Once Upon a Broken Moon: The Alpha King is my Second Chance Mate

"You're a crazy bitch-how dare you do that to an Alpha's daughter?!" Elodie whined as she stood up and straightened her dress. She made sure everyone heard her.

I held my chin high. "You may be the Alpha's favorite daughter, but I'm an Alpha's daughter nonetheless-even when that said Alpha also despises me." I threw my father a knowing glance. He narrowed his eyes at me.

"ENOUGH!" A voice that rattled the glasses entered our arising drama.

I almost forgot the fact that wherever Elodie is, Alpha Gregor is always there. Of course, he'll be in the Alpha Ball: he's the Alpha of the Fireheart Pack, not to mention he's Elodie's fiancé.

"Oh hi, Alpha Gregor. Or should I say, good evening to you 'my mate who rejected me'." I fluttered my eyelashes at him and paired it with a sickly sweet smile.

"You've been stalking me, aren't you?" The Alpha clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. "That's why you're here, Evadne. You're obsessed with me. The likes of you never understand that no one in this world wants you."

I narrowed my eyes at his accusation. He only devilishly grinned and ran a hand on his hair.

"You're free to throw whatever insult at me, Greg. I don't care." I sneered, "I no longer even think of you nor the fact that you still exist."

"Whatever you do, you'll never have me back," he said with unabashed pride.

"And why would I want spoiled goods returned to me?" I countered, flipping my unbound hair. Elodie and Alpha Marcus of the Moonflame Pack, my father, growled behind me in warning. "I'm stronger now, Alpha Gregor. Why would I want the prince when I can have the king?"

His mouth quirked to the side, ignoring the truth I just hurled at him. "Only Elodie is strong enough to be my Luna, Evadne. She's always the stronger between the two of you, and you're always the one to be easily crushed!"

Elodie and Alpha Marcus giggled behind me, lifting their wine glasses in cheers. Everybody now stopped to stare and watch us. Even the heavenly music ceased and is now replaced with the guests' intense gaze.

This year's Alpha Winter Ball is going to be much more...entertaining.

"If what you say is true, then why not try crushing me here and now?" I challenged him. "Surely the Alphas and Lunas won't mind being entertained by your fragile hands tonight, Alpha Gregor." I gestured to the people around us.

Wicked delight gleamed in those green eyes as if he had always hoped this moment would come-the time when he could show how embarrassed he was to have me as a mate. Or former mate, for that matter. To show everyone why he rejected me and he deserved someone stronger.

Well, I'm no longer the weak and battered Evadne. I now belong to the Alpha King-even if our hearts refused to cooperate.

"Fine, bitch. Just don't come crying at me again to save you." Then Alpha Gregor lunged for me with his signature attack. But I, being trained by the Alpha King's pack...he didn't expect that I was faster than him now.

My hands wrapped on his wrist. His eyes widened at my speed. I didn't waste any time and snapped it once.

He yelled in pain as soon as the sound of his bones crunching reverberated. I stomped on his foot and smashed his toe without remorse.

"Who's the one easily crushed now?" I let my sarcastic tone echo deep in his bones. "Your unfaithfulness deserves to be rewarded. But don't worry, I'll let you walk out of this Alpha Winter Ball with enough bones to bury on your grave."

My former mate threw a punch using his other unbroken hand. It hit my shoulder. I stumbled backward for a heartbeat and stifled a cry of pain. In retaliation, I attacked his groin with a mighty kick and it sent him on the ground a few feet from where I was, holding on to the thing between his legs.

It seems he won't be able to use that favorite part of his for a few days.

I smirked. Everyone murmured and whispered at my much more powerful aura now. I was exuding predatorial grace with ease just like Alpha King Kallias.

I glanced behind me and Elodie and Marcus were only watching me intently as if gathering their strength and waiting for the right time to come and meet my fists.

"You're doing great," Mara praised.

Alpha Gregor chuckled. The bastard still stands. "Is that all you can brag? You must really be upset that I rejected you in front of the whole Moonflame Pack that you beat the shit out of me now in front of an audience."

"Maybe I should thank you, Alpha Gregor," I cooed. "If you did not reject me, I'll never meet my second-chance mate, which by the way is stronger and more powerful than any of you."

