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.

Samantha’s POV

“The mating ceremony will continue tomorrow, according to Alpha Alexander.”

Father’s words echoed in my mind, but instead of responding, I stared blankly into the distance. My heart felt numb, my thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.

"Samantha, are you listening?"

I nodded, my voice as lifeless as a machine. "Yes."

"Good. We expect your sister, Cassandra, to recover soon. Once she does, the ceremony will proceed as planned tomorrow."

With that, Father left the house—our house. The home that Alexander and I were supposed to share. But at this moment, it felt anything but warm.

I lowered my gaze to the white dress I wore last night. It was meant to symbolize unity and purity, a reminder of the bond that should have been sacred. But now, it felt meaningless. The innocence it represented was long gone, tainted by the pain and betrayal that clouded my heart.

I had made my decision. I was leaving.

After everything that had happened… after everything Alexander had made me feel… I could not stay.

Silently, I began packing my clothes, careful not to make a sound. I had to make sure neither my mother nor my father would catch me. My hands trembled as I folded each piece of fabric, the weight of my choice pressing heavily on my chest.

When I was done, I reached for a piece of paper. If I was going to leave, I had to at least say goodbye.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I wrote the letter. My heart ached with every word, my emotions spilling onto the page.

But just as I was about to finish, the door suddenly swung open.

I gasped and quickly hid the letter beneath a stack of clothes before turning to face the intruder.

Alexander.

"Samantha," he said, his voice softer than I expected. "I'm sorry for what happened last night."

I remained silent, my fingers clenching the fabric of my dress.

"I was just shocked when Cassandra suddenly collapsed," he continued. "I didn’t mean to ignore you. And… she told me she was sorry for everything she did to you."

His words felt empty. They barely grazed the surface of the pain he had caused me.

"Samantha," he said again, stepping closer. "Are you even listening?"

I turned away, unable to meet his gaze. My hands instinctively pressed against the hidden letter, ensuring it remained unseen. If he found it, he would know. And I wasn’t ready for that.

"I need some air," I said, standing up.

His sharp eyes narrowed at me. "Go where?" His voice was laced with suspicion.

"I just... need to clear my mind," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "Tomorrow is our official ceremony, and I understand you were only trying to help my sister."

He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken words. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly.

"Okay," he said, his voice flat. "If that's what you want."

He turned to leave, but something stopped me, a surge of doubt that I couldn’t ignore.

“Wait…” My voice trembled, and I hated how weak I sounded.

He stopped and turned back, his gaze sharp. "What?"

I bit my lower lip, fighting the overwhelming uncertainty that clawed at me. Should I really follow through with my plan to leave? I had no idea where I would go, and I was being reckless.

"Are you really honest with me?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

He stiffened, a flash of defensiveness in his eyes. "What? Why are you saying this? Of course, I’m honest with you."

I took a shaky breath, the weight of the moment crashing down on me. "I just want to make sure... before I become your Luna."

He exhaled sharply, irritation flickering across his face. "Stop overthinking things, okay? I’m faithful to you. Now, I need to go. There’s something I have to do."

And then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, alone with the silence and the uncertainty that seemed to echo in the space between us.

I didn’t know what to do. I needed to talk to him, to confront him. He’s lying to me! I could feel it deep in my gut—I needed answers.

“Alexander, wait!”

But before I could even step out, I overheard voices from outside, cutting through the thick silence.

“Have you heard? Princess Cassandra is pregnant. That’s why she lost consciousness.”

I froze.

My whole body went cold, and I felt the ground beneath me tremble.

No. This can’t be… could it be… he’s the father?

The thought of it sent a wave of terror, anxiety, and unbearable pain through me. I didn’t even realize the tears that had started streaming down my face. My hands gripped my hair, tugging at it in sheer agony, trying to make sense of the twisted nightmare I was waking up to.

I didn’t notice that Alexander hadn’t come home until I found myself slumped in front of the door, exhausted, my body too numb to move.

When I finally woke, everything felt like a haze—my eyes dull and heavy with dread. As I glanced outside, I saw the mating ceremony was about to begin again. But this time… I couldn’t. I couldn’t go through with it anymore.

With quiet, calculated steps, I snuck out, ensuring that no one would see me. No one could know that I was leaving…

When I successfully made it past the entrance without a single soul noticing, I paused. My eyes swept over the village, staring in its familiar sight.

This place… it held the foundation of everything Alexander and I had shared.

From the moment I arrived here, years ago, in his pack’s territory, I felt something, a connection that pulled me toward him. He had made me fall for him, not just with words, but with the way he made me feel. And for years, I truly believed that he loved me in return.

I had let go of my pride for him. I had allowed myself to be bound to this place, to him.

But everything changed the moment he invited Cassandra here. That was when things started to unravel. That was when I saw it—his true nature. No matter what I did, Cassandra would always come first.

