Chapter 1

Isabella Martini - POV

"Isabella!" I heard my father growl from downstairs, which made my eyes fly open. I got up from my bed and immediately ran out of my room while my mind was trying to decipher what I did wrong. I did all the chores, and I even refilled his cigar box. As I took the stairs one at a time, I felt my heart hammering against my chest.

The house was eerily quiet, and I didn't hear my mother's sobs either. As I walked into the living room, I saw my father sitting in his usual place with a cigar lit up in his hand. My eyes slowly wandered towards Alpha Romano.

What is he doing here?

"Alpha Romano is here with some good news." Father began to explain while my eyes were staring at the wooden floor.

Are they finally going to banish me from this pack for what happened to my sister?

"He wants to make you his mate." these words made me look up in horror.

"But...but, father. I still have my mate out there somewhere." I mumbled while I saw my father narrow his eyes at me.

"You should have thought about that before killing your sister." he sneered while this made the tears flow down my cheeks. I wanted to scream to the entire pack that I did not kill her, that it was not my fault, but I knew that it was useless right now. No one would believe me because whatever my father says goes. "By killing your sister, you made Alpha Romano mateless." he accused me as I looked down at the floor.

I did not kill her. I mumbled as the tears freely flowed down my cheeks.

"What about my mate? What would happen when I finally find him?" I questioned while I saw my father's hand tighten around the armrest. I know I am crossing my limits here, but being the beta's daughter, I didn't want to go down without a fight.

"We will cross that bridge when it comes." it was Alpha Romano who said it, which made me turn around to face him. He is not much older than me, and he had always been this carefree person with a smile on his face, but her death changed him. As he stared at me, I could clearly see the accusation in his eyes. "We will have the mating ceremony tomorrow night." that was all he said as he walked out of there.

"You should be happy that he even wants you." I heard my father whisper before he stormed out of there as well. My legs couldn't hold in anymore as I fell to the wooden floor.

I didn't know why my family hated me so much, my father, mother, and even my older brother. I thought they would believe me, but just like the rest of the pack, they ignored my reasonings. Ever since my sister's death, my mother hasn't come out of her room, and it has been a month since my brother got himself busy with beta duties.

I felt so lonely, and this accusation was gradually eating me alive.

Maybe they are right. If I mate with Alpha Romano, I might be able to atone for my sins.

"That is rubbish, Isabella. Please don't do that. You know our mate is out there somewhere." Rose, my wolf pledged, but right now, I am not going to hear her. I wiped my cheeks and got up from the floor and made my way up to my room.

Alpha Gael Romano - POV

I felt like my lungs were burning just by breathing the same air as her, but I know that I cannot back out now. Lorena was my everything, and when I first found out that she was my mate, I was over the moon. Everything was going just fine when Isabella came into the picture.

"I don't think it is her fault." Zev, my wolf, said, but I shook my head. I can still remember the conversation that I overheard five months back. Just before I found out that Lorena was my mate.

"Admit it, Bella." I heard a woman insist, which made me stop in my tracks as I hid behind the tree.

"I do like him. But I don't think I can tell if he is my mate till I am twenty-one." it was Isabella's voice.

"I have a feeling that you two might be mates." I heard her friend tease, and this made a smile form on my face. I have always seen Isabella as a sister that I never had. But I guess everyone in this pack likes her for her kind nature and politeness. "Shall we go back to work, Luna of the Blood Moon pack?" I heard her friend tease before their voices faded away.

I opened my eyes again as I stared at my dimly lit office room. "She wanted to be the Luna of this pack. I will make her the Luna." I said out loud as I gulped down my fourth glass of whiskey and placed the glass on the table.

I will make sure she regrets the day she was born.

I pulled open my bottom drawer and took the photo frame out and placed it in front of me. It was a picture of Lorena and me when I took her to my forest cabin. She was sitting on a fallen log and looking up at the sky with a beautiful smile on her face.

There are a few people in the pack who still believe Isabella, but I would never believe her. The rogues that attacked Lorena and her were powerful and ruthless, and it is still a wonder as to how they left her living while they only managed to kill Lorena.

In the beginning, I didn't believe it either, but as the days passed by and there was no trace of the rogues, I knew that Isabella must have been behind this.

But now I have no choice but to choose a second mate after the letter I received from the elders. If I don't, then I might as well lose everything that I have built so far.