“I’ll make you regret betraying me, Nicholas Hargreaves!” I shouted my heart out at my husband of 3 years.

Frankly, I was surprised that I could let out those words from my mouth.

After all, I was about to go to my room to celebrate our wedding anniversary with Nicholas who had been promising to honor our anniversary. Initially, I thought that the distant Alpha of the Black Wings Pack had finally warmed up to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t expect what I would see.

Behind the door, Nicholas’ scent was strong, but it mixed with another. One I didn’t recognize at first. Then it hit me. Selena.

The moment I opened the door, the sight broke my heart. In the bed, Nicholas and I shared, my husband and she were laid with their limbs tangled. The smell of betrayal was thick in the air.

My younger sister had always been a thorn in my side. Where I was quiet and dutiful, Selena was bold and cunning. My sister had always envied me, but the envy seemed to have turned into something far worse.

Nicholas’ head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock when he saw me.

The Alpha quickly said, "Gwen-"

"Don’t," I cut him off, my voice trembling.

I couldn’t help but get surprised to hear myself talking like that. After all, I never did something like this to him when we were married. Yet, I got the power to talk over my husband.

Somehow, there was something inside me that gave me the courage. Frankly, I didn’t know what to say. It just felt … different.

Without missing a beat, I told the man, "Don’t you dare try to explain this, Nicholas!"

Meanwhile, Selena smirked. Her eyes were gleaming with triumph. It had always been like that since our childhood.

"Well, isn’t this awkward?" she mockingly made a remark.

Allegra howled in my mind, her rage echoing my own. Clearly, my wolf wanted to take over my body. But I had another plan. So, I clenched my fists as I tried to stay calm.

Instead, I walked closer to her. Again, Selena smirked. But she didn’t see what was coming.

The moment she was in my reach, I pulled her by her hair. Selena quickly screamed, but I ignored it. After that, I dragged her from my bed and threw her down the stairs.

Nicholas shouted at what I just did. Again, I ignored him. Before the Alpha could stop me with his Alpha voice, the noise caused the castle’s inhabitants. Everyone was shocked to see my naked sister on the end of the stairs with my husband who was as naked as her.

"You," I said, glaring at Selena.

I clenched my teeth to contain my anger as I continued, "You’ve always wanted what I had. But this ... This is unforgivable. Everyone, look at what they have done to me!"

Everyone whispered. Selena pretended to fake cry, while Nicholas was trying to cover himself up. They were indeed a very perfect match.

Nicholas, who was embarrassed, tried to talk to me, "Gwen, listen to me-"

"No!" I snapped, cutting him off.

For three years, I had been the Luna of the Black Wings Pack. While it was supposed to be the happiest role of my life, it felt more like a curse. Although I married my husband out of duty and love, the love seemed to be one-sided.

Every day, I tried my best to serve as his Luna, to support the pack, and to earn his affection. While the pack loved me, the same thing couldn’t be said to their Alpha. Every effort I made was met with coldness. Or worse, cruelty.

Yet, I never expected betrayal from my own family! How could my own husband cheat on me with my own sister? This was unforgivable!

Without further ado, I quickly ran away from the castle. I let Allegra take over my body, shifting into my wolf form. Both of us ran through the forest, howling my broken heart. For hours, my wolf ran and howled angrily.

She told me, 'Something is different.'

‘What do you mean?’ I asked her.

To my shock, my wolf answered, 'You are … blessed with two souls, Gwen.’

I froze, my heart racing at what she just said.

I repeated, ‘Does it mean that I’m pregnant, Allegra?’

Allegra hummed in excitement as she answered, 'Yes. And it’s not just one. It’s two. Twins.'

Twins. In the werewolf world, twins were considered a blessing from the Moon Goddess. But I recalled what just happened. Their father was … someone I didn’t wish to inform about this.

‘Why are you so cruel, Moon Goddess?’ I asked myself.

As if the Moon Goddess herself was answering my pain, I felt it. A spark of power deep within me, stronger than anything I had ever felt before. Somehow, it felt as if I could go through it all for them.

'Gwen,' Allegra said, her voice filled with awe.

'There’s something more to this pregnancy. Something ... extraordinary.'

I didn’t understand what she meant, but I knew one thing for certain. This wasn’t the end of my story. It was only the beginning. And Nicholas Hargreaves would regret the day he betrayed me!

