Atilla's POV

Ceresca's sudden slap was a shock, but the venom in her insults stung even worse. I could feel the eyes of the gathered wolves on us, watching as if we were putting on a twisted show—a fated mate beating down the supposed "other woman."

“She looks so well-mannered, and yet…” “Who would’ve thought? Seducing another wolf’s mate at her age? Shameless.”

The whispers pierced through the growing pain in my face, but I kept my composure. I had to. I stepped forward, raising my voice over the din of the crowd. "Ceresca, you’ve misunderstood. I am Xerxes's—"

But she didn’t let me finish. Rage consumed her as she grabbed my hair, throwing me down to the ground with a vicious snarl. The impact knocked the breath out of me, but I could already feel more claws tearing into my back, her friends joining the fray, slashing and stomping with feral glee.

I growled low in my throat, trying to push through the pain. "Enough!" I roared, shifting into my wolf form in one fluid motion, shaking them off like leaves in a storm. My voice boomed through the square as my wolf, silver-furred and commanding, towered over them.

But my attempt at restraint only seemed to provoke them. Their eyes darkened with fury as they shifted into their wolves, ready for blood.

"I won’t stop until you’re dead, slut!" Ceresca snarled, her words dripping with hatred. "You seduced my mate, and now you’re denying it? Pathetic."

She lunged at me, intending to tackle me. But I sidestepped and successfully dodged her attack.

My wolf instincts were flaring, but I held back. She was my son’s mate—the future Luna of our pack. Hurting her was the last thing I wanted.

Ceresca landed lightly on her paws, a sneer curling across her muzzle. "Luckily, the Moon Goddess is on my side," she taunted. "She led me right to you. Now, I can finally rid the world of a lowlife like you." She rushed at me again, claws aiming for my throat.

This time, I didn't have much time to avoid it, so I parried her off with my muzzle. She crashed backward, but since it was not forceful, it didn't take her far away.

"You think you’re clever because I haven’t landed a blow on you yet?" she spat, circling me. "Pssh! You’re just nothing. Just a pathetic she-wolf who thought she could rise above her station. Well, when I’m Luna, I’ll make sure you’re sold to the black market, forced to serve every filthy wolf who wants you."

After that, she charged toward me, this time faster, and jumped, her claws gleaming as she aimed for my neck. I barely managed to block her with my foreleg, her claws cutting deep into my skin. Blood matted my fur, but I stood tall, staring at her down.

Amid such offensive insults and aggressive attacks, I kept my composure and explained, "Ceresca, listen to me. I’m not Xerxes’s lover. If you don’t believe me, mindlink him. Ask him yourself."

Before, Xerxes often talked about Ceresca whenever we mindlinked. He always told me how gentle, considerate, and intelligent she was.

But now that I faced her, it seemed otherwise. I didn't expect Ceresca to be this aggressive and mean.

Despite me remaining calm while explaining, she still didn't give me a chance to explain.

Instead, she signaled to her friends, who closed in around me. My wolf crouched low, preparing to defend, but I knew I was outnumbered. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt them—not unless I had no other choice.

Ceresca spat at me again, her voice dripping with malice. "Just 'Xerxes'? No title at all, huh? So you're not only a cheap whore but also disrespectful. Well, what can I expect from your kind?"

Distracted by her venomous words, I didn’t notice the she-wolf behind me until I felt her teeth sink into my hind leg. A cry escaped me as I struggled to free myself, blood dripping from the wound.

"Don’t worry," Ceresca continued, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "I’ll drag you to our ceremony. Then everyone will see who Xerxes belongs to, and you’ll be nothing but a bad memory."

I growled low, my body tense as the circle around me tightened. But this time, I had learned. I was now wary of my surroundings, sensing each of them, waiting for the next attack.

However, I didn't expect that all of Ceresca's friends would attack all at once. Having several wounds, I couldn't move fast and avoid them on time. Claws raked my sides, teeth sank into my fur, and the sheer weight of their bodies pressed me down. I tried to fight, but my legs buckled beneath me, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

Ceresca approached slowly, triumph in her eyes. She placed a paw on my head, pressing down with cruel satisfaction. "Xerxes will toss you aside like the trash you are," she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "You’ll never reach my rank. You’re nothing but secondhand goods."

