Chapter 5 The Betrayal

"How could this happen!", Karen screamed in disapproval of the painful reality before her.

A while ago, she struggled to process the bombshell her mate, Alpha Damion, had dropped on her. And now, the scene unfolding was even more heart-wrenching.

The lady Damion referred to was none other than her blood sister, Charlotte, her only friend during her confinement at the cabin in the woods. Inwardly, she questioned why Alpha Damion had to choose her of all people to mark as his Luna.

" Uhm...Karen, I can explain...," Charlotte stammered, her hands tentatively reaching for Karen's slumped shoulders.

"Explain what?!" Karen snapped, her anger escalating.

"Explain the fact that you were just marked by my mate?" Her voice cracked, tears cascading down her flushed cheeks.

"Wait a moment, what's happening here? Because I'm completely lost," Damion inquired, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"What's she talking about?" he pressed, seeking answers from his supposed Luna.

However, Charlotte opted to remain silent in response to him, instead directing her plea towards Karen.

"It's not what you think, Karen. I... I'm sorry," Charlotte admitted sheepishly, her voice tinged with regret.

"You're sorry? So this was the reason you hinted that things might take a different turn, right? It's all coming back to me now. I must have been so naive to have placed my trust in you all this while," Karen scoffed bitterly, a dry laugh escaping her lips.

Despite her outward facade of composure, inwardly, her heart seethed with resentment, though all she could manage in that moment was a bitter chuckle.

The escalating confrontation had now attracted the attention of bystanders and onlookers in the hall. Karen caught sight of her father, Alpha Adam, and Trainer Marcus attempting to navigate through the throng to reach her, their expressions a mix of concern and urgency.

However, Karen could no longer stand the unpleasant sight. Embarrassed by the whole act, Karen hastily gathered the sides of her red gown, her cheeks flushed with a mix of shame and frustration as she fled the castle, seeking solace in the somber embrace of the dark woods.

"Karen! Karen!! Come back!" Marcus's frantic cries echoed after her, but Karen paid them no heed, refusing to pause or acknowledge his desperate calls.

Alpha Adam's steely gaze bore down on his daughter, Charlotte, before he turned his attention to Damion, who stood bewildered amidst the unfolding scandal.

"I apologize for Karen's behavior, Alpha Damion," Adam began, his tone tinged with a hint of regret. "She's merely a spoiled birthday girl who found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time."

With a cold, subtle glare directed at Charlotte, he pulled her roughly."Come with me."

Charlotte winced as her father's grip tightened, his fingers digging into her arm painfully. "Dad, you're hurting me! I didn't do anything to upset Karen. I was only..."

"Save your explanations for later, young lady" Adam interjected sharply, cutting off her protests.

Leaning in closer, he whispered something into her ear that ignited a flicker of anticipation within Charlotte's eyes.

"For now, we'll address something of utmost importance that will help get you out of this mess"

Walking past the curious crowd of onlookers, Alpha Adam paused before Cullen, exchanging a subtle signal that conveyed a clear message to him. Cullen, understanding the cue, approached the discomfited shifters, clearing his throat to draw their attention.

"Alright, everyone, party's over. We've got to address this small problem," Cullen announced, his voice cutting through the murmurs and whispers, coaxing the crowd into silence.

"Until then, I urge you all to return to your homes and packs and rest for the night."

With a dismissive wave, Cullen turned and made his way back into the castle, while the murmurs of the shifters resumed once again. He could still hear them buzzing even when he shut the door behind them.

"This birthday celebration is sure to be the talk of the town," he muttered sardonically under his breath.

*****

Karen ran through the forlorn fields, her feet pounding against the earth as she sought refuge from the turmoil that churned within her. Ignoring the strain in her muscles and the ache in her heart, she pushed forward until exhaustion forced her to collapse onto the ground.

Misery washed down her pallid face which was now red from her prolonged sobbing. She could neither accept the embarrassment from Damion nor the betrayal from Charlotte, her elder sister. After what felt like an eternity of aimless wandering, Karen finally reached her sanctuary, a secluded spot where she collapsed in exhaustion.

The turmoil in her gut twisted and turned, a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil raging within her. The overwhelming urge to scream and release the pent-up pain grew stronger with each passing moment.

Unable to contain it any longer, she let out a guttural cry of despair that echoed into the emptiness around her. The weight of the lies pierced her already sorrowful heart like a thousand needles, while the betrayal had cut deep into her, shredding her trust and leaving her raw and exposed.

"Nooooo! Why me, Charlotte? Why did you have to stab me in the back?!" Karen's voice cracked with emotion as tears streamed down her cheeks, her hazel-green eyes darkening to a stormy forest green.

In a fit of anger, Karen yanked a delicate hairpin from her intricately styled auburn locks and flung it aside with a force that matched the turmoil in her soul. Her wolf, Aria, mirrored her sad mood, as both of them were left reeling from the sting of rejection-a blow no werewolf ever wished to come its way.

Despite the shimmering rays of the moon, casting slanted silhouettes upon the towering trees, Karen viewed this night as one of the worst moments of her life.

While life at the secluded cabin had been filled with its own challenges and solitude, it now seemed a sanctuary compared to the fleeting moments of luxury tainted by deceit. She wondered if this birthday celebration been orchestrated merely to shatter her heart into a million fractured pieces?

Lost in the depths of her desolation, a chilling sound pierced the eerie silence of the surrounding woods. A haunting howl reverberated through the air, followed by the ominous rustle of dry leaves being crushed beneath an unseen presence.