CHAPTER 53: OVER MY DEAD BODY WILL I ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN!

Liora’s POV

I am standing inside my father’s chamber as he paces relentlessly. His hands clenched into fists as he lamented.

"Darius has brought shame upon me, upon us!" he spat, his eyes blazing with rage. "My lovely daughter, the pride of our pack, cast aside like some common cur! How dare he call off the mating ceremony with his sons, just like that?!"

Before I could speak, a commotion outside snagged my attention. Voices rose from the outside. I turned toward the window, drawn by the clamor as I pushed aside the velvet curtain. My eyes scanned the scene in front of me. Warriors, who had chased after Iris were approaching now and suddenly, my eyes landed on Cade approaching as he was carrying Iris more like a bride. The sight twisted some kind of jealousy inside me, slicing through my chest. She looked unconscious.

More jealousy surged through me, twisting my heart until it felt like I couldn’t breathe. My father stepped beside me, his gaze following mine. His face twisted in fury at the sight of it, his eyes cold. "That omega," he cursed. "That filth dares to take your place?"

I couldn’t bear it. The sight of Cade holding her, his arms looking protective around her, was an embarrassment to my pride. Without a word, I spun on my heel, I left, storming out of the chamber. My father’s voice called after me, but I didn’t stop. I pushed through the doors of the courtyard, my eyes locked onto Cade as he headed toward the maid quarters, Iris still in his arms. I followed. But before I could say a word, before I could demand answers to his actions, Alpha Darius’s voice cut through. "Take her into the Crescent Chamber."

What? The Crescent Chamber? That’s the sacred matrimonial chamber reserved for the triplets, Cade, Zane, and Kael where they were expected to spend a night after claiming their mate, me. It was a room steeped in tradition, depicting the pack’s history. I’d never been there. Only the chosen Luna and her mates were permitted to cross its threshold, a sanctity meant to seal my union with the triplets.

Darius’s words were a slap to my face, adding more fire in my chest. Why? Why should she, that omega, that outcast, be taken to the chamber meant for me? My eyes darted to Cade, searching for hesitation, for some sign that he would refuse his father’s command. But he didn’t. None of them did. Zane and Kael stood behind their father, their faces unreadable. They didn’t question him. They didn’t fight for me. The realization made me want to scream out my lungs in tears.

I took a step toward the chamber, attempting to go in with them but Alpha Darius’s hand shot up, his palm facing me. "Stay back, Liora," he said. His voice, a command that brooked no argument.

Humiliation washed over me, hot and suffocating as I couldn’t hide the shame of being humiliated in the presence of the few elders who were there. I am the daughter of an alpha, promised to the triplets, and yet here I was, barred from the chamber meant for my future, while she was carried inside. I stood frozen as Cade took her in through the already opened door. Zane and Kael followed too, alongside their father, the beta and elders.

Minutes passed before the triplets finally came out. Cade’s eyes met mine as he opened his mouth to speak, but I couldn’t bear to hear it. I turned, my hair whipping behind me as I stormed away, heading angrily towards my quarters. Their footsteps followed as they tried to stop me.

"Liora, wait!" Cade called. "Please, let us explain!"

I didn’t stop. My vision blurred with unshed tears at the continuous thought of Iris in that chamber, of the elders’s proclamation that she was the "Mother of Wolves," twisted like a knife in my gut. I’d heard stories about the mother of wolves but I never believed it existed. Now, because of that girl, I’d been humiliated on the day that’s supposed to be a special day to me.

To be abandoned by one’s mate was a disgrace beyond measure in our pack. It was a public rejection, a stain on one’s honor that could never be washed away. The whispers would follow me forever, the pitying glances, the murmured questions about what I had done to lose their favor. And to lose it to her, an omega, a nobody was a wound too deep to bear.

"Liora!" Zane’s voice was closer now, and I felt his hand brush my arm as he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. His eyes were pleading. "You need to listen to us. Please."

I yanked my arm away, my voice breaking as I snapped back. "Listen? To what? To how you’ve humiliated me? How you’ve let that omega take my place?" Tears spilled down my eyes as I gazed at them angrily. "Do you know what this means? To be cast aside like this? The entire pack will talk, Zane! And you just stood there, all of you, letting your father parade her into my chamber!"

Cade stepped closer. "Liora, it’s not like that. You are still our mate and we will never choose her over you."

"Don’t!" I cut him off, my voice rising to a scream. "Don’t you dare make excuses! My sobs choking me as I poured out every ounce of my hurt. "I was supposed to be your Luna, your mate. And now she’s in there, in the Crescent Chamber, while I’m out here, humiliated!"

Kael’s voice was soft. "Liora, we’re sorry. She’s in there doesn’t make her our mate. Please, just calm down and let us..."

"Calm down?" I whirled on him, my eyes blazing through my tears. "You think I can just calm down when my entire future has been ripped away?" I shoved past Zane, my shoulder brushing his as I stormed toward my room and entered, shutting the door locked against them. Their voices followed, begging me to open the door, to listen, but I couldn’t.

"Please, you need to hear us out." Said Kael

"At least give us the chance to make it right," came Cade’s voice.

Their voices echoed through the wood door, calling my name, begging for forgiveness but I ignored them as I stumbled to my dresser.

My reflection stared back at me from the mirror as the sight of Iris in Cade’s arms flashed through my mind again, and rage exploded within me. Immediately, my hands swept across the dresser, sending bottles of perfume, brushes, and other objects crashing to the floor. Glass shattered as I grabbed anything within my reach, hurling it against the wall. It smashed and still, it wasn’t enough to drown out the relentless fury and thoughts of Iris, that omega, in the Crescent Chamber before me.

Over my dead body will I allow this to happen.