The Alpha's Hidden Pup and His True Luna
Chapter 2
The footsteps faded away, and no one noticed Caroline Montgomery standing behind the screen, her eyes red and swollen.
Today was her Come of Age Ceremony, a significant milestone in the werewolf world. She had slipped into her mother’s room to borrow a tube of lipstick, only to overhear a conversation that shattered the fragile illusion she had clung to for years.
The reflection in the mirror showed a young woman with perfectly applied makeup, now ruined by uncontrollable tears that streaked her cheeks.
On her head was the silver necklace Memphis Brown had given her before he left.
Years had passed, and the once-bright silver had tarnished, yet she wore it every day without fail.
When Memphis received the order to lead his pack’s warriors to the northern border—a dangerous mission—Caroline had wept for days. She even knelt outside the Lycan King’s estate, begging for the order to be revoked.
“Your Majesty, if you insist on sending him, I beg you to let me accompany him! Our Mate Ceremony is just days away. How can you…”
Memphis arrived in a rush, his eyes bloodshot.
He wrapped his cloak around her trembling frame and whispered, his voice strained, “Caroline, you’re too delicate. I can’t bear the thought of you suffering in the north.
“How could I focus on my duties if I’m worrying about you? Please, stay here and wait for me. I promise I’ll return safely, alright?”
Through her sobs, she agreed. Determined to protect him, she traveled to the Moon Goddess Temple at the edge of the territory, bowing and praying with each step. There, she received a blessed charm.
The healer told her that to ensure its power in a dangerous land, it needed to be infused with the blood of someone who loved him deeply.
So, Caroline slit her wrist, letting her blood soak the charm for nine days before sewing it into a sachet she crafted herself.
The night before Memphis left, they embraced under the moonlight.
When she tied the sachet around his neck, the wound on her wrist still throbbed, but she felt no regret.
In return, he placed the silver necklace around her neck, his voice soft but firm.
“This journey will be perilous, but this necklace carries my promise. Pure and unchanging, just like my heart.”
His eyes were sincere as he added, “When I return, we’ll hold our Mark Ceremony.”
Two years passed.
Two years of closed doors and silence from Memphis, while whispers of his closeness to his cousin, a rival, spread like wildfire. They were seen together, their bond undeniable, even expecting a child.
Caroline spent her days in the pack’s chapel, kneeling in prayer, trading her vibrant dresses for somber attire. She copied sacred texts, her once-envied status reduced to pity and mockery.
She waited, only to be met with the tarnished necklace and the news of his child.
With trembling hands, she yanked the necklace from her neck, the sharp clasp slicing her palm, leaving a deep, bleeding gash.
But the pain in her hand was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.
Her servant, Byron, returned with her dress, only to find her clutching the necklace, tears streaming down her face.
“Miss Caroline, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice panicked as he noticed the blood.
“That’s the necklace Alpha Memphis gave you. Why are you removing it now?”
Caroline collapsed into his arms, her sobs raw and unrestrained.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally pulled away, wiping her tears with shaky hands.
“Help me redo my makeup,” she said, her voice hoarse but determined. “Something that doesn’t need this necklace.”
When she emerged, dressed in a stunning gown and standing beside her brother, he couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Caroline, you look so different today. So bold, so radiant. It’s not like you, but it suits you.”
She forced a bitter smile, her heart heavy but resolute.
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