Chapter 1

Scarlet.

I glanced down at my wristwatch for what felt like the hundredth time. 6:00 PM. That was when Alex promised to pick me up. Now, it was past eight, and I was still sitting outside. He’s coming. He had to be.

Alex had never disappointed me like this before. Not once.

But then why hasn’t he called?

I reached into my pocket and checked my phone—again. No messages. No missed calls. Nothing.

The evening had slipped into night, and my excitement— The excitement of finally getting recognized as the Crown’s alpha Mate, which once bubbled inside me, flickered weakly, sinking lower and lower inside my chest.

I rubbed my arms, trying to shake off the cold—and the ache spreading through me, while still convincing myself that he was probably just running late.

Finally, I exhaled slowly, He’s not coming.

My shoes clicked softly against the pavement as I made my way back into the house.

The ceramic mug I had chosen for Alex’s parents sat on the center table, waiting patiently like I had. It was simple but elegant— white with soft blue patterns around the edges. I’d spent hours picking it out, wanting to make a good impression.

With a sigh, I picked up the mug, cradling it carefully in my hands. I glanced around the house one last time, making sure everything was in order. I took one more deep breath, and stepped back outside.

I was going to the party alone.

••

As I walked into the party, through my side eyes I saw a group of girls exchange glances, one of them smiled but it wasn’t kind.

“Oh look, it’s Miss Pathetic,”

“What’s with the makeup? It's ... pathetic."

"Who in their right mind shows up to an event like this?"

I heard whispers and murmurs as I walked into the compound of the pack house. I started to feel self conscious, as early as now I began to regret sneaking into Alyssa’s room and smearing makeup on my face like a toddler with crayon.

The jesting persisted, I tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter but I wasn’t doing a very good job.

I grabbed the side of my dress and squeezed tightly on it as if it had the ability to make me invisible. I scanned through the crowd in search of Alex but I couldn’t find him anywhere. Their whispers grew louder in my head and I couldn’t take it anymore. It seemed like a section of them left the party to tease me and laugh at my helplessness like I was some pathetic Sitcom.

“I can’t believe she’s a Tanner, she still hasn’t wolfed out,” a girl said out loud, I sniffled deeply desperately trying to push back the tears that threatened to fall.

I pushed through the crowd and made my way to the empty side of the pack house. Maybe I shouldn’t have come, right now I just wanted to go back home. I sniffled deeply and wiped the tears that streaked down my cheeks. I didn’t want to go back to the main entrance, so I decided to leave through the back exit.

The pack house was too big and intertwined and I lost my way, as if the frustration I was feeling right now wasn’t enough. I heard voices and I traced it immediately in order to find help to get out of this place, but then the voice of whoever it was sliced through the air and my heart skipped a beat in recognition.

I stepped onto the balcony, drawing in a breath to steady myself, hoping against hope that I probably misheard the voice. But the moment my eyes landed on them, My breath caught in my throat, my heart slammed hard against my ribcage. There, pressed against my boyfriend, was my younger sister—her hands tangled in his hair, his lips pressed firmly to hers.

I blinked once, then again, and again, hoping the image would dissolve, or shift into something less devastating. It didn’t.

My mate. All of a sudden I felt foolish for thinking Alex was mine to keep, I mean we are from two different worlds. This is probably why he didn’t reject nor accept me after he found out I was his mate, rather he chose to just date me.

“Why won’t you reject her already?!” I heard my younger sister say to my boyfriend, I froze in my tracks. My heart rate accelerated immediately and I really did not know what to do, blinking rapidly and trying to keep my outrageous breath low, I retreated and hid behind a pillar so they wouldn’t see me.

His hands were wrapped around her waist and hers around his neck, only the sight of that was enough to break my already disappointed heart.

“Is she really someone you’d like to have by your side once you become Alpha” she grumbled irritatingly pouting her lips at him, he flashed her a small smile and playfully tugged at her cheeks.

“Of Course not, No one is a suitable Luna for me than you” He responded, immediately he said that the Ceramic mug I held as gift for him slipped out of my hands, fell to the floor and shattered into pieces, tears dropped from my eyes, I slowly looked back up and two pair of eyes were on me. One staring me in anger and the other in disdain.

“A-a-alex —“ The words slipped out, barely above a whisper. I stepped away from behind the pillar. They relunctantly disengaged from each other and slowly turned to me. If Alex had been the one staring at me with anger it might have been better, but he wasn’t. It was disgust in his eyes.

“Babe,” Alyssa purred not sparing me any glance at all,

“Just get it over with. Reject her. Your parents are waiting”

My knees buckled, my legs threatening to give way, Tears blurred my vision but I kept shaking my head at him. I’m willing to forget this ever happened and move on, if he won’t reject me.

“A-Alex -A-Alex, you won’t do that to me, right?!” I stuttered whispering the last part, he chuckled, low and cruel, he closed the distance between us in two long strides, towering over me. His eyes sharp and cold.

“Why?!” He snorted staring down at me intimidatingly.

