CHAPTER FIVE

The scent of alcohol lingers in the air.

Laughter and music echo through the grand hall, a celebration of a wedding that feels more like a funeral. The Mooncrest Pack dines and drinks as if this is the happiest night of their lives, as if they don’t see the bride sitting stiffly at the head of the table, drowning in her silence. As if they don’t hear the rapid beating of my heart, caged in my chest like a war drum.

Alderon Kane sits beside me, his presence as overwhelming as ever. His golden eyes gleam under the soft candlelight, watching me like a predator. Like he’s waiting for something.

I clench my fists under the table. My wrist still burns from where he held me earlier, dragging me into this nightmare. The mark he left during the ceremony throbs against my skin—a fresh reminder that I belong to him now. At least, that’s what he thinks.

I force my gaze to the hall. It’s grand, draped in silk and gold, filled with warriors and pack members drinking to my suffering. Their voices blend into the background, and yet, I hear the whispers.

"She’s the daughter of the fallen Alpha."

"He should’ve just killed her."

" I can't believe she's going to be out Luna, she's weak"

" he should have killed her the day he killed her father"

"She looks terrified."

"No… she looks furious."

They’re right. I am furious.

My grip tightens around the silver goblet in front of me. If I had the chance, I’d drive it straight into Kane’s heart. But I know better.

Not yet.

A sharp clink draws my attention back to him. Kane leans forward, refilling my drink, his movements slow and deliberate. The scent of him—cedarwood, blood, and something inherently wild—wraps around me, suffocating.

"Drink," he murmurs, voice rich with amusement. "You look like you need it."

I glare at him. "I’d rather drink poison."

His lips curve into a smirk. "Careful, little wolf. I might just take that as a request."

Before I can fire back, someone slams a mug against the table. Caleb, Kane’s right hand, rises from his seat, his eyes locked onto me. His expression is unreadable, but there’s something there—something almost… pitying?

I don’t want his pity. I want freedom.

But that’s not going to happen tonight.

The music shifts, and I realize what’s coming before it even begins.

A woman steps forward—dark-haired, beautiful, and dangerous. I don’t know her name, but I know her kind. She is one of them. One of his pack. She walks with a confidence I can’t afford, her gaze locked onto Kane like he belongs to her.

"Alpha," she purrs, reaching out to touch his arm. "A dance?"

My stomach turns.

Kane doesn’t look at me when he answers. "Why not?"

The room roars in approval. I stay silent, my nails digging into my palm as he rises from his seat, leaving me cold and alone at the table.

And just like that, the worst night of my life continues.

A few minutes into the dance-

The doors swing open.

A woman stumbles in.

Half-naked. Barefoot. Scared.

My breath catches in my throat. Her hair is tangled, her skin dirty, bruises marking her arms and legs. She trembles as she walks further into the hall, eyes darting around like a wild animal trapped in a cage.

It doesn't take long for me to recognize her.

My sister.

The world stops.

I can't move. Can't breathe. I just watch as she steps onto the center of the hall, and then—

She starts to dance.

Swinging her hips, arms raised above her head in a way that is meant to be seductive, but all I see is pain. Desperation.

The men cheer. Throw food at her.

And she—she rushes at it like a starving dog.

I feel sick.

I feel furious.

what on earth had they done to her?.

Alderon Kane is watching me. His golden eyes burn into mine, gauging my reaction. Waiting for me to break.

If it had been another woman—another unfortunate soul forced into this humiliation—I wouldn’t have flinched. But this is my sister.

The same girl who had taken the place of my mother after her death. Who had stayed up late, reading me bedtime stories. Who had taught me to weave my own hair with gentle hands and soft laughter.

And he has reduced her to this.

I snap.

"NO!"

I rush forward, shoving past the drunken fools, reaching for her, I barely reached her when-

"Enough."

Alderon's voice slices through the room like a blade.

Before I can even process what’s happening, hands grab me. Hold me firm. I thrash against their grip as more of Kane’s men step in, dragging my sister away like she’s nothing more than a piece of discarded meat.

"Let me go, you bastards!" I scream, kicking, twisting, fighting. My crystal-weak voice is swallowed by their laughter.

Then—

Silence.

Alderon shoots them a look.

The laughter dies. The air shifts. Everyone goes still.

" how do you like my little surprise, a wedding isn't complete without your family blessings now is it" his voice is ruthless just as his gazes.

