Benita’s POV
Today was the day—the one I’d been waiting for my whole life. It could either be the best day or the worst, and I wasn’t sure which terrified me more. Standing in front of the mirror, I studied my reflection. My cheeks were slightly flushed, giving me a soft, youthful appearance, while my body curved in ways that didn’t fit the slim, toned ideal my family worshiped. My hips were full, my stomach soft, and my thighs pressed together when I shifted my weight. I could see every part of me that didn’t fit into the narrow expectations of what beauty was supposed to look like. I tied my black hair into a bun and wore jeans and a simple shirt—not exactly the look of someone excited for a mating ceremony. But I had learned not to expect much, and I dressed like I was bracing for disappointment. “Benita, get your lazy ass down here!” my mother yelled from downstairs. I let out a heavy sigh before hurrying out of my room and down the stairs into the sitting room. As expected, Nina was already seated next to my mother, glowing as usual. My father, at the head of the table, sipped his coffee, his face set in stone. “So lazy,” Nina sneered, but I ignored her and sat across from her. “You should consider taking a gym class. That chair can barely hold you,” my mother taunted, sipping her coffee. Nina let out a soft chuckle. “She shouldn’t even bother, Mother," Nina chimed in. “It won’t help.” My heart ached at their cruel words, but I buried the pain, quietly placing two pancakes on my plate. “At least she should try," my mother continued coldly. “The mating ceremony is in two hours, and I hope you find a mate so you can finally leave my house. I’m tired of seeing your ugly face.” she spat, her tone laced with bitterness. “A mate?” Nina scoffed. “Come on, Mother. She won’t get a mate, and even if she does, I’m sure he’ll reject her on the spot. Who would want to be mated to…" Nina paused, eyeing me with disgust. “Someone like her?” “Maybe a rogue?” Mother added, and both burst into loud laughter. I swallowed my pain and took a bite of pancake, forcing it down. I was used to their cruel remarks about my size. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been trying to lose some weight. I starved myself most days, eating only once and avoiding soda, sweets, and junk food. To my family, being plus-sized was an unforgivable crime. They saw me as nothing more than an embarrassment. Every day, my mother reminded me how much I needed to “work on myself.” “Ignore them, Benita. You have an amazing body,” my wolf reassured me in my mind. I nodded, swallowing my pain, and tried to focus on the food in front of me. “Mom, in just a few hours, I’ll be mated to Nathan," Nina gushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Of course, darling. I have no doubt you’ll be his mate. Who else could be more perfect for him than my beautiful, sexy daughter?” Mother cooed, showering her with praise, something she’d never done for me. It was always strange how different Nina and I looked despite being sisters. She was the family’s pride. She had long, glossy black hair cascading down her back, flawless skin, bright almond-shaped eyes, and a slim, graceful figure. Nina seemed to light up every room she entered. She seemed to have everything, even Nathan, the soon-to-be Alpha, as her boyfriend. Everyone believed Nina and Nathan, the future Alpha, would end up as mates. They were so in love it was almost sickening. And then there was me—the Beta’s spare daughter. I once overheard my mother telling a friend that she only had one daughter. In her eyes, I wasn’t even worth acknowledging. “If you’re not going to eat, then leave. Stop playing with the food," my father’s cold voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Holding back my tears, I took another bite of pancake. When I could no longer force myself to eat, I stood up and tried to leave the table, but Father called me back. “Why aren’t you dressed for the ceremony? We leave after dinner,” Father spat, his tone laced with irritation. But before I could respond, Mother scoffed. “Oh, let her be, darling. I see no need for that. I don’t think she’ll be mated to anyone, and even if she is, I believe he’ll reject her. So I’d advise we don’t bother about her.” Mother mocked, and the tears I had been holding back came rolling down my cheeks. “Aww, is my sister crying? So touching.” Nina mocked, and not able to stand their taunts, I left the dining room and stormed up to my room. Inside my room, I fell to the ground, resting my back against the wall, and pulled my knees toward my chest. Uncontrollable