“How dare you enter my room without my permission?"

I immediately stood up and turned to the door. The man standing at the door was none other than Bryan Morrison.

He possessed an undeniable charm, with his striking appearance.

But the chill in his gaze sent shivers down my spine. His dark eyes glared at me.

I let out a gasp, and my hand began to shake. The photo frame slipped out of my grasp and onto the floor without my knowledge.

I did not know that it was his room.

"B-Big Brother-in-law!" I said with a trembling tone.

"Brother-in-law? Is what I've heard correct, Bryan?"

After entering the room, a woman positioned herself next to Bryan.

She was a stunningly beautiful woman.

She had a beauty that men usually worship. She was wearing a white dress that reached her knees. Her curves underlined her slender and attractive figure.

After giving me an in-depth look from head to toe, she turned her attention to him.

"Is she Bruce's girlf-"

Bryan raised his hand to stop her from continuing to speak. His gaze moved down to the floor.

I slowly lowered my eyes and saw that the glass of the photo frame was broken!

My eyes widened when I saw the crack between the two brothers in the picture.

In a hurry, I sat down and reached out to touch the photo.

"I am cleaning it," I said.

"Leave." I heard him.

I turned my head to look at him. His eyes were still on the photo as if he were angry to look at me. And if he did, he would kill me.

I gulped and tried to apologize.

"I-I am sorry."

"LEAVE."

He yelled at me.

I flinched at his cold tone, and a shard of glass pierced my finger.

I lowered my head and stood up. I rushed out of his room while trying to control my tears.

The moment I came out of his room, tears began to stream down my cheeks. I stopped and bit my bottom lip to prevent myself from crying.

No one had ever talked to me like that. I sobbed and was about to move when I heard the woman talking to him.

"Bryan, she is so cheap. Did you see her dressing sense?"

I looked down at my clothes. What was wrong with my clothes? I was wearing a decent dress.

"What's wrong with our Bruce? Does he really like that girl? I can't believe this.

He has such a bad choice!"

I frowned and made my way to the stairs. I did not want to stay a single second here. I did not come here to take any humiliation.

I climbed down the stairs and directly headed to the main door.

"Sophia?"

I heard someone calling me from behind.

As I turned around, I saw Bruce's mother, Juliana Morrison.

She tilted her head and smiled at me.

"Hey! How come you are here? And why are you leaving?"

In an effort to get myself back under control, I smiled at her back.

I had seen her last year at Bruce's birthday party, just like his big brother.

But the difference was that Bruce could introduce me to his parents.

They knew me. His mother was a very nice lady.

"Luna, how are you?" I asked and walked to her.

She held my hands and told me to sit on the couch with her.

She glanced at the maids who were working there. They bowed to her and left the living hall.

She chuckled and shook her head in reply.

"I am not your Luna anymore. Mila will be your Luna very soon." She said.

'Mila?' I thought about this name. She was talking about Bryan's fiancee, the woman I had just seen in his room.

Considering that his brother was going to marry her in the near future, Bruce always referred to her as his sister-in-law. In fact, it was Bruce who told me to call Bryan brother-in-law. He said calling him Alpha would sound awkward since we would become a family soon.

"Y-Yeah," I said while recalling the humiliations.

"She is the daughter of the head Alpha of the Moon Valley pack. She is the best choice for my son. She is an eligible woman. She will treat the whole pack well. At least, I hope so." She described her soon-to-be daughter-in-law with a very bright face.

I experienced a sense of unease. I would be her daughter-in-law, too. But I was not from any different pack with any high status.

I belonged to a very average family. My father was not an Alpha of any pack but a fighter wolf. He died in an accident, leaving my mother and us alone. To raise my brother and me, my mother had to work very hard. For the sake of achieving the rank of Gamma, my brother worked with his blood, sweat, and tears. For the purpose of getting into the best university so that I could graduate and make my mother proud, I studied hard.That was what we had. We had self-respect but no higher reputation.

As if she understood my thoughts, she placed her hand on my head.

"Don't think that I am not happy with you just because I am talking about my big daughter-in-law. Every time Bruce speaks, he mentions you. When I met you at the party, I felt that he had made a wise decision. You are a pretty girl.

Does he behave well with you?"

I looked at her. The anxiety that had been nagging at my head vanished swiftly. With a smile on my face, I gave her a nod.

"He is really good with me. I am very lucky to have him."

I received a nod from her. Her smile never left her face. She was happy that both of her sons were settling down with good women.

A few maids arrived with snacks and arranged them on the tea table.

"Where is Bruce, Auntie?"

"I heard him having a conversation with a girl named Luisa. Maybe he has some work outside."

