The Scarlet Night Pack’s grand hall buzzed with activity. The soft hum of conversations blended with the clinking of glasses. The lights cast a warm glow over the decorations, which were far grander than I deserved or so everyone seemed to think.

It was supposed to be my 21st birthday party, a celebration of the Luna I was meant to become. Instead, I stood near the edge of the room, feeling like an outsider at my own event.

“Where is Alpha Alex?” someone whispered nearby.

My chest tightened, but I kept my face neutral. I had heard that question too many times tonight.

“He’s with Lady Avery,” I murmured to myself even though no one was listening.

I knew Alex wasn’t coming. The Alpha had left earlier in the day after Avery conveniently claimed she wasn’t feeling well. In fact, I could already picture the scene perfectly. Her fragile voice, her hand pressed dramatically to her forehead, and Alex rushed to her side without a second thought.

‘Talia, what did I do to deserve this?’ I called out to my wolf, trying to hold back the bitterness.

Her voice was soft yet firm as she answered me, ‘You didn’t do anything wrong, Felicia. Alex doesn’t see what he’s losing. But you can’t keep waiting for that idiot Alpha to realize it.’

I sighed, glancing around the room at the gathered pack members. Their expressions ranged from pity to amusement. I hated every second of it. My wolf’s suggestion played over and over in my mind.

‘Leave,’ she said to me

As hours passed, the party dragged on. I plastered a fake smile on my face, accepting well-wishes and compliments that felt hollow. Would it be like this until I die?

When I was deep in my thoughts, Nathaniel approached me with a glass of water.

“You’re holding up better than I expected,” he said, his voice low so only I could hear.

I forced a smile as I said, “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

Nathaniel frowned when he heard my response.

“You shouldn’t have to endure this. It’s wrong,” he told me.

As I avoided his intense gaze, I softly said to him, “Maybe. But what can I do about it?”

The Beta seemed to hesitate as if he wanted to say more but thought better of it. Instead, he handed me the glass and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Frankly, it was better this way. After all, I wanted to be with myself.

Later that night, I escaped to the balcony. The cool air was a welcome relief from the suffocating atmosphere inside. I leaned against the railing, staring out at the dark forest beyond the pack’s territory.

‘Talia, what am I supposed to do?’ I asked my wolf.

Again, my wolf firmly answered me, ‘Leave. This isn’t your home. It never was.’

Tears began streaming from my eyes. Since I was alone, I didn’t need to pretend to look tough. I was done with all of that.

“But where would I go?” I whispered aloud.

However, I didn’t realize someone had joined me until I heard Nathaniel’s voice behind me, calling me, “Lady Felicia.”

I turned quickly and wiped my tears.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked.

As the Beta stepped closer, he answered, “I could ask you the same thing, Lady Felicia. You looked like you needed a break.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his response. The man was right, though. I really needed a break.

While I looked back at the deep forest, I quietly told him, “It’s my birthday yet I feel more invisible than ever.”

“You’re not invisible to me,” he said quietly.

The moment Nathaniel said it, I couldn’t help but glance at him. Indeed, I was surprised by the sincerity in his voice. That made me want to know why would he act nicely to me.

“Why do you care so much?” I asked him.

Nathaniel leaned against the railing beside me as he gazed his eyes at me before he answered, “Well, it’s because I see what they’re doing to you. Alex and Avery ... they’re humiliating you. It’s not right.”

I laughed bitterly as I retorted, “What can I do? I’m just a useless girl that is forced to be Alex’s Luna and he would discard me as soon as I give him a son and my pack. Then, he’ll make Avery his Luna.”

Nathaniel shook his head as he told me, “You’re more than that. Actually, you don’t have to stay here and take this.”

“What choice do I have, Beta?” I asked, my voice breaking.

The Beta went quiet for a while before he spoke again, “You have a choice, Lady Felicia. Run away with me.” he said firmly.

My heart stopped at what he just said.

I couldn’t help but ask, “What did you just say?”

Nathaniel stepped closer as his expression became serious.

“I’m saying we should leave. This pack isn’t what it used to be. Alex is dragging it down, and he’s dragging you down with it. You deserve better than this, my lady,” he told me.

I stared at the Beta as my mind raced at the thought of leaving this pack away.

Again, I asked him, “You’re asking me to abandon my pack? To become a rogue?”

He quikcly answered my questions, “It wouldn’t be forever, surely. We could find a new pack, start over somewhere else. You wouldn’t have to endure this anymore.”

“And what about you, Beta? What about your duties?” I asked.

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened as he responded by saying, “My loyalty was to a strong Alpha who cared about his pack. Alex stopped being that a long time ago. I’m not going to stand by and watch him ruin everything.”