The eyes of the Alphas and Lunas widened. "Only the Alpha King is more powerful than any of us," said one of them, confusion evident on his face.

I tilted my head to the side. "Oh? Why, thank you for realizing that he is more powerful than any of you."

Alpha Gregor wiped his tears with the back of his hand. He's fucking crying now, and I could've rolled on the ground laughing if he didn't shot right to his feet, eager to strike at me again-

A shattering growl, like a thunder heralding its presence amid a winter storm, splintered the silence.

He always likes dramatic entrances. It was the same growl from that night when we met in the battlefield of the Blackwind Pack.

"It's the Alpha King!" one of the Alphas exclaimed. Gregor's face was alarmed by the His Majesty's sudden arrival.

Alpha King Kallias was in his signature silver attire and blue cape. His hair was smoothened and combed appropriately as if the trace of Beta Elise's fingers earlier while kissing him had vanished.

One second, Alpha King Kallias was standing ten paces from mine. The next, his hand was now around Alpha Gregor's neck. The poor Alpha didn't even have time to draw breath as he began choking.

"She is mine," Alpha Kallias growled. "SHE IS MINE!" My mate announced to all of them, to all of us.

My second-chance mate threw a knowing glance at my direction. I returned it with a blush and bit my lower lip. "Thank you," I mouthed the words voicelessly, even though I knew he would never reciprocate my feelings.

Eighteenth birthdays aren't supposed to be a shitshow. But in my case, it fucking was.

In our werewolf country, it has always been winter. But somehow, we learned to live with the cold. It started ever since the Alpha King sat on his throne. Every Alpha King in every generation, they are free to choose which season will rule for the rest of their reign. Winter was what the current Alpha King chose. Cold, lifeless, pale. I'm not surprised.

Today, I just met my wolf, Mara. She's a fierce white wolf with turquoise eyes ringed with gold. Though I'm happy I met her, I cannot feel any more than this feeling of happiness other than an obligation as an Alpha's youngest daughter.

"Give a round of applause to my little princess, everyone!" Everybody in the pack looked up at me with smiles and awe as soon as my father brought me to his little stage.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Evadne!" Every single one of them hurled their birthday greetings at me. I should feel happy. I should feel thankful.

But deep down, I still feel lost. I feel like some pig to be slaughtered at her own birthday party.

"Smile," my father, Alpha Marcus of the Moonflame Pack, ordered. I did right away.

My father never smiled at me throughout the night. Not even once. These are all just a part of his duty as an Alpha. He's just compelled to do all of this. He never did anything with a heart when it concerned me.

He may sound gentle to everyone else, but he was never gentle to me.

"You're a useless piece of shit!" I can still remember his words last night, echoing in every inch of my mind and every fiber of my soul. The sound of his whip cracking in the air and landing on my back and the back of my thighs was an excruciating pain that I taste every time he's drunk. Even when he was not drunk, I still did.

"Be useful tomorrow and dress nicely. Be like your sister, Evadne. Be like Elodie tomorrow." He still dared to gulp a glass of whiskey even when he was holding the silver-tipped whip on his other hand. "You know what happens when you disobey and displease me, don't you?" He caressed my hair, ignoring my whimpering. The relentless streaming of my raging tears made me just bite my lip and nod submissively.

"Yes, fa-I mean yes, Alpha."

Evadne, the petite Princess of the Moonflame Pack. That's his mocking nickname to me. Even my elder sister, Elodie, calls me that ridiculous nickname.

I rubbed both of my hands to warm my palms. I held up my chin high and smoothened the skirt of my bluish silver dress when everyone clapped. In the moonlight, I look as if the moon herself came down and beamed at everyone.

My birthday venue was a glittering winter wonderland. The tables themselves are made from ice, white or silver is the common motif and what was worn by most of the pack.

I was shining, as beautiful as the Moon Goddess' face. My friends always tell me that I'm lucky to have everything. If only they knew what happens behind closed doors. If only they bear witness to my day-to-day suffering or the still-fresh wounds etched in my moon-white skin, covered by thick layers of fabric to hide from everyone's sight. Alpha Marcus made sure of that.

A long-sleeve dress that reaches the floor was my armor tonight, my head and my hands are the only ones that aren't covered in this shimmering dress. A perfect unbroken doll to be displayed, that's what I was tonight.