Not only him, though. It was time for me to stand up against Selena. This time, I wouldn’t tolerate any of her behavior.

I already made decision that I would make their life a living hell.

‘I’d make sure you’ll pay for it, Nicholas, Selena!’ I angrily told myself as I howled angrily.

The sun rose on the Black Wings Pack, its golden light casting long shadows across the courtyard. Although it was supposed to be a beautiful morning, my heart felt heavy. I hadn’t slept at all after what I had seen the night before.

Nicholas and Selena. The memory of them together burned like fire in my mind. My mind and heart felt like a mess.

‘I need to get out of this place,’ I thought to myself.

I stood at the window of my chambers, staring out at the snow-dusted grounds. My decision was clear. There was no way that I couldn’t stay here. Not anymore.

For three years, I had tried to make this marriage work. Despite how that man treated me, I already worked hard to be the Luna the pack deserved. But Nicholas had destroyed everything by cheating on me with Selena.

'I agree,' Allegra said in my mind, her voice firm.

I nodded to myself. What my wolf said was right. Staying here would only break me further. Not to mention, I had to think about the twins. I placed a hand on my stomach, feeling the faint stir of life.

‘They deserved better than this,’ I thought to myself.

My mind wandered for hours, thinking about where I would go. Unfortunately, my parents had passed with the White Rose Pack being ruled by my cruel brother, James Albright, who supported Selena. In the end, I had no one. So, could I still even go there?

Just when I was deep in my thoughts, a knock came at the door. My heart jumped. Was it Nicholas? Had he come to apologize, to beg for forgiveness?

"Come in," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

The door opened, but it wasn’t his smell. Still, I was surprised. After all, it turned out to be Alpha Owen Hargreaves, my father-in-law.

"Good morning, Luna Gwen," he greeted me respectfully with his deep voice, a kind but firm voice.

The old man stepped inside before he closed the door behind him.

"Alpha Owen," I greeted him back.

I asked the retired Alpha, "What brings you here?"

Alpha Owen studied me for a moment, and his eyes seemingly saw right through me.

"I heard what happened last night," he said.

My breath caught as I responded to him by asking, "You did?"

He nodded.

"Well, you made quite a ruckus, weren’t you? And I won’t lie to you. I’m furious. Furious with my son, and furious with myself for letting this go on as long as it has," he said.

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to cry.

"It’s not your fault, Alpha Owen. You can’t control Nicholas’ choices, just like I couldn’t control my shameless sister," I told him, trying to comfort the person whom I considered as my own father.

"No," he said, his jaw tightening.

The old man angrily continued, “How could he do that to you … when you saved his life!”

When I heard my father-in-law, I went quiet. Indeed, I … really loved Nicholas. The man was my betrothed, but he was more than that. So, I wouldn’t mind sacrificing half of my life for him when he was injured by a rogue when he patrolled his area.

After all, we would exchange letters when we were betrothed. Like an idiot, I believed we were star-crossed lovers. Yet, my husband became different when I met him to marry him as soon as he recovered.

I would never know what happened, but it hurt me. Deeply. Lots of questions were in my mind, but I never dared to question it.

Not once did the young Alpha ever thank me for saving him. Even worse, he dared to cheat on me with my own sister while I was pregnant with his children. Life felt like a joke.

Yet, what my father-in-law would say next truly shocked me.

"But I can hold him accountable for them. And I will," Alpha Owen said.

His words sent a flicker of hope through me. The retired Alpha had always been a fair and just leader. It seemed he wasn’t about to let Nicholas and Selena’s betrayal go unchecked.

"I’ve come to tell you that you have my full support, Gwen. The pack stands with you. They see the kind of Luna you are and the sacrifices you’ve made. You’re stronger than Nicholas will ever be," he explained.

His words were a balm to my wounded heart, but they also made my decision even harder.

"Thank you," I said.

Again, I continued to speak, "But I can’t stay here, Alpha Owen. Not after this."

He frowned at what I said.

The old man held my hand as he said, "You don’t have to make that decision now, Gwen. Take your time. And if you do leave, know that you’ll always have a place here. The pack will mourn your absence."

Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside. Shouts echoed through the halls, and I rushed to the window. What I saw made my stomach turn.

Nicholas and Selena were in the courtyard, laughing and holding hands. They were parading their affair in front of the entire pack despite what happened last night. How disgusting!

