"I never wanted to be in this position, to be the cause of such a devastating choice. Please, help me, Arion. Kill me!" — Lily

Time frame: present

~~~

Arion Moonshadow received the disturbing news that his father, Alpha Xander Moonshadow, planned to give the sacred imprint to his beloved pet, Lily Evans, on her birthday.

As the clock struck midnight, Lily was summoned to Xander's room, unaware of the dark intentions that awaited her.

Arion's heart raced with a mix of anger and concern. Imprinting should only be reserved for true mates, and his mother, Evelins Nightshade, was the rightful recipient of such a bond.

Yet, his father's disturbing plan threatened to tarnish the sanctity of the imprinting process.

It was meant to be a connection that went beyond physical desire, a deep and unbreakable bond between two souls. To give such a bond to a pet was a mockery of its true meaning!

Arion stormed his father's room, despite being hindered by many of his subordinates.

"Young Alpha Arion, Alpha Xander already left for business out of town early this morning!" They tried to stop Arion.

But Arion was too strong for them.

With a forceful shove, he sent two of his father's subordinates crashing into the wall, rendering them unconscious. They slumped on the floor, their bodies limp and defeated.

"Get out of my way!" Arion growled, his voice low and menacing.

His transformation had already begun, and his eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity. His nails extended into sharp claws, as cold as steel.

The aura of power that emanated from Arion was both chilling and awe-inspiring. The mere sight of his half-transformed werewolf form sent shivers down the spines of the guards, who cowered and trembled in fear.

Arion's presence demanded respect, and the guards dared not challenge him any further. With a mix of fear and awe, they parted, allowing him to pass through the now open path towards his father's private chamber.

With a burst of strength, Arion launched a powerful kick at the door, and it splintered into pieces, granting him entry into his father's room. His heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the dimly lit chamber.

And there she was -- Lily, still captive in his father's twisted plan. Her naked form hung from the ceiling, bound by chain restraints.

Her head bowed, but as the dim light filtered into the room, she lifted her head and locked eyes with Arion. Her almond, teary eyes held a plea for help that tugged at his heartstrings.

"Please... help me... please...," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

Arion's initial surge of anger and rage had clouded his judgment. He had been ready to unleash his fury on both his father and the girl who had been his pet. But now, as he stood before Lily, he hesitated.

Something in her vulnerability and the sincerity in her plea made him pause. His gaze softened a moment as he studied her naked and beautiful form, but he quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

Now was not the time for distractions.

Instead, he decided to assess the situation first. He needed to find out if his father's twisted plan had been executed successfully.

Inching closer, Arion let his keen senses take over. He examined Lily's body for any signs of the imprinting process - the telltale marks or energy that would indicate a connection had been formed between his father and her.

As Arion held Lily's gaze, he felt a surge of conflicting emotions washing over him. The sight of her bound and helpless, the marks of his father's cruelty staining her skin, ignited strange feeling within him.

"Arion... please... help me... I beg of you," her voice choked amidst sobs. "I know you hate me, but you're the only one who can save me right now." She whispered.

Blood ran down her thigh, her trembling legs trying to bear the pain. Her father was so cruel, and in desperation, he resorted to this act against an ordinary human girl.

Although he had harbored resentment towards Lily, he couldn't help but feel pity for her.

Yet, Arion couldn't bring himself to release her just yet. If necessary, he would leave her hanging helplessly until her life slipped away!

"You know there can't be two Luna in this pack," he muttered. With a cold and icy stare, he gripped Lily's neck and pulled her up, examining the fresh bite marks from Xander that oozed fresh blood.

Lily could only surrender and cry, her voice choked with a heartbreaking sob. Her tears streamed down in defiance of Arion's grip.

As he held her by the neck, Lily felt a cold and icy chill spread through her body. The marks of Xander's brutality in her body were a painful reminder of her vulnerable position.

She knew she was trapped in a precarious situation, caught between two powerful Alphas.

She had always known the rules of the pack, the hierarchy that governed their lives. There could only be one Luna, the Alpha's mate, the one who stood at his side and shared his power. When there were two Luna, one of them had to die.

Between herself and Eve, Arion's mother, one of them had to die.

The air in the room crackled with tension as Arion's hands tightened around Lily's neck. His heart wavered between anger and sympathy for the girl before him. The conflicting emotions tore at him.

"He didn't succeed in imprinting you," Arion murmured in disbelief. He couldn't believe a weak girl like Lily could resist her father's imprint.

As Arion's grip on her neck loosened, Lily could see the conflict in his eyes. He was torn between loyalty to his pack and his duty as a Young Alpha, and the compassion he felt for her.

"This is unbelievable," Arion muttered, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Lily took a deep breath, trying to steady herself despite the fear and pain she felt. She knew that her fate rested in Arion's hands now, and she could only hope that he would make the right decision.

The reality of the situation was harsh, and she understood the consequences of defying the pack's traditions.

"I never wanted any of this," Lily whispered, her voice filled with sadness. "I never wanted to be in this position, to be the cause of such a devastating choice. Please, help me, Arion. Kill me!"