Chapter 2

Mira's POV

I stood outside the imposing doors of Luca's throne room, flanked by two guards. Anxiety had turned the insides of my mouth bitter, and fear rolled in my chest. 

I took a deep breath, tapping my hand against my thigh nervously. This was a day after my encounter with Luca and my step-sister. The sight of them tangled on that bed was still emblazoned against my eyelids like a tattoo.

I shuddered involuntarily. The thought of them together intensified the bitterness in my mouth. I wanted to run into a corner to escape this reality, but I kept my back straight and my feet on the ground.

Soon, the doors swung open, their creak reverberating through the vast outer chamber. A guard stepped out of the throne room.

"Alpha Luca will see you now." He announced.

"Thank you." I muttered. I stepped into the opulent throne room, my heart thudding uncomfortably. My eyes caught Luca, sitting regally on his imposing throne at the far end.

He lifted his head. "You're here!"

With customary respect, I approached and offered a courtesy, though my expression betrayed my simmering anger. 

When I straightened from the courtesy, my eyes  caught his. I channeled all my anger into my gaze, and it felt as though I was burning right through with rage.

"You sent for me, Alpha?" I growled in question.

"I simply want to talk, Mira." He replied, his voice carrying around the throne room like a roll of thunder.

Something deep within me softened—perhaps he wanted to set things straight, perhaps he wanted to make amends. I loved Luca enough to forgive him for what he'd done. I knew I loved him enough to forget as well.

I hoped for an apology, a shred of remorse, but what followed stunned me.

A door to Luca's left swung open, and I turned my head towards it. Annabelle emerged from the door, dressed in her best clothes.

"Why is she here?" I demanded. Annabelle scoffed at my question, a smirk on her face. She folded her hands before her, then began her walk over to where Luca sat.

And before I could realise what was going on, Annabelle sat beside Luca, taking her place on the smaller throne beside him.

The throne meant for the Luna of the Pack.

The throne meant for me.

"What is she doing here?" I asked again, my words were edged with disbelief and outrage.

Luca gestured for calmness, but his gesture only fueled my frustration. "Why did you bring her here?" I demanded, my voice quivering with a mix of hurt and fury. "After cheating on me with her, you went on to allow her sit on the throne meant for me!"

Annabelle's smug demeanor mocked me as she settled beside Luca, her presence a brazen affront. She folded her legs slowly, and her smug smile felt like tiny needles of pain against my skin.

"Surprised to see me, sister?" Her words dripped with satisfaction. 

I turned to Luca, seeking an explanation, hoping for something, anything to make sense of this betrayal. "Is this some sick joke to you?" My voice wavered, my heart aching with betrayal. "Why are you—"

"Would you let me speak, Mira?!" Luca roared suddenly, and the sound of his voice killed the next words in my mouth.

Luca's eyes met mine, lacking the remorse I desperately sought. "I called you here, like I said, to have a conversation. I need you to understand."

Understand what? That my trust had been shattered? That the man I thought was my mate had turned my world upside down? Words choked in my throat, emotions swirling inside me like a tempest at sea.

"Things were never going to work out between us, Mira." He murmured. "This—You finding out about Annabelle and I—was bound to happen, anyway. I have been meaning to tell you, but...."

His voice trailed off, but he kept his eyes on mine as he delivered blow after blow of words.

"What are you saying, Luca?" I stepped forward, desperation etched in every part of me. "We're supposed to be together. You and I....we're supposed to be mated soon! I told my father about you, and he agreed!"

Annabelle snorted loudly, her entire stance mocking me. "Get a grip on yourself, sister. Things happen."

I stood there, grappling with the weight of disbelief and hurt. "I trusted you. I trusted both of you!" I whispered, my voice breaking. Tears threatened to spill, but I refused to let them. 

"Telling your father changes little to nothing between us!" He retorted, cutting me off. "You and I, Mira, we're not meant to be."

At these words, he turned to Annabelle and reached for her hand. I watched as he held on tight, as their eyes met, as he smiled lovingly at her.

He holds her the way I want to be held, I thought.

"Annabelle is the love of my life, my mate and the future Luna of this entire pack." Luca continued. "And there is nothing and nobody, including you or your father, who can separate us. The bond between us is too strong, Mira."

Desperately, I clawed my way forward, until I was directly below the throne. "This isn't love, Luca. All of this cannot beat the love I have for you. You..." I smiled, fear etched into my eyes, desperation in my voice. "You're just infatuated with Annabelle. You're—"

"No!" He bellowed, rising to his feet. The mild gentleness I had seen in his eyes had disappeared now, and there was nothing but a manic rage in his gaze.

Luca was never this way with me. What had changed?

"No!" He growled, his voice a notch lower now. Slowly, he stepped down from the dais, coming for me.

He stopped several feet away from where I stood, and the words I dreaded came slipping out. "I, Alpha Luca, reject you as my mate. Leave my premises!"

A sharp emotional pain attacked my chest, and I gasped, staggering backwards. "You cannot be serious—"

"We're done." He interrupted, eyes blazing like a thousand infernos. "Leave while you still can. Do not make me lose my mind."

I had no idea which one hurt more: the fact that Luca had cheated, or the fact that he'd cheated on me with my own sister, under my own nose. Turning away, I left the room, leaving behind shattered hopes and a heart heavy with betrayal.