Astrid

“I officially take Astrid Wood of the Night Aim pack as my Luna.”

The hall erupted into cheers as Derek took my hand in his with care. I feel on top of the world. My dreams have finally come true.

I pulled back a stray hair from my face as I smiled sweetly. He had told me to wear my hair up because it brought out my heart shaped face. And I had made sure the stylist spent hours just to put up my hair the way he likes it.

Three years. Three years of humiliation.

Three years of proving that a wolfless omega could still be worthy of becoming a Luna was finally over.

Derek claimed me as his own and the years I spent to be the prim and proper Luna for him finally paid off. I can finally hold my head high beside him.

Derek stood tall beside me looking all handsome in his fitted tuxedo, his clear blue eyes as captivating as the day I fell in love with him. Since childhood, there has never been another man for me.

I smiled up at my mate, but…

He didn't smile back.

A strange chill crawled down my spine.

But I quickly waved it off because I must have been imagining it.

“Thank you all for coming.” His voice boomed across the hall with ease, earning him more applause from the audience, who were all Alphas and Lunas of power.

We sat back down and I tried to ignore the fact that he was checking his phone many times in the space of five minutes.

But I did because it could be a business that has to do with the growth of the pack.

“Astrid, I'll be right back.” He gave me a quick peck on my cheeks and left hurriedly without waiting for me to reply to him.

My brows furrowed in worry of what could have been so important to abandon our ceremony right in the middle.

My eyes went to his seat and his phone is still sitting right there. “He would surely need his phone.” I mumbled to myself.

Without thinking twice I picked it up and went after him. But he had disappeared before I could catch up with him.

“Have you seen Alpha Derek?” I stopped a maid walking past me.

“Yes. He must be in his study.” She bowed and left.

I smiled to myself, Derek has always been a workaholic. So adorable.

The study door was opened a bit and I decided to sneak in so I could give him a jump scare.

I slipped in carefully before turning around to give out the loudest shout, but what I saw made me freeze.

I couldn't move.

I stayed rooted to the spot as my eyes glued unblinkingly at the scene in front of me. My smile and excitement died right there.

The phone slipped from my fingers.

No.

No, no, no.

Derek's mouth was on Laila's. My best friend.

His hands were tangled in her hair while she sat on the edge of his desk as though she belonged there.

My eyes burned. Tears blurred my vision.

My chest tightened and my hands trembled.

I stood rooted to the spot and watched as

Derek's mouth crashed against Laila's while his hands wandered possessively over her body. They were so lost in each other that neither noticed me standing there.

“Oh, Derek. I want more. I want you more.” She moaned out loud as her hips moved and her head swung back. Derek's hands were all over her; his lips were planting kisses on her exposed upper body. They were so immersed that they couldn't care less about getting caught.

About me catching them.

He doesn't even give a damn that it was my Luna coronation ceremony today. Why today of all days. Why couldn't he have the decency of knowing today was important to me. To us.

I kept myself pure so I would not taint him and my family more after the fact that I'm a wolfless Omega made them ashamed and hate me.

The moans kept hammering on my brain till all I could feel was rage surging through me in a high intensity.

“Derek? Laila?” My words were loud as I tried not to choke on my words with tears.

Derek didn't bother looking up but my best friend did and she gave me a purely evil smirk. She deliberately pulled Derek into her the more while her moans increased in a high pitch.

“Derek, do you love me?” Laila moaned out aloud for me to hear.

“Yes I do.” He growled and he dropped kissing down her neck.

“More than Astrid, your mate?”

“Of course. And she's not my mate. Just collateral damage.” He growled.

“What the hell. Stop it. Please stop.” I shouted, fighting the urge of punching them both in the face.

“Don't you know how to knock?” Derek snarled, not even bothering to hide. They had both separated and were looking at me like a disturbance.

“Derek, you are cheating on me with Laila at a ceremony where I'm appointed as your Luna and the first words you would say to me is about me not knocking?”

“If you had knocked then you would have saved yourself the stress of seeing what you can't unsee.”

“What?” My voice had dropped to a bare whisper. The tears were now falling down my cheeks and I swiped at them with the angry motion of my palm.

Laila rolled her eyes and inspected her nails, nonchalant to how I felt.

“I see you finally have eyes to see what's been happening in front of you after all these years.”

Years? Since when have they been fooling around while I played loyal mate to Derek.

I swallowed hard and ignored Laila while I faced him squarely,

“Since when?”

“Since forever.” Laila spoke up instead.