tears rolled down my cheeks as my whole body shook with pain. I could take any insult, but coming from my family—the one group of people who were supposed to love and protect me—was something I couldn’t take. “It’s okay. Take a grip of yourself. We have to be at the mating ceremony. We are running late,” my wolf spoke. I glanced at the wall clock and realized I was running late for the ceremony, which was about to start in an hour. “I have a good feeling about the mating ceremony,” my wolf, Olivia, said confidently in my mind. “Really?” I asked, skeptical, while wiping my face with the back of my palm. “Yes, I feel like the Moon Goddess has something special in store for us.” A small smile crept onto my face at the thought. The mating ceremony only happened every four years. All wolves who had reached the age of eighteen or older would participate in a ritual to connect with their destined mates if they were present. I was both anxious and terrified. What if I didn’t have a mate? Or worse, what if my mate rejected me the second he saw me? “Stop doubting yourself, Benita. Anyone would be lucky to have you,” Olivia scolded me gently, but I scoffed. She was only trying to make me feel better. “Get up, Benita. We need to go,” my wolf urged. Lazily, I pulled myself up, wiping away the last remnants of tears as I moved toward the wardrobe. I wasn’t in the mood to dress up, but Olivia’s words kept replaying in my head—the Moon Goddess has something special in store for us. Despite the heavy weight in my chest, I wanted to believe her, just this once. I pulled out a simple blue dress, one that wasn’t too tight or too revealing. It hugged my curves in a modest way, flowing down to my knees. After slipping it on, I glanced in the mirror again. My swollen eyes stared back at me, but I had to push through. I quickly applied some light makeup to cover the evidence of my tears, brushed my hair back into a neat bun, and took a deep breath. This is it. No matter what happens today, you’ll be okay, I told myself, trying to steel my nerves. I descended the stairs, the house eerily quiet. My parents and Nina were gone. I wasn’t surprised. They probably left without bothering to tell me. That was how it had always been, like I didn’t even exist to them. I grabbed my small purse and stepped out of the house, feeling the cool evening breeze hit my skin. The path to the ceremony grounds wasn’t far, so I decided to walk. Each step felt heavy, but I kept reminding myself that this ceremony could change everything. As I approached the field where the mating ceremony was to take place, I saw groups of wolves already gathered. There was excitement in the air, the kind that came with the possibility of finding a mate. People were laughing, talking, and I could even hear some whispers about who might end up with whom. I kept my head down, trying to blend in. “Don't be nervous, Benita, Olivia reassured me. Your moment is coming. I stood off to the side, watching the ceremony begin. My heart clenched as I noticed Nina by Nathan’s side, looking radiant and full of confidence. She was already glowing with anticipation, sure that the night would end with her as Nathan’s mate. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was right. The two seemed to be so much in love, and sometimes I envied her. I wished someone would love me just as much as Nathan loved her. This was I and Nina's first mating ceremony, but it was Nathan’s second. The first one was when he was twenty, but unfortunately, he didn’t find his mate. Obviously, his mate wasn’t of age yet; I was only sixteen then, and Nina was fourteen, so neither of us could participate. But now Nathan is twenty-four, I’m twenty, and Nina is eighteen, so Nathan is certain that Nina is his mate. I moved my gaze away from Nathan and Nina, then watched my parents conversing with Alpha Richardson and his wife, Luna Anita, as if they were going to be in-laws soon. I could see the bright smile on my mother's face as she kept staring at Nina and Nathan with pride, but when she noticed me, she frowned, looked at me with disgust, and looked away. My heart sank, but I was already used to it. “Attention, everyone,” Alpha Richardson’s voice boomed over the crowd. “The mating ceremony is about to begin.” My stomach twisted with anxiety as I stood frozen in place. “All unmated wolves, please come forward,” he instructed. “Females to my right, males to my left.” I hesitated for a moment, feeling nervous and scared, but Olivia pushed me forward. Reluctantly, I joined the other unmated females, standing across from the males. My eyes found Nina