APRIL'S POV

Luke's hand was stretched at May and my twin sister didn't hesitate. She slipped her hand into his, her fingers curling around his like they belonged there. Then she looked at me and smiled.

"He's mine now, April," she said sweetly, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "He deserves a real Luna."

"May, how could you-" My voice cracked while I tried to speak.

She tilted her head, her smile widening. "How could I? Luke was always mine dear sister."

Luke turned back to the crowd, his hand still holding May's. "April doesn't have a wolf. She's an abomination to this pack." His eyes flicked to my father. "Howard, make May your heir. She's the one who deserves it."

Tears burned down my cheeks as I spun toward my father, desperate for him to say something, anything at all to defend me.

It was feeling to much to be real. I was just betrayed by Luke and May, was i going to lose the title as heir too?

I looked at my father Alpha Howard Quinn but he didn't meet my eyes.

Instead, he stepped forward, took my arm, and pulled me back like I was an embarrassment he needed to hide.

"Enough, April." His voice was low, sharp filled with shame.

Then he addressed the pack.

"From this day forward, I renounce April's title as heir." His words were brutal, formal and final. "May Quinn will take her place. She will be my heir and Luna of this pack."

"Father, no!" I screamed, but my voice was drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

They cheered. They clapped. They celebrated like this was a victory.

And I realized, with sickening clarity, that to them, it was.

I stumbled backward, my legs shaking so badly I nearly fell. Stephanie caught me, her hands steadying me even as her face twisted in fury.

"April-" she started, but I couldn't hear her. Couldn't hear anything except the sound of Luke's voice as the officiant pronounced him and May husband and wife.

Alpha and Luna.

And I couldn't do a damn thing about it.

The tears came in a flood flowing down my cheek unstoppable and humiliating. I tore myself from Stephanie's grip and ran.

"April!" she called after me, but no one else did. No one even looked.

I was already gone to them and already forgotten.

I tripped on my gown, my knees slamming into the floor. Pain shot up my legs, but I shoved myself back up and kept running, shoving through the heavy doors and stumbling into the hallway.

The girls loitering outside-girls who used to pretend to respect me-burst into laughter.

"Guess she's not Luna after all."

"Did you see her face?"

I ignored them, forcing my legs to move, my lungs to pull in air that felt too thick to breathe.

By the time I reached my room, I was sobbing so hard I could barely see. I slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the bed, my hands clawing at the dress, trying to rip it off, trying to make it stop.

But it wouldn't come off. The zipper was stuck, the lace tangled, and the more I struggled, the tighter it seemed to become.

Finally, I gave up and fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as tears streamed silently down my face.

The full moon glowed through my window, bright and mocking.

Why? I asked the Moon Goddess silently. Why did you give me hope just to crush it? Why did you make me this way?

No answer came. Just the cold, indifferent light of the moon.

I sat up slowly, every part of me aching. I needed air. I needed to get out of this room before I suffocated.

But before I could stand, I heard footsteps in the hallway.

Then laughter. May's laughter.

"God, I thought today would never end," she said, her voice muffled but clear through the door. "Watching her stand there like a kicked puppy-pathetic."

"If you hadn't warned me, I might've actually gone through with it." Luke's voice, low and amused. "Can you imagine? Me, stuck with her?"

"She actually thought you wanted her." May's laugh was light, cruel. "My sister, the eternal optimist."

"Well, she's not our problem anymore."

The sound of fabric rustling and a soft moan filled my ears.

I should've walked away. Or better still i should've left that place.

Instead, I stood and walked to the door. My hand shook as I reached for the handle.

Then I threw it open.

They sprang apart-May's lipstick smeared across her mouth, Luke's shirt half-unbuttoned, his hand still tangled in her hair.

For one frozen moment, we all just stared at each other.

Then May smiled without feeling guilty nor sorry.

"Oh. April." She straightened her dress slowly, casually, like I'd caught her doing something as nothing wrong. "We were just... celebrating."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat had closed completely.

Luke didn't even bother looking at me. He just turned back to May and kissed her again, slow and erotic, like I wasn't even there.

It was like I didn't matter on since bit.

I stumbled backward, my vision getting blur again from tear as I ran.

I ran down the hall, jumping the stairs. Anywhere but here.

I made it back to my room and locked the door behind me. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely turn the bolt.

I collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, tears drying on my face, replaced by something colder.

Tonight was supposed to be my beginning. My wedding. My birthday. The day I became someone who mattered.

Instead, it became the night I lost everything.

My mate. My title. My family. My future.

But here's the thing about hitting rock bottom-there's nowhere left to fall.

And when you've got nothing left to lose, you stop being afraid.

I was ready to take that reckless move as I cared no more but what happened next ruined me.

I felt rage, pure-hot rage coursed through my veins as I stormed through the pack house, still in my wedding dress, makeup streaked down my face. I was madly enraged at everyone in this pack tonight - the people I grew up with, the ones I once respected, my sister, Luke, even my father. The only person I had left was Stephanie.

