CHAPTER 1 

Chapter 1

Morana’s POV

 “You are invited to George and Milly’s union.” I read the invitation once again. A rushed wedding from our Gamma, instantly marrying his mate after finding her in one of the nearby packs three days ago.

To which I was unfortunately invited.

Ugh, great.

Alone on a special table designated especially for Alpha and Luna, the bride's chatter filled the entire reception.

I sighed and sipped on the wine in my hand before raising the glass up to my face. The girl in the glass’ reflection stared back at me, its auburn eyes glowering. My auburn eyes.

It didn’t take long before my gaze was pulled away as the wine glass fell down from my grip, down the shining marble floors before it shattered loudly into pieces as someone pushed me to the side, leaving me staggering for balance.

‘What a way to induce some bad luck on this wedding, Morana, ’ I thought.

“Oh Goddess, Luna! I am so sorry. Please forgive such a grave mistake!” I look down at the Omega on my feet, now begging for me to spare her life.

I raised my gaze to the crowd. Eyes from strangers and my very own pack members glowered down at me, waiting to see how I would react.

Deep down, I sneered at how ridiculous that world was.

I am Morana Griffins, born from one of the most respected packs known for rearing great warriors—the Golden Warriors. We met during the training collaboration between my pack and The Shadowridge Pack.

He’s an alpha, and I’m a Gamma heir. I never thought a relationship would be hard until I fell in love with an Alpha who’s not my fated mate. Despite my origin, people still keep an eye on me, seeing me as unfit to be a Luna, as I’m the complete opposite of a refined and elegant woman.

I fake a smile at the sobbing woman, pulling her to my level. “It’s alright. Stop apologizing.” I muttered, and her eyes went wide as she picked up her tray on the floor.

She stammered a few more apologies and was about to walk away before I stopped her halfway.

“Make another mistake with all these other invited packs around, and it will be your last time carrying a tray around with those hands,” I subtly whispered, not taking away my gaze towards the massive crowd.

She swallowed her fear before nodding quietly and walking away. I sucked in a deep breath before flashing a warm smile to everyone in the room.

“Everyone, please pardon the commotion and enjoy Milly and George’s wonderful day!” I exclaimed, quietly looking around.

I gnaw on the insides of my cheeks, trying to spot the Alpha, my chosen mate and husband, who’s missing from beside me.

“You,” I called one of the Omegas, who were taking dirty dishes back to the kitchen. She halted and bowed her head after hearing herself being called.

“Where is your Alpha?” I asked, or rather demanded.

The teacups on her tray rattled from her nervousness. I rolled my eyes. “I do not — I do not know, Luna.”

I sigh, rubbing my aching temples.

She’s overreacting for someone who’s simply being asked a question. “Find him,” I ordered, and she instantly nodded her head and walked off.

‘Where is he? We’re a minute away from making a speech. We talked about this last night.’

As if on cue, Gamma George was already marching towards me, a large smile etched on his face.

“Luna, it’s so good to see you here at my humble wedding. You look marvelous again in this—um . . . your usual get-up.” He eyed me from head to toe, seemingly unable to form words to explain my appearance, yet was trying his best to be nice about it.

Leather boots, leather corsets, armored sleeves, and braided hair as though we’re heading for war. I have always dressed up differently, which provided me with comfort, convenience, and, unfortunately, criticism. For a Luna should always be lady-like — elegant.

And I was, by far, the exact opposite of how their ideal Luna should look.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“Congratulations, Gamma. I’m so glad to see you finally getting tied, yet you still have those insecure comments in you. Perhaps the blacksmith rejected your request to have well-designed armor like mine again?” I retorted, to which he replied with a lighthearted chuckle.

Thankfully, he’s used to the nasty tongue I have..

“Shouldn’t you be on the stage, as the groom yourself, announcing our supposed speech?” I raised a brow, and he straightened as though forgetting his entire purpose in being at this party.

“Right, of course! I hope you didn’t bring any script! I’d be disappointed. Where’s the Alpha?” he asked, fixing the white rose on his suit’s pocket before looking back up at me.

