Betrayed by Blood~
"It's time, Avery Jae."
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and let out a deep sigh. It's today, finally. I smoothed out the wrinkles in the dress that I wore, licking my chapped lips to moisten them. I could feel my heart beating harder than ever.
"You look beautiful, Avery Jae, you make a beautiful bride," Emma said, jolting me out of my thoughts. I turned to see her standing by the door, a small smile on her lips. She walked closer to me and draped her hand over my shoulder.
"Come on, you don't want to make Luna Darla mad," she said. I shuddered internally at the thought of my aunt being angry on today of all days. Not after what happened this morning. Jasmine had barged into my room at dawn with scissors and ripped the dress I was supposed to wear because I didn't polish her shoe. I remember sitting pathetically with my ripped fabric draped over my body. Aunt Darla came in and begged Jasmine to lend me her blue dress.
I flinched when I felt Emma's cold fingers on my skin. "Come on, Avery," she said again, and I nodded, standing up.
I'd always known I was meant to be mated to the future Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Our bond had been fixed from birth, decided by my parents and his. I'd seen Lucian only five times, but each meeting was etched in my memory. The thought of being his mate was the only thing that had kept me going all these years, and today, I'll finally be his mate, his wife.
I smiled at the thought of it and hurried my pace, knowing he'd be there, waiting for me. Regardless of how the past few years have played out, I was okay with it if it meant I'll be Lucian's mate.
I heard Emma chuckle behind me and grinned. Emma's my only friend in the entire pack, even though she's a few years older than me, she's never treated me less, not even when Jasmine orders her to.
"You really are excited to be Alpha Lucian's wife," she said, but I could hear the excitement in her voice. I knew I'd worn her ears out when I spoke about Lucian, which was every time. He was my escape even if he didn't know it yet.
As we neared the hall, I heard the low chant of the wedding rites already beginning and hurried my pace, my heart racing with excitement. Today, all the pain, the isolation, and the mistreatment would be worth it. Today, I'd finally be someone's chosen one.
But as I stepped through the doors, I froze. The sight in front of me felt like a slap across the face.
There, at the altar, was Lucian. And beside him, dressed in a white gown that should've been mine, was Jasmine.
I stood there, my feet deeply rooted to the spot, my chest tightening painfully. Lucian was holding her hand, a soft smile on his lips, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. I could feel their eyes on me, the pack members, the guests, all watching me.
It was Aunt Darla who noticed me first, and the triumphant look she gave me made my stomach twist inexplicably. My face ran pale. She leaned over and whispered something to Jasmine who smirked before casting me a sideways glance, full of nothing but disgust.
I forced my legs to work and rushed towards my uncle; he was the only one who's ever treated me with care. He was different from his mate. He'd never do this to me. Something had to be wrong. I grabbed his arm. "Uncle, uncle, what's going on? Why is this—" he pushed my hand off and looked at me, not a single hint of joke in his features.
"There was a change in plans, Avery Jae. You will no longer be Lucian's mate, but Jasmine will. She'll rule alongside Lucian and give birth to healthy babies. This alliance will strengthen our packs."
"What?" I breathed out, my voice barely a whisper as my world shattered around me. "But…but we were meant to be mated. This—this isn't possible, Uncle. You said… My father- he planned this- he wanted-"
My uncle's eyes narrowed, his mouth curving into a cold, hard line. "This is how it will be, Avery. Whatever your father did has long been dissolved. This alliance will benefit everyone. What difference does it make if she mates him? After all, they only need the alpha's daughter, and Jasmine is my daughter. She will marry Alpha Lucian."
I couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth. "I am the alpha's daughter, Uncle. I should be the one-" I don't get to complete my words as I'm grabbed from behind by Luna Darla and slapped hard across the face.
The sharp sting of the slap made my cheek burn, and I staggered back, clutching my face as I looked up at my aunt. Her eyes were filled with cold satisfaction. "How dare you speak to your uncle that way," Luna Darla sneered. "You are nothing here, Avery. Nothing more than a burden we've tolerated for too long. Jasmine is the one who will bring honor to this family, not you."
"My father was the Alpha," I whispered, though my voice wavered. "I am his daughter, and I have a right to this bond. I am the heir of-" the words are cut off my lips again, as I'm slapped, this time by my uncle. I fall to the ground, my lips bleeding as tears flowed down my chin.
"How dare you? Your father was nothing more than a failed leader who left you behind like some unwanted stray. The only reason you're here is because we took pity on you. You would be nothing without us, and this is how you pay me back?" He growled at me.
"Please, Uncle," I begged, a slight tremor in my voice. "I've done everything you asked. I…I've waited for this day. You can't just take it from me. I'm…I'm your niece." I begged shamelessly. I look at Lucian's parents, and they avert their gaze quickly.
I looked at Lucian, silently begging him to say something, to stop this from happening, but he instead held Jasmine's hand. "I'm in love with Jasmine, and I want her to be my mate. Leave, Avery."
A tear fell to my cheek. I struggled to breathe, and my legs trembled, but I forced myself to stand. "Enough of this pathetic display, Avery. You've embarrassed yourself and this family enough." Aunt Darla's cold voice jolts me.
"Take her away." Aunt Darla ordered, but I couldn't take my eyes away from Lucian and Jasmine, who continued with the wedding rituals as if I wasn't there.
"Let's go, Avery." Emma gripped my arm tightly, pushing me to walk, but I couldn't get my eyes away from Lucian and Jasmine. Just as I stepped out of the hall, I saw Lucian lean in to kiss her.
Darla glared at the retreating figure of Avery irritatedly then glanced at her mate. "This is enough. I can't take it anymore. You have to do something about her." She spat out through the mind-link.
Hugh followed her gaze, "Tonight is her last night."