Scarlet's pov

"Leave to where?" Damien asked, his words vicious, and I could tell by the slight tick in his jaw, he was struggling to control his temper.

I hated to admit it, but I was scared.

I had heard tales of his ruthlessness and viciousness being spoken about across packs.

"I can't go back to my pack, but I'll find somewhere else," I replied in a tiny voice.

"This is your pack and home now." He growled.

"Would you keep me here against my will?" I asked.

I remained silent, and that fear I felt rose within me.

He scanned my face before he let out a sigh.

"I wouldn't keep you here against your will. However, would it be so easy for you to leave? Don't you feel the mate bond?" He asked, stalking towards me.

The closer he came, the stronger the scent of sandwood invaded my senses.

"I don't know what to do," I whispered, and it was the truth.

I didn't know how to move forward from here.

"Why were you in a wedding gown the day we met?" He asked, and my eyes bulged at the unexpected question.

"I was meant to be married," I revealed, and he clenched his fists by his side.

"What happened? Why were you fending off rogues instead of being at your wedding?" He inquired, and I was unsure how much to divulge to this man.

He might have been my mate, but he was still a total stranger to me.

"I'd rather not talk about it." I shrugged and looked away from him.

"I would like to know if my mate is married or if I should be bothered about anyone coming to claim what is mine." He said possessively, and I almost melted into a puddle.

"I am not an object to be claimed by anyone," I announced.

"But you don't have to worry about that. I'm not married, and no one is coming for me." I said with a sad smile.

"He is a fool, then, but I cannot bring myself to hate him because his actions made our paths meet." He divulge,d and my wolf leaped within me, against my better judgement.

"Why were you in the forest by that time?" I asked, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise.

He wasn't expecting me to ask any questions.

"I was restless and I needed to clear my head." He shrugged.

My eyes rested on his face, and I was overcome by the sudden urge to brush my fingers along the single scar running down his left eye, right before I peppered it with kisses.

I must be running mad.

"I thought you were avoiding me." I blurted out.

"What made you think that?" He asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"You made no attempt to see me since the night you brought me here." I reminded him.

"Did you want me to visit?" He cocked his head to the side.

"I was just saying," I muttered as my cheeks heated at the implications of his words.

"You've already met Emma. She would guide you on anything you need to know about the pack, and if you have any questions, feel free to seek me out." He said before he turned to exit the room.

"You aren't going to claim me or mark me?" I questioned, and his hand stilled on the door handle.

I wanted to slap myself for speaking without a filter.

"Do you want me to?" He turned slightly towards me.

"Again, I was just merely asking." I shrugged as I hugged myself.

That was all my wolf wanted, but I wasn't about to say that out loud when I knew it was the mate bond manipulating me.

"And what would you do if I decide to take you right here and now and mark you?" He asked, his hazel eyes flashing.

My mouth went dry as my traitorous mind conjured the image in my head.

I gulped but otherwise remained silent.

Damien gave a stiff nod and turned back towards the door.

"Then I suggest you stop asking questions when the answers might not be favourable to you. The pack's doctor will come to attend to your wound," He announced before he left my room.

I stared at the door long after he left and realized that he hadn't answered any of my questions; rather, he had left me more confused than I had been.

It wasn't up to a few minutes when Emma entered with a tray, plates, and some wool.

"You definitely have to eat more, and we have to build your body." Emma touched my limbs.

"I think I look alright just like this." I looked down at my body.

"Of course, you do," Emma muttered under her breath.

I wasn't exactly skinny, but I couldn't say I had a sturdy build.

"Damien gave me his credit card and said to get you some new clothes." She changed the subject as we walked into the mall, and I stilled.

"Why would he do that when he is deliberately ignoring me?" I asked with a frown.

"He isn't ignoring you, Scarlet. He is just busy." Emma defended him lamely, but I could see even she didn't believe her words.

"Too busy to speak to his mate whom he has not even attempted to get to know?" I quirked an unimpressed brow.

"Do you even want him to get to know you though? You just proposed that you are leaving," She asked, and I groaned before adding. "I overheard it though. It wasn't intentional." 

"Would everyone just stop doing that. I need straightforward answers, and answering my question with a question isn't particularly helpful." I snapped, and Emma stood still. 

But come to think of it. Am I really going to return to a pack I felt so unwanted? An Alpha that betrayed me. A mate that slept with my bestfriend. And a friend that sees me as an enemy?

I can't believe I was almost torn into pieces by those rogue wolves in the wood. Alex, and Kayla after many years of loving them hard chose to betray me this way. 

What if I leave and they come for me? 

Kayla, and Alex had hurt me badly. It hurts I cannot forgive. All my life, I've loved them. And this is how they chose to betray me?

