The Moon Goddess’ Cursed Lovers

Chapter 6: Cake, anyone?

The cake sat perfectly in my hands, the scent of rich chocolate and buttercream wafting up to me. Ryder’s favorite. I had spent hours perfecting it, just like I did every year. Only this time, it wasn’t just any day—it was his Alpha ceremony, and I wanted it to be perfect. My heart raced as I carried it across the main hall, where pack members were mingling, chatting excitedly about the ceremony.

I spotted Ryder standing near the entrance, talking to a few warriors. His back was to me, broad and strong, the same posture he’d adopted ever since turning 18 and pulling away from me. It still hurt, the way we’d drifted apart, but today, I hoped the cake would be a small gesture of connection. Maybe this time, he’d acknowledge the effort.

“Ryder,” I called out softly, stepping closer as I held out the cake. “I made your favorite.”

He turned slowly, his expression unreadable, his piercing blue eyes sweeping over me briefly before his gaze drifted to the cake. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of something—gratitude, maybe? But just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. He shrugged, barely glancing at it before stepping away.

“Thanks,” he mumbled, already moving toward our parents, who were watching us intently from across the room.

The cake in my hands felt heavier with each passing second as Ryder’s attention drifted away from me. I had spent hours perfecting this moment, and in return, all I got was a shrug. His eyes didn’t even meet mine—barely a glance before he turned away and walked straight to our parents.

I swallowed the hurt that crawled up my throat, gripping the plate tighter. They all stood there, Ryder, my father, and my mother, exchanging looks of silent approval. It was like I didn’t exist. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I worked to make today perfect for him, I was invisible.

But when I saw Ryder glance across the room and make his way toward Lyra, his ex, something inside me shattered. She was the last person I wanted to see anywhere near him today. After everything she’d done, how could he even look at her? I had to stand here, being ignored and dismissed, while he went to her? No. Not again.

Ivy must have noticed the tension in me because she stepped closer, whispering softly, “Faye, don’t let him get to you. He doesn’t deserve you breaking down over this.”

Before I could respond, my mother’s sharp voice cut through the air like a knife.

“Faye,” she barked, glaring at me with that familiar coldness in her eyes. “Stop standing there like you’re a guest in your own pack. This day is about your brother, not you. Put the cake down and compose yourself.”

I felt my jaw clench, but I didn’t move. I wasn’t going to put the cake down. I wasn’t going to walk away this time, tail between my legs like I always did.

My mother’s eyes narrowed when I didn’t immediately respond, but before she could say more, Ivy stepped in, her voice strong but still careful. “Mrs. Thorne, Faye has done everything to make this day perfect. She deserves some credit for that.”

My mother turned her cold gaze on Ivy. “This isn’t the time for your opinions, Ivy. Ryder is becoming Alpha, and Faye’s feelings are irrelevant right now. If you expect to remain in this pack, you’ll learn your place quickly.”

Ivy’s face paled, and before I could even think, my father, the Alpha, stepped up beside my mother. His presence always filled the room, but this time, I didn’t feel the usual deference or fear. Instead, a new fire burned inside me.

“Ivy,” he said, his deep voice rumbling, “you’d do well to keep quiet. If you plan on staying in this pack when you turn 18, you better learn to respect authority.”

The words rang out, and I could feel something shift in the room. The years of them pushing me aside, treating me like I was nothing more than Ryder’s shadow, came rushing to the surface, boiling over into something I couldn’t suppress any longer. A fire blazed inside me, hotter and brighter than ever before, and I couldn’t hold it back.

“No,” I said, my voice louder than I had expected. Everyone turned to look at me, including my parents. The weight of their shock was palpable, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to let them silence me anymore.

“What did you say?” my father asked, his voice filled with disbelief, but there was something else. Something more. Something that, for the first time, made him hesitate.

I stepped forward, the air around me crackling with something new—something powerful. My heart pounded, but my voice was steady. Unyielding. “I said no. Ivy doesn’t need to keep quiet. And I’m tired of you two treating me like I don’t matter—like I’m only here to stand in Ryder’s shadow. I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked, and you still treat me like I’m invisible. Well, I’m not.”

The air in the room thickened as I spoke. I could feel it—the shift in the atmosphere, the way everyone’s eyes were on me, wide with disbelief. My mother took a small step back, her face paling as if she were seeing me for the first time. Fear flickered in her eyes, something I’d never seen before. It was a small movement, but it felt like a victory.

“I’m just as much a part of this pack as Ryder is,” I continued, feeling my dominance pulse through the room. My voice held a power I didn’t know I had, but it was undeniable. “I’ve worked harder than anyone to make sure today goes perfectly, and yet here I am, being dismissed as if I don’t belong. But I do belong. And I’m done letting you walk all over me.”

My mother’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She was frozen, stunned by the sheer force of my presence. My father… for the first time, he didn’t know what to say. His eyes were locked on mine, and I saw it—the recognition, the realization that the daughter he had always seen as secondary was anything but.

“Faye,” my father growled, stepping toward me, but this time there was hesitation in his movements. “This isn’t the time for one of your outbursts. Ryder is the future of this pack. You will show him respect.”

“I do respect him,” I snapped, taking another step forward. The power radiating from me was undeniable now, filling the room. “But you need to start respecting me too.”

The shock that rippled through the crowd was almost tangible. Every pack member, every eye was on me, and I could feel the way they were affected by my presence—by my dominance. This wasn’t just an emotional outburst. This was something more. Something primal. Something that made even my father hesitate.

“I’m just as capable of leading as Ryder,” I continued, my voice strong and unwavering. “You’ve underestimated me for too long. I’ve given everything to this pack, and I won’t be treated like a second thought any longer.”

The power in my words was like a wave, crashing over everyone in the room. My father’s eyes darkened with something like awe, and for the first time in my life, I saw doubt in them. Doubt that only Ryder could lead. Doubt that he’d chosen the right path.

And my mother… she took another step back, visibly shaken. Fear was written across her face, plain for all to see. She wasn’t used to this version of me—the one who wasn’t afraid to stand her ground, to claim what was rightfully mine. The one who could challenge even her authority.

The silence was deafening, but I didn’t flinch. I stood tall, my chin held high, letting them feel the power that radiated from me. I wasn’t just Ryder’s little sister anymore. I was more. I was equal to him—perhaps even more than that.

“I’m done being your shadow,” I said, my voice softer now, but no less powerful.

With that, I turned and set the cake on the table before walking swiftly into the kitchen. Ivy following me closely. I couldn't believe I had just done that. Everything was going to change now, I just hope for the better.