ACE’S POV
Six Years Ago
100
E 55 vouchers
It was Moon’s birthday and she was throwing a party at her family mansion. The house was filled with her friends from college. We had been going out for the past one year and had just made it official. And of course, as her boyfriend, I was there. A lot of the people that came wanted to confirm if we were truly official. Her parents were there until she cut the cake before they left. They treated me with so much respect and love, it’s not every family that gets to have the future Alpha as their son in law.
The party was in full blast, every one drinking and dancing to the loud music. The cake and snacks were going round, everyone was happy.
I didn’t really want to be here, I only came because she is my girlfriend and she insisted that I come, especially now that we’re official. I was having a drink with Damien, my best friend at the bar area they had set up and having a conversation, my eyes scanning the whole room.
My eyes fell on a tiny figure, her face almost squashed against the wall as she struggled to get a piece of cake. It was Moon’s half sister, Charlotte. I remembered her face. I had saved her a few years back from rogues when she got lost in the woods. I didn’t care much about her then and I still don’t.
She was known for being ugly. Not because she truly was, but because people called her that. They named her “Ugly Duckling” because of the big mark on her face. The truth was, even with that mark, she was still prettier than most girls there. I might even say she was prettier than Moon, if not for that mark. And Moon was one of those model–type beautiful girls. So comparing her half sister to her felt almost crazy.
I guess people treated her badly because of her past. The way she was born. Everyone knew she was the daughter of a home breaker and that alone was enough for people to avoid her. No one wanted to be seen with her. Still, she had that one crazy best friend who didn’t hesitate to beat boys up whenever they tried to mess with her.
I watched her struggle and shook my head. She looked ridiculous, fighting to get a bite of her sister’s cake when she could easily go to the kitchen and get some. She was so small, I was afraid they’d crush her without even noticing. Then it happened. Someone from the crowd shoved her hard. She lost her balance and fell to the floor.
The music stopped. All eyes turned to her. The looks on their faces were filled with disgust.
“Hey, it’s the home breaker’s daughter. The Ugly Duckling of the pack. She wants a piece of cake and a drink,” someone shouted, and the crowd burst into laughter.
Then it got worse. Cakes and drinks were thrown at her from all sides. Cream stained her clothes, juice dripping down her hair and face. She stayed there, frozen, like she was used to it.
“You want some cake, ugly duckling? Come get some in my room,” one of the guys yelled.
“Don’t act all innocent,” another added. “You’re just like your mother.”
The noise grew louder, crueler. Laughter mixed with insults, and something inside me tightened. I didn’t
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Chapter 36
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know why, but I couldn’t stand there and watch anymore. I had no relationship with her. I barely knew her. But I’ve never tolerated bullying. As the future Alpha, every member of my pack matters. I’ve stepped in before, even for strangers, even for wolves that weren’t mine.
Still, what I felt watching this girl was something I couldn’t explain. My wolf was howling in my head. I gulped. down the drink in my glass, my hands squeezed the glass so hard it broke into pieces, causing everyone to look at me.
Moon must have noticed the change in my mood because she ran to Charlotte and helped her up. The girl was so thin, and wearing that oversized worn out jeans and torn shirt made my stomach twist. Her collar bone was so obvious and sharp it could cut a paper. She looked so malnourished.
“It’s okay, guys. Charlotte was probably hungry and wanted some cake,” she said in that fake sweet voice. I had known Moon for years. I knew when she meant her words. This wasn’t one of those times.
Someone laughed loudly.
“Yeah, let her eat. The cake’s right there.”
Moon smiled wider. “It’s alright, dear. It’s all over the floor. Just pick it up and eat as much as you want.”
My chest tightened. I honestly thought Charlotte would refuse. I thought she would stand up and walk away. But when I looked at her again, her hands were shaking. Her lips trembled as she swallowed hard, she looked terrified.
