Chapter 3
1032 Words
AURORA
My eyes slowly fluttered open as thin streams of sunlight slipped through the curtains.
Groaning softly, I rolled onto my side, trying to escape the light and steal a few more moments of sleep.
Instinctively, I stretched out my arm toward Kael.
Even after spending the entire night in each other's embrace, I always loved feeling his warmth beside me.
But my hand met nothing.
My eyes snapped open.
The space beside me was empty.
Frowning, I sat upright and scanned the room.
"Kael?" I called, expecting him to answer from the bathroom.
Silence.
No response.
Not even the sound of running water.
Perhaps he had already started work.
Ever since becoming Alpha a week ago, his duties had consumed nearly all of his time. He barely had a moment to himself anymore... or to me.
Suddenly, another thought struck me.
My own responsibilities.
I climbed out of bed and hurried toward the bathroom.
As I reached for my toothbrush, I paused and stared at my reflection.
"Wait a minute," I said with a grin. "I'm Luna now. I don't need to rush anywhere."
A proud smile spread across my face.
Humming happily, I brushed my teeth and finished getting ready before leaving the room.
"Oh, thank you." I smiled at a maid carrying a tray piled high with fresh berries and casually took a handful. "You can leave the rest in my room."
The maid bowed respectfully and continued on her way.
One berry slipped from my fingers and dropped to the floor.
I bent down to retrieve it.
There wasn't a waste bin nearby, so I looked around for somewhere to dispose of it…
I froze.
A faint sound reached my ears.
A soft moan.
My gaze shifted toward the nearby room.
I hadn't realized anyone was staying there.
Curiosity made me step closer, especially when I noticed the door wasn't completely shut.
My heart stopped.
Through the narrow opening, I caught sight of two figures tangled together on the bed.
My entire body went rigid.
Kael and Sage.
Kael was sweating profusely, slamming into Sage from behind. His grunts and her moans of passion filled the room.
I watched with my jaw dropped as they continued with their savage coupling with no care in the world.
No.
This couldn't be real.
My lips trembled, and my hands shook uncontrollably. I couldn't breathe.
I could feel my wolf howling in pain. She felt the agonizing betrayal, the hurt we both experienced at that moment.
“I can't believe that b***h still thinks we're siblings.” Willow remarked as they both laid down on the bed. Rhys pulled her close to him and planted a kiss on her head.
“Violet? Haven't you noticed how dumb she is? Honestly, a hungry dog is smarter than she is.” They both burst into laughter together while my heart crumbled.
I stumbled backwards, unable to contain all of these anymore.
They…they weren't siblings?
I've been fooled.
Unable to bear another second, I turned and ran.
"Father!"
The cry tore from my throat as I sprinted through the corridors.
Father.
He was the only person I could think of. The only person who could help me.
In no time, I'd arrived at his doorstep.
“Dad!” I cried as I burst into his room, but there was no one there.
He must be in the grand hall.
Without wasting another second, I raced through the corridors.
The guards stationed outside barely had time to react before I pushed past them and threw open the massive doors.
"Dad!"
I looked up at the high seats but what I saw made my heart nonexistent.
"Au...rora..."
Father's voice came out as a broken gargle.
High above the hall, a masked man stood behind him, dragging a dagger across his throat.
My breath vanished.
Everything around me blurred. Every hair on my body stood on end as my eyes remained locked on the horrifying scene.
“Ah!” My attention was stolen by several screams and gasps. I looked around and saw that my father wasn't the only one experiencing the same fate. The entire court of Elders had their necks slashed. The perpetrators? Men clad in black dresses. Their faces concealed behind masks. “Who…who are you?” I asked, choking on my own words.
"They're my warriors."
I whipped around, my gaze landing on Kael by the entrance. He was partially dressed and completely unbothered.
Sage walked beside him.
Both wore satisfied smiles.
Dark.
Cruel.
Victorious.
"What..." My voice cracked. "What have you done?"
Kael merely shrugged. "What does it look like?"
I stumbled backward. "You... both of you..." I pointed at them with a shaking hand. "Guards! Guards!"
"I wouldn't waste my breath," Kael said calmly. "The guards were dealt with long before you arrived."
Tears streamed freely down my face as I looked at them. The people I called family.
"W-Why?" I sobbed. "Why are you doing this?"
Kael wrapped an arm around Sage's shoulders.
"Because you'll never understand, Aurora." His eyes hardened. "You were born into wealth, power, and privilege. You have no idea what it means to grow up with nothing. To be looked down upon. To be treated as less."
I looked at Sage, fresh tears blurring my vision.
"I trusted you," I whispered. "I loved you like a sister. How could you do this to me?"
Sage rolled her eyes in disgust. "For Goddess' sake, just reject her already. She's becoming pathetic."
My heart stopped. "No..."
Kael stepped forward.
His voice rang through the hall.
"I, Alpha Kael of the Silver Crest Pack, reject you, Aurora Blackthorne of the Silver Crest Pack, as my mate and Luna. From this moment forward, our bond is severed."
"No!"
The scream ripped from my throat, my knees buckling beneath me. I crashed onto the floor.
Inside me, my wolf cried out in agony. The bond that had once felt unbreakable shattered into pieces. Pain unlike anything I had ever known consumed me.
My heart.
My soul.
Everything broke.
Kael looked down at me without an ounce of remorse.
"Take her to the dungeons."
Immediately, the masked warriors began advancing toward me.
- Writer
