Adrianna’s welcome party is a hell disguised as a paradise.

“Thank you for coming here, Farrah.” As Heather smiled and thanked me, I couldn’t find that trace of wicked laugh or cruel sentiments towards me yesterday. Nothing. It just disappeared, or perhaps it all retreated behind this mask he’s currently wearing. “Thank you for changing your mind,” he added.

“Well, I guess no is not an acceptable answer,” I jokingly said, but in reality, it really felt like it: I’ve got no choice but to attend.

Perhaps this is my punishment for running away from an almost dying pack and leaving all of it behind to my older brother Jacob. I don’t even know if he’s the Alpha now or if the Dark Moon Pack has been dissolved to be one with the Black Sun Pack.

“Smile, babe.” Alpha Heather’s purr tickled my ears. His hand rested on my back, just above my ass as we entered the hotel Adrianna had prepared for us.

His touch, that used to be affectionate and romantic, felt like a touch of malice and ruin.

It bore deep in my soul, burning my eyes. But I stopped the tears.

“Do I really need to, Heather?” I whispered, my glazed eyes peering up at him. “These are your friends. I don’t know any of them.”

He scoffed. “You don’t need to know them to smile at them.”

Right. He’d already exposed himself now. How he now treats me like a pawn and a doll.

He kissed my cheek as soon as we both saw Adrianna across the room.

Her red dress is like a beacon of war, though her flushed cheeks made the scowl on my face deeper. Heather nudged my elbow softly and I dropped it in a heartbeat. A wry grin replaced it instead.

“Hi, handsome,” Adrianna purred like a cat in-heat.

“Hello, beautiful,” Heather replied.

I don’t know how to react to their casual flirting. But all I know, I need a desperate moment alone. “Excuse me.”

I didn’t wait for their response to walk away.

***

I just finished fixing myself when the restroom’s door pried open.

“Well, if it isn’t the prodigal Alpha’s daughter…” Adrianna sliced the silence with her sweet, high-pitched voice that clearly sounds like coming from a rotten soul.

Adrianna is just another rotten soul, I guess.

“At least I’m not the fiancee who broke up with her fiance, only to return seven years later and flirt back with her ex-fiance.”

Adrianna squinted her eyes. Well, at least I won this fucking round.

“I heard your brother had a hard time with the Black Sun Pack until now.” She clicked her tongue before she sipped from her champagne glass. “How selfish of you to just leave him all alone like that.”

My lips curled into a sneer. “How did you know about Jacob?”

“All of the packs knew about his fate,” was all she said.

I shook my head. She’s lying. If all the packs knew, then how come the Blue Star Pack doesn’t?

Alpha Heather doesn’t really know what happened to him. Or perhaps he’s lying with that information too?

“Both of you are liars,” I bared my teeth at her. “You and Heather.”

“That isn’t a nice thing to say to your boyfriend.” She tilted her head. “Wait, you’re his fiancee already aren’t you?”

I pressed my back against the wall, willing myself not to cry. “At least I won’t leave him for seven years, only to come back after.”

I regretted telling Alpha Heather everything. I regretted pouring all my emotions out to him: my regret of leaving Jacob, my father’s punches and beatings that still haunted me, and the memory of leaving the Dark Moon Pack in flames.

Everything I laid before my Alpha, he sharpened it into a weapon to use against me.

She cleared her throat, and that drifted me back to the present. “Whatever you say, sweetheart, I don’t care. Your time is up. I’m taking him back.” When I didn’t reply, she pressed on. “He had always been mine. From the beginning, his heart only sings my name. You were nothing but a whore whose final shift had been delayed for seven years.”

Whore? Now I’m the whore?

“Perhaps you forgot, Adrianna. You’re not the only Alpha’s daughter in the room. And clearly not the only whore too.”

The rotten of my soul stared at this demoness’ eyes. And for once, I imagined Adrianna as my father as the Black Sun Pack beheaded her. Beheaded him.

Or perhaps I don’t need others to exact my vengeance like what I did to my father. Perhaps I can kill Adrianna myself.

But even with my taunting, her red-painted lips curved into a snake’s smile. “We fucked on your bed, darling. Why do you think he came home past midnight last night?” she gripped my chin, her dainty fingers felt heavy. “The fear of you getting us caught made it so much hotter, you know.”

I swallowed, because I know—I can feel that Adrianna is that type of woman who’s more proud that she snatched away another boyfriend.

The diamond ring on my finger felt heavier than Adrianna’s words.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Adrianna is already striding away. I was left alone with the weight of her words crushing my heart.

Perhaps I was wrong. All it takes to destroy me and my future is from the words of a woman I just met minutes ago.

