CHAPTER 1 - THE PAINFUL BETRAYAL
Celene's POV The cold splash of water on my skin jolted me awake. I sat up with a gasp, my heart racing, as I frantically wiped the cold droplets from my face. And that's when I saw her, Ella, standing over me with a wicked grin, the empty glass still clutched in her hand. "What do you think you're doing?" I hollered angrily. She sneered in derision. "It's quite irrational to scream like a lunatic so early in the morning. Don't you think so?" I exhaled slowly. "Get out of my room, now!" She raised an eyebrow. "Your room?" She said this as she moved closer to me. "Okay, let's see how cocky you can get when you get wheeled out of the pack today!" Suddenly, I caught a whiff of her musky scent. Only it wasn't her usual scent. I sniffed again, and this time, the scent was more pronounced. In the whole Violet pack, only one person had this scent. My boyfriend, Christoph! Why did my bitchy stepsister have his scent all over her? My gaze darkened as I watched her face closely. Maybe I was overthinking it. Christoph was away from the pack at the moment, so it couldn't be him. For all I knew, Celene liked to whore around a lot. It might just be another man's scent. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "Just get the hell out of my room and mind your business. Don't you have something to do today?" Her lips curled into an evil expression as she clicked her tongue. "Actually, I do. Packing your load for you. Dad's sending you out of the pack! He has ordered me to call you to the pack's palace now!" Before I could say anything else, she bolted out the door, her chuckles reverberating in the corridor. Panic settled in my guts as I paced my room. What did she mean? I was going to be sent out of the pack.? And from her tone, I knew she wasn't joking. Ella would be the last person to enter my room on a normal day. Something must be up. I freshened up quickly and walked the road that led to the palace. As I approached the door, I could hear hushing voices. "We can't just marry her off to the Lycan king. You know his reputation." My heart stopped dead as words drifted out, and so did my legs. Who were they marrying off to the Lycan king? Surely it couldn't be me. I shook my head as I pushed the door open. "What took you so long, Omega!" My stepmother, Valerie, hissed as she fixed me with a disdainful glare. I ignored her and shifted my gaze to Dad, who sat beside her, wearing a complicated look as he avoided my gaze. "Dad, I heard you summon me!" I saw him swallow hard in his throat as he turned to Valerie. "Your stepmother has something to tell you!" He went all silent again, just as he'd always been since Mom's death. He was only the alpha by title. Valerie did all of the Alpha's duty, and she made the call. Anger boiled in me. "Dad, you're the Alpha, and I request to speak with you. I will not receive any orders from this woman!" "How dare you!" Valerie growled as she sprang to her feet and lunged towards me. "I'm your Luna, you insolent Omega!" I saw through her attack and managed to duck, but she was smarter. She smacked me across the face with her left hand, and I staggered backwards from the impact. My face burned with the sting, and I grabbed my hurting cheeks, turning to face her in time to catch the menacing look on her face. "You useless omega runt! You are a stain on the pack's honour; how dare you address your Luna in such a manner!?" I grunted. "Luna, my foot!" A slap was what I got as a reply; this time it was harder, and it snapped all the air out of my guts as I struggled to maintain my balance. "It's so funny seeing a pathetic excuse for a wolf acting out. Shall I throw you into the cold throat of the dungeons like last time?" She gritted out, and panic seized me. Seeing the terrified look on my face, she sighed in satisfaction. "The Lycan king is visiting us today, and you can't ruin it for us. Go get yourself changed out of these rags you call clothes!" "No! I will not!" You can't just sell me off to a monster who I know nothing about. I won't act according to your wishes!" "Celene!" Dad growled. "I'm your Alpha, and you shall obey me! Get ready to meet the Lycan king!" Oh, now you're the Alpha? I sneered inwardly. "Guards, get her out of here!" He ordered Almost immediately, the guards lurched at me and tackled me to the ground while I struggled against their grip. They threw me to the cold floor of the hallway. Different thoughts competed for attention in my mind as I shuffled back to the royal villa. As I approached it, a car suddenly pulled up in front of the villa. It looked ever so familiar. It was my boyfriend Christoph's car. He was in town. I hadn't received any calm from him. He was probably trying to surprise me. A smile grazed my lips as I started towards the car, but I hadn't taken more than one step when the car's door yanked open and Christoph climbed out, his face looking as handsome as ever. However, when I saw the face of the woman who climbed out after him, my mind emptied. It was none other than Ella. My heart skipped multiple beats as I froze in my tracks. What was my bitchy-ass stepsister doing with my boyfriend? I killed the thought as quickly as it came. I and Christoph have been dating for close to three years now. There was no way he was cheating on me. He was beaming at her as they held each other's hands as they entered the villa. My pulse quickened as panic balled in my guts. I all but raced in and doubled up the stairs, listening carefully for the slightest sound. Just as I reached the last landing, I heard the sound of Ella's room's door clicking shut. With my heart thudding in my chest, I walked stealthily to the door. Almost immediately, I heard a chuckle, low and throaty. "You're so sweet, Ella!" Christoph's voice broke out hoarsely, and my heart clenched. "Sweeter than my sister?" Ella asked. "Yes. Sweeter than her." His voice was muffled as though he were trailing kisses all over her face and the nape of her neck, just like he used to do to me. Ella's moan grew louder, and my throat bittered at the thought of what was happening. I shook my head in disbelief. There was no way this could actually be happening. I was probably hallucinating. I bit hard into my lips till it bled, but Ella's loud moans never stopped. "Fuck me like you're a man, Chris!" She moaned, and I heard Christoph groan in response. I wiped my face as I sniffed back the emotions that were gnawing at me. How