Samantha’s POV

"I'm not going to listen to you! Why don’t you contribute something instead of complaining?! I can do whatever I want. If I want to invite your sister, then I will invite her!"

His words sliced through me like a dagger. Before I could even process them, he turned his back on me and walked away, leaving me standing there—confused, hurt, and humiliated. I bit my lip, willing myself not to cry, but the tears welled up anyway. My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists at my sides.

Alexander never treated me like this before. Why now? What changed?

Determined to get answers, I started to follow him, but before I could reach him, the ceremony began. The grand celebration filled the room with laughter, music, and lively chatter. Everyone around me was having the time of their lives, yet I felt completely out of place. My heart pounded as I searched for Alexander, weaving through the crowd in desperation.

"Have you seen Alexander?" I asked Dante, his Beta, barely able to mask my anxiety.

Dante glanced at me, then pointed toward the dance floor. "I think I saw Alpha over there."

I turned in the direction he indicated, and my world shattered into pieces.

There he was. In the middle of the dance floor. With her.

Cassandra.

She was in his arms, her laughter light and carefree. They swayed to the rhythm, completely lost in each other. The way Alexander looked at her, so warm, so full of something I hadn’t seen in his eyes for me in a long time, was enough to tear me apart. He held her close, their fingers entwined, and for a moment, it was as if I no longer existed.

A sob caught in my throat, but I swallowed it down.

Why? Why are they dancing? Why do they look so happy together?

I moved forward, unable to stop myself. "A-Alexander?" My voice came out shakier than I intended.

He stopped mid-spin, his gaze locking onto mine. But there was no guilt. No regret. Just irritation.

"What is it? Can't you see I’m in the middle of something?" he snapped.

I turned to Cassandra, who met my eyes without a trace of shame. She knew. She knew I was supposed to be Luna. And yet, here she was, in his arms as if I never mattered.

"A-Alexander, please," I whispered. "Let’s talk."

He exhaled sharply, his patience clearly running thin. "No. There's nothing we need to talk about."

And then, I snapped.

"Please stop dancing with her! She ruined my life!" My voice rang out, louder than I intended. I couldn’t stop myself. I had to say it!

The entire area fell silent. All eyes turned to me, some in shock, others in amusement. A wave of humiliation crashed over me, but I stood my ground. Cassandra, however, only smirked, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

And then, Alexander looked at me. The moment our gazes met, I saw it, the irritation, the disbelief.

"What the hell are you doing?!" he asked, his tone laced with annoyance.

Before I could answer, my father stormed toward me. His face twisted with anger, his fists clenched so tightly I thought he might strike me right then and there.

"Samantha!" he hissed. "What do you think you’re doing?!"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to find the right words. "Father… Cassandra….she's stealing Alexander from me!" My voice broke, my desperation clear.

"What?" My father scoffed, shaking his head. "Cassandra would never do such a thing. Stop being foolish! They are just dancing. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?!"

My heart pounded against my chest. "But—"

"Samantha, you’re always overthinking things," Cassandra interrupted, her voice sickly sweet. "In fact, I haven’t done anything wrong." She took a step toward me, her expression shifting to one of mock concern. "You know what? You’re just being delusional at this point."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Pack members whispered among themselves, their judgmental gazes piercing through me. I felt small, humiliated, my dignity slipping away by the second.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head, refusing to accept this. "That’s not the case. Please, Alexander." I turned to him, my last hope. I needed him to see me, to defend me.

But instead, his expression hardened. And then, to my absolute horror—

He slapped me.

The force sent me crashing to the floor, pain exploding across my cheek. Gasps filled the room. My mother screamed my name, trying to rush toward me, but my father stopped her, his grip firm.

"You will do nothing," he said coldly. "Let her learn her place!"

I could barely breathe. My hands trembled as I touched my burning cheek, the sting of his palm still fresh.

And then, Alexander spoke. "You need to understand where you stand in this life. We were just dancing, there was no need for this outburst." His voice was devoid of emotion, completely detached. "Don’t humiliate your sister. You needed me, and that’s why we are all here. Do you understand?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I lifted my gaze to meet his, my entire body shaking. Slowly, painfully, I pushed myself to my feet.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You’ve changed." My voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of my words was undeniable. My gaze shifted to Cassandra. "Because of her."

