Fated to the Alpha's Deception

I numbly turned off my phone. My pale arms were marred with bruises from countless needle marks. Staring at my reflection in the dark screen, I looked ghostly and frail. Was it all just a figment of my imagination?

The screen flickered again, revealing the smug face of Rayne James, who bore an uncanny resemblance to me. Eight years ago, Rayne’s parents arrived at the Silver Moon Pack’s territory with a paternity test in hand, claiming to be my father’s long-lost brother and his wife. My grandparents had always been concerned about their missing son, and finding him had been my father’s lifelong hope.

Seeing how much Rayne resembled me, my father was nearly convinced. Once the pack’s Healer performed another DNA test, they were promptly welcomed into the pack. From then on, Rayne became the darling of the James family, climbing her way out of her Omega status and into favor.

But from the moment I laid eyes on her, there was a clear hostility in her gaze. Whatever I possessed, she had to have, and whatever she couldn’t obtain, she made sure I lost as well. When my performance during pack training surpassed hers, she sabotaged my equipment, leaving me humiliated in front of the warriors. I was chosen to lead the annual pack gathering, but she wasn’t—so she destroyed the ceremonial robe I’d painstakingly prepared the night before the event. I constantly stepped back to prevent my father from being caught in the middle.

Yet when rogue werewolves attacked, Rayne deliberately revealed my hiding spot, leading to my parents’ tragic deaths as they tried to protect me. Afterwards, my uncle twisted the story, accusing me of luring the rogues and endangering Rayne, resulting in my parents’ downfall. They took over everything our family owned and forced me out of the pack’s leadership council.

I had confided all this to Alpha Layton Ortiz, yet he dismissed my words as nothing but spiteful lies. The screen blinked again, showing fresh notifications.

"Alpha Layton, I’ve changed the password to our shared private account. Please make a note of it."

My breath caught as I shakily entered the new password. A new screen emerged, displaying Alpha Layton’s heartfelt and fervent affection for Rayne. In every photo he took of her, whether she was weeping, angry, or joyful, she shone brilliantly. From the first day Rayne entered the pack, Alpha Layton had quietly observed her.

Never once did I doubt his loyalty over the years, but the truth now hit me like a ton of bricks. This was the man I had treasured, the Alpha who had saved me from the rogues, the one I believed would one day mark me as his Luna. Tears spilled onto the screen, leaving trails of sorrow across my face.

A sickly sweet voice interrupted my thoughts. "Sister, is what you’re looking at enjoyable?"

I looked up to see Rayne standing in the doorway, her smirk as sharp as a predator’s fang. Her scent—a sickeningly sweet blend of vanilla and deceit—filled the room, overpowering my own floral one. She stepped closer, her eyes glinting with triumph.

"Does it hurt," she purred, "to see him choosing me over you? After all, I’m the one who fits the role of Luna better, don’t you think?"

I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring within me, a low growl forming in the back of my mind. But I held it back, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. Instead, I straightened my spine, meeting her gaze with a coldness that surprised even myself.

"You’ll never be Luna," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "No matter how much you manipulate or deceive, the Moon Goddess sees the truth. And one day, Alpha Layton will too."

Her smirk faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "We’ll see about that," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "But for now, enjoy the view, sister. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to him."

She turned on her heel and strode out of the room, leaving me alone with the shattered pieces of my heart. My wolf whimpered softly, a fragile echo of the pain I refused to let surface. I clutched the phone tighter, the screen now dark, but the images burned into my mind.

One day, I vowed silently, the truth will come out. And when it does, I’ll be free of you both.