A festive atmosphere filled the Pack Moonlight neighborhood; the residents rejoiced because there would soon be a new Alpha appointment.

Moreover, the Alpha candidate had found his mate, making the residents even more excited. Hearing from some rumors circulating, their Luna Candidate is a tough she-wolf.

It was inversely proportional to Ameera’s situation, who now had to endure pain all over her body.

Her dress could no longer be called a decent outfit; blood had filled all parts of her dress. Various wounds seemed to be painted on her body that was no longer smooth.

Ameera grimaced in pain as she tried to move her body; the wounds she had just received from the guards made it difficult for her to move. Even opening her mouth was a pain.

She lamented her terrible fate. From a child living alone without knowing his origins, now she met a mate who did not want to acknowledge him. She even had to be tortured for asking for justice for herself.

"Help! Give me some water," she said in a low, hoarse voice, asking a guard.

"Noisy! You better shut up before I whip your filthy body again!" snapped the guard loudly. You are making his voice echo along the hallway.

Ameera had to swallow her voice; she didn't want to be punished again.

Her mind wandered back to the time before she was imprisoned.

Ameera, who was lost until she entered the Moonlight pack area, was arrested because she was considered an enemy spy. Despite explaining the truth, the warriors who arrested her did not believe Ameera.

A man came in with a murderous gaze, staring hatefully at her.

"Mate!" screeched the wolf in Ameera's body, Zee, when she felt the mate bond with the man before them.

"Calm down, Zee," Ameera thought to her wolf.

She watched her mate's face closely; could he have come to save her? Ameera thought at that moment.

"Sincerely, Mr. Edmund," greeted the warriors as they saw the arrival of the man named Edmund.

"Take the girl to the meeting room and summon my father!" He commanded with a cold aura.

The warriors immediately carried out the orders of Ameera's mate, who she knew was named Edmund.

Without fighting because she was tired, Ameera followed wherever they took her. She only hoped her mate would help her, even though her heart wasn't sure after getting that glare.

Along the way, Ameera could feel several stares from the people there, some of them without hesitating to criticize her.

"Where are they taking us?" asked Zee, who felt angry at Ameera's thoughts.

"Calm down, Zee. There's our mate; maybe he'll help," Ameera replied gently.

"You're right! We finally found our mate!" squealed Zee happily, knowing they had found their mate.

Ameera tried to drown out Zee's noise in her head; she couldn't handle Zee's cheerful nature. Unlike her, who was quiet and rarely spoke.

They continued walking until they reached a room resembling a large hall. However, it had several chairs lined up around a round table.

"Greetings, Father. I have something to tell you," Edmund said when he saw that his parents were there first.

"What is it, Ed? Why did you bring a prisoner here?" asked Linda Xelova, Edmund's mother. She was staring in surprise at Ameera, who the warrior was chaining.

"You guys go, leave the girl here," Edmund ordered.

The warriors immediately left the room, leaving Edmund, his parents, and Ameera still on their knees.

"What happened exactly?" asked Eric Lycaon, Edmund's father.

Linda and Eric waited quietly for Edmund to answer their questions.

"He's my mate," Edmund said sharply, staring at Ameera with a hate-filled gaze.

"Mate?" muttered Linda, unable to believe what her son was saying.

"Then why are you treating her like that? Let her go," Linda screeched angrily, not understanding Edmund's train of thought.

"Calm down, Luna." Eric walked towards Edmund with an aura of anger emanating from his body.

Plak

He slapped Edmund hard, sending Edmund's body flying into the wall. Eric didn't seem to be messing around with his punishment.

"Don't you know how to treat a mate properly? I didn't raise you to see you treat a mate like a lowlife!" Eric growled.

According to Ameera, Edmund silently received a slap from his father, even though he could avoid it.

"Wake up!"

Edmund got up silently, preparing to receive another blow from Eric before Luna's voice stopped Eric's movement.