could he fuck my sister in the same house I was living in? They didn't only do the abomination; they even rubbed it in my face, challenging me to do my worst if I wanted. How could I even cry for them? I could continue listening to the door. I had to see it for myself. "Oh, Ella. I'm so close now. So close!" Christoph groaned. "No, dawg. Not so close!" I said this through gritted teeth as I pushed the door open. "Celene!" Christoph's voice trembled as a look of shock registered on his face.163Christoff Celene had always been a feisty character. Although years of neglect and negligence from her father and those supposed to care for her, turned her meek, and mellow, yearning for love. Despite that I'd always known she was feisty, I'd seen it in the way she preserved red, the way she stood up for herself despite being scared of her stepmother at first I'd fallen in love with that spirit, but it was her meekness, her dependence on me that had sealed the deal.I'd always known I would be Alpha. Being an orphan almost all my life, I'd been thrown into a sea of danger, no one cared forced into being a mercenary then a warrior fighting wars, I never caused, it was during that period I found Violet Pack.Free of war and rich beyond my years, shocked by the kindness of its people, they welcomed me and I felt like I belonged, and yet hidden beyond those positives was an underlying darkness.The Alpha is weak, his children unworthy, and his wife a power-hungry woman slowly taki
162ChristoffCelene stood stiffly at the end of the room, dressed in one of the many items I'd chosen for her. In any other circumstances I would be filled with pride, at the vision before me, but not today, she stood stiffy, staring at me, her finger wrapped around the other as she wrung them tightly, her expression a mix of worry and disbelief. “You can't be serious Christoff.” She said, making eye contact, “This is all too soon, Attacking Luna Valerie will harm you more than it will help.”I smirked at her, crossing my arms, “Why do you care? Are you worried about me?”A trace of annoyance flashed within her eye, but she turned away to prevent me from seeing it, it was too late. I knew she hated me, she wanted no part of this life I'd already planned and the only reason she was going through with the ritual, was because she thought I had her father. Not that I cared, Celene was to be my bride, whether she wanted to or not. Ever since I'd told her my plan to attack she had been
161Mondrian“With your skill set, you are the only one I can trust to help find the alpha without alerting the enemy.” Arlen nodded, his eyes held understanding, “I'll do my best to find Alpha Daniel, Your Highness.”“I know she told me to search for just her father since he would know what to do in this situation and she would take care of herself but I intend to go after her, I cannot let her stay imprisoned for much longer,” I said, turning to Alex.Alex didn’t speak right away. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair, clearly confused with the turn of events “Despite being the world power here 8 don't think we can just waltz in and do whatever we like Alpha, there are rules to this thing.”“I know. But I don't care,” I responded my voice firm, “ not when my mate is being held captive by some wannabe king, and I cannot let it go on any longer. Celene has been through too much to have to do this on her own.”Alex seemed to weigh my words, his head bowed deep in thought, “I underst
160MondrianI sat in the conference room, surrounded by my closest confidants, Alex my beta and second In command, Arlen a young but promising aide, his help during Celene's expulsion from the violet pack would forever be remembered and Zara, young and fiery with a heart of gold, she was also Selene's closer friend at white Lycan.Although small, these men and women made up more than any army I could have chosen. And I was grateful to Zara for their quick arrival.They say facing me, their faces filled with confusion and dread, from their darkened gaze I could tell they were waiting for the worst. All except Zara looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but here, and I couldn't blame them. Not after I had dropped the bomb of my stepping down just a day prior.Unlike him, Alex was the first to break the silence, his brow furrowed with concern. “What’s the reason you had Zara call us over, Your Highness? Are you still thinking about picking a new successor? Because last time you mad
159CeleneI felt weak, so weak I didn't think I could lift my arms, Hunger gnawed at my insides like a hungry beast, and my thoughts grew fuzzy.I was beginning to regret not eating when I had the chance, how I could have been so stupid as to pass the opportunity annoyed me.But I had to give myself a small ounce of grace, at that time I'd given up all hope. Too shocked by Christoff's betrayal to think clearly but now after my talk with Mondrian, I felt like things were finally coming into place.Although I'd used the last dredges of my strength to connect the bond between us, I had no regrets. Alera my wolf, was currently sleeping too tired from overworking herself. I was grateful to her for the idea and for teaching me how to connect our minds.A small smile played on my lips at the memories of Mondrian. Hearing from him had left me feeling happy. The relief washer through me knowing he was still alive and well.Although I hadn't planned on revealing my feelings to him just yet, b
158MondrianAt the sound of her voice, I jumped to my feet the time falling at my feet. What's going on? Was I going mad? The question flickered through my mind as I spoke out “Who's there? Show yourself!” I growled, unleashing my Aura. I am met with silence once again. The room was empty of anyone but me, and I sighed chuckling softly at myself.“It's confirmed I have gone mad.” Leaning down I reached for the time. The moment my fingers grazed the weathered paper Her voice slipped through the thoughts in my head quelling the buzz of my people's linked thoughts.“Mondrian? Can you hear me?” I stilled, my head cocked to the side. What's going on? Is this a trick?Is this fate's way of showing me how powerless I was to the curse and my dying body?“Alera said this would work.” She asked perplexed, “Why isn't he saying anything? Mondrian if you can hear me, answers me”Her voice carried with it a sense of urgency, pushing me into action, my heart hammered in my chest.“Celene?” I call