Lira's POV

At the dusk of our bonding ritual, the complete Hollow Shade pack was electrified with energy and excitement. I was the chief beneficiary.

I had been eagerly anticipating this night and moment for two years. To my greatest shock. Two hours before the ceremony, Varek called it off.

The excuse? Ravena. His tall, elegant, gorgeous and sweet omega obsession fainted because she lost the family heirloom pendant that was given to her by her late mom.

She went to pay a visit to her mother's grave. Unfortunately, some rogues launched an attack on her and took the pendant away. She sustained a slight injury in the process.

The revelation of her attack didn't come directly from him. I got to know about it some hours later through the pack's group chat, Where Ravena’s story disseminated like an epidemic.

“My sincere apologies to everyone,I don't think I can make it to the bonding ritual…I was attacked by some unidentified rogues and the precious family heirloom pendant given to me by my late mother was taken away by them.

It was so unfortunate that I fainted not because of the injury I sustained but because of the bad and mischievous omen that surrounded the lost heirloom. I couldn't keep up with that.

But, thanks to the one and only Alpha in the World. Alpha Varek. He's with me and his endeavoring that I am fully okay and safe. I couldn't express all my heart gratitudes, but thanks in a million once again, Alpha Varek.”

Ravena bombarded the pack's group chat with countless pictures, attempting to amass sympathy from everyone.

There was a striking picture where she was lying on a bed and Varek carried her head up and placed it on his lap. His face was filled with abundant concern and care for her.

I held my phone so tight that it almost cracked. This had to be a mere joke, right? He's just kidding? That gesture of love and care was supposed to be for me. Varek couldn't just call off the ceremony we had planned for two years.

All because Ravena lost her family heirloom pendant and she fainted. This must be the craziest drama I've ever heard all through my life.

I was infuriated. Especially when my mind kept telling me I couldn't have the upper hand over Ravena. I was always the second best. Instantly, my phone beeped with great intensity, and it was a message from Varek.

"Lira, something’s come up. Ravena was attacked and she's injured. . I can't proceed with the bonding ritual now. We’ll have to reschedule it. Don’t wait for me."

I blinked at the screen, and my chest tightened as anger rose.

Varek didn't even bother to call and just sent an ordinary text as if I was one of his servants at the pack. He made it look like it was not a big deal. We had been together for seven years.

Seven years of unshaken loyalty and being his pivot and quantum of solace despite having people rumor mongering at my back.

Lira's POV

And now, this?I didn’t give my consent . What should I say? My fingers trembled. I wanted to scream at him for choosing her... again. But instead, I swallowed my rage and just fling the phone to the bed.

I perambulated around the room, hoping to clear my head and calm my nerves. Varek and I had built a life together here in this splendid apartment he owned, but recently, I felt like I was living in his shadow and left alone almost all the time.

I was lost in deep thoughts when a knock was placed on the door, interrupting my thoughts. Androlina Wood, one of the pack’s elders, stood there with her worn features imbued with sympathy.

“I heard what happened, daughter,” she said, stepping inside without getting an approval from me.

“You deserve way better than what you're getting now.”

I covered my mouth with my hand to prevent tears from rolling out.

Androlina always knew, because she was very sharp to detect things and read circumstances explicitly.

I couldn't hide my feelings or emotions from her.

“I hoped… I was looking forward to today being different. I thought he’d finally choose me over her," I croaked as I sank into a sofa.

Androlina’s eyes reflected a brooding and deepening emotions.

"Varek is a coward because he's too myopic to see what he's about to lose. But something within is telling me that Ravena isn't as innocent as she seems."

I locked my gaze on her, my thoughts swirling.

Almost everyone in the Hollow Shade pack revered Ravena - the sweet omega who's always happy and smiling, reserved, and had always had an eye for the alpha, Varek. But Androlina, aside from me, had never trusted her.

“The attack,her lost heirloom and injury? It's just not something serious. She's just pretending to get his attention and care. Convenient timing, don’t you think?"

My heart skipped incredibly, knowing that it was not only me who thought About this.

“You think… She did this on purpose? That everything was planned?

Mrs Wood sneered.

“Oh, child. Definitely, she did. The game has been going on since. It's obvious that she’s been playing this game for a while now, pulling Varek closer at every slight opportunity that comes her way.

You think she’s helpless or defenseless, but I see right through her. I could read her emotions.”

I clenched my fists.

"Then, how come that Varek is oblivious to all these?"

"That scumbag is blinded because he's obsessed with her. But you are aware and informed now, so you will be strong in challenging it.".

I gave a faint nodding, even if my stomach churned. I didn't want to pretend to look strong. I craved Varek's comfort. I want him to make it up to me.

"I'm extremely sure you'll come up with something.

I know you are strong and wise," Androlina said. Then, she bid farewell after giving me a reassuring and comforting hug.

Immediately she stepped out of the apartment, my phone started vibrating again.

Lira's POV

I was adrift from my thoughts and came back to consciousness. I took a gaze at my phone and saw that it was Anthony, my childhood friend and Gamma of the pack.

In everyone's life, there's always a person or group of persons who you have beautiful, remarkable and unforgettable memories with.

Anthony has always been that one person in my life. I was brought up in the Hollow Shade pack. My father was one of the top elders of the pack before his demise.

I could remember vividly how he used to visit Anthony’ s parents back then.

I was very little though, but my memories are sharp enough to bring back those times.

Should I say that I became emotionally attached to Anthony because he was like a friend and brother to me. He was the only child of his parents while I was the only one my parents had.

It was several years later that my mother conceived and gave birth to my younger brother. My mom was not that social type of person.

But I bonded more with my dad because he was always willing and available for me whenever I wanted to go out and pay a visit to Anthony. He never restrained me even though he was not in the mood to go out.

He always ensured that I am happy and satisfied. I was his lucky daughter. My parents waited for fifteen years after their mating before they could bear me. It was really a hard time for them.

People were questioning their unions and even my mother's parents raised an eyebrow because of their condition. They once tried to persuade my mother to break the bond and find another mate.

But my mother refused and stood with her love. Thank goodness, the Moon goddess finally remembered them and gave them a beautiful and lovely daughter called Lira.So, because of the fate and circumstances surrounding my birth, my dad never does anything that will make me sad.

Nevertheless, I didn't capitalize on that opportunity to use it negatively. I was a good daughter all through my childhood. I respected my elders and every member of the pack.

Anthony's parents loved me greatly because they saw me as a blessing from the Moon goddess.

I went to the same primary school with him. We were enrolled into the same secondary school. Everyone at the college saw me as his kid sister. He took care of me.

There was never a time I felt humiliated. He was really great.

Varek was our senior then. But he was close to Anthony.

Anytime Anthony wanted to go and see him I followed him. He always talked about this one friend. I was curious to know him. So, that was how I found out about Varek.

I even got to know that he was a Prince to the Alpha of our pack.

All those thoughts ran through my head. I chuckled a while before I picked his call.