ALICE My blood boils as I stare straight ahead, my gaze fixed on the podium where my sister Hannah and my mate Alex stand. Yes, he rejects me, and I begrudgingly accept it, but that doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. Alex is still mine, no matter what.Their engagement ceremony unfolds before me, a spectacle of joy and celebration that feels like a slap in the face. As the elders from both the sky and silver packs speak words of wisdom and guidance to Hannah and Alex, my fists clench at my sides, the rage inside me threatening to consume everything in its path. It should be me standing there, receiving their blessings and stepping into the role of Alex's Luna and equal. But fate has other plans, and now I'm forced to watch from the sidelines as my sister takes what should be rightfully mine. The ceremony presses on, each moment feeling like a dagger twisting deeper into my wounded heart. And then comes the ultimate betrayal: the e

HANNAH The shrill ring of my phone slices through the silence of the room. With a reluctant groan, I peel back from the warmth of my duvet, the chill of the room prickling my skin as I stretch a hand toward the scattered contents of my purse on the floor. My fingers fumble for the device, the cold touch of the screen against my palm grounding me back to reality.   "Hi, Mom," I croak out, my voice a raspy whisper, raw from the tears that had carved rivers down my cheeks earlier.   "Are you happy now? Are you?" Mom's voice is a sharp bark through the speaker, each word a staccato that makes my brows knit together in confusion. "What are you talking about, Mom? Is something wrong?" I inquire, my voice laced with concern as I hold the phone to my ear.   "Is something wrong? Did you really just ask me if something is wrong?" Her voice crescendos into a yell that has me pulling the phone away from my ear. "Your

I return to the office, my heart heavy with betrayal and eyes stinging with unshed tears, to pick up something I forgot before heading home. As I step into the building, my eyes widen in shock once I see Bee standing there with two lunch bags in her hand, a warm smile on her face."I brought lunch," she says brightly, walking toward me with open arms. She probably came to check on me and see how I survived my first day."Hey, Bee," I manage to choke out, my voice cracking with emotion as I pull her into a tight hug, clinging to her like a lifeline. I hold her longer than normal, desperately needing her comfort and support. She couldn't have surprised me at work at a more perfect time."Is everything alright?" Bee asks gently as she pulls back, her brow furrowed with concern as she searches my face. Worry is already etched in her kind eyes."No," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you have time to talk?" I ask hopefully, longing to unburden my a

We stroll towards a beautiful restaurant nestled close to the beach, the gentle rhythm of crashing waves providing a soothing backdrop to push down the sense of dread that threatens to overwhelm me. At least the location is pleasant, I tell myself, trying to find a silver lining in this uncomfortable situation. To my surprise, Alpha Collins insists on ordering for both of us, assuring me that I'll love his choices. I don't argue; instead, I focus on ordering a glass of iced tea to soothe my frayed nerves while he opts for a simple cup of water.As our lunch progresses, I find myself pleasantly surprised by Alpha Collins's behavior. True to his word, he steers our conversation towards substantive business matters, discussing the costs and logistics of the resort's new design plans. His focus remains squarely on the details, not allowing our previous tension to derail the discussion.Emboldened by his professionalism, I decide to pitch some ideas I have been mulling over on how he could

HANNAH  I step out of the room, my heart heavy and aching from the conversation I just had with Alex. The weight of our complicated relationship presses down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Why can’t things be simple between us? Why does every step forward feel like a battle, a constant push and pull that leaves me drained and raw? For the first time, a traitorous thought whispers through my mind - a desperate wish that someone else was my mate, someone who wouldn’t hurt me so deeply.“Hannah?” A familiar voice calls out, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. I lift my head to see Alpha Collins standing before me; his brow furrowed with concern. “Oh my goodness! Are you okay?” He closes the distance between us in a few long strides, his hands gently grasping my arms as he searches my face.“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just allergies,” I reply, the lie falling flat even to my