Maria sat in the rusty room where she had been locked up, her body slumped against the cold walls.
A crushing weight of grief pressed down on her, suffocating her in its relentless grip. The pain she felt was indescribable, an abyss of sorrow, rage, and helplessness.
Tears streamed down her face, hot and endless. She needed someone—anyone—to talk to, but the silence around her was deafening.
Her thoughts spiraled back to the past, to the days when she would run through the fields with her parents, laughing and playing without a care in the world.
Now, those moments were nothing more than fading memories, cruelly overshadowed by loss.
"How do I deal with this?" she whispered hoarsely. Her voice cracked as she gritted her teeth in frustration.
"How do I make those responsible for my parents' deaths pay for what they've done?"
The reality sank deeper. She was truly alone. Cassandra's whereabouts remained unknown, and there was no one she could trust.
"I have to play along… for now," Maria resolved, swallowing her rage.
"I may have lost everything, but my parents' wealth and properties still belong to me. I am their only child, and I will use whatever they left behind to fight back and avenge their deaths."
Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the door creaking open. A shadow fell across the floor, and when she looked up, she found herself staring at Bernard.
His face was calm, but the arrogance in his stance was unmistakable. His eyes held an icy hardness, as if he had come prepared for another outburst from her.
Yet, to his surprise, Maria remained eerily calm. She sat still, her gaze steady, offering no reaction.
"I know you're hurting," he said, his voice carrying a hint of forced sympathy. "But your previous actions were unacceptable. You disrespected not just the elders, but the entire Blue Moon Pack."
His words were sharp, laced with authority, yet Maria didn't flinch. She lifted her head a bit, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before bowing it again, refusing to engage.
Bernard's brows furrowed in confusion. He had expected resistance... screaming, cursing, anything. But this? This silence unsettled him.
Still, he masked his uncertainty and continued.
"The coronation will take place in two days," he announced. "Prepare yourself. I will be presenting you as my Luna and chosen mate."
Maria lifted her head again and simply nodded.
Bernard stared at her, his confusion deepening. This wasn't the defiant woman he had locked up just hours ago. What was she planning?
Despite his unease, he chose not to dwell on it. Instead, he turned sharply and exited the room, though the bewildered look on his face lingered even as he left...
★★★
In a blink of an eye, two days has passed and it was finally theCoronation Day.
The packhouse was alive with celebration. The grand hall was filled with pack members, all gathered to witness the swearing-in of their new Alpha. A young Alpha at that.
The air buzzed with excitement, and voices rose in cheerful chatter.
Maria walked beside Bernard, her hand entwined with his as they entered the hall. She wore a stunning white gown adorned with intricate designs, shimmering under the golden lights.
The gemstones embroidered into the fabric spoke of elegance and power.
The dress had been given to her by Bernard himself. Though it fit her perfectly, wrapping around her like a second skin, she felt horrible for wearing it.
Every step she took burned with the knowledge that she was playing a role in someone else's game.
Still, she smiled. She had to.
As they walked further into the hall, murmurs spread through the crowd. Many were surprised by what they saw... Maria and Bernard, hand in hand, a seemingly united pair.
After they took their seats, the announcer stepped forward to begin the ceremony. But before he could proceed, another name was called.
"Mr. Edwards, please step forward." The announcer called out.
At the mention of that name, Maria's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened the moment she saw the man approaching the podium.
"That's my father's lawyer… What is he doing here?"
Her mind raced with questions, but she forced herself to remain composed. Whatever was happening, she would soon find out.
Mr. Edwards cleared his throat and addressed the pack with a composed expression.
"Good evening, members of the Blue Moon Pack. As per the laws of our great pack, when an Alpha passes away, his will must be read before a new Alpha is sworn in. I am here today to fulfill that duty."
The moment the word will left his lips, Maria straightened in her seat, her interest piqued.
"This is my chance. I'll finally learn what my parents left behind. At least with this, I can start planning my next move." She muttered under her breath.
Mr. Edwards continued, his voice unwavering.
"As we all know, the late Alpha and Luna were not only powerful leaders but also wealthy individuals. They owned numerous properties and establishments, all of which were acquired under one name—their family name."
Maria's fingers gripped the edge of her seat as anticipation coiled inside her.
"And now," Mr. Edwards said, unfolding the document, "this is the official will of the late Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. All properties and establishments are to be transferred to..."
A heavy silence fell upon the hall.
"They are to be transferred to Mr. Bernard, who is to be crowned the next Alpha today. As he will be marrying their daughter, Maria, the inheritance rightfully belongs to him."
Maria's breath caught in her throat. She felt as though the ground beneath her had disappeared.
'No. No, this isn't right. This can't be happening.'
The words rang in her ears, but they refused to make sense. And then, like an eruption, her rage took over.
"You lying, deceitful bastard!" she shouted, shooting up from her seat. Her voice echoed throughout the hall.
"I know my parents would never make such a decision! How dare you stand here and spread this outrageous lie? They trusted you, and you betray them like this?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd as she continued her furious outburst.
Before she could lash out further, Bernard calmly walked toward the podium. He took the will from Mr. Edwards and scanned through it.
Then, without hesitation, he turned to the elders and handed them the document. The elders read it, their faces remaining eerily neutral.
After a moment, Bernard retrieved the will and stepped back to the podium.
"This will was written and signed by the late Alpha and Luna themselves. It is to be respected and followed." His voice was cold as he spoke.
"I will not allow anyone to cause a disturbance or spread baseless accusations." His gaze locked onto Maria, dark and dangerous.
"Guards," he commanded, his tone final, "seize her. Let her spend the night in the dungeon... she needs to learn how to control herself!"
Maria barely had time to react before strong hands grabbed her.
"No! You can't do this!" she screamed, struggling against their grip, but it was futile. The guards dragged her toward the exit, her cries falling on deaf ears.
As she was forced away, Bernard's voice rang out once more.
"From now on, Maria will reside in my family mansion. That will be her home from today onward."
The last thing Maria saw before she was thrown into darkness was the coronation proceeding without her.
And then, in front of the entire Blue Moon Pack, Bernard was crowned the new Alpha...