chapter 2

Neriah

The pain was suffocating. Every second of their kiss tore me apart, ripping my heart into pieces while the crowd chanted their names like they were some royalty.

At first, it didn’t look real/ my heart kept saying it’s a dream and I’ll laugh when I woke up, but the pain was too much that I started shouting when I couldn't take it again.

“Throw her into the dungeon,” Alpha Zach ordered angrily. 

I froze, unable to move at the sudden change of things.

How could Callen do this? How can the man who swore to love and fight for me reduce everything we shared to nothing? How can he look at me like a stranger, as if I was nothing more than a dirt under his boots?

Callen didn't look at me as the guards dragged me away, he stood beside Alina, smiling, as if my pain was some form of entertainment. 

Cold air hit me as they took me to the dungeon and locked me inside. The place smell of old chains and blood. I begged them but they didn't answer. They left me alone, scared of what they’ll do to me.

Minutes turned to hours and the celebration finish and nobody came to see me, not even Lorelei that i thought would help me. They lock me here in the dark, cold without food or water. 

uddenly, a shatp pain ripped through my stomach, stealing my breath. I clutched my stomach as the pain, which felt like shock, spread through me, my body convulsing.

I gasped, tears rolling down my cheek as it dawned on me that Callen was mating with Alina. 

He was binding himself to my sister and I was forced to feel every touch of their betrayal. 

“Moon goddess….why?” my voice breaks. “What did I do to deserve this?” 

Is this why he didn't reject me, so I can feel the pain any time he touches her? 

I hugged myself and beg the goddess to take my pain away until I slept off. 

I heard people talking when I woke up, telling me it's a new day and I'm still alive. 

Just then, I heard footstep and someone poured cold water on my head.

I gasped, forcing my eyes open.

Alina. 

She crouched beside me, her smirk widening. “How pathetic,” she purred. “I didn’t know the almighty Neriah Montclair could reduce to a nobody who is desperate to drink dirty water in just two days.”

“You're right,” I mumbled, shaking. “It took two days to see the monster that you are.” 

“You know,” she said, laughing. “All this won't have happened if only you listen and know your place.” 

“What do you mean by that?” 

Her gaze burned with hatred. “Dad and Alpha Zach chose me as Callen’s mate, but he rejected me for a cursed nobody like you who isn't fit to be Luna, so I simply take back what’s mine.” 

How can Dad choose Alina when he knows I’m with Callen. Why does she suddenly want Callen, my mate whom the moon goddess gave me. 

“And the only thing you think is setting me up with a rogue.”

Her smile faltered, a flicker of fear in her eyes. “I don't know what you're talking about, but Callen is mine.”

Anger surged through me, fierce enough to drown my tears. “No, you stole him. You’re nothing but a coward who hides to do evil and I’ll make sure you pay for your sins.“ 

Her face hardened. “I never liked you, Neriah. Did you really think the clothes and other things mom gave you were the same as mine? Ah, they are cheap, fake of everything I have. Just like you.”

The words stung more than I care to admit. Everything I knew about myself turned out to be lies and all I could say was, “Why?”  

“Because Dad left me and mom when I was barely one year and married your useless mother all because of the damn fated mate rule. As if that wasn’t enough, the moon goddess paired you with the only man I ever wanted again. I simply did the needful because I can't let history repeat itself again.”

Her words sting more than knowing my mom died while birthing me. But I can tell she's lying. I've heard people say good things about my mother– heard she was a good warrior who joined the park as a rogue, but proved her worth and became one of the greatest warriors in our pack. So how can she talk like this about her.

Something inside me snapped and I met her gaze. “So are you happy now? Are you happy you’re a side-chick just like your mother?” 

Alina’s eyes widened, but changed into a smirk. “Yes, I'm happy. Callen is mine and I'm your Luna.” 

“You are not my Luna,”I yelled, pointing to her bare shoulder. “You don't bare his mark yet and for all I care, you're nothing but a whore. He marked me, so I'm still his mate regardless of what you do.”

Her eyes darkened when she saw the mark. “I’m your Luna and I’ll teach you to respect me.”

“What else can you do?” I taunt, daring her to do her worse. 

“Yes, I don't have power before, and now that I have power, you’ll worship the ground I walk on,” she stood tall, voice dripping with mockery, head held high like a queen wearing a stolen crown. “And henceforth, you are nothing but an omega, a disgrace to this park and you will serve me as your master.”

Ignoring me, she whispered to the guards, who dragged me to the omega section, forcing me to knee. Alina stood in front of me, holding a piece of clothing. 

An Omega cloak?

My stomach twisted. Memories of how my father used to treat me omega flashed and I shivered at the thought of wearing the cloth again because I know what it means.

“Wear it now!” she ordered.

“No, you don't have the right to do this.”

“How dare you disobey your Luna,” she barked. The fire in her eyes turned rage, before I could speak, she yanked my hair, slamming me to the ground. Pain exploded through my side as I fell down. Then she began to kick me, over and over again, each blow worse than the last. 

I begged. I cried. But Alina didn't stop. She continued to kick me until I felt something shift in me. It was like something had been ripped from its place.  

A sharp ripping pain tore through my stomach. My knees buckled. I gasped, and the cry that left my throat didn't sound human. It was nothing like I ever felt in my life. 

Before long, I felt something warm, like metallic slid out from my leg. 

“Blood!” One of the omegas shouted and everything stopped. 

Alina froze, watching as the blood trickled down my legs and pooled to the ground. 

My chest tightened, hands trembling as I looked down and saw blood. 

“No, please…goddess no…” I shook my head, holding my stomach, breath catching in my throat as a low, broken sound escaped me from my soul. 

Callen and I couldn't stay away from each other since we found out we are mates, but I really didn't know I was pregnant. 

“You whore,” she hissed, her voice trembling. “Who got you pregnant?” 

“Who is pregnant?” The familiar voice echoed through the room, increasing the tension. 

Callen. 

A flicker of hope crossed my mind despite the pain. I was so sure things will change for my good since the baby it's his baby. 

But he paused, his eyes scaned the scene, stooping on the blood. For a moment, he was stunned but his face turned cold 

“I’d rather that thing die than let a rogue blood survive in my pack.” he said, meeting my gaze. 

His words broke every bit of love I have left for him.