The flashback continues

NINE MONTHS AFTER THE MARRIAGE

KELLY THOMPSON'S POV

Thank the moon goddess! I gave birth this afternoon to a beautiful, bouncing baby boy. We named him Eden Bentley, the second in line for the throne after his father, the Alpha heir, Jason.

Finally, I can pick up my healer studies again after quite a long break and work towards getting my certificate. It's been my dream to become a doctor for our community and teach at the pack school.

Jason also works there, serving as the deputy director alongside the director and Gamma Nicolas Nord. Nicolas is a longtime friend of Alpha King Don Bentley and, by the way, Betty’s father. Ugh, I really dislike that.

A couple of months later, things changed when Jason became the new Alpha King following his father's resignation due to old age. I never imagined that I would be rejected afterward and forced to leave the pack. The pack's newspaper even ridiculed me, dubbing me the "weak Luna Queen" on the front page.

Betty Nord found out I had given Jason a son and went absolutely wild, vowing to create chaos. She framed me, and of course, Jason trusts her. He’s never really loved me, even after I gave him a child.

The very next day after Jason's coronation, Betty showed up at the castle under the pretense of congratulating him. Jason and I were seated on the royal stage in the main hall to greet our well-wishers, as was tradition after a new Alpha King took over. Betty arrived dressed to the nines in a stunning blue satin robe with pearls around her neck. She gracefully approached us, stopping at the demarcation line, bowed before us, and asked to come closer.

Jason allowed her, and I could feel he still had feelings for her.

"Your Majesty, My Queen, I wish you long life and victory over our enemies. The past is behind us now, and I’m truly happy with my nurse training; that's what matters most," Betty said.

"But I can’t help but feel sad about the old Alpha King’s health. I wish I could show the Luna Queen, who is studying to be a healer, how to make a rejuvenating pill to help His Majesty regain some strength. I learned this skill at one of the top schools in the werewolf world," she added.

The new Alpha King was quick to respond, clearly excited by Betty's offer.

"Oh, definitely, the Luna Queen should learn how to make that pill. My father must live long enough to see our son, Eden, grow up, right, darling?" Jason said, looking at me playfully for the first time.

So I reluctantly agreed.

The next day, Betty returned to the castle, bringing a bag of ingredients for the rejuvenating pill for the old Alpha King while Jason was away.

Without wasting any time, she pulled out the ingredients and started mixing them.

"Listen, Kelly, if you mess up the mixing, it can be fixed. But if you get the magic formula wrong? Well, then you never know what could happen," she said, locking eyes with me as if trying to read my fear.

And then she began.

"Repeat after me! SERVUNDA BEVUNDA OLDMO ALPHATO KINGO DONTO BENTLEYO VOMITTO," Betty commanded, her expression twisting unnaturally, which freaked me out.

I could tell something was off about that magic formula, but Betty kept insisting, "Repeat, repeat, repeat!"

I tried to resist and back away, but she got angry, casting another spell: "BERVUNDA SERVUNDA LUNATA QUEENA OBEYA TOYA MEYA," as she waved her nails like she was pulling me closer with an invisible force.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of power, and my mouth opened involuntarily. Betty then used my voice to echo the magic words.

As soon as she finished, a nice-looking pill appeared in a box as I was regaining my senses.

"What have you done to me, Betty Nord?" I asked angrily, but she shushed me.

"Here’s the rejuvenating pill for the old Alpha King. Once he takes it and recovers, you can count on Jason falling in love with you like never before," she persuaded me.

I was so longing for Jason to love me genuinely one day.

So, I rushed to the old Alpha King's private quarters with the pill.

"Your Majesty, I have something for you! It's a rejuvenating pill to help you feel better," I announced excitedly as I walked in.

"Oh, Kelly, I appreciate it, but at my age, I don’t need this. I’ve lived a good life—it's time to prepare for my journey. What could a few more years really change? I’m already in the history books," the old Alpha King replied.

"That’s true, Your Majesty! But think about how much you’d enjoy seeing your grandson, Eden, grow up a bit more," I urged.

"Oh, yes, I definitely want to see that little boy grow and continue our legacy. Bring me that pill," he commanded, unable to resist the mention of his beloved grandson.

He sat up on the bed, and I handed him the pill with some water. He swallowed it quickly, and then, to my horror, the unexpected occurred. The old Alpha King began to shout in pain, clutching his stomach and vomiting uncontrollably.

"What have you done, Luna Queen?" asked Pal, the old Alpha King's messenger, who had been watching us quietly.

At that moment, Jason walked in. He had come for a routine visit, only to find out I had seemingly poisoned his father with the pill. His wolf, Jude, erupted with rage, but Jason’s human side held him back.

"Get out of here. If I unleash Jude, you’ll regret it, but I won’t because of our son, Eden. I, Jason Bentley of the South pack, reject you, Kelly Thompson, as my mate and the Luna Queen," he declared angrily.

I felt crushed, my heart shattered as I feared for my life. Unable to face the reality, I fled and hid out in the pack's woods.

A dog came across me and bit me. I bled, prompting my wolf, Sherry, to take over. She killed the German shepherd with her sharp claws. The dog's owners realized what happened, but Sherry managed to escape, bleeding profusely as she crossed into the rival North pack’s territory. It felt like only one side could survive.

Weak, Sherry collapsed. I could tell she wanted to tell me something, but her voice was faint. Still, I understood what she was trying to say. It was a farewell as she prepared to sacrifice herself for my sake. I howled inside as she left this world, her wolf form shifting back to that of a human.

I was now officially a rogue.