I walked down to the living room, searching for my father. But he wasn't there 

I checked his room? He wasn't there either.

I stepped outside, asked the guards, checked around. No one could tell me where he was. When I finally tracked down one of his closest guards, he barely looked at me.

"The Alpha left to meet someone important."

I thought as much he was gone again. Probably...no no definitely a meeting.

I stayed in the courtyard anxiously, waiting for him. I needed to ask questions. I needed to know why - why me? Why did he strip me of my title without even bothering to look at me?

When he didn't return, I turned and walked to the garage.

I stared at my black bike, covered in a thick layer of dust that dulled her once-glossy finish. I removed the cover slowly, watching dust motes dance in the dim garage light. Running my hand over the cooled metal felt like greeting an old friend who'd been forgotten.

Ice. I'd named her Ice the day I bought her-one of the first things I'd ever purchased with my own money. Father had frowned when I started riding. "It doesn't fit the image of an heir," he'd said, his voice tight with disappointment.

But God, I'd loved it. Being on Ice made me feel alive in a way nothing else did. It had made me free, powerful and my self.

I brushed the dust off, pulled the key from the drawer, and started her. The engine roared to life, and for a moment-just a moment-I smiled.

After I warmed Ice, I shut her down and went back into the mansion. My father should be back by now.

In the entrance hall, I ran into Luke.

I stopped dead frowning deeply at the bastard. He stepped toward me, and I immediately moved back.

"What is it now?" My voice came out sharper than intended. "Haven't you embarrassed me enough?"

He reached for my hand-actually tried to lift it to his lips like we were still something. I jerked away, but he blocked my path.

"April, you need to leave. Right now."

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh. He had married my sister and become an Alpha and now he thought he could tell me what to do?

"You think you get to tell me what to do?" I stepped forward, forcing him back. "I'm not up for all this shit. Move. I need to pass."

But Luke didn't move. His grey eyes locked on mine, and for the first time tonight, I saw something that looked almost like he cared.

"April, I'm telling you-you need to leave. Immediately. You are in danger. You don't understand what is happening."

"Okay, tell me-who wants to kill me?" I asked. He didn't answer.

"Why am I in danger?" I demanded. "I'm not interested in your games or your lies. Just let me be. I've had enough of today."

"April I mean it." His voice dropped low . "I know you hate me. I know I deserve it. But you need to leave. Now. Before-" 

He cut himself off, glancing over his shoulder.

"Before what?" I demanded.

His jaw clenched. "Just... trust me. One last time. I still love you deeply."

"Trust you. Did you just say love?" I laughed, and it sounded broken even to my own ears. "You destroyed that at the altar."

"Why the hell should I believe you?" I fired back. "You stole everything from me. You let my sister take my place - my title. You humiliated me. You made the worst day of my life."

I brushed past him, pushing him aside as I walked out. "I think you've done enough," I said.

"I'm telling you, April, you'll lose your life if you don't run away from this place." 

"Then you should be prepared for that?" His last voice sounded way more cold than I expected.

Those words echoed in my head, but I didn't care. I left his sight.

I wondered what's up with his change of tone. But I was to pissed to realise anything.

By the time I reached the living room, my father had returned. He sat in his chair like a king on a throne, flanked by two betas. As if nothing had changed. As if he hadn't just destroyed my life.

"Father," I said, and I hated how my voice trembled. "We need to talk."

He didn't even look at me.

"How could you do this to me?" The words burst out before I could stop them. "How could you let Luke reject me in front of everyone? How could you give May my title-my birthright?" My voice broke. "Don't I mean anything to you at all?"

Silence.

Then, finally, he turned to his betas. "Leave us."

They bowed and left quickly, their relief palpable.

When we were alone, my father stood slowly. Like a man carrying the weight of the world.

"April." His voice was quieter than I'd ever heard it. "You need to go to the Nevermore Academy."

For a moment, I couldn't process the words.

"What?" I stepped toward him, disbelief making me dizzy. "So that's it? After ruining the happiest day of my life, you just... banish me? Did you even remember it was my birthday?"

He said nothing. Just looked at me with those cold, distant eyes.

I laughed-a broken, bitter sound. "Of course you didn't."

"April-"

"No." I cut him off. "No more excuses. No more lies. Why? Just tell me why I'm not enough. Why have you always looked at me like I'm-like I'm broken?"

Something flickered across his face. Pain? Regret? It was gone before I could name it.

"You don't understand," he said quietly. "Things have gotten out of hand. You need to leave tonight." He took a breath. "Go to the academy. Prove you are strong. Prove you are worthy. When you return, I will restore your title. But for now, go. That is the only way to calm things and keep you safe."

"Save me? From who?" I demanded.

He didn't answer.

"What is actually going on?" My voice rose up.

"What am I missing?"

What the actual fuck was going on? First it was Luke now my father ?

My heart was actually racing now in fear. And my chest was staring to hurt from the loud pounding of my chest. 

Was I really in danger?