BETRAYED BY THE MOON

Lila 's POV I sat on the cold floor of my room, my arms wrapped around my knees as I tried to block out the pain in my body. My father’s punishments had left their marks, but the ache in my heart was worse. I barely had time to react when the door swung open, and my father, Alpha Stone, stepped inside. His cold eyes swept over me, filled with the same disappointment and disgust he always had when he looked at me. "I trust you're ready to behave?" His voice was sharp, a warning wrapped in fake patience. I didn’t answer. What was the point? No matter what I said, it would never be enough for him. "I have an important guest coming," he continued, stepping closer. "If you embarrass me today, I will put you down like a sick dog." My breath caught in my throat. I knew he wasn’t bluffing. With one final glare, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him. I let out a shaky breath. Later in the evening, I was led to the grand hall, my wrists aching from how tightly my father’s guards had gripped them. When I entered, my stomach twisted. A man stood in the center of the room, tall and broad, his presence radiating power and cruelty. His dark eyes raked over me like I was prey. "Alpha Cole of the Black Fang Pack," my father introduced him with forced respect. I felt bile rise in my throat. I had heard the rumors about Alpha Cole, ruthless, merciless, a monster. And now, I was standing in front of him like a lamb being handed to a wolf. Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a slow, lingering kiss against my skin. I stiffened, disgust crawling up my spine, but I didn’t dare pull away. Not with my father watching. Cole smirked, his eyes gleaming with something dark. "Tastes like a virgin," he murmured, his voice thick with amusement. Then he turned to my father. "Has she shifted yet?" "Her wolf hasn’t come," my father replied, his voice calm. "But it'll happen any day now." Cole yanked me closer, inhaling deeply. My skin crawled as his grip tightened around my wrist. My father’s voice was cold. "Alpha Cole is going to be the supreme Alpha. You will stand here and take it." My blood ran cold. Supreme Alpha? What was he planning? Cole smirked. "Hope she's the one I’m marrying." The words hit me like a slap. "What?" My voice cracked as I turned to my father. "If you want someone to marry him, do it yourself." The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had made a mistake. A heavy slap landed across my face, sending me crashing to the ground. My cheek burned, my vision blurred, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. "Forgive me, Alpha Cole," my father said, his voice dripping with fake regret. I stayed on the floor, my breathing ragged. My father didn’t care. Neither did Cole. To them, I was just an object to be traded. I lay on the cold floor, my cheek still stinging from my father’s slap. My heart pounded with a mix of fear and anger. Above me, Alpha Cole chuckled darkly, his gaze lingering on me like I was nothing more than a piece of meat. "Don’t worry, Stone," Cole said, his voice thick with amusement. "I’ll have fun breaking her in." My father smirked. "Do whatever you want with her after the wedding. Just make sure she knows her place." They both laughed as if I weren’t even there, as if my entire future wasn’t being decided right in front of me. Without another word, they turned and walked out, their footsteps echoing down the hall. I lay there, my breathing ragged, my body shaking, not from fear, but from the pure rage building inside me. My father had never cared about me. That much was clear. But this? Selling me to a monster like Cole? No. I refused to be a victim. I clenched my fists and whispered to myself, "If getting away from this wedding means losing my virginity, then that’s what I’ll do." I wasn’t going to let him marry me. Alpha Rowan’s POV The club was loud, filled with the stench of alcohol and sweat, but I didn’t care. I tipped back another drink, the burn of whiskey doing nothing to dull the storm inside me. "Alpha, you’re drunk," my Beta, Jace, muttered beside me. "Let’s get you home before you do something stupid." I let out a humorless laugh and slammed my glass down on the bar. "Stupid?" I muttered, standing up. "You think I care about being stupid?" Jace sighed. "Rowan, come on—" Before he could finish, I grabbed him by the neck, my grip tightening. I could hear the club go silent around me, but I didn’t care. My wolf was restless, raging inside me, desperate for something I couldn’t quite name. And then I saw her. A girl, standing at the entrance of the club, her eyes wide, her hair messy, a faint bruise on her cheek. She looked like she didn’t belong here, like she was running from