Evangeline jolted awake with a gasp, her breath caught in her throat like she'd just escaped a nightmare. Her eyes darted around in confusion, panic tightening her chest. The familiar walls came into view, and she realized she was in her room.
Fortunately, the unbearable heat was gone. Not subdued, not restrained, but miraculously gone.
The aftereffects would torture her for days — that was inevitable — but right now, for the first time in forever, she didn't feel like a ticking bomb. No raging fire in her blood. No maddening hunger. Just silence. Just... peace. She felt normal, like any other wolf.
And then, the memories came crashing down.
"Holy shit!" Evangeline shrieked, slapping a hand over her mouth. Her face flushed beet red, a warmth spreading through her veins. Did she... kiss him? Did she actually kiss the man she had rejected?! How embarrassing!
She was fucking insane!
Evangeline tried to remember what happened next, but nothing came. Just black. A complete void. Her mind refused to cooperate, as if protecting her from a crime she didn't mean to commit.
Was it just a nightmare? But the shirt clinging to her body said otherwise.
Her third-chance mate turned out to be her first mate. The one she had rejected?!
"What kind of messed-up cosmic joke is this?" she muttered.
Why had they been mated again? More importantly, why the hell did the rejection not work this time?
It was supposed to. It always did. Rejection broke bonds, even fated ones. That was the rule. The law of the Moon Goddess. It worked for everyone. So why not them?
Her eyes fell on her bruised hand, treated and wrapped in a new bandage. Even her other wounds had been cleaned and dressed with care, like she was something precious. Did he… treat her?
"Lina, are you awake?" Dylana's voice snapped her out of her spiral.
"Move away!" a sharper voice followed. Then the door clicked open without her permission.
Evangeline stood quickly, only to find Merry—her nanny—and Dylana walking in.
If there was anyone who still cared about her, it was this old woman. Both she and Dylana had always believed that her brother Samuel Raymore's death was fate's fault, not hers.
"Oh my god!" Merry gasped, eyes fixed on the shirt Evangeline wore. She turned sharply to Dylana. "Do you need more proof?"
"He will tear her apart," the elder woman murmured, tears brimming in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Evangeline frowned.
"Change your clothes. Quickly!" Dylana urged. She rushed to the wardrobe and pulled out the first thing her hand touched. "We don't have time—go!" she pushed Evangeline into the bathroom.
It must be her father again. Alpha Graham. Furious, raging, ready to tear her apart for breaking the bond with Johan. Evangeline thought, already dreading the storm awaiting downstairs.
After losing his son, her father had pinned all his hopes on her second-chance mate. And when it turned out to be Johan Delorix—his beta's son—he had practically celebrated. That was the first time he'd smiled at her again after Sam's death.
Johan's coronation was set for the next full moon. But now, with their bond shattered, he could no longer ascend. According to the law, no wolf could become Alpha without a mate by their side. And the pack would fall into chaos again, everyone scrambling for power, for the Alpha seat.
Evangeline sighed as she changed into the new clothes. She quickly washed her face and stepped out.
"Deny everything they say," Merry whispered, grabbing her hand tightly. Her voice trembled. "We'll cover for you."
Dylana nodded, clinging to her hand.
Evangeline blinked in confusion but nodded anyway. She braced herself for the storm—unaware that hell had broken loose. The trap was set. She had walked right into it last night, and her enemies were already celebrating.
As they reached the hall, Evangeline saw a few elders seated on the couch, their faces tight with rage. Her father sat on his usual chair, Beta Fredrick Delorix beside him. Healer Jasmine was there too, with her daughter Vallienne, and Johan by her side.
The moment Evangeline stepped in, her father's eyes locked onto her like lasers. He crossed the room in a few long strides and—
Pak!
The sound of the slap echoed through the entire pack house.
Evangeline staggered, and Dylana caught her just in time.
Pak!
A second slap echoed, harder than the first. She clutched her fists, bracing for more. She was used to this.
Vallienne flinched where she stood, hiding behind her mother while the elders let their Alpha do whatever he wanted.
"Where were you last night?"
"She returned before midnight, Master," Merry jumped in quickly. "She went straight to bed."