I flashed him a smile. “Oh, he’s just wandering around. I’ll go get him.” I replied, avoiding his eyes.

“Got it, you’ll be in a queue.” He winked before heading towards his bride. I looked around and gulped an entire glass of champagne to hide the nerves slowly building up on me.

‘Where is he?’

I waited for a couple more minutes before I noticed George kissing his newly-wedded wife, mumbling something before he unhinged his limbs away from her body for once.

He took a glance at me, signaling that it was my turn — it was my and the Alpha’s turn to give a speech.

I look around once more, annoyed. One more minute passed before I decided to give up. Wherever he was, he’s surely getting some beatings later for wandering around too much.

“Now, to hear the final speech of the night coming from the rulers of Shadowridge Pack, Alpha Logan, and Luna Morana!” Everyone applauded, or maybe most of them.

Some eyed me up and down.

“She is not even wearing a dress to a wedding! Disgraceful.”

“Look at those leather boots. What is she, a garden gnome trying to act like a warrior?”

“Good Goddess, is that blood on her sleeves? How barbaric!”

I rolled my eyes. It took a couple of seconds for those murmurs to subside before they finally realized the real missing feature I should be having by my side right now – not the jewelry, nor the fact I didn’t wear any heels or that my armor was stained with wine, but the missing Alpha who should be walking with me.

“With a Luna like her, it’s no surprise why an Alpha will feel shame to walk with her. What a pity.”

I bit back the urge to slap the mouth of the person who said that before walking at a faster pace towards the stage. It did seem as though I was walking on an aisle as the crowd parted to let me through.

I sighed, looking up at George, who stepped back from the microphone and flashed a warm smile at me. I walked around the stage and to the stairs on the side.

The platform was well-designed and packed with decorations from its backdrop to the floor. Balloons lined up the edges, adorned with the prettiest flowers.

Despite this wedding being rushed, there’s no doubt that any guest examining the place wouldn’t think so.  Everything looked thoroughly planned.

Just before I reached the stage, I furrowed my eyebrows slightly from the strange noises I was hearing. It’s a faint sound of fabric moving and heavy breathing. But with the noise of the crowd, it’s hard to perceive where it was exactly coming from or what that sound was.

I gathered my senses before stepping up the stairs. Even from this angle, I could still hear the murmurs from those who had the guts to talk like that about a Luna, yet I couldn’t be sure whether it came from the mouths of my pack members or the outsiders invited to this wedding.

Who knew it could be from both sides? After all, a Luna wearing armor rumored to be stained with wine-like blood at a pretty wedding is something worth talking about.

Alpha Logan, my husband, was kissing a girl, eyes closed as they were deep in lust with each other. Logan was pulling her sleeves down, trying to touch even more of her bare skin.

They were so into it that they did not notice the spotlight placed on the two of them as they continued kissing. 

I turned to the audience, and sadly, they also turned to me—some with a worried look on their faces, some with smirking lips. For once, I was too numb to even wish I could slap the faces of those brave enough to smirk at my situation right now.

The maid I ordered to find Logan over arrived panting, carrying a look of fear in her eyes. Of course, she knew the person I was looking for was sucking someone else’s face off and hid the fact.

I turn back to the two, still lost in the world only each other’s lips could give, before marching over to them. A growl so loud slipped past my lips, and with bloodshot eyes, I pulled them apart.

The spotlight was on the stage, on us. The crowd was waiting to see what scene would happen next, as though we were a spectacle—a movie worth watching that provided good-quality drama.

The girl fell on the floor, finally grasping the situation she was in. Her eyes were wide, and she turned to her elbow. Blood trickled on it as she scratched herself from falling.

“Who are you?” I shouted, to which she only responded with a whimper, staying seated on the ground.

I turned towards Logan; his eyes were drowsy, and I instantly shook his shoulders.

“Logan!” I yelled at him.

He looked at me before his gaze landed on the girl behind me. His eyes watched over her wound, and before I knew it, I felt a stinging sensation on my face, and I staggered as his palm connected with my skin.

“How dare you hurt my mate!” he asked in an Alpha tone.