Samantha’s POV
"I'm not going to listen to you! Why don’t you contribute something instead of complaining?! I can do whatever I want. If I want to invite your sister, then I will invite her!"
His words sliced through me like a dagger. Before I could even process them, he turned his back on me and walked away, leaving me standing there—confused, hurt, and humiliated. I bit my lip, willing myself not to cry, but the tears welled up anyway. My hands trembled as I clenched them into fists at my sides.
Alexander never treated me like this before. Why now? What changed?
Determined to get answers, I started to follow him, but before I could reach him, the ceremony began. The grand celebration filled the room with laughter, music, and lively chatter. Everyone around me was having the time of their lives, yet I felt completely out of place. My heart pounded as I searched for Alexander, weaving through the crowd in desperation.
"Have you seen Alexander?" I asked Dante, his Beta, barely able to mask my anxiety.
Dante glanced at me, then pointed toward the dance floor. "I think I saw Alpha over there."
I turned in the direction he indicated, and my world shattered into pieces.
There he was. In the middle of the dance floor. With her.
Cassandra.
She was in his arms, her laughter light and carefree. They swayed to the rhythm, completely lost in each other. The way Alexander looked at her, so warm, so full of something I hadn’t seen in his eyes for me in a long time, was enough to tear me apart. He held her close, their fingers entwined, and for a moment, it was as if I no longer existed.
A sob caught in my throat, but I swallowed it down.
Why? Why are they dancing? Why do they look so happy together?
I moved forward, unable to stop myself. "A-Alexander?" My voice came out shakier than I intended.
He stopped mid-spin, his gaze locking onto mine. But there was no guilt. No regret. Just irritation.
"What is it? Can't you see I’m in the middle of something?" he snapped.
I turned to Cassandra, who met my eyes without a trace of shame. She knew. She knew I was supposed to be Luna. And yet, here she was, in his arms as if I never mattered.
"A-Alexander, please," I whispered. "Let’s talk."
He exhaled sharply, his patience clearly running thin. "No. There's nothing we need to talk about."
And then, I snapped.
"Please stop dancing with her! She ruined my life!" My voice rang out, louder than I intended. I couldn’t stop myself. I had to say it!
The entire area fell silent. All eyes turned to me, some in shock, others in amusement. A wave of humiliation crashed over me, but I stood my ground. Cassandra, however, only smirked, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
And then, Alexander looked at me. The moment our gazes met, I saw it, the irritation, the disbelief.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he asked, his tone laced with annoyance.
Before I could answer, my father stormed toward me. His face twisted with anger, his fists clenched so tightly I thought he might strike me right then and there.
"Samantha!" he hissed. "What do you think you’re doing?!"
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to find the right words. "Father… Cassandra….she's stealing Alexander from me!" My voice broke, my desperation clear.
"What?" My father scoffed, shaking his head. "Cassandra would never do such a thing. Stop being foolish! They are just dancing. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?!"
My heart pounded against my chest. "But—"
"Samantha, you’re always overthinking things," Cassandra interrupted, her voice sickly sweet. "In fact, I haven’t done anything wrong." She took a step toward me, her expression shifting to one of mock concern. "You know what? You’re just being delusional at this point."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Pack members whispered among themselves, their judgmental gazes piercing through me. I felt small, humiliated, my dignity slipping away by the second.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head, refusing to accept this. "That’s not the case. Please, Alexander." I turned to him, my last hope. I needed him to see me, to defend me.
But instead, his expression hardened. And then, to my absolute horror—
He slapped me.
The force sent me crashing to the floor, pain exploding across my cheek. Gasps filled the room. My mother screamed my name, trying to rush toward me, but my father stopped her, his grip firm.
"You will do nothing," he said coldly. "Let her learn her place!"
I could barely breathe. My hands trembled as I touched my burning cheek, the sting of his palm still fresh.
And then, Alexander spoke. "You need to understand where you stand in this life. We were just dancing, there was no need for this outburst." His voice was devoid of emotion, completely detached. "Don’t humiliate your sister. You needed me, and that’s why we are all here. Do you understand?"
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I lifted my gaze to meet his, my entire body shaking. Slowly, painfully, I pushed myself to my feet.
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "You’ve changed." My voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of my words was undeniable. My gaze shifted to Cassandra. "Because of her."
And just like that, I ran. Away from the stares. Away from the whispers. Away from him!
I will get out of here… no matter what it takes. I won’t let them break me. I will fight, I will survive, and I will make sure of it!
