Chapter 2

The Bloodstone Pack's private dining room was alive with chatter and laughter as the pack celebrated yet another occasion under Alpha Darius Blackwood’s meticulous planning. For the rest of the pack, the evening was a grand display of unity and love, but for me, it was a suffocating charade.

I arrived dressed in a modest, flowing dress of dark green, a stark contrast to the ruby necklace Selene had been gifted. As Luna, I was expected to shine brightly in every gathering, yet tonight, I felt like the faintest star in a sky dominated by a blazing sun—Selene Hayes.

Darius greeted me at the entrance with a wide smile. “Celeste, you’re late,” he said, his tone light and playful, but the look in his eyes carried a hint of something else—displeasure, perhaps.

“I had to finish a few things,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

He leaned in to kiss my cheek, his lips grazing my skin like a perfunctory obligation. “You look beautiful,” he murmured.

I nodded, my smile remaining intact as I allowed him to guide me into the room. As we entered, the crowd erupted in applause, their cheers echoing off the walls. Darius raised a hand, acknowledging their adoration, while I remained silent beside him.

The festivities were in full swing, with the pack members raising glasses and exchanging stories of triumphs and alliances. Darius, ever the charismatic leader, was at the center of it all.

But my gaze drifted toward the back of the room, where Selene stood. Her dress was bold, a deep scarlet that clung to her like a second skin, accentuating every curve. She held a glass of wine, her smile poised and predatory.

When our eyes met, her lips curved upward in a knowing smirk. She raised her glass slightly, as if in a silent toast, her gaze never leaving mine.

My hand tightened around my glass, the cool surface grounding me as a wave of anger and humiliation surged within.

“Celeste,” Darius’s voice brought me back, his hand resting lightly on my arm. “Come, I have something for you.”

I turned to him, my expression neutral. “Another gift?”

His smile widened as he handed me a small velvet box. “You’ll love this one,” he said confidently.

I opened the box to reveal a pair of sapphire earrings, their brilliance catching the light. They were exquisite, undoubtedly chosen to match the necklace he had given me earlier.

“Thank you,” I said softly, placing the box aside.

Darius frowned slightly at my lack of enthusiasm but quickly masked it. “Come, let’s sit.”

As we moved toward the head of the table, Selene made her way over, her presence commanding attention. She greeted Darius with a bright smile, placing a hand on his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Alpha,” she said, her voice honeyed, “you look dashing tonight.”

Darius chuckled, his hand briefly covering hers. “And you’re as radiant as ever, Selene.”

I clenched my jaw, the casual intimacy between them like a dagger twisting in my chest.

“Luna,” Selene said, turning to me with feigned warmth, her smile as sharp as a blade hidden behind silk. “That necklace suits you beautifully. Darius has always had impeccable taste.”

My smile didn’t falter. “Thank you, Selene. And that dress—red is quite... daring. Bold choices do suit you.”

The corner of her mouth twitched, her eyes narrowing slightly. The unspoken tension crackled between us, hidden beneath the veneer of politeness.

Darius shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking between us. “Now, now,” he said with a forced laugh, “let’s not turn the evening into a contest of wit. Tonight is about celebrating, after all.”

“Yes,” Selene purred, her gaze never leaving mine. “A celebration of love, loyalty, and... lasting bonds.”

I felt my control slipping as her words struck deeper, each one a needle threading through my composure. Yet, I simply raised my glass in a mock toast. “To those bonds that never break—seen or unseen.”

Selene’s smile tightened. Darius, oblivious or unwilling to acknowledge the subtle war between us, turned his attention to the others.

As the night wore on, the facade became heavier, the air thick with pretense. Laughter rang hollow in my ears as my mind raced, replaying every moment of betrayal.

When I finally excused myself under the guise of needing fresh air, I barely reached the hallway before the rage I had kept bottled up boiled over.

Just as I steadied my breathing, I heard a voice behind me—deep and cutting through the silence.

“How much longer can she keep pretending,?”

I spun around, my pulse quickening as I looked for who said that..

My steps faltered as I approached the pack’s private lounge, where muffled voices carried through the thick wooden doors. Instinctively, I pressed myself against the wall, ensuring I remained unseen.

“To think Darius married her out of duty,” one voice chuckled mockingly. “If Damian were still around, he’d rip him to shreds for it.”

A second voice chimed in, softer but no less cutting. “Alpha Damian would never have allowed his little sister to end up like this. Such a shame he’s gone.”

I clenched my fists, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. Alpha Damian? Gone? They were talking about my brother—my Damian.

A brief silence followed before someone whispered, “You know, there are rumors he’s not dead. That he survived.”

The air seemed to freeze around me. My breath caught in my throat, and my mind reeled. Damian—alive? How? After all these years, could it be true?

I pressed myself harder against the wall, struggling to stay upright.

The voices inside continued, oblivious to the storm raging in my mind.

“Only Alpha Darius and the elders know the full truth about the Vaughn tragedy. The Luna’s been kept in the dark all this time.”

“Poor thing,” another voice added mockingly. “She was so young when it happened, too easy to manipulate. It’s no wonder she’s so desperate for love.”

My stomach churned, bile rising in my throat. The Vaughn tragedy… My parents, my brother, our entire pack wiped out in a single night of bloodshed. I was only five years old, and my memories were hazy, filled with screams, fire, and the suffocating scent of iron.

I had been told my brother died protecting me, that his sacrifice ensured my survival. But what if it was all a lie?

Selene’s voice rang out, cutting through my spiraling thoughts. “She’s so gullible, isn’t she? Clinging to Darius as if he actually loves her.”

My hands trembled. The betrayal stung more than I cared to admit.

