Chapter 1

Jennita’s pov

“To the public, you are my Luna, but while in this Packhouse, you will be reminded that this union was just one of convenience. You shall abide by my rules with obedience and respect, for our bond is one of necessity, not passion. I want you to keep this in mind till you die. I will never love you, Jennita.”

Those were Alpha Antonio’s words on the night we had just completed our mating ritual. It was cruel and coldly stated, but before I had consented to the union, I knew what I was getting myself into.

At first, a small part of me had been glad when he had asked for my hand, after all, I had loved Antonio right from the moment he sat in front of me in a high school class and we had become friends, but a greater part of me knew I was nothing more of a substitute for his real mate, his first love, Alessandra.

She had traveled abroad, wanting to explore the world more rather than be shackled with the role of a Luna, leaving Antonio so heartbroken he turned into a cold monster; unfeeling and cruel.

I knew I had the chance to back out, to reject him when he had asked for my hand to be able to ascend his father’s throne, but a naïve part of me hoped he would one day soften up to me. That he would love me.

But that day never came. I had a separate room from his. I was only ever allowed to see him once a week to perform the mating rites so I could bear him and his heir, and whatsoever I wanted to relay to him, I could only tell his Beta.

This went on for five years.

Nothing I did seemed to be working. I cooked his best dishes, did as he pleased, attended meetings with him and contributed, and went for training just to see him, to let him catch even a glance of me. But Antonio didn’t just love me. He hated me.

During the times I was in heat and subjected to an insurmountable amount of pain, not once had he ever been at my side, leaving me to perish.

I was miserable, even more, when some years after our union I hadn’t born him an heir, not even a single news of pregnancy to show I was fertile.

He grew increasingly cold and distant by day, leaving me weeping profusely to the Moon goddess in hopes that she would answer me and provide me with a child. I knew it was the one thing Antonio wanted the most. An heir, a child.

And finally, after five cruel, miserable years of emotional torment and abuse, I was leaving the Pack hospital, with a gleam in my eyes and a genuine smile on my face.

I was pregnant. Three months pregnant.

I couldn’t wait to see the smile return to Antonio’s face when I relayed the news to him. Those cold blue orbs might finally soften when he looked at me.

Maybe… Maybe he’d finally love me. For the sake of our future child.

I was so happy. I quickly stopped at the supermarket to buy some foodstuffs which I’ll need to cook his best meals.

I knew he had gone on a trip and was expected to return home tonight. He had been going on several long trips lately so I had kept up with his schedules.

“Could Her Highness share what seems to make her so happy tonight.” One of the maids curiously asked, prompting the others to join in the query.

After all, they hadn’t seen their Luna smile so happily in years.

I so badly wanted to share the news with them, but I wanted Antonio to be the first.

After I was done laying out the dining table, I was just adding the finishing touches which included scented candles and napkins when I heard the door push open.

The familiar scent of my mate sent my wolf into an excited frenzy. I chuckled.

“Calm down, Tasha. I’m just as excited as you too.”

The maids usually helped him with his things upstairs while I was locked away in my room, but tonight I was feeling bold. With a smile on my face, I rushed down to welcome him, but seeing him walk in, arm-in-arm with a woman, I froze.

But this woman wasn’t just anybody.

“Alessandra.” I breathed out loud, feeling an uneasy dread run through my body.

Her face broke out into a fake smile the moment her eyes met mine. I could see the familiar malice in her cruel-looking brown eyes as she said, “Jenny! Oh, it’s been so long.” She quickly approached me with her arms spread out. “You don’t know how much I missed you Big Sis.”

I was too in shock to hug her back, my gaze moving to Antonio’s which were cold and unfeeling as they stared into mine.

“You’re not supposed to be here.” Was all he said as he reached out, and in one swift move, had Alessandra in his arms again.

“I’m not supposed to be here? What is she doing here?” I beckon to her.

“I don’t have to explain anything to you,” his voice was cold as the dark, gloomy night, and his eyes bore resentment. “Go back to your room.”

“Dear, I think it’s time we finally tell her. After all, since I would be your new Luna, she’s bound to find out.”

My body, trembling to hold back my tears from his words almost broke down when she finally dropped the bombshell.

Luna? He wanted to make her his Luna? But that was not possible, the elder council would not even allow it! He chose me! He was mated to me, not her!