Gasps and murmurs rose from the gathered crowd. I could see the anger and disappointment on their faces. Nicholas might be their Alpha, but even loyalty had its limits.

Alpha Owen’s expression darkened.

"That fool," he muttered.

Without another word, he strode to the door. I followed him, my heart pounding. This was it. The moment everything would change.

When we reached the courtyard, Alpha Owen’s voice boomed.

"Nicholas Hargreaves! Selena Albright! What is the meaning of this?"

Nicholas turned, his smug smile fading as he saw his father.

"Father," he said.

The young Alpha weakly muttered, "I didn’t realize you were awake."

Alpha Owen’s face was red and fury while he was berating his son, "How dare you disgrace this pack, your Luna, and our family in such a way!"

Selena stepped forward arrogantly as she said, "With all due respect, Alpha Owen, Gwen is no longer fit to be a Luna. She’s weak, and she doesn’t make Nicholas happy. I do."

For a while, the old Alpha went quiet. It seemed that he was thinking about something. However, I was shocked about what I was about to see next.

To everyone’s surprise including mine, Alpha Owen slapped Selena until she fell. My cunning sister groaned in pain as blood started to fall from her lips. The woman who betrayed me with my husband looked at my husband in disbelief as the young Alpha did nothing to help her.

‘Serves that bitch right!’ Allegra shouted happily.

The crowd erupted into shocked whispers. I felt my wolf growling in my mind excitedly, but I kept my composure. After all, we were wondering what would happen.

Not long after that, Alpha Owen raised a hand to silence the crowd.

"Enough!" he roared.

My father-in-law angrily said, "Selena Albright, you are a guest in this pack. You have no right to speak of its leadership. And Nicholas, you are a disgrace. You are unworthy of your title, and you are unworthy of Gwen."

The pack murmured in agreement. For the first time, I saw their anger and disappointment directed at Nicholas publicly. Frankly, this felt very … relieving.

As soon as my husband realized how his pack members reacted, the man clenched his fists. His face darkened with rage. Obviously, he couldn’t take it.

"You always take her side," he spat.

The young Alpha angrily shouted, "You’ve never believed in me!"

"Because you’ve given me no reason to believe in you," Alpha Owen said.

His voice was cold, but there was a hint of sadness in it. After all, Nicholas was still his own son. I could understand him. After that, the old man led me to go inside the castle.

On the other hand, Selena leaned close to Nicholas quietly. She whispered something in his ear. The young Alpha nodded, his expression hardening.

‘I had a bad feeling about this,’ I thought to myself.

That evening, I sat alone in my chambers, lost in thought. Alpha Owen’s support gave me hope, but the hatred in Nicholas’ eyes haunted me. He wasn’t going to let this go. I knew him too well.

Allegra’s voice echoed in my mind, 'Something is wrong, Gwen. I can feel it. He’s not done.'

‘What do you mean?’ I whispered, fear creeping into my voice.

'I don’t know yet,' she said.

'But whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Be careful.'

As the moon rose high in the sky, I heard footsteps outside my door. My heart raced as I waited, but no one came inside. Instead, the footsteps faded into silence, leaving me with an uneasy feeling that something terrible was coming.

That morning began like any other. The sky was painted a soft pink with the crisp air. I walked to the training grounds, hoping the fresh air would clear my restless thoughts. However, Allegra had been unusually quiet since the night before.

It made me feel unease.

'Something feels wrong, Gwen,' she finally said, her voice low and cautious.

I stopped in my tracks, my eyes scanning the quiet courtyard. My wolf was right. There was a strange tension in the air, like the forest before a storm.

Suddenly, a sharp howl pierced the stillness. My heart dropped. It wasn’t a howl of joy or strength. It was a howl of grief.

I ran toward the source of the sound, my chest tightening with every step. When I reached the packhouse, a crowd had already gathered in the great hall. The sight before me made my blood run cold.

Alpha Owen lay motionless on the stone floor, his eyes closed as if in sleep. His once-strong body was pale and lifeless. Gasps and whispers filled the room.

"No," I whispered, stepping forward.

"This can’t be."

Allegra’s growl rumbled in my mind as she said, 'This wasn’t natural. Gwen, I can feel it. This was done to him.'

"Father!" Nicholas’ voice boomed as he stormed into the hall with Selena trailing behind him.

His face was a mask of fury and grief, though I could see the glint of something darker in his eyes.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice trembling.

