Elaine's POV

There aren't many things we can handle by ourselves. Fate always drags a way out to punish the guilty. So why should I bother about redemption?

It started a few weeks ago. As the Alpha of Frostbite Pack of the south borders, I had way too many things to do. However, I chose to ignore the consequences of shifting my meeting schedule with the other packs' alphas because I was stupidly in love with my mate.

My mate was Jacob Castiglione. His reign was recognised by many other pack leaders. He was young and competent. Moreover, he was fated to be my mate. Of course, everyone recognised our alliance and grew scared of the power we held. An alpha couple is top-tier and almost too rare to find in this era.

So when Jacob asked me to pick up our engagement-related gear and come up to him, I cancelled my day's busy schedule to spend some time with him. We lived close to a human suburb. We lived in a mansion away from our pack houses because we wanted privacy. Moreover, it was to hide the fact that neither Jacob nor I wanted to have children. Staying away from the pack meant staying away from the elders' expectations.

Picking up a cake from the shop, I headed to the restaurant Jacob asked me to meet him at. It's surprising how we meet these days. It's never at home. In the morning. I was busy working because it fits my requirements and he's out in the evenings. We never spent time with each other at home. It was as if...he was avoiding my presence purposefully.

I was nearing the restaurant, asking for directions to our VIP cabin. As I was walking down the hallway by myself, I heard those words,

"But I love Marilda very dearly." He said with such innocence and adoration in his voice. I stopped in my tracks immediately. Of course...I should have known.

My hands were trembling as I struggled to gulp the lump forming in my throat. This was expected, why couldn't I have seen it coming sooner?

Matilda is...my younger sister. She was found as a rogue in the vicinity of our pack's territory. Seven years ago, she was just a pup and was abandoned by her rogue parents. With the greatness of my heart, I took her into our pack. Back then, I had my parents to support me. But five years ago, my parents passed away tragically in a pack raid which was a joint attack on our pack.

I still remember that day as if it was yesterday. I remember clutching onto Matilda's small head as our pack house crumbled to the soil. That night, our ally pack was too late to arrive. Turned twenty one recently and without a mate, Jacob Castiglione realized we were destined.

That night, as he pulled me out of the debris, he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me. He claimed he was my mate, and I accepted him.

...What I couldn't fathom at that moment was a pair of eyes staring at us in awe. She wanted what I wanted. And she got it eventually.

Her whole life from that point onwards was about becoming another version...of me.

As I thought about it, a shiver ran down my spine. Suddenly, Jacob burst through the door and walked into me.

"The- There you are! Haha. I missed you, my love!" Jacob strode heavily and hugged me tightly.

"Oh, shit..." he didn't realize that he stepped on the cake box I dropped. His foot was covered with cake and frosting. It was my favourite flavour.

"Did you see the engagement preparations I made? I did it all by myself." He boasted. In fact, he sent me some pictures off of internet and didn't even ask for my opinion. I didn't like them. But I wanted to be good to him despite our lost proximity and bond.

He took me inside and clarified that those pictures were indeed from the internet.

"I thought you'd like them." He said, leaning his chin on his palm.

"So you're saying you didn't even put the effort in." I pointed out. His smile withdrew quickly.

"No. Gosh, why is it so hard to impress you these days? Your taste in things has changed, and I can't keep up with you anymore. Look at our sweet Matilda. She's everything about my preferences. In fact, she was the one who gave me the venue and decoration ideas I sent you. Can't you appreciate us a bit?" I stared at him in disbelief. Not only did he compare me to Matilda, he even sided with her preferences.

This was absurd. Who was his priority now? I forgot to mention, Jacob considers Matilda as his sister as well. But when Matilda grew into her new skin as a fresh eighteen-year-old, Jacob's thin line of boundary was erased. He started viewing her differently, spending more time with her than me.

And since she's become a duplicate of me, she had almost all of his attention. I can prove it to you. Just when he said the following words, I smirked to myself.

"Oh, by the way. I called Matilda over to talk to you about the preparations. I don't know how to meet your expectations anymore, so I needed her help. She'll be here soon." He said and prepared to eat. I looked down at the table.

It didn't come as a surprise when I saw all the dishes were Matilda's favourites.

"...Do you like it?" Matilda asked while chewing happily.

"These are so good, Jacob. I love them all!" Matilda said. While it should've been just Jacob and me, Matilda joined in and pulled her chair to sit close to him. It looked like they were a couple more than the real married couple in the cabin.

"I hope you two realise the annual festival is nearing." I hinted. I was playing with my food with the fork. None of those dishes were to my liking and I didn't want to order more food as I'd lost my appetite.

