Chapter 1
“Ms. Carrington, this cruise ship is comparable to the Titanic, but it’s the latest model. It has everything you could want, and there’s service throughout your journey.”
Tessa’s eyelashes fluttered, her gaze fixed on the model before her.
“Is it true that once I get on this ship, I can leave here?”
The sales representative’s interest piqued immediately.
“Of course! You can sail it wherever you like. There’s nothing lacking on board. You could live there your entire life without ever needing to leave, and it even-”
Tessa interrupted him coolly, pointing to the ship
“I’ll take this one.”
The salesman beamed. “Great choice! It’ll take about a week to deliver, though, so you’ll need to pack your bags if you’re moving in right away.”
Tessa glanced at the business card he handed her and slipped it into her bag
Before leaving, she reminded him softly,
“I don’t want anyone else to know about this.”
Satisfied with his nad of agreement, she left.
Tessa had made up her mind. She would disappear to a place where no one could find her and never come back. After thinking it through, this cruise ship was the perfect choice.
No one would ever guess she’d hide on the sea for the rest of her life.
This time, she was setting off alone.
Just then, her pho
phone rang Ryan’s name flashed on the screen.
“Babe, we’re having a gathering with the pack tonight. Don’t forget.”
“Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”
Hearing the concerned tone on the other end of the line made Tessa feel nauseous.
She had only recently discovered, by accident, that Ryan’s true love had always been Chloe, not her.
Even though they were f
fated
mates.
No wonder her wolf, Clara, had been so downeast
After they had mated, Tessa had started to warm up to him, but having never been in a relationship, she was afraid to fully embrace it. Ryan had spent an entire year doing everything he could to make her happy.
He’d be there whenever she needed him, offering her comfort and security. Even on the most ordinary of days, he’d surprise her with thoughtful gestures,
Even when she rejected his advances 99 times, he never lost his temper or tried to force her. “As long as you don’t reject me as your mate, that’s fine,” he said.
He promised her he would patiently earn her trust, showing her his sincerity.
But Tessa never expected that, after agreeing to become his Luna, the person who appeared to love her so deeply, was secretly in love with another Woman
She laughed bitterly at her two years of devotion.
310
It all felt like a cruel joke.
Tessa couldn’t muster the slightest bit of interest. If Ryan hadn’t reminded her, she would have forgotten that today was the pack’s monthly family dinner.
And every time that dinner came around, it marked a day of discomfort for her.
Tessa’s tone was
flat
“I don’t need you to pick me up. I’ll go by myself.”
Without a second thought, she ended the call.
When Tessa arrived, it was already late. The people around the table stared at her coldly.
Especially Chloe, her little sister.
Before Tessa could explain, Chloe spoke first.
“Tessa, do you even know how long we’ve all been waiting for you?
“After growing up in the Bloodmoon Pack, how could you not learn some basic manners?”
“We’re all supposed to be future Lunas. What will we do now?”
Tessa raised her eyes to meet her parents‘ gaze, but they still wore the same cold expression.
She couldn’t understand. They were all adopted children by Alpha and Luna together.
Why was Chloe seen as the shining star in their eyes while she was treated like a jinx?
The pack adored the lively, adorable Chloe, but secretly bullied Tessa, despite the fact that she was also the Alpha’s daughter. Their frustration seemed to be directed solely at her, while they pretended to respect her on the surface. But behind her back, they constantly tormented her.
Years ago, the Bloodmoon Pack had been attacked by rogues, and Alpha Liam and Luna Audrey lost their biological daughter in the chaos.
When they found Tessa and Chloe, they noticed their traits closely resembled their lost daughter, so they adopted them both.
In the end, they announced Chloe as their biological daughter and Tessa as their adopted one.
Tessa had grown used to this treatment, but when Chloe confronted her, her gaze remained calm.
“I’m sorry.
I’m late.”
Chapter 2
a’s indiffe
Chloe’s most hated thing was Tessa’s indifferent expression, like she didn’t care about anything
“You’ve never cared about me,” Chloe snapped. “Ever since we were kids, it’s always been this way.”
“But how can you not respect Mom and Dad?”
She spoke as though defending Liam and Audrry.
Before Tessa could respond, Ryan, sitting nearby, spoke first.
“Don’t be upset, Chloe. Tessa didn’t mean it.”
“Don’t hold it against her,” he added, his voice gentle.
Ryan’s first words weren’t meant to defend Tessa, but to comfort Chloe.
This wasn’t the first time.
He knew exactly what to say to calm Chloe down.
The thousands of messages on his phone all expressed his love for Chloe.
Tessa felt stupid, stupid for not realizing sooner that he had a secret account.
Everything on that finsta was about Chloe.
His Instagram, his lock screen background everything was devoid of her.
It was as if they had never loved each other at all.
Not only did Ryan know how to soothe Chloe, but he also knew how to win over Alpha Liam and Luna Audrey.
Not just because he was tall, handsome, and had been top of his class in Alpha training for several years, but also because he was the Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack–a perfect son–in–law to strengthen pack relations.
Liam and Audrey were soon smiling, their cold demeanor disappearing, and they turned to Tessa.
“Alright, sit down Alpha Ryan is your mate, You’re so lucky,” they said.
Ryan smiled happily at Tessa after the compliment.
But what he didn’t know was that Tessa hated his sycophantic smile more than anything.
Sise didn’t look up at him, but her peripheral vision caught the sight of his hand, shbtly intertwined with Chloe’s under the table.
She immediately lifted ber head, a lump forming in her throat. She couldn’t find the words, only feeling a sharp ache in her chest as she mechanically continued to eat, pretending like nothing was wrong
She fought to keep her emotions in check, not wanting anyone to see how hurt she was.
Her thoughts briefly drifted to the cruise ship’s arrival date. Soon, she’d be able to leave this man, this suffocating home, and the pack that didn’t care for her.
Early the next morning, Ryan woke her up, and as he leaned in to kiss her, she quickly turned her head to avoid him.
“What’s wrong?”
Byan, beaming with excitement, pulled her into a tight hug.
“Did you forget? We’re going to try on wedding dresses today!”
Tessa froze, the events of the past few days so overwhelming that she couldn’t immediately process his words.
She nodded softly. They still had a week until their wedding.
