Bound To Rival Alpha: Read Chapters 1-5

Violet's POV

“P-Please let me go.”

I pleaded as I felt a pair of strong hands stroking my bare thighs. I hissed as they tried to get between my legs.

My breath hitched when he stopped. I swallowed, trying to push his hands.

I was lying in bed with the man on top of me.

In the darkness, I could not see the man's face. His touches were also unfamiliar, making it difficult for me to unwind.

The touches sent shivers down my spine and raised goosebumps on my skin.

When he buried his head in his neck, I assumed it was my husband, Leo Easton.

The way he ran his tongue over my skin set my whole body on fire and made me moan.

“Aahh!”

His tongue rolled across my skin before slowly moving to my ear.

“LEO!”

I moaned loudly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

But when he heard the name I mentioned, he stopped moving.

I froze, unsure of what I had done wrong. He then moved his head and looked at me.

His flaming red eyes locked with mine. I could not see his face but only his eyes. I was astounded by the mysterious yet furious eyes.

Fear gripped me, and I shut my eyes.

He let out an angry growl and said,

“I am not your husband Leo.”

Hearing this, I gasped in shock and flung open my eyes.

My eyes widened with surprise. Because I was completely alone in my bedroom. I looked around the room, noticing the bright sunlight streaming in through the window.

I sighed, realizing it was all a nightmare.

I sat up and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

“The same nightmare again!”

Ever since Leo and I were married, I have had the same nightmare almost every night after he slept with me.

“Who was the man in my dream? An illusion of my mind?” I asked myself.

When I tried to get up on the bed, I hissed. I felt sore in my lower body. It was because of last night with my husband.

I was an Omega, an eighteen-year-old girl. Although other girls had found their mates by this age, I believed my husband Leo was my mate because he married me and chose me as his mate.

We met last year, and he proposed marriage because he said he liked me. He did something for my family that convinced me to trust him with my life, so I accepted his proposal. I was very inferior in front of his rank, yet he married me.

Our first wedding anniversary was this weekend, so it felt like a year had passed in a flash.

He was the head Alpha of our Crimson Howl Pack. He was four years older than me. I held him in high regard. He was doing an excellent job as the young Alpha.

On the other hand, I was just an ordinary omega. Even though I became Luna after marrying him, he had not marked me yet.

The pack’s members always mocked me about it. But I ignored their mockery because I could wait for him to do it when he felt like it.

Leo and I lived in "Moon Palace," the house my father gifted us after our wedding.

Someone opened the door of the room. I turned my head and saw Leo walking into the room. He looked ready to go to his company early this morning.

He was a perfect man. His grey eyes and sharp brows had always captivated me.

I waited for him to look at me while clutching the quilt to my chest.

But he moved stiffly. He walked toward the bed and grabbed his watch from the nightstand. He walked past the bed without even glancing at me.

It was as if I were merely a piece of furniture, not a person.

My smile faded, then slowly disappeared. I felt a cold, tight knot in my stomach, and the pain in my body and lower back got worse.

I stared at him, assuming he would look at me and smile back.

"Good morning, Leo," I said to him, hoping to get a response.

"You know I prefer silence in the morning, Violet," he replied with a cold tone.

The air in the room suddenly felt heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

This happened every morning after he stayed the night with me. Most of the time, he traveled abroad for business meetings. I rarely got to see him.

I got out of bed when I noticed he was holding a tie and attempting to knot it. The quilt wrapped around my body, concealing my naked body within.

I limped toward him, feeling numb in my lower body. I lifted my hand and placed it on his shoulder.

"Let me help you."

He turned around, and I helped him knot his tie. I blushed as soon as I felt his gaze on me.

When I finished, I raised my gaze to look at him. I froze when I saw him slightly wrinkling his nose.

I was stunned. Did he not like my scent?

My heart tightened inside. It had been almost a year, and I still could not win his heart.

