Chapter 1

~Sophia pov~

I sat on my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror as Leah rummaged through my closet for the perfect dress to wear for my engagement. "I can't believe this is happening," I whispered, feeling a knot form in my stomach. "I have always wanted this, but don't know it will happen so fast."

Leah turned to face me, a look of confusion on her face. "What are you talking about, sis?" she asked. "You're getting engaged to the Alpha, the love of your life. This is what every wolf dreams of."

"I know, but I didn't expect it to be this fast," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't even know, maybe I am fully ready for this. I am afraid not to make any mistakes today."

Leah shrugged. "It's about love, and also about duty. Our father made the arrangements. If Alpha Blake didn't want to marry you, this ceremony wouldn't have happened. It's an honor, sis. You should be grateful that you're getting married to the love of your life."

"But what if Blake is not ready as well?" I asked, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. "What if he's only doing this because our father made the arrangements?"

Leah rolled her eyes. "Stop being so dramatic, sis. He loves you. And even if he doesn't want this ceremony to happen, it doesn't matter. You're his mate. You have to fulfill your duty to the pack."

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could say anything, Leah's mother barged into the room, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. "You're not fit to marry Alpha Blake," she spat. "You're nothing but a worthless mongrel. You don't deserve to be his mate."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "I'm sorry if I'm not good enough for him to marry," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "But I didn't ask for any of this. Our father made the arrangements without even asking for my opinion."

Leah's mother snorted. "Your opinion doesn't matter. You're a wolf. You have to do what's best for the pack."

Leah stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "That's enough, Mom. You're not helping. Sis, don't listen to her. You've always been an amazing mate to Alpha Blake. You just have to believe in yourself, you two love each other, so trust in love."

I smiled weakly at Leah, grateful for her words of encouragement. Leah smiled back at me, her eyes filled with warmth. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. You'll make a beautiful bride."

Just then, Leah and her mother, Amanda, stepped out of the room. I prepare myself to go and meet them downstairs because my engagement is about to begin.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I walked down the aisle towards Alpha Blake, the love of my life. The alliance had been formed and we were to be engaged today, and I could barely contain my excitement. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but little did I know it was going to turn into a nightmare.

As I approached Alpha Blake, he turned to face me with a solemn expression. His eyes, which used to be filled with love and adoration for me, were now cold and distant. I felt a pang of worry in my chest, but I pushed it aside, thinking it was just nerves.

"Alpha Blake," I said softly, smiling up at him.

"Hello, Sophia," he replied curtly.

I frowned slightly, wondering what was wrong. But before I could ask, Alpha Blake turned to the crowd of werewolves gathered around us.

"Thank you all for coming here today to witness the engagement ceremony of Sophia and myself," he said, his voice booming across the clearing.

There were cheers and applause from the crowd, but I couldn't concentrate on anything except Alpha Blake's strange behavior. Something was off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"However," Alpha Blake continued, his tone serious now. "I have come to a difficult decision. As the Alpha of the Night Walker pack, it is my duty to ensure the survival and prosperity of our kind. And with that in mind, I have decided to break off my engagement to Sophia."

My heart dropped to my stomach, and I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. This can't be happening. Alpha Blake couldn't possibly be breaking up with me. We were meant to be together forever.

"I have instead chosen Leah, Sophia's stepsister, as my mate," Alpha Blake announced.

The crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs, and I felt my legs go weak beneath me. My stepsister? Alpha Blake had chosen my stepsister over me?

I turned to Leah, who was standing a few feet away, looking just as shocked as I was. But then she smiled, a smug expression crossing her face. A memory of how she confronted her mother and tell her that. "Mother, I want Alpha Blake to be mine! He got all I want, so please mother, do something!!" flashed across Leah's memory.

*****

"I'm sorry, Sophia," Alpha Blake said, his voice softening slightly. "But this is for the good of the pack. You understand, don't you?"

I shook my head, unable to find my voice. This can't be happening. Alpha Blake was supposed to love me, to want to spend the rest of his life with me. And now he was casting me aside for Leah, someone who had always been jealous of me and tried to undermine me at every turn.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see my mother, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," she whispered.

And that's when the dam broke, and I began to sob uncontrollably. My heart was shattered, my dreams of a future with Alpha Blake now nothing more than shattered fragments.

As the crowd dispersed, I stood there alone, my heartbroken sobs echoing through the clearing.

I couldn't believe what had just happened. My mind was reeling, trying to make sense of the sudden turn of events. Why would Alpha Blake choose Leah over me? Had he never loved me in the first place?

The clearing was now empty except for my mother, who was trying to console me. But I couldn't be consoled. My heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest, and I didn't know if I would ever be able to recover.

"Why did he do this to me?" I cried, burying my face in my mother's shoulder.

"I don't know, sweetheart," she replied, her voice shaking with emotion. "But we'll get through this together. I promise."

I nodded, knowing that I could always count on my mother to be there for me. But right now, I felt like my world had ended. Alpha Blake was everything to me, and now he was gone. How would I ever be able to move on from this?

The next few days were a blur. I stayed in my room, barely eating or sleeping, consumed by my grief and despair. My mother tried to coax me out of my room, but I couldn't bear to face the world. The thought of seeing Alpha Blake with Leah made my stomach turn, and I knew that I would never be able to forgive him for what he had done to me.

It wasn't until a few weeks later that I finally emerged from my room. I had no idea how much time had passed, but I knew that I couldn't stay holed up forever. My mother had been worried sick about me, and I knew that I had to at least try to move on.

As I walked through the pack's space, I couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. This was my home, but it no longer felt like it is. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of Alpha Blake and the life that we had planned together. Now, that life had gone, and I didn't know how to go on without it.

But I was determined to try. I would find a way to move on, to find happiness again. It wouldn't be easy, but I knew that I had to try. For myself, for my family, and for the pack that had always been my home.