CHAPTER 1 : King's Downfall

The sun started to set, as the dusk slowly took the light, I can’t help myself but to admire it, it was too mesmerizing for my eyes, it feels an honor to witness such a breathtaking scenery. As the ocean waves harmonized back and forth in a calming way, it was a piece of music to my ears.

My gaze suddenly shifted to my toes curled and coated with white sand, and a small smile escaped my lips, they were like innocent little atoms trying to engage with how I am feeling right now. As the cold wind touched my skin, I slowly closed my eyes, because this is how it wanted to communicate with me.

Letting the nature drag my soul into bliss.

But in the blink of an eye, I was lying on the sand with my clothes full of dirt. I quickly pulled the thin cloth surrounding my neck to cover my face before I glanced at them, who pushed me off the bench where I was sitting seconds ago.

"You look disgusting even if you cover those gross scars of yours, Cassiopeia!" Amara exclaimed, and they both burst into laughter.

"What a poor thing, are you sure that you're a daughter of Alpha Magnus and Luna Cassandra?" Claria asked, full of sarcasm this time.

I tried to pull myself up but I just rolled back on the sand as I got out of balance. I heaved a deep sigh as I heard them laugh again.

"I wonder if the future Alpha, Baron, would allow himself to be mated to an ugly freak who doesn't even know how to shift." Amara insulted me most satisfyingly, at least for her.

"Cassiopeia?!" I closed my eyes when I heard Alpha Magnus call my name, my father. As expected, Amara and Claria ran toward me and helped me stand up. Here they are again, acting innocent before my father’s eyes.

"What's happening here!?" Alpha Magnus' baritone voice echoed as silence filled us. I could trace the fear in Amara and Claria’s eyes, probably terrified that I might speak up. But who are they to waste my time with?

"Cassiopeia accidentally fell off the bench, Alpha Magnus. We were about to help her right away, but she forbade us." Amara was the one who answered trying to make her voice as gentle and convincing as it could be.

A good actress indeed.

“Is it true, Cassiopeia? Are you alright?” Alpha Magnus continuously asked. To cut the discussion, I just nod my head and cover my face more, making this tiny clothing as my protection against their judging eyes.

“You should let them help you next time. Come here.” Alpha Magnus held my hand as we turned our backs to Amara and Claria.

Father took me to the seaside, and we both sat on the subtle sand, letting our eyes linger on this paradise in front of us. Amara and Claria probably left, and that’s the least of my concern now. I mean this happens often, and I’m just getting used to it.

“Cassiopeia, you will be the future Luna of the Silver Moon pack. You should let people your age, especially bond with you, yet why are you isolating yourself from them?” Taken aback when father speaks, a bitter smile escapes my lips, but I make it not obvious for father to notice.

That would only make him doubt and ask more questions which I avoid. As much as possible, I don’t want myself to get involved in such trouble and drag my father’s name with me.

“Father, I can’t shift. Will I be able to be the Luna of this pack?” I asked instead.

His eyes settled on mine, as his soft hands touched my cheeks. The cloth covering my face minutes ago is now gone because there’s no need for that in front of my father.

“Cassiopeia, remember that you’re special. Don’t force things to happen when it’s not time yet. On the day of your 21st birthday, your wolf will come out, and will be the most beautiful wolf in this pack.” He caressed my hair like it’s one of the most precious things to him, he moved closer and kissed my forehead. Yes, Alpha Magnus is too soft in front of his daughter, but a strong Alpha in front of our pack.

I wanted to laugh at his words mentioning that my wolf would be beautiful. Is that even possible when my face looks like this? Besides, it should have come out on my eighteenth birthday, but nothing happened. I still remember how hints of disappointment crushed their faces when they discovered that the daughter of the Alpha can’t shift.

The amount of respect they gave me fell by ten percent more after that night. Hearing a few more gossips, and negative words behind me whenever I pass by. Of course, when father isn’t around.

“Does my mother have scars on her face too, father?” I can’t help myself but ask that question.

Aside from not being able to shift, the scars on my face made me pity myself more, and reasons why they bully me, without Alpha Magnus knowing, or else they’ll face the consequences that they won’t be able to regret anymore, because they are already dead. As long as I can endure it, I will keep my mouth shut.

