Chapter 1 Betrayed

I admired myself happily in the full-length mirror as the seamstress bid her goodbyes and departed the room, her arms filled with gowns.

I smoothed my hands over the exquisite fabric of my wedding dress, a wistful smile playing on my lips.

This was my last night as Anastasia Vanes, daughter of the Alpha King. Tomorrow, I would become Anastasia Lancer, wife and mate to Brent Lancer, the future Alpha King.

Covering my mouth, I stifled a squeal of excitement.

At last, I would leave this dreadful wing of the mansion and move to my own floor with my husband. I'd only need to see my stepmother and stepsister during special events, avoiding them on most days.

I bit my lip nervously. Should I show my dad the dress? He would see it tomorrow, but we had so little time together anymore. Spending this last evening as his daughter might be a nice gesture.

I sighed softly. If my mother were still here... Although my father had betrayed her by taking a mistress, I couldn't shake the feeling that life would have been easier if she had lived. Perhaps I would have had more siblings.

With a final twirl and giggle of contentment, I opened my bedroom door and stepped into the hallway.

As I walked past the bedrooms and suites on this floor, I overheard a couple's unmistakable sounds of passion.

I snickered and rolled my eyes.

I hadn't been intimate with Brent yet—I was determined to save myself for our wedding day, when we would mark each other.

After exchanging vows and celebrating with the Bloody Crescent Pack, our family would retreat to the inner moon temple, where the elders awaited.

It was a simple ceremony, involving intimate vows between mates, allowing our wolves to express their pledge to their fated partners.

The ritual encouraged mutual acts of service, culminating in our return to our room to consummate our bond as a mated pair.

Blushing furiously at the thought, I stifled another giggle. Bearing Brent's mark would fill me with pride—his loyalty was unwavering...

"F**k. Eve..."

The sound of the headboard hitting the wall intensified, and I froze. No... it couldn't be!

My head turned instinctively toward the door I was about to pass, noticing it was slightly ajar. A nervous swallow caught in my throat, my heart racing erratically. I had to be mistaken—it couldn't be what it seemed.

"Brent, oh... deeper... harder!" Eve's shrill voice pleaded between breathy moans.

My legs seemed to have a mind of their own as I found myself positioned next to the crack in the door. I nudged it open slightly, trying to peer into the dimly lit room beyond, but it wasn't enough to see clearly.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door a little further. My chest felt as if it might explode as I held my breath, the door opening wider.

What I saw made my hands fly to my mouth to stifle a gasp of horror. There was my sister beneath my fiancé, Brent. My heart shattered instantly as he roared his release inside her, and Eve turned her head to the door with a smirk.

An icy chill swept over me, as though someone had doused me with a bucket of ice water. I stood there, staring with eyes wide and mouth slightly open in shock.

Eve lifted her hand, waving smugly in my direction with a smile plastered on her face as Brent collapsed on top of her, showering kisses on her neck.

I wanted to scream, to rage, to sob, but I remained silent, closing the door quietly and clenching my fists in anger at my sides.

Staring blankly ahead, I made my way down the stairs and out into the night.

For quite some time, I wandered through the city in a daze, my mind reeling from the scene I had just witnessed.

Brent and I were supposed to be fated mates. What had happened? Finding your fated match was rare, and such relationships were almost infallible, with little desire to seek fulfillment elsewhere due to the bond their wolves shared.

My wolf, Maine, stayed silent throughout everything, though I could sense her fury burning within me.

Maine was never one for excessive chatter. When I tried to reach out to her, she mostly stayed silent, expressing her feelings on matters at the appropriate time without the need for words.

The numbness that carried me into the city started to fade, giving way to the excruciating pain coursing through my heart.

......

I sniffled quietly, taking in my surroundings as I wandered through the bustling club district of the city, a place renowned for its vibrant nightlife. The pulsating beats emanating from inside the clubs only reminded me of Brent's strong, rhythmic heartbeat that I used to hear whenever I rested my head on his chest. The grief washed over me anew.

"Perhaps you can find a quieter bar," Maine growled in my mind.

I jumped at the unexpected gruff voice, taking a moment to recover before responding.

"But... Maine... I don't drink... I never have," I protested.

"No? Well, fated mates don't typically sleep with their mate's sister, yet here we are. Now seems like the perfect time to start drinking," she snapped back brutally.

I bit my lip, unsure of how to reply. I could feel Maine's heavy sigh reverberating through me.

"Even if you don't want to drink, I want something to numb us both. Freda is frowned upon, and if I see that b*tch again, she'll get what's coming to her. Until then, find somewhere quiet and drink until I shut up," she grumbled.

Taking a deep breath, I lowered my head, letting my hair fall over my face to hide from the curious glances directed my way. Eventually, I found myself at a bar known for its high-profile clientele and its commitment to protecting their privacy—an ideal spot to hide away for a while.

The doorman stopped me at once, chuckling as he spoke. "Listen, missy, I know we're called The Minister, but I think you've got the wrong kind of church. You can't get married here."

Feeling the heat rise to my cheeks, I lifted my head and stared defiantly at him. He paled as realization dawned.

"Ah... Miss Vanes! I'm sorry, I just... with your attire... wedding dresses aren't usually... and..." he stuttered, stumbling over his words as I narrowed my eyes, allowing Maine's golden irises to shine through furiously.

"If I wanted jokes, I'd see a comedian. I want somewhere quiet to drink where no one will bother me," I hissed.

The doorman hurriedly escorted me inside, where I was shown to a booth on the top floor, reserved for those with the highest profiles. Being the daughter of an Alpha King afforded me this privilege, and as I squeezed into the booth, carefully lifting my dress to avoid tangling in it, I was grateful for the lack of prying eyes.

Before long, the manager approached, apologizing profusely for the doorman's conduct. As a gesture of sincerity, he offered complimentary drinks for the evening.

I accepted the manager's generous offer with gratitude and, as he handed me the drinks menu, I decided to go along with Maine's recommendations. I didn't hold back on ordering.

After polishing off my fourth glass of Merlyn Cabernet, I reached a firm conclusion: there was no way I would go through with this wedding. If Brent could betray me now, before we were even married and marked, it was likely his behavior would only worsen.

"It's the worst kind of betrayal," Maine snarled in my mind. "You should seduce him and let me tear his member off so he can't bury himself balls deep in another woman again."