Whereas my sister, Elodie...she was wearing a sleeveless metallic red knee-length dress with an exposed back and front. Her cleavage could slap anyone who dared stare at it for too long.

Though both of us knew I was always the more beautiful and sexier one, my father and sister made sure that no one knew that.

I was suffocated in this dress while Elodie, on the other hand, could breathe freely in her provocative attire. I think that my father made sure I would never be able to move with carefree tonight by letting me wear this birthday mess of a dress.

I can understand why my family hates me, but I don't understand why they have to hate me every single fucking minute. My mother died when she gave birth to me. And since then, they blamed me. Perhaps it was the Fate Goddess who decided to take my mother as early as that age. But no, my sister and father never think of that. They just see me as the sole one to be blamed for her death.

Sometimes, I think they just fucking hate me and my mother's death is just their excuse to hate me more. Like I'm just disposable anytime and worthless all the time because of something I unknowingly did.

Even when I'm celebrating a birthday, I still feel empty and hollow.

And I guess that no matter how many birthdays I celebrated, I have to live with this pain and burden for the rest of my life.

***

The round of greetings to pack elders, Betas, and other pack officials has finally ended.

And here I am, back to my lonely self. Back to my castle of solitude.

I scanned the faces of my pack as I dined and drink, and then ate again. I'm growing bored, yes. But then something-someone caught my attention.

There, in a far corner next to a dancing female couple, a striking male with snowy hair and blue eyes caught me staring. At first, I was just gazing at nothing. But then he becomes the sight to behold. He was handsome. His face doesn't look pale though. It was a perfect shade of brown, like he bathed under the summer sun enough before the whole country become eternally winter.

He stares back at me, but he was too far for me to make of his expressions. I tilted my head to the side. He did the same.

"Evadne...This is Mara." I stood up straight immediately when my wolf whispered to me. I tore my eyes away from the male.

"Our mate is near," her voice was full of excitement. "Let us look for him."

I walked from my seat and found myself looking for someone I did not know amid the sea of laughter and dancing. Nevertheless, I kept walking and walking and walking.

"Keep searching!" Mara exclaimed. Five minutes have passed and my feet are on the verge of giving up. "Evadne, he is near. He is here-"

A pair of green eyes met my blue eyes. Everything, even the ones around us, seems to freeze. Time stopped itself. It was only me and him at this very moment. But what amazed me more was the owner of those eyes. My mate.

My mate, the first person who will finally love me truly.

Our eyes kept on gazing at each other's souls. None of us dare to break that stare.

He was handsome in his plain white shirt and ripped jeans. His black ruffled hair, as if a woman held on tight on it while having sex, turned me on.

Mara was howling, jumping in all the corners of my mind.

"Mate," I whispered-more like gasped-as he stopped where the moonlight struck his face, making him look more ethereal.

He stepped one foot forward as if to get closer to me. But Alpha Gregor of the Fireheart Pack froze mid-step upon inhaling my scent. His face was kind and tame, his eyes were curious as they studied me.

My dream of finding a worthy mate and escaping this living hell is over. I knew it the moment my mate approached with a polite smile on his face.

"Mate," he breathed.

For the first time in eighteen years, seeing my mate in person finally brought genuine joy to my lonely heart.

"You must be Evadne, Alpha Marcus's younger daughter."

"Alpha Greg," I curtsied with a graceful bow and a warmer smile as I uttered the nickname that everyone calls him. "I've never thought you'd be my mate, although I heard a lot about you."

"I could say the same to you," he reached for my hand and kissed it.

Though he lowered both of our hands, Alpha Greg didn't let go of mine.

I stroked the back of his hand with my thumb. "I'll be the best mate and best Luna to you, Alpha Gregor."

"I know you will..." Then swept me in a romantic dance. Alpha Greg was holding my waist tightly and I held my grip on his shoulder and other hand. The music was so mesmerizing like I was dancing to the melody of my dreams. Finally, I can escape and breathe and live with the love of my life.

Mara is rejoicing inside me too. She was howling with joy. I bet my Alpha mate's wolf is feeling the same.

"You're so much more beautiful up close, Eva..." my mate placed a couple of strands of hair behind my ear. "I think I can see why your father has kept you hidden for long."

