Betrayed Bonds

She Stole My Everything

Clark walked toward me, and I stood frozen. He was smiling at me, and I just stared back, my own smile strained as I tried to hold it. Would he be able to sense that my wolf was gone? I could hardly sense the bond between us now. How would I explain that? He was about to announce me as the next Luna, and I couldn't even feel our mate bond anymore!

"Come on out, Aurora," He said, motioning for me to join him on the stage. I clenched my hands nervously and stepped out on the stage.

Suddenly, a huge sob and loud cry erupted from the crowd. I looked out and saw Esme's head bowed. Sobs were coming from her as her whole body shook. She had friends around her, all trying desperately to console her. The rest of the pack took notice too.

I looked at Clarkson, and he grabbed my hand. His expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything. He pulled me from the stage, and we went to Esme. Clarkson father was close behind us.

One of Esme's friends jumped up and pointed a finger at me. I stopped dead in my tracks, wide-eyed.

"You're a thief!" she shouted. "How could you? Esme was so nice to you, and you took everything from her!"

"Wh-what?" I asked, looking helplessly at Clarkson. I had no idea what she was talking about.

"You're nothing but a fake soon-to-be-Luna, and now everyone will know it!" Esme's friend cried, her face red and nostrils flaring. She dropped down beside Esme attempting to comfort her.

"Aurora?" Jeremy asked.

"I don't know what is going on," I said, looking around desperately for a sign as to what is going on right now.

"Everyone, the convention is over," Alpha Rays said, waving everyone away. He pointed to Esme and her friend. "You two, stay here."

As the pack cleared, Clarkson dropped my hand and moved closer to Esme. Why is this happening right after my inability to feel Clara and my mate bond with Clarkson? It's as if I'm trapped in a stampede with nowhere to go and zero clues about what is going on. Everything was happening so fast.

Alpha Rays pulled a chair up and sat right in front of Esme. "Tell me everything," he demanded. Esme sniffled and shook her head, wiping away tears.

"Can't you see she's upset?" Esme's friend asked. Alpha Albert held a hand up to her. "I'll ask you to leave, too, if you keep interfering," he stated. Esme's friend bit back her retort and bowed her head.

"Now, tell me what has you upset and why you're accusing your friend Aurora?" The Alpha demanded.

I chewed my lower lip and looked at Clarkson. He had his hands in his pockets looking really uncomfortable and wouldn't meet my eyes.

But the next second, I was not paying attention to him anymore.

"It's Aurora who stole my wolf."

What I could only hear was Esme crying out.

"Aurora stole my wolf before I turned eighteen. She stole my mate bond too! Now that she's eighteen, Jeremy thought he was mate-bonded to her. But it is me! I'm supposed to be the next Luna," Esme wailed with tears streaming down her face.

"What?" I asked in disbelief, with my heart thumping in my chest. I looked at Clarkson and his father, wondering if they'd believe her. "I never did anything like that. I don't even know..." I trailed off as Esme burst into tears again. She hid her face in her hands and continued to wail and sob.

"You do know that Aurora is a trusted friend to my family, don't you?" Alpha Rays asked. "That is a serious accusation. What is your proof?"

"I'm supposed to be mated to Clark. That means my wolf is really strong. Nora couldn't control her for that long, and that's why she returned to me now. I didn't realize Jeremy was my mate until just now," Esme said, continuing to sob and cry.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I'd never stolen anyone's wolf. I had stopped feeling my wolf's presence right before Clarkson was going to announce me as Luna.

Frantically, I tried to contact Clara again, but she was gone. I couldn't sense her or my bond to Clarkson anymore.

"I thought that as soon as my wolf returned, Aurora would give up trying to steal my place as the next Luna when my stolen wolf left her and came back to me. Then Clarkson's brought her on stage," Esme continued. I looked at the Alpha and his son Clarkson. I couldn't figure out if they believed Esme or not. I'd known them nearly my whole life. I hoped they wouldn't believe Esme's lies.

"She's too selfish and ambitious," Esme accused, pointing a finger at me. I swallowed hard, my throat tight and clenched. I coughed a little when I couldn't swallow and put a hand on my stomach. This couldn't be happening! Last night I had my whole life ahead of me, and everything was perfect. Now, I was having horrible accusations thrown at me.

"Esme, you're wrong. Aurora wouldn't do that. She's my mate. I trust her," Clarkson said. He reached for my hand again and I sighed in relief. At least he wasn't turning on me.

"You're too gullible. I don't even know if you deserve Esme," Esme's friend, Rebecca snarled. Clarkson scoffed and dropped my hand again. "I won't believe it," he insisted, crossing his arms.

"Can't you feel your bond to Esme? Now that she has her true wolf back, you should feel your connection to her," Rebecca responded.

