Three.

...

Minutes after Aspen threw me out of the Blackmoon Pack, I rode slowly on athe white horse, a veil on my face. It did well to conceal my tears. The horse strolled down a seemingly endless and deserted narrow road, its soft gallops punctuating the rhythm of my broken heart.

Warriors of the Shadow pack rode closely behind me, the beta nearest to me.

Between my father's hospitalization and learning my mate was having a sexual relationship with my stepsister, I didn't know which was the most heartbreaking. All my dreams had been shattered, my life trampled upon. All in the course of three years.

 Henry had been the only person I believed in while everyone else mistreated and trashed me. I saw him as my only way out of sorrow, but he betrayed me. I could barely stand the pain of it.

Sometime later, the Beta's cold voice pulled me from my thoughts. "We're here,” he informed me. 

I quickly wiped my tears and looked up to see a tall gate before, in it was the most gigantic building I'd ever seen, I couldn't see the end of it as it vanished into the sky. As we proceeded into the palace of the Shadow Pack, I tried my best to not shed anymore tears.

The streets were made of gold and glittered under the sun. The building’s walls were finely polished.

A woman emerged and gave me a warm welcome, introducing herself as Adelaide, Alpha Axel's mother.

I kept the veil on, as Adelaide led me into the pack house and to Axel's chambers where he laid on a king-sized bed, looking lifeless. He was already dressed in a wedding attire and prepared for the mating, although unconscious.

Adelaide turned to me. The emotions of a mother who was about to lose her son reflecting in her eyes.

"Thank you for agreeing to do this," Adelaide said. "I will be here to help you with anything."

"I can do it alone,” I assured her while taking off my veil. “You don't have to worry."

Henry and I had marked each other in the past, so I was familiar with how the process worked.

"You're very beautiful," she said, complimenting me, before she left the room.

Even in unconsciousness, his features was the most intimidating I've ever seen. After a long breath, I stepped towards Alpha Axel to begin the process. Slowly yet professionally, I bent to undo the buttons on his shirt when a sweet scent waffled into my nostrils, seizing my being.

The powerful scent grew stronger, and I could feel my whole body moving towards it in a deep, uncontrollable desire.

What was going on?

In fast movements, my fingers undressed Alpha Axel. When I caught sight of his firm broad chest; toned in perfection, the muscles in his abdomen, down to the v-cut on his waist, his manly legs, and erected manhood— as though responding to my scent— the hunger in me rose.

Despite the unquenchable hunger ravaging my system, I pulled away from him in horror. Unsure how he was unconscious yet his body was reacting to what I was feeling.

My gaze lingered on him as realization settled within me;

Alpha Axel was my mate.

My second chance mate.

The desire grew, until I could no longer control it. 

Like a predator lunging at its prey, I rushed towards him discarding every piece of clothing from my body until none remained.

 Despite him being unconscious, I successfully carried out the mating process on my own, the desire too powerful to ignore or feel shy about. Afterward, I laid beside him, our naked bodies warming each other, my sexual hungers satisfied.

In the dying light, I stared at his undeniably handsome face.

Truly, he was a charming young man. And a powerful one too.

Soon, I would become Luna of the Shadow Pack, mated to Alpha Axel, a powerful, yet ruthless man. Alpha Axel was known in the Underworld as one who never lost a battle. When he was conscious, no ordinary wolf dared to provoke him, look at him for long, or be within striking range of him. 

Mated to him, no one would dare to hurt me or cause me pain anymore.

Although, that wasn't as exhilarating as it should be, I remained aware that my present position and power were only temporary. They would strip me of that power and position when Alpha Axel died or if my identity became known.

I shook my head, waving off the thought.

Temporary or not, I was going to use this new position to my advantage and take vengeance on everyone who had hurt me.

 Until then, I had to ensure my true identity remained unknown to the Shadow pack. I needed to live and witness my enemies crumble at my feet.

..

Three days later, I sat in Alpha Axel's chambers, my assigned personal maid, Stacy standing beside me and assisting as I gave Alpha Axel his daily wash. Adelaide had taught me how to do it, since the alpha and I were now mated.

Alpha Axel had a duvet draped up to his neck, he was naked underneath as I cleaned him up.

When I finished washing him up, Stacy, turned her back as I dressed Axel in his royal garments. While I fixed his cufflinks, the door was thrown open, and I scented Henry.

I turned and watched him with a stoic expression as he entered. Like a coincidence, I recently discovered that he was affiliated with Alpha Axel. Their fathers used to be close friends, close enough that Henry had access to the pack's empire. Nevertheless, I was surprised he felt he could barge into the room, looking at me casually like nothing had gone wrong between us.

"Claire?"

"I am mate to Alpha Axel and will be crowned Luna of the Shadow Pack in two days’ time. Therefore, I demand that you refer to me with respect," I stated fiercely, adjusting the duvet on Axel's body.

For a split second, Henry looked flabbergasted, as though he was seeing a different person—and I supposed he was. 

“Leave," he instructed the maid.

She departed, and I said, "State what you want and go."

"I want you back," he said, swooping to my side. "I'm sorry about everything, I felt so bad after you left. I realized how much I hurt you, and I can't stop blaming myself for everything."

I stared at him, seeing the obvious dishonesty in his gaze. “Pfft,” I said, scoffing, then turning away from him as my anger built.

I must have been crazy to have ever thought he was being truthful. Even now.

"Please come back to me, Claire. Let's go back to how we used to be.”

His lies and pleas infuriated me. "I have a mate now, and soon, I will be Luna too," I said, purposely bragging. "Do not come to me with such a request again, Henry. I won't hesitate to order your arrest if you do."

Furious, I stood up to leave, but he obstructed my path,"I know you love me, Claire. I know you're just mad at me, and I understand why. We don't have to be mates for now; but I want to prove to you that I'm honestly changed. Let's try this again. I want you to hope on me like you used to, I want to give you the life that you've always wanted," he took my hands in his and continued. 

"The Shadow Pack is extremely wealthy. With your new position, you can get as much money as you want and we can elope together, just like you wanted, start a whole new life together, somewhere very far away." 

I blinked, holding back the tears that stung my eyes. 

How dare him try to use me for his advantage?

"You're a joke, Henry! You cheated on me with my stepsister—”

"And I'm sorry. Truly, I am."

"No you're not. I’ll make you sorry. Every single one of you. I will make all of you pay dearly for the pains, you caused me."

We continued to argue. All the while, my anger brewed hotter and hotter. He had come to me only to use me, and that made my stomach roil with anger.

"C- Claire—"

"What!" I snapped.

"T- that wasn't me." Henry’s face bore a look of confusion.

"Alpha!" My maid drifted past us to Alpha Axel's bed, and my eyes followed her.

My jaw dropped when my eyes met Alpha Axel's opened own.

...