I couldn’t bear to hear another word. Gathering every ounce of composure, I pushed open the door. The lively chatter came to an abrupt halt as all eyes turned to me.

Darius’s arm, which had been draped casually around Selene’s chair, fell away as if burned.

Selene gave me a smug smile, her eyes glinting with challenge. “Luna,” she greeted sweetly, her tone laced with venom.

“I’m not feeling well,” I announced, my voice steady despite the chaos in my mind. “I’m heading back to the quarters.”

Darius stood, his brows furrowing. “Celeste, wait—”

“I’ll manage,” I cut him off sharply, my tone leaving no room for argument. Without another glance, I turned and walked out, my steps quick and purposeful.

The night air was cool against my flushed skin as I hurried back to the manor. Every step brought new questions, new fears. Could my brother really be alive? And if so, why had no one told me?

Once inside my chambers, I locked the door behind me and paced, my thoughts racing. A name surfaced in my mind—a name I had tried to ignore for months.

Damien Blackwell.

The enigmatic Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack. He had approached me months ago, commissioning my designs for the Bloodstone Pack’s emblem redesign. Our interactions had been brief and professional, but something about him had always felt… familiar.

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the wild thought. It couldn’t be Damian. It couldn’t.

But the whispers I had overheard wouldn’t leave me alone.

I crossed the room and opened the drawer where I kept correspondence with clients. Sure enough, there it was—a handwritten letter from Damien Blackwell himself.

My hands trembled as I read his words, searching for something, anything, that might confirm or disprove my suspicions.

Finally, I grabbed a pen and paper, writing a short, desperate note:

Damien, are you Damian Vaughn?

I hesitated for only a moment before sealing the letter and calling for one of the pack’s couriers.

“Deliver this to Alpha Blackwell,” I instructed, my voice firm.

The courier nodded and left swiftly, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts.

Moments later, the door to my chambers burst open, and Darius strode in, his expression dark.

“Why did you leave the celebration?” he demanded, his tone harsh.

“I wasn’t feeling well,” I replied, my voice calm despite the storm inside me.

Darius’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve been distant all night. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I met his gaze evenly, the years of practiced composure shielding my true emotions. “Perhaps you should ask yourself the same question.”

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, turning on his heel and leaving the room without another word.

As the door slammed shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath. The truth was clawing its way to the surface, and I could no longer ignore it.

If Damian was alive, I would find him.

No matter what it took.

At home, I picked up the CCTV footage on my phone and started going through the earlier recordings. I stared at the footage on the screen, my heart breaking with every passing second. Darius, my mate—the man destined by the Moon Goddess to be my other half—had betrayed me. The bond that tethered our souls now felt like a chain dragging me into the depths of despair.

Selene’s provocative voice echoed in my ears: “She didn’t give you that fluttering excitement tonight, did she?”

And Darius’s response, his pathetic attempt to justify his actions, cut deeper than I thought possible.

The pain of the betrayal wasn’t just emotional—it was physical. My wolf, Luna, paced furiously within me, her rage simmering. She howled to be let loose, to confront them both, to shred the illusion of love Darius had built on lies. But I held her back.

“Not yet,” I whispered, forcing my claws to retract. I needed proof—not just for myself but for the pack. They deserved to see the truth of their Alpha.

Scrolling through the timestamps, I forced myself to watch every sickening encounter. Each kiss, each touch, each betrayal replayed in vivid detail. Darius had desecrated not just our bond but the sanctity of the pack’s home.

Finally, the pain became too much. Slamming the laptop shut, I pressed a trembling hand to my chest. The mate bond throbbed faintly, a cruel reminder of the connection we shared.

“This ends now,” I murmured, the resolve in my voice steadying my wavering spirit.

---

The next morning, I walked into Darius’s study, the air thick with his scent. Beneath it lingered a faint trace of Selene’s perfume, a mockery of everything we once stood for.

I placed a small box on his desk. Inside were the remnants of a love I could no longer recognize—notes, small tokens, things that once held meaning but now served as painful reminders of his betrayal. On the lid, I scrawled a simple note:

“For the mate who didn’t deserve me. Happy anniversary.”

Taking a deep breath, I opened the drawer where Darius kept the letters I’d written him over the years. Each one was a testament to my love and devotion, words I now realized were wasted.

I gathered the letters, my movements deliberate, as though I were erasing every trace of the life we’d built.

The door creaked open behind me. Darius’s voice broke the silence. “Celeste?”

I didn’t turn around, focusing instead on the final letter. “What are you doing here?”

“Just cleaning up,” I replied coldly.

His footsteps drew closer, and I could feel his presence like a weight pressing on my back. “What is this?” he asked, his tone sharp.

I turned, meeting his gaze with unwavering determination. “Proof,” I said simply. “Proof that I don’t need you anymore.”

His eyes flicked to the box on his desk. “You don’t mean this,” he said, his voice tight. “You’re just upset—”

“Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it, Darius.” My wolf stirred, her growl low and menacing. “I gave you everything—my love, my trust, my loyalty—and you destroyed it.”

“You don’t understand—”

“I understand perfectly,” I cut him off, stepping closer. My claws extended as Luna surged forward, demanding justice. “You’re not the mate I thought you were. And now, I’m taking back what’s mine—my freedom.”

He reached for me, desperation flickering in his eyes. “Celeste, don’t do this. Think about the pack, the bond—”

“The bond?” I laughed bitterly. “You destroyed that bond the moment you brought her into our home. You don’t deserve the mate bond, and you certainly don’t deserve me.”

Taking a deep breath, I felt the surge of power within me as I stepped back. “This isn’t for you, Darius. It’s for me.”

With that, I turned and walked out of the study, my steps steady and sure. The Moon Goddess may have tied us together once, but his betrayal had untangled the threads.

This was my beginning.