“Did she just tell her half–sister to eat cake off the floor?” Damien whispered beside me, his voice rough.
Charlotte slowly bent down. Her fingers hovered over the mess on the floor, sticky with drinks and footprints. “Go on,” Moon urged softly. “Everyone’s watching.”
Charlotte picked up a small piece. Someone whistled. Someone else clapped. They all brought out their phones to take videos. “Look at her,” a guy said. “Just like her mother after all.”
Charlotte’s shoulders stiffened. She brought the cake closer to her mouth, her eyes glossy, her face burning with shame.
That was when something inside me broke. My wolf growled angrily in my head.
“STOP!”
Everywhere went quiet, they all turned to me, including Moon. The woman in front of me didn’t look like the same sweet girl that I fell for. I couldn’t believe she did that to her sister. Charlotte used that opportunity to slip away, I watched her retreating figure until she disappeared.
The party continued like nothing just happened. I went outside because I needed some fresh air. When outside, I decided to take a walk. That was when I saw Charlotte again. She was trembling like a scared cat.
“Are you okay?” I heard a voice behind me, it was Damien. Damien and I grew up together and he was closer to me than anyone else, knew almost everything about me, we shared secrets, and we fit each other’s backs.
“No.” I shook my head. “No, I’m not fine.” The night was chilly but I felt no cold.
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Chapter 56
He nodded in understanding. “What happened in there was crazy. It’s..” His words were cut off by a sharp
It was coming from the direction I saw Charlotte earlier. Moon’s mother had just slapped her. The woman looked so angry that she slapped Charlotte over and over again, she had rings in her fingers and they slit Charlotte’s cheeks, blood tickling down her face.
Something inside me snapped, I couldn’t control it anymore. I moved to confront the woman but Damien caught my wrist, stopped me.
“Not now Ace. If you interfere, it may get worse for her. And you know their relationship with your father, he wouldn’t approve of whatever you want to do.”
I stood there, feeling useless and helpless as the woman dragged Charlotte away on the ground. Moon’s father and mine were business partners, they did so many businesses together. Her father usually brought Moon to our house whenever he came around, when she was still young. They had been open about me marrying Moon and making her my Luna, while they hoped she would end up as my mate.
My father had a woman he loved before he met my mum, they broke up and he ended up marrying my mother but he never loved her. It was so obvious that I believed that was how it should be. My father taught me that marriage is not about love but gain. As I grew, I started liking Moon and the idea of being together so I entertained the idea of having her as my mate and Luna. I had been with a few female wolves before her but she was the only girl I had ever liked.
I couldn’t sleep at night. I tossed around so much thinking of Charlotte. What I felt for her was new and different, and it scared the shit out of me. The sudden urge to protect and take care was strong, and I was unable to fight it. I mind linked Damien and in a few minutes he came to our house. We went to Moon’s residence.
“You brought me out here to see your girlfriend?” Damien asked, staring at me as if I had gone crazy. “If you knew you would feel bad, you shouldn’t have left the party the way you did.”
“I’m not here to see Moon,” I stated plainly.
He gasped. “You’re here for Charlotte? What is happening to my best friend?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I only want to see if she’s alright.” That was part of it, I just couldn’t admit that it was more than that.
We surveyed the property, until we saw movements somewhere outside the main building, it looked like an abandoned storage house, even a basement. The place was deserted but then I saw Gavin hovering around someone. It was Charlotte. He woke her up, fed her some food, gave her pillow and covered her with a duvet. He was there beside her as she slept.
I felt different kinds of emotions as I watched them together, jealousy, anger and something I couldn’t explain. I wanted to be the one doing that for her.
The next few days, I noticed that Gavin was always around her, taking care of her, helping her to do some chores, even punishment. I was pissed at them. I decided to kill whatever feelings that were growing in my heart for Charlotte. I never cared about her and it should stay that way.
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Chapter 57
Chapter 57
CHARLOTTE’S POV
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