Did I just run away from a pack of chaos and jump right in the pack that has bombarded me with betrayal?

I think this is really my punishment for all those years: from Alpha Heather’s betrayal to Adrianna’s outright claim of my fiance.

I’m finally doomed after all these years of hiding and running away.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and went to wash my hands, my face, and even fixed my hair. I’m not going to act like I'm defeated in front of Heather. Adrianna might have won with the way of her words, but I’m still standing here.

Alpha Heather will still come home to me. The diamond ring around my finger proves it.

Or maybe it’s the fancier leash he chained around my finger?

Here I am, all along thinking that his engagement ring is his new promise of a better tomorrow. It turns out, it was just a jewel carved from lies.

I can’t believe Heather took her in the bed we’d shared for seven years without hesitation. He’d tainted every memory we made, destroyed further chances of us making love.

“I will fight back. I will survive.”

The tears stung my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall again. Not now. Not until I was alone, away from their wicked smiles and judgmental glances.

“It’s showtime,” and then I exhaled.

***

As soon as I was back, Heather and Adrianna sat across from each other, still holding their act. I feigned ignorance as if Adrianna didn’t just confess everything between them earlier.

I forced my stomach to not twist as I slid into the empty chair beside my Alpha.

Right. I am his fiancee at this moment, in this hour, in this year. Not Adrianna.

“What the hell did you do to Adrianna?” Heather blurted, putting down his wine glass with a thud that only meant he’s angry. Very angry.

“What?” I glared at him, astonished by the sudden shift of his tone and voice. “I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s the phrase that liars always use.”

“And what about you?” I growled. “Aren’t you a liar yourself? You never told me that Adrianna is your ex-fiancee!”

Adrianna’s red lips blossomed into her signature grin at the outright chaos that quickly erupted on the table. If only I could shift at this very heartbeat, my claws will literally tear off that malicious look on her face.

“Stop being so naive and playing innocent again, Farrah.” He slammed a hand on the table, demanding. “Her mother just passed away and you dare tell her mother is nothing but...a whore?”

My mouth fell open, dizziness starting to rock my whole world. “I—hat? I never said anything about—”

“Just fucking stop lying!” He snarled, “Adrianna told me everything about your little chat in the restroom. I knew you could be jealous. But insulting a grieving daughter? That’s so cruel of you, Farrah.”

“She’s the one who called me a whore!” I hissed and stood up. Right, I don’t care if I go down tonight. At least, I wouldn’t go down without fighting. “Seven years really meant nothing to you in the face of her tears, huh, Heather?” I pointed at Adrianna, who’s glazed eyes are all the faking she could afford. Bitch can’t even compel a single tear to fall from her eye.

His voice dropped low in warning. “Farrah—”

“No, Heather. That’s fine. I think Farrah didn’t mean it. Perhaps I misheard or something.” She gestured to the guests. “We shouldn’t make a scene just because of a single word your fiancee said—”

“Shut up!” I finally exploded, bursting like a huge ball of flame and my anger is now spiraling and shooting in all directions. “Just shut up, you whore of a bitch!”

But the crack of Alpha Heather’s palm striking across my face rumbled like lightning through a silent field.

I gaped at what my fiance just did. What my Alpha boyfriend of seven years just did.

For the first time after seven years, a man had hit me again. And it was Alpha Heather. I don’t know if it’s a relief knowing it’s not my father.

The bite of betrayal lingered on my cheeks, cascading down to my heart. I stroked my cheeks, stained with red like Adrianna’s dress.

Adrianna gasped, the feigned horror on her face was more irritating than the slap. “Excuse me.

“Adrianna—wait!” Alpha Heather hastily runs after her. He didn't even spare me a single glance, leaving me alone in the sea of judgmental eyes clawing at me.

***

“Where to, miss?”

I cleared my throat and whispered off my address to the yellow cab driver.

Running away from a welcome party without barely eating bothered my stomach. But I ignored it.

I focused on my emotions. And I can no longer see clearly through the dark night and buzzing city with the tears falling from my face.

Seven years ago, I ran away from my father’s fists and my brother’s plea to stay. Seven years ago, I let a rival pack behead my father, set my pack on flames, and left my brother to face all of it.

It seems I didn’t really learn from the past. I let another Alpha hit me and make me cry again.

I guess I have no choice but to beg my brother this time.

My phone felt heavy in my pocket. But with my heavy tears and heavy heart, it felt lighter compared to those.

My brother. My father’s heir to the Alpha title. But Jacob still dared to protect me from the violence rippling out our father’s hands and feet. The only one who turned his muscular body as a shield to let me be saved from my father’s occasional beating.

