Chapter 3 - Betrayed

Alina's Pov: 

The earlier scene wouldn't leave my head, even though I was surrounded by loud music and the chattering of our guests. 

Somehow, I still found my way back into my head, despite the number of people that were around me.  

This was a day I had looked forward to. It was the party to celebrate the Rogue king and his bride. Coincidentally, that of Darius and me as well. As the future leaders of the pack. We were supposed to celebrate our relationship and usher ourselves into a year of blissful marriage. 

But he was nowhere to be found. 

It seemed that suddenly disappearing from important events had now become a thing for him. 

I couldn’t shake off the feeling from that afternoon. Seeing how Darius stood on Claire's side made my wolf boil. 

She was furious and wanted nothing more than to tear Claire apart. I didn't give in to that urge, thankfully. But I was still worried. 

Why was he with her alone? Why didn't he come to me first?

I lifted my gaze and just opposite me, the Rogue Alpha sat with his attendant, discussing between themselves. Everyone also had someone they were talking to. 

Except me. 

I felt like I had been isolated and disconnected from the same pack I was fighting so hard to protect. Not even my father glanced my way. I wasn’t expecting anything from my stepmother because she had never liked me. She was my father's fated mate, yet, he was forced to marry my mother so that they could have an heir to the throne. 

I didn't blame her. If my mate were to have a mistress, I would hate them both for the rest of my life. 

After my mother died, my father took the liberty to openly marry his fated mate. And they had Claire, their precious daughter. 

I was more or less an outsider in their perfect family. 

And since the elders chose Claire to be the Rogue King's bride, they stopped talking to me entirely. I knew they wished I were the one chosen instead. I didn't blame them either. 

“A penny for your thoughts?” I heard a male voice that jeered me out of my thoughts. I recognized him as the Rogue King's personal attendant. But why was he talking to me? 

“We haven’t seen the bride yet, miss…” He liberally took a seat beside me, close enough that our bodies were almost touching. I didn't feel comfortable being that close but why not? Anything for the King. 

“Alina. And the bride… well…” ‘What do I say?’ I almost panicked. I didn't want to annoy them any further. Alpha Kain looked really pissed this afternoon. I could still feel the effect of his fingers digging into my chin. 

“She said she was down with a cold and would visit him privately tonight.” I mustered up the lie smoothly. 

“I'll let my Alpha know of the new development.” He smiled and walked back to Alpha Kain, probably whispering what I had just told him in his ear. 

Man, I’m pucked. 

I was in serious trouble. 

The lie wasn’t the problem. The real ordeal was getting Claire to meet with him, at least once before the wedding. She had been proving headstrong since the arrangement started.

I needed to find her as soon as possible and let her know of the recent development. Hopefully, she would quietly agree. 

As I headed toward the family house, I caught sight of her sitting under the moonlight. 

She was sitting by the water fountain with a small blanket draped over her shoulders, her eyes glaring at the image of the bright full moon on the clear waters. 

That place used to be my favorite spot after my mother passed on. It was also where Darius and I met. 

"Claire, we need to talk," I informed her. She only looked at me from the sides of her eyes, not even bothering to muster a word of acknowledgement. 

"The stunt you pulled today wasn't funny. We were at the mercy of Alpha Kain. And tonight, you refused to show up too. Do you realize what you're doing?" 

Again, I was met with silence. 

Instead of answering me, she stood up and started walking away. I felt highly disrespected and normally, I wouldn't chase after her. But there was now a thin line between war and peace. 

I swallowed my pride and went after her. She was crossing through the empty hallway when I caught up to her and grabbed her hand.

"Claire..." 

In annoyance, she snatched her hand from my grip, a look of disdain laced on her face. 

"You disgust me, Alina. Why are you doing this to me?" 

"What do you mean? I'm just carrying out my responsibility as the future Luna of this pack. And I'm telling you the Alpha wants to see you tonight. Are you going to leave him hanging?" 

"You've planned this!" She raised her voice. "You've always wanted me gone. I knew you never liked me, but is this how you're willing to go to make sure I'm out of this pack for good?" 

I scoffed, almost rolling my eyes. 

"Why would I want you gone? Am I the one who chose you?" 

"Definitely not. But you had a hand in it. How am I not sure you slept your way out of this like the whore you are?!" 

"Enough! I will not stand here and watch you insult me. I've been tolerating your nonsense ever since but it ends tonight. What is wrong with you?" 

"No! I am not going to play your stupid games with you. Your mother stole my father from my mother. I won't allow you to steal what's mine. Darius doesn't deserve a selfish person like you. He deserves better." She said bitterly and tried walking out on me. 

In my head, I grabbed her hand but I didn't know how it landed on her face with a loud slam. 

She screamed and held her face while staggering back. I could see tears rolling down her cheeks. 

"What do you think you're doing to her?!" I heard Darius growl from behind me. That was when what happened clicked in my head. She had framed me and Darius saw the whole thing. 

Darius pushed me aside and went to Claire's aid, holding her upright and touching her cheek. Because of how pale her skin was, you could see a red mark on the area that I 'hit'. 

"She wanted me to go and see that monster. When I refused and stood up for myself, she slapped me." She looked at me. "What have I ever done to you to deserve this, Alina? Am I not your sister? Am I not your blood?" 

I knew this scene all too well. Frame me and then play the victim. It all felt too familiar. 

"That is not what happened, Darius. I did not hit her." I tried to defend myself. "I have never laid a hand on her. You have to believe me." 

"Believe you?" Darius scoffed. "How can I do that after I saw you hit her with my eyes? Why are you so desperate to send her away? Are you so...so...wicked?" 

"I'm trying to protect the peace, Darius." My voice shook a little. The cold from outside was beginning to get under my skin. 

Of course, being an Omega, I always fell sick. But I never let anyone know. I didn't want to be seen as the weak Omega who was living in the shadow of her late mother's achievement. I wanted a legacy of my own. 

When he didn't say anything, I turned to leave, intending to return to the party.

"Since you care so much about the park rather than your sister, why don't marry the Rogue King?!" Darius yelled after me. 

I stopped, inhaled and exhaled quietly. 

I turned back. The urge to go back to the party had disappeared. Why go back when my mate whom I was supposed to be with was all over my step-sister?

"I can't stand you when you're being like this." 

Angrily, I stormed between them because the hallway didn't have much width space. 

I could swear I didn't touch any of them but Claire ended up bumping into me and almost fell to the ground with a scream. 

"Don't touch her!" Darius growled. As I turned to see what had happened, his claws came in contact with my shoulder. 

I hissed in pain and stepped back. When I looked up, all that anger on his face had disappeared. It was now replaced with regret. 

"Alina..." 

He had drawn his fangs. At me.