And just like that, I ran. Away from the stares. Away from the whispers. Away from him!

I will get out of here… no matter what it takes. I won’t let them break me. I will fight, I will survive, and I will make sure of it!

Samantha’s POV

When I finally reached my house, I covered my face. Everything around me blurred. My vision was hazy, my breath shallow. I felt as if everything was falling apart. Nothing seemed stable anymore.

And then, as if out of nowhere, Mom appeared. She rushed to my side, her voice soft but firm, “Samantha, you need to calm down. I know this hurts. I know it feels unbearable. But please, just breathe. It will be okay.”

Her arms wrapped around me, trying to comfort me, but I couldn’t find peace in her embrace. It wasn’t the warmth of her hug that I needed; it was something else. My mind was screaming, and my heart was fractured. Before she could say anything more, I stopped her. My voice cracked, filled with pain, and my words spilled out without thinking.

“I want to cancel the mating bond. I don’t want to give it to Alexander, Mom.”

I didn’t even know if she could understand the weight of what I was saying. I was desperate to stop it all, to halt the ceremony before it could happen, before I had to face him again.

She looked at me, her face shifting into concern. “Samantha, I understand. But you need to think this through. There are consequences to these actions. Things won’t be easy if you go through with this. You need to consider everything.”

But at that moment, I couldn’t care less about the consequences. They seemed so insignificant compared to the storm raging inside me. Nothing else mattered except stopping the pain, stopping what felt like my life spiraling out of control.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I couldn’t make sense of it. Alexander and I had been fine. We had been okay—at least, that’s what I had thought. So why had everything turned upside down? Why did it feel like I was caught in a trap? Something wasn’t right, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Cassandra was somehow behind it all. She had always been manipulative, and now, it seemed, she had twisted things even further.

I couldn’t understand how she had pulled Alexander in, how she had turned him against me.

---

The next morning, a sense of dread washed over me. I knew I had to tell my father what was happening, but how could I? Tonight was the night of the ceremony with Alexander, and I had no idea how to face him. How could I walk into that room, knowing everything that had happened, knowing how betrayed I felt?

And then, as if the universe had other plans, Alexander called me.

“The Alpha is looking for you,” said one of the servants.

He summoned me to the pack house, and despite everything, I couldn’t refuse. I had to go. I didn’t know why, but something in me urged me to answer his call, even if it terrified me.

When I arrived, the servants were already busy preparing for the ceremony. They were arranging everything, setting up the decorations, and making sure everything was in place. It was all so carefully orchestrated, yet I couldn’t escape the feeling that it was a show—a performance for everyone else.

“Samantha, come here,” I heard Alexander’s voice. It cut through the tension like a knife.

I walked towards him, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I finally stood in front of him, I couldn’t look him in the eye. My gaze dropped, my heart pounding in my chest. He wasn’t the Alexander I had known; he was someone else now, someone I couldn’t trust.

“What is it?” I managed to whisper. My voice was shaky, betraying the fear I felt inside.

I wanted to scream, to ask him why everything had changed. Why he was doing this to me. But instead, I stood there, frozen, unable to move. My anger boiled beneath the surface, but I didn’t know how to express it. I couldn’t understand him anymore. He had hurt me, betrayed me, and now, he was here, standing in front of me, like nothing had happened.

One swift motion, and he was closer. It was almost as if I was caught in his sway, unable to escape, even though every fiber of my being screamed for me to run. He reached out to me, and I recoiled, my heart racing in panic. The air around us felt thick, suffocating. My breath caught in my throat, but I said nothing. I had no words left.

Even though he had hurt me, even though his touch now felt like a threat, I couldn’t walk away. I was trapped, not just by him, but by my own heart, torn between the person he once was and the person he had become.

Suddenly, every memory we shared came rushing back, the warmth of his touch, the way my heart raced whenever he was near, the moments that once felt like forever.

I had loved him with all my heart... yet, why did it all lead to this?

He grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer to him. "Look, I'm sorry for what happened. It wasn’t intentional. Maybe I just got carried away with what I was feeling because you yelled at me. It felt like you were accusing me of doing something with your sister behind your back."

His words left me stunned.

“Of course, she’s your sister, and she deserves to see the ceremony. She’s part of the family that’s why I invited her.”