“You actually thought you’ll be my Luna?!”

“You don’t even have a wolf!” he added his eyes depicting clear irritation.

“You’re so embarrassing,” he muttered, I couldn't stop the tears now-they flowed freely, hot streaks running down my cheeks.

Alex's smirk deepened as he leaned down, so close I could feel his breath on my face.

"I was bored," he said softly, his words dripping with mockery. "And you? You were easy."

My stomach twisted violently, but I couldn’t move.

“And you know what?” He grinned, his breath warm against my skin. “I’ve always wondered what you'd taste like.” His lips brushed my ear. “What do mere humans taste like?”

Alyssa's laughter rang out from the corner, sharp and mocking. My eyes stung with tears, and I spun around, in an attempt to run away, my heart couldn’t take his words anymore. Alyssa’s words didn’t bother me, but Alex? His words shattered my soul.

I barely made it two steps before a commanding voice boomed behind me.

“There she is! Grab her! Don’t let her escape!”

At first, the words didn’t register. It was like they weren’t meant for me—couldn’t be. But then rough hands grabbed me by my arms, jerking me backward. My breath hitched as two massive park guards seized me.

Wait—what? What’s happening?!” I gasped, whipping my head back and forth between them as they pulled me forward. Panic surged through me, and I could feel my heartbeat in my ear. My gaze darted to Alex and Alyssa, did they plan this?

“What did I do?!” I pleaded, my voice cracking. But they didn’t even flinch, didn’t offer so much as a glance. The crowd parted ahead of us like water, and before I knew it, I was shoved to a stop. I stumbled, barely catching my balance as the guards tightened their grip on my arms.

And then I saw him—Alpha Kade.

His presence was suffocating, towering over me with an aura of dominance and fury. His piercing gaze locked onto mine, cutting straight through me like a blade.

"How dare you steal from me!” His deep voice rumbled through the silence, sending a chill down my spine.

The accusation hit me like a ton of bricks was dumped on my head. My mouth fell open in disbelief.

"What? I didn’t steal anything! I swear I didn’t!"

The crowd erupted into murmurs, suspicion and gossip. My stomach twisted painfully as I turned my head, desperate for anyone, someone, to stand up for me. My gaze landed on Alex and Alyssa again. But they both looked away carelessly.

"Please," I pleaded, panic surging in my chest. I knew exactly what happens to thieves in this pack, much more someone who is accused of stealing from the pack house.

"The evidence says otherwise. You were the only one seen roaming around the pack house while everyone was at the party,” Alpha Kade thundered.

I shook my head furiously, trying to not cry and make my words clear.

"Yes, but only because I wanted to go home through the back exit and I lost my way,”

"You expect me to believe you?" Alpha Kade’s voice was low and dangerous, sending a ripple of fear through me. Thieves usually died by hanging in this pack and for the first time in my life, I’ve never been so afraid for my life.

"I’m not a thief!" I shouted, frustration and fear colliding in my chest. I wanted to scream, to cry, to run—but there was no escape.

The crowd stirred again, voices rising, everyone one of them had something to say, ofcourse nobody believed me. I could feel their judgment pressing in, branding me as guilty before I even had a chance to defend myself. I looked around the crowd for my parents but I couldn’t find them.

“Until the truth is uncovered, you’ll stay in the holding cells. If you're innocent, it’ll come to light. But if you’re lying…”

He trailed off, making my heart beat even faster and my tears flowed ceaselessly. Just when I thought the worst had come, a guard rushed in, leaning close to whisper something in his ear. I watched the shift in Alpha Kade’s expression as he turned back toward me, his sharp gaze unreadable.

“Let her go!”

The words came out sharp and final. The guards released me so abruptly that I crumpled to the ground, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my knees and palms. I gasped, my hands trembling against the cold, hard floor. The whispers of the crowd grew louder, but I barely registered them. I was still hurting, still humiliated—but at least, for now, I was free.

“We found it. But that doesn’t make you innocent!”

“Get her away!”

I was halfway to my feet when a thunderous voice rang out, halting everything.

“Wait!”

The room fell into silence. Every gaze turned toward him. Alex.

He stepped forward slowly, like a predator approaching prey. His dark eyes locked on me, and a chill slid down my spine. A part of me knew exactly what he was about to do, but another part hoped and prayed to Selene that I was wrong.

When he stopped in front of me, the corner of his lips curled into something I didn’t recognize. It wasn’t kindness or concern. It was a smirk. A cruel, twisted thing.

His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat, fingers digging into my skin. My breath hitched in shock.

“Alex,” I gasped, clawing at his hand. “You’re hurting me.”

He didn’t let go. His grip only tightened, sending an obvious signal that he didn’t care. I knew—knew in that moment that the Alex I thought I knew was gone, or maybe he’d never existed at all.

And then he said the words I had begged the gods to spare me from. Words I’d prayed to Selene, over and over, that I’d never have to hear.

“I, Alex Williams, Crown Alpha of the Twilight Zone, reject you dirty useless thing, as my mate.”