again, standing directly across from Nathan. Of course, she would be. The priest stepped forward, his long robe trailing behind him. He raised his hands, eyes lifted to the sky, his voice calm but commanding. “With the blessing of the Moon Goddess, let the fated mates be revealed tonight. A magical cord will bind those destined for each other, linking their hearts and souls forever. If your mate is here, the cord will appear on your wrist, guiding you to them.” Suddenly, he began chanting some incantation. The air felt thick, like it was buzzing with energy, and everyone was waiting, eyes glued to their wrists. My heart raced. I tried to ignore the panic bubbling inside me. What if nothing happens? What if I don't have a mate? Then, out of nowhere, I felt it—a tingling sensation on my wrist. I looked down, and there it was, glowing softly under the moonlight, a thin, silver thread. My breath caught in my throat as the cord stretched out in front of me, pulling me gently. I froze, unsure of what to do, but Olivia nudged me. “Go, Benita. Follow it.” My legs trembled as I moved, following the silver cord as it snaked through the crowd. Around me, others were finding their mates, their cords already guiding them to one another. Each step I took made my heart pound harder. But suddenly, I stopped, my breath catching in my throat. The cord led me straight to Nathan. His eyes met mine, wide with shock, as our cords intertwined. “Mate!” Olivia howled loudly to me.Benita’s POV “Mate…?” I shuttered in disbelief as I stared at the cord which was intertwined with Nathan’s wrist. Stunned, I moved my gaze away from the cord and looked up at Nathan, who seemed shocked and in disbelief. His eyes moved from the cord and were fixed on me as he glared at me. “No! This can't be possible!” he yelled, frantically shaking his head and trying to break the cord from his wrist, but it remained intact. Loud gasps echoed around the field as murmuring filled the air. Everyone present couldn’t believe it. They couldn’t believe I was the one mated to Nathan instead of my sister. “This is some kind of joke!” Nathan spat, moving closer to me, his eyes blazing with anger. “What did you do? What witch did you visit to make this happen?” he yelled, gripping my arms so hard that I winced in pain. “Tell me! Tell me!” he demanded in an outburst, his eyes filled with disgust, as if he had just realized he was mated to something vile. “Speak! Speak!” Nathan urged, h
Benita's POV A strange feeling of pain mixed with pleasure coursed through me as Nathan’s fangs sank deeper into the crook of my neck. The pain was intense, but the slight sensation of pleasure was so fascinating that I couldn’t help but close my eyes as a soft moan escaped my lips. I wasn’t sure if I was mistaken or if my ears were playing tricks on me, but I could swear I heard Nathan let out a pleasurable groan. When he finally pulled away, my neck felt cold without his bite, my body throbbing with an ache I didn’t fully understand. With panting breaths, our gazes interlocked. His fangs were still extended, and drops of my blood glistened on his lips. He stared at me with pure hatred in his eyes, wiping the blood away before spitting it to the ground as if I’d poisoned him. My stomach twisted. “Come on, everyone, a round of applause,” Alpha Richardson demanded, and the stunned pack members were forced to clap for us. My eyes remained on Nathan as his stayed on me. I could see t
Nathan's POV I glared into her eyes which was filled with fake tears as hate, and anger surged through me. I wished I could wrap my hands around her throat, make her feel just a fraction of the pain tearing me apart. But I couldn’t—not with half the pack watching. Gritting my teeth, I glared at her one more time before shoving her away, making her stumble to the ground, her butt hitting the dirt. Turning around, I ran out of the field, ignoring the loud calls from my father. I kept running, running until I reached the mansion. I stormed inside, bolting up the stairs and straight to my room. Once inside, I slammed the door shut and I began kicking everything in my way. I kicked over the small coffee table, sending it crashing into the wall, the sound of breaking wood doing little to calm the storm inside me. My chest heaved with anger as I ripped the couch cushions off, throwing them across the room. They hit the mirror, shattering the glass into pieces that fell to the floor like
