, exaggerated, incriminating.

Why? That I didn’t know yet.

Blackmail? Chaos? Revenge? Nothing made sense to me.

I didn’t care why. The only thing I cared about was Alpha Aldrin’s trust. He knew me. He grew up with me. We trained together. Led the army of protectors side by side. We were best friends long before discovering we were mates.

So why didn’t he give me a chance?

Before I could breathe, he grabbed my neck and lifted me like prey in a predator’s jaws. My feet dangled, choking for air.

“Speak, Reign!” he snarled. “If you lie one more time… even the Moon Goddess will be shocked by what I do to you.”

His threat…that threat was one that even enemies feared. Always fatal. Always ruthless.

He released me with a brutal slash of his claws, tearing into my neck. Hot blood trickled down my chest.

Still, I knew better than to keep an enraged Alpha waiting. I whispered my final, desperate plea. “May the Moon Goddess strike me dead if the accusation is true.”

But when he looked at me again—his wolf gone, only human disgust remaining—my bones shook. His expression was colder than I had ever seen. Disgusted by my existence. My plea irritated him.

The council suddenly rose in one accord, as if summoned through magic. The crowd parted, forming a path as if paving way for a divinity.

A figure appeared on the far end of the path.

A female.

Dressed in a milk-white gown that shone even brighter than mine. Veiled like a real bride. A bouquet rested so well in her hands.

Confusion surged through me, mingling with fear and pain. There was not supposed to be another bride today.

‘What is happening? Did we have a double wedding?’ I reached for Mina.

silence. A chilling silence. She didn’t even stir to give me a signal that she heard me.

The figure stopped right before me. Her smile cut so sharp and was blinding enough even beneath the veil.

I looked to Aldrin for answers, to understand what was going on. But I collided with his knowing smirk. It wasn’t directed to me but to the strange bride.

Then he did the unthinkable.

He reached for the lady, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her against him like she belonged there.

That was my rightful place. It hurt so bad.

His smile was tender, softer than anything he had ever given me. Pain twisted inside me, betrayal burning through my veins.

They gazed at each other like bonded wolves. Souls intertwined. 

And then he spoke words that shattered me completely. “How is my bride? Have those cold walls been unjust to you in any way?”

Bride.

His bride.

The words echoed through the hall, through my bleeding heart, and through the hollow place where Mina should have been howling.