Chapter Three: The Truth

 Lenora

 As I walked into the Grand Hall, I saw that it was already filled with Pack members, all dressed in their finest attire. The hall is decorated with balloons and ribbons, and a large banner reads “Congratulations to Alpha Axel and Miss Melissa” and I just rolled my eyes. 

  I was wearing a simple yet elegant black dress, my hair pulled back in a loose bun. My eyes were sunken and my skin was pale.

 I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I ignored it as I walked towards the front roll. Anger washed over me as I saw that Melissa was seated on his right side. Well, I sat down next to my mate, trying to pretend to be happy for him and his mistress. 

  No matter how hard I try, I can't pretend to be happy for them. I mean which Luna in her right senses would happily accept such betrayal from her mate?

  Axel stands at the front of the hall, a broad smile on his face. He's wearing a tailored suit, and his eyes are shining with pride. 

“I welcome you all to this ceremony. For those who have no idea about the reason for this impromptu event, it is to celebrate my heir with my mate's sister,”

 I scoffed. He should be ashamed of himself for saying those last words. 

 “And now, I'll call upon my mate to give a congratulatory message to her–”

 “I won't!” I cut him off. I didn't want to pretend to be happy about Melissa's pregnancy. 

 The sound of murmuring pack members filled the halls as I refused to give a congratulatory message. 

 “Lenora!!” He said through the mind link, but I cut him out. We are not having this conversation in the mind link, but publicly.

 “Don't force me into doing something that I don't want to, Axel. I won't give any congratulatory message and that's final,” I yelled. 

 The pack members gasped in shock and Axel looked angry, but I cared less. I knew why they were shocked. This was the first time I have refused to do what Axel asked for. 

 Other times, before he even finished his instructions, I was already on it. 

 He said through the mind link again, but this time, I didn't cut him out. “You are gonna regret this, Lenora! You either go up there and give the fucking message or you face my wrath,”

 I nodded. “So. Be. It.” I said with a tone of finality letting him know that I have made up my mind. 

 “Please Axel, don't force her into something she didn't want to do, okay? You know this is hard for her to accept. Just let her be” Melissa spoke up and I just rolled my eyes. She was just trying to make herself look good. I could see the smug look in her eyes. At once I knew what she was aiming at.

 'Who knows by the time I deliver, I'll be made Luna'. Her words replayed in my head and I just exhaled. This was her aim. 

 I could tell that Axel was furious, but he couldn't show it in front of the Pack. 

 “Elder Scott, please read out the congratulatory message,” Instead, he called one of the elders to give the speech. 

 I sat through the ceremony, feeling sad and angry. All I wanted at that moment was for the fucking ceremony to be over. It was only fifteen minutes, but it felt like ten hours. 

 I pretended not to see how Axel was treating my sister. He placed lots of food and fruit on her tray, and helped her with water. He even fed her. Right in front of me. He didn't even care that I was there.

 He even kissed her on her forehead. One who didn't know better would have thought that I was the mistress and she, his wife. 

 Immediately the ceremony was over, I stood up and tried to leave, but Axel held my hands. “Where are you going, Lenora?” He asked through gritted teeth.

 “Where else, Axel? I'm going to my room. I'm exhausted!”

  “Did you have any idea what impression you gave the Pack members?” He asked angrily, but I rolled my eyes. It was always about the Pack Members. It was always about him, but never about me. 

 I dragged my hands away from his. “I don't care, Axel. They should all go to hell,” I yelled at the top of my voice. I didn't even feel embarrassed about what I just said. Instead I felt satisfied for letting it off my chest.

 “It is always about you. It is always about the Pack members, Axel, but never about me. All of you can go to hell,” I hissed before walking out of the Hall. I could feel a lot of eyes on me, but I didn’t care. 

 I was already on the staircase when I held footsteps behind me. I turned around and I saw that it was Melissa and I rolled my eyes. 

 She was smirking at me and I knew at once that she was here to mock me again. 

 “Wait up, Lenora. We have to talk,” 

 “To hell with you and your mother! Leave me the fuck alone,” I didn't want to talk to her. Thus I turned around to leave, but the bitch grabbed my hands.

 Anger washed over me but I tried so hard to control myself. I have to tread carefully. We were on the staircase and if I was not careful enough, I would hurt her and Axel would have me punished.

 “How does it feel, huh? How does it feel to be cherished and cared for by your sister's mate?”

 I spun around to face her. “Do whatever you want with him, Melissa. The two of you can go to hell,”

 She burst into laughter. “Of course, Lenora. I would happily do that. For Axel, I would gladly go to hell and back,”

 “Anyways, in case you don't know, Axel and I have been together for a long time even before you came into the picture. It's just a pity that the moon goddess didn't make us mates. You just have to spoil everything”

 I just stared at her blankly. “Are you done with your speech?” I asked with raised eyebrows as I folded my hands across my chest.

 “Of course not, sister. There is something I want you to know, so listen carefully. You are gonna remain barren for the rest of your life,” she chuckled lightly and I creased my brows in confusion. 

 “What are you talking about?” I asked in confusion.

 She got closer to where I was and leaned in, her hot breath fanning my neck. “You will remain barren for the rest of your life because I have been secretly giving you some concoction that reduces fertility,”

 My eyes went wide with shock. “You did what?” 

 “Of course, Lenora. That's what those concoctions do. It reduces a woman's fertility until her womb is no longer able to hold her babies,”

 “Melissa!!!” I yelled at the top of my voice. The sound of Melissa's laughter echoed through the hall as she revealed her secret to me. 

 “I just felt that you should know. And also, I'll tell you this. Don't trust anyone. The one person you trusted most is the same person who is doing all of these to you!” She paused, but continued almost immediately. “Laura! She is my best friend and friends will always help each other.”

 Tears were already gathering in my eyes, but I didn't want to let it show. I can't cry in front of her. I don't want to give her the satisfaction that I was sad because of her words.

 Therefore, I turned around to leave, but she reached out and grabbed my hand. I felt a surge of anger within me and I dragged my hand away from hers. 

  The next thing I knew, Melissa was rolling down the stairs. She crashed against the steps and I heard her cry out in pain. I just stood there in shock and horror! I have no idea how this happened! 

Goodness! I'm done for!

 Her mother screamed and then I heard the sound of footsteps approaching, as the Pack members rushed to Melissa's side.

 “What happened to her?” Axel appeared, his face twisted with anger as he saw Melissa lying in a pool of blood. His eyes flashed with rage. 

 “It's that bitch! She pushed my daughter off the stairs!” Matilda cried as she rushed towards my direction. She began to hit me with her fists.

 “What has my daughter done to deserve this!” She cried as she continued to hit me. I couldn't even push her away. I just continued to stare at Melissa in shock and horror. 

 “If you are mad at me, take it out on me. Don't hurt my daughter. She hasn't done anything to deserve this. She was only trying to be nice to you,” 

 “Axel… The baby. He is leaving! The baby is leaving!” Melissa cried too, but Axel didn't answer her. Instead he walked towards my direction. 

 “How dare you push her down the stairs, huh?” He pulled out a sword and struck me with it. 

  Everything went black.