"Stop it, Alpha! Let's talk with a cool head," Linda said softly but did not hide her anger at Edmund.

Linda walked over to Ameera after calming the Alpha's anger.

"Are you okay?" she asked, removing the chains that bound Ameera.

"Thank you, Luna," Ameera said gratefully.

Linda led Ameera to sit in one of the chairs; the atmosphere became tense when no one opened their voice, including Ameera, who felt this situation was bad for her.

"What's your name?" Linda asked, breaking the silence.

"Ameera, Ameera Alcmene," Ameera replied nervously.

'I think I'm in the lion's den, Zee, ' Ameera thought to Zee.

'We're in the wolf cage; there's no lion cage here,' Zee replied.

Ameera restrained herself from glaring at Zee's stupid remark.

"I'm Linda Xelova; you can call me Luna like everyone else," Linda said softly.

Ameera felt unlucky!

"I'm Eric Lycaon; I'm the leader of this pack. And this is my son, Edmund Lycaon. I apologize for my son's bad attitude towards you, Ameera." Alpha Eric apologized for Edmund's treatment of Ameera.

Ameera nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. A small part of him felt hurt by Edmund's attitude that seemed to reject his presence, Ameera had not yet felt their bond, but Zee would undoubtedly be hurt when he realized his mate rejected them.

"Do you also feel your mate bond?" asked Luna Linda; she wanted to confirm Edmund's words.

"Yes," Ameera replied quietly.

Alpha Eric looked at Edmund even more sharply; he was disappointed!

"Edmund, apologize to your eyes. Treat Ameera well; she is your partner." Luna Linda said, advising her son.

Edmund didn't seem to like this conversation; Ameera could see it. Edmund's gaze at her said it all.

'Poor me,' Ameera thought sadly.

"I don't want to have a weak and vague mate like her!" snapped Edmund in a loud voice, startling everyone there.

He stood up from his seat, walked towards Ameera, and quickly grabbed her neck. Ameera felt like she couldn't breathe as she realized Edmund had her firmly in a chokehold.

She vigorously thrashed Edmund's hands around her neck, trying to break the stranglehold that could have crushed her collarbone instantly.

"Help!"

Alpha Eric reacted quickly; he pulled Edmund's hand and threw Edmund with his strength.

"You are too much, Edmund!" said Alpha Eric angrily; he struck Edmund several times to teach him a lesson.

While Ameera was still trying to suck in air greedily, she held her neck with a broken heart. The wolf inside her thrashed around, trying to take over Ameera's body, but Ameera held her back with all her might.

She understood what was happening, but Zee was angry and disappointed. She didn't expect to receive such cruel treatment from her mate, unlike Ameera, who had realized it from the beginning.

"Ameera! Eric called the warriors to bring Ameera to the infirmary," Luna Linda said worriedly.

Ameera seemed to be having trouble breathing even though she was separated from Edmund; she felt like the entire air supply around her just disappeared. Her whole body felt dead; she couldn't even feel it. Ameera just looked at Luna Linda with a pleading gaze.

"Hurry up, Eric!" Luna Linda screamed.

Ameera began to lose consciousness; the last thing she saw was the arrival of several people she didn't recognize surrounding her. Before everything darkened and she lost consciousness.

Ameera sighed as she realized there was no point in regretting anything; she stared sadly at the dungeon where she was locked up.

"Zee?" she mused softly, trying to communicate with her wolf, who had cut off their communication since Ameera had to endure those terrible days in that dark and stuffy place.

"Zee? Don't you want to talk to me? Are you angry?" asked Ameera sadly; her only friend now didn't want to talk to her.

"I'm sorry, Zee. I shouldn't have been so stubborn to find medicinal herbs that we have to be stuck here and meet mates who don't like us," Ameera whispered, her heart torn apart at the thought that Zee's feelings might be even more broken than hers.

