CHAPTER ONE

"Thank you all very much for coming to my birthday party," I said as I stood at the center of the grand hall with bright smiles plastered all over my face, my emerald gown surrounding me like a wave field.

“Happy birthday, Luna Arabella," the guests cheered in unison, lowering their heads.

The chandeliers cast a golden glow across the hall, guests exchanging pleasantries with music blasting loudly in the hall as they celebrated with me, but Derek, my husband, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where could Derek be?" I thought to myself as I scanned through the gathered crowd; maybe I had made a mistake, but still there was nothing.

A knot tightened in my chest.

I began to visibly get worried because Derek had never missed any important events, especially my birthdays.

“Rise up," I commanded in a thin voice, my voice echoing in the hall. I managed to force out a weak smile despite my growing anxiety.

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedule to celebrate with me and I would…” Before I could finish my sentence, I heard weird noises coming from behind the velvet curtains where I stood near the stage.

“Yes, baby, fuck me harder," a thin voice echoed sharply through the hall.

Silence washed over the hall.

My fingers trembled as I reached for the curtains with a shaky breath, and i pulled it aside. The moment I lifted the curtains sideways, I froze like a sick pit opened at the bottom of my stomach.

I suppressed a gasp as soon as my gaze fell on them wide-eyed.

Gasps filled the room, and I could almost imagine my guests with their eyes widened at the scene that unfolded before our very eyes.

My husband, the alpha of our pack, was having an affair, right before our very eyes, with Jessica, my friend whom I considered a sister.

My mouth fell open.

Derek didn't have a shirt on, and she ran her fingers down his chest, igniting a spark within him.

Derek's hand slipped down her thighs, and she let out seductive moans as her back was exposed to the audience with a towel that barely covered the upper half of her body.

He drew her into a steady kiss that made her giggle, and my eyes burned at the betrayal.

My entire world collapsed.

“No…" I whispered, my hands trembling uncontrollably as my wet eyes took in the sight before me.

The sensation of my heart breaking into a million pieces as I let out an agonizing scream.

“What have you done?” I choked, staring at the man who I thought loved me.

I had married Derek immediately after our high school graduation, making me the cynosure of all eyes.

"Derek, how could you betray me like this on my birthday, especially in front of everyone?" I thundered, gritting my teeth and letting out a forceful breath.

Derek turned his head to meet my gaze; his jaw tightened as he shot me a glare.

“What are you doing here?” he snapped, his voice boiling with rage, which pierced into the depths of my soul.

A bead of sweat ran down my face as he was staring at me so fiercely that it could make heat wash over me.

I took a step back as his face contorted in rage as he approached, sending a chill down my spine.

Jessica stepped forward beside him with a smug look on her face.

“Happy birthday, Arabella. Do you like the gift?" Jessica sneered, her lips curved into a cruel smile.

The smile on her face was triumphant as she displayed the hickey Derek left on her neck like a trophy.

My shoulders dropped in horror as the realization struck me.

“By the way, you are not Luna anymore; only I am worthy of being Luna." She smirked, her nose wrinkled with disgust as she looked at me.

I looked confused as she batted her eyelashes at me.

I stared at her in disbelief.

“We are bound by the red thread of the moon goddess. I'm your mate, Derek." I let out a hoarse sob, but Derek's face remained blank.

His expression hardened as he rolled his obsidian eyes at me.

“You dare question the alpha choices, you insolent cur," Jessica snarled at me, and the sound of my name on her lips caused me to stutter in fear.

“I am the Luna of this pack; don't you dare talk to me like that," I ordered through bared teeth with my heavy gaze lingering on her.

“You should show some respect; soon she will be your new Luna," he commanded, his words dripping with disdain as a wave of embarrassment ran through me.

“Her? But what about me?" I asked.

“Jessica is a strong gamma, and you can't compete with that," he snorted, his lips curling into a grin.

“We are fated mates chosen by the moon goddess," I blurted out, and he let out a bitter laugh.

“Enough about the moon goddess! For her to think I will settle for a weak, wolf-less mate like you is beyond me," he declared sharply, cutting me short.

My blood ran cold.

“You stupid bitch," Derek said. His face dropped as he shot me a dangerous look, and I shrinked under his stare.

“That's enough. I don't care what the moon goddess thinks, and you are weak and pathetic, unlike her," he growled, gesturing to Jessica, who stood smugly by his side, and the pack let out horrified gasps at his statement.

I felt my heart shrink as he secured his wrist firmly in the hand of Jessica.

“But she isn't your destined mate," I replied through tears, my tone breaking.

"I, Alpha Derek of the Blue Lake pack, reject you, Arabella Woods, as my Luna," he announced. His words cracked through the air like a death sentence.

Pain exploded through me as it pierced through me like daggers.

The pain was unbearable.

“I accept your rejection," I declared, gritting my teeth, my breathing ragged as those words escaped my lips.

I collapsed to my knees as the mate bond snapped into pieces.

“What do I do now?" I whispered weakly

“I don't care, go away." He looked up, his face devoid of emotion, narrowing his eyes at me.

“You will regret this, Derek," I declared, my breathing heavy as I struggled to stand on my feet.

As I stood up, my eyes landed on the pendant hanging around Jessica's neck, which shimmered brightly like the morning sun.

The necklace was a keepsake from my mother, the only thing that kept her soul fresh in my memory.

“That's my necklace; give it back," I whispered, my tone faltering as I tried to snatch it back, but her fingers tightened around the pendant.

“Stay away from her, Arabella," Derek growled. 

“Jessica wanting to wear your necklace is a privilege," he spat harshly at me.

“And if you behaved yourself, I would have kept you around as my slave," he roared, his voice vibrating through the hall.

“Now get out!" he shouted, pointing his fingers at me.

Without another word, I turned and ran.

I ran out of the packhouse into the empty streets in the dead of the night.

As I strode through the streets, a fierce-looking man suddenly called me from behind.

"Where are you going, beautiful?" he said, his lips twisted into something vicious.

“Why don't you want to go out with me?" he murmured, and fear coursed through my body.

I suddenly felt his hand on me. His grip tightened around my wrist as I struggled to free myself from him. 

“Stay away from me," I whispered, my nails digging into my palms.

“Help, help," I whimpered in pain, and suddenly, a powerful figure emerged from the shadows.

“Let her go or you die." His eyes were glowing red as his powerful voice washed over me.

His voice was deep and energetic.

The man stumbled in fear and vanished into darkness.

His expression softened as he looked my way.

“Are you okay?” He inquired, his tone laced with concern.

Before I could answer, my knees buckled, and he caught me, scooping me into his arms.