001
Annete.
I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing beside me was my sister, Isobela, wearing the same dress as me. Shocks drained the blood from my face, and I took a good look at my body. “Isobela?!” I mentioned, sparing her a glance, but she only knitted her brows, standing with her head high.
A lump formed in my throat. I fumbled with the fabric of the dress, my heart palpitating.
The hall had broken out in a murmur. Watching two sisters stand before the priestess while waiting for the alpha king to show up was the worst view ever. I couldn't even comprehend what was going on with my sister.
I turned and looked around in search of my parents, and when I found them sitting comfortably, their facial expressions said it all. They weren't shocked. They knew about what was happening and seemed to have prepared for it.
With my hope draining gradually, I grabbed Isobela’s hand, my lips quivering, “What are you doing right now? It's my coronation and mating ritual….so why are you dressed in the same clothes as mine?” My voice trembled, and I knew she could see through my fear.
I was the forbidden daughter of the Lowells. My father was the pack general, and we were all betas, but I was the only wolfless werewolf in the family. As the eldest, I was expected to do a lot, but when I couldn't even find my wolf to transform on my eighteenth birthday, the molestation from my family heightened.
My sister would bully me with her friends. I wasn't sent to college and was more inferior than the servants in our house. I would take the blame for Isobela's mistake, get punished for her accusations, and was threatened to be disowned if I ever mentioned that I was part of the family.
In the whole Infinite Pride Pack, no one knew I was the eldest daughter of General Lowell. They thought I was one of the servants, and no matter how much I tried to please them, all was to no avail. Several times, I asked why I was treated as inferior when I was part of the family, only to be whipped and starved for days.
Henceforth, I embraced my fate and assumed it was what the moon goddess wanted.
My sister had her wolf, performed so well in high school, and was sent to college. Whereas I, who had wanted to be a pack healer, was ignored and told that I was useless.
Isobela took away everything from me. She made sure I wasn't happy and had peace; she hates it when I rest too. I barely slept up to four hours the whole day, and I would work my ass out just so I do not look proper. In her words, she hated that I was her sister and was a disgrace to her, so she made sure every one of her friends bullied me so much until I wished for death.
And now, she was wearing my coronation dress, standing with me on the only special day of my life.
I had found my mate when I was nineteen years old, the alpha king of our pack, Samsom Brooks. He was a cold alpha, mean, but played his role so well. When he insisted on not meeting up with me until we are bonded, I agreed. Just a few weeks ago, I turned twenty-one and still didn't find my wolf, but he never rejected me. No one knew we were mates until seven days ago when he announced it to my family, and the fact that our mating ritual and my coronation were going to take place.
Within me, leaving my family was going to be the best thing to ever happen to me. Even though I hadn't had a moment with my mate, each time we met coincidentally, the way he looked at me awakened the butterflies in my belly. He didn't want anyone to know of the matebond, or maybe because he was scared of being distracted from his role, but just his eyes on me showed how he cherished me, even though I was a wolfless beta.
He hired the best fashion designer in the human land to weave my dress, but seeing the one Isobel was putting on, it looked like the same person weaved it too. My shoes, the jewelry, were all the same. That alone, my heart tightened in bitterness.
Must she steal my happiness today, too? This was the day I would hold my mate's hand, look him in the eyes, and make my mating vows…and she wanted to ruin my mood?
Seeing that no one, not even the councils of the pack, was saying something about the two of us, I thought it was better to be calm and watch how the drama unfolded. Only she and our parents knew what the plan was, but in the end, I would be Luna, and she would be ashamed for the first time.
In the next few minutes, the gong rang thrice, and then the alpha’s beta announced to everyone, “Hail thee, the alpha king!!!”
Everyone stood to their feet, heads bowed, and they all chorused, “Hail thee, the alpha king!!!”
I couldn't contain my smile, staring at my mate's figure as he walked closer to where I stood. As usual, he looked attractive enough for any woman to fall for him. I saw the grin on his lips and how he gazed at me like the other days.
We stayed hidden for two years, and I thought it was worth it. Now, we would be bound before everyone, and I would be crowned his luna.
I nearly forgot that my sister was standing beside me, not until one of the pack ministers stepped out before the alpha king and bowed, then pointed at us, “Is the alpha king claiming two females at once? We can't wait to see who will be your luna…”
He adjusted his tie and walked closer, standing before the two of us. He glanced at our faces, his smile being so visible at that moment. “Both of them are sisters!!” he stated, and the man standing before him shuddered.
I rolled my eyes and then glanced at Isobel. I wondered what he was up to, because my parents didn't need such an announcement.
“But one of them is wolfless…” he added again and moved his eyes from me to Isobel. My fingers dug into my palm, and I lost control of my heartbeat that moment. He hadn't ever mentioned my condition until now, and that made my heartbeat spike.
He closed the distance between us and first took my hand. My eyes suddenly became watery watching as he kissed the back of my palm, then dropped it back. “She is the first child of General Lowell, but wolfless and useless to the pack.”
The last four words sank into my ears like a bomb. I looked at him, and he only had a cold expression and a glint of danger in his eyes.
What did he mean? If he could call me useless, then does it mean…
“Her name is Annette, and she is my mate.” I paused my thought the moment he said that, and watching as the crowd gathered broke into a loud murmur made my teeth quiver. I didn't want to guess what he was up to, but my chest rose and fell with force as though it would burst. “Unfortunately, I can't have a wolfless beta as my luna….”
A scorching heat enveloped me. My belly dropped in force.
My knees buckled, but I tried to hold out there.
Did I just hear him well? Was it why he didn't want anyone to know of our matebond?
When the crowd went calm a bit, he let go of my hand, and without glancing at me, walked towards my sister Isobel. He took her two hands; the smiles he wore were more sincere than the ones he gave me. I was too stupid to think those little smiles from the first person to show me were genuine.
I was carried away by my ignorance. I should have known that hiding me was proof that I wasn't worthy to be his.
“Isobel will be my chosen mate, and Luna, while my wolfless mate will be my mistress,” he declared, and the crowd let out an applause, all hailing him for his wisdom. My heart trembled.
I felt so stupid standing there. Again, my sister and parents succeeded in taking my happiness away from me. I wanted the ground to just open and have me in, because the shame was too much for me to contain.
Two years of fake hope, waiting for someone who thought I only deserved to be his mistress.
My fingers fidgeted beside me. I barely breathed with how heavy my chest became.
Never! I wasn't going to be a mistress. I won't!!