My heart sinks. It was not Ryker

A pack guard enters, his eyes filled with disgust. "Who would have thought that pretty little Luna would be a traitor," he spits, fastening me to chains that hang from the ceiling.

"Ryker confessed everything. You've been betraying us for a long time."

I shake my head, denial burning in my throat.

"No, that's not true!" I protest, my voice trembling. "Ryker would never say that. He loves me, I know he does."

The guard sneers. "Don't lie, Luna. Ryker told us about your little affairs, how you cheated on him. You're nothing but a cheap, filthy omega.

You simply went around whoring yourself to the highest bidder."

I continue to deny the accusations, shaking like a leaf. "No, no, no! That's not true! Ryker would never betray me like that. He's the one who said he loved me, who said he would always be there for me."

I feel a pain unlike any other, a sense of betrayal and shame washing over me. I try to struggle against the chains, but they hold firm. I'm trapped, with no escape or relief from the guard's cruel words.

"You're lying!" I shout, my voice hoarse and my throat sore from screaming. "Ryker would never do that to me! He loves me, I know he does!"

The guard just laughs, a cold, mirthless sound.

He was mocking me.

"Keep telling yourself that, Luna. But deep down, you know the truth. You're nothing but a traitor, a cheat, and a liar. And you'll pay for your crimes."

I'm left hanging literally, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I thought Ryker loved me, but it was all a lie. I'm alone, with no one to trust. The darkness closes in around me, and I wonder if I'll ever escape.

The guard's parting words echo in my mind, a cruel reminder of my situation. "You'll pay for your crimes, Luna. Oh, yes. You'll pay dearly.

Alpha Thane will make sure of it"

And with that, he's gone, leaving me to face the darkness alone.

***

My head jerked up instinctively when I heard the sound of the jail gate opening.

Alpha Thane enters the dungeon, his presence commanding attention. His eyes gleam with a cruel intensity, making my heart race with fear. I try to shrink away, but I'm trapped, chained to the ceiling.

"Ah, Luna," he says, his voice dripping with malice. "I see you're still defiant. But that will soon change."

Alpha Thane's eyes narrowed, his gaze burning with intensity. "You know, Luna, your mother rejected me once. She chose your father over me, and it was a mistake she paid for."

"I always liked your mother, then the moon goddess gave her your father as her mate."

"I also got mine but she was not Jasmine, oh Beautiful Jasmine, the moon goddess blessed her with great beauty".

"I wanted to possess her but your father got in the way. But I did what I wanted, if I could not get her ,no one would".

"Anyway, all is fair in love and war"

I was shocked that he did not only try to get to me. He also did that to my mother. Now I began to wonder if my parents' death was caused by him.

His hands trailed down my neck in an intimate fashion that was familiar, and I shrunk away in disgust. "You also rejected me, Luna. And I don't take kindly to rejection."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Your parents weren't always omegas, you know. They were demoted because your mother stayed loyal to your father. And now, you're paying the price for their defiance."

He gestures to a guard, who wheels in a torture board, displaying an tray of torture weapons. My eyes widen in horror as Alpha Thane approaches me, his hand trailing along the weapons.

He picks one up playing with it like a toy.

"Have you forgotten how cruel I can be, Luna?" he taunts. "Have you forgotten the pain I can inflict?"

He walks up to me, his free hand finds its way to my throat, choking me.

I felt a chill run down my spine as Thane's grip on my neck tightened. "You're just like your mother, Luna. Stubborn and foolish. But I'll break you, just like I broke her."

I shake my head, trying to speak, but my voice is barely a whisper. "N-no, Alpha..."

He chuckles, a cold, mirthless sound. "Good. I'm glad you remember. Because your mate, Ryker, has done a good job fishing out a traitor like you. And as a reward, he'll be made Beta."

Alpha Thane's smile grows wider, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "Yes, Ryker has proven himself to be a valuable asset to our pack. And as a reward, he'll be made Beta...thanks to your betrayal."

My eyes widen in shock, my mind reeling with the implications. "What do you mean?" I stammer, my voice barely audible.

Thane's smile turns cruel. "Ryker sold you out, Luna. He told me all about your little secret, and in return, I'll make him my second-in-command."

"No he would not do that ,I trust him"

Alpha Thane just smirks.

" tsk tsk tsk ,you naive girl" He taunted me.

I feel a wave of nausea wash over me, my heart

heavy with sorrow and anger. How could Ryker do this to me? We're mates, bound by our love and loyalty. And yet, he's willing to sacrifice me for power.

So all the promises he made were just for nothing. All the sweet talks were a farce.