Every day, I tried to learn how to be the ideal wife for him and waited for him to return home. I even gave up my studies for him, but he never looked at me.

'Perhaps he realized I am not perfect for him. I smell terrible! Is this why he doesn't come home often?' I thought.

My eyes welled with tears. I turned around and walked up to the bathroom.

From behind, Leo spoke up.

"You are walking like a turtle. Why are you so weak?"

The tears that shuffled in my eyes ran down my cheeks. The soreness in my body, which had been a tender reminder of our intimacy, now felt like a cruel joke.

I wiped my tears away quickly and asked,

"Will you come home for dinner today?"

I knew his answer would be no. But still I always asked.

"I will," he answered.

I was not expecting that. Then I heard the loud sound of the door closing.

He left me in a daze.

I was excited throughout the day. In the evening, I started cooking for Leo. I spent hours preparing his favorite dishes, which I was confident he would enjoy.

I set the table and waited for him.

Hour after hour passed while I waited for him. The maids laughed at me and whispered to one another. I overheard one of them saying something.

"She worked hard, but it was in vain. Clearly Alpha doesn't like her anymore."

I lowered my head, feeling the urge to cry. But the sound of a car screeching outside reached my ears.

I got up from my chair and dashed toward the main door. When I saw Leo walk into the house, a bright smile spread across my face.

"Leo, I was waiting for you with dinner," I said with a grin.

He looked at me with a frown. "What?" he asked as if he had forgotten about dinner.

"I prepared dinner for you."

He approached the table after taking a quick glance at it. I followed him with a smile.

I pulled out a chair for him to sit in. "Let me serv–"

I was interrupted by a loud crashing sound. My eyes widened when I saw Leo had thrown a dish on the floor.

"Leo!"

"Is that the best you can do?" he sneered. "You wanted me to eat this? Even the servants eat better than that!"

Tears filled my eyes as I stared at the food I had prepared for him, which was now all over the floor.

This was my life, a constant struggle as my husband's feelings for me were fading away.

"I-I am sorry, Leo. I tried my best," I replied with a low and shaky voice.

He growled, slamming his fist against the table,

"Your best is never good enough."

My heart shattered. Tears rolled down my face. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from letting out sobs.

When he noticed my tears, he shook his head. "All the time you cry and cry. What else can you do? How can a crybaby lead my pack in the future?"

My heart clenched with each word he spoke. I clenched my fists and sobbed loudly.

I raised my head to gaze at him.

"I am sorry, Leo," I pleaded with him.

He gave me a cold look, as if my tears had not affected him. He was about to walk past me. I quickly turned to him and grabbed his arm.

"Don't get mad at me. Please don't leave like this. I promise I will do my best in everything."

He yanked his hand away from mine. It caused my legs to become unbalanced, and I fell to the floor.

I hissed as my hand came into contact with the flung piece of the broken dish.

My eyes widened when I noticed blood gushing from my hand.

I was afraid of blood. My parents were always protective of me, and they never let me get hurt. Even if I was injured, they always looked after me.

My father, Larsen Brooks, was friends with Leo's father, Wesley Easton. Once I met Leo, and we fell for each other. Then we got married.

Yes, we used to be very much in love — at least that’s how I felt.

He used to take good care of me, but just one year after we got married, he changed. He became irritable and short-tempered, and it seemed like he held a lot of resentment toward me.

But I don’t know why.

However, my father was always by his side. He was very fond of his son-in-law.

"Leo," I called him out when I saw him heading to the door.

I thought he would show me a little bit of sympathy. But when he paused and turned to face me, his words completely broke me.

"Don't bother any maid. You messed everything up, so you will be responsible for cleaning it up."

After saying that, he left the house, leaving me all alone again.

My hopes, expectations, and heart all shattered like glass.

I stared at my bloodied palm. While crying, I lifted my hand and pulled out a broken piece of glass.

The maids hurried out of the kitchen. They felt bad for me when they saw me.

