Renege

SCARLET

We left our home, heading towards the pack church. It was close enough to walk, so there was no need for a car or to shift.

Every pack has a communal living space, but not everyone chooses to live there. Some, like us, prefer their own homes.

“My sister, I forgot to mention, the alpha king is coming,” my brother broke the silence.

I furrowed my brows.

“That’s odd. I heard he never leaves his pack unless there’s a serious issue,” I said, puzzled.

“I was shocked too. Dad invited him as a formality, thinking he’d decline.

But imagine my surprise when his beta called yesterday afternoon, confirming their arrival today.”

King Dallesandro, the alpha king, was a mystery. Few knew his first name. Little was known about him outside his royal pack.

He became king at just sixteen after his parents died.

From what I’d heard, he was a tough but fair king. There hadn’t been any pack wars, all thanks to him.

His acceptance of a wedding invitation was unusual. I wondered what he was planning.

Sarah, my sister, found her mate two months ago. He was the beta of the neighboring pack.

The alpha and beta of that pack had visited two months ago to discuss the growing rogue problem, and that’s when Sarah and her mate found each other.

You might be wondering how a girl can marry a guy she met just two months ago. In the werewolf world, a mate is your soulmate, your other half.

Mating is like marriage. Once a pair mark each other and mate, they’re bound together for life.

It’s not required to marry your mate, but some do to fulfill their desires. You can’t choose your mate, the moon goddess does that.

I was lucky not to find my mate in my pack.

I don’t mind the idea of having a person made just for you, your other half. But because of what I am, I can’t have a mate.

Everyone stood when Silas and I entered the church. Silas nodded, signaling them to sit.

I saw alphas from different packs already seated. Dad was so excited about Sarah’s wedding that he invited alphas from our country and others.

Thankfully, our church was big enough to fit all the alphas and our pack.

I felt many eyes on me, but I kept my gaze on my brother’s back, not daring to meet anyone’s eyes.

We entered the church and took our seats in the front row as the last of the people filed in. I heard whispers about me as we walked down the aisle to our seats.

“Who is she?”

“She looks so much like the previous luna.”

“She looks so different than the last time I saw her.”

“She barely leaves the house.”

“I heard she’s leaving.”

It was true I didn’t socialize much in the pack. I rarely left the house. I only went out for training, and even then, I trained in the woods behind our house.

I was too ashamed to leave the house to even talk to someone. After all, they lost their luna because of me.

No one knew exactly what happened eleven years ago, except that one afternoon, their alpha announced the death of their luna.

The church fell silent when the pack officiant entered and took his place at the altar.

My sister’s mate, Jacob, and the alpha as the best man entered from the side door and stood at the altar.

Jacob was a good guy, from what I’d overheard from my sister’s conversations with her friends, so I wasn’t worried.

The wedding party started to enter, and a pang of sadness hit me when I saw her best friend, Lilia, walking down as the maid of honor.

I looked down at my hands when I felt my brother’s eyes on me.

I shouldn’t have felt sad, because I knew this was going to happen.

I only looked up when I knew it was time for my sister to enter with my father.

She looked stunning in her white wedding gown. She was glowing with happiness as she stared at her mate from across the room. The chemistry between them was palpable.

My sister and I only shared our eyes. She was a spitting image of my dad with her dark brown hair and light brown eyes, while I took after our mother.

My dad looked handsome in his gray suit. His hair had streaks of gray, but his face could easily fool you. We wolves age slower than humans.

His tired eyes were filled with joy as he walked his daughter down the aisle.

My dad was devastated for almost a year after my mother died. I could hear the crashing sounds from his room every other night. I would wake up to him screaming.

Losing your mate is said to be the most painful thing in the world. It’s like losing half your heart. I could only imagine what he went through because of me.

My father and I have a complicated relationship. He doesn’t blame me for my mother’s death, but he mostly ignores me.

It hurt when he’d leave the room whenever I entered. It was as if he couldn’t breathe the same air as me. After my mother’s death, it was my brother who took care of me.

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur, and soon after the vows, Jacob gently kissed my sister.

People started cheering once they broke apart. Everyone stood, eager to meet the newlyweds.

“C’mon, let’s go meet them,” Silas said, standing up.

“You go. I’ll stay here.”

The next thing I knew, he grabbed my hand and pulled me up. I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t back down. I let him lead me towards them, pushing through the crowd.

I cautiously looked up when we were just in front of them. I took a few steps back so they wouldn’t notice me just yet.

My brother’s face lit up with a broad grin as he embraced Sarah and Jacob.

His expression quickly turned serious as he warned, “Jacob, if my little sister gets hurt, you’ll have me to answer to.”

“I’m not little,” Sarah protested.

“I’ll always keep her safe. She’s my world now,” Jacob promised, his gaze filled with love for her.

My brother turned to me, beckoning me over. I walked over, my steps hesitant, until I was standing next to him.

“Congrats, you two,” I said, offering them a warm smile.

“Thank you, Scarlet,” Jacob responded politely, while Sarah turned her face away from me.

“Sarah, don’t be so harsh. Scarlet’s leaving the pack for who knows where. We might never see her again,” Silas said, his voice heavy with resignation.

A flicker of sadness crossed her face, but she quickly replaced it with a stern expression.

“What do you want me to do? Come on, Jake,” she said, tugging Jacob away and heading toward the others. Jacob shot me an apologetic look, but I just smiled and shook my head.

“I’m sorry, Scar.”

“Why are you apologizing? That wasn’t unexpected. I guess I deserve it.”

“No, you don’t. It’s really immature of her to still be mad. It’s been eight years, Scar. She needs to let it go. I thought she’d at least pretend to care.”

“Let’s drop it. If I’m lucky, she might forgive me. I’m willing to give her all the time she needs. I should probably get going, or I might miss my flight.”

“You’re not staying for the wedding reception?” he asked.

“I think I’ve upset her enough for one night. Plus, I don’t want to risk finding my mate.”

“You do realize finding your mate isn’t a bad thing, right? Goddess, I’d give anything to find mine.”

“I know, but I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to find mine. So I guess this—” I was interrupted by Silas’s beta, William.

“Silas, the alpha king just arrived.”