"Oh."

Luisa? What was Bruce talking about with her?

Then it hit my mind. Tomorrow was my birthday. So, were they planning something for me?

I stood up and said,

"Auntie, give me permission to leave now. I have some work."

She raised her brows. "You didn't eat anything."

"Next time, Auntie. I am in a hurry right now."

"You are coming tomorrow with Abraham, right?"

"Yeah."

"Bring your mother with you."

I lowered my head shyly and nodded my head.

I left the pack house. I dialed Luisa's number. She did not receive my call again.

I took a cab to go to Luisa's house.

'You both are planning a surprise for me and thought I would never know that?' I thought with a chuckle.

But in my mind, I did not want to ruin their surprise. I was just going to her house to see if she was okay because she did not come to the university today.

I had no idea where Bruce was. But since he lied to me, he was really up to something.

I reached Luisa's house. It was her maid who opened the door.

"Hello. Where is Luisa?"

"She is in her bedroom."

"Okay. I am going there." I told her and made my way upstairs to Luisa's bedroom.

I was pleased today. Why not? I had the opportunity to listen to compliments from my future mother-in-law.

I stood in front of Luisa's door. I was surprised when I opened the door.

She was using her phone. Didn't I call her many times? What caused her not to receive mine?

Nevertheless, my eyes fell on her body which was covered with a blanket.

I entered the room and asked,

"Luisa? Do you have a fever?"

She looked shocked when she saw me, as if she were looking at a ghost.

"Y-You! W-Why are you here”

She asked and immediately tried to cover her neck and arms with the blanket.

I was unable to understand her reaction.

But suddenly I heard the sound of someone opening a door.

I turned my head toward the bathroom.

There, I saw a man coming out with wet hair, wearing a white bathrobe.

I could not believe my eyes. I felt a pang in my heart. My eyes began to well up with tears as I uttered his name.

"Bruce?"

I felt as if the ground had slipped beneath my feet. It would have been better if I had buried myself before seeing this.

"So-Sophia?"

Bruce looked stunned when he saw me.

What would he think? He would keep cheating on me, and I could not get to know about it?

"How could you?" I took a step back. I felt heavy in my chest.

The person I most trusted betrayed me!

I had always wished to spend the rest of my life with him. I thought I was a lucky girl to have him, but what did I get in return?

Cheating?

"Sophia, whatever you are thinking, nothing is like that,baby."

Bruce attempted to approach me. But I stopped him by lifting my hand. I shook my head. I felt like passing out.

I turned my head toward Luisa. Her head was down. How could she have done that? Wasn't she my best friend?

"And you?" I muttered to her.

She looked at me and shook her head.

She forgot she was wrapped in a blanket.

Her blanket had fallen from her chest.

A few marks on her naked body became visible in front of my eyes.

When I saw that, I almost fell to the floor.

I was speechless. How could they play dirty with me?

"Sophia, I am sorry. Please forgive me, baby."

Bruce came close and held my hand. I felt disgusted when he touched me.

I yanked my hand out of his grasp and slapped him.

"How long?" I asked.

He was silent. Why? Why was he so quiet right now? It had been two years since we had been in a relationship. He

promised me to be a loyal man. He vowed to me that he would mark me and make me his mate.

A few years ago, I went to the pack house with my brother when he wasn't yet the Gamma. That time, I met Bruce. He began to show up at my school to meet me. We began dating a few months later.

He had already rejected his mate at that time. He told me that he had rejected his mate because she had cheated on him.

But what exactly was he doing now?

"I ASKED HOW LONG???" I yelled at him.

He remained silent, not even making eye contact.

I went to Luisa. "You, tell me. How long have you been doing this behind my back with him?"

I wanted to hear for myself how long they had made a fool out of me.

"O-One year." She replied as she turned away from me.

I bit my lips, almost bleeding. I could not take more stabs in my heart.

"I didn't want to do that, Sophia. I only love you." I heard Bruce.

Did he still have the courage to speak?

I scoffed at him. After what he did, he had the audacity to say that?

"Why did you cheat on me?"

"You never let me touch you. I am an Alpha. I have some desires that I need to fulfill. So I had to go another route."

"I-I was waiting to turn eighteen. I wanted to become your mate and wife.

Before doing anything, I wanted to give our relationship a name. I have never considered another man. I was saving

myself just for you. But couldn't you wait for me? Not even another year? You started cheating on me after only one year of our relationship?"

I tightened my fists to stop crying. I took a deep breath.

"Everything is over. The relationship between us is over." I told Bruce.

I looked at Luisa, whom I used to call my best friend. "Don't come in front of me again."

She did not try to justify herself, as if she had nothing to say.

