Chapter 1 Betrayed And Framed
Sheila’s POV
“It’s bad luck to see your mate before the ceremony.”
I should have believed it. I should have stayed away.
“Don’t stop, Alan—oh god!”
The sound sliced through me like claws. I froze outside his door, my palm slippery with sweat on the knob. The bottle of wine slipped from my hand, shattered across the floor with a deafening crash.
My heart raced as the door creaked open.
Alan’s body gleamed with sweat, muscles taut, his face twisted in ecstasy. And on top of him—Athena. My best friend. The girl who knew every secret I ever whispered.
“Sheila?” Athena gasped, scrambling to cover herself.
Alan jolted upright, panic flashing in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” My voice cracked, laughter spilling out, brittle and broken.
“Sheila, I can explain—” Athena stammered, clutching the sheet to her chest.
“Save it.” My eyes burned. “Do you think I’m blind? You—both of you—”
Alan’s hands reached for me. “It’s not what it looks like—”
“Not what it looks like?” I spat, tears spilling hot. “My mate and my best friend. Together. On the night before our ceremony. What the hell am I supposed to call that?”
“Sheila, listen—”
“No!” I backed away, chest heaving. “I trusted you, Alan. I trusted you more than anyone!”
The air grew heavy. Silence stretched too long, too sharp. My hands shook as I turned for the door. But Alan grabbed my wrist.
“Sheila, wait—”
“Don’t touch me!”
Then pain exploded at the side of my skull. Darkness consumed me whole.
“Sheila?” A deep voice pierced the fog.
Then everything was hazy, I recognized the voice. it was Alan's, my vision was blurry and I couldnt see well but I felt like I was being carried, dragged like a sack of potato.
“What are you doing?” I slurred, seeing him bringing a glass closer to me.
The content was forcefully shoved down my throat and almost instantly, I felt hot. Then the motion came again but this time, it was a room. I was thrown in there and I could hear faint voices- of Alan and Athena.
“It's done, we'll leave her here.”
The next time I opened my eyes, it wasn't long after. I stirred, groaning. My head throbbed, my body limp. I blinked into shadow. A man leaned over me, broad shoulders and a face half-hidden in dim light.
“Who… who are you?” My voice was slurred.
He said nothing. His gaze lingered, unreadable, heavy enough to pin me to the mattress.
I pushed upright, the room spinning. My hand landed against his chest. Heat radiated from him, solid and unyielding. My breath hitched.
“You’re…” My lips stumbled over words. “Beautiful.”
His grip caught my wrist, strong, unflinching. “You’re not thinking clearly.”
“Maybe I don’t want to.” My fingers slid against his jaw, desperate, reckless. “Please… don’t leave me.”
“Woman—” His voice was low, gravelly.
“Stay.” I kissed him, clumsy and aching.
He stilled, every muscle tense.
“Please,” I whispered against his lips, clinging like he was the only anchor left.
His restraint cracked. With a sudden shift, he pressed me down, eyes blazing. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“What if I do?” My dress slipped from my shoulders, pooling at my waist.
He closed his eyes, jaw tight, as if fighting himself. Then he growled, raw and unfiltered. “I warned you.”
And the rest blurred into heat, desperation, and silence.
“What the hell is this!”
The shriek ripped me awake. My eyes shot open, my skull pounding.
I froze. The stranger lay beside me, bare skin against mine. Sheets tangled around our bodies. My stomach dropped, dread crashing like thunder.
“Alan?” My voice cracked.
His face was red with fury, fists clenched. Athena stood behind him, hands clasped dramatically over her mouth. And my parents—both staring, disgust heavy in their eyes.
“What—what is this?” I stammered, clutching the sheet to my chest. “This isn’t—”
Alan’s voice broke into rage. “How could you, Sheila? On the night of our mating ceremony?”
I shook my head, panic burning my throat. “No—you don’t understand—I saw you with Athena! You—”
Athena stepped forward, her eyes wide, fake tears brimming. “Sheila, don’t lie! You told me you ended things with Jorge! How could you betray Alan like this?”
“Betray him?” My laugh was jagged, hysterical. “I walked in on you! You—”
My mother’s voice cut sharp, silencing me. “Enough! Do you know what shame you’ve brought on this family?”
“Mom, please—”
My father’s gaze was ice. “Who is this man?”
The stranger said nothing. Not a word. Just lay there, still, watching.
Alan’s voice cracked with rage. “I gave you everything, Sheila! I would’ve made you my Luna, my equal—and this is how you repay me? By crawling into another man’s bed?”
“I didn’t—” My throat burned. “I didn’t mean to—”
“You meant it enough.” Alan’s eyes narrowed. “You disgust me.”
“No—you don’t get to say that! You cheated first! You and Athena—”
Athena gasped dramatically. “Alan, don’t listen to her—she’s twisting everything—”
“Shut up!” I screamed, the sound tearing my throat raw. “Both of you betrayed me!”
Alan’s hands shook. Then his voice dropped, deadly calm. “I, Alan Redwood, Alpha of the Pearl Moon Pack, reject you, Sheila, as my mate.”
The words struck like knives. Pain ripped through me, searing every nerve, my wolf howling in torment. I collapsed, clutching my chest, sobbing.
“You can’t—” I gasped.
“You left me no choice,” he spat, satisfaction glinting cruel in his eyes. “My people deserve better than a whore for a Luna.”
Tears blurred my vision. “Alan, please—don’t—”
He turned his back on me, walked out without hesitation.
Athena lingered, lips curling. “Pathetic. You brought this on yourself.” She followed after him.
I turned desperately to my parents. “Mom—Dad—please, believe me—”
My mother’s lip curled. “We should never have taken you in. You’re no daughter of mine.”
“Dad?” My voice broke, a plea.
His eyes hardened. “You shamed us the moment you opened your legs.”
They turned and left.
The room spun. My chest ached, my world splintering into jagged pieces. I dragged my dress over trembling limbs, the stranger’s silence burning heavier than words.
I stared at him one last time. “I’ll never forget this.”
But he only watched. Silent. Unmoved and I knew my life had just shattered beyond repair.