ELISA'S POV

As soon as the words left my mouth, the room fell silent. It was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. I took in the looks on all their faces. Even Gina looked surprised. The shocked expressions on everyone's faces told me they hadn't expected this outburst or my words.

I was surprised myself. I loved Jackson with all my heart. I never thought of divorcing him. Never in a million years would I have thought I would say this. Even with the way he treated me, I was still willing to stay, still willing to try and endure I couldn't take it anymore. Every person had a limit and I had reached mine. Jackson along with my family had pushed me to the wall. Now, it's time for me to fight back.

I don't know where the sudden confidence came from but now, I knew my worth. I knew I deserved better. I tried so hard to be the perfect daughter, to be the perfect wife but now, I could see that my efforts weren't appreciated. They never would be, no matter how hard I tried. It felt like a veil covering my eyes just fell off. Why did I put up with this for so long? It would always be a competition between Gina and me, a competition that I could never win.

My mother's eyes narrowed in anger. She was the first to break the silence.

"How dare you!" my mom shrieked" What the hell is wrong with you, Elisa? Do you know what you are saying?"

My father stepped forward. He looked so angry that I could feel it radiating off him.

"Whatever your problem is, keep it to yourself. You should know that the pack's business comes first. Wait until the ball is over today. We can discuss this later"

I looked at them, feeling a deep, aching sadness. It was clear to me now that they cared more about the pack's image than about their own daughter. They didn't even care about the fact that I wanted to divorce Jackson. All they cared about was the pack.

Gina was right. I was nothing but a contract Luna. Why didn't I realize this sooner? The realization hit me hard. My life was nothing but a series of sacrifices for people who didn't truly care about me.

Wiping the sweat from my forehead with my good hand, I turned to Jackson.

"Do you still want me to be your Luna?" I asked. My voice tremblef with the effort to keep my emotions in check.

Jackson's face was filled with anger. "You are too bold, too reckless. You don't act like a lady should"

"And how should I act?" I snapped back.

"The way a good wife would. You should be submissive. How dare you talk to me that way?"

I shook my head. This time, I couldn't stop the tears from falling "Haven't I been submissive enough? I literally do everything I'm told to. I never argue with you or talk back. Can't you see how hard I try to please you?"

"Enough with your drama. You just want attention. Everything will wait until the ball is over. Now go out with me and greet the guests! They're already waiting."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Cold sweat ran into my eyes, making them sting and blur with tears. If my mind wasn't made up before, it was now.

I looked at everyone,. "Listen up, all of you. I want a divorce, and your opinions don't matter to me. If you care about your precious faces, go figure it out yourselves. I am not your puppet."

With that, I turned to the side and pulled open a nearby drawer, searching for a bandage. My hand hurt like hell. I didn't want to wound to get infected. I found one and began to wrap my injured hand, ignoring the shocked and angry looks from everyone around me.

My parents finally noticed my bleeding hand. For a moment, I could see the concerned look on my mother's face.

"What happened to your hand?" she asked.

Before I could answer, Gina, ever the opportunist, jumped in.

"She tried to hit me, so I defended myself. I may have accidentally hurt her hand." Gina cried out.

I chuckled sadly. I didn't even bother. Of course, Gina would turn this around in her favour. What else did I expect?

My mother turned back to me. The look of concern on her face was replaced with annoyance.

"If you didn't try to hurt Gina, your hand wouldn't be hurt." she said.

I felt so sad. There was an ache in my chest that throbbed deeply. I was hurt by the fact that my parents wouldn't listen to me. They couldn't even give me the benefit of the doubt.

I took a deep breath and spoke "Mom, Dad, I was wrong. I shouldn't have come back three years ago. I don't belong in this family." My voice broke on the last word, but I held back the sobs. I couldn't cry in front of them.

Without waiting for a response, I turned and left the room. They stared at me intensely, like I had grown two heads but I didn't care anymore.

I walked down the hallway, making my way to the venue. I didn't have enough time to get dressed. I knew I looked a mess. I was dressed in a casual gown which was now wrinkled. My face was stained with tears, and my hands still bleed despite the bandage. I just wanted to get away from them all.

As I stumbled down the hallway, my vision became blurred with tears. I clutched my chest, trying to soothe the pain I felt in my heart. The pain I felt was so intense that I started to get dizzy. I cried loudly as I walked. It hurt so much.

