Chapter 3

• Hayley was the first to look at her. She glared at Winona with irritation before rolling her eyes. Deep down, Winona knew her sister would take Brent away from her, but she refused to acknowledge it.
• Hayley had always set her sights on Brent and prided herself as the future Luna! How could Winona have forgotten?
• Winona searched for tears, she really did, but found none. The only thing that remained with her was the raw feeling of pain and loss, the one she was supposed to be accustomed to.
• Brent was furious, extremely irate, that she had interrupted his passionate session with her sister. He removed his hands from Hayley and strode quickly towards her. That same hateful glare he always reserved for her was clearly etched on his face.
• She should have run, she should have turned on her heels and fled until she was out of sight, but she couldn't. Her limbs were frozen in shock and pain as she stood rooted to the spot.
• Both her arms were numb. That was why she couldn't shield her face from the slap that landed across her right cheek, sending her face to the left. She could swear she almost lost a tooth!
• She saw flashes of white after the slap followed by deep red. It took more than sixty seconds for her vision to stabilize. His palm felt like hot iron that was seared into her cheek. She felt the sting on her face...and in her heart.
• "Stupid bitch," Brent growled above her.
• And she heard Hayley's footsteps approaching her. She wanted to press her hand to soothe the pain on her cheek, but her arms wouldn't move. They had become numb as well, she guessed. Maybe due to fear or pain, she didn't know.
• She stood straight and looked Hayley dead in the eyes first, because she was too much of a coward to look at Brent. Hayley, who was taller than her, felt insulted by her stare.
• Another nerve-wracking slap landed on her left cheek, and sent her face hurling towards the right. Yet again, the humiliation burrowed deep into her already aching heart.
• "Just who do you think you are to look at me like that?! You are just an ugly duckling, an unwanted cancer! A curse with a cursed wolf. You had better know your place before opening that filthy hole you call a mouth.” Hayley screamed at the top of her voice.
• "So, when I'm standing in front of you, you look down at your feet when talking to me, do you understand?!"
• Winona remained silent and stared at her. Was Hayley really instructing her to bow to her? Who was she to speak to her in such a manner? She was Brent's mate! She was the one likely to become Luna, not Hayley!
• "Why should I bow to you? Who are you to demand that from me?" Winona retorted. Then, raising her voice, she decided to voice out her thoughts. "I am Brent's mate! You don't have the right to talk to me like that!"
• And that was the final straw that infuriated Brent. He suddenly turned to her and snapped with a terrifying aura.
• In that moment, Winona knew she had made the biggest mistake of her life.
• Winona felt a burning sensation on her cheek. The force of the impact sent her sprawling to the ground, blood spilling from her mouth. How could she have been so foolish to think that she could stand up to her sister?
• She had never triumphed over Hayley. She had been beaten, gagged, and trampled on just to satisfy her sister's whims. What made her think this time would be any different?
• How could she have possibly believed that Brent would accept her as his mate? He had warned her, but she thought he was just biding his time. Wishful thinking, right? That had always been her downfall.
• "Fucking cunt, didn't you hear what she said?" Brent roared at her. He didn't even flinch when he saw her on the floor, nor did he show any remorse for hitting her.
• She felt abandoned and... hurt, but for fear of another slap, she lowered her eyes and bit her lips to stop them from quivering. She had no choice but to obey, if that would put an end to everything.
• How wrong she was. She was completely and utterly wrong. Who said being obedient would keep her out of trouble? Trouble was her middle, no, her first name. It followed her everywhere.
• She thought that if she just obeyed, perhaps Brent would forget about what just happened. She had no idea she was in for a big surprise.
• "No, wait." Brent spoke up again.
• She raised her head to look at them. He had a smug smile on his handsome face. His white teeth sparkled as he grinned. What could he be planning? Why was he grinning like someone who was about to do something... bad?
• "Don't look down just yet." He ordered and she did just as he instructed.
• "I have a surprise for you. Actually, it will be an honor for you."
• Surprise? Unless it was another form of torture, she had no idea what he wanted to do. She obeyed him and looked ahead.
• She watched silently, drowning in a pool of her own tears, and a mixture of anger, pain, and sorrow as he pulled Hayley close to his body.
• She should have known nothing good would come out of anyone in this pack! She watched as her mate and sister began a live display of affection, except that they weren't naked.
• Hayley positioned herself in front of Brent, slowly gyrating her hips against his lower body. She cast a dirty and smug look at Winona. Hayley's smile was clearly visible.
• Winona felt her strength waning and her defenses crumbling. She heard Hayley's voice through the mind-link. "Watch as everything you ever desired becomes mine! Watch as I make love to your mate right in front of you."
• She swallowed her tears, praying that the painful stab in her chest would subside along with them. She should have averted her gaze or done something, but she was compelled by Brent who used his authority to keep her eyes fixed on them.
• "Watch as I love someone else the way I'll never love you. Watch as I give my everything to her," he spoke again.
• Winona managed a bitter smile. They even threatened her with similar words. They would indeed make a great couple!
• She continued to watch as her mate wrapped his arms around Hayley's waist, planting soft kisses down her neck. He gently cupped her right breast and Hayley threw her head back, moaning softly.
• Hayley continued her sensual dance, moaning softly while his hands never ceased exploring her body. Then Brent looked at Winona again with a smirk that seemed to mock her or literally show her where she belonged.
• "You will never have this, Winona Magnus, because you are not worth it. What did you say again? That you are my mate?"
• With every word he spoke, he drove sharp claws into her chest and peeled layers of her fragile heart out, bit by bit. She had a bad feeling about what was going to happen.
• "And that is why, in the presence of your sister, who is more deserving of being my Luna...
• "Please! Don't! Please... I beg of you... don't!" Winona pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks. But he was enjoying the spectacle.
• She watched as he released Hayley and then walked closer to her, looking at her straight in the eye without blinking. She tried to plead but was met with icy cold eyes. There was no trace of warmth or feeling.
• Then he began uttering the words she had dreaded her whole life.
• "I, Brent Brown, of the Silver Moon pack..."
• Winona shook her head resolutely, her tears escaping once more and her eyes pleading with him not to proceed. She didn't want to experience the agony of being rejected, she just couldn't bear it.
• "...reject you..." She blinked fiercely, attempting to restrain her tears. "Winona McKellen, as my mate."