Her words were like knives twisting in my gut. This was the she-wolf Moon Goddess matched with my son? This cruel, vindictive creature? I had been so excited to pass on my title, to welcome her as the next Luna. But now, all I could feel was a growing dread. If Xerxes bonded with her, our pack would be doomed to her tyranny.

"Let’s not drag this out. Finish her," Ceresca instructed, her voice cold and final.

Atilla's POV

The world blurred around me as Ceresca’s best friends closed in, their eyes glinting with malice. They surrounded me like a pack of wolves ready to tear apart their prey—and I was exactly that. For what felt like hours, they had been slashing, clawing, and stomping me, their laughter echoing in my ears like a haunting melody. Each strike drained me further, the pain becoming so unbearable that I could no longer hold onto my wolf form.

I collapsed back into my human shape, gasping for air, every inch of my body screaming in agony. Blood coated my skin, my vision swimming from the deep gashes that refused to heal under the relentless assault.

The crowd of wolves watching did nothing but gawk, their eyes gleaming with twisted delight as if my suffering was some sort of grotesque entertainment. Naked and broken, I lay curled on the ground, my hands trembling as I tried to shield myself from their stares. My blood smeared across the dirt, and I could feel their gazes burning into my exposed flesh.

There were so many of them. I was simply no match for them even if I was a Luna.

The intense pain and loss of blood almost made me faint. In a daze, I even heard Ceresca cursing at me.

"You filthy slut," Ceresca spat, her voice venomous. "This is what happens when you try to steal another wolf's mate!"

When they finally paused, I forced myself to speak, my voice hoarse and ragged. "Ceresca... I'm Xerxes' mother."

The silence that followed was suffocating, and for a brief moment, I thought I had finally broken through. Ceresca’s eyes widened, and I dared to hope she would stop, that she'd mindlink Xerxes and realize the truth. But then her lips twisted into a cruel smile, and she laughed—a reckless, maniacal sound that echoed through the air.

"Xerxes’ mother? You?" She sneered, her laughter filling the afternoon. "You're nothing but a delusional tramp! You think I’d fall for such a pathetic lie?"

Her words cut deeper than any physical wound. I had no strength left to fight, and my last shred of dignity was slipping away. The onlookers whispered among themselves, their judgmental comments fueling Ceresca’s hatred.

"Look at her—thinking she could ever be more than a pretty face to some desperate wolf."

"She deserved this for daring to meddle with the bond of the future Luna of the Moon Howlers."

I winced, every word like a fresh wound. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain, but from the behavior my son’s mate was showing.

Ceresca’s friend, for a fleeting second, hesitated. "Are you sure of this, Ceresca? What if she really—"

Before she could finish, Ceresca snapped, silencing her with a sharp gesture. "Enough! I already told you, the real Luna Atilla is still in their pack land. She won’t be here until the ceremony begins."

I had told Xerxes I would at their ceremony, eager to meet his chosen mate, but that kindness had sealed my fate. Ceresca had no idea who I was, and yet here I lay—naked, bloodied, and humiliated at the hands of my son’s future Luna.

I could barely see through the haze of pain, but I felt the weight of Ceresca's gaze. "You thought you could steal my mate, didn’t you?" she taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "But look at you now—helpless and pathetic. I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing me."

She bent down, her lips close to my ear. "When I become Luna, I’ll make sure you disappear, and no one will even remember you existed."

With a cruel laugh, she stood up, glancing at the clock tower in the distance. Her face twisted in urgency. “We're gonna be late. Let's hurry and go to the venue. Luna Atilla should be there soon. Xerxes said he wants to formally introduce me to Luna Atilla today!"

Atilla's POV

Just when I thought they might leave me to rot in peace, Ceresca’s cold voice rang out, sharper than any blade. "Drag that bitch with us."

Her pack of friends didn’t hesitate. Their jaws clamped down on my limbs, dragging my broken body through the market like discarded prey. I could feel every rough bump, every jagged stone tearing further into my already shredded skin.

Before leaving, Ceresca announced with an air of arrogance, "Regarding all the losses we caused today, I'll reimburse you after I claim my throne."

The stall owners’ expressions shifted immediately. Their fearful frowns morphed into obsequious smiles, nodding in unison. "No problem, Luna," they echoed, their voices dripping with fake loyalty.

