Chapter 2 Two

APRIL'S POV

Luke's hand was stretched at May and my twin sister didn't hesitate. She slipped her hand into his, her fingers curling around his like they belonged there. Then she looked at me and smiled.

"He's mine now, April," she said sweetly, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "He deserves a real Luna."

"May, how could you—" My voice cracked while I tried to speak.

She tilted her head, her smile widening. "How could I? Luke was always mine dear sister."

Luke turned back to the crowd, his hand still holding May's. "April doesn't have a wolf. She's an abomination to this pack." His eyes flicked to my father. "Howard, make May your heir. She's the one who deserves it."

Tears burned down my cheeks as I spun toward my father, desperate for him to say something, anything at all to defend me.

It was feeling to much to be real. I was just betrayed by Luke and May, was i going to lose the title as heir too?

I looked at my father Alpha Howard Quinn but he didn't meet my eyes.

Instead, he stepped forward, took my arm, and pulled me back like I was an embarrassment he needed to hide.

"Enough, April." His voice was low, sharp filled with shame.

Then he addressed the pack.

"From this day forward, I renounce April's title as heir." His words were brutal, formal and final. "May Quinn will take her place. She will be my heir and Luna of this pack."

"Father, no!" I screamed, but my voice was drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

They cheered. They clapped. They celebrated like this was a victory.

And I realized, with sickening clarity, that to them, it was.

I stumbled backward, my legs shaking so badly I nearly fell. Stephanie caught me, her hands steadying me even as her face twisted in fury.

"April—" she started, but I couldn't hear her. Couldn't hear anything except the sound of Luke's voice as the officiant pronounced him and May husband and wife.

Alpha and Luna.

And I couldn't do a damn thing about it.

The tears came in a flood flowing down my cheek unstoppable and humiliating. I tore myself from Stephanie's grip and ran.

"April!" she called after me, but no one else did. No one even looked.

I was already gone to them and already forgotten.

I tripped on my gown, my knees slamming into the floor. Pain shot up my legs, but I shoved myself back up and kept running, shoving through the heavy doors and stumbling into the hallway.

The girls loitering outside—girls who used to pretend to respect me—burst into laughter.

"Guess she's not Luna after all."

"Did you see her face?"

I ignored them, forcing my legs to move, my lungs to pull in air that felt too thick to breathe.

By the time I reached my room, I was sobbing so hard I could barely see. I slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the bed, my hands clawing at the dress, trying to rip it off, trying to make it stop.

But it wouldn't come off. The zipper was stuck, the lace tangled, and the more I struggled, the tighter it seemed to become.

Finally, I gave up and fell back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as tears streamed silently down my face.

The full moon glowed through my window, bright and mocking.

Why? I asked the Moon Goddess silently. Why did you give me hope just to crush it? Why did you make me this way?

No answer came. Just the cold, indifferent light of the moon.

I sat up slowly, every part of me aching. I needed air. I needed to get out of this room before I suffocated.

But before I could stand, I heard footsteps in the hallway.

Then laughter. May's laughter.

"God, I thought today would never end," she said, her voice muffled but clear through the door. "Watching her stand there like a kicked puppy—pathetic."

"If you hadn't warned me, I might've actually gone through with it." Luke's voice, low and amused. "Can you imagine? Me, stuck with her?"

"She actually thought you wanted her." May's laugh was light, cruel. "My sister, the eternal optimist."

"Well, she's not our problem anymore."

The sound of fabric rustling and a soft moan filled my ears.

I should've walked away. Or better still i should've left that place.

Instead, I stood and walked to the door. My hand shook as I reached for the handle.

Then I threw it open.

They sprang apart—May's lipstick smeared across her mouth, Luke's shirt half-unbuttoned, his hand still tangled in her hair.

For one frozen moment, we all just stared at each other.

Then May smiled without feeling guilty nor sorry.

"Oh. April." She straightened her dress slowly, casually, like I'd caught her doing something as nothing wrong. "We were just… celebrating."

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My throat had closed completely.

Luke didn't even bother looking at me. He just turned back to May and kissed her again, slow and erotic, like I wasn't even there.

It was like I didn't matter on since bit.

I stumbled backward, my vision getting blur again from tear as I ran.

I ran down the hall, jumping the stairs. Anywhere but here.

I made it back to my room and locked the door behind me. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely turn the bolt.

I collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, tears drying on my face, replaced by something colder.

Tonight was supposed to be my beginning. My wedding. My birthday. The day I became someone who mattered.

Instead, it became the night I lost everything.

My mate. My title. My family. My future.

But here's the thing about hitting rock bottom—there's nowhere left to fall.

And when you've got nothing left to lose, you stop being afraid.

I was ready to take that reckless move as I cared no more but what happened next ruined me.