And beaten. Not only did Alpha Marcus keep me hidden, but he made sure I always tasted the might of his punches or the power of his kicks on my face or stomach every single day.

"Let's run away tonight."

He chuckled, "It's too early for that. Let's enjoy your birthday party."

We danced and waltzed and moved to the rhythm of the vivacious music, Alpha Gregor and I throwing each other a knowing glance every few minutes.

After a couple of rounds of dancing, my mate lowered his head. Time froze again. His lips were about to brush my mouth in a kiss when someone called out his name.

I blinked, and the party and music around us came to life again as if our frozen moments had ended. "You know, Alpha Greg. I have always hoped that one day, my mate will be able to save me from this hell. And now that you're here, I think you already did it-"

"Greg!" Someone called out his name again. "Greg! Greg!" A sharp sweet voice sounded behind me. A woman with wavy blonde hair and bright blue eyes same as mine rushed to my mate.

Alpha Gregor immediately let go of me and cleared his throat, straightening himself.

"Elodie," he immediately met her lips. They kissed passionately as if I, his mate, wasn't there.

My sister only recognized that I was there when she noticed my bluish silver dress-a stark contrast to her metallic red dress.

"Evadne!" My sister chirped, linking his arms to Alpha Gregor. My nose flared at her casual touch. "I'm glad you finally met my boyfriend-and fiancé-Alpha Gregor of the Fireheart Pack."

I said nothing. All I can say is nothing. I'm speechless, utterly fucking speechless and stupid to believe that my dream of escaping will one day come true. That dance minutes ago was nothing for Greg. It was just like being high to him. It felt as if I'm not important to him even when I'm his fucking mate.

Just when I thought I could escape this hellhole, I was pushed by Elodie again-who sent me straight plunging deeper into this shithole.

I swallowed down the embarrassment and disappointment like I always do.

Elodie said more about my birthday, the party, where she got her dress. But it was all inaudible to me. I hear none of it and just let my hatred take over-especially when it seems my mate has no plan to tell my sister about what's between us.

Elodie flipped her hair, "You know what, Greg? Eva got her dress inspired by that childhood princess she usually reads at bedtime. What an idi-"

"He's my mate!" I blurted out without a second thought. Both of them froze as if astounded to hear a dead wolf speak all of a sudden. "Alpha Gregor of the Fireheart Pack is my mate, Elodie."

I swallowed and inhaled deeply, preparing my cheek for a mighty slap.

But there was no slap. Instead, a maniac laughter invaded my ears.

"Oh really? Dream on, Evadne. No one gives a shit in this pack that Alpha Greg is your mate-nor do they care if you have a fucking mate. But you will never be able to take him away from me. As long as I'm alive, as long as Alpha Marcus is alive, you never will."

Anger is now bright on her face, painting her eyes with pure rage and fury.

"Then perhaps I just have to kill both of you," I joked and choked on a laugh.

But it only made Elodie angry even more and this time, a slap finally hit me. When I looked her straight in the eye, she finished me off with another slap on the other side of my face.

"Reject her, Greg," she pleaded to my mate. She used her begging voice, the same voice she uses to our father when she wants something taken away from me-and paired it with her fake crying. "REJECT HER, PLEASE!"

I can't believe she really did that in front of me. My sister being my ultimate rival with Alpha Gregor...I guess I stand no chance at all.

Greg's ethereal face of a mate earlier instantly melted away into an uncaring male who's secretly a monster.

"Evadne..." The way his voice instantly shifted from being polite to being stern is insane. "I, Alpha Gregor of the Fireheart Pack, reject you, Evadne, youngest daughter of Alpha Marcus of the Moonflame Pack."

Mara screamed in pain and I fell to the ground with a haunting thud. By the look on his face, his wolf is hurting too. I have no choice, rejecting him will save me from my father's whip and sister's further belittling. "I, Evadne, youngest daughter of Alpha Marcus of the Moonflame Pack, accept your rejection, Alpha Gregor of the Fireheart Pack."

And when I finished those words, I rolled to the ground, shrieking in pain. Thrashing like someone being burned alive. It hurts so much, not just by the rejection but also by the greatest betrayal of my family.

I looked into Elodie's eyes and gave her the most furious glare. "I will kill you," I mouthed voicelessly.