Chapter 1

“Isn't it beautiful?” Elmira gasped, probably surprised, and pulled from her thoughts.

“I'd choose the green dress,” Elmira suggested as the maid placed the clothes on her large bed and continued to style her hair.

“Between Isabella and me, who's prettier?” Elmira asked, her voice revealing her loss of control. She couldn't help it; the Alpha had never found her attractive.

“You're prettier, Luna,” the maid replied. Elmira knew it was a lie, but it was to boost her confidence.

After the maid dressed her up, she walked out of her room. She planned to surprise Alpha Luciano since today was his birthday. She has been planning everything since two weeks ago, and it must be perfect.

“What are you doing here?” A feminine voice asked, and Elmira flinched.

“Isabella! You scared me” She looked around the room, to see if Alpha Luciano was there.

“I just don't get it, are you dumb? If you wish enough, then I believe you should have left this pack already. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?” Isabella asked, giving Elmira a disgusted look.

Feeling timid, Elmira looked down on the ground, she tried her best to avoid making eye contact with her.

“I'm sorry, I only came here to look for Alpha, if you excuse me” She made to leave the room, but Isabella held her arm and pushed her to the wall.

“And who permitted you to move? I'm not done talking” She said, holding Elmira's chin. She tightened her grip on her chin.

“Let me go! Isabella!!” Elmira's voice was loud, but she didn't notice.

She slapped off Isabella's hand, and Isabella moved backwards with a grin on her face.

"I only came here because of Alpha Luciano, and not for you. So, please, stay away from me” She spoke and sniffed in.

"How dare you, speak to me with that tone?" She scoffed.  "No wonder Luciano hates you so much." She rolls her eyes at Elmira.

Isabella took a razor blade from the table, gave herself a cut on her face and started screaming out loud.

“What!?” Elmira was too shocked to speak. She stood there, watching Isabella cry and blood flowing from her cheek. The sight became unbearable for her, and her body started shaking.

“You evil witch!!, are you satisfied! Answer me! Are you happy, ruining my face, I knew you were jealous of me!!” Isabella's voice was as loud as anything.

Alpha Luciano rushed into his room, only to see his beloved in pain, without even hearing a word from anyone, he proceeded to slap Elmira across the face.

“Are you crazy? What have you done!?” His husky voice ranged in the entire room.

Elmira, feeling paranoid, broke into tears, and words refused to find their way out of her mouth.

“I… I didn't do anything” She managed to speak, but Alpha Luciano wasn't ready to hear that.

“Honey, are you hurt?” He asked, reaching out to Isabella who held her cheek, screaming and crying with every single energy she had.

“Luciano!!…. my face!!… I'm ugly now, right? It's all because of this evil witch!!” She shouted, throwing kicks in the air.

“I'm sorry, let me take you to the hospital,” He said, carrying her up. He gave Elmira a murderous glare before leaving the room.

Elmira stood there speechless and shocked. Doubling, blinking her eyes, she slowly walked out of the room, heading to hers.

It's only a matter of time until the Alpha returns. She's innocent, that she knows, but there isn't a way Alpha Luciano was going to believe her.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number, but there wasn't a response. Furthermore, she dialed it again, but it was all in vain.

Her room door swung open and an angry Alpha Luciano came into view. He looked taller than before, his eyes darkened like charcoal. With each step he took towards Elmira, she could feel her heart sink.

“I.um … I didn't do it” She stammered, moving back.

Elmira's eyes went to his elongated fang, his long claws, it felt like he was going to end her here.

“Let's end it here” Alpha Luciano said, causing a ball of tears to roll down Elmira's cheek.

Almost the same second, it began raining heavily.

“I, Luciano Salvatore, the ruler of the Night walker Pack, hereby reject you as my mate and Luna of the pack!” The hatred was quite evident in his tone. And just like a biscuit crushed into pieces, Elmira's heart was broken.

“Accept the rejection!” He yelled, his muscles and veins bulging, his face more terrifying than an evil owl at night.

“I can't… I can't accept it,” she sobbed, her gaze locked with his, but Luciano's heart was already set!

“Don't let me be the cause of your death” He spoke, and Elmira swallowed hard.