I swallowed. Before I could hesitate further, I pressed the call button.

The line rings. Then another. And another.

On the third time, a deep and masculine familiar voice echoed on the other line. “Farrah?”

“Jacob?” I barely heard my own voice with its softness. Uttering his name made my tears worse. “How...” My throat bobbed, “How are you?”

“I'm fine, Farrah.” He briefly paused, and then, “How about you? Are you okay? You sound...upset.”

Even seven years later, he can still tell how I feel with the way I speak. “I’m—” I shook my head. There’s no use in lying again to the brother I just contacted now. “I am upset. I’m not okay.”

“Tell me how you became upset.”

I gripped my phone tighter even with my shaking. “Running away is something I realized I’m not good at. I want to come back home, Jacob.” Not really a lie, but not the whole truth.

“Come home.” It was more of a plea than a suggestion. “Come home, Farrah.”

Home? So does that mean...the Dark Moon Pack survived the Black Sun Pack’s attack? Does that mean my home survived the flames?

“I—Okay, Jacob.”

Jacob has no hesitation. No further questions. Just the pure urge to see me again in our pack. I don’t know if I should call him by his name again. A little bit of shame—and a huge wave of regret—reddened my cheeks, knowing that I was so free to say his name after all these years even when I abandoned him.

“Good. Stay at the hotel I’ll be booking for you in the meantime.” He sighed. “I’ll text you the address.”

***

I didn’t notice it had been two hours as I lounged by the hotel room’s bar, casually sipping a glass of sparkling water as if Alpha Heather hadn’t just slapped me and turned for help to my brother Jacob.

I stare at the oak door, hoping for a good reunion with Jacob. I stomped my right foot repeatedly as I shake my legs, pondering if I’m doing the right thing.

Or if the right choice should be just find Heather and kneel before his feet as I beg—

I shook my head. No. I will not be his victim again.

Calling my brother is the right choice.

I immediately shot right to my feet as soon as I heard the footsteps in the hallway.

One knock. Then followed by two knocks.

Is that Jacob? Or did Heather find out about me through Jacob?

I took a sharp breath as soon as I stopped by the door, my hand hovering on the doorknob.

But when I opened it, it was not Jacob’s smile or Heather’s face that beamed into me.

“Farrah?” His voice was deeper than the deep blue sea, and something mystical radiated from him. “I'm Roland. Your brother sent me to be your escort.”

***

I stared at the peculiarly tall man in the doorway. His height even surpasses the doorframe. I found myself face-to-face with a complete stranger. Tall, with curly short dark hair and pristine black eyes flicked with gold. The gold in his eyes lit up as though he could see right through me.

Even with the strangeness of his skin, he wears clothes like a pack’s Beta. Or Alpha.

“I’m a cursed troll,” he breathed.

I blinked. Oh, that’s why. “But aren’t trolls supposed to be ugly?” I swallowed, hoping the question didn't offend him.

“I am, when the sun is out. When night comes, like now, it replaces my original face with this handsome face.” He gestured to himself. “It’s literally been ugly days and handsome nights for me for seven years—well, at least this is what it's been like for me ever since Alpha Jacob freed me from the Enchanted Forest.”

When I didn’t reply, he cleared his throat and awkwardly gestured inside. “May I come in?”

I chuckled nervously. “Well, I guess I didn’t have a choice.”

I tipped my head above, praying to the Moon Goddess again that my statement doesn’t offend him.

I stepped aside, letting him enter the hotel room smoothly. The room felt smaller with his presence, or maybe it’s because my height barely reached his hips. Though he moved with a casual grace that I see Alpha Heather usually does, there’s something in his presence that is both predatorial and intimidating.

I was about to ask something when he suddenly straightened up when his phone buzzed. “Our limousine’s early. You’re ready to go?”

I gathered my bag, the only belonging I’ve brought with me, and followed Roland.

I gape at the cherry-red limousine. At the luxuriousness, and the beauty, at the...fact that my brother is now probably an Alpha and has the power to send an escort and a limo.

The drive to my apartment was quicker than I expected. Or maybe it was because of the comfort the limo’s interior offered.

The limo pulled up to my apartment building in a heartbeat. “I'll wait here, Farrah.” Roland whistled. “Just grab what you need and leave what you don’t want.”

I was so lost in thoughts that I didn’t notice my feet already carried me forward even if I refused. Leaving Alpha Heather behind is both a relief and a sad thing to do.

I opened my apartment’s door as silently as possible. As I stepped inside, I froze.

Moans were reverberating from the bedroom—

Me and Heather’s bedroom.

Our bedroom.