I turned around to leave. I ran downstairs while crying.

"SOPHIA"

Bruce rushed down the stairs and

grabbed my arm.

"Don't touch me."

"How dare you say that you broke up with me? You can't go anyway. No one will accept you. Everyone knows that you are my girlfriend. You are a weak Omega.

No one will make you his wife but a plaything. You should be relieved that I am still in love with you. So just forget everything and pretend you haven't seen anything."

I stared at him. How could a man be so shameless? I wanted to slap myself for falling for him. His words made me even more despised.

I pushed him hard.

"You don't have to think about me. Go play with your Luisa like you have been doing all these times."

Saying that, I walked out of the house.

My legs felt shaky. I had no idea where to go. What should I do now? What would I do with this betrayal in my life?

How would I explain Bruce to my mother and brother? I promised to introduce him to them soon. My brother appeared to be very knowledgeable about people.

He had warned me about Bruce before, but I never paid attention to his words.

How stupid I was!

I made my way to the road. I didn't have the strength to wait for a cab. My thoughts were jumbled.

Tomorrow was my eighteenth birthday.

Fate really gave me a great present!

I thought they were preparing something for my birthday, but little did I know they had been cheating on me for a long time.

Why did all of this happen to me? I was a simple girl who was happy with her small family. Why did he come and break me so badly?

He called me a weak omega! He thought about me like this all the time?

I walked like a crazy woman to the road.

I had no idea where I was or how long I had been walking.

My steps became slower as I began to feel the sun, and its intensity nearly drove me insane. I was sweating, crying, and depressed.

I could hear horns behind me.

"Hey, girl! Go die somewhere else. Get out of our path. Our Alpha is getting late."

I was so occupied in my messed-up mind that I could not hear the driver clearly.

When I turned around, I was astounded to see a long line of black cars behind me.

A bulky man emerged from a car that was in the middle of the other cars. Then he opened the back door for someone.

A man in a black suit came out and made his way towards me.

Because of the sunlight and my glossy eyes, I could not see his face.

He took a slow stride forward and came to a halt in front of me. His presence blocked the sunlight from falling on my face.

I blinked to get a better look at him.

It was Bryan Morrison!

How did I end up meeting him twice on the same day?

I was unable to think of what to call him now.

Big brother-in-law? Bryan? Alpha?

He had a frown on his face as he stared at me. He might be wondering why I was in the middle of the road.

"I-I..."

I wanted to tell him about what his brother had done to me, but before I could, I felt unsteady.

Darkness began to descend around me. I felt myself slamming into his hard chest.

His strong arms encircled my waist almost immediately. When he touched me, I felt a strange sensation that I had never felt before.

Before I could comprehend the unfamiliar feeling,

I passed out in his arms.

When I opened my eyes, it was already evening. A few times, I blinked my eyes.

I could see the ceiling of my room.

I sat up and rubbed my forehead. For a minute, I could not understand what had happened.

My thoughts immediately went to the scenario in which Bruce was with Luisa.

At first, I was under the impression that it was a nightmare.

But then I realized what I witnessed today. Bruce cheated on me.

"I will never forgive you, Bruce. I hate you."

I wanted to get out of bed. However, my mind stopped when I thought about how I got back home.

My eyes widened. I covered my mouth with my hands.

I fainted in Alpha's arms!

How? Why??

Did he send me home?

I went downstairs to ask my mother. She was cooking something in the kitchen.

"Mom?"

"Sophia? You woke up?" my mother turned to me and asked.

She cupped my face and said,

"What happened to you, my child? Are you feeling okay now?"

"I am fine, Mom. Who sent me home?"

"Your brother took you back home."

"Brother?" I was confused.

"He said he was going with Alpha to a pack meeting. They were in a hurry. But a girl appeared in front of one of their vehicles, and Alpha went to check for himself. Since Abraham was the Gamma, he also went to check on the situation and make sure everything was in order.

But then he saw you unconscious. He told Alpha that you were his sister and brought you back home."

I lowered my head. "He must be feeling embarrassed because of me."

"No, my child. Why are you saying this?

You are his sister. You are his responsibility."

I nodded my head. My mother told me to eat something, but I refused. I was not in a mood to eat anything. I went back to

my room.

I cried a lot in my room. I tried not to cry out loud because I did not want my mother to be aware of my shattered heart, at least not at this time.

When it was midnight,

My mother and brother came to my room with a birthday cake.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

I was stunned by their sudden appearance. I immediately wiped my eyes and tried to hide my face with my hair.

"Sophi,

what happened?" Abraham asked.

"Nothing, Brother."

He placed the cake on the bed and sat beside me. My mother sat on the other side.

