Chapter 1 1 The Stand-In Bride

Selena's POV

"So, you're standing here now to be my bride, and where's your sister?"

I saw my husband, Charles, as he lifted my veil. His face was stone cold, with chiseled features, and thin lips. His green eyes seemed to be burning. Although his tone was low and calm, his angry eyes revealed an incredulous look. They stabbed me like a sword and sank my heart to the bottom.

The moment finally came.

"Can anyone here tell me what the hell is going on?" Charles pulled down my veil, and I could barely breathe under his alpha-strength. I staggered back, almost falling, and the priest, who had seen the accident, held me in surprise.

Some of the guests had noticed the strange atmosphere between Charles and me, and they began to whisper. The whole wedding is sliding out of control.

Everyone is talking. I was the one to blame. The dirty words flooded into my ears.

My father was standing under the stage, and I tried desperately to look him in the eye for help. I silently shouted in my heart: "Father, please, let this farce wedding stop! Let me go, or let my sister back!"

And he told me with his lips, with his Red Moon Pack Alpha status and long-held majesty: the wedding must go on.

I looked at my father. His hands clasped the ruby scepter, the symbol of the alpha. His face was as cold and hard as ever, without expression, as if he were trying to endure something, just as he had done at the ball that day...

I felt hopeless. I knew the wedding wouldn't stop. Because the purpose of this ceremony is not to bless the newlyweds, but to unite the two packs.

..............................

Three days ago.

On the full moon, the Red Moon Ball was held as scheduled. This is our pack's tradition. When the young werewolves were 18 years old, we would hold a ball on a beautiful night and invite the young people in the surrounding pack to join us. We chat, sing, dance, and look for our fated mates.

Not every werewolf is lucky enough to find a fated mate. Some werewolves, like Stella and Charles, are engaged to each other who aren't their mates for special reasons.

The Red Moon Ball was unprecedented after it was announced that my older sister Stella was getting married to the Black Valley Pack's Alpha. Many guests from far away have come to our pack. They must have wondered why Stella Taylor, the famous beauty of Newman, married the brutal Charles Mclean.

Charles was the Alpha in the Black Valley Pack, but couldn't find a fated mate when he turned 18. Rumors about him have been floating around the pack like an undercurrent from the sea. He is said to be a bloodthirsty demon who once slaughtered a pack in one night. He is a tough and determined alpha whose throne is heaped with bones. It is said that on every full moon night, countless souls would howl around him, and his hands would show oozing blood. He was destined to be a man of sin and wickedness, and everyone said his name in a low voice.

Unlike Charles, my sister had an excellent reputation in Newman. This is mostly due to her natural beauty, curvy figure, and charming, decent social skills. She was able to get everyone's attention, remember everyone's name, and make people feel good with warm words, which ultimately made a good impression on our pack.

Everyone praised Stella as a perfect Luna candidate. I guess Charles felt the same way, so it was both surprising and understandable when Charles asked our father for a contract marriage.

But Stella was afraid and sad. "Moon goddess! I'm being watched by a demon!" Stella cried, covering her face.

Even when she was crying, she was so beautiful and adorable. She has been in low spirits these days. Until today, before the ball, she had a complete breakdown.

Because Charles's gonna be there tonight.

I comforted Stella clumsily. "Maybe Charles isn't as scary as they say. He's the Alpha of the first pack..."

Stella screamed and shook my hand off before I could finish. "Leave me alone! You're not the one marrying the devil!"

I stood still and heard her sob, "If only I were as ordinary as you..."

"What's the matter with you?" My father came to us with a ruby scepter. "Stella, wipe that weepy look off your face. The dance is about to start. Do you want to embarrass yourself in front of all the pack?"

Stella hesitated. "But father, I don't want to marry that man... the rumors about him are terrible!"

Our father was clearly losing patience. "Stella, I repeat for the last time. Those rumors were fabricated by someone who wanted to destroy Charles. When you marry him, you'll be Luna of Newman's first pack, and our Red Moon Pack's ranking will go one step further. It's a win-win."

As I listened, I suddenly realized that this marriage was not a fairy tale of "beauty and the beast", but a naked exchange of interests.

Stella's lips twitched, and she wanted to say more.

Our father's personal servant came to him, whispered something in his ear, and then slipped away. Our father stood there for a moment, thinking for a long time, and then said to us, "The Black Valley Pack has been attacked by vampires. Charles is not coming to the dance today."