Revenge is the only thing on my mind. And right now, maybe leaving isn't an option. 

But how am I going to get revenge against those two when I have no backup? 

Before Emma could reply, a bang was heard from the distance, almost like a loud drum, and it kept beating.

"What is that?" I asked as I noticed people inside the mall began to rush out, and there was an excited chatter in the air.

"Come on, let's go." She retorted instead of answering my question as she dragged me out of the mall.

Damien's POV

"Listen, everyone," I continued, my fist raised to signify silence. 

The Moon shining at its peak was something that had occurred a long time ago in this part of the world, after the curse was placed on me.

But suddenly, upon Scarlet's arrival--just a few days of her being here, everything changed. 

The sick were healed, and even the lame walked miraculously. This wasn't just an ordinary thing. It is just as the Moon goddess has said. Just like the prophecy had announced the day I was cursed.

Scarlet is more of a blessing than a mate. But she seems so hurt and pained by what her mate had done to her. 

How was I supposed to convince her to be my Luna when she had raised these walls around her?

Just as I saw her amongst the pack members, her blue doe eyes never leaving mine, almost caused me to trip over my feet while addressing the pack members.

"The Moon goddess has finally smiled on us after many years." I addressed them and stretched my hand towards Scarlet. 

 I honestly don't have a clue how this love story is about to begin or how it was written. But it's worth giving it a try.

"What are you doing?" My Beta, Callan, whispered into my ears, leaving me startled almost immediately.

And right now, I just lost my confidence. 

"Are you really going to ask her out in front of the whole pack, Alpha Damien?"

I rolled my eyes in frustration, staring at the pack members who were waiting for me to say something. 

My breath hitched as I clenched my fist, trying hard not to show my weakness in front of my people.

I've never done this before in my life. Asking a woman out in front of my people. 

However, yes, this is the way it must be done if I want the curse to be broken once and for all. 

"Have you forgotten what the moon goddess said about getting my Luna if I really want the curse to go away?" I turned towards Callan, my breath fanning his face.

Well, Callan is more of a brother than a beta. So we are always like this.

"But you haven't even spoken to her. I mean..." Callan paused with a smug look on his face. "I thought the last thing she said to you was that she wants to run away from this pack–"

"Can you just allow me to do this? I'm the greatest Alpha. Have you seen me? No girl has ever said no to me. I'm irresistible." I replied proudly.

Callan, on the other hand, stepped back with a shrug. But the look on his face says something else. 

I inhaled deeply, controlling the rate at which my heart was pounding–one that I could even hear in my ears. 

"I want to introduce someone to us." I started, signaling Emma to push her forward. 

"Her name is Scarlet." I started, beckoning for her to come forward. 

"Scarlet, can you do a brief introduction of yourself to my people?" I raised a brow, my face doing the rest of the talking. 

"Go on,"

She cleared her throat as if knowing what I was up to. Tension filled the air as everyone went silent. 

Turning to look at me at intervals, and back to the crowd, she started. "My name is Scarlet Underwood." 

"It's nice to be here with you all. I hope you'll treat me well," She concluded, bowing her head alongside. 

I smiled softly, walking towards her, and I wasted no time in sliding my hand inside hers. 

Gripping her hand gently, my eyes trailed down to her face, and back to the pack members.

"The sign we saw today was because of Scarlet Underwood," I explained, and murmurs filled the air. 

Small talks, and something that seems more of a disapproval, which I couldn't wrap my head around. 

"It appears that Scarlet Underwood is my mate, and my Luna," I announced, and everyone burst out in disagreement. 

"We won't have someone from the MoonClaw pack be our Luna!" One of the elders barked, and everyone supported almost immediately. 

And before I could speak, just like Callan had predicted. Scarlet broke loose from my grip.

Yanking her hand off, she turned towards me in anger. Her eyes darted back to the pack members. "I will never be a Luna to a heartless Alpha! Even if he's the last man on earth."

Scarlet's POV

I didn't know what this was, but whatever the Moon Goddess had planned, I wanted no part of it.

Without a second thought, I walked out on everyone, ignoring the growing murmurs behind me.

"Scarlet!" Damien called after me, but I didn't respond.

I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I needed to get away.

The Moon Goddess had to be insane, pairing me with someone like him.

Just then, his hand caught mine and spun me around. My body trembled as his fingers brushed against my waist.

"Let me go!" I snapped, yanking at his grip, just as we both lost balance.

He stumbled backward, losing hold of me, and in the process, tripped my leg. I fell straight onto him-lips to lips.

I stared at him, stunned, then tried to scramble away, but his grip tightened.

"Let me go, Damien!" I shouted, pounding against his chest, but he held on firmly.

