Chapter 1 Chapter-1

Raven’s POV

Alaric, my husband, cupped Zoe’s face, the same way he used to hold mine and he kissed her in front of everyone.

“Ms. Kat is brilliant,” someone said.

“Our Kat is so beautiful,” another elder whispered.

“Brilliant work, Kat,” Alaric announced to the crowd. “This Lunar Prosperity Model will transform our pack’s future.”

“She’s been a great help,” he continued, glancing at the other Alphas. “I can’t imagine a better partner for this project.”

I stood at the back, unable to control my emotions, my palms pressed together so tightly the nails dug into my skin.

Kat’s cheeks flushed prettily under the golden lights, while Alaric gazed at her with amused adoration, and everyone looked at her proudly.

Six months ago, before the scar, Alaric would pull me into his office between meetings, steal kisses, tell me I was beautiful. The man who once looked at me with those eyes was now looking at my sister like she was the only beautiful girl he’d ever laid eyes on.

But that was before the scar. Before I became something that people call “The Ugly Luna.”

My name is Raven Kennedy, Luna of the Moonshade Pack. When I first met Alpha Alaric at one of the pack meetings, I fell in love with him instantly, but his heart belonged to my sister, Kat, from the start.

Because she was his mate, my mom forced my sister to marry Alpha Draven and me to Alpha Alaric, dividing her pack and shares, giving half to me and half to my sister. It was a contract marriage. Alaric at first showed no interest in me, but we eventually fell in love.

We both worked hard together to grow our pack economically and politically. We were that sweet couple everyone was jealous of—until the rogue attack destroyed everything.

In that rogue attack, a nasty rogue was about to attack Alaric, and I stood between them. I got attacked. The rogue’s claw tore through my face in one slash. It cut from my temple, across my cheek, down to my neck. The pack healers tried to fix it, but the scar stayed.Three long claw marks running down the left side of my face, from my temple to my jaw.

The raised tissue pulls at my eye and twists my smile.

Alaric started showing me cold shoulders and looking at me with disgust, as if he was humiliated by my face—until Kat came back into our lives after her husband’s death. Alaric completely forgot about me and started being with her while I was taking care of the pack and the business.

I organized this pack meeting for my new project. I did everything. I put my heart and soul into this project.

Just an hour before this meeting, Alaric came to my room.

He came to me, voice smooth, eyes cold. “You won’t be speaking today,” he’d said. “Kat will present your proposal.”

I thought I misheard him. I’d been up for nights perfecting the Lunar Prosperity Model—my project.

“But… It’s mine, I worked day and night for this project,” I murmured. “You said the council was expecting me to…”

He’d cut me off without a glance. “You’ll stay quiet. Kat will take your place. It’s better this way.”

“Better?” I’d managed to ask.

He’d looked at me with anger. “That scar, Raven... It’s distracting. Uncomfortable. People don’t want to see it. They’ll focus on your face instead of your words, and the project will suffer because of it.”

I tried to reason with him, keeping my voice soft, careful. “Alaric, they’ll understand if…”

“Enough.” His tone deepened, layered with the commanding power of an Alpha. “You’ll stay seated. You’ll say nothing. Do not test me, Raven.”

He used his Alpha tone on me. And I submitted to it.

That single command had killed something—my hard work, my dignity. And here I am, standing at the back while the crowd cheered for Kat; it broke my heart.

‘He’s ashamed of us,’ Ryx, my wolf, choked out.

Alaric cleared his throat, pulling Kat closer. “This project,” he said proudly, “is proof that when vision meets grace, success follows. Kat has done something extraordinary for our pack. She worked hard for this project.”

I just gave a weak smile; he didn’t even acknowledge my hard work once.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

Suddenly, Alaric was on his knees in front of Kat, taking a small box.

No… no… this can’t be happening.

“Kat,” he said, with emotion and love in his voice. “I’ve realized I can’t go another day without you.”

Alaric held out a small silver ring that glinted under the light. “You’ve brought light back into my life when I thought it was gone. Be my Luna—my partner, and let me mark you.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd, and they started cheering again.

Kat covered her mouth, tears spilling down her perfect cheeks. “Yes… Yes, Alaric,” she whispered.

My mate, my husband, was now ready to mark my sister before the entire pack.

“Alaric! Kat!” My voice cracked as I pushed through the crowd. “How can you do this? I’m your mate!”

Kat pulled away from Alaric’s embrace, tears streaming down her face.

“You don’t understand. I never wanted this. I never wanted to come between you two.” She clutched Alaric’s arm as if for support. “When Draven died, I was so lost, so broken. I came here because you’re my sister, because I needed family. And Alaric... he was just being kind to me.”

With that, she ran away, leaving me with an angry Alaric.

“Can’t you be sensitive to your sister? You’re being mean to her. She just lost her husband, and you’re being such a brat. You’re just as ugly as your face.”

He said it and walked away. Everyone was staring at me with disgust and hatred.

“Luna Raven,” Beta Robert said softly. “Maybe you should rest and call it a day.”

I nodded. I’d talk to Alaric tomorrow. Make him understand.

I opened my room door and froze in shock. Alaric and Kat were on the bed, naked, tangled together.

A burning pain erupted across my mark on my neck, scorching my skin like fire.