I was supposed to be the powerful woman because Luna represented power. But I became a pathetic weakling in front of everyone.

The next day,

I got ready to go to the pack house. Today was my sister-in-law Daisy's birthday. It was her thirteenth birthday. She was a lovely girl. Unlike her parents, she liked me.

My family was also invited to attend the party.

While heading to the pack house, I kept glancing at my phone. Leo and I were supposed to go together. But he did not come home last night. I tried calling him several times, but he did not answer.

When I arrived at the pack house, I went straight to the elderly couple in their early 60s.

Grandpa Elias and Grandma Lily loved me. Their gaze fell on me, and they instantly smiled.

"My dear, come here. How are you?" Grandpa Elias said.

"I am fine, Grandpa."

I sat down with them. I cast a glance at Uncle Mason and Aunt Raya. They were my father-in-law's siblings. They all lived together in the pack house.

I greeted everyone. Slowly, all of the guests arrived. I kept glancing at the main door, waiting for Leo.

"He will be here soon. I called him."

I heard my mother-in-law, Clara's, voice. I smiled at her. "Mom."

She examined me from head to toe and asked, "Are you so frail that you can not even give me good news?"

I was astonished. How would I explain to her that whenever Leo did it with me, he forced me to swallow pills because he did not want a child right now?

I was unable to explain anything to her. She was a cold woman. But I knew she loved his son the most.

I noticed my family and rushed to them. I hugged both my mother, Ruby Brooks, and my father, Karsen Brooks. My brother Zion and sister Aria were both studying abroad. They left several months ago.

While talking with my family, my gaze fell on Leo. I dashed towards him.

"Leo"

He looked at me with an unpleasant mood. He was about to say something when one of his friends dragged us to a gathering.

All of his friends attended the party with their partners.

One of their wives gave me a strange look and asked, "Do you know how to sit in a boss chair? How will you run pack beside Leo?"

"Aren't you an Omega? How will you look into other men's eyes at pack meetings?"

"That's easy. What about their Alpha voice? How will she avoid submitting to them?"

Every one of them laughed at me. I was deeply hurt. Everyone made fun of me. However, this time, I expected my husband to defend me. But he remained silent. He joined in their laughter.

When he caught my gaze, he cleared his throat and said,

"How about the annual party? Are you all coming?"

He changed the subject instead of defending me.

"What about Daniel Collins, Leo? I heard he is here, in your pack right now. Watch out. He is stealing all of your projects."

As soon as his friends mentioned Daniel, his biggest rival, Leo's face turned grim.

"Let's not discuss business here. I am dealing with him on my own. He will never get what he desires most in his life."

I was not interested in their conversation. I was upset and sad.

I felt like crying. 'Why am I a crybaby?' I asked, cursing myself.

I left the pack house before anyone would notice me. I walked through the streets, feeling empty inside.

How long would I continue to be a laughing stock?

Suddenly, a van pulled up next to me. A few men rushed out of the van, and one of them pressed a cloth against my mouth.

I screamed, but no one helped because the road was empty at the time.

They dragged me into the van and started it.

I cried out in fear. All of the men were creepy as they stared at me with lustful eyes.

"Please, don't do anything to me," I told them when they removed the cloth from my mouth.

Don't worry, little Luna. We can't afford to touch you. All we need is some money," the men's leader said.

They tossed a phone in my lap. "Dial Alpha's phone number."

I immediately picked up the phone and dialed Leo's number. They snatched the phone from me and put it on a loudspeaker.

When the call connected, I tried to scream, but the man beside me pressed his palm against my mouth.

"Who's speaking?" Leo's voice could be heard.

I was relieved that Leo received the call.

"We kidnapped your wife. Send us two million if you want her to be safe."

I believed Leo would give them the money and save me. I felt at ease inside.

But my breath caught in my throat when he replied,

"Two million for her? You can keep her. She is not safe anywhere anyway.”

Inside the darkness

I was sitting on a cold floor. The smell of wine was everywhere. I realized that I was in the godown of some wine factory.

