Torn Between The Alphas.

~LILY~

I quickened my pace, ignoring Freya's urgent calls to hurry up. I was aware of the time, but I couldn't afford to rush and risk damaging the delicate package in my hands. Every step counted, and I had to tread carefully to ensure its safe arrival.

The prospect of turning 18 has me captivated by the hope of catching the eye of the man I admire. I can hardly contain my excitement and nervousness as I await this pivotal moment that could forever change my life. Since I first saw Alpha Maverick, I have longed for this day to come.

He is the most feared and respected Alpha I have ever come across. The moment I laid eyes on him, his commanding presence and chiseled physique left an indelible mark on my mind. His broad shoulders, towering height, and piercing gaze set him apart from the other Alphas, radiating an aura of confidence and power that was impossible to ignore.

A year ago, he noticed my affection towards him, and ever since then, he has been so kind to me. I think he is into me as much as I am into him.

When he sent me a message yesterday that I should get the most beautiful cake I could find in the bakery today, I knew something was about to happen.

He already knows it's my birthday, and he wants to surprise me by marking me as his mate.

I crossed to the other side of the road, where my best friend, Freya, stood waiting for me. She was practically vibrating with anticipation, as if my birthday was her own personal milestone.

"Why are you always late on everything?" She frowned at me.

I only nodded to her with a smile on my face before entering the gates of the pack house.

As I stood before the threshold, my heart racing with anticipation, I couldn't help but envision the transformative journey that lay ahead. I saw myself evolving from a timid, bullied omega, constantly belittled and marginalized within the pack, to a powerful and revered Luna, commanding respect and admiration.

A smile forms on my lips, envisioning how Alpha Maverick is going to mark me in front of my friend and maybe some other werewolves.

But I was surprised when I saw almost all the werewolves in the Crescent Moon Pack present in the grand hall of the pack house.

I didn't know he was going to make my birthday a memorable one, and it gladdened my heart to see that Alpha Maverick cares about me as much as I cared about him.

I surveyed the hall, trying to locate him, when suddenly the lights went off, leaving us all in darkness.

My heart fluttered, waiting to feel his hands wrapped around me, but I felt nothing.

As the lights flashed on, Alpha Maverick came into view, his imposing figure dominating the hall, arms encircling Freya's waist like a claim of possession, his eyes locked on mine with an unnerving intensity.

My heart rate increased, and my legs became numb.

"What's happening?" The more I pondered, the more my thoughts seemed to twist into knots, each one tightening the noose of uncertainty around my mind.

The only people that would give me the answer were Freya and Maverick, but they both seemed to be in a romantic moment.

Was this a deliberate ploy to manipulate my emotions, to see if I'd crack under the pressure?

Freya is my best friend, and even though she is the daughter of the former Beta, she once told me she was not interested in the Alpha because he was rude.

"Lily, bring over the cake." Alpha Maverick's voice brought me back to reality.

All eyes turned to me as I stood in a spot, frozen by the scene before me.

When I didn't move, Alpha Maverick released Freya's waist and walked over to me.

He took the cake package from my hand and returned it to Freya, who was grinning from ear to ear.

As I watched in stunned silence, he presented the cake to her with a sly smile, and then, in a move that felt like a dagger to my heart, they leaned in, their lips meeting in a passionate, lingering kiss. Their arms wrapped around each other, as if the world around them had melted away.

My heart plummeted, and the shock sent a shiver down my blood stream.

As if that wasn't enough to shatter my heart into pieces, he turned her over to him, her face facing me as he deepened his fangs into her neck, marking her as his mate.

"I, Alpha Maverick Thane of Crescent Moon Pack, mark Freya Ronan as my mate and also the future Luna of this pack."

My world came crashing down, and I fell on my knees as soon as he said that. I thought they were playing around, but I was wrong. The Alpha never liked me; he was only using me to his own advantage.

I was so stupid to have believed that he was in love with me. If only I had listened to my bullies, I would have stayed away from him long ago.

"Lily, what are you still waiting for?" Freya's eyes glinted with mischief as she asked, her voice tinged with a playful sarcasm, as if daring me to respond.

"She thought the Alpha was going to mark her." I heard one of the guests say it with a smirk.

As if Maverick heard what the woman said, he stepped forward, holding Freya's hand.

"It's time to wake up, Lily; you aren't the kind of mate I want." His words felt like a razor-sharp dagger thrust into my chest, the blade twisting mercilessly as he uttered the truth I'd always feared:

"You are an omega, and I need a strong mate to stand by my side." The pain was suffocating, a heavy weight crushing my lungs, making it hard to breathe.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my heart racing like a wild animal, as shame, anger, and hurt tangled together in a toxic knot, squeezing the air from my lungs.

The words hung in the air like a challenge.

I never expected that from him. I thought he accepted me for who I am, but I was wrong.

As if that wasn't enough, he went on. "Freya is the daughter of the former Beta, and you are nobody. Freya has a wolf, but you don't. There's no way anyone will accept you as their Luna," he said, sounding like he was mocking me.

Tears streamed down my face, and I buried my face in my hands. That was so humiliating, and saying those words in front of the people who hate me more than anything, as if I am stopping them from getting what they want, is such a disgrace to me.

Their faces all carried a mocking look, and some of them were already laughing at me.

I lifted up my head, and my gaze met Freya's. She gave me a smirk before looking away. Their actions were a slap in the face, a harsh wake-up call that shattered the illusions I'd held about them, and left me reeling from the shock.

If only I knew that Freya's friendship was a mere pretense, I would have stopped being friends with her long ago.