"Yes! I brought her home!" Dylana added, shivering under Graham's gaze.
"Oh, stop covering for this whore." Vallienne sneered. "She doesn't deserve your kindness."
"Where were you last night?" Graham asked again.
Evangeline bit the inside of her cheek, tears stinging her eyes. Her right cheek was red, throbbing in pain, but the fact that it was her father still hurt the most. She should've gotten used to it by now but the child inside her cried, every damn time.
"Vallienne stole my meds. I was at university, got attacked by rouges and-" Evangeline paused. If Graham found out who she met next, he'd lose it. He loathed Ezaar, and so did she, for all the rightful reasons.
"And had a blast with them?" Vallienne cut in with a vicious grin.
Evangeline frowned, and her father growled again. "Explain this filth." Beta Fredrick quickly handed over the tablet, which Graham shoved into Evangeline's face.
The screen played a grainy video, her, half-clothed, pinned under a shadowy figure. The image was hazy, but the voices were clear and loud.
[Breaking News: Lunaris Pack's Scandalous Lune-To-Be]
Countless articles followed the news, and the internet was quick to jump on the tea.
Evangeline's heart dropped as her lewd moans filled the hall. Her hands clenched to her sides.
Did he…? A tremor ran through her, her stomach churning.
She scoffed inwardly. What could she expect from that bastard? Be a gentleman and drop her off at her doorstep?
Evangeline was sure he must have shot and posted it himself, considering how his face was blurred. But she couldn't completely blame him as she was the one who initiated it.
But something wasn't right. If they really had slept together, then why wasn't she feeling anything? No soreness. No scent of him on her skin. No… violation.
"You should've stayed in your room, Eve," Healer Jasmine said softly, disappointed. "This month's heat was wilder than ever. I warned you about it."
"And why did you accept the rejection?" Fredrick added, siding with his son. "He was angry. You should've waited for him to calm down. He would've come to you."
Evangeline scoffed. Instead of scolding his son for publicly humiliating her, they were blaming her. Everyone's eyes were filled with disgust, agreeing with him.
"You humiliated me, Eve." Johan spat, his voice hurt. "How could you cheat on me with a pack of rogues?"
Evangeline looked at him, her blood boiling. "Cheat?" she let out a short, bitter laugh.
"Did you forget? You rejected me first, Johan. I don't belong to you anymore!" she spat the truth. "And its none of your fucking business what I do with my body!"
Thud!
Graham hit her again, with so much force that Evangeline fell to the ground. Merry and Dylana rushed to help her sit up, but the others only sneered. She deserved it for that petty attitude.
"Seriously, you don't deserve a father like him," Vallienne added fuel to the fire. "Uncle Graham kept you alive, forgiving your sins. You killed his wife, then his son, and you want to keep hurting him more?!"
Evangeline gritted her teeth but said nothing. She was right. Her mother and brother were dead because of her. No amount of denial would erase the void she'd created in her father's heart.
"She's a disgrace to our pack," one elder muttered.
"Kicking her out is the only way to save our pack's name." Another added. "It'll be a message to the younger generation not to be reckless."
Everyone agreed to it. Evangeline would set an example of what they shouldn't do and keep them disciplined.
Graham took in a deep breath. He looked down at his daughter on the ground, her head lowered in shame.
"Prepare for the execution," he said flatly, shocking even the coldest hearts in the room.
"For bringing shame to our pack, for breaking your heat vows, and for betraying the mark of Luna-to-be, Evangeline Raymore will be executed this Friday." Graham declared, his voice loud and clear.
"And if anyone dares to help her flee… they'll be massacred without mercy." Graham's gaze fell coldly on Dylana before he turned and walked out.
Gasps followed. Merry broke into sobs while the elders murmured among themselves. Vallienne almost laughed in victory, and Johan could barely hide his smirk. They had only wanted her to be exiled, but this was even better. It was perfect!
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A/N: Welcome to my new book! There's gonna be loads of twists and turns, new layers to the werewolf tropes you have already read, so get ready with your popcorn >.< If you liked it so far, don't forget to add it to your library, donate some votes and gifts <3