Ameera didn't realize her face was wet with tears; she was desperate. Perhaps soon, she would be killed so as not to become an obstacle for Edmund and his lover, Layla Mohegan. All Ameera knew was that she was conscious in the infirmary after Edmund's attack.

Layla accompanied Edmund to see his condition or instead came to get rid of him. Layla said that she would get married and Edmund would get rid of her when she became an Alpha.

Ameera, who heard that tried to leave, but Layla was a cunning woman. She deliberately got herself seriously injured and made a scene to throw all the blame on Ameera.

"I didn't do it! She hurt herself!" screeched Ameera as she was once again restrained by the warriors at the behest of Edmund, who was angry to see his girlfriend injured.

"Layla is no fool! She couldn't have done that! You lowly woman, how dare you hurt my beloved. Take her to the dungeon!" Edmund angrily ordered the warriors to take Ameera while he carried Layla's scratched body.

"I'm okay, Ed. She just did it by accident," Layla said weakly, acting like a gentle and forgiving good girl.

"You don't have to defend her," Edmund replied worriedly.

"Hurry up and take her away!"

"Let me go! I didn't do it; please believe me." Ameera continued to beg to be released as she had not done what she was accused of.

No one listened to Ameera's words; everyone believed what they heard from Layla. Of course, after being in the dungeon for a while. Ameera had heard the guards say that Layla was the daughter of someone who had contributed to the Moonlight pack. Layla was also a formidable warrior, so it was natural for Ameera not to listen to her.

"Even if I were a resident of this pack, they still wouldn't listen to me," she thought sadly.

Who would listen to someone who was considered an enemy spy?

Ameera felt her body ache with movement; she could even see that some of her wounds were worsening. As a werewolf, Ameera should be able to heal her wounds. However, I don't know what happened to him since she could not heal herself long ago like other werewolves. She couldn't even change shifts with Zee, making her completely human.

Plus, the whip given to him was coated with the liquid from the wolfsbane, worsening the wound because the wolfsbane plant is evil for a werewolf like him.

"Excuse me! Can you please give me some water? I'm thirsty," Ameera pleaded again, not giving up after her request was denied earlier.

"You're such a nuisance!" said the guard irritably, moving to hand Ameera a glass of water, hoping she wouldn't bother him again.

"Thank you!"

Ameera immediately drank the water given to her greedily; in no time, the water in the glass was gone. Not a single drop was left to waste.

She was starting to feel better than ever, at least for now, before Edmund or Layla came to give him another whipping.

"Doesn't he feel pain when I get hurt? Shouldn't Edmund also feel what I'm going through?" muttered Ameera realizing something.

Edmund showed no signs of pain when he whipped Ameera. Was there something wrong with their bond?

"Or is he just acting like he doesn't feel it? His face is like stone, no expression," she continued.

"He must be pretending." Ameera began to close her tired eyes; she fell asleep on the ground as her back was riddled with wounds.

Elsewhere, Edmund was making preparations for his appointment as Alpha.

The omegas working in the Alpha's residence seemed to be busy looking at the room in such a way as to make it look beautiful, in contrast to Edmund, who was only quietly watching the omega's work.

Next to him, a girl in a bright dress was giving orders to the omegas. She looked very enthusiastic because she would also be appointed as Luna.

How could that be? Everyone believed that Layla was Edmund's Mate. However, some people kept secrets about Edmund's true mate.

Poor Ameera, no one was on her side.

"Ed, aren't you tired?" Layla asked, spoiled.

"No, I've been resting," Edmund replied as he gazed tenderly at his lover.

"Shall we take a short walk? I'm bored here." Layla put on her most beautiful face.

"All right, I'll call Jacob to monitor the work here."

Edmund immediately asked Jacob to come through his mind; he stroked Layla's hair lovingly.

"Just wait a little longer," he told Layla.

Without waiting long, Jacob was now in front of Edmund. He was paying his respects to him. Jacob was Edmund's best friend since childhood; he would also be made a Beta at Edmund's coronation.