All of the lights were turned off, and the fear in my heart grew.

Leo's words kept ringing in my ears. He did not want to pay the kidnappers two million. He was not willing to save me.

'I am his wife. Why did he tell them to keep me? Is money bigger than me? Wasn't he the person who did so much for my family and asked for my hand from them?' I asked myself.

I could not help but cry in silence. I was helpless. Perhaps if the kidnappers had called my family, they could have saved me. But they called the person closest to me, my husband.

I overheard the kidnappers conversing from afar.

"What a loser girl! Can't believe she has become the Luna of our pack!"

"Alpha doesn't want her."

"But why?"

“She is not even marked!”

After a while, they chuckled. One of them remarked, "Maybe she is not good in bed."

I shut my eyes, feeling humiliated everywhere.

I realized that marrying a head Alpha weighed heavily on me. I became a burden for him, and he wanted to get rid of me.

'Then why did you marry me, Leo? You said you liked me. But after marrying me, you changed,' I thought.

Tears flowed down my cheeks. People always misunderstood me, calling me bubbly, weak, and irresponsible.

But, in truth, I had always liked to laugh freely, speak gently to everyone, and try to look after everyone.

Did I do wrong?

I sobbed, feeling pain in my wrists and ankles. The kidnappers had tied me up before pushing me there.

"It's been an hour, but Alpha Leo hasn't called us yet. Did we pick the wrong girl?"

I could hear the kidnappers. I leaned my head back against the wall behind me. How could I tell them that they had chosen the right girl, but her husband did not care about her?

“Boss, she is an unmarked Omega. Can we have some fun before we let her go?”

My eyes widened in shock. I shook my head.

"NO!"

I screamed out of fear. My mouth was not covered in tape. But all this time, I remained silent.

I heard footsteps hurrying toward me. They untied my hands and feet. Then they gripped my arms tightly.

I just shook my head. "Leave me."

A man sat in front of me and lit a lighter. I saw his face. A large scar was visible on one of his cheeks. I was terrified and screamed again.

"Leave me."

He grabbed my chin. "Leave you? We will play with you one by one until your husband sends us money."

"B-But he refused to send money. He said–"

I was interrupted by another man. "He said we should keep you. We are just following his command."

"We never fucked a Luna before. It's because no Alpha lets anyone have the chance. They always protect their Luna. But your Alpha Leo is something else!"

I tried to break free. "Let me go!"

The man grabbed my jaw. Another man lifted a bottle of wine and forced me to drink it.

I coughed hard, trying to shake my head, but I felt the liquor roll inside my throat.

"We used wolfsbane in the wine. Now you can't feel your wolf or try to shift. We can have you now."

I was shocked.

My body was forcefully laid on the ground. I was traumatized when a man started to touch me. I cried and begged them to let me go.

"LEO! HELP ME LEO!"

I knew he was not here. Yet, I called his name, crying for his help.

I did not want them to rape me. My struggles in my house were far better than this. I was a selfish person who thought I was unhappy.

'Moon Goddess, if you save me, I won't be selfish anymore. I will be patient.' I said in my head.

Their hands pinned down my two hands and legs. A man sat down on my stomach and grabbed the shoulder of my dress.

The lighter was still lit in his hand, allowing them to see my crying face. They appeared pleased with it.

As the man ripped my dress from my shoulder, I heard a loud growl.

It was so powerful that the men trembled.

The flame of the lighter blew out. I could feel my head whirling. I did not know if it was because of the wine with wolfsbane or the unexpected growl.

As soon as the factory was illuminated by faint yellow lights, I closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes, I realized my vision had become blurry.

My blurry gaze fell on a man dressed in black. I tried blinking several times, but I still could not see his face clearly.

My gaze paused on a pair of red eyes.

My eyes widened.

'Leo!' I thought. Because his wolf possessed red eyes.

