DAHLIA’S POV

"You almost died, Dahlia. Are you sure you’re up for this already?." My best friend Naya asked me in concern the moment I stepped down from her car.

I forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "I'm healed already. The hospital was getting too boring anyway. Besides, I need to be present at my own party, right?."

Tomorrow was my engagement party with the only man I had ever loved, Tristan Reed, the next Alpha of the Stormbringer pack.

Naya raised an eyebrow but didn't push the issue. "Okay, but promise me you'll take it easy and rest."

I nodded with a smile and slammed the door shut with my free hand.

My other hand held the box containing chocolate cake for Tristan from his favorite bakery.

I thought about gifting him and seeing how he was faring.

I couldn’t wait to see how his face was going to light up at my little surprise.

“Drive safely!” I called after my best friend as she pulled out of the parking lot.

It had been two long, agonizing days since the attack by some rogue wolves, and I was still recovering.

The injuries I had sustained were severe, and I was lucky to even be alive.

When the rogues had ambushed us that night, Tristan had been heavily intoxicated after a party with his work friends.

He had been unconscious in the backseat as we drove home, completely vulnerable.

Without hesitation, I jumped in front of him to shield his body, taking the brunt of the attack myself.

The rogues had savagely clawed and bitten me, their sole intent on killing Tristan.

But I managed to fend them off and get us both to safety.

Tristan wasn’t hurt at all, thank God. I had woken up in the hospital, battered and bruised but alive.

The doctors marveled at my rapid recovery, amazed that I had survived such a brutal assault.

But I knew it was because of the rare healing gifts bestowed upon me by the moon goddess.

Clutching Tristan's cake in my hands, I made my way to the door of his mansion.

All I wanted right now was to see him, and be wrapped in his loving embrace.

But as I approached the door, my steps slowed and my ears perked up instantly.

I could hear the faint sounds of laughter and clinking glasses from inside.

Of course I was already curious, so I slipped inside to a corner but no one noticed me.

There, gathered in the living room, were Tristan and a group of his work friends.

And to my utter dismay, sitting among them was my arch-nemesis, Kaylee—my very own stepsister.

They seemed to be celebrating some sort of milestone, and I couldn't help but overhear their conversation.

"Kaylee, these pastries are simply divine," one of Tristan's colleagues gushed. "I don't know how you do it, but they're even better than the ones you brought last time."

Tristan chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "I know, right? Kaylee's baking skills are unmatched. No one comes close to her talent. She’s a natural."

My heart squeezed tight as I heard those words.

Tristan had always loved my baking, and to hear him praising Kaylee's skills over mine hurt like a knife to the chest.

But the pain only intensified as I listened to the next part of their conversation.

"So, Tristan," Kaylee said, sounding a bit worried, "you and Dahlia are finally going to tie the knot tomorrow for real?"

Tristan’s response made my mouth hang open.

"You know why I'm doing it, Kaylee. The moon goddess gave an ordinary omega like Dahlia with healing abilities she didn't even deserve. And I need those abilities for the pack."

Did someone punch me in the stomach hard? Because it sure felt like it.

All this time, I thought Tristan loved me for who I was.

But in an actual sense, he only wanted me for my healing abilities?

Kaylee nodded, a smug smile spreading across her face. "But it hurts to know she is going to be getting married to you instead of me. You’re going to be an Alpha of the pack soon, and she is just a useless omega. She is beneath you."

"I agree." One of the co-workers chimed in. "An Alpha like you needs a strong she-wolf like Kaylee. And you two look perfect for each other."

Tristan's expression grew serious, and he set his glass down on the coffee table.

"You guys, it’s only temporary. Kaylee, you know you’re that special woman in my heart, and I’d marry you in a heartbeat.

But right now we just have to sacrifice for the sake of the pack.

Once we can find the reasons behind the mysterious poisonings and we no longer need Dahlia, we would discard her."

"Are you sure about that?" Kaylee pouted, tracing patterns on his forearm lovingly.

He brought his lips to the back of her hand and kissed it tenderly.

"Yes, honey. My marriage to Dahlia would just be on paper and in front of the elders. You’re the one that my heart belongs to, and nothing is going to change between us."

By now hot tears were gathering at my eyes, stinging me.

I suddenly felt like I needed more oxygen because my chest felt tight and closed up.

How stupid I was this whole time to have not noticed all the red flags!

Even while I was stuck in the hospital for the past two days because of him, he didn’t visit me.

He didn’t even reach out to me, but I made up excuses for him, thinking he must have been busy with planning our wedding.

I didn’t know when the cake slipped from my fingers, falling to the floor with a soft thud.

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to me.

Tristan’s face was marked with worry as we locked eyes.

"Dahlia! How long have you been standing there?"

DAHLIA’S POV

I smiled weakly, trying to play it off. "Oh, I actually just arrived! I was just trying to bring the cake in, and it slipped out of my hands. Silly me, I guess I'm still a little clumsy from being in the hospital."

Tristan rushed to my side, helping me gather the battered cake. "Oh, you're already discharged from the hospital?"

I gave a stiff nod. "Yeah, I healed fast."

Kaylee sauntered over, giving me a once-over. "Aw, our little Dee has always been such a klutz," she teased, shaking her head. "Glad you're alive, though."

Tristan smiled and patted me on the back. "Yeah, I’m relieved you’re better. Don't worry about the cake. I would have eaten it, but I'm full. I'll just put it in the freezer for later."

I stood up, brushing off my hands. "What were you guys celebrating?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Tristan’s amber eyes lit up. "Oh, nothing much. We just landed a major deal at the company. Everyone's already leaving, though."

One by one, the rest of the guests started to filter out until it was just Tristan, Kaylee, and me left.

Kaylee lingered a bit, giving me a death stare before finally heading out the door.

I wished I could claw those eyes of hers out and pull out her stupid hair extensions.

Tristan let out a sigh, running a hand through his jet-black hair. "Whew, what a day, huh? I'm beat." He turned to me, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Hey, would you mind doing me a favor and giving me a little massage now that it’s just me and you? My back's been killing me from sitting at the desk all day."

Before, I would have blushed at the request, thinking he enjoyed having my hands on him.

But now, I knew he was only using me.

Even my mere touches were super relaxing, thanks to my gift.

I wanted to scrunch up my face in disgust, but instead I gave a thin-lipped smile. "Of course. Come on, have a seat, and I'll work my magic."

He sat down, and I began to massage his shoulders.

It wasn’t long before my eyes drifted to the hickey on the base of his neck.

I knew Kaylee must have put it there.

I pointed to the mark, asking what it was casually.

Tristan's eyes widened, and he quickly clasped his hand over the mark. "Oh, uh, yeah, I got stung by a bee, but I’m better now." He chuckled nervously, avoiding my gaze.

I raised an eyebrow, thinking what a dumb excuse.

I knew a hickey when I saw one.

But I pretended to believe him. "Oh, it must hurt so bad."

He stood up, looking uncomfortable. "Yeah, I think I'll go take a shower now. I'll see you soon."

I faked another smile as he kissed my forehead gently and left the room.

My eyes fell on his phone, which he had left behind on the couch.

Picking it up, I tried to open it but quickly realized he changed his password.

After five frustrated guesses, the phone finally unlocked when I used Kaylee's birthday.

It stung that she was the key, but what I uncovered next hurt even more.

First, there was the documentation of the extravagant mansion he had purchased for Kaylee on the French Riviera—a private beach, a helipad, the works.

I felt sick to my stomach, realizing that he had been pouring his resources into this lavish hideaway, all while keeping up with the charade of our relationship.

And then, there were the receipts of the rare, limited-edition sports car that I had been dropping hints about for years.

He always said it was too expensive, and he would get me a cheaper one when we were legally bonded.

When I saw the exact car with Kaylee, she claimed that someone "special" had gifted it to her. Now, I knew the truth—Tristan was that someone who bought it for her.

My eyes then landed on the pictures of her wearing the priceless antique necklace that Tristan had always said he was saving for his future wife.

It was given by his grandmother.

I remembered now how she had been flaunting it on her social media, and I had foolishly assumed it was just another of her materialistic indulgences.

The screen lit up with a new message confirming their tickets to an all-expenses-paid trip to the Maldives, where they would be spending the next few days together.

Oh wow.

So what was going to happen to our supposed engagement party tomorrow now that these tickets were available?

Just as I was about to drop the phone in disgust, it beeped with a new message from Kaylee.

I couldn't resist the urge to see what she had sent.

It was a couple of sexy photos meant for Tristan's eyes only. "I thought you should see how the sexy lingerie you bought for me fits," she captioned it. "You should be taking it off me right now, wink wink."

I couldn't take it anymore. I dropped the phone and burst into sobs, covering my mouth to stifle the sound.

My heart was aching so bad, and I begged my wolf to take my pain away, but she could only whine in sympathy. Tristan had really hurt us.

Just then, I heard him coming from the room. I quickly wiped away my tears and tried to compose myself. "What's wrong?" he asked, noticing my red eyes.

"Something just got into my eye," I lied, hoping I was convincing enough.

He didn't seem to suspect anything, and he casually draped an arm over my shoulder, suggesting that we get some sleep.

But sleep was the furthest thing from my mind as we lay together in his bed with the soft feather sheets.

My heart was heavy with grief and anger. Even being in such close proximity with him felt suffocating now.

By morning, the space next to me had grown cold, and Tristan was gone.

His assistant, Nicolas, a beta, came to inform me that the engagement was being postponed.

He also told me that Tristan had traveled for an Alpha conference that was very important.

I knew it was a bloody lie—he was in the Maldives with Kaylee.

As soon as Nicolas left, I grabbed my phone and began frantically booking a flight to New Orleans. I needed to get away from this place fast.

DAHLIA

I settled on the bed, my laptop open in front of me as I tried to book a flight to New Orleans.

But every airline I checked had no available tickets from my location.

I let out a frustrated sigh and rubbed my temples. Why was this happening now, of all times?

I was going to have to wait a few days before I could even book a flight, and that sucked real bad.

I thought about booking a flight somewhere else, but my heart wasn't in it.

New Orleans had always been my dream destination, the place I had always wanted to visit. I couldn't settle for anywhere else.

Closing my laptop, I hugged myself, feeling empty and hollow inside.

It all made sense now—the reason why Tristan had never marked me as his true mate, the way he had always made excuses and put it off.

He had never seen me as his Luna, his rightful partner. In his eyes, Kaylee was the one who deserved that honor.

Of course it had to be her. She was a strong she-wolf, bold and beautiful.

And she was the legitimate daughter of our father, whereas I was just the illegitimate child born by a maid.

My father had never extended his love to me, even though he knew of my existence.

But when he found out about my healing abilities, he welcomed me with open arms.

Kaylee and her mother, however, had made my life a living hell, especially after my mother died of a rare cancer.

And now, to add insult to injury, Tristan had chosen Kaylee over me, his own mate.

As the day wore on, I couldn't help but torture myself by scrolling through Kaylee's social media.

There were videos of her enjoying the beach in the Maldives, wearing a bikini and flaunting her diamond ring.

She posted a picture of a man's hand on her waist, holding her while she showed off her ring.

The picture was cropped, but I could recognize the arms of Tristan even in my dreams.

The comments flooded in, congratulating her on her engagement.

"Wow, your engagement ring must cost my entire house and all my properties!" one person gushed.

"It glitters just like you!" another exclaimed.

"Did you just get engaged, Kaylee? Wow! Who is the lucky man? Congratulations! Is it Alpha Tristan? It has to be since you both are so close!"

I felt sick to my stomach knowing that the engagement ring was the same one Tristan had given me, but mine was a lower quality.

It wasn't anything special after all, and neither was I. I was just a fool, taken in by Tristan's lies and deception.

Three days flew by quickly, and Tristan had the decency to finally come home.

I stood in the living room, my arms crossed as I watched him walk in with Kaylee trailing behind him, carrying a small suitcase.

I raised an eyebrow, my mind racing with questions.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound calm. "What's Kaylee doing here with a bag?"

Tristan cleared his throat, casting a sideways glance at Kaylee. "Oh, I hope you don't mind, but Kaylee's house is undergoing renovations right now, and she needed a place to stay for the next few days. I hope she can crash here."

I scoffed in disbelief. "What happened to Dad’s house, Kaylee? Couldn't you go there?"

She whined, her voice grating on my nerves. "You are not even married to Tristan yet, and you're so stingy with him. It's Tristan's house, and if he says I'm welcome, then I am."

I rolled my eyes, my patience wearing thin. "You haven't answered the question. Why couldn’t you stay at Dad’s house?"

She gave a dismissive shrug of her shoulders, inspecting her brightly red-colored nails. "Dad and my mom are out of town right now, and there's no way I could stay in that big house all by myself. I need company."

I raised an eyebrow, not willing to let her off the hook. "What happened to hotels? You could find a small room."

Tristan stepped in, his voice firm. "Why are you being difficult, Dahlia? She's your sister, and you should learn to make sacrifices and accommodate her."

I felt a surge of anger, but I bit back my retort. "Fine. Whatever."

Tristan nodded, his expression satisfied. "Good. There's a pack celebration tonight, and you need to get ready to be present."

I had just booked my flight to New Orleans, and the last thing I wanted was to be stuck at some packed event, pretending to be the perfect mate while my heart was shattering into a million pieces.

"I'm not really in the mood to go," I said with a slight frown.

Tristan's expression turned stern. "As future Luna, you have to be present, and you have to be on time. It's your duty."

Begrudgingly, I agreed, knowing I had no other choice. When I finally got glammed up and came downstairs, I caught Tristan gazing at Kaylee, his eyes filled with a tenderness that I had never seen directed at me.

I heard him tell her how breathtaking she looked.

He cleared his throat when he saw me, his expression awkward. "You look good too, Dahlia."

I muttered my thanks, feeling out of place as we all went outside.

But just as I settled into the front seat of the car, Kaylee's phone vibrated, and her face fell.

She started pouting like a stupid fish, her lower lip jutting out in a pathetic way.

"What's wrong?" Tristan asked, his brows creasing in concern.

"I have an appointment," she groaned. "They need me for my dress fitting as one of the bridesmaids for the wedding. It’s important, and I really have to go, like, right now."

Tristan looked between us, his expression indecisive. "Okay, the best way to solve this is for me to drop Kaylee off first since it’s in a different location. Then I’ll come to the meeting with her afterwards."

He turned to me calmly. "Dahlia, why don't you step down from the car and take a cab instead? You can make it to the meeting on time and represent me."