CHAPTER 1
Luna was getting prepared for the mating bond festival.
She put on her best dress and applied light makeup on her face.
She turned to leave the packhouse when she was stopped by the unwavering voice of her best friend, Sophie.
"Hey! Are you leaving already?" Sophie marched towards her.
She placed one hand on her shoulder. Luna smiled back at her. One could easily tell that it was her happy day.
Not only would she be getting mated to the influential Alpha Damien, she was also going to awaken her wolf for the first time as she just clocked eighteen.
Luna nodded. "Yes! I can't really wait to walk the aisle with him. My dream is finally going to become a reality."
Sophie let out a little cough. She knew exactly what was in her mind. Unfortunately, Luna never knew what she had been harboring against her. She trusted her as a friend so she saw no need to suspect her in any way.
Luna never knew the worst scenario was awaiting her at the mate bonding festival.
She took out a little mirror from her backpack and admired her alluring beauty. She praised herself endlessly.
Sophie only watched in silence. "Don't you think we should leave already? You don't want to be late for the festival, right?"
Luna nodded and stormed out of the room hastily. Sophie followed after her, calling after her and yelling her name endlessly.
Soon they arrived at the festival hall. Luna spotted Damien from a distance.
She was ushered to sit beside him.
Sophie was nowhere to be found within the premises. Luna looked worried. She expected her to be there to cheer her up at least.
What happened next shook Luna to her feet. She was almost peeing on her pants.
A mean-looking man suddenly walked into the hall. He marched straight to where Alpha Damien was.
"Good day, your highness." He greeted with his face slightly bowing.
Damien stared at him impatiently. He had just interrupted the process of mate bonding.
He shot a hateful glare at him. "Hey, young man. What have you come here to do?" His face suddenly faded into a frown. He grew impatient every minute.
"There's a bad egg amongst you…"
"Straight to the point!" Damien was impatient. He definitely had no time for his long epistles and explanations.
The man heaved a deep sigh. He shot a glare at Luna, as if he was about to beat her up. He looked so mean and that got Luna more confused.
"This lady by your side is a thief and a murderer. I have come here with my boys to arrest her."
Damien got up in anger. He grabbed the man by his neck but a gun suddenly pointed at his head. He let go of the man's neck.
"What has she done against you? And what do you want from me right now?"
"We need her to come with us at once. She's a thief and a murderer."
Luna's eyes widened in confusion. She clearly did not understand the drama unfolding before her.
She stood up to defend herself. "Hey! Watch your mouth! I certainly do not know you from anywhere. How are you even sure that you are not mistaking me for someone else?"
"Hey, woman! Shut the fuck up and just admit your wrong! You disgust me with these lies of yours." The man blurted out. "Aren't you Luna White?"
At this point, it dawned on Damien that the man was nothing close to telling him lies.
Since he was able to mention Luna's full name, he had just proven himself right.
He glared at Luna, waiting for explanations.
"I'm confused here. I definitely don't know this man. Trust me." Luna stuttered. She had suddenly lost her voice.
Damien fumed with rage at how cunning she was even when she had been caught red-handed.
He spat viciously at her. "You disgust me, Luna! So all this while I've been trying to get mated with a thief and a murderer? Oh thank goodness this man arrived right on time before I went ahead to mark you. I hate you, Luna!"
Luna was at the verge of tearing up. The thought of being convicted of something she knew absolutely nothing about, broke her into shreds.
"Trust me, Damien. I don't know him." She insisted.
"Alright in that case, I guess I have to introduce her best friend who caught her in the act when she was found stealing."
The man walked into the backstage. He returned in a couple of minutes, with Sophie by his side.
Luna was a bit relieved by the presence of her friend. She trusted that she would surely speak in her favor.
But she was greatly disappointed when the unspeakable happened. Her friend testified against her also.
"Luna, you and I know that you are highly guilty of this. Why don't you just admit your wrong? You are only worsening the case by telling us lies."
Luna was shocked to hear these words from her friend. The only person whom she trusted so much had just taken sides with the man.
She was disappointed, at the same time mad.
She turned to Damien. "Can't you see this is all a setup? These people right here are accusing me wrongly. I definitely know nothing about this."
Unfortunately, no one listened to her. Everyone in the hall glared at her with disappointment written all over their faces.
There was nothing else she could say that would change the minds of the people. They all believed that she was guilty since her best friend had just testified to that.
Luna was helpless. She never expected her best day to turn out this way.
She was innocent of the allegations, but there was certainly no way she would explain herself. The odds were boldly against her.
Damien shot her an aggressive glare. He hated the fact that she never wanted to admit her wrong.
"For this thing you have done, I , Damien Smith, hereby reject you as my mate."
The guards dragged Luna out of the hall.