I saw him grab a bottle of wine and smash it against a man's head. With the broken bottle, he fought everyone. He fought with the skill of an experienced fighter.

A small smile formed on my lips. 'Of course, he is a fighter. He is a head Alpha after all.'

I was relieved that Leo did not abandon me. I had faith in him, and he really came to my rescue.

My eyes were slowly closing, and all I could see was darkness.

Suddenly, I felt two strong arms wrap around my body and lift me up.

I slowly opened my eyes and mumbled,

"Leo"

The hands encircling me tightened. But I did not mind. I blinked, trying to make out his features. My vision was still blurry.

I smiled at him and rested my head against his chest.

"You saved my life again. I love you, Leo."

His arms felt like the most secure place in the world.

When I closed my eyes, his cologne hit my nostrils, making me frown. It did not smell like Leo. It was unfamiliar to me but very intoxicating.

Daniel's POV

"Alpha"

My men's voices could be heard from the back.

But my dark gaze remained fixed on the girl in my arms. She clutched my black shirt as if her life depended on me.

My eyes moved to the ripped part of her dress near her chest.

From the torn dress, her cleavage was exposed. She was wearing a lavender colored bra inside. Her soft bosoms were half exposed to my eyes.

I blocked my men from approaching, as I did not want them to see her like that.

"Leave."

My deep voice shook the men standing behind me. They exchanged glances before nodding and leaving the factory.

I realized that the girl fell unconscious in my arms. I drew her closer, hiding her head against my neck. I closed my eyes when her scent came across my nose.

It was a flowery scent, more like fresh roses.

I clenched my jaw and looked away from her.

She called her husband's name when she fainted. But she was wrong.

I was not her husband, but someone who could rip off her husband's head and kill him in a moment.

“Foolish girl, do you think your husband is a capable man?” I muttered with a sneer.

I walked out of the factory, carrying her in my arms.

A luxurious black car awaited me outside the factory. It belonged to me.

My driver noticed me from the inside and immediately came out to assist me in opening the back door.

I settled her gently in the backseat, a silent cocoon, before sliding in beside her.

"Start the car," I ordered the driver.

The driver drove the car at high speed, knowing exactly where his Alpha wanted to go.

“Who is she, Alpha?” The driver asked, glancing at the rearview mirror.

I lowered my head, observing the girl's face. I did not reply to my driver, but I knew who she was.

‘My rival's wife.’

Her cheeks were red, and her lips were tainted pink. Her slim body leaned against me. I moved my hand and wrapped it around her waist.

She indeed had a good body. Her beautiful face was alluring. Her fainted state was seductive.

I could not help but stare at her.

Violet's POV

I wasn’t fully awake, but I could feel something. My head was resting on a warm, solid chest. I could hear a heartbeat. It was steady, strong, and calm. But it didn’t feel like Leo’s.

A strange scent filled my nose. It wasn’t bad. In fact, it smelled nice—clean, a bit like trees after rain. It was very different from Leo’s usual cologne.

My body was numb. I couldn’t move. I remembered the wine. They said it had wolfsbane. That must be why I felt so weak.

I wanted to speak. I wanted to ask who he was. But my lips only moved slightly. I felt someone’s arm wrapped around my waist. His hand was warm. It made something inside me stir, but I was too tired to understand it.

I felt my face press closer to his chest. It was comforting. I didn’t feel scared… only confused.

He moved slightly, like he noticed I was awake. His voice came low and deep.

“So, you are awake?”

I couldn’t open my eyes, but I tried to speak. My lips trembled. “L-Leo…”

But then, a finger pressed against my lips, stopping me gently.

“I am not your husband, Leo.”

His words shocked me. My heart skipped a beat. I wanted to react, to scream or cry. But the wolfsbane was too strong. My mind faded again, and everything turned dark.

When I woke up again, sunlight poured into the room. I blinked several times, trying to clear my vision. I knew this room. It was our bedroom—mine and Leo’s.

