2.Valerie's POV

I slowly peeled my eyes open, the morning sunlight filtering through the window and warming my face.

I groaned and stretched my limbs, then turned to the side to avoid the glare of the sun, pulling the sheets with me.

It took me several blinks and head scratching to realize that I was in Adam's bedroom, not mine. Wait, where was he? I sat up and looked around.

The only indication that he had been in this room were his shirt and dress pants, which were slung over the back of a nearby chair.

I looked down and realized I was utterly naked, the memory of the night before lingering in my mind.

Then I smiled in satisfaction: for as long as I could remember, I had dreamed of waking up beside him, and now that dream had finally come true.

The sheets smelled of him: that pure, aqua scent that had driven me nuts since I was thirteen years old and I'd finally discovered I had feelings for him.

As I rose from the bed, a sense of eagerness filled my heart. Today would mark a new chapter in our relationship, a confirmation of the feelings I'd been holding on to for six years now.

He was mine, and I was his, and we would be that way forever. I took another moment to gather my thoughts, then I padded into his adjoining bathroom.

I took a quick shower, ladling myself with the soap and imagining his hands on me, doing crazy-good things to my body.

My lower belly clenched with desire as I remembered how good he'd tasted; his lips on mine had felt perfect.

Heavenly. That was the only word to describe what had happened.

I could still hear his warm breath in my ear as he'd buried himself inside of me, the way he'd gripped my shoulders hard before cumming.

I could still feel his weight on me, how he'd held on to my waist as I'd ridden him to a climax.

I almost stumbled in my haste to get out of the bathroom and my sexually-driven thoughts, smiling sheepishly in the process.

Even when he wasn't physically here, Adam had a way of driving me crazy.

I picked up the shirt he'd worn in the ceremony yesterday and put it on, folding the arms to accommodate my smaller one. Then I walked out of the room in search of him. The entire house was empty, devoid of the party guests from last night.

"Adam?" I called. "I'm awake!"

A loud clatter in the kitchen answered me. I furrowed my brow in curiosity, then padded down the stairs, taking one cautious step after the other. A dull thud followed the clatter and raised a sense of panic in my chest.

The thing—beast? Human?—made a low grunt that sounded as though it was in extreme pain.

What if Adam was being attacked? As I reached the end of the staircase, I grabbed an umbrella from a nearby stand and raised it high above my head, hoping against hope that I wouldn't have to use it.

The grunt seemed to be coming from the direction of the kitchen. I reached the kitchen door and made a sharp turn, ready to hit whoever the attacker was—And faltered as I took in the sight.

There, in the kitchen, stood Adam, wrapped in the embrace of another woman. My heart plummeted, and a wave of disbelief crashed over me.

"Adam," I managed to say, my voice tremulous. The image before my eyes seemed like a harsh twist of fate, tearing apart the hope and love for him that I'd nurtured for so long.

Adam turned abruptly, his expression shifting from happy to surprised as his eyes caught mine. As he turned, the girl he'd been kissing was revealed. And it was none other than Analisse herself.

"What the heck?!" I shrieked, feeling the double blow of betrayal. Adam had not only cheated on my love for him, but he'd done it with my other best friend.

"Valerie—" He started, but I'd turned away already, storming to the front door of the house. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill down my cheeks.

There was a dull ache in my chest that felt unfamiliar yet real. It tore at my chest and left me gasping as I tried to hold back the sobs.

I stopped at the front door, my hand on the doorknob, and I heard Adam stop behind me.

"Valerie, listen to me." He murmured. I flinched as he reached out to touch my shoulder. I struggled to find my voice amidst the chaos of my thoughts.

"Listen? Why should I listen, Adam? I saw it with my own eyes, didn't I? I thought... I thought we were meant to be. You made me sleep with you, yet you were making out with my best friend the next morning"

I turned slowly to face him, my vision clouded by tears shed and unshed. Behind him, I could see Analisse hovering at the kitchen door, with a mocking smile plastered on her face.

"We didn't plan it to be this way, Val. It just... happened" She said in a scratchy whisper, though I could hear her from that distance.

The lying, slimy bitch. How I wanted to tear at her, to make her feel a part of the pain I was feeling.