"I......" Clarkson's brow creased. My heart sank. I knew he wouldn't be able to sense our bond, just like I couldn't sense him. That was probably the reason behind his strange reactions.

Then he looked at Esme, and he c****d his head to the side. I covered my mouth with my hand when I saw a spark in his eyes.

"I feel it," he admitted, smiling softly at Esme. "I wouldn't have sensed it before she turned eighteen, but if her wolf was stolen before then, I wouldn't sense it when she came of age."

"That is true," the Alpha said, looking between me and Esme. Clarkson grabbed my arm and glared at me. "Are you lying to me!?" he snapped, his mood switching suddenly.

"No!" I cried, shaking my head. "You know me. You've known me forever. I don't know what she's talking about. Stolen wolves and stolen bonds.. I'd never do anything like that."

"I....." He looked back at Helen. "I don't know what to think," he said. He shook his head and released my arm.

"Clarkson, You know these two women better than anyone. I need you to tell me what you think is true," Alpha Rays demanded.

"Please, Clark, you know me," I pleaded. "I'm your mate. I know you can feel it," Esme argued. Clarkson looked back and forth between us, too confused to make up his mind. My heart broke in my chest. He wasn't going to believe me.

I covered the charm bracelet on my wrist. I hadn't taken it off since he gave it to me. Tears pricked my eyes. What could I say or do to convince him?

"Why would Aurora do this? Why would she lie?" Clarkson asked.

"Because she's a spy!" Esme cried. She jumped up and glared at me, putting her hands on her hips. "What!?" I asked, confused by the accusation. "I'm not a spy. I grew up in this pack. I'm a member of this pack."

"That's a lie! I've seen you meet with people from a rival pack," She argued.

"So have I," her friend jumped in.

"That's not true," I insisted. I was so shocked by everything that was happening that I couldn't even form a full thought.

Esme and her friend were framing me. I wasn't a spy. I would never betray my pack. I'd always been close to the Alpha family. They'd been good to me. There was no way I'd ever betray them.

"You can't lie anymore, Aurora," Esme snapped. "We all know the real you."

"Now Clark sees you for who you really are," Rebecca scoffed.

"Enough, all of you!" The Alpha snarled. He stood up, and the rest of us cowered. This is a very serious situation. Aurora, you have been accused of stealing another's wolf, stealing the mate bond to become Luna, and being a spy for a rival pack. I don't want to believe it, but I can't show you preferential treatment. I have to treat you like any other pack member."

I looked down at my feet and sniffled. I couldn't believe all this was happening. In just a few days, I'd seen my entire future; now, it was being taken away from me.

"H-How can you believe her over me?" I asked, holding back my tears.

"I won't form an opinion until I do a thorough investigation. However, in light of the potential threat you pose, I can't have you running loose. You'll be detained until I can get to the bottom of this."

Alpha Rays strode away and motioned for two guards.

"Now you'll get what you deserve," Esme snarled at me.

"Esme, that's enough. I want to talk to Aurora alone," Clark responded.

I looked up, hoping that he was finally seeing Helen for who she really was. He had a stern look on his face, though.

Esme smiled brightly and put her hand on Clark's arm.

"Anything for you, my love," she said. She gave him a seductive look before walking away with her friend, leaving Clark and me alone.

I felt sick to my stomach and looped my arms around myself. The feeling got worse when Clarkson smiled at Esme. The same way he'd smiled at me when he found out we shared a mate bond.

"Clark," I gasped.

He shook his head to keep me from saying anything else. "I trusted you, Aurora. I thought you were my mate. What happened?"

"I am your mate," I insisted. "Esme is framing me or something. I don't know what is going on."

"I wish I could believe you. I feel so strongly for Esme, and now, I don't know who to believe," he said.

"Believe me," I pleaded, wanting to desperately reach out and touch him. "I'm not a spy. I've always been loyal to you and Moonery."

"Then why would Esme and Rebecca say those things? You were always friends with her. Why'd she turn against you?" he asked.

"I don't know," I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air as frustration soured through my veins.

"I'm sorry, Aurora. None of this makes sense," he said, shaking his head.

The guards the Alpha had been talking to walked over. They each put a firm hand on my shoulders. I looked at Clark pleadingly, wishing he'd see the truth in my eyes.

But he gave me one last look and then turned his back on me. He went straight over to Esme and her friend.

Esme didn't waste time wrapping her arms around him and snuggling up to him. He hesitated for a moment and then hugged her back.

I looked down at the bracelet on my wrist. It had been a symbol of our future before. Now it was meaningless and burned the skin of my wrist.

The guards tugged on me, leading me back to the pack house. I bowed my head as they pushed me through the halls. Pack members were staring at me, but I didn't look around.

As the guards pulled me through the hallways and down to the dark and dingy dungeon holding cells, I couldn't ignore my heart slamming against my chest nervously. What was going to happen to me?