Sold to the Alpha

I still remember the scent of white lilies. Their sweet, sweet smell hung in the air, mixed with that of the damp earth after the morning rain. Flowers adorned every corner of the pack's main house, carefully prepared by the she-wolves for the ceremony. I was told that lilies symbolized purity and renewal. I should have rejoiced, but deep down, a strange melancholy enveloped me. That day, everything was supposed to be perfect. Yet there was this shadow, a dull feeling that something was going to collapse.

I had spent the morning smiling mechanically, responding to the congratulations of the members of the pack. Every look was loaded with expectations, as if my union with Darek would solve all the ills of the world. They saw him as an Alpha in the making, a charismatic leader capable of protecting and guiding. And I was the future Luna, the one who was to support him, complete him. This vision should have made me proud. But in my heart there was a void. A cold space that I couldn't fill, even when I convinced myself that I loved Darek.

At the end of the afternoon, I found myself alone in my room, looking at my white dress hanging near the window. The light from the setting sun played on the fabric, creating golden reflections that fascinated me. It was a beautiful dress, simple but elegant, hand-sewn by an elderly she-wolf who had spent weeks on this masterpiece. Looking at her, I wondered if this perfection was not a lie, a facade hiding invisible cracks.

A noise in the hallway pulled me from my thoughts. It was a lively conversation, followed by laughter. I would recognize this voice among a thousand: Darek . My heart jumped. Maybe he was coming to see me, finally. In recent days, he had been distant, claiming preparations or important business. I put it down to stress. After all, uniting two packs was no easy feat. But this distance had given way to an uncertainty, a doubt that gnawed at me.

I left my room, driven by an impulse that I did not understand. The laughter had faded away, going upstairs. My feet guided me almost in spite of myself, climbing the wooden stairs that creaked under my weight. Each step brought me closer to a truth I wasn't sure I wanted to know. As I arrived in front of Darek 's bedroom door, I heard a muffled whisper, followed by a burst of laughter. That laugh... It struck me like a blade. It was that of Aria, my sister.

I placed my hand on the handle, hesitating for a second before pushing the door open. What I saw in that moment broke something inside me. Darek stood near the bed, his bare torso illuminated by the last rays of the sun. His arms surrounded Aria, their faces close, their knowing looks. There was an intimacy in their closeness that I could not deny. Aria wore a smile I'd never seen on her, a mixture of triumph and passion. She gently caressed Darek 's face, and whispered something to him that I didn't hear. My breath caught.

- Darek ? I managed to say, my voice shaking.

They froze. Aria turned to me, her smile disappearing immediately. She looked surprised, but not guilty. No, in her eyes I only saw distrust, as if she was mocking my pain. Darek looked down, unable to meet my gaze. This silence, this suspended moment, lasted an eternity.

- Lyana , it's not... started Darek , but I cut it off.

- Not what I believe? I spat, feeling tears welling up. So, explain to me. Explain to me why you, my fiancé, are in the arms of my own sister on the eve of our wedding.

He didn't respond. Aria, on the other hand, spoke up, her voice sharp.

- Maybe because he doesn't really love you. Maybe because you and I know he deserves better.

His tone chilled me. How could she say that? How could she betray her own sister with such coldness? I looked for a hint of regret in his eyes, but there was nothing. Just pride, as if savoring her victory.

I didn't wait for a response from Darek . He had already said everything I needed to know through his silence. Without another word, I turned on my heel and left the room. My heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to explode. Tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I walked down the stairs. Every glance I met in the hallway seemed accusatory, as if everyone knew, as if their complicity in this betrayal was suffocating me.

I went out into the open air, trying to escape this house which had become a tomb. The cold night wind hit me, but I didn't slow down. I needed to get away, to escape. Where, I didn't know yet. All I knew was that I couldn't stay here any longer. Not after what I had seen. Not after what they did to me.