Gabriella's POV
I headed to my room to reflect on things and prepare for a bright, beautiful day tomorrow. I had decided to stay indoors and not go out, as planned. However, I must confess, it wasn't easy for me to endure my father and the pack members; I cried almost every night.
My room's door opened, and without her saying a word, I knew it was Tracy. She had a habit of entering my room without knocking. "Sleeping beauty, it's time for our family dinner."
I immediately sat up. "Is father there yet?"
"Not at all. We still have five minutes. Let's get going. Or do you want to get scolded by him again?"
"No, thank you, sister, for reminding me. I don't understand why I keep forgetting."
"Well, you see, I always forget to knock, and you always forget about family dinner and training. We are twins, after all."
"Yes, you are right."
We walked to the dining table together and took our seats. When father walked in, and his eyes landed on me, I saw a spark of anger and resentment.
"Good evening, father," I greeted him, just as Tracy did.
"Good evening, my beautiful daughters." He kissed Tracy on the cheek with a smile on his face, then took his seat without acknowledging me.
The maids brought the food on a tray and served us. While eating, I struggled to find the right words. I needed to continue trying to win my father's affection, but my shyness held me back. What should I say?
I gathered my courage. "Father, how—"
"Not a word from you. Have you no manners? Talking while eating?" He didn't even let me finish my sentence; he interrupted me.
"I apologize, father."
"Keep your apology to yourself."
Tracy touched my hand to comfort me. Father took more meat and added it to Tracy's plate. "Thank you, father."
"Don't thank me, my dearest daughter. You deserve the world. Come on, eat more. I don't want you to look thin at all."
"I promise, father. I won't appear thin, and I will finish my meal."
"That's my girl."
Father chuckled while eating and then began coughing. I quickly poured water into a glass for him. "Father, please have this."
He swatted the glass from my hand. "Never in your worthless life attempt this again." I held back my tears.
"Father, drink some water." He accepted the glass from my sister and drank it all. "Thank you, my dear."
He stood up abruptly. "From now on, you will not be included in our family dinners. If you want to prove me wrong and deserve a seat, bring your wolf to reality." He left in anger.
"Don't take his words to heart, okay? I'll talk to father, and everything will be alright." She hurried to catch up with him.
I left, feeling angry, and went into the woods near the house. I tried to shift out of frustration, but it didn't work. I attempted again and again, only ending up injuring myself. If tears were blood, I'd be soaked in it.
I moved slowly back to my room, lay on the bed, and hoped that someday everything would be better. Perhaps it was best to stop attending family dinners altogether. I should remain in my room all the time. This is where I belonged, away from everyone.
A MONTH LATER
A knock came at my door, which was quite unusual. "Come in," I said politely, sitting up on the bed.
"Good day, Miss Gabriella. Your sister wants you to come to the hall. An important announcement is about to be made, and she doesn't want you to miss it."
"Okay, thank you. I'll be there in just a minute." She left promptly.
I changed my outfit and headed to the hall, taking a seat near my sister. The only time I felt like a father's daughter was because our seats were distinct from the other members'. The hall was filled with pack members. Judging by the expression on my sister's face, the announcement was clearly significant.
"You look really happy, sister," I said to her.
"You guessed right, I have never been this happy."