His words echoed in my mind. Frankly, his words were both terrifying and tempting. For years, I had endured Alex’s coldness, Avery’s cruelty, and the Scarlet Night Pack’s apathy. The thought of leaving this pack was like a lifeline.

I called out to my wolf as I asked her, ‘Talia, what do you think?’

‘I think he’s right. We deserve better than this. Take the chance, Felicia,’ Talia replied.

“But what if it’s a mistake?” I asked, which was more to myself than anyone else.

Nathaniel placed his steady hand gently on my shoulder as he replied, “It’s not a mistake. Staying here would be the mistake.”

The only thing I could do was to take a deep breath with my chest tight with emotion.

“If we do this, we’ll be outcasts. We won’t have anywhere to go,” I said to him

“We’ll figure it out. Together,” Nathaniel said confidently.

I hesitated as the weight of the decision pressed down on me. However, I thought of Alex and Avery who kept humiliating me. Deep in my heart, I knew Talia was right.

“Okay,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

The Beta’s eyes widened as he heard my response.

He repeated as he asked, “Okay?”

I nodded with a small spark of hope flickering in my chest as I said, “I’ll leave with you.”

For the first time in years, I felt like I had a choice. It was terrifying, but it was also liberating. I didn’t know what the future held, but I knew one thing for sure. I was done waiting for things to get better.

I was choosing to fight for my own happiness. No matter what price I had to pay, I would do it. After all, I didn’t wish to be treated like this ever again.

Avery caught me on my way to the training grounds that morning, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk. Her perfect curls bounced as she approached, her dress fluttering around her like she was parading on a stage.

“Lady Felicia,” she called me with her voice dripping with false sweetness,

After that, she maliciously continued, “I’m surprised you’re going out. Shouldn’t you be resting after last night’s little ... disappointment?”

I clenched my fists, trying to keep me from getting upset.

“I don’t have time for this, Lady Avery,” I politely told her.

“Oh, but I do,” she said as she stepped closer.

The woman then boldly talked, “Well, you see, the Alpha was so worried about me last night. He stayed by my side the entire time, making sure I was comfortable. Isn’t he the most attentive Alpha?”

Her words stung, but I refused to let her see that.

I just met her gaze coldly as I made a sarcastic remark, “If you’re looking for someone to congratulate you on being a mistress, you’re wasting your time.”

When Avery heard my sarcastic remark, her smile faltered, but she quickly recovered.

“Oh, Lady Felicia! Jealousy doesn’t suit you. After all, the Alpha is only with you because of a promise. We both know where his heart truly lies,” she mockingly said.

I couldn’t take it anymore. My wolf, Talia, growled in the back of my mind. She urged me to stand up for myself.

Before I could think twice, my hand shot out. Soon enough, I could see myself slapping Avery until that woman fell to the ground. In fact, the slap was hard enough that it echoed through the courtyard.

The murmurs around us grew louder as pack members stopped to gawk. Avery’s hand immediately flew to her cheek and her eyes widened with shock. Clearly, she never expected me to do this.

“How dare you!” she angrily yelled at me,

I took a step closer, my voice low but firm as I spoke, “I’ve tolerated your games long enough, Lady Avery. You might be Alex’s mistress, but I am his betrothed. Start behaving like it!”

Her face reddened with both anger and humiliation. She glared at me, then to the pack members. Everyone pretended to not see what just happened, but they clearly enjoyed the drama.

“You’ll regret this,” she angrily told me before she stormed off.

Without further ado, I turned away as I ignored the whispers and stares of the pack members. For the first time in years, I felt a small spark of satisfaction. However, I knew that I had to pay the price for what I did to the Alpha’s mistress.

Later that evening, Nathaniel found me in the library. As always, his expression was unreadable. Yet, I could tell that the Beta had heard what happened.

As the man leaned against the doorway, he said flatly, “You slapped her, I heard.”

“She deserved it, Beta,” I told him, not looking up from the book I was pretending to read,

The man then stepped inside the library after he made sure that no one was there but me before he said, “Well, I don’t disagree. But you’ve made a rather fatal mistake, don’t you think?”

“I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. She was pushing me too far,” I said to him, trying to justify myself.

Nathaniel nodded weakly as he told me, “I get it. But Alex isn’t going to let this slide. Be prepared for whatever comes next.”

The Beta’s prediction came true faster than I expected.

When I was training the next morning, a pack servant delivered a sealed letter to my room. I recognized my father’s handwriting immediately. A dread settled in my stomach.

I opened the letter with trembling hands, scanning the harsh words written inside.

[Felicia Nightfire,

Your behavior is unacceptable.