I turn my rage on him. My vision blurs red.

"You f**king bastard!**"

I smack him.

Hard.

The sound echoes through the hall like a gunshot.

He stills. His face unreadable. But I know. I know I’ve crossed a line.

Before I can react, his hands are on me.

Fast. Unforgiving.

He grabs me by the waist, throwing me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing. I pound my fists against his back, kicking, cursing, screaming.

"Let me go! I swear I’ll kill you!"

He doesn’t stop.

The world tilts—hallways, stairs, a door—

Then—

Darkness. A bed.

I hit the mattress hard, my body bouncing.

Before I can move, his weight presses down on me. One hand pins my wrists above my head. The other hand—ripping his shirt open, baring muscle, heat, power.

My breath comes fast.

too fast.

"I’m going to show you how to be submissive" he growls.

Then—

His mouth crashes against mine.

Hard. Bruising. Violent.

I taste blood.

My blood.

I thrash, but he doesn’t let go.

His teeth scrape my lower lip. His tongue pushes past my lips, forcing me to taste him—raw, dominant, cruel.

His body presses down more, a weight, a force, a warning.

"You belong to me now," he murmurs against my mouth, voice dark, breath hot. "You can fight all you want, little wolf."

"I’m going to show you how," he growls.

Then—

His mouth crashes against mine.

Hard. Bruising. Violent.

I taste blood.

My blood.

I thrash, but he doesn’t let go.

His teeth scrape my lower lip. His tongue pushes past my lips, forcing me to taste him—raw, dominant, cruel.

His body presses down, a weight, a force, a warning.

"You belong to me now," he murmurs against my mouth, voice dark, breath ragged. "You can fight all you want, little wolf."

His grip tightens. his aroused dick pressing against my stomach.

His teeth graze my throat, almost digging into my flesh, when a sharp knock on the door shatters the tension.

The moment stretches, my breath coming out in shallow gasps as Alderon freezes, his presence suffocating. His hot breath fans against my skin, and for a moment, I can’t tell if he’s going to bite me or tear me apart in some other way.

The knock sounds again, louder this time.

Alderon’s grip loosens, just slightly, enough for me to take in a shaky breath. But he doesn’t move away. He stays there, his body pressed against mine, his eyes locked onto me like a predator deciding whether to strike.

Another knock. The door swings open, and Caleb’s figure appears in the doorway.

“Alpha, your mother has sent for you "Caleb starts, his voice cutting through the thick tension in the room. His gaze flickers between the two of us, quickly assessing the situation. He doesn’t need to say more; the air is heavy with the unspoken understanding of what just almost happened.

Alderon growls low, barely audible, his hand still gripping my hands, but loosening enough to make me feel the coolness of the air against my skin. He doesn’t break eye contact with me, his golden eyes burning with an intensity that makes my pulse race.

“What?” Alderon snaps, his voice like gravel. He’s clearly irritated, his attention still torn between me and the interruption.

“Your mother,” Caleb repeats, “She’s calling for you. Now.”

The words seem to snap something inside Alderon. He doesn’t pull away completely but stands up straighter, his grip finally relinquishing me. His eyes are filled with a mixture of frustration and something darker, something primal. He steps back a little, enough to let me breathe fully again, but the heat between us doesn’t dissipate.

“I’ll deal with her later,” Alderon mutters, voice thick with frustration.

Caleb doesn’t respond, but his gaze lingers on me for a moment before turning back to his Alpha.

“You should go, Alpha,” Caleb says quietly, but his eyes remain sharp.

Alderon glances at me one last time, his lips curling into a smirk that doesn’t reach his eyes. “This isn’t over,” he warns, his voice barely a whisper as if it’s meant just for me.

Then, without another word, he storms out of the room.

I can feel my breath, shallow and ragged, my chest rising and falling as if I can’t control it. My body trembles, still locked in the aftermath of what just happened. The weight of his presence lingers, suffocating, even though he’s gone. He’s left me with nothing but his touch burned into my skin and a storm of emotions that I can’t begin to sort through.

I lay there for a long moment, the silence of the room almost deafening. His scent—cedarwood and something darker, something primal—clings to me, and I want to rip the air apart, rip the skin that touched me so carelessly, but I know better. My fingers clench into fists, nails digging into my palms, but it doesn’t help. I feel like I’m on fire, like every part of me is raw and exposed. My throat is tight, but I can’t stop the tears from blurring my vision.