Chapter 1 Two Wives

Cecilia POV

"Of course, I object!" I hadn't expected that on the very day Vahn Bollen returned, he would present such an audacious and preposterous proposal.

"I don't care if you object. I will still take Freeda Lawlor as my wife."

Vahn tugged at his shirt collar, his voice growing increasingly impatient and sharp. The apologetic look on his face has also vanished. "Of course, you will remain the Luna of Thorn Pack—as long as you fulfill your duties and abide by the rules."

"Even if I consent, what you propose is unlawful. No Alpha is permitted two wives—not even the Alpha King would dare such a thing." I met his gaze with icy defiance before settling back into my chair and pouring a cup of Cinnamon black tea.

Some werewolves dallied with others even after finding their mate, but purely physically. Anyone caught marking multiple mates faced exile, relegated to the life of a Rogue. This fate spared no one, not even the Alpha King of Valdora.

"I won't mark her, so technically, it's not illegal. Besides, the Alpha King has already sanctioned my relationship with Freeda." Vahn, towering over six feet, peered down at me with a haughty glare.

"You won't mark her? Then, how is she different from any mistress?" I could hardly believe that Valdora's only Alpha Female would consent to such a demotion.

"She will be my wife. Show some respect! We will soon hold a formal wedding, with all the Alphas invited. This isn't a discussion. I am merely notifying you, out of respect for our year together as a couple."

"So, you've plotted everything already." I sipped my tea, slightly bitter from over-steeping. "Do you recall the oath you took a year ago at the graves of my father and three brothers?"

Last July, on the brink of my eighteenth birthday, I awaited the homecoming of my father and brothers to celebrate my coming of age. Instead, I was greeted with the grim tidings of their deaths in battle. At their funeral, I met Vahn. Nana, my wolf, told me he was my mate. Of course, he found that out, too.

Finding one's mate was meant to be the happiest moment of a werewolf's life, yet I was consumed by the grievous loss of my beloved family, numb to the world around me.

After the funeral, Vahn wanted me to move to Thorn Pack, but I did not want to.

Vahn stood before the graves of my father and brothers as he swore to my mother that he would cherish, protect, and remain eternally faithful to me. With tears cascading down her cheeks, my mother bid me farewell, entrusting me into Vahn's care.

Who could have imagined that in just a year, this man would be preparing to wed another?

What happened was probably embarrassing for Vahn; after a tense silence, he bowed his head and sighed deeply.

"Back then, I had no concept of love. You are my mate, and there exists a natural bond between us—a destiny neither of us can escape. But with Freeda, it's different; we are true soulmates who understand each other." Vahn's smirk broke through his previous facade as he met my gaze. "You wouldn't understand."

"I certainly don't. I fail to see how a man can rationalize, with such bold assurance, the act of cheating on his mate."

All my sorrow and anger had slowly transformed into disgust and contempt. Despite everything, not a trace of remorse was directed toward me or my family. I was astounded that a man capable of such grave errors lacked even the courage to acknowledge them. He didn't believe he had done anything wrong.

Nana was howling inside of me. She wanted to pounce on Vahn and tear that handsome face apart. She wanted to dig out those brown eyes of his. I struggled to pacify her, but my tension shattered the teacup in my grasp, spilling blood-stained tea onto the intricate hand-woven carpet.

"Cecilia..." Vahn looked shocked. He wanted to check on my hand, but I pushed him away. My father had been one of the most formidable Alphas in Valdora; I was his daughter, and to me, such a wound was trivial. In just one second, it had fully healed over.

"Cecilia, I haven't broken my oath. Even married to Freeda, I will always protect you. You remain Thorn Pack's Luna, and I wish to avoid conflict. My mother has arranged a feast tonight," he said as he turned to leave, then hesitated. "Freeda will be there too. I expect no disturbances from you."

"Where is she now? I want to talk to her," I said coldly.

"There's no need for that. She's busy assisting our warriors. Unlike you, she leads them in battle throughout the year, not spending her days indulging in frivolities and gossip." He didn't glance back as he left.

He had barely arrived home before he ordered the servants to prepare a separate room for him, showing no interest in maintaining even a facade of affection before the pack.

After Vahn's departure, Pearly Yates, my attendant, entered with tear-stained eyes. She began cleaning the broken porcelain and dabbing at the tea stains on the carpet.

"Did you hear all of that?" I patted her on the shoulder.

Pearly had been a playmate from my former pack and was an Omega. Her mother had been our cook, and her father was my father's Beta. After her parents passed away when she was young, my mother adopted her. When I became Luna of the Thorn Pack last year, she became my attendant, but in my heart, she was as dear as a sister.

"I can't believe he has become this person! If your father and brothers were still here, they would never have let him treat you this way!" Pearly managed through her tears.

"I'll rip that bitch's throat out tonight!" Nana roared. She was an extremely irritable and uncontrollable wolf with a gorgeous red pelt. When I first got her at the age of 16, I lost control while in school. I destroyed the school's kitchen, forcing everyone to go hungry for the day. My punishment had been a week of confinement.

'Shush!' I quieted Nana, then turned to Pearly. "Don't fret. I'll confront the Alpha Female first. Help me pick out something suitable to wear tonight."