Alex has threatened to break the betrothal if you don’t apologize to Lady Avery in front of the entire pack. Do not embarrass our family further. Make this right immediately, or you will regret it.

Alpha Henry Nightfire]

I crumpled the letter in my hand, my vision blurring with tears of frustration. My own father had sided with Alex and Avery without even asking for my side of the story.

‘Talia, what do I do?’ I asked my wolf.

She calmly replied, ‘You already know the answer to that. Tear it up. We’re done with all of them.’

Taking a deep breath, I shredded the letter into tiny pieces. I let the scraps fall into the wastebasket. Frankly, this felt rather refreshing to defy my own father.

“I’m not apologizing for defending myself,” I said weakly.

When I told Nathaniel about the letter later that day, the Beta listened silently. His expression darkened with each word. I knew that he wasn’t too pleased with the news.

“I’m not surprised. Your father has always prioritized power over loyalty,” he finally said something.

I nodded as I asked the Beta, “What do we do now? Alex and my father are working together to make my life miserable.”

The man was quiet for a moment as if he thought of something.

“We’ll use this to our advantage,” he said at last.

However, what he said next really shocked me.

The Beta then said, “You’ll apologize to Avery.”

“What?” I asked him, staring at him in disbelief.

He quickly shook his head as he answered, “You will not apologize because you mean it, Lady Felicia. However, you’ll apologize because it’ll give us an opportunity to observe how the pack feels about all this.”

I frowned because I was unsure of where he was going with this, so I asked him, “What do you mean?”

“People are watching, my lady,” he answered.

Then, he explained, “They see how Alex and Avery are treating you. While they pretend that you do not exist, they still watch. If you apologize, it might actually make them dislike Avery even more.”

Although it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear, I knew Nathaniel was right. If we were going to leave, we needed to understand where the pack stood. We might be able to use it to our advantage.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But only because it’s part of the plan,” I said reluctantly.

The next morning, I stood in the pack’s common area. My heart was pounding as I faced Avery and the gathered members. Nathaniel stood off to the side, giving me a reassuring nod.

“Lady Avery,” I began talking my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach.

I continued, “I want to apologize for my actions yesterday. I let my emotions get the better of me, and I was wrong to lash out at you.”

Avery’s face lit up with triumph when she heard me apologizing to her. In fact, the woman didn’t even bother to hide her smug smile.

“Apology accepted, Lady Felicia,” she said loudly, making sure everyone heard.

I bit back a retort as she turned to the pack members.

“Do you see this? Even Felicia recognizes her mistakes. Perhaps we can all learn from this moment of humility!”

Her words were meant to make her look gracious, but the disapproving murmurs that followed told a different story. People weren’t buying her act, and neither was I. Nathaniel’s plan worked really well.

Both the Beta and I exchanged a glance, silently noting the pack members who looked less than impressed with Avery’s performance. We could gather their support. Although both him and I still had no idea what to do, it was still better than having no one at all.

Over the next few days, Nathaniel quietly spread the word of my apology among the pack. The elders were the first to voice their disapproval of Avery’s behavior, calling her out for overstepping her boundaries. Alex was obviously concerned when the elders began talking about it

“She’s not even our Luna,” one elder said during a meeting I overheard.

The other elder agreed as he said, “Her actions are causing division within the pack.”

“And, may we ask, where were you, Alpha Alex, during Lady Felicia’s birthday?” another elder asked.

The pressure on Alex grew, so it wasn’t long before the Alpha reluctantly approached me in the training yard.

“I’ve decided to include you in tomorrow’s hunting party,” he told me with is tone devoid of warmth.

I raised an eyebrow as I made another sarcastic remark, “I thought that was Avery’s special privilege.”

The Alpha frowned as he said in a rather dismissive tone, “You’re my betrothed. It’s only right that you join.”

Obviously, I didn’t believe for a second that he was doing this out of genuine care. This was damage control, plain and simple. However, I was curious about what would happen.

“Fine, I’ll be there,” I said to him, wiping my hands on my training clothes.

As the Alpha walked away, Nathaniel appeared at my side.

The Beta said, “Well, that’s a surprise.”

“Not really. He’s only doing it because the elders are on his back,” I told him.

To my surprise, the man then smiled as he said, “Well, yeah. But it’s still a step in the right direction.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I glanced toward the forest before I told him, “Maybe. But it’s too late for steps. I’m ready to run.”

When I arrived at the private hunting grounds, I felt the weight of the pack’s eyes on me. It wasn’t the usual gazes that they would cast on me. This time, it was different.

I wasn’t just the betrothed of Alpha Alex. Rather, I was the woman who dared to challenge his mistress, Avery. The tension in the air was palpable. Actually, I could almost feel the pack members waiting for the next move.