"Oh yes! The annual festival celebrating the Moon Goddess! Don't be silly, Elaine. We will never forget about that." Matilda coaxed. I rolled my eyes and told them that I'd be leaving.

"But wait. I heard you cancelled your schedule for today. Spend some time with me." Jacob demanded shamelessly. I looked over my shoulder and responded,

"I can bring my schedule back up. Clearly, I'm not needed anymore to keep you company." Saying, I made my exit. As I walked into the hallway again, I heard them whispering to each other, "What's gotten into her? He's become so annoying. I can't stand her anymore. Ugh."

It was Jacob narrating those words to his new side chick. At that moment, I realized that I had mentally checked myself out of our relationship. As much as it hurts to say this, I'm letting go of the love of my life.

The festival that we celebrate is to seek blessings from the Moon Goddess. Normally, couples who are fated by destiny stand under the moonlight together and soak up the energy under the annual HOLLOW MOON. This year specifically. The Hollow Moon will glow a magnificent red. Red symbolises power, overcoming grief and setbacks.

And I knew exactly what to wish for under the moonlight this year.

***

Three days passed by, and the bright, festive atmosphere of our pack got to me. Jacob, Matilda and I have reached our pack house. It has been combined since Jacob, and I got married but functioned separately as Frostbite Pack and Moonglow Pack.

"Alpha Elaine and Alpha Jacob are here!" The beta yells loudly upon our arrival. We step inside and greet everyone. Matilda is all over the place, talking to everyone in a squeaky high voice. The elders could bear her, but I couldn't hold my chuckle back when the group of pups made a face and ran away!

"That's not nice, Elaine. Apologize to her." Jacob prompted because I was caught. I gave him the side eye and simply walked away. Well, that was one way to get the festival going I think.

In the evening before the ceremony started, I found myself surrounded by the higher ranks of the pack on the huge dinner table.

"Elaine. Could you scoot, please?" Asked Matilda. I shot her a look but she pouted and pleaded again, "Please? Pretty please? You want to be a good elder sister to me, right?"

"But there's space right next to Jacob on the other side too."

"No, but I've gotten accustomed to sitting on his right." Just then, one of the elders sat by Jacob's empty side. Matilda wouldn't stop whining, everyone's attention was on us.

"Fine. Sit." I gave up and found myself a seat somewhere else.

"Alpha Elaine...you're literally the Alpha of her. That was just too painful to watch. Couldn't you just—" My Beta Jeremy spoke but I cut him off,

"She's a rogue rank and not my sister. My command wouldn't reach her because she is technically not from our pack." Jeremy heard my explanation and fell silent.

After supper, we all went out to gaze at the moon from the fields. Our beautiful meadows were decorated carefully with lamps. The yellow light tackled the dark scarlet hue of the moon over our heads.

"Are you ready?" Matilda asked Jacob. They were a couple of people away from me. I looked down at my hands in sadness. The night was supposed to be about couples. Since we're the alphas, wouldn't it be more sensible for Jacob to make the wish with me? For the benefit of our packs?

Oh boy, was I wrong?

As everyone was awed at the changing hues of the Hollow Moon, from purple to pink to scarlet, I kept staring at Jacob and Matilda. His arm was delicately wrapped around her slim waist. Her hair flew with the wind, making her look ethereal in HIS eyes. Jacob stared down at her, leaning in and almost kissing her. The adoration that was oozing out of his eyes was exclusively for me. I don't know what's changed.

I was so lost in my plethora of thoughts that I didn't notice the lamp splattered oil and kindles onto the grass of the meadows. The fire spread quickly, almost too quickly, that it engulfed the few acres of barren land into the wildfire!

"ALPHA! HELP ME! MY SON IS COVERED IN THE FIRE—" A mother yelled desperately. As soon as I heard that, my instinct made me shift into my wolf - Winter.

Winter was a black wolf with shiny, tough coat. Thanks to her, I could navigate the child and bring him to safety. I knew I couldn't stop there even if my coat had caught fire - I'd heal. But my people won't.

With my burning back, I pushed everyone and carried every pup to safety. Everyone was crying by the end of the mishap. It shouldn't have happened like this.

"Bad omen...Bad omen...Bad omen...!" The elders couldn't stop chanting that. My mental stress reached its peak. But like a cherry on top, as I was trying to shift back into my wolf and speed up my recovery, I watched the scene unfold.

Jacob was hugging Matilda who was 'shell shocked'. She was crying profusely, more than needed, while people were dying because of the fire.

I realized something grave about her; she wasn't doing that just for Jacob's attention.

She was doing that to prove a point.

And that point...was very clear when she stared right into my eyes and smirked.

