Chapter One
1479 Words
Eira’s POV
I threw down the fourth shot of tequila and signaled for another.
The passing waitress—a young lady with blonde hair and very white skin—hesitated. Maybe because I looked too drunk or maybe she could sense the chaos I was about to stir.
On the platform of the glittering grand hall, my ex-mate—Ares Thornhart—the prince of the Bluemoon Pack and my best friend Aria Hallowell—princess of the Silvercrest Pack—the most powerful and influential pack in the Southeast stood with a bright smile on their faces—like they didn’t just betray me or maybe they’ve even forgotten i ever existed at all.
A week ago, I caught those bastards making out and instead of remorse or even an apology, they mocked me, confessed to being in love with each other and rejected me. They even kicked me out of the BlueMoon College Ice hockey team. I lost everything.
Really?!
And today was their engagement party. I couldn’t believe it when Eva—another best friend—sent me the invite earlier and that was why I was here to confirm.
Alpha Thornhart died a year ago and according to the law of the Bluemoon pack, becoming the next Alpha doesn’t have to mean you are the prince heir. It has to do with the positive influence you can bring to the pack and alliance of Ares with the Silvercrest pack is enough to make him the strongest candidate over his elder brother, Ethan and that was why he ditched a weak, powerless Omega like me. We’ve been mates since two years ago when I got a scholarship to study Herbal and Medicine at the Bluemoon College.
The waitress arrived with the drink, her jaw was tight but I didn't care. “Thank you.” I grabbed the glass, threw it down and slammed the glass back on the tray. She shook her head and walked away.
The liquid burned down my throat—but not enough to burn out their betrayal that was still fresh in my mind or drown out the laughter and cheers of the other guests around me.
The room spined around me and I can see everyone appearing in twos. Yeah… that was exactly what I wanted—to be drunk and bold enough to confront those bastards openly.
Ares retrieved a box from his pocket, opened it to reveal a ring and then dropped to one knee. “Would you marry me, Aria Hallowell?” He said, his lips curled into a smile…. “Become my mate and Luna? A woman who completes me.”
So I made him incomplete, right?
Aria’s hand flew to her mouth. Pathetic, isn’t it? Acting all surprised like she didn’t throw herself to him and offered to help him become king. “Yes!” She shrieked with happiness. “I will marry you, Ares Thornhart.”
Ares slid the ring into her finger, stood up and pulled her into a tight embrace, before kissing her.
The crowds erupted into cheers and applause as she raised her ring proudly. At the sight of the eighteen karat gold ring, my stomach twisted into painful knots. That was my dream ring— the same one I had shown him in a magazine two months ago when he asked which one I would love to be proposed with.
Apparently, this bastard had been planning this since then and I unknowingly helped him pick the ring. I clenched my fists tightly as anger coursed through me.
Then the moderator—Ares best friend—Kieran—spoke into the microphone, his voice was cheerful; he has never liked me for Ares anyways. He thought l was not befitting of him.
“Congratulations Ares and Aria. Would you like to tell us a bit of your love story?”
Aria took the microphone from him. “As you all know, I’m Princess Aria from the Silverstone pack and a student here at the BlueMoon Pack. Ares and I have been dating for a year now… and we got closer through a mutual friend..”
My head banged. One. Freaking. Whole. Year?! How come I never suspected them at all? And a mutual friend? Me?
I couldn’t take it anymore. It was time for me to do what I have come here to do. I banged my desk on the table and all heads turned at me. I stood and let out a cold, bitter laugh.
Ares and Aria saw me and their mouth parted opened in shock. Of course, they didn’t believe I’d lay my hand on the strictly distributed invite—let alone, be here. She shrinked into him and used her hair to cover her face. Ares quickly unwrapped his hand from around her waist.
“A year?” I sneered, walking towards them in slow, deliberate steps because I’m careful not to stagger since the ground kept sinking beneath me. “And mutual friend?”
“Oh please… I was your best friend Aria and you both were f*****g each other behind my back for a whole year.” My words were raw and that was exactly what I signed up for as I threw down those shots of tequila.
Shocked gasps echoed through the room. Yeah… Ares had convinced me to keep our relationship private until we were ready to get married… and the naive me had agreed to it.
Ares let out a dry laugh. “What are—you—saying?” His voice cracked. “I don’t even know this woman everyone. She is just a drunk student who is on a mission to taint our beautiful union.”
“Yes, everyone,” Aria added. “Don’t listen to her everyone. My best friend is probably drunk. I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I will help her to leave now.”
She moved closer to me and tried to grab my hands.. but my hands connected to her face in a sharp, and resounding slap that echoed through the room.
Another gasps.
Aria’s face snapped to the side and she clenched it tightly. When she finally snapped her head at home, her eyes was bloodshot. Her fangs elongated. Her claws sharpened. “How dare you hit me?” She growled, sending cold shivers down my spine but she didn’t try to attack me probably because she wanted to maintain her image in public.
I reached for my phone, swiped it open and searched for the intimate picture of Ares and I—the one where we were kissing. I had used that particular picture as my screensaver for years until last week.
I held the phone up. “Here, everyone. This was me and this asshole.”
Everyone gasped and started whispering behind cupped lips.
Ares appeared beside me in seconds, snatched the phone from me and smashed it on the floor. “Don’t believe it everyone!” He panicked. “Those pictures are tailored!” But then, no one listened to him.
“Guards! Guards!” Aria’s voice rang out. “Throw this home wrecker out of here.”
Two guards appeared by my side and grabbed either of my hands. “You are the home wrecker, Aria,” I spat. “A very cheap seductress!”
I yanked my hands free from the men, picked up my smashed phone and smirked. “I wish you a lifetime of chaos.”
With that, I turned and walked out of the room—confident and victorious—my feet hit the floor sharply.
As I reached a dark corner in the palace, I stopped and let out a long, exasperated. Yeah, I did it. At least I didn’t let them go scot free after messing with me.
Just then, Ares appeared in front of me with a dark smile on his face. I quickly straightened. “What the f**k did you want?” I snapped. “Shouldn’t you continue with your party? Or maybe I already ruined it.”
He didn’t say anything; His dark eyes just dropped to my breasts that were trying to break free from the V neckline of my dress. He stared on like he was a caged predator.
Instead of the desire that would have coursed through me, I felt cringy and exposed instead. I folded my arms over my chest. “Stop looking at me like that!”
“Stop looking at you like that?” He repeated as if my words were the most absurd he had heard all year long. “And I really don’t want to do this, huh? But you gave me an idea.”
He retrieved his phone from his pocket. His fingers hovered around the screen and he extended it to me. “Let's see if you can still run your mouth.”
- Writer
