A Surprise Awaits

Aria

I got to my room, my chest heavy and thumping. I slumped on my bed, the tears running wilder while the bed creaked too loudly as it reminded me of what I truly am.

An overweight Luna only fit for treaties.

The scene had hit harder than I could take. As my body shook violently with the memories of his betrayal, I made a resolve to end it all.

" Maybe it's time to give him the Luna he wants."

I heard the click and a familiar scent invading my room. I stopped crying, lifting my head to face the window. I could feel the puffiness as I stared at the moon who obviously was mocking my predicament.

I knew it was Alec. His scent had been part of my life for more than three years of marriage. As my eyes landed on the man I had shared these last three years loving and being the perfect wife, I had a tiny ray of hope that maybe it was all a misunderstanding.

"Aria, who gave you the right to spy on me?" Alec was rough, edgy and nothing like the man who was supposed to give me an explanation.

I slowly got up from the bed, the creaking echoing through the room. I bite my lips harder than I should, tasting the bitter metal. " Alec, I am your wife. Your Luna. Your chosen mate. Don't I deserve to know the slut you are fucking besides me?"

Alec mocked, his eyes turning darker. And in less than a second, I felt my back aching as it jam through the walls. Alec bared his fangs, spitting out the words." You are not worthy enough to be called my mate...or Luna."

My claws sank in until I heard the soft patter on the floor. Crimson spread, slow and warm, under my feet." Not worthy."

It wasn't meant to be a question. I only confirmed his words. He let loose of his grasp on my neck and my ass hit hard on the floor. Though, not as hard as the pain inside of me.

" Aria, know your place. You are a treaty your parents begged for."

Perhaps he felt a little guilty, or the fact that I was wobbling under his grasp yet I didn't struggle.

My voice remain calm." Alec, let's get a divorce."

The silence that followed was deafening. A second of less and I felt his rough pull. " I dare you, Aria!"

The deepening sound of each words should have crushed me, but I was already tired. The scene in the private chamber kept replaying in my head. I could tolerate everything but not him cheating on me.

He thought I wouldn't dare, but he was in for a shocker.

This facade needs to end right now.

" I, Luna Aria, dissolves the Moon Vow with my chosen mate, Alpha Alec with immediate effect."

Alec smirked at my words, his eyes roaming all over my body." You are just emotional, Aria. You can still stop before...”

He said it like he was doing me a favor. Like I was a dog that ran off. His gaze flickered towards my face before darkening with a warning.

But I wasn't going to continue tolerating his betrayal." Emotional? You called another woman your Luna and have been fucking her for more than a year, Alec."

Alec shrugged." You are unfit to be a Luna. But she is the perfect Luna."

I felt weak, my knees wobbling." Perfect Luna. Then why do you still keep me? Why not just divorce me all these months?"

His voice was flat." I didn't divorce you because of the treaty between our pack. Don't make this uglier, Aria."

I laughed, ignoring the gnawing pain from his words. With a deep breath, I walked towards the cabinet in my room and opened it. Inside were two parchments and I reached for the sealed one. Unsealing it, I laughed." I never knew I would be needing this so soon."

The parchments were for the marriage treaty and also for the dissolving of a marriage treaty. Three years ago, I had thought I would never need it. But here I am three years later, holding it out with blood strained claws.

" Aria, what the hell do you think you are doing?"

For a second, I perceived a little fear underneath the smugness in Alec's face. Or maybe I was hallucinating it.

I slowly unsheathed my claw and dragged it across the divorce parchment, to the spot our names rested. Blood welled in black in the moonlight as I pressed my palm down.

“You can make her your rightful Luna now."

Alec bare his fangs, his eyes brimming red." You will be back, Aria. No one would dare claim you."

I let out a scowl at his words." No one is still better than being with you. I will rather die alone."

With those words, I walked out of our chamber, without looking back.

I took the little belongings I had, struggling out of the Mansion. I didn't want to stay even one night in this godforsaken place. Even if I knew deep down that my troubles were just getting started, it was still better than being strung to a cheater.

As I stepped out of the Mansion, I heard the pack members whispers but I chose to ignore it as I got into the car that was waiting to take me back home.

*

My birth pack was worse than Alec’s. At least his cruelty was cold. My family’s was familiar. Worn smooth by years of use against me. It had always been thrown at me without a second thought.

As the car drove into our mansion, I was surprised to see everywhere lit up and a bold poster with Liora, my stepsister and an extremely handsome man on it.

Xavier Blackwood.

He was also known as the bloodthirsty Alpha of Blackwood Pack. He has 14 packs under his rule who were formidable as well.

It was an engagement ceremony of my sister and they didn't even bother to invite me.

As I stepped into the front parchment, my stepmother, father and brother hurried to meet me. It wasn't a concerned welcome but one of embarrassment.

Diane, my stepmother's voice rang out. It was laced with no motherly love.

“You embarrassed us. A divorced daughter. What will the other packs think?”

My brother snorted, annoyance pierced at me. “You couldn’t even keep an alpha. Too big to hold onto anything.”

“At least try to be grateful,” my father said. “He took you. No one else would have. Do you know what we gave up to make you the Luna?”

It was obvious they all knew about the divorce. Of course, the divorce parchment was magically woven. The other one they had must have also scratched out our names.

" Father, I just had a messy divorce and all you think about is..."

Diane caught in, annoyed as she motioned to one of the head servant." Today is Liora's engagement. Mrs. Brooks, take her inside and make her presentable."

And just like that, I was whisked away without listening to my side of the story. After all, their precious Liora was getting engaged to one of the most powerful Alpha in the werewolf world.

As much as I would hate to deny it, Liora was perfect match for the Alpha. I should’ve stayed in my room. I should’ve let them pretend I didn’t exist.

*

Thirty minutes later, I walked into the dining hall of our mansion.

Inside, the dining hall, my parents wore grins I never saw. Liora was in ivory silk. She was 110 pounds of perfect she-wolf and was laughing next to her Alpha fiancé.

And him.

Xavier Blackwood, stood by the fireplace, whiskey in hand, dark suit straining over Alpha muscle. 6’4. He had a full black hair with eyes that flickered gold when he was pissed.

I sat where they told me to sit. It was at the far end of the dining room, exactly near the shadows where I could be perfectly hidden. Although I cleaned up, I still felt dirty with every pair of eyes roaming on my body.

I kept my eyes on my plate, perfecting my art of being invisible.

“To unity,” my father stood, raising his cup. “To strong bloodlines.”

Glasses clinked, except mine.

I felt the pain washing through me before coldness splashed on my hand. I was slowly wiping it off when I felt a stir inside. It wasn't just stir, but an intoxicating one that got my wolf howling loudly.

His eyes met mine.

And the glass in my hand slipped, at the same time I heard a clashing sound in the dining room. My weak wolf finally revived, and the words I had never spoken glided out.

" Mate"