I couldn’t understand why Alexander was saying these things. It felt as though he was manipulating me, like he was gaslighting me. I wasn’t angry when I confronted him that night. I simply wanted answers. Yet somehow, it felt like all the blame was being placed on me.

“I wasn’t mad at you that night,” I said, trying to steady my breath. “I just wanted to understand why you invited her, even though you know everything she’s done to me.”

He reached out, gently adjusting a strand of hair that had fallen across my face, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. “Well, the past is the past. You need to move on,” he said, his voice soft yet firm.

His words were like a slap to my soul. How could he say something so cold? I wanted to argue with him, to tell him it wasn’t that simple. That the pain he caused wasn’t something I could just forget. But I bit my lip, swallowing my anger. I wasn’t ready for a fight, not now.

“And our mating ceremony is about to begin. I want you to prepare,” he continued, his voice now more commanding. “We’ll see each other later, and I can’t wait for you to be my Luna.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, but my thoughts were a whirlwind. I had so many questions, so much anger, yet I was supposed to let it all go.

“Okay.”

“Good,” he said, turning to leave.

I stood there for a moment, stunned, before I walked away, trying to collect myself. This ceremony was supposed to bring us together.

For a brief moment, the heaviness in my chest eased. Maybe he was right. Maybe I had overreacted. It wasn’t like him to hurt me on purpose. But no matter how I tried to convince myself, the doubt lingered.

I needed to focus, to prepare for what was coming. The ceremony wasn’t something I could just avoid.

As I finished getting ready for the ceremony, I looked around for Alexander. I needed to speak to him again, to see where his mind was at.

“Samantha!” I heard my father’s voice calling out from behind me. “It’s time. Remember, you’re doing this for our tribe. For our future.”

I nodded, trying to gather my thoughts. “Yes, Father. I’m just looking for Alexander.”

“Alright, we’ll wait for you,” he said, walking away to join the others.

I asked around, hoping someone could point me to him. “Have you seen Alexander?”

“He’s in his office,” someone replied.

I nodded, heading toward the pack-house. But as I approached the door, I paused. I heard muffled voices—moans that sent a chill through me.

“Alex,” a voice moaned, soft and seductive. My stomach churned as I recognized the voice.

It was Cassandra.

And then I heard Alexander’s voice, low and gruff. “Ohh, baby…”

My heart froze.

My legs felt like they might give way beneath me.

I knew what was happening, and I couldn’t bring myself to open the door to confront them.

The world around me seemed to shatter, piece by piece. The worst possible thing had happened, on the very night of the mating ceremony.

Samantha’s POV

I covered my mouth with both hands, my entire body trembling as I fought the urge to scream.

The door was slightly ajar, giving me a clear view of the scene unfolding before me. Cassandra’s legs were spread open, her body arching against Alexander. His movements between her thighs were unmistakable. It was a sight so painful, so utterly soul-crushing, that I felt as if I had been punched in the chest.

“Fuck, I’m cumming!”

“Oh, baby! Yes!”

How could they?! How could Alexander do this to me on the night before our mating ceremony?!

I had done everything to prepare for this ceremony. My makeup was flawless, my white gown draped over my body like a symbol of purity, of devotion. Ritual marks had been drawn onto my skin, marking me as his mate. But now… now I didn’t know if I could go through with it. My heart was breaking, shattering into a million jagged pieces.

But what would happen if I didn’t go through with the ceremony? I could already hear my father’s voice in my head, laced with anger and disappointment.

And then there was Alexander—Alexander, the man I had loved with everything I had. I had given him my heart, my trust, my entire being. I had sacrificed for him, for our tribe. I had done everything in my power to make this work.

And yet, this was my reward.

My body moved on its own, my feet carrying me away from that wretched scene. I was running—running away from the betrayal, from the pain, from the man who had broken me beyond repair.

Suddenly, I bumped into someone, and it was my mother.

“Samantha, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

My body shook uncontrollably as I held onto her, my sobs muffled against her shoulder.

“I-I want to leave,” I choked out. “I want to get out of this tribe. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Mom stiffened in shock. “Samantha, what are you talking about?!” She pulled back slightly, her hands gripping my arms as she searched my tear-streaked face. “Where would you even go?”

