Chapter 2 Moonridge Betrayal

Alaina

"What the hell..." I choked out, again and again, tears streaming down my cheeks like they'd never stop.

My wolf, Edith, was silent but restless, as if caged. My own heart, though bruised, still beat. I just wished it wouldn't.

"Is this real?" My voice cracked as I stared at Freya and Cole Thornton. "No... it can't be. But it is. How could you both do this to me?" The agony bled from my voice in front of the entire pack, but I didn't care who was watching.

Freya stood with those wide, unblinking eyes, like she was playing innocent. I could see straight through her. I stepped closer.

"Tell me!" My voice trembled, fury and betrayal lacing every word.

Freya lowered her gaze, guilt flickering across her features.

"Cole..." My eyes locked onto him. "Why?"

His lips parted, and with a calm that shattered me even more, he said, "Yes."

Freya glanced at him with newfound boldness, as though that one word had set her free. A ripple of shock surged through the pack. Even the Beta and Gamma looked as if they'd been hit by lightning.

They tried to intervene, but I lifted a hand. I didn't need saving.

"W-why-"

"It's a misunderstanding, Alaina!" Freya cried suddenly, clutching her chest like it pained her. "You know I would never... please just calm down."

Her words rang hollow. They bounced off the walls of my disbelief. I stared at her, the woman I once called sister, and everything inside me screamed.

"You were my best friend," I whispered, then shouted, my voice breaking. "My best friend!"

Freya bit her lip, pretending to be broken, but I saw through it. I raised my hand to slap her, to knock that performance off her face, but Cole caught my wrist.

"Stop it, Alaina," he said softly.

I shook my head, the pain unbearable. "I don't care what anyone thinks right now!"

I tried to push him away, but he wouldn't let go. People were standing now, watching, murmuring.

"Alaina, don't," Cole said, his tone darkening. "If you want to hurt someone, hurt me. Not her."

"And you have the audacity to say that to my face?" I spat.

"She's pregnant. She needs to be cared for!" he snapped, voice rising as he raked his hands through his hair.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "If you love me... then let us be. I'm tired of waiting for something you can't give. I've never been happy, Alaina. Not with you."

The world spun. His words pierced deeper than claws.

Around me, whispers turned venomous.

"Poor Luna."

"Maybe she was never good enough."

I stepped back, numb. Cole's eyes held mine, unreadable, like everything we'd shared meant nothing.

Freya clutched her stomach like she expected me to attack again.

I turned and ran.

Their stares burned into my back. Laughter, pity, shock but I didn't care. My lungs screamed, but I didn't stop until I reached my quarters.

Once inside, I collapsed on the bed and sobbed until I could barely breathe. My arms wrapped around my knees, rocking back and forth like I could undo it all, unhear, unsee, unlove.

This... this is what betrayal felt like.

A soft voice cut through the haze. "Luna...?"

I looked up, vision blurred. Grace.

She rushed to my side, brown eyes shining with concern, and pulled me into her arms without a word. I leaned into her, finally letting go.

"I'm so sorry they did this to you," she murmured.

"What did I do, Grace?" My voice trembled. "Why would they-?"

She gently lifted my face. "You did nothing wrong. They're the ones who failed you."

"But if I haven't done anything wrong, why did Freya betray me? Why did Cole, my mate, give up on me?"

Her eyes glistened. "Because they're cowards. Because he couldn't see your worth, and she never knew how to be loyal. You don't exist to complete someone else's life, Alaina. You are not broken because he couldn't love you."

Her voice was the anchor I needed. Her words filled the space where my heart had caved in.

"I despise them both," she whispered, holding me tighter.

I closed my eyes and whispered, "You're right. I don't need to keep begging to be loved. That's not me. Not anymore."

Later, as Grace left and silence settled around me, I spoke aloud to Edith, my wolf.

"He's not the mate I deserve. And I won't stay. I'll give up the Luna title. I'll leave the Moonridge Pack behind."

My heart hardened with that silent vow.

Sleep pulled me under soon after, but even in my dreams, the betrayal lingered like a scar.

---

The Next Morning

"What the hell happened!?" I bolted upright, my eyes darting around the wreckage of my room.

Furniture overturned. My clothes scattered. And guards - three of them - standing motionless at the door.

"Get out!" I ordered, but they didn't move.

Then Cole stormed in, eyes wild.

"You're disgusting, Alaina!" he shouted, grabbing me and slamming me against the wall.

Pain shot through my back.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" I cried, struggling.

"You're the reason Freya lost the baby!" he roared.

The words punched the air from my lungs.

"What?! I didn't-!"

"You were jealous! Spiteful!" His voice was venom. "I could never love a woman like you!"

Tears stung, but I held my ground. "Even after what she did, I would never hurt an innocent child!"

He sneered. "I'm done with your lies, Alaina."

Before I could respond, the guards moved. Cold metal clamped around my wrists.

My breath caught.

This... this wasn't just betrayal anymore.

This was exile.