I rushed out of the company after Sir Jethro informed me of the shocking news-Alpha Derrick and Mona’s engagement had just been announced.
The news hit me like a punch in the gut.
As I hurried home, my mind raced with thoughts of Luna Catherine. She had pushed for this engagement, and I knew exactly why.
Luna Catherine was doing everything in her power to remove me from the pack. By speeding up the engagement between Alpha Derrick and Mona, she knew it would hurt me deeply.
It was her way of getting back at me for what had happened earlier that morning at the company.
When I arrived home, the preparations were already underway. I could see the decorations, the flowers, the buzz of people moving around. It was clear that Luna Catherine wasn’t wasting any time.
As I stepped into the house, I immediately noticed Luna Catherine and her friend, Ma’am Jade, sitting together and chatting across from each other. The sight of them made my stomach turn. Ma’am Jade’s presence only confirmed how serious they were about this engagement.
I didn’t know if I should greet them or not. My instinct was to just walk past them, but before I could make my escape, Ma’am Jade’s voice cut through the room.
“You’ve been pampered so much that you can’t even greet us!” she snapped.
I stopped in my tracks, forcing myself to turn and look at them, my head slightly lowered.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. Inside, I was fuming, but I couldn’t afford to lose my cool. Not with Ma’am Jade sitting there. She was the wife of Alpha Kelly, one of the most senior Alphas in Perth City. I couldn’t afford to disrespect her.
“You should have still greeted us,” Ma’am Jade said, her voice sharp. “Passing by like we’re nothing? Like we’re strangers?”
I clenched my fists but kept my expression calm. I didn’t want to argue, but every word out of Ma’am Jade’s mouth was grating on my nerves. My frustration was already at a breaking point because of the engagement, and now I had to deal with this.
“I didn’t mean any disrespect,” I said softly, hoping to diffuse the situation.
Luna Catherine smirked, leaning back in her chair. “She’s nothing but an insolent girl who loves to draw attention to herself,” she said, her eyes cold and fixed on me.
Our eyes met, and I refused to look away. I knew Luna Catherine was trying to provoke me, but I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Not now, not when I knew she was the reason my world was falling apart.
“How do you even live with a stepdaughter like her?” Ma’am Jade asked, her tone dripping with disdain. “She’s a disgrace to the pack and has no respect for her elders. She should be grateful you took her in after her mother’s death.”
At the mention of my mother, my blood boiled, but I kept my rage hidden. They were trying to get under my skin, and I couldn’t let them win.
“I said it!” Luna Catherine continued, her voice rising. “This girl is nothing but trouble. I tried to raise her right, but she turned out vile. Maybe that’s why her mother didn’t live long enough to see what a disaster her daughter has become.”
The two of them laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. Their words were like daggers to my heart. How could they mock my mother like that? Even in death, they couldn’t show her any respect.
I stood there, frozen, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. I wouldn’t let them see me cry. I wouldn’t let them think they had won.
Ma’am Jade leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “You know, I’ve always suspected that her mother had an affair. Maybe this one isn’t even Alpha Darwin’s daughter.”
That was the final straw. I couldn’t stay silent any longer. I raised my head, my eyes blazing with anger.
“I think it’s time you both stopped talking about my mother,” I said, my voice shaking with fury.
Luna Catherine’s eyes widened in shock, and Ma’am Jade’s face turned red with rage.
“What did you just say to us?” Ma’am Jade demanded, standing up and pointing a finger at me. “You have no right to speak to me that way!”
“I don’t care,” I shot back. “I won’t let you insult my mother anymore.”
The room went silent for a moment, and then, without warning, Luna Catherine stormed over to me and slapped me hard across the face.
“How dare you speak like that in front of Ma’am Jade? Do you know who she is?” Luna Catherine screamed, her face twisted with anger.
I staggered back, but I didn’t back down. “She had no right to say those things about my mother. It’s disrespectful, and I won’t stand for it.”
Ma’am Jade stood beside Luna Catherine, her face contorted with disgust. “Everything I said about your mother is true! She was nothing but a cheat and a liar.”
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. “Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that again.”
Before I could react, Luna Catherine pushed me to the ground. “Guards!” she shouted.
Within moments, three security guards rushed into the room. Ma’am Jade stood behind Luna Catherine, her face smug and satisfied.
“Take her away,” Ma’am Jade ordered. “Put her in the pack’s detention facility. Let her rot there for a while.”
The guards grabbed me, lifting me off the ground as if I weighed nothing. I struggled, but it was no use. They dragged me out of the house, their grip tight and unyielding.
As they hauled me away, I glanced back at Luna Catherine and Ma’am Jade, their faces full of triumph. They had won this round, but I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let them break me. Not now, not ever.
