Chapter 1 The Beginning

Aria’S POV Today was the day Darius came back. I hadn’t seen him more than a year. Ever since we got engaged, he had been away, dealing with rogue attacks. I was the first female alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, but our pack had already become part of Darius’s Eclipse Pack, and I was set to be his future Luna. While Darius was gone, I took care of everything—running Eclipse Pack, handling disputes, even looking after the old Luna, who had fallen ill. I had even dipped into the Silver Moon Pack’s years reserves to keep the Eclipse Pack afloat. Standing on the balcony, the sun’s glow cast against my skin. The pack’s mansion’s gate flung open slowly as five sedans drove through. I gazed as they came to a stop. A guard rushed to open the back seat. Darius stepped out, and just as I was about to call his name— He bent down, reaching back into the car like he was grabbing something. I curiously wondered what it was until I saw a woman’s hand touch his, and my body instantly froze. A pregnant woman! I felt my body go rigid, my shoulders tensing. What was I so bothered about? So what if he came back with a woman? She might be a business partner or something. I tried to convince myself otherwise, but a part of me told me that wasn’t the case and that it was worse than I thought. Maera; my wolf’s silence was enough answer, too. The woman was tall with dark, long hair that cascaded down her back like midnight. Even from afar, I could tell she was beautiful. I eyed their body language and noticed that Darius still had her hand in his as they exchanged a knowing smile. It felt like the butterflies fluttering in my stomach had melted, leaving a hollow space. I stepped back and went back into my room, shutting the balcony doors as I leaned against them, taking deep breaths. I stayed in my room, not bothering to leave. Whatever was happening, Darius would have to come and explain to me. He owed me that. After all, he was my fiancee. I don’t know how much time passed as I waited in bed, my fists clenching at my sides as I tried to keep my conflicting emotions at bay. The sound of my door bursting open made my heart jolt as I pulled myself off the bed. Darius stood at the entrance, and I realized someone was behind him. I recognized her as the pregnant strange woman I’d seen earlier. “Is this how you come to greet me after a year of no contact, Darius?” I bit out, my tone sharp. “With a pregnant woman?!” He motioned for the woman to stay put while he approached me. His eyes held a warmth that didn’t seem like it was meant for me. “I can explain everything,” Darius said, “Just listen.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I raised my chin. “I’m listening.” The pregnant woman just stood there, a hand on her swollen belly, but her gaze was fixated on me. There was something dark and dangerous about her gaze - something so hateful and full of obscure disdain that it unsettled me. Every nerve in my body stood on defence. “Who is she?” my tone was flat. I didn’t have the time for this. He cast his look downward before reaching for my hands, but I pulled them back like I’d been licked by flames. “Don’t touch me.” I spat as I shifted from him. “Tell her, honey… or I’ll do it myself,” the woman’s voice rang out, snarky and venomous. Honey? Darius turned back to me and sighed. “I need to mark Rina. She’s pregnant for my child,” he paused, meeting my eyes. “But I promise you’ll be my only Luna.” I scoffed, annoyance bubbling in my chest. I’d waited for a year, praying for his safety and success, and the whole time, he’d been buried balls deep in another woman. And somehow he expects me to be okay with it. When you help build a man, the moment he betrays you, he gets all the audacity in the world. I thought of everything I’d given up for him- how my bloodline’s name had made him the powerful man he was today. After I’d lost my father and my brothers to an attack, Darius had promised my mother that he’d take good care of me and make me a happy wife. He promised that he’d never love anyone else. His promise still echoed through the walls of my mind, making a mockery of the situation. ‘If I ever met my destiny mate, I’d reject her because of you.’ Yeah, right. Tears welled up in my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. Not because I was hurt, but because I thought of my mother. She’d been killed in an attack, which had wiped out my remaining bloodline. Somewhere, in paradise now, she’d think Darius had kept his promise. He’d not only betrayed me, but he’d betrayed my mother. That couldn’t be forgiven. “What about your promises?” I cried out, “They were all a lie, weren’t they?” He shook his head, a guilty look on his face, but I saw him for who he truly was - a cunning, cheating, ungrateful bastard. “Come on, Aria,” he hissed, “I always loved and treated you well. Rina is my mate. What do you suggest I do? Reject her?” I pointed my finger at his chest, meeting his eyes. “If you loved me and respected all my sacrifices, you’d reject her.” His jaw ticked in annoyance, and I could see his mask slipping off. “Yeah… like you’d reject your true mate for me,” he retorted, his voice raising slightly. Anger boiled through my veins as the realization dawned on me. He’d never truly loved me. It had been all a lie, a facade to build himself by stepping over me, and now that he’d gotten just what he wanted, he didn’t need me anymore. I never really loved him either. Our engagement had been nothing but an arrangement, one that benefited him immensely. A wave of defiance and rage surged through me, and I wiped my tears off. “I’ll keep Rina in the pack. No one will know her identity,” Darius said, taking a pause as he gazed at Rina. “I promise you won’t feel neglected. I’ll treat you both as equals.” A humorless laugh escaped me. He still made empty promises. I tried to speak when suddenly, Rina materialized beside me. She pressed her palms together and tears rolled down her eyes. “Please, Aria… let me stay here with my baby. All I want is to grow a family with Darius. I’ll be good.” She rambled, surprising me for a moment. But the deeper I looked in her eyes, I saw a cunning, cruel woman hiding underneath. She’d bring trouble. No doubt. Taking in a deep breath, I faced Darius. “There’s no need to plead. I’m done here.” I began to walk away without speaking further, but Darius grabbed my wrist and stopped me. His brows shot up as his expression turned into one of concern. “What do you mean?” “I’m breaking off our engagement,” I said, my tone flat and bored. His eyes widened. I tried to leave, but his grip tightened. “You can’t do that. Do you know what a that would do to me?” His fingers dug into my skin painfully, his desperation evident in his eyes. “I’ll lose too much.” I’d already realized that he never loved me, but his admitting that he had only used me for my wealth and name stung. “Do you really think I care what happens to you?” I spat out, my eyes narrowed, “I’m done.” I released my wrist from his grip and finally walked away from him, but as I made it to the door, Rina stood in my way. “Move!” I snapped, but she didn’t respond. Her lips curved slightly upward, giving me a creepy look, and allowing walk through. The moment I stepped out of the room, my anger burned. I’d left their midst with a goal lodged deeply in my mind. I’d take everything Darius took from me, and my family.