"Can you give me a little clue about it?""Not this time. It won't be a surprise anymore." She caressed my hair, and I smiled, saying, "Okay, but I am dying of curiosity here.""Don't worry. The hour has come," she said, immediately as the Beta took the mic to address everyone."Everyone, I come bearing good news on behalf of the Alpha and everyone present here," the Beta began, and I paid close attention to ensure I wouldn't miss a word."Our beloved warrior and powerful Alpha daughter is engaged to the Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. Finally, peace will be restored, and we will be more respected."Everyone looked excited about the news, especially my sister. She showed me the ring. "I feel so happy. I will be bringing peace to our pack and the Blood Moon Pack.""I am so happy for you, sister." I pretended to be happy, but deep down, I am sad. My father hates the Blood Moon Pack. I always thought he would refuse our marriage to Alpha Nicklaus, but I didn't expect his favoritism towards my sister to exceed everything.Everyone celebrated, and my father called me personally to the garden. I became happy, thinking he is going to make amends."Father, I am so happy for sister," I said, even if I was dying inside."Enough! Look at your sister, a powerful warrior every pack desires to have, and now she is getting married to Alpha Nicklaus, our enemy. She finally brought peace, and look at you, being so useless, not doing anything useful.""I am sorry, father." I bowed my head and kept my hands joined together.I thought about it all night. What if the Alpha made a mistake? Alpha Nicklaus is my mate. Should I just stay silent and watch my mate marry my sister? I sighed, tossing and turning in bed. Finally, I decided to gather up the courage to take control of my own destiny.The following day, I changed into smart jeans and a top, tied my hair in a ponytail, wore a baseball cap, and grabbed my bag. I walked out of the building and immediately hailed a taxi.I really hope what I am about to do will not cause me big problems. Oh Moon goddess, help me out, please. I need you this time around. I got so carried away with my thoughts that I didn't realize we had arrived at the place until the driver signaled me.I paid the taxi driver and stepped out of the car, took a deep breath before taking a bold step. But I lost the boldness as I got closer to the gate, and I ran back into the nearby woods, sweating all over and breathing uncontrollably.What if my actions hurt my sister Tracy? She has been good to me and is now happy getting married to him. Oh gosh, this is tough for me.I don't think she will be angry. Maybe if I explain to her, she will support me and understand it's a mistake. I can do this.But what am I supposed to say? "Hi, I am the girl you had a one-night stand with, and you mistook my sister for me, so I came to fix the whole thing"?No, that can't work. I need to come up with a suitable sentence. Gosh, I suck at this.I stepped out again and headed directly to the gate. I pressed the bell, and the gate opened immediately, with a young guy asking me my reason for coming here. "I am here to meet the Alpha.""Okay, do you have an appointment with him?" he questioned. Oh no, this is my only chance right now. There is no way I can ruin it. Just a lie will not make me a monster."Yes, I do," I said, acting a bit tough to hide my fear."Okay, wait here." He said and left, maybe to inform the Alpha. My heart started pounding so fast while I waited.Another guy approached me, saying, "I am the Beta of the pack, and the Alpha is not expecting anyone. If I may ask, who are you, and what do you want with the Alpha?"I got frightened immediately, but I needed to hide the fear and have everything under control. Please, sweet lord, let me not mess this up. I have never done something like this before, and this is my first time being bold with a stranger."Yes, you are right. But trust me, the Alpha will be happy to see me if you can just relay this message to him.""What message?"Nicklaus's POV I stood in front of the mirror, getting dressed, when the Beta walked in. "Greetings, Alpha Nicklaus." "You don't need to be that formal, Martins. So, tell me, are they here?" I asked with a smile. "Yes, Alpha. The top members are waiting in the meeting room." "I see." I adjusted my tie, then I noticed the expression on his face. "Is there something I need to know before attending the meeting?" "Some of the elders are not pleased with your engagement to the first daughter of the Silver Moon Pack." "I knew it. They should be happy my mate is an Alpha as well. She is strong, a warrior, and most importantly, both tribes will be at peace. Let's go." I ordered, making my move, and he walked behind me. As soon as they noticed my presence, they all remained calm and showed respect. I took my seat and when they moved to sit, I stopped them. "Did I give the go-ahead for you to sit?" I questioned. "We are sorry, Alpha Nicklaus." "Just joking. Wanted to liven up the room.
Gabriella's POV "What message?""Please kindly inform your Alpha that I was the one with him that night at the mask party. I am his mate, and he has mistaken me for my sister," I said to the Beta, but he burst into serious laughter."Why are you laughing?" I questioned and lost my boldness, looking down."You can't just walk in here and claim to be the Alpha's mate.""You have to believe me. I am not pretending at all. Everything I am saying is the truth. What would I gain from lying?" I questioned him politely.He took a deep breath and looked at me again. "Okay, fine. Sit here and wait while I inform the Alpha.""Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it.""Don't thank me yet," he said and headed into the main building.I looked around, and wow, his home is so beautiful and spacious. I guess life here will be great, and I won't be ridiculed by his people.I thought about Tracy. What if she comes in here and meets me? Wouldn't she be offended? I hope she doesn't come, and when I get h
