BETRAYED BY THE MOON

DARK

Lila’s POV

Cole released the maid, a twisted grin on his face as he grabbed a wedding dress and tossed it at me. “I’ll be waiting, wife,” he sneered before turning on his heels and walking out.

Moments later, I found myself standing at the entrance of the grand hall, wearing the very dress Cole had thrown at me. The heavy fabric felt suffocating, like chains wrapping around my body, binding me to a future I never wanted. My father stood at the altar, his sharp eyes watching my every move.

Cole stood beside him, his expression smug, victorious. He thought he had gotten what he wanted. He thought he had broken me.

As I took slow, reluctant steps forward, my heart pounded in my chest. My mind screamed for a way out, but there was none. Not unless I was willing to risk everything, including my baby’s life.

Then, just as the officiant prepared to start the ceremony, a furious voice cut through the air like a blade.

“Stop the ceremony!”

Gasps echoed through the room. My breath hitched. I turned sharply, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw him.

Rowan.

He stood at the entrance, his chest rising and falling with anger, his gaze locked onto me. His presence alone sent a shockwave through me. Why was he here? Did he finally realize what he had done?

But before I could process anything, Nadia stepped forward, her expression calm, almost too calm. She placed a delicate hand on Rowan’s arm, smiling sweetly. “I thought I lost my engagement ring,” she said, her voice dripping with fake innocence. “But we found it.”

Liar.

She wasn’t trying to reassure anyone—she was trying to stop Rowan.

“Carry on,” Nadia added, tightening her grip on him, as if daring him to go against her.

I saw the way Rowan’s jaw clenched, his entire body tense with barely contained rage. He leaned closer to Nadia, his voice low, but I still heard him.

“She’s my mate,” he said through gritted teeth. “I can’t allow her to marry another man.”

Nadia tilted her head, her smile never wavering. “You can, and you will,” she whispered back, her tone sickeningly sweet. “Or she dies. It’s that simple.”

I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Rowan’s fists clenched at his sides. His entire frame shook with restrained fury. He cast one last glance at me, and for a split second, I saw the conflict in his eyes. The pain.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

Nadia smoothed down her dress, standing up as if nothing had happened. “Pack emergency,” she announced, pretending to be regretful. Then, as she passed by me, she leaned in, her lips barely moving as she whispered, “So sorry. Have a nice life, Lila.”

And just like that, she was gone, leaving me standing there, trapped in this nightmare.

Rowan’s POV

I couldn’t breathe.

The sight of Lila, standing at the altar in a wedding dress meant for another man, made my blood boil. She wasn’t supposed to be there. She wasn’t supposed to be his. She was mine.

I stormed into the hall, my voice loud, unwavering. “Stop the ceremony!”

Everyone turned to look at me, whispers filling the air. But I didn’t care. My eyes were only on her.

She looked at me, her beautiful face frozen in shock, in pain. And then there was Cole, standing beside her, smirking like he had gotten what he wanted.

I moved to step forward, to rip her away from him, but then I felt a familiar hand on my arm.

Nadia.

She gave me that fake, sickeningly sweet smile as she spoke. “I thought I lost my engagement ring,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “But we found it.”

I barely heard her words. My wolf was howling inside me, demanding I take back what was mine.

She's my mate. I can't allow her to marry another man.

But then Nadia leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.

“You can and you will,” she said, her tone sharp as a knife. “Or she dies. It’s that simple.”

I wanted to rip her apart. To tear her away from me. But I couldn’t.

Not if it meant putting Lila’s life in danger.

I looked at Lila one last time, my heart cracking as I saw the silent plea in her eyes. She wanted me to stop this. She wanted me to fight for her.

But I couldn’t.

I clenched my jaw and turned, walking out of the hall, leaving her behind.

Lila’s POV

The air heavier, as my father, Alpha Stone, continued the ceremony. His voice was deep, commanding, and laced with finality.

“We stand here today before the Moon Goddess to unite Alpha Cole of the Black Fang Pack and Lila of the Silver Claw Pack in matrimony.”

Cole smirked beside me, his grip tightening around my hand. I felt my stomach twist in disgust. I can't do this.

I can't marry him.

With a sharp breath, I yanked my hand away. My voice came out firm, louder than I expected. “I can’t do this.”

A murmur spread through the crowd like wildfire. Gasps. Whispers. Judgmental stares piercing into me from every direction.

Cole’s smirk vanished. My father’s eyes darkened.

“I can’t marry you,” I said again, stepping back. My heart pounded in my chest.

The tension thick enough to suffocate me. Then my father’s voice rang out, cold and filled with rage.

“How dare you embarrass Alpha Cole, me, and the entire pack?” His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his face contorted with fury.

But before I could answer, Cole let out a chuckle. A dark, mocking laugh.

“Oh, it gets worse,” he said, reaching into his pocket. My breath caught in my throat as he pulled out something small,

The pregnancy test.

The one I had taken in secret. The one I had been too afraid to hide properly.

My blood turned to ice as Cole raised it high in the air for everyone to see.

“She’s pregnant,” he announced, his voice filled with wicked amusement.

A collective gasp rippled through the room.

My father turned to me sharply, his nostrils flaring. “You’re what?” His voice was dangerously low, like a storm about to break.

My fingers curled into my palms. My throat tightened.

“Yes,” I forced out. “I’m pregnant.”

my father looked at me as if I was the biggest disappointment he had ever laid eyes on. His face twisted in anger as he grabbed my wrist roughly, yanking me forward.

“Who is the father?” he demanded.