“He was never meant to be with you. I'm his one and only true love. His rightful mate and Luna. The mother of the future heir of Nightaim pack.” She caressed her tummy.

My mouth hung open in shock. I looked at Derek's face for confirmation and he looked pleased.

Pleased?

Pleased!

“You are my best friend.” I shouted and she scoffed.

“Why did you make me your Luna tonight then?” I turned to Derek. “What about our vows? What about us being together as Alpha and Luna?” The fear course through me I trembled.

“That?” His hands swiped the air in dismissal as if chasing the mate bond away.

“It was for me to secure the rights of being the alpha of this pack. In exchange for me being your mate, I'll become the alpha of your pack. Sweet deal. We took it.”

“So, Luna,” Laila scorned, “ You were a pawn. To be used and discarded.”

The revelations were too much for me. I couldn't breathe properly, the necklace around my neck which Derek had gifted me as our mate bond gift felt too tight. I ripped it off my neck before I sank down to the floor in despair.

A year ago, I had been overjoyed to be mated to Derek. I'd waited two years after failing to awaken my wolf on my eighteenth birthday. Now, a year later, I was finally his Luna, and this was the reward for spending most of my life as his faithful betrothed.

“ Did you really think I would allow an ordinary wolfless omega to sit beside me while I rule?” Derek scoffed. “I advise you to continue being a smiley doll and I would consider you being part of my maids.”

“You can't do that. My father is the alpha of this pack.” I screamed.

“Not since I mated you. I'm the alpha now. You were never the goal, Astrid."

Derek's once captivating blue eyes were cold. "Your pack was."

“By tomorrow Derek will reject you and be with me. We will finally get rid of you. Isn't that right, baby?” Laila rested her hands possessively on his chest. He didn't deny it, he gave her a warm smile in return. A smile I had thought was only mine to see.

The mate bond inside me shattered.

And for the first time in my life, I wished I had never loved him.

Astrid

“I hate you.”

I snarled at him but the idiot actually chuckled. He seemed satisfied at my doom. Just so he could satisfy his own greed. Not only do I hate Derek. His whole lineage of users disgust me.

I was a little girl when my father betrothed me to the Knightdale pack.

I was given to the younger out of the two brothers who would be the future successors of the pack in exchange for a rise in political power and rank for my father and the whole of our own pack and also a position of being an alpha made available for Derek to inherit in our own pack.

Now I see why the Knightdale pack would easily agree to marry one of their sons off to our low rank pack.

Maybe Mother had known this day would come.

Maybe that was why she taught me to hide.

It was for moments like this. In her words, “They are inevitable. Just be careful Astrid.”

She foresaw this even before it happened.

And she couldn't even be here to see me through my ordeals. Death took her from me a few weeks to my eighteenth birthday. I miss her so much now.

I stood up feeling downcast but I have had enough. I won't let them stump on my dignity.

“Good. You finally woke up from the delusion that he loved you.” Laila lips curled. Her hands went to encircle his waist as if to prove a point.

“It doesn't mean he loves you too. He's with you because you have his heir.” I taunted her.

“What are you saying?” Derek stepped forward but I grew bolder.

“He will never love you.”

Laila slapped me across the cheeks and before I could stop myself or think. I slapped her hard across the cheeks. My fingers imprint on her cheeks.

Derek's wolf roared in anger at my face.

“How dare you hit her.” He roared and I tried not to tremble.

“She slapped me first.”

“Then you should have taken it.”

"I'm your mate.” I screamed at him but all the emotions he had left of us were gone. I was wasting my breath.

“You are nothing to me.”

He grabbed my arm and dragged me out back to the hall which was still filled by our guests. And like a piece of rag he dropped me in a heap on the floor.

My eyes filled with unshade tears as I stared at them through blurred vision.

“I reject you.” His voice thundered furiously.

I turned to look at Derek whose wolf was furiously angry. Gasps and uproar filled the hall. I rapidly shook my head, my mind still in denial of what was about to happen.

“You can't do that. You were the one who cheated on me.”

“Yes I can.”

The wolf bond started destructing and intense pain ran through my whole body. His mark of claim on my neck began clearing up. Sparkly light erupts from my body, their opening burning like fire. Each minute of it felt like pure torture.

“No.” I groaned, “You can't do this to me. I'm not at fault.”

“You should have considered you are nothing before being all dramatic.” He pointed his index finger at my face.

"I never loved you, Astrid. The only thing I ever wanted from you was your pack.”