Benita’s POVAs I glanced into the mirror, I didn’t know what to feel. Today was supposed to be a happy day for me—it was my wedding day. I was getting married to my mate, a day I’d envisioned countless times in my head, staying up late as a young girl, giggling and fantasizing about it. I imagined myself in a beautiful white dress, being escorted down the aisle to meet my mate, who would be waiting for me with a big smile on his face. He’d look at me with so much love, and I’d feel special, cherished. That was how I imagined it. But alas, that was just a fantasy.“Benita, are you okay?” Luna Anita’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Blinking, I returned to the present, noticing her standing behind me with a concerned look on her face.“Are you alright?” she asked again, her eyes filled with worry.Slowly, I stood up and turned to face her, my heart racing with fear. “I don’t think I should go on with this marriage,” I admitted, feeling a wave of unease wash over me. The thought of
Benita's POV After the draining ceremony and endless whispers, I retreated to my chambers, barely able to breathe under the weight of the day’s events. My heart was heavy, and my mind raced with worry about what tonight would hold. I knew my role now, the duty expected of me as Luna and Nathan’s wife, but the thought only filled me with fear. A gentle knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, making me startle. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before calling out, “Yes? Come in.” Two maids entered, bowing slightly as they stepped inside. One of them, with a polite smile, approached me. “My queen, we are here to prepare you for the evening. Alpha Nathan has requested that you join him, and we’ve been asked to assist with your bath and help you dress.” The words sent a chill through me, though I nodded in silent acknowledgment. This was expected; he had already informed me about it—a moment I had dreaded. The maids led me to the adjoining bathroom, where a tub of steaming
Benita’s POV“Don’t make me repeat myself, Benita. Get on the bed,” his angry voice echoed in the room, making my body tremble with fear. My wolf, Olivia, growled inside me as she could feel my pain and fear.I looked up to hold his gaze and was terrified when I noticed his green eyes were now gray and filled with rage. Fear gripped me tightly, and I wished I could run away, run away from him and this bond, but alas, I was trapped within this marriage.Filled with embarrassment and shame, I wrapped my arms around my chest and moved over to the bed with shaky legs. “Turn your back and be on all fours!” he ordered, and my heart raced faster, but I obeyed and knelt on the bed, my back turned against him.Hot tears fell freely down my cheeks as my whole body trembled with fear. I was so terrified, so scared of what he would do to me.Soon, I heard his footsteps behind me, and then I felt his weight pressed on the bed, his presence so close that I had to swallow the bile rising in my throa
Alpha Nathan’s POVI heard a loud thud at my door just after she closed it, and despite how much I wanted to ignore it, I just couldn’t. Forcing myself up on my feet, I walked over to the door, pushed it open, and wasn’t surprised to see Benita lying on the floor, unconscious. A frown spread across my face as I stared at her unconscious state.“Mate! Nathan, do something, you dick!” my wolf yelled at me, but I didn’t move an inch; rather, I just kept staring at her body on the floor. Thoughts buzzed in my head—the thought of her not waking up; at least that would set me free from her. But my wolf growled loudly again as he raced worriedly in my mind.“Nathan! What is this? Pick her up!” my wolf pleaded, but I gave deaf ears to his words and shut the door. Settling back on the couch, I picked up the glass of whiskey and took a sip of it as I tried to ignore the fact that Benita was lying unconscious just outside my door. I didn’t want to care about it; I didn’t want to care if she live
Benita's POV My eyes were swollen from crying all night. It was already a new day, and I hadn’t closed my eyes even once throughout the night. My whole body ached, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. I felt miserable, and for a moment, I thought of dying. I wished I had died in place of Nina—it would have been better than living this life of horror. A soft knock sounded at my door, but I refused to respond. After a moment, the door slowly opened, and I lifted my head from the pillow to see Luna Anita entering, her face filled with concern. She walked over to my bed, sitting beside me, and gently began to stroke my hair. A soft sigh escaped my lips at her tender gesture, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a spark of comfort, knowing that someone truly cared. “How are you, dear?” Luna Anita asked softly, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer. My lips wouldn’t move, and it felt as if I had lost my voice entirely. Not getting a response from me, Lun