As I walked, I felt my strength being drained. Just as I was about to collapse, a strong hand caught me, preventing my fall. I looked up, trying to focus through my tears.

As I looked at him, I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my lips.

He was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid my eyes on.

My breath caught in my throat as I looked at the man. He was the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on. The word 'handsome' didn't do him any justice. He was straight up gorgeous. I couldn't believe he was real. He looked like he just stepped out of a magazine.

He had brown hair tied in a bun, framing his face perfectly. He had the most beautiful pair of blue eyes I had ever seen. His eyes reminded me of the ocean. I could get lost in them if I stared at him for too long. He was tall and muscular. He was three times my size, making it look like he could crush me if he wanted to. He had an aura of power and confidence that made me want to bow my head at him in respect.

Who was he? I had never seen him before but from his aura, I could tell he was most likely a powerful noble. He probably came for the ball from a foreign pack.

For a moment, we just stared at each other. For some reason, I felt a strong connection to him. The connection was a pull that stirred my wolf inside me. His face was cold. From his look alone, I could tell he was dominant.

“Do you need help?” he asked.

His deep voice made my wolf stir further inside me. His voice sent goosebumps down my spine.

I nodded, unable to find my voice. He moved closer, and took my hand in his. I was surprised by his gesture. For someone who looked so tough, his touch was surprisingly gentle. As our hands touched, I felt sparks in my skin I watched in awe as he expertly removed the bandage and dressed it again.

“There, that should do it,” he said.

Once again, his eyes met mine. I could see an emotion in his gaze. I was intrigued by him. I had never felt this kind of connection to someone like this before.

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper.

“You’re welcome.”

There was something familiar about his scent. That was weird because I had never seen him before. But before I could think about it, he handed me a mask.

“Are you going to the ball?” he asked.

I hesitated. I had no intention of going, especially not after the argument with Jackson and my family. But there was something about this man, something that made me want to follow him, to see what would happen next.

“Yes,” I said, surprising myself. “I suppose I am.”

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t question me further. He was probably wondering why I was so casually dressed for a ball as grand as that. I took the mask and put it on. The man extended his arm, and I took it, feeling those sparks again. We walked together to the ball, and I couldn’t help the emotions I felt. I was nervous and confused at the same time.

Why did I feel such a strong connection to this man?

As we entered the grand hall, I saw Jackson across the room. He was talking to someone. I turned away from him, not wanting him to see me. I might have a mask on but Jackson would be able to recognize my dress.

The man led me to a table. He pulled out a chair for me, helping me sit. I was in awe. Jackson had never done that for me before. The man set next to me. I could feel the heat radiating off him. My body came alive at the feeling of him being next to me.

What was wrong with me?

I focused my attention on the ball, trying to distract myself. The ball was in full swing. Couples danced in the center of the room. Conversation and laughter filled the air. Despite all the action going on, all I could focus on was this man and the way his presence made me feel—safe, intrigued, and strangely alive.

My body hummed with electric energy just by being close to him. The connection I felt to him made my skin tingle and my heart race. I could barely concentrate on the ceremony.

The ball was a gathering for the nobles to discuss and update everyone on pack matters. As I looked around, I noticed the questioning glances and heard the whispers from the people.

“Why isn't Luna here?”

“How can she not show up for such an important event?”

My heart sank in my chest at their words. I was the Luna, but it seemed I was no longer welcome. My family didn't care about me. They cared more about the pack than my own happiness. It sucked.

Soon, Jackson appeared at the front, calmly calling the ball to order. He didn’t even glance in my direction. I don't think he even bothered to look for me. I bowed my head, not really wanting to be here but too curious about this man to leave. Who was this handsome man who sat beside me, and why did I feel so drawn to him?

Jackson stood at the front. His posture commanded attention as usual.

"Good evening, everyone" he said “It is my great pleasure to inform you that the Lycan King has graced us with his presence for this ball.”

The room was filled with gasps. Even I was surprised. What's the Lycan King doing here? The Lycan King was like a legend, someone no one had ever seen before. We had heard of him, of how powerful he was but had never seen him. That was how private he was. I was curious to finally know who he was.

Jackson continued talking “Before the meeting begins, I have a pack announcement to make. Elisa, the Luna of the Midnight pack, has broken pack rules and will no longer be Luna anymore. Gina will be the temporary Luna of our pack, and I hope you will support her.”

My blood ran cold as Jackson made that announcement. I felt a lump in my throat. My chest ached even more.

