Chapter 1
Irina’s POV
I held a bouquet of Lily–of–the–valleys close to my chest as I stepped through the gates of Shadow Blades Pack.
Their soft white bells swayed with every step I took, brushing gently against my pale blue dress.
The sweet scent filled the air around me.
Today was supposed to be magical.
The day my mate, Kyle Becker, was to officially take the title of Alpha. And for me, it was more than just that.
It was the day he promised to reveal our bond to the whole pack.
No more secrets. No more hiding.
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The pink moon would rise tonight, and under its blessed light, Kyle and I would finally step into our future together.
I smiled, heart fluttering with shaky joy.
Everyone was busy preparing for the ceremony: men stringing shimmering lights between the trees, women hanging ribbons across balconies, children giggling as they scattered petals near the ceremonial platform. There was a thrill of celebration in every breath of wind.
Everything looked beautiful–perfect. Just how I imagined it.
I had waited two long years for this. Two years of staying silent.
Of keeping my distance. Because Kyle had asked
me to.
“Let’s surprise them on the Throne Ceremony,” he’d said every time I wanted to make it public.
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“That moment will make it special.”
So I waited.
Even when people stared. Even when they laughed behind my back, not knowing I belonged to the upcoming Alpha.
Even when my heart ached from pretending we weren’t bound by the stars.
But it ends tonight.
I giggled to myself, walking toward the main hall, arms full of the delicate white flowers. The ceremony was only a few hours away.
That’s when I heard them.
A burst of laughter echoed nearby. I glanced left to see a few girls standing by the stairs, their fake smiles already slicing through the air.
Nora stood at the center with her usual smug
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grin–sharp, polished, and cruel.
“Look who decided to show up,” Nora said,
crossing her arms. “I bet you went to pluck those bells again, hmm?”
Her tone made the sweetness of the flowers turn bitter in my hands.
“Maybe she thinks the young Alpha will be charmed by them,” another girl snickered, adjusting the ribbon in her hair.
My steps faltered, but I forced a smile.
Nora leaned against the railing, eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Sweetheart, Kyle isn’t the kind to fall for a few pretty flowers. If you want his attention, you’ll need something bigger than that. Like, say… a miracle transformation?”
Another wave of laughter exploded through the
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group.
I swallowed, clutching the Lily–of–the–valley tighter. My wolf had never awakened.
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Even after passing the usual shifting age. It was something people whispered about.
Something they used to label me broken. Weak.
Powerless.
But that didn’t mean I was nothing.
“I mean,” one girl added, “do you seriously think Kyle would choose a girl who can’t shift as his Luna? How will she protect the pack? Or even bear an Alpha’s power?”
My fingers curled so hard around the stems that a thorn pricked my flesh. Pain. But it kept me silent, as always.
None of them knew the truth.
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And I wasn’t allowed to reveal it–not yet.
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“Stop it.” A deep, stern voice broke through the air like thunder. We all turned.
Casper, the pack’s Beta and Kyle’s closest friend, was walking towards us.
He took in the frozen stares, especially the girls, and growled. “Get to work. Now. If I see you wasting time again, I’ll report it to Alpha Dion personally.”
The girls scattered like leaves in the wind.
Casper turned to me, his expression softening. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. I’m used to it.”
He frowned at that. “You shouldn’t be. Kyle
should’ve made this public already. They
wouldn’t dare say a word if they knew who you
really are.”
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I gave a soft laugh. “He said he’ll tell everyone tonight. It’s going to change.”
Casper’s silence lingered for a moment,
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uncertain. Then he spotted the flowers. “You went to the valley again?”
“They’re his favorite,” I whispered, lightly touching the petals.
He gave me an encouraging smile. “Then he’s lucky to have someone like you.”
As Casper turned and jogged away, I felt warmth bloom in my chest. Casper was one of the few who knew Kyle and I were mates.
My parents knew too, but other than that, no one -not even the girls who mocked me daily.
Their cruel words wouldn’t matter after tonight.
I moved quickly through the pack house, trying to beat the setting sun.
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The soft hum of music played in the distance- the sound of drums being tested near the banquet area.
Light flickered from lanterns being lit across trees and pillars.
But as I passed by a guest room, a strange sound made me pause.
Moaning.
I blinked.
It wasn’t soft or subtle. It was intense. Loud. Unapologetic.
A door just down the hall was slightly ajar. The sounds came from there–grunts, gasps, and the unmistakable rhythm of bodies colliding in passion.
I don’t know why I walked closer. Maybe I was curious. Maybe something deep inside warned
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- me.
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My body moved on its own, the flowers still clutched in my arms like a forgotten dream.
I pushed the door slightly, pressing my eye to the
gap.
And everything inside me shattered.
Kyle.
On top of her.
Moving with urgency. Moaning her name.
“Jenika…” he groaned. “Fuck, baby, come for me.”
That name seared through my skull like a
dagger.
Jenika.
My sister.
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I froze there, a statue holding a bouquet of
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betrayal. They didn’t see me. They couldn’t hear the bones cracking inside my heart.
But I couldn’t stop myself.
I shoved the door open. “Kyle?!”
Their bodies froze, tangled beneath the sheets. He jumped up, throwing a towel around his waist while Jenika scrambled for a shirt–his shirt.
“Irina?” His voice cracked. “What are you doing here?”
I didn’t respond. My eyes locked on the woman beside him.
My sister.
Tears burned, slipping down my cheeks. “Why?”
“Irina–listen–it’s not what it looks like.”
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I laughed. A harsh, broken sound. “Not what it
looks like? Then tell me what it is! You two
were…?!”
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“Irina, calm down-” Jenika started.
“Don’t you dare!” I snapped, stepping back. “You
knew he was mine.”
Voices echoed behind me as more people
arrived.
Kyle’s parents. My so–called parents. I didn’t turn
around.
“She’s not lying?” I heard Luna’s voice.
“He’s my mate!” I screamed.
“Irina, please,” Kyle walked toward me, reaching out. “It was a mistake. A distraction. But it didn’t
mean anything.”
“You love her?” I choked out.
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Kyle looked at Jenika, then back at me. “Yes. I
do.”