Lagertha's POV“Can you see anything?” Ma’am Benita asked for what felt like the hundredth time. Her voice trembled with desperation.Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks as I slowly shook my head. “No,” I whisperedIt had been hours. Hours of Ma’am Benita trying every healing method she knew. Despite the darkness that consumed me, I could feel her worry, her determination to restore my sight. But nothing was working. She had chanted incantations, applied remedies, tried everything—but I still couldn’t see. The world around me remained pitch black, and I feared the darkness more than anything.“Lagertha, please stop crying. I promise you will get your sight back.” Lila tried comforting me, but it did little to ease my worry. A blindness, Ma’am Benita, a talented and renowned healer, couldn’t heal—then what hope was there that I could ever see again?I felt a hand placed on my shoulder in a comforting gesture. “Don’t worry, Theo will get to the bottom of this and find whoever that lady is
Alpha Theo’s POVOscar’s entire body tensed under Mother’s glare, his lips pressing into a thin line. His hands balled into fists at his sides as he hesitated, his throat working as if he were struggling with his words.“I…” He faltered, his gaze darting toward Lagertha, then to me.But I had had enough.I clenched my jaw and took a step forward, my voice ringing through the room. “I’ll tell you the truth.”All eyes turned to me. Mother’s tear-streaked face twisted in anger, and Oscar looked torn between relief and dread. But Legartha—her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear.“I was going to marry Lagertha off,” I confessed, my voice thick with guilt. “I had already picked a few men for her—strong warriors, Alphas—so she would be far away from me. That way, she wouldn’t be a distraction.”Gasps filled the room, but I didn’t stop. I had already burned everything to the ground—I might as well walk through the flames.“Oscar knew what I was doing, and he didn’t want her to end up with
Alpha Theo's POV A suffocating silence settled over the crowd as my confession lingered in the air, sinking into the hearts of everyone present. My gaze locked with my mother’s, and I saw the stunned, disbelieving look in her eyes. She was struggling to process what I had just said. Even I could hardly believe I had confessed in front of the entire pack—that I had openly declared Lagertha as my mate. But I didn’t regret it. If anything, I felt relieved, as if a massive weight had been lifted off my chest. Soon, murmurs arose among the pack members as they whispered in disbelief, but I ignored them all and looked at Lagertha, whose face was streaked with tears. She also looked shocked, stunned that I had said what I said. Then, Aunt Agatha stepped forward, holding several letters in her hands. “Lagertha asked me to give these to…” She hesitated before distributing them—to my family, to Oscar’s family, and finally, one to me. I turned my gaze back to Lagertha. Her eyes were open,
Lagertha’s POV I was stunned to see Theo standing by the wall. How did he get here? Was he following me? “Alpha Theo…” I swallowed hard, unsure of what to do. I didn’t want him to spoil my plan—I had drafted this too well. Theo pushed off the wall and moved toward the door, but I quickly stepped in front of him, blocking his path. “You can’t go in, Alpha Theo. They need to talk.” I pleaded desperately. Right now, I didn’t care about myself—all I wanted was for Oscar and Lila to patch things up. Theo narrowed his eyes at me. “Lila and Oscar are in there? Did you lock them in?” I swallowed hard, searching for the right words, but before I could respond, Benson appeared. I immediately stepped away from Theo, aware of how awkward the situation looked. Benson gave us a questioning glance but chose not to comment. “Brother, you have to come now. It’s time to set the balloons up to the sky, and you have to begin the ritual,” Benson informed. Alpha Theo groaned, annoyed. It was obvious
