The Alpha's rage was a physical presence in the room, a suffocating pressure that made the air itself feel heavy. Luna Elena hovered anxiously at his side, her fingers brushing his arm in a futile attempt to calm him."How dare you?" Alpha Marcus snarled, stalking toward Raymond. "In my own home? Th
"A victim?" My father's laugh was bitter. "She's weak. Incompetent. She couldn't even keep her fiancé away from a worthless rogue."Alpha Marcus shook his head. "This isn't Aurora's fault, Beta James. Raymond's stubbornness is his own.""And yet the wedding must still go forward," my father pressed.
"I, Raymond, reject you, Aurora, as my fiancée. From this moment on, everyone must stop talking about Aurora as the future Luna."All eyes in the pack turned to us—the once-golden couple—with confusion written across every face.Raymond wasn't finished with his public execution of my heart. For the
I forced myself to pull away from the heartbreaking scene unfolding before me. Their intimate embrace, those words Raymond spoke with such tenderness to Giana—each moment was another dagger in my heart. With tears streaming down my face, I backed away slowly, praying to the Moon Goddess they wouldn'
I flinched but didn't back down. "I'm saying I don't want to marry Raymond."His laugh was cruel and dismissive. "What you want doesn't matter, Aurora. This is about duty, about position, about our family's future."He circled around the desk, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. "If Raymond cal
After the banquet, I slipped away from the crowd, desperate for a moment alone. The strange heat coursing through my body had only intensified throughout the evening, making it difficult to think clearly. My skin felt feverish, and my formal engagement dress suddenly seemed too tight, too constricti
"Aurora?" Kane's surprise quickly melted into that infuriating smirk of his. "This is certainly unexpected."I stumbled back, trying to regain my balance and composure, but the room tilted dangerously around me. The sight of Kane—all bronzed skin and rippling muscle—sent another wave of heat surging
Raymond froze at the doorway, his eyes scanning Kane's room with sharp intensity."Kane, have you seen my Luna?!"My heart stopped. I was hidden beneath the covers, pressed against Kane's warm body, desperately hoping Raymond wouldn't take me as anything more than a nameless blob on the bed. This co
"A victim?" My father's laugh was bitter. "She's weak. Incompetent. She couldn't even keep her fiancé away from a worthless rogue."Alpha Marcus shook his head. "This isn't Aurora's fault, Beta James. Raymond's stubbornness is his own.""And yet the wedding must still go forward," my father pressed.
The Alpha's rage was a physical presence in the room, a suffocating pressure that made the air itself feel heavy. Luna Elena hovered anxiously at his side, her fingers brushing his arm in a futile attempt to calm him."How dare you?" Alpha Marcus snarled, stalking toward Raymond. "In my own home? Th
I switched off my phone, unable to stare at Giana's post any longer. The restaurant felt suffocating with its romantic music and sympathetic glances from staff who realized I'd been abandoned.Without thinking, I walked into a nearby bar with dim lighting and overpriced cocktails. I needed something
***Alpha Marcus's announcement at dinner a week later caught me completely off guard."We're hosting a celebration for Aurora's birthday," he declared, smiling warmly at me. "The entire pack will attend."My birthday had never been a major event. I looked to Raymond, who seemed as surprised as I wa
I opened my mouth to correct the boutique owner, but Kane stepped forward before I could speak. His eyes never left mine as he moved closer."Beautiful doesn't begin to cover it," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.The shop owner clasped her hands in deligh
"Friend," Raymond cut in sharply. "You're my friend, Giana, and I won't have you mistreated." He turned to his father. "She's under my protection. That should be enough."Alpha Marcus looked between Giana's tearful face and Raymond's defiant expression, then to me. I kept my expression neutral, thou
The Alpha mansion buzzed with whispers as Giana settled into the Omega quarters. I'd barely been back from the hospital for two days, but the staff's loyalty was clear in every subtle gesture—the way they conveniently "forgot" to deliver Giana's meals on time, or how the housekeeper accidentally "mi
Giana's face crumpled on cue, tears welling in her eyes. "I knew it was a mistake to ask for help," she said, her voice quivering perfectly. "I should just go. I don't want to cause problems between you and Aurora."She started to turn away, a calculated move that worked exactly as intended. Raymond
I stared at Kane's outstretched hand, conflicted. His sudden gallantry was jarring compared to his usual playboy demeanor."I'd rather walk," I said coldly, adjusting my hospital bag on my shoulder.Kane arched an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "In your condition? Be reasonable, Aurora."I took a ste