Hurts Every Time

Inside the study, Alpha Collins stared at his children, a frown in his face. He looked like he had much to ask but chose to ignore the questions.

Gemma sat with a pout, her brown eyes wandering everywhere but at her father.

Julain remained silent, almost too relaxed.

Drawing a deep breath, Alpha Collins said, “The blood moon is in a few days, and I've just been informed that we are hosting it.”

For a brief moment, the study fell into complete silence, only to be broken by Gemma, who jumped with a clap of her hands.

“You mean everyone will come to Winterpack for the blood moon?” She asked, eyes staring expectantly at her father.

“Yes,” Alpha Collins replied.

“We are hosting a ball, that's great,” Gemma said, unable to contain her excitement. “Who knows, my mate might just be among the males this year.”

“It's not great,” Alpha Collins said.

The smile on Gemma's lips faltered.

“This year's summit is also being held here,” Alpha Collins said.

“So?” Gemma asked, sitting back down

“It's the day after the blood moon, and that means Alpha Dante will be here as well,” Julian chipped in, his tone monotonous.

“I still don't get it,” Gemma said, brows tightly pulled together. She didn't care who Alpha Dante was. The name sounded familiar, she couldn't let him ruin her mood today or her time at the ball during the blood moon.

“He'll demand for his compensation the moment he gets here,” Alpha Collins said. “We can't refuse him either, and since he has no mate yet, he might demand for…”

“What's that supposed to mean?” Gemma asked, slamming her hand on the desk, nose flaring. She stared disbelievingly at her father.

"It means you'd belong to him the moment he gets here,” Jullian said beside her.

Gemma felt like punching her brother for being so calm and talking as if she didn't matter.

Someone would take his sister away, and this is how he behaves?

“I'm not going anywhere with anyone who isn't my mate,” she protested, but her words didn't have much impact on the two men in front of her.

“Have you forgotten who he is?” Jullian asked. “Do you believe we can stop Alpha Dante? Do you think the Crimson Claw Pack would allow such disrespect to their Alpha?”

Gemma froze when she heard the name of the pack, and realization struck her. Her knees grew weak.

“It's not all bad. If you are lucky, he might make you his luna, and Winter Pack will benefit even more from it,” Jullian continued, his eyes on his sister. “Imagine being the luna of the strongest pack and mated to the strongest alpha, wouldn't that be…” he said, leaving his words incomplete.

Knowing his sister, she would take the bait if not immediately, then a little more push was all that was needed.

“Crimson Claw Pack, the strongest pack, and strongest alpha,” Gemma repeated. Slowly, she pulled the chair back in its place and sat down.

Alpha Collins just watched the two without interrupting, although it hurts hearing his own children call another Alpha the strongest, even if it was the truth.

“Doesn't sound bad, right?” Asked Julian.

“Mhm,” Gemma hummed.

“I heard he was handsome too,” Julian added, and Alpha Collins frowned.

Just what was his son up to?

“Really?” Gemma beamed as if that was the most important thing. “Fine. I'll do it,” she said, already decided. “Then there's much to prepare and very little time. I'll leave at once to start,” she stood and left before anyone could stop her.

“What do you think you are doing, Julian?” Alpha Collins asked, his eyes narrowing at Julian.

“This is what will benefit the Winter Pack, Father,” Julian replied without blinking. “She's old enough to help the pack in the only way she can.”

“And you think Alpha Dante will accept her because…?” Alpha Collins asked, not convinced.

Julian was silent for a moment, just staring at his father. He took a deep breath and said,“Gemma is beautiful and the daughter of an alpha. He is mateless and there's no guarantee he'd find one during the blood moon either. If shows up late or skips it as he always does, then Gemma is his next best option.”

Alpha Collins let out a breath. “Fine,” he said. “I will take care of it.”

Days passed with the ball on the night of the blood moon on everyone's lips and Gemma bragging about how she would marry an alpha

Meanwhile, Rhea slowly heals from the wound inflicted on her. Surviving her only thought and biggest concern.

She was an outcast, unwanted by all, she had no big dreams of a big, strong alpha who'd whisk her away to a better life. She'd learn that dreams were for the privileged. Someone like her only got nightmares.

“It's finally here,” an omega working in the packhouse said to another as they moved about preparing the ball room.

“Right? I hope I find my mate tonight and be done with this job,” the other replied.

“Which Alpha do you think Gemma will marry?” Another conversation drifted to Rhea’s ears. “Do you think he's her mate or was it...?”

Rhea, closed her eyes, and shut out all the conversations around her. She tightened the cloth that covered her head then her gaze returned to the food on the plate on the floor beside her.

She was hungry, barely eaten anything for days, just worked to the bone and with existing injuries too, yet no one cared about her. No one even asked if she was okay even when they saw her limping around.

The sound of carriage wheels from the distance had her looking out the window but she couldn't see anything. Not with the other maids already blocking it.

“The guests, they've started arriving,” someone said.

“Someone go and tell the Alpha,” another voice said.

Hearing this, Rhea stood up. It was time she made herself scarced before she became the main entertainment for the night. She was used to such humiliation, but it still hurts every time.

But her attempt at a silent retreat didn't go as smoothly as she wanted because the moment she stepped out of the door, she was met by Julian and Gemma.