something. Or someone. My wolf growled inside my head. She’s mine. I let go of Jace and stepped forward, my heart pounding harder than before. The moment our eyes met, I knew. Mate. Lila’s POV The music pounded through the club, the bass vibrating through my chest as I swayed my hips to the rhythm. The stranger I was dancing with gripped my waist, pulling me closer. I barely knew his name, but I didn’t care. If this was what it took to escape my father and that monster Cole, then so be it. I would rather give myself to a stranger than let Cole claim me. I spun around, laughing, trying to lose myself in the moment. But before I could take another step, a strong hand grabbed my wrist, yanking me back with force. I gasped and looked up, my breath hitching. Alpha Rowan. My father’s greatest rival. Panic shot through me. If he took an interest in me, it would only bring more trouble. He could destroy what little life I had left. But at the same time, something about his presence made my heart race, not with fear, but something deeper, something raw. I didn’t say a word. I only stared at him, unsure of what he wanted. Instead, I turned back toward my dance partner, determined to finish what I started. Big mistake. Rowan’s grip tightened, and before I could take a step, he pulled me back against his chest. His scent overwhelmed me, woodsy, musky, dangerously intoxicating. "Alpha Rowan," I whispered. His dark eyes burned into mine as he uttered a single word. "Mate." My stomach dropped. No. This wasn’t happening. Before I could respond, my dance partner yanked me back. "She’s with me!" the man growled. Rowan turned his head slowly, his expression turning deadly. With one swift movement, he grabbed the guy by the collar, his muscles flexing with power. "She’s with me now," he growled, shoving the man backward. The guy stumbled but didn’t fight back. No one dared challenge an Alpha—not this Alpha. Rowan turned back to me and grabbed my wrist again. "I choose my mate," I snapped, trying to pull away. His lips curled into a smirk. "You choose me, mate." I opened my mouth to argue, but he didn’t give me a chance. He pulled me toward the exit, his grip firm but not painful. My mind screamed at me to run, to fight. But my body… it wanted to go with him. He led me outside, pushing through the crowd as if nothing else mattered. Before I knew it, he had me in his car, speeding away from the club. Rowan’s House The moment we stepped inside his massive home, everything else faded away. His eyes burned with hunger as he yanked me toward him, his body flush against mine. He didn’t hesitate. Neither did I. Our mouths crashed together in a desperate, fiery kiss. His hands roamed over my body, tracing every inch as if he wanted to memorize it. I gasped as he lifted me into his arms, carrying me to his room. Clothes hit the floor in a blur, mine, his, until there was nothing left between us. Rowan’s breath was heavy as he hovered over me, his lips trailing down my neck. "I’ll make you mine," he growled. "Yes, Rowan," I whispered, my fingers digging into his skin. "Make me yours." He kissed me deeply, claiming me with every touch, every breath. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over Rowan’s sleeping form. I lay beside him, my head propped up on my hand as I watched him breathe steadily. His strong jawline, tousled dark hair, and the faint marks I had left on his skin made my heart race. I still couldn’t believe it. I went to the club to lose my virginity so I wouldn’t have to marry Alpha Cole… but instead, I found my true mate. Fate had a twisted way of working. I bit my lip, resisting the urge to run my fingers over his chest. My body still ached from last night, not in pain, but from the intensity of what we had shared. Rowan was possessive, wild, and passionate. And now, he was mine. Ding! My phone buzzed on the bed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I reached for it and unlocked the screen. Dad: Wedding is today. Be ready. My stomach turned, but then, a smirk tugged at my lips. Time to tell Dad his dreams of me marrying Alpha Cole are over. I turned back to Rowan, who was still fast asleep. He looked so peaceful, so different from the powerful, dominant Alpha he was when awake. Leaning down, I brushed a soft kiss on his cheek. "I’ll be back soon," I whispered. Grabbing the lipstick from my bag, I walked to the mirror and scrawled a message in red. I will be back soon. Love you. With that, I slipped out of the room, feeling happy. As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I nearly collided with a tall woman. Her sharp green eyes narrowed as she looked me up and down, her lips twisting into a sneer. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded.