The days after my mom’s death felt like a never-ending storm, one that refused to let up. The sky was always gray, rain falling in sheets as if the world itself was mourning with me.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen the sun. I barely even saw my dad. He was either locked away in his office or outside, barking orders to the pack. Once full of warmth, his eyes now carried only fury and grief.

"Have you eaten anything today, Aria?" My father would ask occasionally, but it was more out of obligation than care.

“Yeah,” I’d lie.

I couldn’t bring myself to eat. Not when the house felt so empty. Not when I knew she would never walk through the door again, smile at me from across the table, or scold me gently for not finishing my food. I’d just sit at the table in silence, staring at the rain-soaked window, waiting for something or anything to make the pain stop.

Dad had changed too. He was no longer the strong but kind Alpha I’d always admired. Now, he was always on edge, his temper sharp as a blade, ready to cut at any moment. Even the pack members noticed it.

One evening, after what felt like weeks of rain, Dad finally summoned me to his office. I didn’t know what to expect. He hadn’t called for me in what felt like months. As I walked in, I noticed how tired he looked. Dark circles framed his eyes, and his posture was rigid like he was holding the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“Sit,” he ordered, motioning to the chair in front of his desk.

I obeyed without a word, sitting down slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. Something about the way he was looking at me made me uneasy, like he had already made a decision I wouldn’t like.

“We need to talk about your future,” he began, his voice cold and detached.

I frowned. “My future?”

“Yes.” He paused, his fingers tapping the edge of his desk, a nervous habit he hadn’t shown before. “The attack… it wasn’t just random.”

I felt my heart stop for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“The rogues…” He exhaled sharply, as if the words were painful to say. “It was politically motivated. There’s been unrest between the neighboring packs. Some are pushing for an alliance, but others see me as a threat. Your mother’s death…” His voice wavered, just slightly. “It wasn’t an accident.”

I stared at him in shock, my breath catching in my throat. “You’re saying… my mother was killed because of politics?”

“Yes,” he said flatly. “Because I’m the Alpha of Alphas, and they see me as too powerful. Taking out someone close to me was a message.”

Anger and sadness bubbled up inside me, mixing into a volatile storm of emotion. “So what? They just killed her to get to you?”

He didn't say a word but the answer was clear enough.

“Which is why you need to leave.” he continued.

I was confused with what he meant. “What? Leave? Where would I go?”

He leaned forward with a hard gaze. “You’re going abroad. I’ve made arrangements.”

“Abroad? Why?” I asked, panicking. “I don’t want to leave. I belong here, with the pack… with you!”

His eyes darkened. “It’s not safe for you here anymore, Aria. If they killed your mother to get to me, they’ll come after you next.”

“But—”

“No buts.” His voice was sharp, cutting through my protests. “I need you to understand that this is for your safety. If you stay, you’ll be a target. I can’t focus on leading the pack if I’m constantly worrying about you.”

“So, you're just sending me away?” I felt the sting of betrayal. “Like I don’t matter?”

He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. “You matter more than anything, Aria. That’s why I’m doing this. If something happened to you…” He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Silence fell between us. Finally, I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. “When do I leave?”

“Tomorrow,” he said, his voice cracking ever so slightly.

Tomorrow. So soon. I felt my chest tighten, the walls closing in around me. But I had no choice. My father had made his decision, and no amount of pleading would change his mind.

I nodded and just said, “Okay.”

After coming back from abroad, I continued my study inside my pack's University. In this way, I get to spend time with my dad and his new supposed to be Luna.

“You,” Celine hissed, her eyes burning with fury as she stormed toward me.

I barely had a second to register the rage before her hand collided with my cheek, the slap ringing in my ears. The sting was sharp, and I stumbled, grabbing the wall to steady myself.

Before I could speak, her hand struck again, this time on the other side of my face.

“Celine, wait—” I started, but she wasn’t listening.

“You think you can just show up here, after seducing my husband, and act innocent?” She sneered, her voice dripping with disgust. “You’ve got some nerve, showing your face.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, touching the side of my cheek throbbing with pain. “I’m not—”

“Oh, you’re not?” Celine interrupted, waving her phone in my face. “Then what is this?”

I blinked through the haze and saw a photo. It was the one I had posted this morning of me and my father, arm in arm. I’d been wearing the latest Chanel bag, smiling, proud to be with him. It was the day of finally seeing him after so many years. I returned from Italy and had come back to my pack territory.

The photo had the caption I’d written: ‘No matter what happens in the future, we will always be the most important people to each other.’

The same words my mom would say if she was still alive.

“You think I’m blind? Posting this for the world to see—like some sort of declaration that you’re the only one who matters to him!”

I opened my mouth to explain, but her “No, you’ve got it wrong,” I said quickly, but Celine’s eyes glinted with triumph as if she’d already won.

“Wrong? Oh, I don’t think so. You’re no daughter of his. He told me his real daughter was off studying abroad, not—” she gestured at me, eyes rolling in disgust—“this.”

My blood froze. My father was supposed to introduce me to her at the right time. If I was my father, I would have waited some time too. It was such an embarrassment for an Alpha to have a daughter who can't even shift.

“But I am his daughter!” I sounded like I'm convincing myself more than her. “I’ve been away, yes, but that’s because I’ve been studying. If you don’t believe me, ask him! There are pictures of me at home.”

