chapter 2

Freya POV

The next day, I decided to go home and talk with my father, James, about breaking the mate bond.

My father was once the Beta to Aidan’s father. My mother came from a noble lineage. She was the daughter of the Alpha of the neighboring Starlight Pack.

I grew up with Aidan and never hid my feelings for him. Since the afternoon of my 14th birthday, when I secretly kissed Aidan on the cheek, every year, my birthday wish had been the same:

#Moon Goddess, please let me grow up quickly and make Aidan my mate!#

Aidan had always treated me well.

Every morning, he would have his bodyguards take a detour to pick me up so we could go to school together.

But all of that changed when Zoey entered our pack.

Five years ago, after my mother passed away, my father brought Zoey home. It was then I found out that my father had long ago fathered an illegitimate daughter with my mother’s maid, Sophia.

The care and attention Aidan used to show me gradually shifted to Zoey, who appeared delicate and beautiful. She had soft, long black hair and big, watery eyes.

What shattered me the most was when Zoey shifted for the first time at 18. Aidan had held her in his arms and had said to her with deep affection,

"You are mine! My little wolf."

Aidan’s mate turned out to be Zoey!

I had watched Aidan kissing Zoey on the lips. Unable to bear the sight, I had turned and ran into the forest, shifting into a white wolf and howling in anguish alone at the mountaintop.

I couldn’t understand why the Moon Goddess hadn’t heard my prayers.

Zoey’s mother had stolen my father, and now Zoey had stolen my Aidan!

I did hate Zoey, but I could never use deceitful or dirty tricks to steal Aidan for myself.

***

I drove to my father James’s house.

The house was eerily quiet, and I guessed he was probably in his study.

As I reached the study door and was about to knock, I overheard Zoey and my father talking.

"Dad, I’ve already dealt with that child. I promise no one will ever know." Zoey said.

"You’ve been so foolish! If it weren’t for that child, you would already be the Luna of the Nightblade Pack by now!" My dad snapped.

"Dad, stop blaming me! I personally sent my own mate to Freya’s bed. No one is more upset about it than I am!"

"But that’s only got you all of Freya’s mother’s inheritance. If it weren’t for Freya’s guilt towards you, we would never have gotten such a fortune in our lifetime! Freya’s mother was truly cruel—leaving everything to Freya alone and not a single cent to me, her husband.”

"Dad, now that we’ve gotten all of Freya’s mother’s inheritance and I’ve dealt with that child, I think I still have a chance to become the Luna of the Nightblade Pack. I want Aidan to break the mate bond with Freya."

"Zoey, wait a bit longer. Don’t rush. Anyway, Aidan was originally your mate, and he likes you."

"No! I can’t just wait any longer. I’ve been back for nearly a year now. Although Aidan has been good to me, he’s always kept his distance. If I don’t take him back now, I’m afraid I’ll lose my chance!"

I stood frozen outside the door, my head spinning, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Three years ago, that night... it was all planned by my father and Zoey to force Aidan to mark me.

They had tricked me out of my mother’s entire inheritance, and now they were plotting to take my Luna status, too?

I wanted to burst in and confront them, but I quickly calmed myself down.

They mentioned “that child”–the reason for sending Aidan to my bed.

What did they mean by “that child”?

I turned and walked downstairs, supporting myself against the wall.

Until I uncover the truth, I won’t let Zoey and my father succeed. Never!

Just as I got into my car, my phone chimed with Aidan’s name on the screen.

“Hello,” I said.

"Where did you go? Weren’t you planning to break the mate bond with me?"