He turned and through my messed up vision I saw him hold Laila's hand. She looked really sad, a facade she wore perfectly behind the ugly person she actually is. Her expression certainly won people over because they started chanting her name like cave men.

“After careful consideration I have realised a mere omega with no wolf would never be fit to be my Luna.” Derek pulled her closer.

While she dramatically rubbed her flat tummy in slow deliberate circles.

“I, Derek Knightdale, new alpha of Night Aim pack hereby accept Laila of the Sagamore pack who is currently carrying my heir, the future heir to Night Aim pack, would be my new Luna.” His teeth sank into her neck claiming her instantly.

Everyone cheered. They actually cheered.

Moments ago I had been their Luna. They cheered for them as well. Now I'm nothing. I'm just wolfless omega playing Luna they have always wanted to get rid of even though they won't say to my face.

I stood up, pain making my movement unsteady. I grabbed Derek's hand wishing to do something to preserve my dignity. To make him see reason.

He was stronger than I am. He snatched his arm and flinged me off, the force sent me flying across the room. I didn't have any wolf spirit that could help me to brace for impact. I hit my head on a hard surface. The next thing I saw was him turning away from me to hold his new Luna. He left me.

I stared unblinkingly at the shiny chandelier. Laughter filled my ear. They were all celebrating mocking me in their own disgusting way.

I fade into their background and I don't know how long I laid there, hours? Minutes? I don't know.

No one made an attempt to help. Not even my own father. No one.

My whole body was covered in blood. I snapped out of it as pain shifted my adrenaline up.

I half crawled, half dragged myself out of the mocking festivities till I got outside.

The cold air bites dangerously in my lungs every time I drag in air.

My whole life flashes before my eyes. The year I spent loving Derek. Are all nothing now. He's nothing.

I had made a wrong decision of ever trusting him. I had rejected many for him and now he chose her. And he used me to gain the alpha position of my pack.

The sky looked really dark but the moon was brighter and I wished I could rewrite things.

It was supposed to be a day of joy for me today, not a night I'll feel life drain out of me.

I stared up at the moon. Silent, still and bright.

Looking up at the moon normally brings me peace but not tonight. I feel shattered, my heart was in broken pieces I fear it would never be mended.

My mate had betrayed me.

My pack had willingly abandoned me.

I have been humiliated and dirtied by someone I trusted the most.

My life was over.

Yet as I felt a strong wave of darkness overcome me, one desperate move of clinging to life overclouds my vision.

“Moon Goddess… If you can hear me...

Grant me one more chance.” I croaked as a single tear slipped out of my iris. “Please. This time I'll change things.”

Astrid

I jolted awake with a loud gasp. My heart beat drummed loudly in my chest and my whole body is sticky with sweat.

My hands flew to my neck. No mate mark. No blood. Nothing.

My breath caught because the last thing I remembered feeling was pain. My whole body had burned with the pain of rejection from Derek.

My alarm sounded behind me, I jumped, startled. I turned to look and the bright red lights of words flashed back at me. Mating ceremony day.

One year ago?

How? What the hell was going on?

I grabbed the alarm and hit it several times to make sure it's working right but the lights still blink back those terrifying words. Still in doubt I grabbed my phone and the date on it was still the same. Panic surged through me. I shakily walked to my mirror and stared back at my reflection. My hands slowly tracing the curve of my neck. The skin there was smooth and clean. No scars of mating marks were visible on it.

I released a sigh of relief but an important thought remained.

The memory of Derek's rejection. And my death.

I certainly did.

The pain was too vivid to be a dream. It clawed at my chest so hard I knew without doubt I'm in my second life.

It worked.

The moon goddess actually gave me another chance.

I'll make them pay.

The maids and stylists came in to dress me up for the ceremony. I was beautified to perfection and it irks me when I realize how much time I had used throughout my life to make myself look beautiful for Derek.

“I would love my hair down today, please.” I told the hair stylist who looked at me in surprise but she didn't say a word.

When she was done I stared back at the mirror, my hair falling down my shoulders gave my face a look I haven't had the pleasure to see over three years since I started cosplaying as Luna. I look alive. Not just breathing. I'm done being what Derek likes.

The ceremony hall was already full to the brim and Derek was standing on the podium. If it had been Astrid of yesterday I would have gloated about him being handsome. All I could see now is a bloody betrayer.

He smiled when I joined him, his smile bright and reassuring but I knew better.

“You didn't wear my mating gift.” He pointed at my neck which was bare if the necklace he had gifted me the day before.

“No. Not my taste.”