If there's one thing she's learned, it's to never take his words for granted.

“I accept the rejection” She finally spoke out.

“Good! Guards!!” He called, and they assembled.”throw this woman out of my sight!.. Don't you ever step foot into this house!! I forbid you from coming in here” Those were his last words before he walked out.

The maids stood at one point staring at Elmira, who looked pitiful and ruined. To think that the Alpha would choose his mistress over Elmira.

The pain she felt increased wildly at each step out of the house. This has been her worst fear, not being able to stand to his taste.

Standing alone in the middle of the street, body soaked, teeth clenching together due to the cold. She held herself while walking. She had no money with her, and she had no relation staying within.

This was the end for her, so she thought.

She walked for a long distance in the heavy rain, she started feeling dizzy and nauseous. She decided to stop, she sat down on the road while cars passed by.

Within a few minutes, she felt bad and she passed out.

She lay there for hours, the heavy rain falling on her. The rain stopped and that was the time, an old woman probably in her sixties came to her aid. She carried her with the help of some strangers and put her into the taxi, which drove them to their destination.

“Grandma." A boy called, as the lady carried Elmira inside their house. “Who is she?” The boy questioned, following his grandmother, to the sitting room.

“I don't know… found her lying on the street. She must be homeless” The grandma spoke, wiping off the dirt on Elmira's face.

“What if she's a rogue? We will be killed for hiding one with us, you know how Alpha Luciano behaves, he's not one to mess with” The little boy said, feeling uneasy.

“Calm down Henry. The Alpha won't find out, even if she's a rogue” The Grandma replied, giving a comforting smile.

She prepared a hot bath, before waking Elmira. Due to the cold, and constant crying, her eyes were googly and heavy.

She sat up, and looked around the house, even before a word could be uttered, tears rolled down her cheek.” where am I?”

“It's okay honey, you're safe” The Grandma replied, prompting Elmira to exhale, feeling safe.

The little boy stared at her behind the dining room. After some minutes, she went upstairs, to the place where Grandma had prepared her bath. She stayed long before coming out of the bathroom.

“Do you mind having tea? Black coffee actually” The Grandma said, handing her over a cup of coffee, in an old glass cup.

“Thanks” She muttered, taking a sip from the hot coffee.

Grandma and Henry became the family Elmira never had. She stayed indoors for weeks before she began working at a café. Grandma knew the owner well, so getting a job wasn't a problem.

Her life was getting better, that she knew. Grandma always made sure she had whatever she wanted, and slowly she began healing from the pains Alpha Luciano caused.

Three months later, she realized she was already pregnant. Heartbroken, she tried to end her life, but Grandma stopped her. She had to accept her difficult life.

“Have some milk,” Grandma said, handing Elmira a glass of fresh milk. She drank it quickly and let out a sigh.

“Today was so stressful, Mom. I can't imagine how I'm going to provide for my unborn child,” she said, resting her head on the couch.

Grandma, who was in the kitchen, smiled while preparing dinner. “Come on, no negative thoughts. You will be the best mother any child could ask for,” she said, earning a chuckle from Elmira.

“I guess. I'm broke; what can I offer them?”

“Why don't you ask their father for help?” Grandma asked, turning to face Elmira, who looked troubled.

“His father passed away. My unborn child has no one else but me, and of course, you!” Elmira replied.

