Chapter 3

Bella’s Pov

“Mom, I’m fine.” I hung my head low, my voice hoarse as I spoke. I did not want my mother to worry about me. I struggled to keep her from detecting the unease in my voice.

Angelina gently stroked her daughter’s head, knowing how deeply Bella must be hurting. “You don’t need to hold your tears, just cry, my child.”

Hearing my mother’s comforting words, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Everything that had happened today had been so sudden, so devastating. Even though I had acted strong and put a cold front in front of Barnett, the pain was overwhelming.

 I collapsed into my mother’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, letting out all my pent-up emotions. Washing out the pain of Barnett’s betrayal. Mom held me tightly, whispering softly, “There, there. It’s okay, It’s okay. Let it all out my child.”

It felt so nice and comfortable to lay in mother’s arms.

After a while, I finally calmed down, my eyes were puffy red from crying. I felt embarrassed and apologized to my mother, “I am sorry, I don’t like to be like this.”

“Honey, crying doesn’t mean you’re weak. I know you’ve always been a strong girl.”

“Mom, am I cursed by the Moon Goddess?” I gazed sadly at the bright moon outside the window. “Why did I lose my first mate and then my second one? Why does it happen to me?”

“None of this is your fault. Don’t blame yourself for it,” my mother said gently. She looked at me with warmth in her eyes. “But look at it this way, maybe this is your good fortune. Gray and Barnett weren’t right for you. It’s a good thing to leave behind those who aren’t right for you.” She stroked my hair tenderly.

“Is that so?” I questioned, “Do you think, I still have a chance in this lifetime to find someone who’s right for me?”

“Of course you do, my child,” my mother said, and then she took out an old wooden jewelry box with intricate carvings that had caught my attention.

“What is this, Mom?”

“A magical necklace.”

“A magical necklace?”

“Open it and see. It’s a gift for you.”

I gently opened the box, my hands shaking slightly with anticipation, and inside lay a silver necklace, bathed in the moonlight that made it emit a sacred silver glow. The pendant was engraved with a rose and a crown, exquisitely crafted.

“It’s so beautiful, “I gasped in awe, unable to resist reaching for the necklace inside the box. “Be careful; it can harm you,” my mother suddenly warned. I looked at her in confusion.

“This is a magical necklace, passed down from your great-great-grandmother’s time. It’s beautiful, but it can’t be worn. If your skin comes into direct contact with it, it will burn you.”

I widened my eyes in surprise; I had never seen such a magical item before. “That’s a shame; it’s so beautiful.”

“However, it’s said that if the necklace finds the right owner, it won’t cause harm.”

“Mom, have you tried wearing it?”

“Of course, after all, this necklace looks like a gift from the Moon Goddess. Everyone who sees it can’t resist its charm.”

“Did it work for you?”

“Unfortunately, it didn’t. It seems I’m not the chosen one.”

Looking at this beautiful necklace, I thought with anticipation; what if I was the one meant for this necklace. I really wanted to give it a try. “Mom, can I try it?”

I looked at my mother with shining eyes, surprised that she immediately agreed. “You’re not going to stop me?”

“Bella, you’re growing up, and growing up means you can take risks and bear the consequences of your choices.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Luna Angelina had always been loved and admired by the members of the wolf pack for her wisdom and compassion. Bella had always seen her mother as her role model.

The silver necklace shone brightly in the moonlight. Holding my breath, I carefully extended my finger and touched the necklace gently. One second, two seconds, three seconds passed, and the expected pain didn’t come. I was safe. I excitedly pulled my finger back; it was as smooth and unharmed as before.

“Mom, I’m perfectly fine. It didn’t hurt me!” I exclaimed with joy, eager to share the good news with my mother. Angelina was also surprised. No one in the family had ever succeeded before, but it seemed the true owner of the necklace was her daughter.

“It seems to like you. You can try more but be careful.” She said still with a little caution.