When I realized what I had done, my heart sank. I had crossed a line by trying to attack Ma’am Jade, and I knew there would be no going back. No one would overlook this.
She was a Luna, and disrespecting her came with severe consequences. I sat quietly on the cold floor of the jail, my head spinning with thoughts.
Ma’am Jade’s cruel words about my mother echoed in my mind, and tears started to fall uncontrollably. She had gone too far. It wasn’t just an insult to me-it was an insult to my mother, who wasn’t even alive to defend herself.
I felt no regret about what I had done. She deserved it, and even now, sitting here in this dark cell, I felt the sting of her words. I had to defend my mother’s honor, no matter the price.
A sound at the entrance caught my attention. Two guards were approaching, and I knew they were here for me. I stood slowly, ready to face whatever was coming next. They didn’t speak; one of them just grabbed my wrist roughly and dragged me out of the jail.
I stumbled at first, but quickly regained my balance. They led me back to the house, where my heart sank when I saw Sir Jethro sitting with Alpha Kelly. The two women, Luna Catherine and Ma’am Jade, sat smugly in their chairs. I knew Luna Catherine had called them here. She was working tirelessly to ruin me, and from the looks of it, she was succeeding.
As soon as I walked into the room, Sir Jethro’s sharp eyes landed on me. He didn’t look happy. In fact, he looked deeply disappointed. My stomach turned with guilt.
“Kimberly,” Sir Jethro said sternly, “I’ve heard you attacked Luna Jade. Is this true?”
His tone was serious. I could tell he wasn’t in the mood for excuses, so I gave him the simple truth. “I was about to, but Luna Catherine stopped me.”
“Why would you even think to do such a thing?” Sir Jethro’s voice grew more irritated. “Do you not know who she is? She’s one of the most respected Lunas! What were you thinking?”
I took a deep breath before answering. “She insulted my mother,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “She said my mother had an affair while she was still married to my father.”
Gasps echoed around the room. Sir Jethro and Alpha Kelly turned to Ma’am Jade, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and shock.
“That’s a lie!” Ma’am Jade snapped quickly, glaring at me. “I never said anything like that. Kimberly is making this up!”
I stared at her in disbelief. How could she lie like that? She was just as deceitful as Luna Catherine.
“I’m not lying,” I said, my voice rising. “She said it, right in front of Luna Catherine!”
“Kimberly!” Luna Catherine’s voice cut through the air as she suddenly stood and stormed over to me. Before I could react, her hand slapped hard across my face. I stumbled back, stunned. “How dare you lie about Luna Jade?” she hissed. “I was there! I saw everything, and Luna Jade never said anything about your mother!”
I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could speak, Sir Jethro shouted, “Enough, Kimberly!” His voice boomed through the room, and I immediately fell silent.
Luna Catherine took a step forward, her voice cold and sharp. “I was there when Luna Jade scolded Kimberly for not greeting us. But instead of apologizing, Kimberly argued with her and tried to attack her. I had to stop her.”
I couldn’t believe the lies pouring out of her mouth. My fists clenched at my sides as I listened to her twist the truth. But what could I do? No one would believe me over them. I was powerless.
Alpha Kelly had been silent this whole time, watching the situation unfold with a calm, unreadable expression. His gaze never wavered, even as the tension in the room grew thicker by the second.
Finally, he spoke. “Kimberly, your actions were reckless and disrespectful. No matter what was said, you had no right to raise your hand against Luna Jade. Do you have any idea what trouble you’ve brought upon yourself?”
I lowered my eyes. “I was defending my mother,” I said quietly, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. I had crossed a line, and there would be no mercy.
“You should have handled this differently,” Sir Jethro said with a sigh. “Luna Jade deserves respect, no matter what. Now you’ve put yourself in danger for no good reason.”
I said nothing. There was no point. I had already lost. The two women sat there, smug and victorious. Luna Catherine had wanted to destroy me, and now she had her chance.
Alpha Kelly cleared his throat, breaking the silence once more. “Because of your actions, there will be consequences.”
I nodded, bracing myself for what was coming.
“You will receive two hundred lashes with the cane, right outside the pack house,” Alpha Kelly said calmly, as if he were talking about the weather.
My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my face as still as I could. “I understand,” I replied, my voice steady.
Sir Jethro looked at me, his face filled with disappointment. I couldn’t meet his eyes.
The two women exchanged satisfied looks, their smiles growing wider as they imagined my punishment. Their joy at my downfall was clear for everyone to see, and it made my stomach churn with disgust. But I didn’t let them see my pain. I couldn’t let them see me break.
As I was escorted back outside, my mind was already plotting. They thought they had won. But one day, I would return the favor. One day, I would make them pay for everything they had done.