Lila's POV I remembered that night like it was yesterday. Emily had laughed, teasing me about Oscar, and I—thinking it was just a harmless conversation—had brushed it off. I had scoffed and said something like, Oscar? No way. I’d rather stay single. I never meant it. Not like that. I was young, embarrassed, afraid. Afraid of admitting just how much I cared for him. But the next day, I told her the truth. I told her that I loved Oscar. And when I found out he had been in an accident and in a coma for the past twenty-four hours, I couldn’t take it. I cried my eyes out in her arms, confessing everything—that I loved Oscar but had been too ashamed to say it because I thought he didn’t see me that way. A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it. Then another. Oscar watched me, his expression unreadable, but there was something heavy in his gaze. Something that told me that moment had stayed with him all these years, like a wound that never truly healed. “I—” My voice cracked
Lila’s POV I was confused by Lagetha’s words and actions. She had actually locked me in a room with Oscar—for us to have a discussion? About what? For a moment, an awkward silence filled the space as neither of us spoke. Oscar stood by the door, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Unlike me, he looked completely composed, as if being trapped in a room with me was nothing out of the ordinary. But I? I was far from composed. My heart pounded like a war drum, my palms were damp with sweat, and my wolf purred inside me. Yes, she did that. Despite Oscar not being my mate, my wolf had taken an undeniable liking to him. She always wagged her tail whenever he was near, whispered silly things in my head whenever I caught sight of him training shirtless in the fields, and right now—she was purring. Urging me to move toward him. Urging me to speak. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. Besides, why was Lagetha doing this? Locking me up in a room with her husband-to-be? Suddenly,
Lagertha’s POV Today was the Goddess Festival, a night where wolves gathered under the full moon to celebrate the Moon Goddess. It was one of the biggest events in every pack, and for me, it would be the night I finally unite Oscar and Lila. My plan was simple. After dressing in one of the elegant gowns Beta Oscar had gifted me, I tied my hair into a ponytail and slipped on my footwear. Taking one last look at my reflection, I whispered to myself, “You can do this.” Tonight, I was going to tell the family the truth. Not the whole truth, but just enough. They might be disappointed, but it was better than living a lie. “Do you think it will go well?” my wolf’s worried voice echoed in my head. “Hopefully, it does,” I sighed, grabbing the white envelopes from my bed. Inside each one was a letter explaining that Oscar and I could not marry. I made sure to take the blame, writing that it wasn’t Oscar’s fault—that I had begged him to marry me, so I wouldn’t remain an outcast. But I coul
Lagetha's POVI needed to speak with Beta Oscar about our next plan, so I decided to meet him in his room. I knew he had been there all day, probably drowning himself in work.Reaching his door, I knocked, but there was no response. I knocked again, and this time, I heard the sound of slow, heavy footsteps from inside. When the door finally swung open, Beta Oscar stood before me, looking like a shadow of himself. His hair was a mess, as if he had been running his hands through it repeatedly. His eyes—though dry—were swollen, evidence that he had been crying.For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. When he realized I wasn’t going to, he left the door open and turned away, silently inviting me in.Confused, I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. My gaze landed on him again—he was now seated on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. My stomach twisted when I noticed the empty bottles scattered on the table and how the room smelled of alcohol.My concern de
Alpha Theo’s POV “What did you just say?” I asked, barely able to believe what Lila had just told me. She shrugged. “I accepted Dominic’s proposal.” “No… you didn’t.” I cut her off, my voice sharp with disbelief. I wanted to say more, but I didn’t want anyone eavesdropping on our conversation. Without another word, I took her hand and led her toward my study. Once inside, I shut the door firmly and turned to face her. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice low but demanding. “What I should have done a long time ago,” she replied blankly, folding her arms across her chest. “Dominic? You don’t even like him. He’s been chasing after you for years, and you’ve never shown the slightest interest. What changed? Is this because of Lagertha and Oscar?” I asked, already knowing the answer. Lila swallowed hard, her gaze shifting away from me. She seemed lost in thought for a moment before she finally spoke. “It’s useless to keep hoping that one day he’ll love me when it