I reached out to touch the necklace again, this time covering it with my entire hand. There was no pain, no discomfort. This gave me more confidence. Carefully, under my mother’s smiling gaze, I took the perfect necklace out of the box and placed it delicately around my neck.

“It suits you. Give it a name.” My mother said with glistening eyes.

“Moonlight Necklace. It’s absolutely radiant under the moonlight.”

“Take good care of it. It is said that it will bring good luck to its owner.”

“Thank you, Mom. I will.”

Unbeknownst to Bella, the gem at the center of the rose on her necklace sparkled for a moment. At the same time, at the palace, the wolf of King Haydn Tude sensed it. His fingers touched his own necklace, which bore an almost identical design, except with a sword and a crown. Clearly, these two necklaces were a pair.

Haydn’s Pov:

Beneath the bright moonlight, I gently touched the necklace around my neck, a habit I had when deep in thought. This necklace has been passed down through generations of my family, and it’s quite special. The magic in this necklace will burn whoever tries to wear it without being its rightful owner.

I am Haydn Tude, the first in the Tude family who can wear this necklace. My father, Richard Tude, told me it meant my fated mate would be someone who could wear the matching necklace.

However, I’ve secretly had people searching within the kingdom for thirty years, and the owner of the other necklace is still nowhere to be found, as if this person doesn’t even exist. At this rate, my restless wolf, Aidan, might truly go mad.

“Are you cursing me in your heart again?” Aidan huffed.

“If you say so?” I chuckled.

Aidan is truly a foolish wolf, except for his physical prowess.

“Foolish wolf, why are you bouncing around in my head?” I asked, feigning annoyance.

“You’re the fool. The gem in the center of the necklace just flickered, and I felt my mate.” He hissed.

“Are you serious?” I frowned.

I quickly glanced at the necklace, but there was nothing. Aidan had gotten excited for nothing.

“There’s nothing there. Don’t joke about mate.”

I scolded Aidan, a bit annoyed.

“I really felt it, even if it was just for a moment, Believe it or not.” He insisted.

Aidan lay down, looking dejected. Why wouldn’t Haydn believe him? He was an honest, clever, kind, and adorable wolf. He huffed again with frustration.

“You have no credibility with me. Every few days, you shout ‘mate, mate’ in my head, claiming you found the mate. This time, it’s probably your imagination again.”

Then I sighed and added, “Maybe our fated mate doesn’t even exist.” The moon Goddess knows how I long for her, but it has been years of search without any result.

“This time it’s real, just like the previous times. I’m sure our mate must exist.” Aidan said grumpily.

“Foolish wolf, you’re so blindly optimistic.” I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t call me a fool anymore. I’m an honest, clever, kind, and adorable wolf!” And childish I added to myself not wanting to upset him more.

“All right, you’re whatever you say.” I dismissed him.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. How had I ended up arguing with Aidan again? There were so many things waiting for me to deal with today. The annual Alpha Conference was approaching, and I needed to familiarize myself with all the attendees. I opened the files on my desk, and the first was about the Red Moon Pack.

The first page contained information about Alpha Logan Brown.

The second page had Luna Angelia’s information.

The third page detailed Logan’s eldest son, Wayland Brown.

The fourth page covered Logan’s second son, Waverly Brown.

The fifth page held information about Logan’s only daughter, Bella Brown.

On the paper, the girl with black hair and green eyes smiled sweetly and looked adorable. But the text below her photo wasn’t so pleasant.

Bella Brown, Alpha Logan’s only and youngest daughter, aged twenty-one.

At nineteen, she was fated to Beta Gray Norman of the Maple Pack but was soon rejected by Gray.

At twenty, she was fated to Alpha Barnett Morris of the Silver Wind Pack, and this afternoon, Bella rejected Barnett for his betrayal.

What? I was utterly stunned by what I read. How could someone be lucky enough to have two fated mates, yet unlucky enough to lose them both?

Is Bella Brown a fortunate or unfortunate person? I really wanted to meet this girl at the upcoming Alpha Conference.