Although Grandma knew it was a lie, she didn't press for more information. She had her reasons for not talking about her husband or the father of her unborn child. Grandma thought, gently slicing the onion.

~~~~

The night drew faster than expected, the cold calm breeze coming from the Sal ix Babylonica tree made everywhere unnecessarily cold. Looking up at the sky, Isabella smiled, feeling proud of herself.

“Hey,” Alpha Luciano called, planting a gentle kiss on her neck. She turned and returned the kiss.

He hugged her tight, resting his head on her blossom. Alpha Luciano noticed the unusual happiness in her, he pulled out from the hug and stared at her face.

“What is it? You look excited” He remarked and she nodded.

“Guess…make a guess” She said, and Alpha Luciano raised his brows.

“I'm not good at that” His reply came, with a hint of impatience.

“I'm pregnant!!” She announced, and Alpha Luciano's smile slowly disappeared.

Isabella, who noticed that, also changed her facial expressions. She was expecting him to be happy, he should be happy, why then was he looking annoyed and irritated?

“What do you mean, Isabella!” His voice was husky and cold. He moved backwards, while Isabella took a step towards him, closing the space between them.

“What do you mean? I'm pregnant?” She asked, trying to hold his hands, but his next action shook her.

He slapped her hands off, and she froze.

“What is it? Why are you acting all different?

“Who's child is that? Who's responsible for the baby?” He further his questions, and in a swift move he pushed her to the wall.

“Ahh… Luciano!… you're hurting me” She winced softly, as his claws dug into her soft skin.

His eyes changed into gold, his hair slowly rising. His breath was coming out fast, he slammed her heavily on the wall and blood rushed out from her nose.

“Speak!!” He ordered and she gasped out.

“Luciano… the baby…. It is yours!”

“Lies!!!.. The child isn't mine!!” He yelled, and the entire place shook.

Without a second of hesitation, he transformed into a black, gigantic wolf, his canines already bared.

“Please!!… please!!” She cried out desperately.

“Whose baby is it!!” He groaned, his anger palpable.

“It's your brother's child. It's Raymond's child!!” Her response was swift and decisive.

He dropped her and shifted back into his human form.

This was the reason he had kept his health issues a secret. He had feared such a revelation, and now, it had become his reality.

“Leave!!!… leave before I kill you!!” He shouted, and Isabella rushed out of the room.

His fists clenched in anger as he grappled with the truth. He would never have an heir to the throne; that much he knew. Maybe it was his punishment for being the Alpha king, the last child.

“How long are you going to curse me?" He yelled angrily, hitting his hands on the wall.

He kept hitting the wall until he couldn't feel his hand. Furthermore, he stopped, breathing heavily.

“You haven't changed a bit, have you?” An ominous voice said, walking through the shadows.

“Who are you?" Alpha Luciano asked, tracing the unknown shadow.

The stranger's lips curled into a sinister smile. “I know about your brother, Raymond. I know about the prophecy, the one that foretells the rise of a new Alpha.”

Alpha Luciano's heart raced at the mention of the prophecy. It was a legend passed down through generations. A prophecy that spoke of a new Alpha, one who would challenge the existing state of affairs and usher in a new era.

“I do not know what you say” Luciano replied, attempting to conceal his unease.

“Is that so?” The stranger chuckled softly.”Then what about the…” He suddenly disappeared into the night as someone's footsteps were heard.

"Alpha!" Someone called, and Luciano went to get the door.

"It's past eight beta Chris!" He said,as soon as he opened the door.

"I'm very sorry to bother you but…" He didn't finish his statements before Luciano slammed the door behind and he swallowed the remaining words.

"And I guessed that right" He muttered and turned to leave.

Three steps forward, the door opened and he smiled,before rushing in.

"What is the matter?" Luciano questioned, treating his wound.

"What happened?" Beta Chris asked, referring to his bleeding hands.

"That's not the question," he shot back, giving him a stern look, causing Beta Chris to clear his throat.

"I'll get straight to the point. It's been three months since you rejected your mate and the Luna of this pack, so the council is concerned," he explained. Luciano chuckled briefly before his expression turned serious.

"It's better to lose a worthless Luna than have a foolish mate or Luna for this pack," he replied, causing Beta Chris to stand up.

"But the council is worried! You should have a mate, someone who will stand by your side at all times," he paused and placed his hands on Alpha Luciano's shoulders.

"Someone who's willing to grow old with you, who will help you raise your future pups. Just tell me why you don't want a mate?" Beta Chris asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Did you say 'pup'? I'm impotent! I can't get a woman pregnant!" Luciano nearly shouted, walking towards Beta Chris, who took a few steps back.

"We can get it sorted out" Beta Chris said, moving his face to the other direction, as he shielded his face with his hands.

"Sort things out?" He repeated his words and shook his head.

"This is my curse and I will bear the shame. What more punishment can the moon goodness give to me?" He smirked, folding his fist angrily.