"I'll go with Layla."

They soon left the residence as they strolled around the Pack. Layla did not hesitate to show their affection to the pack's residents as if to tell everyone that she was the future Luna there.

In contrast to Edmund, who had been trying to ignore the pain in his body, he was annoyed with his mate's bond.

For Edmund, the presence of a useless mate like Ameera was embarrassing for him.

"Ed, are you looking forward to tomorrow? I'm looking forward to it; we can finally be together," Layla said with a happy look.

"Me too. Layla, can you come back first? I have some work to do." Edmund asked Layla to come back first; there was something he had to do with Ameera.

"Sure, finish your work, and don't forget to rest. I won't bother you tonight so that you can be fresh tomorrow," Layla agreed to Edmund's request.

She soon left Edmund alone, returning to her house.

"I have to prepare him well!" Layla chirped in her heart.

After all, she felt bored if she had to go around the pack again, even if she was the one who invited him first.

Edmund looked at Layla's back as she slowly moved away from him.

"Jacob, keep an eye on Layla. Don't let her know I went to the dungeon." Edmund sent his mind link to Jacob.

Without further delay, he immediately sped toward the dungeon where Ameera was locked up.

The pack started to gather at the place where the coronation would take place, everyone bringing various gifts to give to their new Alpha. No guests were outside the pack, as it was during the cold war. Some packs refused to come, so there was no special guest.

No one cared about that; the residents just needed to see their Alpha take action. The small pack was nothing to their Alpha; the enemies would soon bow back to Moonlight Pack.

"Are you ready?" asked Luna Linda to her son, who was now wearing the coronation robes.

"More than ready, Mom." Edmund looked out the window at the gathered residents.

Soon he would marry Layla and become an Alpha, replacing his father.

"Shouldn't you set Ameera free? She deserves to live a decent life, even if you don't want her to," Luna Linda said to her heart's content; she was afraid of the unknown.

An Alpha should never marry a woman, not his mate, but Edmund is stubborn. He assured his parents nothing would happen to her; Ameera was just a weak girl who couldn't do anything.

"That's it; I know I can't change your decision. Get ready, and we will start the ceremony soon," Luna Linda quickly led Edmund to the wedding altar.

There stood an elder who would marry him and Layla.

The villagers bowed as they saw Alpha, Luna, and Edmund enter the altar. They saluted the pack leader with all their hearts.

A musical accompaniment accompanied the proceedings after each had given their speech.

An elder invited Layla to the wedding altar.

Layla arrived on her father's arm, her striking wedding dress looking out of place on her body. However, Layla was saved by having a beautiful face. So perhaps the people were more mesmerized by her beauty than by her dress.

Edmund welcomed Layla with great emotion at the altar, gently accepting her hand.

"Please take care of my daughter," said Layla's father, to which Edmund nodded gently.

The two then stood side by side in the center of the altar, the wedding ceremony getting underway.

The elder handed over a glass filled with holy water and asked Edmund and Layla to drip their blood into it.

Edmund and Layla immediately did as the elder said. They scratched a little on their thumb using the knife provided.

"Now drink this holy water, and you will officially become husband and wife," the elder explained.

Without waiting for another command, Edmund drank the holy water and handed it to Layla. Layla did the same.

The people cheered again, and finally, the Alpha had his life partner.

The program continued with the coronation of Edmund and Layla as the new Alpha and Luna. The event went on without interruption; the villagers began to enjoy the banquet.

Edmund, now an Alpha, smiled with satisfaction; he could finally do whatever he wanted. He even had Layla by his side.

No one cared about Ameera, who was now dying; he felt his body getting weaker.

Blood continued to flow from his wounds that he had just gotten again yesterday when Edmund came to him.

Without feeling Edmund tortured her cruelly, her whole body was not spared from Edmund's torture. He mercilessly changed shifts with his wolf and Zeewed at Ameera's body.