“Your mom, Cassandra, doesn’t have any flaws. She’s the most beautiful, caring, brilliant, and brave Luna in the pack, before.”

Alpha Magnus’ eyes were twinkling as he said those words. Even though he won’t blurt it out, he’s still madly in love with my mother. And it saddens me that I’ve never got to see her as I got my existence in this world.

“Then are you sure I am your child?” I asked again, Claria’s words echoed in my head. I wasn’t able to stop myself from asking though, with how my father describe mom, it screams perfection. More of like my opposite.

“Of course, there’s a reason why you carry those scars, Cassiopeia. So don’t think too much, I assure you that everything will be alright as the right time comes.” He replied trying to console and fill in the questions I had in mind. Hearing the same words from him over and over again made me curious about what that main reason of this scar was.

I shifted my gaze to the now calm ocean, and choose to shut myself. It was already dark, and the sun was fully gone.

“It’s getting cold here daughter, let’s go inside.”

Father drag me gently inside the mansion. It’s just the two of us, but this huge mansion symbolized him being more powerful among the packs. But that’s not what made him the Alpha, it’s his commended leadership and dedication to the Silver Moon pack.

“Good night, Cassiopeia.” The only words I heard from him before he took the staircase and went to his room. I stared at the closed door that has been just shutted. I know he’s tired as there is a bunch of responsibility on his plate, but he still manages to prioritize me on top of it.

No one has any idea how grateful I was that he became my father. Because of how I look, the pack keeps on neglecting me. Fortunately my life wasn’t like a drama movie that the main lead who was a damsel in distress tend to get bullied and been rejected by her parents as well.That’s quiet unfortunate to think of that’s why I’m still grateful.

Alpha is the only reason why I kept on breathing, and look forward to life positively.

I took the staircase and went straight to the veranda of my room. The moon was shining so bright, making me close my eyes. A different kind of comfort envelopes my heart. Aside from my father, the moon is also on my side.

Maybe if I was born beautiful like my mother, things would be so much different now. Because for them, I am just a human. Someone who doesn't possess power, can’t shift, and has a scarred face, was ugly. The rival pack could take advantage of that if I were to become the Luna of this pack.

“Cassiopeia!” My eyes suddenly landed on the most beautiful immortal my eyes landed on. Her hair was dancing along as the wind blows, her eyes shimmers as the moon reflects on it.

“Calypso!” I called her. She was smiling and positioned herself before she transformed into her fluffy gray wolf. And effortlessly jumped from the ground to my room. I took the white curtain covering my glass window and handed it to her when she came back to her human form fully naked.

“Your wolf is so beautiful,” I commented and couldn’t hide the fact that I envy her. What could be the color of my wolf if I was able to summon it on my eighteenth birthday?

“I’m sure yours will be as well. Your 21st birthday is coming soon, Cassiopeia. Are you ready?” As usual, she kept on playing with her words, and throw me kind ones to refrain myself from thinking too much.

“That’s the best joke I’ve ever heard.” I shot back and faked a smile before looking back at the moon above us.

“Cassiopeia.” I could hint her next words would be a pity to sympathize me.

“It’s fine. Don’t mind me Calypso, it’s just that… why of all the werewolves…”

“Sssh. There’s a reason, Cassiopeia…there’s a reason…”

“No.” I cut her words and spill everything inside me.

“Stop giving me false hope for that reason that I don’t even know if there really is.” My tears slowly cascade down my cheeks, and when I glance at the dark sky, the moon is hiding beneath it.

“You’re like that moon, Cassiopeia. There were times that it was hiding its beauty behind that clouds, but it was just there. When it comes out, it shines like the brightest star and gives light to the darkness. And you know what? You don’t have to wait for that time to come because you’re completely beautiful right here.” She touched her left chest where her heart was located. I heaved a deep sigh, somehow her words soothed me.

“So don’t pressure yourself, okay? You’re already beautiful Cassiopeia, stop comparing yourself with me or to any she-wolf in the pack.” She smiled and moved closer to me, her warm arms encircled my waist as she hugged me tightly.

“Thank you, Calypso,” I uttered.

She gave me a soft pat on my back before she bid her goodbye and shifted to her wolf. I watched her vanish from my sight and the moon suddenly showed up again.

Just like the moon, I’ll shine too, at the perfect time.

