Chapter 3

Bella’s Pov

"Mom, I'm fine." I hung my head low, my voice hoarse as I spoke, not wanting my mother to worry about me. I struggled to keep her from detecting the unease in my voice.

Angelina gently stroked her daughter's head, knowing how deeply Bella must be hurting. "You don’t need to hold your tears, just cry, my kid."

Hearing my mother's comfort, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. Everything that had happened today had been so sudden. Even though I had put on a strong front with Barnett, the pain I had suffered was very real. I collapsed into my mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably, letting out all my pent-up emotions. Mom held me tightly, whispering softly, "It's okay, It's okay."

It’s so nice and comfortable to rely on mother’s arms.

After a while, I finally calmed down, my eyes red from crying. I felt embarrassed and apologized to my mother, "I am sorry, I don't want to be like this."

"Honey, crying doesn't mean you're weak. I know you've always been a strong girl."

"Mom, am I cursed by the Moon Goddess?" I gazed sadly at the bright moon outside the window. "Why did I lose my first mate and then my second one? Why is it always me?"

"None of this is your fault. Don't blame yourself for it," my mother said gently. She looked at me with warmth in her eyes. "From another perspective, maybe this is your good fortune. Gray and Barnett weren't right for you. It's a good thing to leave behind those who aren't right for you."

"Is that so?" I questioned, "Do I have a chance in this lifetime to find someone who's right for me?"

"You do, my child," my mother said, and then she took out an old wooden jewelry box with intricate carvings that had caught my attention.

"What is this, Mom?"

"A magical necklace."

"A magical necklace?"

"Open it and see. It's a gift for you."

I gently opened the box, and inside lay a silver necklace, bathed in the moonlight that made it emit a sacred silver glow. The pendant was engraved with a rose and a crown, exquisitely crafted.

"It's so beautiful," I couldn't resist reaching for the necklace inside the box. "Be careful; it can harm you," my mother suddenly warned. I looked at her in confusion.

"This is a magical necklace, passed down from your great-great-grandmother's time. It's beautiful, but it can't be worn. If your skin comes into direct contact with it, it will burn you."

I widened my eyes in surprise; I had never seen such a magical item before. "That's a shame; it's so beautiful."

"However, it's said that if the necklace finds the right owner, it won't cause harm."

"Mom, have you tried wearing it?"

"Of course, after all, this necklace looks like a gift from the Moon Goddess. Everyone who sees it can't resist its charm."

"Did it work for you?"

"Unfortunately, it didn't. It seems I'm not the chosen one."

Looking at this beautiful necklace, I thought with anticipation; maybe I was the one meant for this necklace. I really wanted to give it a try. "Mom, can I try it?"

I looked at my mother with shining eyes, surprised that she immediately agreed. "You're not going to stop me?"

"Bella, you're growing up, and growing up means you can take risks and bear the consequences of your choices."

"Thank you, Mom." Luna Angelina had always been loved and admired by the members of the wolf pack for her wisdom and compassion. Bella had always seen her mother as her role model.

The silver necklace shone brightly in the moonlight. Holding my breath, I carefully extended a finger and touched the necklace gently. One second, two seconds, three seconds passed, and the expected pain didn't come. I was safe. I excitedly pulled my finger back; it was as smooth and unharmed as before.

"Mom, I'm perfectly fine. It didn't hurt me," I exclaimed with joy, eager to share the good news with my mother. Angelina was also surprised. No one in the family had ever succeeded before, but it seemed the true owner of the necklace was her daughter.

"It seems to like you. You can try more."

I reached out to touch the necklace again, this time covering it with my entire hand. There was no pain, no discomfort. This gave me more confidence. Carefully, under my mother's smiling gaze, I took the perfect necklace out of the box and placed it around my neck.

"It suits you. Give it a name."

"Moonlight Necklace. It's absolutely radiant under the moonlight."

"Take good care of it. It will bring you luck."

"Thank you, Mom. I will."

Unbeknownst to Bella, the gem at the center of the rose on her necklace sparkled for a moment. At the same time, in the palace, the wolf of King Haydn Tude sensed it. His fingers touched his own necklace, which bore an almost identical design, except with a sword and a crown. Clearly, these two necklaces were a pair.

Haydn’s Pov

Beneath the bright moonlight, I gently touched the necklace around my neck, a habit I had when deep in thought. This necklace has been passed down through generations of my family, and it's quite special. The magic in this necklace will burn whoever tries to wear it without being its rightful owner.

I am Haydn Tude, the first in the Tude family who can wear this necklace. My father, Richard Tude, told me it meant my fated mate would be someone who could wear the matching necklace.

However, I've secretly had people searching within the kingdom for thirty years, and the owner of the other necklace is still nowhere to be found, as if this person doesn't even exist. At this rate, my ridiculous wolf, Aidan, might truly go mad.

Aidan: Are you cursing me in your heart again?

Me: If you say so.

Aidan is truly a foolish wolf, except for his physical prowess. 

Me: Foolish wolf, why are you bouncing around in my head?

Aidan: You're the fool. The gem in the center of the necklace just flickered, and I felt my mate.

Me: Are you serious?

I quickly glanced at the necklace, but there was nothing. Aidan had gotten excited for nothing.

Me: There's nothing there. Don't joke about mate.

I scolded Aidan, a bit annoyed.

Aidan: I really felt it, even if it was just for a moment, Believe it or not.

Aidan lay down, looking dejected. Why wouldn't Haydn believe him? He was an honest, clever, kind, and adorable wolf.

Me: You have no credibility with me. Every few days, you shout 'mate, mate' in my head, claiming you found the mate. This time, it's probably your imagination again.

Then I sighed and added, "Maybe our fated mate don't even exist."

Aidan: This time it's real, just like the previous times. I'm sure our mate must exist.

Me: Silly wolf, you're so blindly optimistic.

Aidan: Don't call me a fool anymore. I'm an honest, clever, kind, and adorable wolf!

Me: All right, you're whatever you say.

I couldn't help but chuckle. How had I ended up arguing with Aidan again? There were so many things waiting for me to deal with today. The annual Alpha Conference was approaching, and I needed to familiarize myself with all the attendees. I opened the files on my desk, and the first was about the Red Moon Pack.

The first page contained information about Alpha Logan Brown.

The second page had Luna Angelia's information.

The third page detailed Logan's eldest son, Wayland Brown.

The fourth page covered Logan's second son, Waverly Brown.

The fifth page held information about Logan's only daughter, Bella Brown.

On the paper, the girl with black hair and green eyes smiled sweetly and looked adorable. But the text below her photo wasn't so pleasant.

Bella Brown, Alpha Logan's only and youngest daughter, aged twenty-one.

At nineteen, she was fated to Beta Gray Norman of the Maple Pack but was soon rejected by Gray.

At twenty, she was fated to Alpha Barnett Morris of the Silver Wind Pack, and this afternoon, Bella rejected Barnett for his betrayal.

What? I was utterly stunned by what I read. How could someone be lucky enough to have two fated mates, yet unlucky enough to lose both of them?

Is Bella Brown a fortunate or unfortunate person? I expected to meet this girl at the upcoming Alpha Conference.