"You expect me to believe it just...happened?" I muttered bitterly.

"You just wound up in his house, unexpected? After the things we talked about last night, Ana?"

"Then don't believe it Val. We planned on making the announcement later in the evening but you found out this way" Adam muttered and i bit my lips painfully.

I thought you loved me, Adam. I believed that so much that I didn't think you'd do this to me.

"Valerie, I never wanted to lose you. I still don't. But Analisse is my mate. We're meant to be" Adam replied without remorse.

"Well, friends don't lie to each other. You didn't think about that before dragging me to your room last night? Did you think about that before—"

I choked back on the words. A smirked formed itself on Adam's lips, as he faced me squarely.

"Well, to be completely honest, Val, I didn't force myself on you. You wanted me just as much as i did but everything that happened yesterday night was a fling" Adam whispered and i could feel my tears at bay, i was still trying so hard not to give in to the pain of been heartbroken.

"At least you could have stayed away from making out with my own friend, the day after you had sex with me!" I screamed hurtfully.

"Analisse is getting corronated as my Luna tomorrow" Adam spoke without batting an eyelid.

The weight of Adam's revelation settled upon me, my heart breaking even further.

I finally let out the sob I'd been holding back, knowing I had lost the one person I'd given my heart to since I was thirteen.

"Wow!" I breathed, folding my arms.

"Just...wow!"

"My dad betrothed us to each other before he died," Adam continued, his eyes full of an emotion I couldn't name.

"Preparations are underway and you should get prepared too. I won't force you to attend though" Adam muttered then turned to leave.

"And when did you plan on telling the both of us that you were sleeping with the other?" I spat venomously.

"For fuck's sake, Val!" Adam yelled in frustration, raking both hands through his hair.

"You and I, we're not even a thing. We're just friends, are we not?"

A ball of emotion formed in my throat and I turned away, unable to bear the look of contempt and frustration on Adam's face any longer.

The depth of my love made the situation all the more unbearable, but I knew I had to protect myself from further heartbreak.

Adam hadn't thought of me before making any decision. How could he claim being friends with me?

"Well, then. I wish the both of you a terrible existence!" I spat, then turned and left the house, taking my shattered heart with me...

3.

Valerie's POV

My eyes burned with tears as I pushed myself into my silent home. It was one of the numerous things my parents had left for me before their death.

The house was one I had grown to love and cherish. Even my friends, Analisse and Rendall admitted to how cool the building was but right now I'm alone and desolate in that very building which was once a lively place.

I was totally clueless on what to do next. I can't possibly keep living here, around my friends after knowing the bitter truth but it wouldn't be easy trying to leave since the building was my parent's.

I was still thinking about that when my phone beeped. It was a big announcement from the pack house. The Luna's coronation. My tears threatened to fall but I wasn't ready to give in to the torment.

'I'll be fine on my own' I reassured myself as I gulped down a bottle of wine.

My door suddenly barged open and a number of guards swam in, shocking me to the core.

"What the hell is going on?" I yelled but no one replied. Two of the guards suddenly grabbed me and pulled me out of the house.

I kept struggling with them until they got to their destination. The pack house.

Now I was kneeling right in front of Adam. The son of a bitch! Only good riddance was keeping me from hitting life out of his sinfully handsome face.

"My heart thugged at my chest heavily as I saw him face me with one smirk, totally void of remorse.

"What do you want from me, you cheat!" I muttered in distress as fear settled within my guts. A gathering or summon in front of the Alpha means trouble, so it made me weak to the knees to think I was kneeling down right in front of him like a criminal caught in action.

"Your number of offenses within just a day of finding out about my true Luna is threatening, Valerie, but I still wish I could overlook things for your sake.

"I get that you're so offended that I had chosen your friend over you as my Luna but you can't fit in as the Luna of this pack. You are an Omega who can't shift! You're too weak but Analisse is the perfect definition of a complete Luna" he explained vividly and my tears flew to the surface.

Does he have to remind me of that? When he had always told me how less he cared about me not being able to shift.

He had became my friend knowing that and he had promised to protect me no matter what, but now this?