I sat up quickly. “Was it all a dream?”

But then, I saw them—the red marks on my wrists. My ankles had the same bruises. My heart sank. I looked down at my dress. It was different. Someone had changed my clothes.

“No… it wasn’t a dream.”

My hands shook as I remembered bits and pieces. The van. The factory. The men. And the man with red eyes who saved me.

“Leo,” I whispered, holding onto that thought. “It had to be Leo. He came for me.”

Just then, the door opened. It was Doctor Limon.

“Doctor?” I asked, surprised.

He smiled, walking toward me. “You’re awake. That’s good.”

I stared at him, desperate for answers. “How did I get here? I wasn’t… I wasn’t here last night.”

He sat by my bed. “Leo brought you back.”

As soon as I heard those words, my eyes lit up. My heart jumped. “He did?” I asked.

Limon nodded. “Yes. He found you and brought you home.”

I covered my mouth and laughed in relief. “I knew it was him! I knew it! I thought I was dreaming… But I saw those red eyes. That was his wolf. He saved me.”

Limon looked at me quietly. “You owe him, Violet.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “He saved my life again.”

“Leo is in the study,” he added. “He didn’t sleep last night. You should talk to him.”

I got out of bed. My legs were still weak, but I didn’t care. I needed to see Leo.

“Slow down!” Limon called after me. But I was already out the door.

When I reached the study, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Leo sat at his desk with his eyes closed, head leaning back in the chair. He looked tired.

I slowly walked to him and knelt beside his chair. I placed my hand on his thigh.

“Leo… thank you,” I said softly. “You saved me again. Those men, they would have… if you hadn’t come…”

Tears spilled from my eyes. I couldn’t finish the sentence. I wiped my cheeks and smiled through the pain.

“I was scared,” I continued. “When you told them to keep me… I thought you didn’t care. But I was wrong.”

Leo opened his eyes. He looked down at me. His eyes were calm, unreadable.

He placed his hand gently on my head. My heart warmed at the touch.

“You’re right,” he said. “I saved your life. Again.”

I nodded quickly. “Yes. You did. I’m so grateful, Leo.”

He looked at me for a moment. Then he asked,

“What can you give me in return?”

I blinked. His question surprised me. But I answered without thinking.

“My heart,” I said. “It’s always yours. I’ll never love anyone else. I love you, Leo.”

I blushed, looking into his eyes.

He removed his hand from my head.

I froze. Did I say something wrong?

But then, he spoke again.

“On our anniversary night, I’ll give you what you’ve always wanted. I’ll mark you as my mate.”

My eyes widened. I covered my mouth in shock. Tears filled my eyes again, but this time, they were from happiness.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you, Leo.”

And in that moment, I believed everything would finally be okay.

Violet’s POV

"Alpha must be on his way here, Luna."

I blushed when I heard the maid who was styling my hair.

It was finally the night of our anniversary, the night Leo would mark me.

Standing in front of the dressing table mirror, I was checking out my dress. I was wearing a beautiful white gown. The dress had a design that no other royal gown could match, and the stones shone like diamonds.

“You are right,” I mumbled with a smile.

I swirled around, admiring my lovely dress. It was my first time attending a royal party since becoming Luna.

When I went to the closest to get my white heels, my gaze landed on a black jacket.

The fabric was soft and expensive. When Leo brought me home that night after rescuing me from the kidnappers, he wrapped his jacket around me.

That day, when I went back to the bedroom after talking to him, I discovered it lying on the couch. I kept it in a safe place. It held a special place in my heart, like a memory.

After getting ready, I went into the living room to wait for him. I sat on the couch, tapping my foot in excitement.

The sound of a car screeching came from outside the house. I jumped to my feet. Lifting my gown slightly, I dashed toward the front door. Because I was wearing high heels, I nearly tripped on a mat, but I quickly controlled my steps and remained balanced.

"Calm down, Violet," I told myself.

With a bright smile on my face, I opened the door.