Pride gleamed in Ceresca's eyes as she basked in the title. The self-satisfaction radiated off her like heat, while I, barely holding onto consciousness, was dragged helplessly through the dirt. Passers-by gawked and whispered, their eyes tracing the trail of blood I left in my wake.

Ceresca, now in her human form and enjoying every second of her momentary reign, stood tall with her hands on her hips. "What are you gawking at? I’m teaching my mate’s lover a lesson! Get lost!" she shouted, her voice commanding the air.

But the sight was too much for at least one onlooker. A woman, brave or foolish, finally stepped forward. Her voice shook, but her eyes were firm as she said, "Miss, even if she is your mate’s lover, you can’t keep torturing her like this. Her wounds won’t heal—she’s lost too much blood, and her body’s exposed for all to see. Where’s your dignity?"

There was a gasp in the crowd as the woman added, "What you're doing is against pack law."

But Ceresca’s face contorted into a sneer, her eyes narrowing at the bold stranger. "Defending a slut like her? You must be just as low as she is. Are you another shameless she-wolf waiting to get your claws into someone else’s mate?" Her voice dripped with disdain.

The woman’s courage faltered, her resolve crumbling under Ceresca’s venomous glare. But before she could speak again, Ceresca sneered arrogantly, "I’ll be Luna of the Moon Howlers in an hour. Even if I kill you where you stand, it won't matter."

I didn't expect Ceresca, who looked gentle and kind, to speak so viciously.

The woman, now pale with fear, retreated into the crowd. Silence followed, the weight of Ceresca’s words hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

Without further interruption, Ceresca and her minions resumed dragging me toward the venue. My body, bruised and bloody, scraped against the ground. I had come alone to witness my son’s union, never imagining it would end like this—humiliated, battered, and on the brink of death.

Although today was their union ceremony, all of the guests were from Ceresca's pack. It was because I no longer brought wolves from our pack since the pack needed them more. I just volunteered to be the representative and witness of my own son's ceremony. But I didn't imagine it would turn out this way.

As we neared the ceremonial grounds, the crowd of guests shifted their attention toward me. All eyes locked on the bloody, broken figure being pulled behind Ceresca. Whispers filled the air, and the atmosphere became charged with tension.

Ceresca’s parents stood at the center, their faces filled with disgust. Her mother, Winona Faelan, approached with fury in her eyes. "Ceresca, is this the she-wolf you mentioned?"

"Yes," Ceresca replied, the word dripping with satisfaction. "She’s the one who dared to meddle with my mate."

Winona’s eyes flashed with rage. She stormed toward me, her claws extending as she slashed at my face with unbridled hatred. "You bitch!" she screamed. "How dare you lay a finger on my daughter’s mate?!"

Each strike sent fresh waves of agony through my body. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but I was too weak—too broken. I could barely form a coherent thought as I lay there, wondering if this would be my end.

"Everyone, help me punish this slut!" Winona’s voice rang out like a war cry, and within seconds, the wolves around her closed in, eager to please their future Luna’s mother. Once again, I found myself at the mercy of their fists, claws, and teeth.

I prayed for unconsciousness to take me, to free me from torment, but it never came. Instead, I was forced to endure every blow, every laugh, every insult.

When Winona finally tired of the assault, she glanced at Ceresca. "Bring me a silver knife," she ordered, her voice cold and cruel. "I’m going to ruin this bitch’s face. Let’s see how she seduces another wolf after this."

Ceresca, eager to obey, handed over the blade, wrapped in thick cloth. Winona's smile was wicked as she unwrapped the knife, its deadly gleam catching the light.

I braced myself, but nothing could have prepared me for the pain that followed. The silver burned as it cut into my skin, and I screamed—a raw, guttural sound that echoed through the clearing. The world spun, the agony too much to bear.

And then, in the midst of it all, Ceresca’s phone rang.

She didn’t hesitate to answer, her confidence unshaken as she put the call on speaker. Xerxes’s voice, calm and familiar, cut through the chaos.

"Ceresca? Why can’t I reach you through the mindlink? Has my mom arrived?"

I blinked through the haze of pain, my heart pounding.

"What’s going on over there?" Xerxes asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. "It sounds noisy."

Ceresca’s smirk widened as she replied, "I’m just teaching your she-wolf a lesson."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Then, Xerxes’s voice, sharper this time, demanded, "My she-wolf? What are you talking about?"