"I understand you completely, Adam. Can you please let me go now? I'll be fine on my own" I whispered, dabbing gently against my tears.

"I'm not done with you yet, Valerie" he thundered, sending shivers down my spine. It was the first time he had raised his voice to yell at me.

"I thought of how I could be of help to you, Valerie. Then I thought of making you my mistress. Only then can you be save in this pack" Adam said silently.

"Being wolfless is a disadvantage to you, chica. Asides that, I can't deny the fact that you'd fit in as my mistress. If we have a deal, all you'll always need to do is warm my bed while I protect you" he added and the urge to puke suddenly took charge.

"You mean I should be your whore?" I asked in disbelief and he nodded shamelessly.

"Why don't you ask your favorite mate to be your whore? Why must it be me?" I asked as tears formed layers within my eyes.

"You don't need to deny he fact that you wanted me as much as I do, and that you still do. This is just going to work out for your good" he whispered, trailing a finger over my bare shoulder.

"And if I refuse?" I uttered without blinking and his gaze pierced into mine. His fingers digging into my skin painfully as he pulled me close.

"You'll have to leave this pack, forever!" He whispered and I bit my lips hard to keep me from trembling.

Leaving the pack would take a big toll on me but I would rather leave than live with someone who betrayed me without thinking of how horribly he had hurt me.

Who was he kidding?

A deal to become his whore? While the witch orders me around as the Luna?

I fidgeted for a minute or so before matching his gaze.

"I will never be your whore, Adam" I told him sternly and he raised his brows.

"Really?"

"Then I'd assume you're willing to leave?" He asked and I agreed without hesitation.

"I would have no problem leaving as long as I sold the building for a good price" I started thinking within myself until his voice interrupted me.

"I, Adam Farkas, the Alpha of Crescent Moon pack, announces your banishment from this pack. You, Valerie Steele shall leave without taking anything from the pack" he said immediately after confirming my decision.

"But... " I tried to protest but Analisse suddenly appears out of nowhere, grinning from ear to ear.

"Thanks for deciding to leave Val, you're a good friend after all" She said silently and I scoffed.

If only I could just grow fangs and dig out her lungs.

"I had always wanted that building of yours but you're finally letting it go so easily. Thanks for that" she added and lips trembled. My legs shook at her last statement.

"I... I" I tried talking but only a sob managed to leave my lips.

"You should leave now before the guards help you" Adam muttered sternly and I turned to leave immediately.

To hell with him and Analisse!

To hell with his reign as the Alpha!

To hell with everything concerning Adam Farkas and Analisse Clinton! They'll surely pay for everything I had gone through.

4.

Valerie's POV

Blinded by tears, I raced out of the pack house and down the staircase in front of it. I could feel their eyes on me as i rushed out but I didn't turn. I didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me totally shattered. He'd taken my virginity, my heart and even everything that belongs to me.

What else?

I stopped, then opened my mouth to speak, I wanted to curse at him so much but my sobs choked me. All I could let out was a pitiful whimper. My heart was like broken shards, piercing through my chest and leaving me gasping with hurt.

I would never be the same again. I pushed the gate open and walked out of their lives. Forever!

Immediately I stepped into the pathway that led away from the pack house, I broke into another run. The wind blew dust and dead leaves into my face but I didn't care much.

The pain was too much for me. Questions and tears jumbled into one another in my heart. Salty streams gushed out of my eyes and the wind whipped them back as I felt all the memories from years past resurface.

This was the same Adam who had told me I was the best thing the universe gave him when we were 13. The same Adam who had hugged me and cried into my shoulder a few months ago when his father had died.

The same Adam who had kissed me and taken everything I could offer as a woman last night. Where had it all gone wrong?

Despite how hard I tried to shake off the paranoia and the hopeless feeling that I had just lost something valuable, it kept rushing back in a torrent.

I stopped running finally, and looked around, tears blinding me. I was on a semi-deserted street in town. No, more like a rundown, crime-ridden area.

Ours was a small town of werewolves, but that didn't mean that it was immune to disrepair. This side of town was notorious for its high crime rate and a hovel for rogue wolves.