Stella was relieved, and I was happy for her.

Yet our father still had no intention of letting her go. "I will officially announce Charles's engagement to you tonight, as planned."

After our father left, Stella began pacing back and forth restlessly in the living room.

"What should I do? I'm going to cancel the ball!" The bad news rattled Stella.

She was wearing a strapless nightdress, her smooth arms bare. I held her and tried to calm her down. "Stella, relax. It's a terrible idea to cancel the dance. Dad wouldn't approve it, would he?"

Stella nodded. God, her helpless look would break any werewolf's heart! "I'll help you, Stella, don't worry," I said to my sister.

I'm familiar with the ball. I chose the music, the flowers and the cutlery because Stella liked them all.

I think Stella needs my support at a time like this. I gently pulled her off the sofa, put on a relaxed expression and went upstairs with her. "Cheer up, Stella. Since Charles isn't coming, the ball is your stage tonight. Enjoy it!"

Stella dried her tears. Her mood seemed to lift a little, and she turned to give me a silent hug.

Making-up and wearing a dress had always been one of Stella's most anticipated activities, but I was somewhat resistant to them. I took off my usual clothes and put on my dress for tonight. Nothing is special to me.

I opened the door just as Stella came out of her bedroom. I have to say, even though I spend every day with her, I was amazed by her appearance tonight.

She wore the expensive white dress our father had given her, and the pearl necklace around her neck made her face as beautiful as the moon in the sky.

Stella spun around happily in front of me, and I realized that the dress was backless, with a silvery-white chain that matched the lines of Stella's back.

I said from the bottom of my heart, "Stella, you look like a white rose in full bloom tonight."

......

At the ball.

When the first dance began, Stella walked slowly down the stairs. The ground floor lobby is filled with elite werewolves from packs all over Newman. They looked at the goddess Stella, and clapped enthusiastically.

Stella walked gracefully into the crowd, greeting everyone who passed by, and deftly responding to questions about her engagement to Charles and why he hadn't shown up tonight.

That's what I admire about Stella. Fame was as important to her as life, and she would never allow herself to lose her cool in public.

Some people complimented the ball, so Stella introduced me to them as usual. "This is my sister Selena. She prepared the ball."

This guest is just like the others. He was surprised. "Oh! Selena, the ball was great. You did great!" He looked at me for a second, then at Stella and never looked at me again.

I stood by without speaking. I'm used to being ignored. Even though I did a lot of the planning for the ball, people only noticed the charming and sociable Stella.

Many people were surprised that Stella and I were biological sisters from the same mother and father. Sometimes we would even think it was amazing.

Everyone loves Stella, but few people notice me next to her. Stella has a reputation for being Newman's first beauty. Her breasts are bountiful and her hips are curvy. What about me? Plain, thin, no curves. The only advantage may be that I am tall and thin.

In the middle of the ball, several young men asked Stella to dance with them. After taking turns dancing with them, I saw Stella's face sweat a little and look a little tired. She is walking towards my table. Maybe she wants to eat something and have a rest.

As she passed the gate, a late young man came in. He was tall, taller than many of the werewolves present. He looked cold, but handsome enough.

Stella also saw the young man, but then something strange happened.

In the distance, I saw my sister shaking her head slightly and sniffing left and right. Soon, she was able to determine the source of the scent. It came from the werewolf who had just arrived at the ball.

She pounced on the young man like a butterfly and shouted excitedly, "My mate!" The young man caught Stella and felt her breath in a daze. He quickly confirmed that Stella was his mate too.

They kissed in place.

The band came to a halt, and the crowd was silent for a moment, then clamoring again.

"Who is he?"

"Oh! Poor Charles, his Luna is going to be taken away!"

"Do you smell an Alpha?"

......

When the crowd quieted down again, my father appeared, leaning on a ruby scepter. He folded his hands on the scepter and stared at Stella and the young man without saying a word.

"Father... I'm sorry, I can't resist the attraction of my mate. It's the moon Goddess's arrangement..."

"Shut up!" our father shouted. His mouth was lined with anger. He wouldn't allow anyone to sabotage his alliance plans, but Stella found her fated mate before she got married.

......

Three days later, I put on the wedding dress that the tailor didn't have time to modify. Its hemline barely covered my shoes. The dress was too big on the chest and a little empty at the waist, which made me look like a clown. What makes me even more of a joke is that I'm going to marry Alpha Charles instead of Newman's first beauty, my sister Stella.