Avery was already standing by Alex. Her face looked very red as she held back her anger. The moment I stepped into the clearing, she shot me a glare that could melt stone.

“You’re late,” she said, her voice laced with disdain.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I retorted, trying to keep my tone steady.

Alex chose to pretend to ignore the tension. The Alpha smiled as if he had treated me well for the past five years, approaching me. However, it made me want to laugh.

“Felicia, I’m glad you could join us. The elders have been pressuring me to make sure you’re included,” the man said.

Avery’s lip curled in annoyance when she heard it, but Alex didn’t notice. His focus was entirely on me, or rather, on keeping up appearances. Seeing it made me have enough.

“I’m sure it’s not because you want me here, Alpha. But I’m grateful for the invitation,” I said sarcastically as I forced a smile.

Avery’s eyes narrowed as she boldly said, “Well, I’m not.”

The mistress was clearly upset that her lover had included me, but Alex waved her off as he brushed her concerns aside.

“Let’s not make a scene, Avery. We’re all here to enjoy the day. The last thing I need is more pressure from the pack,” the man said.

Avery opened her mouth to argue, but the Alpha silenced her with a glance before he said, “Please, just bear with it. It’s what’s best for the pack.”

Obviously, I could see the discomfort in her eyes. Eventually, she nodded stiffly. It was clear that she was unhappy. However, she was forced to comply.

The hunting party was soon underway.

As expected, both Alex and Avery stayed close. Their laughter echoed through the trees. I felt like an outsider, a third wheel, but I refused to let it show.

However, Avery’s voice cut through my thoughts as she said, “Lady Felicia, let’s ride together.”

“Ride?” I asked her back.

The mistress coldly said, “Yes, you heard me, my lady.”

Avery’s eyes gleamed with a mixture of annoyance and amusement as she continued, “I think it’ll be good for us to bond.”

I hesitated. Avery knew my fear of water, so she might use it to her advantage. The last thing I wanted was to get stuck in a situation where I would be forced to face my fear. But I couldn’t back down with the pack watching.

“Fine. But only for a short while,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

The horses were already saddled when we arrived at the stables. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Although I loved riding, the idea of being near water made my heart race. It had been a fear since childhood that I had never quite shaken off.

Avery’s smirk told me she knew exactly how I felt. She was enjoying this. In fact, she might enjoy it more than she should have.

“We’ll ride near the lake. It’ll be fun,” she said with her voice laced with malice.

I bit my lip, trying to hide the panic bubbling up inside me. However, I couldn’t back out without looking weak. So, I rode my horse and followed Avery as the woman led the way toward the lake.

As both of us got closer to the water, I felt my heart begin to race. The lake was beautiful, indeed. However, the memories of near-drowning when I was younger began replaying in my mind. I could feel the old fear rising within me as my body then tensed.

Avery slowed her horse as we approached the water’s edge.

“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” she asked innocently, but I could see the cruel gleam in her eyes.

“It is,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

She glanced at me as her smirk widened and said, “Maybe we should take a closer look.”

Before I could react, Avery spurred her horse forward. My horse followed automatically, but I tugged on the reins, trying to slow down. I wasn’t ready to get any closer to the water, but Avery wasn’t having it.

“Come on, Lady Felicia. You’re not afraid, are you?” she asked me mockingly.

“I’m not,” I said through gritted teeth, but my heart was hammering in my chest.

Without warning, Avery kicked her horse’s sides. The animal quickly took off, charging straight into the lake. I gasped, pulling hard on the reins, trying to stop my own horse. However, Avery had already forced both our horses into the water.

Immediately, The force of the water hit us. I struggled to stay on the horse’s back as it reared, the lake’s cold embrace threatening to pull me under.

“Lady Avery, stop!” I shouted, panic rising in my chest. But she only laughed.

Before I could react, her horse bucked again. Then, I was thrown from the saddle. It felt as if the world tilted when I fell into the cold, dark water.

I gasped for air as I struggled to stay afloat. The shock of the cold water quickly seized my chest. I kicked my legs, trying to swim. But my body was heavy and my panic only made it worse.

‘Help! Alex!’ I shouted through my mind-link with Alex, but I couldn’t hear him.

My vision was blurry as the water swirled around me. I couldn’t breathe, see, or think. Although I heard voices, I knew the voice wasn’t Alex’s. Avery was still laughing from the shore, her mocking voice cutting through my desperation.

“Alex, save me!” she shouted loudly.

Meanwhile, I reached out as my hands grasping for anything. However, it felt like the water was swallowing me whole.

A strong feeling of suffocation came over me, the air I breathed became thinner and thinner, and I felt like I was about to die...