Chapter 1 CHAPTER ONE
EMILY'S POV
Moaning, I blinked, my head pounding as if someone was hitting it with a hammer. I rubbed my thumb against my forehead, trying to stop the pain. Opening my eyes fully, I take in my surroundings. I am in my room, the one I share with my mate at the pack house. Yesterday was his coronation as the new Alpha of silver crescent pack.
I could feel a strong muscled hand on my waist, I smiled, I knew it was Stefan. I remember drinking a glass of wine, yet the pounding of my head suggested I might have drank more than that. Did me and Stefan come back to the room?
Though I had no recollection of it. Matter of fact, my last memory from yesterday's celebration was standing side by side with Stefan, as I was crowned Luna of the silver crescent pack. kissing him briefly, before leaving him to discuss with other pack leaders that had come for the celebration.
I remember taking a glass of wine from one of the waiters, while I discussed with Miss Celine Denova, daughter of Alpha Castor Denova, one of our strongest allies. From there, everything else is just blank in my mind.
I sighed, before turning to greet my mate a good morning. I screamed at the face before me, waking him up in the process.
Clutching the blanket tightly around myself, I blinked, trying to process what I was seeing. Rather than my husband and mate, I was in bed with Roman fisher, beta of our pack and Stefan best friend.
He jumped out of bed, shock all over his face.
“Emily, what’s going on?" he asked. ”
Meanwhile I was too shocked to answer, he was standing stark naked before me. I closed my eyes, trying to be calm so I can rationalize this situation. Before any of us could say anything, the door swung open. Stefan stands at the door, his mouth wide open, face set in a tight hard line, as he takes in the sight of me and Roman in this compromising situation.
In the blink of an eye, he was on top of Roman, punching him with all his might. Fighting breaks out between both of them, I stand up clutching the blanket around my naked body. I was confused and scared, so I ran towards both of them.
Please!!! stop, Stefan I screamed, calling his name as I cried and clutched my stomach. Blood was pouring out from Roman, while he just laid there receiving every blow. At this rate he was going to kill Roman before we got to the bottom of this. He stopped, glared at me, and with inhumane speed, he was at my front, his hand squeezing my throat. I clawed at his hand, tears pouring down my face.
““ how could you do this to me,”” he snarled!!! anger written all over his face. By now, members of the pack having had the commotion, were gathered around.
““ Please, please, I struggle to breathe out. I could feel the life slipping out of me as he choked me harder. It took several of our pack warriors to get him to leave my throat.
I coughed loudly, rubbing my neck to soothe the pain. I tried reaching for Stefan, but he moved back. He looked away from me, closing his eyes tightly as if restraining himself from strangling me to death.
Throw them in the dungeon till I decide on what to do with these pigs he said, before marching out.
Me and Roman were dragged through the pack house, I wasn’t even given time to put on something decent, I clutched the blanket tightly, trying to preserve whatever dignity I had left, as I was dragged like a criminal to our pack dungeon.
Looks of pity on the faces of friends and close ones, It was obvious what my fate would be. Now, Stefan is a strong and kind leader, but everyone knew what he did to those who betrayed the pack.
And me, I had betrayed him in the worst way. They threw us in different holding cells, still clutching the blanket, I called out to Owen, he was a friend and a warrior of our pack. He turned, refusing to look at me.
““Please I need to speak with Stefan, it’s not what it looks like, please believe me.””
““ I can’t do that Emily, he said.”” You of all people know you can’t get through to Stefan, when he is like this. Just give him time to calm down.
I slumped down, crying loudly I could feel the pain my mate was going through. Owen sighed, before leaving the dungeon. I tried reaching out to Stefan through the mate bond, but was blocked immediately.
““ Emily, I am so sorry I heard Roman cry out.””
““What happened? "I asked him, I can’t remember anything. I only remember drinking a glass of wine, the next thing is waking up beside you.
““ I can’t remember anything from last night also he said.”
My heart dropped. He was my hope in figuring out what happened. I am very sure I didn't sleep with him, I loved Stefan too much to do such a thing to him. I need to figure out what happened, because the both of us having no recollection of what happened was too suspicious.
I probably dozed off, Owen was shaking me, asking me to stand. He handed us some clothes to put on, we were to be summoned in front of the pack council to await punishment, I knew most of the council wouldn't rule in my favor, in fact I was sure this was something they must have planned as most of them didn’t like the fact that I am their Luna.
I am an orphan who was rescued by this pack when I was just 12 years old. I have no recollection of where I was from, or who I am. I was taken in by Luna Stefan's mother and raised, I remember the first time Stefan had changed. I screamed, terrified not knowing what was happening, or why a human being could change to a werewolf.
Luna had calmly explained who they were, and what i am since I was in my wolf form when they found me. Since then it’s been very hard to shift, I only shift when I am in grave danger. After several doctors, none could tell the reason why. Me, Stefan, and Roman all grew up together; they were my best friends, and I fell for Stefan.
I was very happy when I found out he is my mate, much to the disapproval of some of the pack council as they felt I was too weak to be their Luna. We got married, despite everything and now, everything was crumbling before my eyes.
I was dragged before the council. I could see their faces leering down on me. Roman stood by my side, his stance, straight and rigid. My eyes searched around looking for Stefan. He was already looking at me, his beautiful eyes that conveyed his love for me cold and distant. I could see the disgust on his face as he looked at me.
We were asked to explain what happened, and as much as I knew deep down that there was no way I would sleep with Roman. I bowed my head, tears striding down my face, as I whispered that I had no recollection of what happened yesterday.
Jestering snickers fill the room. Of course no one would believe me, especially since me and Roman couldn’t conveniently remember what happened. Out of desperation, I called on Stefan to believe me, crying loudly as I looked at all their faces, hopeful that at least one person knew I was not capable of doing something so cruel to Stefan.
Even Stefan’s mum looked away, refusing to look at me.
We have come to an agreement, Stefan said. His eyes staring directly into me, I could not reach him through our mate bond.
I, Stefan Regan, Alpha of the silver crescent pack, reject you Emily Snow, as my mate and Luna of my pack, I also denounce Roman Black as the beta of my pack, and as such both are to be banished immediately. I crumble to the floor, screaming as pain flows through me. How could he do this to me, breaking our bond without second thought.
I kept screaming his name, as I was dragged out of the room. My heart was in pain, we were dragged all the way to the pack border. I refused to cross, knowing it would be the end if I did.
One of the guards raised his claws out. It was either I crossed, automatically denouncing myself as the Luna of silver crescent pack or death. I stayed there, refusing to leave, death was better than not being with Stefan.
Roman dragged me out, holding me tight as I struggled against him. Immediately we crossed the pack border, all connections to the pack and its members were cut off. I screamed as I felt it, my soul feeling like it would leave my body, as pain hot as lava flows through my body.
Stefan was the last words I kept muttering before collapsing from the pain.