CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

PAMELA'S POV

I stood in the shadows, seething as I watched the preparations for the party. Emma, that undeserving weakling, would soon be standing where I should be. It made my blood boil. How did she, of all people, end up with Alpha Kai’s favor? She didn’t belong here. She wasn’t strong or powerful. She was just a naive girl who happened to catch his eye. How pathetic.

For years, I’ve been by Kai’s side, sharing nights with him, giving him everything he needed. Now, this girl waltzes in and takes my place? It’s infuriating. She doesn’t have the strength or cunning to be his Luna.

She’ll ruin everything we’ve built. I’ve worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let this weakling take what’s mine. Emma’s nothing but a hindrance, a distraction. If she thinks she can just walk in and take over, she’s delusional. She’s not fit to be the Luna of this pack, and I will make sure she knows it.

"Welcome to the party," I watched as Luna Marissa invited in the guests for the party. The party was meant to present Emma before the pack as the Alpha's fated mate and soon to be Luna. The thought of it made my skin crawl as I wrapped my arms around each other frowning.

The party buzzed with excitement as the pack eagerly awaited the presentation of Alpha Kai's mate. I stood on the edge of the hall, my eyes scanning the crowd. Where was that weakling, Emma? The minutes dragged on, and the whispers began to circulate.

My eyes narrowed on Alpha Kai, his tension visible as he scanned the crowd. That weakling, Emma, had waltzed into our lives and disrupted everything. She didn’t belong here, and I despised her for it.Luke, the beta, returned from the hospital, his expression grim.

I watched as he approached Kai. "She's not there," Luke whispered.

"Emma's gone." A surge of dark joy filled me. This was my opportunity. I stepped forward, feigning concern.

'Alpha, it seems your Luna can't handle the pressure. Maybe you should present me to the pack instead. I'm more than capable."Kai's gaze was icy, but he didn't immediately dismiss me. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, and I seized the moment.

Luke, the beta, returned from the hospital, his expression grim. He approached Kai and whispered something that made the alpha's eyes narrow. Emma wasn't there. She had vanished.

Perfect.

I seized my chance and stepped forward, feigning concern. "Alpha, it seems your little runaway can’t handle the pressure. Maybe you should present me instead. I’m far more suited for the role."

Kai’s gaze turned icy, cutting through me like a knife. "Not another word, Pamela," he growled. His rejection stung, but I held my ground, the whispers in the crowd growing louder.

Climbing onto the stage, I felt a twisted thrill. "It seems the Alpha's chosen mate is unavailable," I began, my voice dripping with mock concern. "Perhaps she realized she couldn't measure up—"

Before I could finish, a voice rang out, strong and clear. "I am here."

The room fell silent as Emma appeared at the edge of the stage. My stomach churned with rage. She hadn’t run off. She was here, looking determined.

Emma walked confidently to the stage, her gaze locked on Alpha Kai. "I am here," she repeated, her voice steady. "And I am ready to stand by my mate."

The crowd erupted into cheers, leaving me humiliated and seething. How had she managed to turn this around? I glanced at Kai, hoping for support, but his eyes were fixed on Emma, a mix of surprise and something else I couldn’t place.

I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms. Emma had won this round, but I wouldn’t accept defeat easily. She might have his attention now, but I had years of loyalty and shared nights with Kai. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

****

EMMA'S POV

The shock on Pamela's face was extremely legible, her jaw dropping softly as I made my way into the huge hall of guests. Brushing the hem of the mermaid gown Madeline had suggested I wear, I smiled softly and gave a light wave to the crowd of distinguished pack members.

The joy in their cheers when I entered was palpable as their tongues all contributed to a polite hum. I couldn't help the burning stares I got from the ladies, some even whispering loudly.

"Don't worry," I felt Madeline pat my shoulder from behind as we made our ways towards the stage. The spot light from the hall beamed on me as I clicked the few steps leading up to the stage.