Gabriella’s POV I woke up the next morning with a cold, my clothes still soaked, and my hair drenched as well. Luckily, I spotted a taxi and immediately hailed it to head home. I stripped off my wet clothes, took a warm bath, and bundled up in thick garments to combat the cold that had settled in. I began sneezing as well. I suppose my father either didn't notice my absence in the house or he noticed and chose to ignore me. After all, his favorite daughter is marrying my mate. My cold worsened, causing me considerable discomfort. Fortunately, my sister entered my room, concern evident in her eyes. "Sis, you look so pale. What happened to you?" She moved towards me, inspecting my condition. "I got caught in the rain and I think I've caught a cold," I replied, still shivering beneath my blanket. "You silly girl, you know you're susceptible to colds when you get soaked. Why didn't you find shelter? You've worried me sick." "I'll be fine, sister. No need to worry. You should be gettin
Nicklaus's POV After the priest announced us as husband and wife, we kissed, and I felt a bit off. But anyway, she is my wife and Luna—I need to make her happy. The dance was called for, and we were meant to open the dance floor. "May I have this dance?" I asked. "Yes, my Alpha," she said with a smile. I remembered the first time I danced with her; I felt happy, and my heart kept beating very fast. Why am I not experiencing any of these signs while dancing with her now? Is it because I am expecting too much from her today, or is it because we got intoxicated that night? Well, I can't afford to ruin things. "Alpha, is everything okay?" she questioned. "Yes, everything is fine. I guess I am just too excited about today. Look at us—heroes and heroines of our packs. We brought peace," I decided to engage in a conversation, hoping it would help me. After the dance, we took our seats and watched others dance. I noticed the way the Beta of her father looked at her. Are they close or wh
Gabriella’s POV I sat down, waiting for the fourth bus heading South among strangers. It feels good to be among strangers; I can breathe freely, and no one will ridicule me or call me worthless. I know my absence won't be felt by my father, and he probably won't even inform my sister. I hope she enjoys her marriage. "Why are you running away, Gabriella? You should have at least told Alpha Nicklaus that you are pregnant with his child," Leah said to me. "Leah, I'm glad to hear your voice. But there's no point in telling someone who rejected me. I don't see the need." "Do you know anyone who lives in the South?" I remained calm for a moment. I really don't have anyone, and my fate lies with the moon goddess; I believe she will protect me. "I don't need to know someone there, Leah. I have some funds with me, and I'll be able to get an apartment and feed myself," I explained to my wolf. "What if you run out of money? What will you do then? How will you take care of the unborn child?"
Gabriella’s POV Waking up the following morning, I felt completely different—weak and in need of medical attention. Before I knew it, I rushed to the bathroom to throw up. After washing my face and looking in the mirror, I saw how pale I appeared. I ordered breakfast and, when it arrived, I asked the person who brought the food if she knew of a hospital nearby. She described one, but it would take about an hour to get there. I thanked her and prepared to visit the hospital after finishing my meal. I took a taxi to the hospital. Upon arrival, I saw a lady playing with her two-year-old daughter. Envy welled up in me, though I didn't regret having my child even with the absent father. I obtained a card and waited for the doctor. The doctor requested that I visit the lab for an ultrasound to determine the baby's age and study the fetus. I made the payment and was informed to return the following day on an empty stomach but well-hydrated. Leaving the hospital, I decided to take a brief t
Gabriella’s POV Awakening once again, I felt significantly better and noticed the same woman serving me a rice ball with a cup of fresh juice, “You must be hungry.” “You think I'm that stupid? Do you expect me to eat this? What if it's poisoned?” I questioned, as I don't trust anyone and won't let my guard down, having learned life's harsh lessons. “I see you have trust issues. I'll take a bite so you can see the food isn't poisoned,” she reassured, taking a bite. But I still doubted her, saying, “What if you took an antidote to the poison already?” “Hey, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done that while you were sleeping or snapped your neck with my spells. How about that? Now eat, to replenish your strength.” “The name is Gabriella, and thank you.” “You're welcome. I will take care of you to ensure your daughter comes into this world at ease.” My eyes widened, “I have a daughter? How did you know?” “I am an elder witch, and I saw a vision of your baby. Enough talk, let me
Gabriella’s POV He has become more mature than he was four years ago, with longer hair and bangs that can cover half of his red pupils. I feel a little uneasy inside as his aura seems stronger. Fortunately, my wolf is not as excited about her mate as before. His arm muscles bulge, and his brows reveal a fierce expression. I even sense a terrifying aura of killing intent. As I watch the fight between them, he kills with ease. Now I guess the rumors about him ending his father's life for power might be true after all. I thought seeing him would make me feel different, but when I see him, I hate him more. He's just a black history that I don't wish to revisit again. I notice he gets carried away with the ones he is fighting, not seeing the impending danger from behind. I will save him because he is my twin sister's husband, and for no other reason attached to it. “Og lu an to ditol.” The Black wolf dies instantly along with the others. Then he turns around; I didn't get enough time to h