The ceremony started but my mind wasn't there. I knew what I had to do to change things now. I won't allow my fate to be dictated by Derek. Not anymore.

“It's time for the groom to mate his bride.” Everyone cheered and I turned to look at Derek, my gaze cold.

He moved forward to touch me.

I stepped back. He furrowed his brows in suspicion.

“I, Astrid Wood, refuse this alliance.” I said out loud for everyone to hear.

The hall went dead silent, everyone puzzled.

Derek stepped closer, his hand brushing my skin. The impact burned and what he had done to me resurfaced. “What are you doing, Astrid?” He asked in hush tones.

With indifference and a deadpan look in my eyes, I repeated,

“I don't want to be your mate. Not anymore.”

“What! Why? I love you.” He looked really confused.

“Did I do something wrong? I'll apologize right away.” he held my hand softly.

“You have done enough.” I smiled sadly. He stared at me in shock, completely taken aback that the timid and naive girl could have the courage to refuse him.

“You can't do that to me Astrid. We are a team.”

“No, Derek. We were never a team.”

“I'm begging you. Don't hurt me like this. Don't break our perfect bond. We are good together. We will conquer and rule together.” He looked heart broken but I can't allow myself to go back into the depth I'm trying to get out of.

“You can't just break up. It would hurt my ego. People are watching.” He said, silently pleading.

“No.” I said coldly.

“Astrid!”

I turned to see my father match up towards me. Anger coating his every feature. Before I could say a word he slapped me hard across the cheeks. My head snapped sideways and I thought I might go deaf.

“You had better apologize to Alpha Derek right now!” He shouted, veins standing up on his neck. It dawned on me, I hadn't seen my own father rise up to defend me when I got rejected. He's my only family and he couldn't stand up for his daughter as he watched her perish. And now he slapped me because of a stranger. So cruel.

“I don't want to mate with Derek,” I said, staring him dead in the eye. “ And he's not yet an alpha.” I shouted.

I looked around and saw only hatred from people watching.

Their whispers were loud enough I could hear.

“An ordinary omega rejecting her betrothed to a powerful beta.”

“She's so full of herself.”

“She should be killed.”

Too bad I already died and I won't be doing it again anytime soon.

Derek grabbed my arm, his hand tightly incising burns in them. The fake love in his eyes gone replaced by a livid glare.

“You are hurting me.” I struggle to free myself but he won't let go.

“Hear this, Astrid. You had better agree when I'm still being nice. I won't let you disgrace me. Never”

“No.” I stood my ground.

“Your father already contracted you to my pack. I don't have to remind you of the details. Whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me. And this pack is mine.” He growled.

A small smile curls my lips. That's the real Derek right there. He just said what he wanted aloud. It would be over my dead body will I allow him the satisfaction of getting it.

“I would rather die than be with you.”

“You realize it was our pack that gave your measly and rotten pack a chance when your father came begging years ago right? You won't escape me.”

“Yes I will. I'll make it my life's mission to leave you. You rotten bastard.” His face was shocked. I was shocked. The prim and proper Luna I had cosplayed for years never uses curse words and now I think I like it and will make use of it more often.

I successfully snatched my arm and turned to leave, but stopped short in my tracks when a long trail of guards entered the hall. The murmur quieted down and I looked towards the entrance in confusion.

A captivating smell filled my nostrils, rich and addictive. My instincts picked up and my eyes glued towards the door, my heart racing rapidly in my chest.

Finally a man stepped through and my mind went blank.

He towered over everyone in the hall. His shoulders were so broad he made the all black outfit he wore look way tighter. He is massive and an alpha aura radiates heavily from him.

And those golden eyes, cold and calculating were impossible not to recognize.

Alpha Knox. The Alpha King and Derek's older brother.

Everyone bowed in respect, even powerful alphas in the room paid obscenses. Whispers followed him as he walked to us.

“Alpha Knox, the feared Black Wolf. Why is he here?”

“He's horrifying.”

“He eats people for breakfast.”

I stood right in my spot not knowing what to do.

Those eyes fastened on me and held mine as he walked to us. His every step with precision and confidence.

From the corner of my eye, I saw fear flash across Derek's face as he bowed in respect and I quickly followed suit.

“An unwilling mate cannot be forced into an alliance.” His eerily calm voice boomed throughout the hall sending shivers down all our spines.

However, what he said made me look up, surprised. My mouth fell open and I stared up at the golden eyes looking down strongly at me.

He looked dangerously attractive for an alpha rumoured to be a monster.

“Should I remind you about pack law, brother.”