I brushed my gaze past the crowd of people as I searched frantically for Alpha Kai but he was nowhere to be found. Brushing off some loose strands of my hair, I stepped on the stage, my body aching with anxiety.

"Don't be afraid," I heard a call as I tilted my gaze to Luna Marissa's figure. She invited me in a motherly hug, one that provided me with a little bit of courage.

"The Alpha will now grace the stage," I heard the announcer beam. I turned my gaze and watched as Alpha Kai's sexy figure pulled into the crowd. I couldn't help but feel a burn of anger, the view of him having sex with Pamela replaying in my mind.

But my emotions were washed up as his domineering presence graced the hall, his attractive blue eyes catching my gaze in it's baseless abyss. He was dressed in a deep blue four piece suit, his hair tousled backwards leaving just a loose strand which halted before his milky ears.

I tried dragging my gaze away from him but I felt it's pull yanking me back. I was supposed to feel angry and annoyed after seeing him with Pamela but my skin only burned with heat— one only he could fix.

I watched as Alpha Kai made his way towards me, his footsteps echoing against the walls of this once loud hall. The sharpness of his chin was enough to make heads turn, I couldn't help it, he was attractive.

As I scanned the party, Alpha Kai's figure was impossible to overlook. He loomed with a striking presence, his tall, muscular frame radiating an almost palpable authority. The way his tailored suit clung to his broad shoulders and tapered down to his waist only emphasized the raw power beneath.

His every movement was fluid and controlled, exuding a dangerous grace that had the other women swooning. They fawned over the way his confident stride and perfectly sculpted physique seemed to dominate the room. I noticed it too, but my reaction was more guarded.

There was something unsettling about the way he commanded attention, a dark allure that intrigued rather than enamored. My skin burned as I adjusted myself quickly fixing a frown on my face as I stared back at the crowd.

They were all distinguished, mostly dressed in expensive fabrics, the entire party looked like the ones my dad used to throw back there in my pack. I could still vividly remember watching from the broken windows of my room, hoping if I would ever get invited.

But now. I had one— one that was dedicated fully to me. "It is with great pleasure that I, Alpha Kai, of the crescent pack, present to you my mate, Emmaline Logan."

I instantly felt a handful of gazes on me, as all the guests all rose and bowed their heads, submitting to... me?

I was bewildered, never in my life have I been treated special, I was used to being invisible, doted on, bullied. But now, I was going to be the respected Luna of the crescent pack.

"Not only that," Alpha Kai declared, his voice dripping with authority, "she will also be my Luna, the Luna of the Crescent Pack."

My heart pounded, a mix of anger and disbelief swirling inside me. I stared into his icy blue eyes, trying to understand how I had ended up here, being paraded in front of the pack. His gaze was unyielding, and I couldn't deny the flicker of pride that came with it, but it was overshadowed by my frustration. This wasn't what I wanted, and definitely not how I envisioned it.

As the pack started to cheer, Pamela stormed onto the stage, her fury palpable. "This isn’t right! I’m supposed to be the one standing here, not her!" she yelled, her voice slicing through the air.

Alpha Kai's expression hardened, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Silence, Pamela," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for dissent. "You're out of line."

Pamela's face flushed with rage, but she retreated, glaring daggers at me. I felt her hatred like a physical weight, but I refused to let her see me falter. I held my ground, even as her jealousy and anger threatened to drown me.

Kai turned back to the pack, his voice unwavering and cocky. "This is a new beginning for our pack. With Emma by my side, we will grow stronger and more united."

I scanned the crowd, trying to read their reactions. Most looked supportive, though a few were skeptical. My eyes drifted over the sea of faces until they landed on a hooded figure at the edge of the gathering. Something about him felt off, and a chill ran down my spine.

My breath caught as I saw the glint of metal. The figure was holding a gun, and it was aimed directly at Alpha Kai. Time seemed to slow as I realized the danger.

"Alpha Kai, watch out!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the noise.