“Jenny, we wanted to tell you, but I reckoned I’d just tell you everything once I finally moved in.” She finally approached me, taking my hands in hers.

Her eyes didn’t belong to someone who was remorseful or pitying. There was only malice and hate. There had always been a silent rival between us sisters, and things like that were never bound to change.

Just like Antonio’s hate for me.

“I came back from Britain some months ago, and Antonio rented an apartment for me at first, but after a while, he decided I shouldn’t have to stay in hiding anymore and brought me back home.”

I smirked bitterly; one that shielded the bleeding heart in my chest. No wonder he started going on those long ‘business trips’. My mate had been in a long-term love affair. An illegal one at that. While I lived alone and miserable, yearning for his love, all these while, he had been showering Alessandra with them.

I was a fool. I had always been a fool.

To think, to wish, for even a second, he would gaze upon me like he did to her.

I had done nothing to be treated this way by Antonio. But I guess, my only crime was falling in love with my sister’s fated mate, thinking...

I hurriedly blinked my tears away. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I am his Luna. Fated mate or not, you can’t just walk in after years of abandoning him to claim something you ran away from!” I pull my hands from her grip, glaring hatefully at her.

“Jennita!” His powerful voice sweeping across the room, sent my howling wolf crawling back to whimper just as I faced him. His height towered above mine as he glared down at me.

“Remind me when I gave you the power to make such decisions? Remember, you’re just a mere substitute. A useless one at that. You can’t even bear me an heir. Alessandra will be my Luna, and you will remain as my mate, but nothing more than a concubine.”

I gritted my teeth, feeling my throat burn with an acidic taste, my eyes stinging with another fresh wave of tears. My chest heaved as my lips released short, frantic breaths. I was plunged into a state of turmoil, panic, and heartbreak. My hands turned to fists as I fought hard against the aura of his wolf imposing on me. “Antonio, please. Please don’t do this to me. For goddess’s sake, we’ve been together for five years. Did you ever even love me?” I raise my eyes to meet his again.

For a brief second, I felt I had seen the ice in his eyes melt, but suddenly, the glaciers in them returned and he sneered. “Love? That’s asking too much now, isn’t it, Jennita?”

“Jennita, I’m sorry things had to turn out this way but…” Again, Alessandra reached out for my arm, but I flung the arm away.

“Don’t touch me!”

However, to my shock, right before me, she staggered back and fell against the door before sliding to the floor, pain evident on her face as she clutched her stomach, groaning sharply in pain.

I barely even pushed her, but Antonio already had me pinned against the wall across the living room in seconds.

His claws dug hard into my neck, his grip tight, almost choking me to death as he spat. “Don’t you ever lay a hand on her, ever! If anything happens to my child, consider it the end of your life, Jennita. I will have your head served to me on a platter of gold the moment you ever touch her again!”

I cackled, my blood flying onto his shirt from my lips. For a moment, my grip on the arm around my neck loosened. For that moment, I hoped he would kill me then and there.

She had finally given him what he wanted the most. To him, she had given him what I couldn’t give him in 5 years in just a couple of months.

To him, I was just a useless mate.

The Beta’s eldest daughter undeserving of love.

He released me, leaving my pale body to slide down the floor.

Without even casting another glance at me, he rushed to Alessandra’s side.

I watched as he whispered sweet nothings to her, cupping her face, and kissing her, just before he carried her upstairs.

As I lay there, feeling the deep gash around my neck slowly heal, I mourned alongside my wolf, because that night, we knew we had lost our mate forever.

I would rather be estranged from this pack than have to live under this roof as my sister’s subordinate. With a resolved resolution in mind, I took the stairs to my room to pack my things.

I will leave, yes! I can’t stay here any longer! I will find a place where I would raise my child of course, and he would never learn of my child or me. To Antonio, I was dead.

As I passed his chambers, I shut my eyes tight, freezing in my steps when I heard the unmistakable sound of soft moans and heavy breathing.

It wouldn’t take a Shaman to know what they were up to.

Bitterness in my heart, I wiped my tears one last time before I headed to my room to pack. I didn’t have much so I was done in a couple of seconds. I didn’t have to say farewell, it’s not like they would care. They were too busy fucking each other.

Just as I was about to leave, I pulled off my ring, and dropped it on my bed, hoping he’d be able to see it.

With a heavy heart, I left the pack without turning back.