His brows furrowed, then softened into an amused smile as he finally released me.

"You see me as some kind of monster?" he asked, standing up and offering a hand.

"This is how you thank me for saving your life?"

"I never asked you to do anything," I said coldly. "So thank you, and now can you please sever the mate bond already?"

"Seriously? Are you kidding right now? Do you even understand what the Moon Goddess-"

"Damn the Moon Goddess!" I screamed, barely keeping my temper in check.

"Do I look like I give two fucks about her? Huh?" I spat, tears burning beneath my eyes.

I shut them tightly before speaking through clenched teeth. "Where was she when my friend Kayla was screwing my mate?"

"Scar-"

"Save it!" I snapped, cutting him off before he could say another word.

I didn't care what he or the Moon Goddess had to say.

I was done being the fool who trusted too easily.

Done being the naive girl everyone used and tossed aside the moment I wasn't convenient anymore.

"I'm not going to be your Luna, Alpha Damien," I said, wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks. "And it's obvious your pack agrees with that."

Before I could leave, Callan and Emma appeared, both of them looking at me with what could only be pity.

I didn't mean to be rude, but the pain eating me from the inside wouldn't let me pretend.

I wasn't healed yet, and this proposal? It was too much.

I couldn't, and wouldn't, accept it.

"You can all find someone else to be your Luna. I'm not taking part in this twisted prophecy you think the Moon Goddess gave you!" I shouted, turning to leave.

"Scarlet, wait!" Emma, the pack doctor, called after me, but I didn't look back.

"I just need some air," I muttered, pushing through the stunned pack members and shutting the door behind me.

And then I heard it.

Voices, their whispers. Each of them is talking about Kayla and Alex. My name slipping off someone's lips like poison.

"She took her best friend's mate," someone said. The words stopped me cold in my tracks.

"Seriously? How does she still look so innocent after that?" another voice added, full of venom.

"I think she just wants to be Luna by any means necessary."

And then, the final blow.

"She's a whore."

"Whore!"

They all echoed it. Like a chant.

I turned around slowly, facing the palace once again.

Fists clenched. Face burning.

No more tears. Just rage. I let out a scoff in disbelief. Staring at the pack members one after the other. "And where did you hear those ridiculous rumors from?" I started. 

At this point, I had no choice but to speak for myself. It was clear now, Kayla had declared war.

"Huh?! Answer me!" I snapped, gripping the hem of my garment tightly, trying to steady my breathing.

Silence fell. No one dared speak, except one woman from the crowd.

"Didn't you steal her mate?"

I turned sharply toward the voice, stunned. "Is that what she told you?" My voice cracked with disbelief. 

"You don't have to lie," another voice added. "Everyone knows you slept with Alpha Alex. You betrayed Luna Kayla. Jeez, she's your best friend."

"Yeah, it's all out in the open now," someone else muttered.

My heart sank.

So that was it. The whole neighboring pack knew. Every whisper, every sideways glance, it all made sense now.

"For your information," I began slowly, my voice trembling with rage, "I didn't steal her man. It's the other way around."

"Mmm, are you sure?" a voice questioned sarcastically. "Because that's not what it looks like."

My heart thudded painfully in my chest. "Who's spreading these lies? Huh? If you're bold enough, come out and say it to my face!"

I looked around, daring them. My blood boiled. My hands shook.

But no one stepped forward.

"You're all cowards," I spat. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I scanned their judgmental stares.

"We're not cowards," said the same woman who started it all.

She stepped forward. "We're just not stupid. You think showing up here changes the fact that you slept with your best friend's man?"

"Are you serious right now?" I asked through clenched teeth. "And how exactly do you know that?"

"She told us!" several voices chorused.

I paused. My chest rose and fell rapidly. So that's it. Kayla had gone all in. First, she took Alex from me. Now she was out to destroy whatever I had left.

"I didn't steal him," I said, louder this time. "She did. Kayla got pregnant for him behind my back, and ruined my weddind day."

"I bet," the woman scoffed, retreating into the crowd, clearly unconvinced. Murmurs rose all around me. Accusations, disbelief, and disgust followed.

They'd already made up their minds.

No matter what I said, they wouldn't listen. I had once thought of leaving the pack, even turned down Damien's offer to be his Luna... but now?

Now, they had given me the one thing I didn't know I needed: a reason.

A reason to rise. 

If they wouldn't give me respect, I'd take it.

And when I do, every one of them, every single one-will pay.

Storming back inside, I headed straight to Damien.

Just as I flung the door open, I stood in front of him. My breath fanned his face.

Wiping my face, I said clearly, "Help me get revenge on Kayla and Alex... and I'll reconsider being your Luna."