Celeste,my wolf roused for the first time in a while. She has become unusually quiet the past few weeks. I could feel her pain. She just whimpered. Perhaps she knew about Ryker's betrayal.

I try to speak, but my voice is caught in my throat.

I can only stare at Thane, my eyes filled with tears of betrayal.

The words cut deep, like a knife twisting in my heart. Ryker had betrayed me. And now, I would pay the price.

Alpha Thane selects a weapon, a cruel-looking whip, and begins to strike me, each lash landing with a sickening crack. I scream, my voice hoarse from shouting, but no one comes to save me.

The pain is excruciating, like fire burning through my skin. I feel my consciousness slipping away, but Alpha Thane continues to torture me, using each weapon on the board, one after another.

The pain felt like it was crawling all over me, I felt like I was being burnt. It was then I knew that the whip was coated with wolfsbane, the werewolf's greatest weakness.

No wonder Alpha Thane wore a glove.

I'm trapped in a living nightmare, with no escape from the agony. My mind races, trying to comprehend the betrayal, the pain, the fear.

And through it all, Alpha Thane's words echo in my mind, a cruel reminder of my fate. "You're a traitor, Luna. And you'll pay the price. This is just the beginning.

FIVE YEARS LATER

Time had lost all meaning. Days blended into nights, and nights into days. My only sense of time was the regular visit from the guards, who come to torture me with merciless precision.

Sometimes Alpha Thane, sometimes the guards.

My voice was gone, silenced by the endless screams that no longer escaped my lips. My body is lean, my muscles wasted away from the feeding that came once in a while. My clothes were hanging loose, a glaring reminder of my drastic weight loss.

The guards fed me when they felt like it, sometimes leaving me to starve for what feels like an eternity.

And with each meal, they would administer a dose of wolfsbane, enough to cripple my wolf but not enough to kill her. The pain was a constant companion,a friend even, a reminder of my captivity.

I once thought I knew the level of cruelty of my pack, but I never imagined I would experience it firsthand. The Alpha's words echo in my mind, "You're a traitor, Luna. And you'll pay the price."

You might ask about my mate, Ryker. The one who was supposed to love and protect me. But instead, he betrayed me, handing me over to our pack's mercy.

I remember the night, a week after my imprisonment, when I felt the pain of him mating with another she-wolf. It was like hell itself was licking through my body, a burning agony that left my bones weak , my resolve frail.

It felt like I was being punished. For what crimes I did not know.

I cried until my eyes hurt, until there were no tears left to cry. The pain was a constant reminder of his betrayal, a knife twisting in my heart.

Every night, I felt it, a fresh wound, a new torture. The bond between us, once a source of comfort and strength, had become a weapon of suffering.

And yet, I held onto the memories of our past, of the love we once shared. But even those memories were tainted now, poisoned by his betrayal.

It felt like he was doing this on purpose.

Ryker, my mate, my betrayer. His name became a curse on my lips, a reminder of the pain he inflicted upon me.

Ryker's visits were a constant reminder of his betrayal. He would come to the dungeon, his presence mocking what we once had; a loving relationship.

I'd stare at him, my eyes blazing with hatred, but my voice would fail me. I couldn't muster the courage to speak, to confront him about his betrayal . I was trapped in a prison of pain and suffering, and he was the one who held the key.

His eyes would meet mine, and for a moment, I'd see a glimmer of the mate I once knew. But it was just a fleeting illusion, a cruel taunt. He'd smile, a cold, calculating smile, and I'd feel my heart shatter all over again. He was toying with me.

He'd say nothing, just stand there. And then, he'd leave, leaving me to my darkness, my anger, and my tears. He was playing with my head.

I was consumed by a burning hatred, a rage that threatened to destroy me. I couldn't understand why he'd betrayed me, why he'd handed me over to our pack's mercy. Had our love meant nothing to him? Had I meant nothing? The questions swirled in my mind, a toxic mix of pain and anger that I couldn't escape.

I'm lost in my thoughts, my mind a circus of pain and anguish, when suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cell. I was startled, my heart racing, as the guard approached me. I shrink away, my eyes fixed on him with a mix of fear and apprehension.

Anyone coming close to me was a threat, a potential source of pain and suffering. My body tenses, ready to defend itself, as the guard stopped in front of me. His words were distant, a blur,like a background sound, as my mind struggled to understand why he was here.

"Luna, your sentence is over. You're being released."

The words slowly sunk in, but my fear remained, a visible force that refused to disappear. I was trapped in a prison of my own making, unable to escape the horrors that haunt me. Taunt me even, for my foolish mistakes.

