Chapter 2 The Attack

• Veda's POV:
• The banquet hall buzzes with whispers.
• "This is really embarrassing,"
• "The Blackthorn can't even hide it. They prefer the stepdaughter to their real daughter. Luna Jemika is lucky!"
• "Of course, even Beaston prefers Isla to her."
• "Veda disappeared years ago. Who knew what she did or went through? It's a pity that she's getting treated like this."
• I closed her eyes briefly, momentarily shutting out the cruel words.
• I took in a deep breath, railing in my shaky breath, I opened my eyes, and slowly, I slipped out the heavy small dainty diamond ring on my finger then dropped it inside the empty champagne flute; the clanking sound resounded throughout the Grand Hall., drowning the murmur.
• "Veda.... What are you doing?" Octavia asked in a whisper, her hand light on my shoulder. "If he wants to sprint around Luna City for that manipulative little doe-eyes, then let him. You deserve better."
• "I don't want to talk," I said softly, smiling at my best friend appreciatively.
• I just couldn't. Not now. Not when I was on the verge of tears, threatening to spill from my eyes, and the humiliation washing down my body.
• The moonmark bracelet on my wrist— the symbol of the mate bond dimmed faintly.
• At twenty-four , I was yet to find my fated mate, and now, my chosen mate had decided to go to another she-wolf instead of being with me on our engagement day.
• I chuckled bitterly. My hand tightened around the champagne flute.
• He'd rather run to her like a lost pup.
• Being a chosen mate doesn't mean I own him...... But the way he rushed to Isla, the way he forgot that I even existed.....
• It carved something deep inside me.
• Not jealousy, just clarity.
• I was alone..... Again.
• I swallowed hard. My heart aches even when I don't want it to. I had never felt so disposable.
• "It is over." I murmured.
• While I stood alone drowning in whisper, Isla lay comfortably In the VIP ward of Silverbane Hospital.
• I could picture it clearly.
• She sat on the bed in a hospital gown that she couldn't wait to shed, wincing dramatically as she lifted her arm.
• "Gosh, I told them not to hit me too bad!" She probably thought.
• "Isla, don't move. You're in pain, and you need to rest." Beaston voice would be gentle, his hand petting her head.
• Isla would smile up at him, her eyes dancing with victory.
• She had succeeded in taking Beaston away from me.
• And soon.... She'd take everything else.
• ******
• The night air hit my skin as I stepped out of the hotel and into the cool air downtown. Its height towers over me.
• "He left us," My wolf whispered weakly. "He abandoned us for her."
• I shut her eyes for a second, steadying myself.
• "He was never ours."
• I walked past the glowing lights to the quiet back street behind the hotel. I leaned against the brick wall, closing her eyes, I exhaled.
• My phone vibrated in my purse.
• I dug out the phone, staring at my messages. No text from him. But of course, there was one from Isla.
• "Your mate left you to be with me. I won."
• A bitter chuckle slipped from my lips.
• "Foolish. So foolish."
• "Veda, are you okay?" Octavia's hand reach me from behind , squeezing my shoulder gently. "It's his loss."
• I barely noticed her presence before........
• "Well, Well, Beaston's chosen mate is all alone in the city."
• Veda's eyes snapped open.
• Three men stepped out of a parked SUV in the darkness of the night. They seem human, but their scent betrayed them.
• Rogues
• These are city rogues, the kind who live in the underbelly of Luna City, dealing in shady deals, blackmail, and anything and everything that brings money.
• "You are pretty in person," The one whose aura gives off that of a leader uttered. "Shame the Alpha heir ran off to save his little favorite instead of guarding you."
• "Keep walking," I murmured, my eyes back to my phone screen.
• "No can do," He stepped closer, cracking his knuckles. "Someone paid good money for a few pictures of you. Said we could rough you up a little bit until you're weak. We can even take off your dress for the camera."
• I wiped the corner of my lip and met his gaze, "I won't repeat myself, walk away."
• "Come on, don't act so smug. You don't even have a wolf yet."
• They didn't listen. They came at me fast, but I moved faster.
• My heel slammed into one rogue's knee and twisted his hand, his cries filling the dark pathway. Another swing at me — I grabbed his wrist, twisted it, and drove a hard blow on his face.
• The two rogues sprang towards me at once, before they could get to me, I flipped them onto the pavement, my heels digging into their thighs.
• Blood pooled underneath.
• The rogues groaned, fear evident in their eyes as they coughed out blood. "You..... You fight like an Alpha."
• "No," I shook her head. "I fight like someone who's done being stepped on."
• I grabbed the leader by the collar, forcing eye contact.
• "Who sent you?"
• He hesitated. Glancing briefly at his colleague.
• Not today, little guy. I'm done playing nice.
• I pressed my sharp nail onto his neck cutting a small part of it, enough for his wolf to feel the threat.
• "Okay! Okay! I'll talk. A woman..... She said to humiliate you. Post your video on socials so Beaston could reject you in public."
• Was I surprised? No.
• I knew already who the perpetrator was.
• Isla.
• The girl everyone adored.
• The one Beaston ran to without thinking.
• The one that always needs rescuing.
• I dropped the rogue, and wiped my hands on his shirt then stepped back.
• "Get up," I murmured. "And leave before I change my mind."
• They scrambled away.
• "Who could have sent them?" Octavia muttered to herself, her eyes on the blood spilled on the floor.
• "Isla."
• After a day at Octavia's house, I returned to the pack house.
• As I stepped inside the house, I saw her father, my mother, and my two brothers fussing over Isla, a bitter taste on my tongue as I watched them bickering, my face scrunched up in disgust.
• Clearly, her injuries weren't serious since she was back already huh?
• Sensing my presence, everyone's eyes turned towards the doorway. Isla smiled, her eyes shining with fresh challenges.
• Fury burned inside me, my palm twitched violently. I matched forward, before Isla could say a word, my palm connected to her cheek .
• Smack!
• Isla's head snapped to the side, her hand palming her cheek.
• In a flash, father rushed towards me. His hand wrapped around my neck. "How dare you hit your sister! Apologies now!"
• "I won't." I managed to say. A bead of sweat formed on my forehead as my father's hand tightene around my neck.
• "Leave her Daddy..... She's probably angry that Beaston left her last night." Isla murmured, dropping her head, "I'm sorry, Sis."
• "I am not your sister!"
• "Shut up! You slapped her and she's still apologizing, yet you are stubborn." Jemika Blackthorn snapped. "What sort of a child are you?"
• "The type that won't send rogues after her so-called sister." I managed to say. I grabbed Alpha Wulfric's hand and pulled it. "Your precious little daughter sent rogues after me last night!"