The young Alpha turned to me as he coldly responded, "You tell me, Gwen."

The room fell silent. I stared at him, confused. Somehow, my gut felt that it wasn’t good.

"What are you saying?" I asked my husband.

He stepped closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over me.

"You were the last person seen with my father last night. You’ve always been close to him. Too close, perhaps. How do we know you didn’t do this?" the man accusingly said.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded. I would never expect this to happen.

Immediately, I responded, "You can’t be serious. Alpha Owen was like a father to me. I would never hurt him!"

Selena’s soft, mocking laugh cut through the tension.

"Oh, Gwen," my sister said mockingly.

The mistress then said, "It’s always the ones who seem the most loyal. Maybe you thought you could take over the pack after Nicholas."

"That’s enough!" I shouted, my voice shaking with anger.

Nicholas raised a hand, silencing me. His eyes glinted with triumph. As soon as I saw his eyes, I knew that my own husband was trying to get rid of me. The Alpha was truly despicable!

To my surprise, he then commanded in his Alpha voice, "As Alpha, I must act for the good of the pack. Gwen Albright, you are hereby stripped of your title as Luna."

The power of his Alpha voice washed over me like a tidal wave, demanding obedience. My knees buckled, but I gritted my teeth. This time, I no longer wanted to obey him.

'Don’t give in,' Allegra said, her voice fierce.

I told myself, 'Allegra is right, you are stronger than this.'

I straightened, meeting Nicholas’ gaze.

"No," I said firmly.

He blinked, shocked at what I just said.

The man asked, "What did you say?"

"I said no," I repeated.

My voice grew louder and steadier as I spoke defiantly, "I won’t accept this. I loved Alpha Owen like he was my own father. I swear by the Moon Goddess, I had nothing to do with his death!"

The pack members murmured among themselves, their loyalty to Alpha Owen and me evident in their doubtful expressions. Obviously, they knew that there was no way that I would harm someone whom I considered to be my own father. It clearly made my husband’s plan go awry.

Nicholas’ face darkened at the crowd’s reaction.

He coldly said, "Then break our mating bond. If you are truly innocent, release me, Gwen. Let me be with someone who understands me."

Selena stepped closer, her smirk widening.

I clenched my fists as I responded angrily, "You think I’ll make it easy for you? That I’ll just walk away while you destroy this pack with your lies? No, Nicholas. I will not break the bond. If you want it gone, you’ll have to do it yourself."

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But Selena placed a hand on his arm. Unfortunately for me, his resolve returned.

The Alpha then raised his voice, addressing the pack with his Alpha voice, "She defies her Alpha. She disrespects me and dishonors our family. She cannot remain here!"

He turned back to me, his face twisted with anger.

"Gwen Albright, I banish you from the Black Wings Pack!" he ordered me with his Alpha voice.

The words hit me like a blow. For a moment, the room spun, and I struggled to breathe. But Allegra’s steady presence kept me grounded.

'Stand tall, Gwen,' she said.

After that, my wolf cont'They may strip you of titles, but they can’t take your strength or your truth.'

I lifted my chin, meeting Nicholas’ gaze with all the defiance I could muster. "You can banish me, Nicholas. But one day, the truth will come out. And when it does, you’ll regret every word you’ve said."

Selena’s laugh echoed in the hall.

"Poor Gwen. Always so dramatic," she mockingly said.

I ignored her, turning to the pack members who had gathered.

"You all knew Alpha Owen," I said.

Then, I kept speaking, "You knew the kind of man he was. Ask yourselves. Who had more to gain from his death? Me, or the ones who have been tearing this pack apart from the inside?"

The crowd shifted uneasily. I could see the doubt in their eyes, the seeds of rebellion beginning to sprout. Still, it was enough.

Nicholas stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding as he told me, "Enough. Leave now, Gwen. Or I will force you out!"

I met his gaze one last time, my heart breaking for the mate I had once loved. Without another word, I turned and walked out of the great hall. Without further ado, I left behind the only home I had known since our mating ceremony.

As I stepped into the cold morning air, Allegra spoke again, 'You did well, Gwen. But this isn’t over. Be careful. They’re planning something worse.'

I nodded, my resolve hardening. I didn’t know where I would go or what I would do next, but one thing was certain. I would find the truth about Alpha Owen’s death. And I would make Nicholas and Selena pay.