I cowered away, my eyes never leaving the guard's face, as I struggled to find my voice. "W-what do you mean?" I stutter, my words barely audible. "What's going to happen to me now?"

My mind races with the implications of my release. I'm not ready to face Ryker, not ready to confront the betrayal that still lingers in my heart. The thought of seeing him, of being in the same room as him, makes my stomach twist with anxiety.

And then there's the uncertainty of my fate. I know what happens to rogues, to those who defy the pack's rules. They're killed on sight, their existence erased as if they never mattered.

The guard's words, meant to be liberating, instead fill me with dread. I'm not ready to face the world outside, not ready to face Ryker's wrath. I'm not ready to die.

I stood up , my legs wobbly like soggy Noodles. I moved at a slow pace, my body refused to support me. I reached the gate of my cell first then unto the main entrance.

As the guard led me out of the dungeon, I'm met with a beam of sunlight that blinds me. I raise my hand to shield my eyes, tears streaming down my face. The brightness is overwhelming, a harsh contrast to the darkness I'd endured for so long.

For the first time in five years, I'm seeing the outside world. The sky, the trees, the grass – everything feels surreal, like a dream I never thought I'd experience again. I laugh and cry at once, the emotions tangled in my chest.

The guard looks at me with a mixture of confusion and disgust, but I don't care.I know I probably looked like a nut case. Even I feel like I have lost my mind. My hair was greasy, my body frail and thin. I'm too busy drinking in the beauty of the world, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin.

I took a proper look at my clothes, they were basically rags at this point.

I take a deep breath, the fresh air filling my lungs, and feel alive. I'm alive. I'm free. Finally.

I look around, my eyes adjusting to the light, and then I see him. My heart skips a beat as our eyes lock. I whisper his name like a curse "Ryker."

My voice was barely audible, but Ryker's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger. I could feel the weight of all my emotions, the anger, the hurt, the betrayal, all boiling to the surface.Threatening to burst open.

The guard's presence faded into the background as I took a step forward,it was as if he was never there, my eyes locked on Ryker. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, alone in this moment of judgment.

My body seemed to move of its own accord, my hand flying up to meet Ryker's face with a resounding slap.

My palm stung as it made contact with his cheek, the sound echoing through the air like a sound of thunder.

I felt a surge of adrenaline as my eyes met with Ryker's, my heart racing with a mix of anger and fear. It was as if my body had a mind of its own, releasing the pent-up rage and betrayal that had been boiling inside me for so long.

My hand stung, but I didn't regret it. Ryker's eyes widened, his face red with shock and anger.

The guard took a step forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, but Ryker raises a hand, stopping him. "No," he growls, his eyes never leaving mine. "She's just... greeting me... warmly."

His voice was laced with sarcasm, but I could see the hurt and anger simmering beneath the surface. I took a step back, my heart racing, as Ryker's eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

Ryker's eyes never left mine as he spoke to the guard, his voice low and even. "Leave us."

The guard nodded and walked away, disappearing into the treeline . Ryker's gaze remained fixed on me, his expression unreadable. Stoic , but dark. Like his heart.

My voice came out in a whisper, shaking with rage and hurt. "Why, Ryker? Why did you do that to me? Why did you betray me like this?"

But my attention was diverted to the woman who came out from the house. There was something familiar about her, something that made my heart race with a mix of emotions. She walked up to Ryker with a confident stride, her eyes fixed on him alone.

She didn't seem to notice me, or maybe she chose to ignore me, her gaze never wavering from Ryker's face. Her hand reached out to touch his chest, a gesture that seemed almost... possessive,intimate.

Then it hit me like a bullet.

My heart froze as I took in the scene before me.

This was the reason for my pain, the reason for my imprisonment. This was the reason Ryker had betrayed me.

My mind raced as I recognized her. Aria, the sweet girl everyone thought she was. The former Beta's daughter. I had thought so too, once. But now, seeing her with Ryker, seeing the way she touched him, I realized I had been blind. She was the reason for my pain, the reason for my imprisonment. She was the reason Ryker had betrayed me.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, my heart heavy with the weight of their deception. How could they do this to me? How could they destroy our friendship, our bond, our trust? The questions swirled in my mind, but I knew I wouldn't get any answers. Not from Ryker, not from Aria. They were too busy with their own secrets, their own lies.

But I was wrong it seemed.

Then Ryker proved me wrong, his words cutting deep like a knife. "You're not a queen, Luna," " Do you think you are worthy of me" he sneered. "You're nothing but a lowly omega, a burden to everyone around you. No one wants you, not even your own brother. He didn't even bother to come see you, did he?"

His words struck a nerve, reminding me of the painful truth I tried to forget. I felt a stinging sensation in my eyes as tears began to form, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't give Ryker the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

He was not worth it.