To my horror, Gina walked up to stand next to Jackson. She had a shimmering red dress on, one that showed all her curves with heels. Her long hair was curled and her lips were so red that you could see the colour from a mile away.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could he do this? I was the one who asked for a divorce, yet here he was, making it seem like I had abandoned them, like I was the one at fault.

Tears fell freely from my eyes. I was glad I had a mask on. If not I would have been a crying mess.

The whispers around us grew louder. People murmured about the sudden change in leadership.

"What could the Luna have done?"

"I'm not surprised. She has always looked like a reckless person"

"She grew up with rogues. What do you expect?"

The whispers made me so harder. I felt humiliated, betrayed. It hadn’t taken Jackson long to replace me, to cast me aside like I was nothing.

“I can’t believe this,” I whispered “How could he do this to me?”

ELISA'S POV

The room seemed to close in on me, I sat there, stunned, as Jackson made his announcement. GINA stood beside him with a triumphant smile on her face as she held his arm. The spotlight was on her, and she was happy to be in it.

I couldn’t believe it. Betrayed didn’t even begin to cover how I felt. Jackson had wasted no time in replacing me, and with my sister, no less. It was like a cruel joke, one that cut deeper than any wound. I had always known I came second to Gina, but this… this was a new level of humiliation.

"Are you alright?" I heard the man ask me, his breath hot against my ear. The feeling of his breath on my body sent tingles down my spine.

I cleared my throat "Yes"

I wondered how he knew something was wrong. I was wearing a mask, he couldn't see my facial expressions or the tears that filled my eyes.

"Are you sure? Your body is trembling"

That was when I realized my whole body was shaking. No wonder he could tell.

I couldn't even begin to describe the hurt I felt. Jackson had crossed a line. He had shattered the final pieces of my heart. I loved him. I did everything to please him yet it wasn't enough. He had always preferred my sister to me.

A part of me wanted to say good riddance but another part of me was sad. Why didn't he love me? What was wrong with me?

The whispers grew louder and I knew that I would be the topic of pack discussion for about a week.

I sniffled, trying to get a hold of myself. I wouldn't let them break me. I would find a way around this.

Before I could fully process my emotions, the man sitting next to me spoke loudly. His voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd.

“Deposing a Luna will require evidence of Luna's serious infractions to be provided to the members of the Werewolf Council before you can do so." he said firmly.

I was surprised by his words. He spoke so eloquently and fluently, like someone with a lot of power. Who was he really?

The room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at him in shock, whispering and wondering who he was. Jackson’s face twisted with contempt. I could Jackson was a proud and ruthless Alpha. Nobody dared question him or speak when he's in the center of the room. It made me wonder who this man was even more. He must be very powerful for him to question Jackson's words.

Jackson glared at him as he spoke.

“Who are you?"Jackson's voice boomed" How dare you meddle in the affairs of my pack?"

The man didn’t flinch. I was surprised by how composed he looked. He had a confident smirk in his face.

“I'm a member of the Werewolf Council. You can provide me with evidence.”

My heart skipped a beat. A council member? Here? No wonder he spoke so powerfully.

Jackson froze for a moment before regaining his composure, though his voice wavered slightly. “You're a member of the Werewolf Council? That's not possible. There is no council member here today for the ball. You’re lying!”

At that moment, a man appeared behind the mystery man. He had the symbol of a royal sigil on his suit.

“How dare you!" the man raised his voice" How can you talk to him like that? You should bow when you see the Lycan King”

Gasps filled the room. My own breath caught in my throat as the realization hit me. The Lycan King? I had never seen him before—no one had. The mystery man was the Lycan King? All of a sudden, I started to get hot under my mask.

Jackson’s face went pale. His authoritative aura crumbled in an instant. Even Gina looked scared.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t know you were the king,” Jackson stammered, his body trembling with fear.

I held onto my mask tighter, praying it would conceal my identity. My heart raced. I had been talking to the Lycan king? No way.

Jackson bowed in front of him. The guests stood up and bowed too. I stood up to do the same but the mystery man held my hand, stopping me. It confused me even further. My body calmed under his touch.

“I will be here for two weeks to help you with the leadership changes,” the Lycan King said.

His gaze scanned over everyone till his eyes landed on me.

I felt like I was suffocating under his intense stare. I felt hot all over. I felt flattered and nervous at the same time.