Chapter 2

• NYRA
• When I walked back into the hall, no one batted an eyelid at my side.
• They didn’t care. Or they had already forgotten.
• Or they never noticed I was gone.
• I sat back in my seat, her gaze swept to mine immediately.
• A tiny smirk tugged on her lips as she raised her glass up—toasting to me.
• "Little Sis." She smiled.
• I merely looked away, gaze falling on Luca's grip on her hand.
• He removed his hand immediately, eyes swimming with guilt.
• He ran his gaze over me.
• "Are you okay? Rivena told me you were splashed too."
• I didn't reply. I only grabbed a glass and drowned it down my throat, face hardening.
• He frowned, ready to speak but Rivena held him gently.
• "It's fine. The air must be too fuzzy for her. Don't be so harsh, after all she was splashed too."
• Luca glanced over before nodding curtly.
• My gaze moved to Rivena.
• Not after what she did.
• Luca once promised his bond to Rivena—before everyone learned she wasn't the real daughter. When she left, they chose me, the true heir.
• After Rivena left, Luca was always enthusiastic about me. He also told me that his past with her was just an agreement between elders.
• I scoffed unbelievably, drowning wine down my throat—ignoring the burning sensation.
• Luca casted a glance at me, before looking forward with not as little as a care.
• I fisted the sides of my dress, anger brewing in me.
• "Alpha Luca? Your turn." An elder's voice rang faintly in my head.
• I struggled to concentrate on the rest of the ceremony, but I couldn't.
• Not with her sitting opposite me and acting clueless. Like she hadn't just tried to steal my life from me.
• Back then too, she never apologized. Just faked innocence. Pretended to be the victim.
• She had no idea, she claimed. Her mother was the perpetrator. Why should she pay for her sins?
• Everyone was supportive. Even my own parents. Moreover, I was no better than her. I didn't have what the Pack needed me for.
• I didn’t bear the mark of the moon-marked wolf like the prophecy stated I would.
• "Nyra?" Luca's voice sliced through my thoughts.
• I barely moved.
• My brows raised questioningly.
• It was then I noticed almost every eye in the hall was on me.
• He turned to the crowd, "I would like to introduce my mate to you, Nyra. My future Luna."
• With that, the hall broke into hushed chatters, soft whispers slicing through the once quiet hall.
• Through the hushed tones, I could visibly see the look of doubt on their face. Contempt-filled looks. Even the elders weren't left out, they glanced at me unsurely.
• I knew they didn't approve of me. They all thought I was just some wolf-less piece of shit that appeared out of nowhere. They'd rather have Rivera as their Luna.
• I rose to my feet and walked to the podium, amidst my own brewing fury.
• I faced them with a cold icy gaze.
• "As written by the goddess, I, Alpha Luca, would take Nyra Voss, as my mate and Luna."
• Hesitantly, hands moved against each other, breaking into claps.
• I stood rigid, refusing to take Luca's hands into mine when he offered.
• Instead, my gaze clashed with Rivena's who sat stiffly, a visible murderous look in her eyes.
• Then I let her know, I didn't hide it. She would regret this.
• Coming back to play tricks on me. For daring to think she could take everything that was mine without consequences.
• In response, I didn't miss the slight curve of her lips into a smirk.
• Game on.
• Immediately the ceremony ended. I didn't wait, or pretend to be interested in anything else.
• I walked out of the hall, my silhouette moving with elegance—a great contrast to the anger burning in me.
• When I reached my apartment, I pushed the door open, storming in.
• I strode to my closet, swiftly moving my hands through the clothes. I brought it out.
• Heavy. White. Elegant. Royal.
• My ceremonial wedding gown.
• I stood before my mirror, holding it like a prize to be auctioned.
• Our wedding was in two weeks. Yet. He did that.
• My eyes shut close, and when it blared open—trails of white flashed through my eyeballs.
• I didn't think twice.
• I dug my fingers into the fabric, instead, something poked out—claws.
• My breath hitched.
• Serene.
• I didn't wait. Didn't blink.
• I dug into it, and tore it apart. I didn't stop.
• I continued. Till it was unrecognizable, no more royalty, but nothing less than a rag.
• I let the pieces flutter around the floor, and I watched—satisfactorily.
• My brows raised abruptly.
• "Serene?"
• But she was gone. Again.
• The next morning, I woke up to a text.
• An unbelievable scoff left my lips.
• Not a call?
• A text. That was what I had been downgraded to.
• I stared down icily at my phone with annoyance.
• ~I have something to tell you. Training ground.~
• Luca's text read.
• The sudden change in attitude was all because Rivena was back, wasn't it?
• I didn't bother replying, and just locked my phone.
• For two years, Luca had been nothing but nice and considerate towards me.
• But now—it seemed his true colors were showing.
• I breathed heavily, swiftly grabbing an outfit. Perhaps he was ready to man up and tell me the truth about how he's been messing around with that wrench.
• How dare he claim me before everyone when he had been cheating on me?
• By the time I reached the Pack estate, my rage had settled into something colder, sharper.
• I straightened my face, eyes cold and unwelcoming.
• But of course, as the unloved Beta's daughter who suddenly came to steal their golden egg's life, eyes followed me even as I stepped into the training grounds.
• Warriors who trained under Luca's sharp swift commands, paused to watch me.
• His brows raised icily and he turned to see what the distraction was.
• His icy gaze softened into something else. It wasn't warmth. Annoyance. As though, I was a disturbance in the air.
• But I didn't miss the flicker of guilt that flashed across his eyes.
• That only made my insides boil. So, it was true. He truly was cheating on me. With her.
• My teeth clenched together tightly but I mirrored down my expression and walked over to him, my legs not swaying once.
• Despite being an asshole, the moon goddess blessed him with unmatched beauty that no one in Greyfang could rival.
• His huge arms grabbed me swiftly, pulling me aside without a word.
• "What?" I didn't bother hiding my displeasure as he pulled me to the raised platform at the edge of the training ground.
• His brows raised at my attitude, but he didn't question it further.
• But what he said next was something that shattered what little patience I had left.
• "Rivena's back. Let's postpone the wedding."