“I-I don’t care!” My voice cracked, filled with raw pain. “I saw them, Mom. I saw Alexander having sex with Cassandra… the night before our mating ceremony.” I shook my head, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks. “I can’t do this. I can’t pretend like everything is fine. Not after this!”

Mom’s eyes widened, her lips parting in silent horror. She looked as though she wanted to say something, to offer some sort of comfort or reasoning. But what could she say? There were no words that could fix this, no words that could undo the damage that had already been done.

I didn’t wait for her to respond. My body moved on instinct, pushing past her as I ran towards the edge of the tribe’s grounds.

“Samantha!”

I had to get out. I had to escape before I suffocated under the weight of my pain.

Then, suddenly, as I stepped outside, I heard something unexpected—cheers.

“She’s here! Our future Luna!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the ceremonial grounds.

I wanted to escape.

I wanted to scream at them, tell them that I couldn’t go through with this mating ceremony! That I didn’t want this anymore! But then, as my gaze swept across the crowd, I saw the hope in their eyes. The unwavering expectation. They were looking at me as if I was their salvation, the Luna who would lead them beside Alexander.

Suddenly, a figure stepped forward—my father.

“Samantha,” his voice rang with authority. “The Moon Goddess will now unite you with Alexander.”

I froze. My entire body locked in place, refusing to move. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. I turned my head slightly, my desperate eyes searching for my mother. She was standing there at the edge of the gathering, her face pale, her hands clasped together. Our gazes met.

Help me.

I silently begged her, pleading for her to step in, to stop this. To tell my father that I couldn’t do it!

But she didn’t move. She didn’t speak. She just stood there, letting my heart break into a million pieces.

I sucked in a breath, the sharp pain in my chest making it difficult to breathe. Still, I forced my feet forward, each step feeling heavier than the last. My legs felt like lead as I walked toward the sacred ceremonial grounds at the heart of the village—the place where my fate was about to be sealed.

Then, as I reached the altar, Alexander arrived.

He stood before me, his expression calm, composed, as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t slept with my sister. As if he hadn’t betrayed me in the worst possible way.

I wanted to slap him. I wanted to scream at him, ask him how he could do this to me. How he could stand there and pretend that everything was fine. But the cheers of our people, the Elders waiting in silence, and the crushing expectations left me paralyzed.

I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat, my entire body trembling. Alexander reached for my hands, his touch warm. But all I felt was disgust. Those very hands had been all over Cassandra just moments ago, touching her, claiming her. And now they were on me.

“Samantha,” he said, his voice steady. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for.”

I looked away, my stomach twisting. My gaze wandered through the crowd, and then—I saw her.

Cassandra.

She stood among the people, her lips curled into a satisfied smirk, her eyes gleaming with triumph. When our eyes met, she scoffed, rolling her eyes before flipping her hair over her shoulder.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. But before I could even react, Alexander spoke again.

“I can’t wait for us to finally be united,” he continued, his voice sickeningly smooth. “The Moon Goddess will bless us.”

I said nothing. I couldn’t.

The ceremony began. My heartbeat thundered in my chest, each second feeling like a countdown to my own destruction.

Every instinct in my body screamed at me to stop this, to run. I didn’t want to be mated to him! I didn’t want to be his Luna anymore! I didn’t want to be bound to a man who had already chosen someone else over me!

“I love you, Samantha.”

I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop the tears from falling. And then, everything shattered. All the emotional pain I had been carrying came crashing down in that moment, because of those three words—the same ones that made my heart race for him, time and time again.

“A-Alexander…”

But before I could finish, the world around us exploded into chaos.

“Princess Cassandra collapsed!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. My eyes widened in shock as I watched her body go limp, her head lolling to the side. People rushed toward her, but before I could even process what was happening, I felt a sudden force shove me aside.

Alexander.

He pushed past me without a second thought, his entire focus locked on Cassandra. Panic twisted his features as he knelt beside her, his hands cupping her face with such tenderness it made my stomach churn.

“She needs help!” His voice cracked with urgency. “Call the healers! We need to stop the ceremony—Cassandra needs immediate attention!”

Silence fell over the crowd. And in that moment, I realized the truth I had been so desperately trying to ignore.

He would always choose her over me.

Always.