Ameera, who was already exhausted, couldn't even make a sound anymore; it was only a few minutes before she fell asleep. However, Edmund came and tormented her.

"Stop it," she pleaded softly, her voice unable to come out. The pain in her body was truly excruciating.

Ameera's moans went unheard by Edmund until he stopped when she was satisfied.

"Are you shameless? Because of you, I must feel pain, you useless bastard!" Edmund said sharply.

As long as he was hurting Ameera, Edmund also felt her pain. However, that did not make him stop. Instead, he was even more annoyed with Ameera, who he thought was a pest.

"I'm sorry," Ameera whispered, her heart still sincere even though she had been hurt in such a way.

"Your apology is not enough!"

"It's better that you perish from this world! I pity the moon goddess who created a weak creature like you as my eye." Edmund moved closer to the helpless Ameera.

He gripped Ameera's chin firmly, forcing her to look at him.

Stammering, Ameera tried to get her voice out, "Please free me."

Edmund strengthened his grip; hearing Ameera's voice, he felt something was wrong with her.

"Listen to me carefully; tomorrow is my coronation day. I will marry and make Layla the Luna of this pack. You are nothing more than a bully! Mom and Dad won't know that Layla isn't my eye if you don't show up!" Edmund said with a sharp gaze as if he wanted to eliminate Ameera immediately.

Ameera heard Edmund's words feeling angry; she was already disappointed enough with Edmund, who did not accept and tortured her. Now the man quickly said he would marry his lover and Zeeim as his mate in front of many people.

"You can't do that," Ameera said weakly.

"Of course, I can because I am the soon-to-be Alpha. I can choose anyone to be my mate."

"I am your mate."

"I refuse; you should die so I don't have to have a weak mate like you!"

Ameera was wide-eyed at Edmund's words; he stared in disbelief at Edmund, who would go to such lengths to get rid of him. Even though Edmund could release him, he would not demand his rights if he was not accepted.

Ameera stared at Edmund's face with a vengeance; she had never been hurt in such a horrible way. Despite living alone, Ameera lived well despite feeling lonely all the time.

But this man before her mercilessly tortured her the moment they met.

Ameera waited to see what Edmund would say next. Would he kill her now? Ameera thought.

"I, Edmund Lycaon, reject Ameera Alcmene as my mate!" Edmund said coldly.

Ameera felt her heart breaking into pieces; Edmund's distinctive scent that she could still feel earlier was now gone. Her heart suddenly felt empty, as if there was a big hole in her heart.

Her tears flowed without her being able to hold them back; Ameera cried silently. She was lamenting her fate.

In contrast to Edmund, who was confused, he felt something strange about his body after their mate bond was severed. The wolf inside him howled sadly, feeling the pain he was forced to part with his partner. Although Edmund's wolf did not accept Ameera's presence, he still could not avoid their mate bond.

Edmund violently released his grip on Ameera.

He walked away, leaving Ameera staring in disbelief at his fate.

"Zee? Zee! Answer me!" called Ameera to her wolf.

She could hear Zee's pained howl in her head, after which she heard nothing more. Ameera was worried that she would lose Zee. She was afraid Zee would die because her mate's bond was broken.

The impact of breaking the mate bond was huge, especially for her and Zee, who were just weak wolves.

Ameera cried loudly; she roared with all the strength she had left. She was so afraid of losing Zee.

"EDMUND LYCAON! I AM AMEERA ALCMENE, SWEAR IN THE NAME OF THE MOON GODDESS TO TAKE REVENGE FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO ME! I WILL BRING DESTRUCTION TO YOU AND ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THIS PACK! I SWEAR TO ANNIHILATE YOU ALL!"

The sky suddenly rumbled right after Ameera finished her sentence as if agreeing with her.

She was determined to avenge her pain at any cost, even if she had to sell her soul to a demon.