“Don’t lie. There are no photos of you anywhere. You don’t exist in his life—just some girl clinging to a fantasy.”

“I’m not lying!”

“Face it, you’ve got nothing to stand on here. You’re just some pathetic werewolf trying to worm your way into the pack’s power.” She turned to her omegas, flicking her wrist. “Tear it all down.”

The omegas rushed past me, their eyes cold, and my heart dropped. “Wait, what are you doing?!” I shouted, panic rising as they began ripping through my belongings.

“You’ve been living like a queen, haven’t you?” Celine’s voice was sickeningly sweet now, mocking me. “Time to see how much you lose when you’re cut off.”

I could only watch in horror as they tore through my suitcase, ripping my clothes apart with claws. They smashed my perfume bottles, spilling the expensive liquid across the floor. My bags, my shoes, even the rare items I’d brought back from abroad—they shredded it all with vicious glee.

“Stop!” I shouted, trying to push past them, but one of the omegas shoved me back.

Celine turned the phone camera toward the destruction, broadcasting it live. “Look at this, everyone,” she said into the phone, her voice smooth as silk. “This is what happens when a girl like her tries to steal what isn’t hers.”

I could hear the comments rolling in through the phone’s speaker, people feeding into her lies, agreeing with every word. My breath hitched, the weight of it all crashing down on me.

“This is all a mistake,” I whispered, but my words were drowned out by the sound of my life being destroyed around me.

Celine crouched down beside one of my torn bags, picking up a pair of scissors. She looked at me, smirking. “Let’s see what else you treasure, shall we?”

“No,” I whispered, but she was already slashing through my clothes, laughing as the guards continued their rampage. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I do,” she said simply, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Because you need to learn your place.”

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I couldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. My father wasn’t here to stop her. He hadn’t even told her about me. I was on my own.

By the time the omegas finished destroying my room, it was a wasteland of torn fabrics, shattered glass, and scattered memories. Celine stood amidst the chaos, her phone still broadcasting.

She looked down at me, one final insult on her lips. “Remember this, Aria. You don’t belong here. You never did.”

The commotion outside my room grew louder. I could hear whispers and the sound of phones capturing every humiliating moment. Students from other dorms had gathered, their cameras trained on me. The video of Celine’s attack spread like wildfire, hitting the pack's community forum before I even realized it.

“Grab her,” she ordered, eyes gleaming with malice.

Before I could react, they had me by the arms, dragging me out of the room. The phone in Celine's hand was still pointed at me, recording my every movement.

“Where are you taking me?” I screamed, struggling against their grip, but it was useless.

Celine snickered, walking behind us. “Didn’t you say you were some innocent college girl? I’m going to make sure your little ‘awakening’ is something no one will ever forget. Maybe it’ll teach other little whores like you a lesson!”

I couldn’t believe what was happening. The hallway was lined with students, all watching, some whispering, others recording the spectacle. My face burned with shame. I wanted to disappear, but the omegas’ grip was firm.

I felt small, powerless, my body too tired to resist anymore.

The omegas shoved me onto the stage, and I collapsed in a heap. Pain shot up my arms and legs, but I forced myself to stand, my body trembling from the strain.

Celine grabbed a microphone.

“This, ladies and gentlemen, is what your school has produced! A homewrecker, and a liar! She’s been sleeping with a married man. She's been whoring with another woman’s husband! Where are the leaders? You all need to explain why your student is like this!”

Before I could react, she yanked my hair, pulling my head back violently. The pain was sharp, but I refused to cry. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

“Show everyone her face!” she barked at the omegas.

The camera zoomed in on me, and the next moment, my disheveled, tear-streaked face appeared on the giant screen behind us. Gasps echoed through the crowd, and I felt the weight of a thousand eyes on me.

“This,” Celine continued, pointing at the screen, “is the price of trying to destroy a family. I hope all of you are watching and learning. She doesn’t deserve to graduate… to walk the same stage as you. She’s nothing but a disgrace!”

The humiliation was too much.

The crowd was silent. Even the students who had been recording earlier seemed frozen, unsure of what to do. The Alphas of the other territory from each territory had arrived, their faces pale with worry.

“You’re ruining your own wedding with this,” I said, my voice hoarse from the tears I held back.

Celine’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “The only thing that’s ruined is this school’s reputation—thanks to you.” She raised the microphone again, speaking directly into the camera that was still broadcasting live. “Look, everyone. This is what happens when girls like her think they can get away with anything. They try to threaten me, blackmail me, even ruin my marriage! And now? Now, she’s getting exactly what she deserves.”

“You’re wrong!” I shouted, stepping forward, despite my legs wobbling beneath me. “I never tried to threaten you. I never did any of the things you’re accusing me of! You’re just... you’re just scared, scared that someone could—”

“Scared?” Celine laughed, cutting me off. “Scared of what? A little college brat like you? Please. You don’t even know what real power is.”

The crowd shifted, murmuring in confusion and unease. The Alphas of the other territory tried to speak, but Celine continued her tirade, ignoring everyone.

“Enough, Celine,” one of the Alphas from the neighboring territory said. “This has gone too far.”

I looked at him and saw a familiar feeling for him. But I'm also having mixed emotions about everything, maybe I was mistaken; maybe not mine.