Chapter One

Selena’s POV

I tried to hold back my tears as the elder called out my name. This moment was surreal for me. I was getting promoted to beta from the omega position. I had never felt more proud of my achievements in my life.

The warrior who had just been accepted into the army in my front shook the hand of the man before him then he bowed his head before walking away and his friends in the crowd cheered him on while he walked down the stairs to join them. Unlike him, I had no one present here to cheer me on and hail me for hitting my lifetime goal. 

It was finally my turn and I was the last on the stage too so I stepped forward and the man, an elder and a member of the executives that vehemently opposed the idea of me, an omega getting promoted to the position of the beta. I tried hard to resist the urge to gloat in his face.

He smiled at me before he shook my hand and gave me the badge of a beta that’s worn on the warrior uniform for official events. Whatever his opinions are now, he better eats his words up. 

“Congratulations Selena, I can’t wait to see how much use you’d bring to the pack. Or maybe how many people you need to sleep with to retain the position. People like you don’t last here.” he said to me, making sure to whisper the last part. I looked up at him and slightly bowed my head before walking down the podium too. I wouldn’t give him the privilege of a reply, it was my big day and I won’t let him mess it up for me. 

I didn’t get here because I slept with anyone, I got here because I worked my ass off for it. He wasn’t going to admit it but it’s the truth. I worked hard day and night and I lost twice to the former beta’s daughter. When I finally won, I did it gracefully. There were other people like this elder in my pack and I was going to prove them wrong, one after the other.  

Finally getting rid of my wandering thoughts, I look around me once I’m down from the podium but I don’t see the person that I expected to be waiting for me at the end of the stairs. 

I took my time to look around again l, to be sure that he wasn’t actually here and when I was sure that he was not there, I sighed to myself and looked at the badge in my hand… at least I got what I wanted, whether he was here or not.

I was about to make my way out of the crowd when someone hugged me from behind and I knew who it was immediately.

“All hail the new beta Selena,” she said cheerfully to me and I laughed as I turned around to face her and she grinned at me.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the ceremony, the training took longer and you know I can’t make up an excuse to get away” she explained and I nodded at her.

“I understand Laisha, you don’t have to explain,” I told her and she grinned before hugging me again and I caught a wisp of her sweat.

I scrunched up my nose before playfully pushing her away and she laughed out loud at me.

“Girl, you stink. You should’ve taken a shower before coming here!” I exclaimed and she shrugged before hugging me again.

“Well I was late for my friend's promotional ceremony so I had to rush here,” she said and I smiled at her.

“Thank you,” I told her and we hugged tighter this time.

Then she let me go and looked around me.

“Where is Raymond? I don’t see him” she asked and I just shrugged nonchalantly, trying to act like it didn’t matter to me but it was hurting so bad. I’m trying not to think about all the possibilities of what could delay him and I have none. Raymond had been one of the early believers in my dream and he was freaking happy when we both knew I was going to be a beta now. 

“Guess he couldn’t make it” I replied and she rested her hands on her waist.

“Selena, if he’s doing something that hurts you, you should show it. I’m sure he didn’t tell you he wouldn’t be able to make it and now you’re just going to let him get away with it? You should find out why he isn’t here” she ranted at me with anger in her eyes but I knew that she was only worried about me so I heeded her words and we marched towards the executive quarters where the betas of the pack stayed. 

I hadn’t moved my things yet because I was just officially made the beta but I was going to be staying there too since I was now one of the Alpha’s right-hand men and just the thought of it sent happy chills through my bones.

I and Laisha were about to enter the quarters when I saw Raymond and my nemesis, Ava standing way too close to each other and Ava’s hand was on Raymond’s face while he was smiling down at her.

I couldn’t believe my eyes as I froze on the spot and watched helplessly. I saw how Ava stared at him like time had ceased for her and he didn’t try to stop the situation even when he knew he had a girlfriend.. me!

I couldn’t take it anymore so I walked away and Laisha followed me too.

I remained in my room for the rest of the day, until it was night and I couldn't sleep because I was seething in pain and anger as I kept on remembering how Ava and Raymond were so close to each other.

Raymond knew how Ava always treated me unfairly just because she was the beta’s daughter and now he was fraternizing with the person that bullied his girlfriend? Was he out of his mind?

Laisha couldn’t help but notice how moody I was so she advised me to meet Raymond and confront him about what kind of relationship he had with Ava to get it off my mind.

So I listened to her and the next day, I made my way back to the quarters. I was heading for Raymond’s room when I heard voices from behind the building and that spiked my curiosity to know what was going on.

I tiptoed to the back and I hid behind a wall before peeping to watch and to my surprise, I saw Raymond talking to someone that didn’t look like he was from our pack. He was on a horse and his back was facing toward me so I couldn’t make out his face. I almost gasped in disbelief when I saw Raymond handing over the Korr Scroll that had been missing to the man and the man suddenly sped off on his horse.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Did Raymond just hand over the most powerful booklet of the star moon pack to a total stranger? Didn’t that mean he was plotting an attack against this pack?

My heart sank as I realized that I was the only one who knew this and I had to save the pack and get the scroll back before the unknown man would get away. I had to head straight to the palace and tell the Alpha before it would be too late and we would be in danger.

Suddenly Raymond turned around and he looked in my direction. He smiled and winked at me before he tucked his hands into his pocket and walked away.

He knew I was here all along? What was he up to?