Chapter 2 The One And Only Alpha Female

Cecilia POV

I stared into the mirror. My red curls cascaded around my shoulders, set off by the simplicity of the white suit dress that hugged my voluptuous curves with both sensuality and subtlety.

"Wear this tonight." Pearly offered a necklace with a lotus pendant crafted from rubies, draping it around my neck. The red lotus was emblematic of the Lotus Pack, once led by my father.

Pearly was not only have inherited her mother's amazing cooking skills, but also possessed an unmatched discerning eye for. As a child, while I sparred and trained with my brothers in the woods, Pearly preferred dealing with all sorts of fabrics at home. Sometimes, she would create flowers out of cloth that were so real that one could barely tell they were made from fabric.

Together, we made our way to the banquet hall. I swung the doors open and scanned the room, taking in the faces of Vahn's family and the 16 key members of the Thorn Pack seated at the long tables.

During the era of Vahn's great-grandfather, the Thorn Pack flourished, a beacon of strength and prosperity within Valdora. With a vast and resource-rich territory, they numbered among the most formidable packs, boasting thousands of members.

Yet, under the stewardship of Vahn's father, Jace Bollen, the pack weakened.

Jace did not have any brothers, so he was the family's only heir. He was a very weak fighter, leading to severe losses for the pack. Similarly, his business acumen was lacking. In the past, he had to sell off a few pieces of their territory to the other packs in order to maintain the pack's livelihood. Consequently, the Thorn Pack's numbers dwindled, eventually falling below 5,000.

Fortunately, 19 years ago, the Moon Goddess seemed to offer a glimmer of hope with Vahn's birth. At the age of 14, Vahn had his own wolf. While werewolves of an Alpha's lineage often got their wolves earlier than others, most of them had to wait until they were 16. Vahn, on the other hand, was already fighting by Jace's side at 16.

When Vahn marked me last year, Jace handed Vahn the role of Alpha. I then formally became the Thorn Pack's Luna. Everyone thought that the Thorn Pack would rise to glory once more under Vahn's leadership.

Right now, the man viewed as the star of the pack was gawping at me in astonishment. We barely spent a whole month together after our marriage, so he had never seen me dressed up in a gown.

My gaze shifted to a woman seated next to Vahn. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. Though her face wasn't classically beautiful, it had a striking, handsome quality. This had to be Freeda.

Freeda was still clad in the skintight black outfit of a battlefield warrior, as if she were eager to flaunt her status as an Alpha Female. When our eyes met, she raised her chin in a deliberate show of arrogance. The rest of the room grew quiet, their eyes on me, waiting for something to unfold.

Rosie Holman, Vahn's mother, was the first to break the silence.

"Cecilia, Pearly, come sit beside me."

Rosie beamed as she pulled out a chair for me. She was a short, plump woman, her rounded figure a result of the constant medication she needed after being poisoned with wolfsbane in the past.

Once Pearly and I were seated, Jace rose and raised his glass of wine.

"Tonight's feast is to welcome Vahn and Freeda back to the pack. A toast to their triumphant return. Cheers!"

Glasses were swiftly lifted as cheers filled the room. Jace then turned to me, cleared his throat, and continued, "On another note, I am pleased to announce that Freeda Lawlor is now officially part of our family. From now on, the Blade Pack and the Thorn Pack will be the closest of allies!"

Freeda was the only Alpha Female among all 46 packs in Valdora, leading the Blade Pack, which bordered the Thorn Pack. Despite its size, the Blade Pack was renowned for its formidable battle skills. To the Bollens, marrying Freeda was like enlisting a top-tier group of mercenaries.

"Family? What kind of family steals the husband of another family member?" Pearly snapped.

"Pearly, this is a family matter. It's not your place to speak. You're just an Omega. You're only at this table because of Cecilia. Don't overstep your bounds!" Patricia Bollen, Vahn's younger sister, retorted sharply.

"It's not your place to decide who can sit here. Don't forget, I'm the Luna of this pack." I clasped Pearly's hand and shot Patricia a defiant glare. "And I haven't acknowledged Freeda as part of this family."

I scanned the room, noting the lack of surprise on anyone's face, as if they had all agreed to this beforehand.

It seemed I was the last to learn about Vahn and Freeda's marriage. It was clear they had discussed and settled this among themselves. Inside, I couldn't help but scoff.

"Cecilia, the Alpha King has already approved their marriage," Rosie said, patting me on the shoulder. "It's actually for the best. Vahn and Freeda will make the pack safer than ever. This is a win-win situation for everyone. You'll only need to focus on internal matters. Your position as Luna will be secure, and you'll have an easier time."

Rosie's words seemed like comfort on the surface, but it was clear they were more of a veiled warning. Any objection from me would be seen as opposition to the pack's growth, jeopardizing everyone's well-being. Before I could respond, Patricia jumped in.

"The Alpha King even awarded Freeda a medal, praising her as a role model for all women in Valdora. Thanks to Vahn and Freeda, we can enjoy this feast in safety."

"Thanks to them? Don't forget that the main commander in the northwest war against the Rogues is my uncle, the Alpha of Lotus Pack," I retorted with a sneer.

"Alright. This is a celebratory feast, not a battleground for arguments," Jace interjected, signaling for everyone to eat in silence.

Throughout the meal, Freeda remained silent, leisurely eating her steak while casting haughty glances at me. She made a point of whispering sweet nothings to Vahn, who sat beside her. She didn't need to defend herself; everyone else was doing that for her.

I looked around at this family, feeling more alienated than when I first arrived at Thorn Pack. It was clear that arguing further was pointless. I needed to find a way to escape before I was completely swallowed by this family. In the end, Nana's agitation made leaving early with Pearly necessary.

After a long day of conflict, my head was throbbing. A hot shower provided little relief, and I longed to collapse into bed. Suddenly, a sharp, agonizing pain pierced my chest, forcing me into a tight ball. Nana emitted a pained howl in response.

The pain was unlike anything I'd ever felt—it was as though a wolf's claws had embedded themselves in my chest and were tearing through it. Soon, I understood the source of my suffering.

Between mates, there existed a mind-link and a profound emotional bond.

Vahn, my mate, was currently making love to Freeda.