***

Days passed by and still, nothing changed in their treatment towards me, but this day will be an exemption, or I hope at least. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I am wearing a white flowy dress with an elegant and well-intricated design embroidered on it. Today is my 21st birthday, and the pack is already waiting for me down there. My face is covered by a silvered thin cloth, and only my eyes are visible, and that’s what I wanted and requested from the designer who created this masterpiece.

“Cassiopeia, are you ready?” I was taken aback when Alpha Magnus entered the room, he was wearing a black tuxedo with a tie the same color as my dress, matching my outfit.

“I’m nervous, father,” I confessed. My heart was pounding so fast and I know exactly why. What if my wolf didn’t come out still? I’m hopeless if that happens. I will never be the Luna of this pack anymore and their treatment towards me will surely get to the worst.

“Yeah, I can hear it.” He commented and chuckled.

“Don’t be. I’m just here, okay?”

“Look at the moon, Cassiopeia.” He gently ordered, and smiled at me.

That made me shift my glance from him to the dark sky.

“It’s so beautiful tonight, as it was already showing us how you will bloom later.”

With lips that slightly rose, my anxiousness dies too. He’s indeed my father, never tired of pampering me with his sweet words.

“Come on darling, let’s get this done tonight, okay?”

Nodding my head I eyed at the bright moon once again, before I let Alpha Magnus drag me downstairs. where the whole pack awaits me. My eyes roamed with how elegant and sophisticated the decoration is. And I could tell how expensive this occasion was just by looking at it. The moment their eyes fell on me, they started clapping their hands and cheering me. But I know it’s just a facade, beneath those smiling faces, and cheerful voices hiding their hatred and disgust. I can see it visibly, no amount of cheerful faces could veil it.

“Tonight is the night we’re all waiting for. We will be witnessing Cassiopeia, the daughter of Alpha Magnus, shift to her wolf tonight, at the peak of the moon.”

Some of them looked excited, but most of them were doubtful. I should shift tonight, that’s my greatest concern. I don’t want to disappoint my father as well. He’s been too good to me, and seeing him dismayed will make me guilty for not being capable of strength to shift.

My eyes landed on the immortal wearing an elegant red-white tuxedo, his blue eyes were fixed on mine, he was like a Greek God sent on earth with how good-looking he was. Baron the future Alpha of this pack. His face was blank even when our eyes locked on each other. I quickly removed my gaze from him. I couldn't stand it, my heart flatters me even though he's not doing a thing. They believe that he is my mate, but I’m not sure if it was true. Supposedly, if I have my wolf now, I should feel the mate bond between us or a string making us connected to each other. I don’t know if he’s happy with those rumors, but I hope he is.

“The time has come,” Matthias, Alpa Magnus’ right hand, announced. My heartbeat’s pace tripled. I gave Alpha Magnus a short glance, he was sitting on a chair destined for him, he gave me an assuring smile, carrying the trust that I'd be able to shift tonight.

I was positioned in the middle as the whole pack surrounded me. My attention was caught by the white ceiling that slowly parted, revealing the bright big moon in the middle, giving us that superior and dominating aura.

Letting the moon touch my skin,  I slowly shut my eyes. Bless me, and give me all the power I'd be needing so I could be able to shift. Please, this is what I am just asking from you. I couldn’t be a Luna of this pack if my wolf wouldn't show up.

Seconds turned minutes…

The silence is too deafening but...

Nothing happened.

Gossips started to echo in the whole area, and I could hear my heart pounding too loud now, as terror fill my system again.

“She can’t shift.”

“Poor, Cassiopeia.”

“She will never be the Luna of this pack.”

“I pity her.”

My knees slowly weakened, making me fall onto the floor. Tears started to glide down my cheeks as I met my father’s gaze. He was staring at me. I can’t read his face, he’s disappointed, does he? Of course he is, how could he be proud when his daughter cannot shift?

“Matthias closed the ceremony.” Alpha Magnus's firm voice shut off the noise of the pack.

“I-I now declare Cassiopeia…”

My eyes never left my father, he was now smiling at me. But I know deep within, he’s fully dismayed. I’m such a disgrace to this pack. But his smile slowly faltered, his right hand touch his left chest where his heart is located.

What’s happening?

My eyes widened as my heart filled with anxiousness when he fell on the floor, unconsciously.

“Alpha Magnus!”