We had unexpected casualties. I couldn't save two of them. One from my pack and the other from the Moonglow Pack. While all of this was happening, the responsible and sensitive alpha was caring and pampering his 'little sister'. That proved a lot as he was neither responsible nor sensitive to the issue.

What should've been a festival turned into a disaster. I couldn't help but shed tears.

"Alpha Elaine..." Beta Jeremy called out. I was on the porch of our huge mansion-like Packhouse when Jeremy approached from behind. I quickly wiped my tears. As much as it hurt me, I had to stay strong for the others. For my people.

"Alpha Elaine. If I have to say anything, I suggest not to confront Alpha Jacob while you're in this state." Beta Jeremy said. I shot him a look,

"I- I mean! You're grieving, alpha. Nothing would come out as polite or passive—"

"Then I'll do exactly that."

Thereby, all of Jeremy's attempts to stop me were futile. I reached the door where Jacob was staying and banged on it harshly. I heard a gasp from within, I knew Matilda was in there.

"Open the fucking door!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

"What!?" Jacob barked and that sent Jeremy away running. I entered the room, pushed him aside and started yelling at Matilda. It was as if taking my anger out on her than anyone else.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!? You held an alpha back and that resulted in 2 deaths tonight, Matilda!"

"I didn't hold anyone back! I pushed him to go save them! But I got hurt too, Elaine! Don't you have a heart for me!?" Matilda yelled back.

"What's this even about!? Are you trying to blame me for the deaths!?" Jacob turned me around harshly by my shoulder! I almost stumbled backwards and fell disgracefully.

"That's exactly what I wanted to say! You've failed them, Jacob! Congratulations! You're a killer!" I yelled and was fuming. Jacob fell silent. It was as if I triggered something in him.

"...You didn't just say that." He uttered gently.

"My hero, Jacob, calm down. Please." Matilda intervened, trying to calm him down. But Jacob was taking angry steps towards me and was in my face.

"Take. That. Back." He seethed. At that moment, I was too prideful and hurt to obey him.

"Over my dead body." I seethed back. I could see his eyes changing colours. It was flowing a deep red now. Matilda was scared and took a few steps back. Suddenly, Jacob grabbed me by my hair and pulled me out of the room by force!

"Leave me!" I yelled, but he was much stronger than me.

"Get the fuck out of my sight! Matilda has a better heart than you! You've become a monster!" Saying those words to me, he shoved me to the ground and slammed the door close to my feet.

I retracted back and held the back of my head. A tuft of hair just fell out and I stared at them in my hands. I was seeing red too.

This isn't over, Jacob. I'll see your end.

I walked away and joined the pack as if nothing happened. Winter felt sorry for me and urged me to make a decision I was repenting and hesitating to take. But I knew she was right. I have to...

For my own sake.

A few hours had passed and I tried to go back to Jacob and apologize for what I've said. He would be surprised that I swallowed my pride and apologized to him.

But when I got there, I was the one who was surprised for a lifetime.

I opened the door and caught Matilda and Jacob in a compromised position. He was balls-deep and tongue-tied with her.

"Elaine! Elaine! Get the fuck out of there!" Winter yelled in my head, but I was...frozen in my spot.

The sounds and the smell of their lovemaking made me want to throw up. They were so into it that they didn't notice me standing across the ajar door. I didn't know why, and I didn't know how, but I pulled my phone out and started clicking pictures of them. They weren't even being discreet without lights.

That made my revenge easier, I guess.

Almost immediately, I ran out of there and ran out of the packhouse. I drove all the way back to our mansion. My heart was filled with agony and conflict.

The scene of their activity flashed and haunted me throughout the hours of drive back to the mansion. The moment I walked into the hall, I broke down on the bed and started crying. Why did I have to go through this!? Did I lack something that Matilda had? Was she better than me?

Getting over all those questions was surprisingly easy. That was because I was calculating my next move, my next agenda. I wasn't going to back down so easily.

Three days passed, and I didn't even get a phone call or a message from Jacob or Matilda. It shows how little they care about me.

Suddenly, I reminisced about how I treated Matilda through the years. I thought of her as my baby sister. I showered her with love, amenities and everything she needed. Her attitude towards me changed when she turned sixteen, two years ago.

She became more feminine, lost her baby charm and tried to do everything I did. She even started business school at that young age, learning about business from humans online. I didn't stop her. I thought she was following in my footsteps and respecting me.

Little did I know it would have come back to bite me in the back...in the worst way possible.

I placed the iPad down after doing the necessary. Since Jacob's phone and iPad were synced with messages, I could easily access all the evidence I needed.

I then sent the screenshots and photos to the pack group. And I sent the evidence to the elders individually. I could've stopped there...but I went a mile ahead and...