Ella Brown stood in front of her full-length mirror, a soft smile playing on her lips. The delicate lace of her gown draped her curves perfectly, the fabric shimmering in the low light of her bedroom. Tomorrow was the day she had dreamed of her entire life. She'd be turning eighteen at midnight, finally awakening her wolf and completing the bond with her fiancé, Alpha Kevin Taylor. The thought sent a shiver of excitement down her spine. By tomorrow night, she would be his mate, officially declared Luna of the Silver Moon Pack.
She traced the neckline of the gown with her fingers, imagining Kevin's hands replacing hers, his lips grazing her skin as he whispered promises of forever. Her body tingled at the thought of him—strong, powerful, and hers.
"Just a few more hours," she whispered, her cheeks flushing as fantasies of their future swirled in her mind.
Her daydream was interrupted by a muffled sound from the hallway—a low, sultry moan. Ella frowned, her brow furrowing as she strained to listen. She stepped toward the door, the sounds growing clearer. The unmistakable rhythm of two bodies intertwined, the breathless gasps, the wet, intimate noises—it hit her like a slap.
Her heart thundered in her chest. "It can't be…"
Creeping closer to the door, she pressed her ear against it. Her stomach twisted painfully as she recognized the voice—Kevin's deep, familiar groans of pleasure. And the woman... no. It couldn't be her.
With trembling hands, Ella turned the doorknob quietly and slipped into the hallway. She followed the sounds, her steps slow, dread building in her chest. The noises were coming from the guest room—Her hands flew to her mouth as she crouched behind the door, peeking through the crack. Her pulse raced, her mind refusing to believe what her eyes were seeing.
Kevin stood with his back to her, shirtless, his muscular frame flexing as he held a woman tightly against him, his hands gripping her bare waist. His lips trailed down her neck, causing the woman to moan softly, her fingers tangled in his hair.
But it wasn't just any woman. It was Sandra—her stepsister, the girl she had grown up with, the one she trusted.
Sandra, her body flushed and exposed, was wrapped around Kevin, her hips grinding against his in a way that made Ella feel sick.
"Kevin," Sandra whispered breathlessly, arching her body against him. "You're so close... so perfect."
"I know, baby," Kevin growled, his hands trailing lower, gripping her harder, as if he couldn't get enough.
"We shouldn't be doing this here," Sandra giggled softly, although her tone suggested anything but regret.
Kevin grinned, unbothered. "Ella won't find out. She's too busy planning her perfect little party for tomorrow."
Ella's heart shattered in that moment. Every ounce of joy she'd felt only minutes ago was torn from her. "How could he? With Sandra?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, but anger flared hotter as their moans intensified completely oblivious of her presence.
Ella's heart shattered. A white-hot anger surged through her, mingling with the gut-wrenching betrayal. She felt her world tilt on its axis, and before she could stop herself, she pushed the door open with a loud creak.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Her voice broke through the heated haze in the room, causing Kevin and Sandra to freeze mid-motion. Their bodies separated, and Kevin turned around, his eyes widening in shock as he met Ella's fiery gaze.
"Ella?" Kevin's voice faltered, but he quickly recovered, straightening his posture as though he wasn't just caught cheating in the most humiliating way.
Ella's chest heaved, her entire body trembling with the force of her emotions. "What... is this?" she demanded, her voice cracking. "With *her*?"
Sandra had the audacity to clutch a sheet to her chest, trying to cover herself as if shame had finally caught up to her. "Ella, it's not what it looks like—"
"Oh, spare me," Ella spat, her voice sharp enough to cut through the tension in the air. "What exactly is it, Sandra? Because it looks like you were just about to f**k my fiancé."
Sandra stepped forward, guilt plastered across her face like a mask she wore so well. "I didn't mean for this to happen, Ella. It just... did. I'm so sorry."
Ella's hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Sorry? You're sorry? After everything I've done for you, you do this to me?"
Kevin's low, amused chuckle interrupted the conversation, sending a wave of icy shock through Ella. She turned to him, her eyes narrowing as he crossed the room toward her, completely unfazed by the situation.
"It's exactly what you think, Ella." His voice was casual, as though he were discussing dinner plans. "Sandra is my mate."
Ella blinked, the words striking her like a punch to the gut. "W-What?"
He reached for Sandra, pulling her back into his arms. "I've found my Fated mate, Ella," he said, his tone cold. "And it's Sandra."
For a moment, Ella felt as though the world had spun off its axis. Her vision blurred with tears, disbelief gripping her as she stared at the man she thought she knew. "You... you're joking," she whispered, her voice barely audible."We never discussed anything about finding another mate, you already chose me to be your mate and Luna"
Kevin's expression hardened, his mouth curving into a cruel smirk. "I've found my true mate, Ella. And it's not you—it's Sandra. She's the one I'll be announcing tomorrow as my Luna."
The blood drained from Ella's face, her knees weakening as she stared at him in disbelief. This was supposed to be the happiest night of her life, the night before her engagement. How could everything have gone so wrong?
"Kevin..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "You can't be serious."
He shrugged, nonchalant. "I am. I was going to tell you tomorrow, but I guess now's as good a time as any." His eyes flicked to Sandra, who was still playing the part of the guilty temptress. "She's my mate. The bond is undeniable."
"Undeniable?" Ella laughed bitterly, her heart breaking with each breath. "And what about me? What was I? Just some placeholder until you found your 'true mate'?"
Sandra, stepping toward her with false remorse, reached out a hand. "Ella, I swear, I never wanted to hurt you—"
"Don't touch me," Ella snapped, jerking away from her. "You've already done enough."
Kevin's patience thinned as he rolled his shoulders back. "Ella, this is how things are. You'll meet your true mate eventually, and when you do, you'll understand."
Ella's tears spilled over, but her fury burned hotter. "Understand? You think I'll ever understand this betrayal?" She shook her head in disbelief. "You were my everything, Kevin. Tomorrow was supposed to be "our" day. You promised me a future."
"And now it's hers," Kevin said coldly, pulling Sandra into his arms once more. "Sandra will be my Luna, not you."
For a moment, the room was silent, save for the sound of Ella's heart shattering in her chest.
Her eyes, once filled with hope and love for the man before her, now burned with raw pain and fury. She took a step back, her body trembling from head to toe. "I hope you both rot in hell."
With those words, she turned on her heel and ran. She didn't look back as she fled out of the room, down the stairs, and out into the night. The cool air stung her cheeks, mixing with the hot tears that refused to stop falling.
She didn't know where she was running, only that she needed to get away. Away from Kevin, from Sandra, from the betrayal that threatened to swallow her whole.