His Captive, His Mate, His Queen

IOANA'S POV

"Ioana Redmoon," from afar, I could hear the melodious voice of the High Priestess calling my name.

It was the Full Moon Appreciation Night, a night to strengthen the mate bond, and I was late.

My sister had locked me up in the basement. Goddess knows how I managed to get out just for this.

For him, my mate, Ramon-the Alpha's son and my longtime secret crush.

I had waited for this day for years, dreaming of it.

My hands shook in jitters, cold and clammy with sweat, as I pushed through the crowd of people, rushing for the elevated platform.

But suddenly, it was silent.

Ghost-quiet. Eyes turned to me, trailing after me.

I hunched my back, subconsciously protecting myself from their stares-something I had grown used to.

My stomach dropped. Something was wrong.

My gut screamed at me, but I shook it off with a what could it be, pressing forward.

And that's when I saw it-the consequences of my stubbornness hitting me like a wild, galloping horse.

It was him.

My mate, pressing against the body of my sister.

The fingers I once held adoringly were now weaved between her locks,

his mouth on hers, with such passion it left me stunned as he pressed her flush against him-kissing her.

My heart dropped to my stomach. I froze. No, this can't be true. He wouldn't do this to me.

It must be a dream.

The formerly gentle night breeze, the moon's glow that once caressed me, turned icy and harsh.

"Oh, the disgrace is here." Those were his first words to me after noticing me, his brows furrowed deeply.

"It's revolting to pretend to like you, Omega," he spat, eyeing me with disgust.

"Did you ever think that I, Ramon, would settle for you? You're nothing but a wolfless Omega, unworthy of me."

"That's why I, Ramon Redmoon, reject you, Ioana of the Redmoon Pack. Now get out of here before you bring more shame to this ceremony. Your existence already taints it."

The crowd gasped at his words, his words a shock to them as much as they were to me.

I stood frozen on the spot. I was rejected by my mate just like that.

For what? Was it because I wasn't good enough? I wanted to scream.

Maybe I offended him.

I shook my head. There hadn't been a rejection in Redmoon Pack for decades, almost becoming a myth-but I broke that.

I groaned, gripping my heart.

The knife-stabbing pain assaulted me, like my heart itself was being peeled. It told me it wasn't my illusion.

But despite the blinding pain that coursed through my body, chatters erupted around me, news spreading.

I could feel it-the dagger-like stares digging into me, the glances of contempt and disdain.

Words poured in, slicing my skin and digging into my wounds.

"The goddess must be covering her face in shame."

"Who does she think she is?"

"I've always hated her anyway."

"Wants to become our Luna? She must be dreaming."

"Look at her. Fragile, powerless, and unworthy. She's not fit to stand beside the Alpha's son."

I curled my fingers, clenching them into fists. My nails dug into my palms, but they couldn't relieve a tenth of what I was feeling.

My head buried deeper and deeper. Not a single person stood up for me.

After everything I'd done. I'd been a slave to this pack my whole life.

Unwillingness lit within me. Fingers clenched. Towards everyone. Towards him.

Why? Why did he do this to me?

I thought he loved me! He said he would cherish me!

I clenched my teeth, grinding them, tears brimming. But I held them back.

I wouldn't shed a tear.

I didn't want him to see me with tears gushing down my red eyes, shoulders trembling, body quaking-devastated because of him.

That would only fuel his ego.

I straightened my back under the mountain-like stares of the crowd.

I thought I had the composure, but-

"Ramon, I don't think it's okay to do it like this. Look at her-she's shaking.

I'm sure if the trees rustle one more time, she'll faint. I told you this would break her.

She's my younger sister, and I've never wanted to hurt her..."

She placed her hands on her chest, gold tresses tumbling downwards, an image of compassion with sympathy overflowing as she gazed down at me.

"After all... she deserves the right to know the truth... of our love," she spoke, turning to my mate.

It stung my eyes harshly-the irony.

He smiled back at her, his eyes melting in ways they never did with me.

I should have expected it, but for some reason, despite everything she had done to me...

When I heard my sister's hypocritical voice, something in me snapped.

The shame, the humiliation.

The grief and betrayal surged, turning into a tsunami of unwillingness and resentment, swirling within me, violently slashing the walls of my heart.

It ached. Bled.

I let out a self-deprecating chuckle. So I turned out to be the clown, and everything was my illusion-it was never real.

But I didn't want to agree.

That. Everything. Was. A. Lie.

I staggered backward. My hand grabbed at my chest. I gasped, letting out wheezes.

My lungs tightened uncomfortably. The realization was shattering.

My view changed.

Everyone around me faded away into the inky darkness that crept toward me.

The ethereal full moon looking down at me turned sinister and ominous.

The trees stretched their twisted branches toward me.

Piercing chatters continued like a thousand buzzing bees, never leaving.

It was as if the whole world was against me.

I covered my ears, but it penetrated deeper, latching onto me.

Dragging me into its inky depths.

Desperation urged me forward, driving my motions.

I sank deeper, flailing my limbs, but it was inevitable.

Despite my struggles, it wrapped around me.

It's no use... no matter how hard I try...

I closed my eyes in despair, awaiting my fate.

Just when-

Then, suddenly, like a switch-

The world was bathed in red.

With a boom, it was like something shattered.

A rage that couldn't be explained in words clouded my reasoning.

Then, a voice-unfamiliar but intimate-rumbling with power that erupted goosebumps all over my body, spat:

"Scum."