I couldn’t let that continue.

I refused to live in her shadow any longer.

I no longer cared what my father thought. I knew he wouldn’t approve of me leaving, but his opinion no longer mattered.

And my mother? She would never help me. Even if I told her about my suffering, she wouldn’t lift a finger. In the end, she would simply obey my father’s wishes, just like always.

As for Cassandra… she would never change.

She had spent her life finding ways to hurt me, and now, she was slowly taking Alexander from me too. She wouldn’t stop until she had everything.

And Alexander… I finally understood where I stood in his life.

He didn’t love me.

He hurt me.

He raised his hand against me.

And I could no longer endure it.

This needed to end.

With one last deep breath, I made my way to the borders, ensuring that no one saw me. My heart pounded as I moved quickly through the shadows. I was almost free.

But then—

A sharp, searing pain pierced through my lower abdomen.

I gasped, my steps faltering as my breath hitched in my throat. My hands instinctively clutched my stomach as I winced.

“Ahh…!” A soft cry of pain escaped my lips.

My gaze dropped downward, and my heart stopped.

Blood.

A crimson stain spread across my dress. My hands trembled as I touched the damp fabric, realization crashing over me like a tidal wave.

No…

Not now.

Not when I was finally leaving. Not when I had made up my mind to walk away from this life, from Alexander!

And yet, in this very moment, when I was ready to abandon everything—

I discovered the truth.

I was carrying his child.

Alexander’s POV

"Where is Samantha?! The mating ceremony is about to start! Where is she?!"

I couldn't stop myself from shouting. My voice thundered through the entire hall, shaking the very walls around us. Fear gripped everyone in the room, their eyes widened, their bodies stiffened, and their breaths hitched. They were terrified of me.

"W-We’re looking for her, Alpha. We’re doing everything we can, but we can't find her. We don't even know where she is."

Damn it!

I cursed loudly and threw a punch at the wall beside me, the sharp sting spreading through my knuckles. But the pain was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside me. My mind was spinning, struggling to make sense of the chaos.

Tonight was supposed to be the night, our official union.

The moment I would finally claim Samantha as mine. It should have happened before, but the ceremony had been interrupted when Cassandra collapsed.

The instant she hit the ground, I rushed her to the healer, who tended to her wounds. She had fallen hard, her body scraping against the rough ground, leaving cuts and bruises across her pale skin. Thankfully, nothing seemed too severe—at least, that’s what I had thought. But then the truth surfaced.

She was pregnant.

And the child she was carrying was mine.

My entire world tilted in that moment. The weight of responsibility crashed over me, suffocating and relentless. As much as I knew this would stir problems within the pack, I had no choice but to keep it a secret. No one could know. No one should ever find out! Because if they do… the alliance will break.

Cassandra and I… we had something, a bond deeper than mere desire. She was the one I truly loved. She was the one I wanted to be with. But duty dictated otherwise.

My union to Samantha wasn’t about love. It was about power, about securing an alliance that would strengthen my hold, my legacy in the pack.

And now, she was missing!

Just when I needed her to be here the most, she had vanished without a trace!

"Alpha, we checked the house. We searched every room. Princess Samantha is gone. And… her belongings are missing too."

“What?!”

Without another thought, I bolted out of the hall, my heart pounding with each step as I rushed toward our home. The air around me was thick with tension, my lungs burning as I pushed forward.

The moment I reached our bedroom, my worst fears solidified into reality. The room was stripped of her presence. Her clothes, her personal belongings—everything was gone.

I stood there, frozen, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. My breathing was heavy, ragged.

No. This couldn't be happening!

She couldn’t be gone. She had to be here! Without her, the alliance wouldn't happen. Without her, this entire arrangement would fall apart!

The other pack might take this as an insult. And worse… her father might find out.

My thoughts were spinning so fast that I barely registered the presence of someone approaching. It wasn’t until I heard the voice of Samantha’s mother that I snapped back to reality.

"Alexander, is it true? Did you… were you seeing Cassandra?!" Her voice was sharp, demanding. "Do you have any idea what a disgrace this is?! What a shame this brings to our pack?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. My jaw tightened, and I avoided her piercing gaze.

Samantha must have told her everything.

So, that’s why she left…

I felt my stomach drop. No. I couldn’t let this end like this. I had to find her!

"Search for her!" I roared, my voice echoing through the room. "We need to bring her back!"

Before I could storm out, Dante, my beta, suddenly appeared before me, his expression grim and his body tense.

"Alpha…" He hesitated, and that hesitation made my blood run cold. "I have terrible news."

I turned to him sharply. "What is it? Did you find Samantha?!"

He swallowed hard, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "Someone saw her. She was ambushed… by a rogue wolf."

My entire body went still. "W-What?"

"She… she disappeared. And some say… she might be dead. No one knows where her body is."

The moment those words reached my ears, my entire world stopped spinning.

No…