"I didn't ask you about today. What happened to you?"

"I was just tired, brother. Nothing else. I am sorry that I wasted your time and embarrassed you."

"No worries, silly girl. This is not something you should cry for." Abraham said, and he patted my head.

"Now, make a wish and cut the cake." My mother told me.

I closed my eyes.

'I don't know what to wish for. From now on, I will follow my fate wherever it may lead me.' I said to myself and blew out the candle.

I cut my birthday cake. I had to smile because I did not want to show my sorrow to my family.

After eating pieces of cake and giving me two envelopes, Abraham and Mother left my room.

I put the envelopes in a drawer. I did not have a mind to open them. They worked hard, and the money in those envelopes was their earnings. How could I always use those without giving them anything in return?

I lay on my bed and tried to fall asleep with a broken heart.

The next day,

I spent the entire day confined to my room. Due to the fact that I did not go out for lunch, my mother brought lunch to my room.

She informed me that I needed to get ready in time because Abraham would send someone to take us to the pack house.

"I don't want to go, Mom," I told her.

How could I go to that house? It was my ex-boyfriend's house. I had no relationship with him now. I did not want to see his face again.

"You have to go. It's Alpha Bryan's engagement ceremony. Your name is clearly stated on the invitation card. You can't deny it, my child. It's a rule." I was an omega. If there was any rule that I breached, I would not be able to survive any royal retribution. Therefore, I had no choice but to consent to going.

I started to get ready in the evening. I wore a simple white dress that my mother bought for me as a birthday present. I put on a pair of white heels.

Then I put on some light makeup and let my hair down.

My mother saw me when I went downstairs.

"You look so beautiful, Sophia."

"Thanks, Mom."

She hugged me and cried. "If your father were here, he would have been happy to see you."

I patted her back. She was right. I was missing my father.

"I am not going with you."

"Why, mother?"

"My back pain returned." She replied with a low chuckle.

"Then I am also not going as well."

"No. You have to go. We talked about this before."

I sighed and told her to take care of herself, then I left my house.

A car was parked outside. The driver came out and opened the back door for me. As soon as I got in, he returned to his seat and started the car.

The car reached the pack house. I got down and called my brother.

He came out to take me inside the house.

He held my hand and headed to the other side.

"Not this side?"

"No, this is the residential area. We are going to the next building, which is a massive hall. That is used for all kinds of events."

I gave him a slight nod and continued going. I was praying not to see Bruce. I did not want to see him and lose my sanity there.

I entered the hall. It was large. The hall was decorated beautifully, just like the pack house I had seen yesterday.

"Stay here and enjoy the party. I have to go somewhere now. I will be back in half an hour. Call me if you get bored," Abraham said to me.

I turned to him. "What are you saying?

What would I do here alone?"

"Just enjoy the engagement ceremony.

Your boyfriend is here too. So I don't think you'll need me here. But don't get too close before our confirmation, okay?" I lowered my head and nodded my head.

If he knew what Bruce had done, he would have been very angry and probably killed him in anger.

After my brother left, I stood in a corner for a while.

looked around and noticed the former Alpha and Luna. They looked delighted.

All the guests were waiting for the ring exchange moment.

Suddenly, my view turned foggy. smelled something I had never smelled before.

It was a mixed smell of rain and forest.

It was a very addictive scent.

I turned my head left and right, then sniffed the air to smell the scent more and more.

My legs began to step forward without my approval. People started to gather around someone or a family. They said now Alpha and the future Luna would exchange rings.

But who could control my wolf?

She disagreed to stop my steps and tried to take over me.

I felt like I would pass out if I could not reach the owner of the scent.

I took another whiff of the air and then proceeded to the direction where the scent was coming from.

I pushed the crowd and took long strides in front of the royal family.

They turned their heads toward me. I could sense Bruce's eyes on me.

However, my eyes were not on him but on someone else.

Someone, that I could not believe it was his scent that pulled me here.

I was unable to think of anything. I moved closer and stopped in front of him.

Everyone started to whisper about why I suddenly went to the couple at the moment of their engagement.

My wolf started to chant, 'Mate. Mate.Mate.'

I was shocked that I found my mate. It was the scent of my mate.

But the owner of the scent was none other than Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha of the Night Shade Pack!

His eyes turned red when they darted at me. He glared at me, showing that he was not pleased to see me or to learn that I was his mate.

My wolf could not take his cold look. I felt my knees tremble upon seeing his fierce eyes.

I fell on my knees in front of him.

I raised my head and looked at him.

My eyes turned ocean blue. Tears streamed out of my eyes.

I could not stop myself from calling him in front of everyone.

"Mate"