"You're not my mate," Ryker continued, his voice filled with disgust. "You're nothing but garbage, a disposable thing to be used and thrown away.

You were never worthy of me, Luna. Never worthy of my love."

" The moon goddess made a mistake by choosing you as my mate. And I plan to rectify it".

His words were like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and my head spinning. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to find a lifeline to cling to. But as I looked into Ryker's eyes, I saw something that gave me the strength to keep going. I saw the truth.

Ryker's words were not meant to hurt me, but to hide his own pain. He was trying to distract me from the real issue, from the truth that he had betrayed me and broken our bond. He was trying to make me feel worthless, to make me believe that I was the one who was disposable.

But I knew better. I knew that I was not worthless, that I was a queen, a queen who had been betrayed and hurt. I knew that I deserved better than Ryker's cruelty, better than his lies.

With a fierce determination, I stood tall, even though my body was shaking , my eyes flashing with defiance. "You may think you're hurting me, Ryker," I spat, my voice low and even. "But you're not. You're only showing me your true nature, and it's ugly. You're the one who's worthless, Ryker. You're the one who's disposable."

Ryker's words dripped with disdain. "I only marked you to calm my wolf, Luna. He wanted you at the time, and I indulged him. You were just a means to an end, a way to placate him."

I felt a searing betrayal, my heart wrenching in pain. But before I could respond, my body began to ache, my wolf Crescent stirring within me. Crescent, my wolf, felt the betrayal too, and she would not be silenced.

She came forward, taking control of my body for a brief moment. My voice changed, becoming deeper and more commanding. "You dare to admit such a thing, Ryker?"

Crescent spoke through me, her presence demanding respect, an anomaly for an omega. "You used me as a pacifier for your wolf, without regard for my feelings or well-being?"

The surrounding fell silent, both of their eyes on me as Crescent's presence dominated the space. Ryker took a step back, his eyes flashing with surprise and a hint of fear.She had only been loving and kind to him. Aria's smug expression faltered, her eyes widening in awe.

But Crescent's control was brief, and I felt her recede, leaving me shaken and vulnerable once again.

Crescent's pain was palpable, her hurt resonating deep within me. She had always been sensitive, and Ryker's betrayal cut her to the core. The wolfsbane they had been feeding me,that was meant to suppress my wolf, only added to her distress.

As I struggled to understand the emotions swirling inside me, I turned to Aria, hoping to warn her about Ryker's true nature. Maybe, just maybe, she was not aware of his deceit and manipulation.

I took a step forward, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Aria, be careful around Ryker. He's not what he seems. He used me, he is selfish, he might harm you.... He doesn't care about anyone but himself."

Aria's expression changed, a flicker of doubt crossed her face. For a moment, I thought I saw a glimpse of understanding, but then her mask slipped back into place.

"I know what I'm doing, Luna," she said, her voice cold. "I can handle Ryker." "Unlike you"

I knew then that she was too far gone, blinded by her own infatuation. I felt a pang of sadness, realizing that Aria was not the ally I had hoped for.

Crescent, sensing my distress, stirred within me, her presence was a reminder that I was not alone.

Aria's expression twisted into a sneer, her words dripping with malice. "You're so weak, Luna. You let Ryker use you and discard you like trash. You're nothing but a pathetic omega, too scared to stand up for yourself."

My heart raced, Crescent growling within me as Aria's words struck a nerve. She was deliberately pushing my buttons, trying to get a rise out of me.

"You're just mad because Ryker chose me over you," Aria continued, her voice dripping with venom. "You'll never be worthy of him, Luna.

You're just a disposable omega, a mere stepping stone for him to achieve his goals."

Crescent's anger surged, my body tensing as I fought to keep her under control. I refused to let Aria get the best of me, but her words cut deep, echoing Ryker's own betrayal. The pain and hurt threatened to overwhelm me, but I gritted my teeth, determined to stay strong.

But she continued to provoke me.

Aria's eyes sparkled with a smug smile, her words laced with a sinister gloating. "You're the reason my parents are dead, Luna! Your parents killed mine, and now you're going to pay the price!"

My body began to shift, my wolf surging forward in anger. I remembered the day my parents were mercilessly killed, and Aria's accusation was like a punch to the gut.

My hands transformed into claws, my senses heightened, and my strength increased. Within the blink of an eye, I pinned Aria to the wall, my claws digging into her throat.

As I glared at her, I saw something that made my heart sink. Aria's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. And in that moment, I realized I had fallen into a trap. Her words were meant to provoke me, to make me snap. And I had played right into her hands.