Opposite me was a broken down floral shop, the letters inscripted on its glass windows fading. Two doors down, a group of boys were gathered in a circle, trading something I couldn't see. I looked up and saw a sign, swinging on its hinges, declaring that the building behind me was "Hugo's Unisex Barbershop."

"Hey!" A raspy voice called, and I gave a large start and turned around. An elderly man was walking towards me, his brows furrowed in annoyance.

"Get yourself off my property, woman!"

"I'm sorry," I murmured and shifted. As I took a step forward, a wave of dizziness washed over me and I collapsed, hitting the curb hard.

I gasped as pain ricocheted from my hurt side to the rest of my body. Shoving the urge to puke, I stood to my feet on wobbly legs and tried to move forward.

My vision swam again and I saw several figures filter into my sight. I grabbed the nearest thing I could find to steady myself.

"Get your hands off me!" Someone snapped, slapping my hand away. I blinked rapidly and my vision became clearer. Four boys had gathered around me, the same boys I'd seen down the street. They were a motley crew of dirty clothes, rotten teeth and swinging baseball bats.

Before I could say anything, one of them moved forward, his nasty-smelling breath fanning my face and making me more sober. I took a step back, but he persisted.

"Whatcha got on you, girl?" He asked. His breath smelled of garlic and old cigarettes. Ugh!

"I have nothing," I murmured, pushing against his chest to leave. "Stay away from me."

"Not so fast, not so fast." He replied and pushed me backwards. I hit the wall of the barbershop hard and slid to the ground, groaning in pain. I looked up at the glass windows in front of the barbershop. The man who had shooed me away from his shop gave me a glance, then looked away as though he hadn't seen anything.

What was wrong with people?

The leader of the gang of rogue wolves crouched and looked into my face. His frown deepened for a moment as he stared at me, and then his brow shot up into his hairline.

He laughed—a raspy, annoying sound that sent the hairs on my neck standing erect—and his cronies followed.

"Isn't this the ol' pal of the new alpha?" He asked.

"What's ya name, princess?"

"Go away!" I screamed and stood to my feet shakily. I backed up into a dingy, smelly alley beside the barbershop, which was a terrible idea, since I now had a wall behind me and the rogue wolves in front of me.

I was stuck, and the only way I would be able to get out was through some divine intervention. I looked around wildly, and my eyes fell on a broken glass shard beside my feet. I lunged to the ground and picked it up, feeling the sharp edges press into my palm, feeling warm liquid ooze down my wrist.

I didn't care: I would rather cut myself than let these boys have their way with me, just like Adam did.

"Well, you don't look like you've got much in the way of cash on you," the leader murmured, his eyes glinting maniacally as it roamed over my body. "But perhaps we could take...something else from you."

"Don't touch me!" I screamed again, shoving the glass shard forward. "I swear to the Moon Goddess, if you come near me—"

"What are you gon' do, princess?" He asked, moving forward slowly.

"The alpha is my best friend!" I spat into his face. Adam's face swam into my head, and I tried to tamp down on the agony that followed.

The leader of the rogue wolves made a show of looking around. "Hmmm. I don't see him anywhere around. Your knight in shining fur and fangs is nowhere near to save you."

His words hurt more than it should. Adam had never been there for me, and he wouldn't start now. I took another step back and almost stumbled as my back hit the wall behind me. The leader grinned and stepped forward until inches remained between us. He wasn't going to back down, and the only way I would be getting out of there was if I fought my way through, but I was physically weak.

Summoning the last of my strength, I screamed and rushed forward with the glass piece in my hand, ready to stab all of them to death if I could. I heard a soft rip and a groan as the glass shard pierced through soft human flesh, and I opened my eyes to see the leader at my feet, the glass buried in his midriff.

But the other boys weren't willing to back down. They all came after me, baseball bats swinging, and began to hit me. I heard a soft crunch as the first bat made its contact with my skin and pain shot up my body.

Another bat hit my head, and I slumped to the ground, images before me in disturbing twos and threes.

Somewhere in the part of my head that wasn't riddled by pain, I heard footsteps approach the dingy alleyway. Then the attack on my body paused for a moment.

"Let her go!" I heard a person's command, and then the darkness claimed me...