Brielle’s POV
The world outside the car windows blurred into streaks of silver and black as the tires raced down the dark road. The scent of burning rubber and pine filled the air. I sat in silence beside the stranger who had pulled me away from the ruins of my life.
Behind us, I could still hear faint echoes of pursuit, the growl of engines, the howl of wolves trying to catch up.
“They’re following us,” I whispered, glancing at the rear window.
“They won’t for long,” the stranger said flatly. His tone was calm, almost emotionless.
The driver swerved sharply, taking a narrow road that cut through the forest. I held onto the seat, my heart hammering. I didn’t know who this man was, but I could sense power radiating from him. His presence was cold yet strangely reassuring.
When the sound of the chasing cars finally faded, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My knees trembled, my palms were sweaty.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly.
He didn’t look at me. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead. “A friend of your brother,” he said simply. “He asked me to bring you home.”
“Home…” I repeated the word quietly, as if I’d forgotten what it meant.
The word tasted unfamiliar on my tongue. I’d called Stormvale Pack my home for years, but it was nothing more than a gilded cage. And now, here I was, leaving everything behind, my heart shattered and my pride crushed.
“Can I know your name?” I asked again, though I didn’t expect much.
He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable. “Names don’t matter right now,” he said. “Rest. You’ve had enough pain for one night.”
His voice wasn’t harsh, it was deep and steady, almost commanding. I nodded weakly. My body was exhausted from the humiliation, from kneeling on salt, from all the tears that refused to stop falling.
I leaned against the seat and let my eyes close. The gentle hum of the engine became a lullaby, pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.
When I woke up, morning light was spilling through the car windows. The faint scent of fresh blossoms filled the air. My eyes widened when I saw the golden gates ahead, carved with symbols I knew by heart.
Moonveil Pack. My home.
The guards recognized the family crest on the car and immediately opened the gates. I felt a wave of emotion rush over me, relief, sorrow, fear. I was home, but not the same person who had left.
When the car stopped, I stepped out slowly. The moment my feet touched the ground, I was surrounded by familiar faces. Warriors, omegas, pack members, people I’d known since I was a child.
“Lady Brielle!” one of them cried.
And then, they all came rushing forward.
Tears filled my eyes as they hugged me, welcomed me back, and whispered blessings.
The stranger stepped aside quietly, his gaze scanning the perimeter as if guarding me even now.
Before I could thank him, I saw my brother running from the pack mansion. Alpha Benedict, tall, broad-shouldered, his aura strong and fierce. His usually calm eyes were burning with fury when they landed on me.
“Brielle,” he breathed, pulling me into his arms. “You’re home. You’re safe now.”
I broke down then, sobbing into his chest. The smell of his familiar pine scent made me feel like a child again.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out between tears. “I should’ve listened to you. You told me not to trust him.”
“Don’t,” he said, his voice low and trembling. “Don’t ever apologize for loving someone who didn’t deserve you.”
Behind him, my parents appeared.
Alpha Charles, my father, still tall and dignified despite the gray streaks in his hair. His eyes were sharp, assessing me from head to toe as if ensuring I was whole. And beside him was my mother, Luna Mira, her beauty as gentle as ever, her hands trembling as she reached for me.
“My little girl…” she whispered, cupping my face. “You’re home now.”
I couldn’t speak. I just cried again as she held me tightly.
That night, the pack held a small feast in my honor. Tables were lined with food, candles flickered, and the wolves of Moonveil celebrated my return with howls that echoed through the hills. I smiled politely, but inside I felt hollow.
Every laugh, every toast reminded me of what I had lost, of what had been stolen from me.
When the feast ended, I was called into my father’s office. The room smelled of oakwood and paper, exactly how I remembered it. My father sat behind his desk, my brother standing beside him, arms crossed. My mother sat near the fireplace, her face drawn with worry.
“Sit, Brielle,” Father said. His tone was calm, but I could hear the storm behind it.
I obeyed quietly.
“Tell us everything,” he said.
So I did.
From the moment Alpha Xavier left me at the altar, to the day I found him holding another woman, the way Victoria had mocked me, the humiliations I endured, and the betrayal.
By the time I finished, silence filled the room. My mother was crying silently. My brother’s fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
And my father’s eyes, cold and sharp, were filled with barely contained rage.
“That filthy wolf,” he muttered. “He dares humiliate a daughter of Moonveil?”
Benedict’s voice was low and trembling with fury. “Father, give me the order. I’ll burn his pack to the ground.”
“No,” I said quickly. “No, Ben. Please. I don’t want war.”
He turned to me, eyes wild. “After what he did to you? After he made you kneel in front of everyone?”
Tears welled in my eyes again. “I don’t want innocent wolves to get hurt because of me.”
My mother stood and went to me, brushing my hair gently. “You’re too kind, Brielle. But sometimes peace must be earned with strength.”
My father’s voice cut through the tension. “There will be no weakness in this house.” He leaned forward, his expression hard. “That man ruined your name. The other packs are already whispering. If we don’t act, our daughter will become a laughingstock.”
I looked down. I knew he was right. In our world, reputation was everything. An Alpha’s daughter who was rejected and betrayed, it was scandalous.
“What will you do?” I asked quietly.
My father exchanged a glance with Benedict. Then he said, “We will make Alpha Xavier pay for what he’s done. But that’s not what’s more important now.”
He stood, his aura filling the room. “You will be married again, Brielle.”
I froze. “What?”
“It’s the only way to protect your name,” he said firmly. “If you marry into a stronger pack, the scandal will die. The other packs will stop whispering.”
“But I don’t want to marry again,” I whispered. “Not like this. Not so soon.”
“You don’t have a choice. This is for you, my daughter,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Benedict spoke then, still seething but quieter now. “Who are you thinking, Father?”
My father looked at him, his expression turning thoughtful. Then slowly, he said, “Propose a marriage to Alpha Cassius of Eclipse Pack. He’s powerful, respected, and loyal to our family. I want him to marry my daughter.”
My breath caught. My heart began to pound as the reality sank in.
Benedict’s jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly. “I’ll send a proposal tomorrow.”
My father’s gaze settled on me. “This time, Brielle, we’ll make sure you end up with a real Alpha, one who knows your worth.”
