CHAPTER 2: BETRAYAL

/-Alora-/

He had never loved me. Not even for a second.

Our marriage was arranged, a product of an unfortunate circumstance.

Tyrone had been my brother's best friend for as long as I could remember. Being close family friends and allies, I saw him more often than not and somehow developed undying feelings for him.

While Patrick knew about my feelings, I didn't dare confess to Tyrone because I was afraid he would reject me.

Back then, I was scrawny and average-looking. Certainly not the kind of girl you would look at twice but I hoped one day he would see me as more than a little sister.

And I got my wish in a dark, twisted way.

A rival pack attacked one night while we were having a little get-together, and things got ugly quickly.

Blood, knives, fangs, all in a matter of seconds and Tyrone was dead ass drunk, so my brother had to fight for both me and Tyrone.

Long story short, he died just before the Elders arrived and made Tyrone promise to take care of me.

The Elders had suggested he married me to maintain peace between both packs, and I agreed because he was the love of my life and everything.

Maybe I should have rejected the offer right there and sought another way. Maybe then I would have been able to evade this heartache.

Although he treated me with respect and made sure to provide everything I wanted, he made it clear that there was no space for me in his heart.

I was only his Luna at official gatherings while he spent as much time away from me as he could. With Allison.

She had always been his one true love but when she left because he was getting married to me, he was devastated and resigned to his fate.

A part of me always knew he secretly blamed me for it. When he had Lila, I thought things would change for the better.

I thought it was my chance to finally win his heart.

“Looks like we are even now. I have given you back the family member I owe you,” he had muttered, staring at our baby. I didn't let myself think much of it at that time.

I was certain the baby would bring us closer, I wanted her to have a normal and complete family. For the first two years, he was a lovely father but when she was old enough to start walking and talking, everything changed.

He started keeping late nights, and when I confronted him, he said to my face, “What more do you want from me? I have already repaid the debt. You have a replacement now, take it, and let me live my life the way I want!”

I thought he was drunk speaking then, now it was all clear I had been the fool all along.

Then boom, his lovely Allison returned with her cute little puppy.

I walked to the bar like a corpse, holding the urn containing my daughter's ashes, and poured myself some whiskey. I was going to leave this sick place today and never come back.

I was stupid enough to think I could change him, but no one truly changed. They just get worse.

As I indulged myself in alcohol, trying to forget the fact that I had to bury our daughter alone today, I let myself drown in self-loathing.

It was all my fault. I should have brought her into a better family. I should have left when the signs began appearing.

My eyes stung as I took another shot. Before I could indulge myself anymore, the door was kicked open once again.

He was probably expecting I would go after him as always, begging and deciding to return when he realized it wouldn't happen.

“Okay, this is the height of it! Where is that demon?!” Tyrone thundered and I shuddered slightly as he grabbed me by the collar. “Where is Lila?”

“Ty, stop it! You're hurting her!” Allison's feigned concerned voice startled me. Did he dare to bring her here?

He shoved me roughly away from him.

“Where is she?!” He was so angry I could see his veins popping out.

“Who?” I smirked and it seemed to anger him more.

“You think this is funny? She just killed an innocent Puppy! You have succeeded in raising a murderer! Today, it's an animal; the next day, it will probably be the maids and then the…”

“That's enough, Tyrone!” I snapped. “I will not have you speak about my daughter that way!”

“It was you, wasn't it?” He chucked in disbelief. “You sent her or just maybe you did it yourself.”

A bitter laugh fell off my lips as I watched the fool accuse his dead daughter.

“Tyrone, maybe you should calm down. We don't want to scare Lila. I only want her to apologize…” Allison faked a sniffle, clinging to Tyrone's arms like she was fragile and devastated.

“It's okay, Allison. I understand how much Cony meant to you. She will apologize, I promise you that…” he stroked her hair gently and I burst into an ugly laughter.

“Apologise? For what exactly if I may ask?” I crossed my arms.

“Your daughter broke into Allison's place last night and killed Cony! Right after she deliberately hurt him!” He seethed.

“Really? That must be very cruel of her then,” I taunted. “So what do you intend to do now that she will not be apologizing to either of you?”

His eyes darkened.

“Do not test me, Alora. I am trying my very best to be reasonable here!”

“Reasonable? All you have managed to do here is display how much of a cheating, shallow-minded bastard you are!” I spat.

“Alora!” He growled.

“Yesterday, you walked out on me without accepting my rejection. I need you to do that now so this stupid mark binding us together can disappear and I will take my destructive daughter away with me!” I fired.

“What has gotten into you, Alora? I thought we had already discussed this! Don't let your insecurities get in the way of our marriage,” he stated. “All I'm asking is for you to provide Lila and have her apologize for the damage she has caused.”

“No!”

“Can you stop this? You're raising a monster and you won't even let me discipline her? You think hiding her will have these psychopathic tendencies?” He yelled.

And this was who I thought was fit to raise a child. A delirious laughter escaped my lips. A man who called his seed all forms of names and painted her the devil based on the words of an outsider. He didn't deserve to be a father.

I grabbed the urn from the bar table and threw it angrily from him.

“There you have it! You can go ahead and force the apology out of her ashes!”