But my smile faded when I noticed an empty car. The driver emerged from the car with a worried expression.

"What happened?" I questioned him.

"Luna, we need to go to the pack house."

"That's what I know. We are going there. But where is he?"

He gave me a puzzled look that I could not understand. "He is in the pack house."

I was stunned when I heard that.

‘Why did he go there without me? We were supposed to go together,’ I thought.

All of my excitement faded. I felt a twinge of disappointment.

I tried to hide my disappointment and got into the car. The driver kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I had absolutely no idea what was wrong with him. I gazed out the window, thinking about Leo.

I realized it was life. Life was not like a novel where the hero would be romantic or something. To be happy, we had to make many compromises.

My gaze remained fixed outside the window. I was lost in thought.

I had never felt the way the other girls in my pack described the mate bond. But I believed Leo was my mate because he had married me.

Leo said he would mark me tonight, after the anniversary party. Just thinking about it made my cheeks heat up. I patted my cheeks and shook my head.

“Don't think about it right now. You have to concentrate on the party and the people first," I mumbled to myself with a smile.

Suddenly, a news bulletin crackled through the car radio.

“Breaking News!”

The driver was about to turn off the radio when I stopped him. “It's okay.”

The reporter’s voice was urgent, a hint of breathless excitement in his tone.

“The prominent Alpha and the most successful businessman, Mr. Daniel Collins, has been spotted boarding a private jet bound for an unspecified location. Mr. Collins reportedly spent the last few days in the Crimson Howl Pack for work purposes. But sources say now he plans to spend the next several weeks enjoying a well-deserved vacation after a successful year for his company.”

I listened carefully as my ears strained to hear every word.

They were reporting about my husband's biggest rival. He was Leo’s sworn enemy, a very successful Alpha in the business world.

The car stopped in front of the big steel gate. The guards opened the gate, and the car drove into the royal area.

We arrived at the pack house. A lot of expensive cars were parked outside the pack house, which caught my eye.

"Have I arrived late?" I murmured.

It was because I did not know Leo had already arrived, and I had been waiting for him at our house.

The driver quickly got out of the car and opened the door for me.

I stepped out of the car with a smile. The guards gave me a strange look, which I found surprising.

As soon as I entered the hall where the party was taking place, I noticed our relatives gathered in the center.

I walked inside with a puzzled expression. The smile was still there on my face. I took a deep breath and approached the crowd.

Some people noticed me and began to move aside to make room for me. Their faces were grim, and their voices were hushed.

There was an unusual tension in the air.

I moved slowly, unsure of what was going on.

Suddenly, I heard someone crying.

I was shocked.

That was my mother-in-law, Clara Easton's voice!

"You can't leave me. How can I live without you?" Her voice was filled with sorrow.

My heart began to race in response to an unknown fear. Who was she talking about? Who had left her?

What was going on?

"She is here!"

I heard one of the guests' surprised voices in the crowd.

At that time, the crowd split to allow me to see what was happening.

My gaze fell on my mother-in-law, Clara, who was sobbing on my father-in-law, Wesley's chest. Our pack's four officials were also there.

My eyes slowly drew to Leo's little sister, Daisy, who was crying on the floor while holding someone's hand.

I froze as soon as my gaze landed on whose hand it was.

My whole world shattered.

My eyes welled up with tears as I saw Leo lying on the floor.

There was blood all around him. His head looked wounded. His eyes were closed, as if there was no soul within his body.

My heart trembled inside. It felt like a crushing blow to me.

My eyes widened, and I was unable to move from the frozen state.

I heard someone in the crowd say,

“Poor girl! At this young age, she became a widow!”

It jerked me back to reality. I could not believe what I was witnessing.

My eyes turned ocean blue as my wolf started to howl inside. I felt a sharp pain in my chest as if my wolf got to feel that her soon-to-be mate was no longer there to cherish her.

Then, with my trembling lips, I let out a piercing scream.

"LEO!"