A Bond of Deceit

I walked out of the infirmary's ward, my heart pounding with a mix of emotions. Anger, sadness, and a sense of betrayal swirled inside me, but I knew I had to keep moving forward. I couldn't let Kaid's lies and deceit hold me back any longer.

As I stepped into the bright sunlight, I felt a sense of freedom wash over me. I took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs, and began to walk away from the pack's compound. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to get away.

The trees seemed to blur together as I walked, my feet carrying me farther and farther away from the life I thought I knew. I felt a sense of numbness spreading through my body, as if I was leaving behind a part of myself.

After what felt like hours of walking, I finally reached the edge of the forest. The trees gave way to rolling hills and a small village in the distance. I squinted, trying to make out the details, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw a figure standing outside the village entrance.

It was a woman with long, curly hair and a warm smile. She beckoned me towards her, and I felt a sense of hope rising up inside me. Maybe, just maybe, I had found a new beginning.

As I approached the woman, she introduced herself as Elara, a healer from the village. She looked at me with kind eyes and asked, "Child, what brings you to our village?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Elara's gentle demeanor put me at ease. I took a deep breath and began to tell her my story – a story of love, betrayal, and survival.

***

The same day, Kaid called an urgent gathering at his pack. Sophie and my parents received a special invitation, feeling proud and showing off their relations to others. The gathering was held for the announcement to be made.

At the pack gathering, the air vibrated with tension as Kaid stood on the stage beside Sophie, a victorious smile spreading across his face. The pack members howled and cheered as he announced Sophie as the Alpha of Nightshade Pack, the wealthiest pack in the Kingdom. Sophie feigns a surprised expression on her face, as if she only heard it now that Kaid was going to do something as extravagant as this for her.

With a fake smile, she complained, “Nightshade pack is such a precious tertiary in our kingdom and you earned it by your sweat and blood, Kaid. How can I accept it? What if Sarah dislikes it? After all she is your wife and can get jealous.”

“I never intended to keep the pack for myself, Sophie. I won it for you. Since you like it, you keep it.” He said, his voice laced with love and longing as he continued, “Besides, you know your sister’s situation, Sophie. She can't even shift to her wolf, how will she rule over a pack?”

“Kaid is right,” My mom jumped in the conversation, “She is a good-for-nothing. It's a blessing that she got married to an Alpha like Kaid who accepted her knowing all her weaknesses. How can she ask for more?”

“If I were at her place, I would follow my husband's wish blindly and would never demand anything from him.” She added.

“You are right, Mom.” Sophie smiled, her gaze shifting at Kaid’s strong muscles. While biting her lips seductively, she said, “Sis is really lucky to get married to Kaid. He is so strong and powerful, no Alpha would ever dare to challenge him after his victory over Nightshade pack.”

"This marks a new era for our pack," Kaid declared to the Alphas of allied packs, his voice strong and assertive. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause, their voices echoing through the forest. Among them, my parents, the pack's elder members, beamed with pride, their eyes shining with approval.

As the ceremony concluded, Kaid offered to take Sophie on a celebratory run through the forest, to let her watch the beauty of the newly gained tertiary. She clung to his side, her eyes gleaming with excitement, but just as they were about to depart, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.

"Long time no see, Kaid," Liam, Kaid's friend, greeted, his tone laced with a hint of challenge. "Taking your sister-in-law out for a run again? Why didn't you invite your true mate and our Luna along? I don't think it will affect her health in any way. There is no need to shift to our wolves while running in a forest, do we?”

Liam’s words hung in the air like a sarcasm, “ I'm sure she'd love to join in on the celebration, only if she is aware of it.”

Kaid's expression shifted from triumph to unease.

"What are you talking about, Liam? Why would I hide anything from my wife? It's just she wasn't feeling good since the morning and was tired. She wanted to take a rest. That's why I didn't tag her along." he said, his voice low and cautious.

Liam's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. " Was she? As far as I know she was quite excited the other day I saw her in infirmary. She was so excited to surprise you with the certificate of her masters in ancient language that she received from Pack’s elders. She told me she was going to surprise you with a speech written by her in the ancient language.”

The pack's murmurs grew louder, their whispers spreading like wildfire. But, Kaid's face darkened, his eyes flashing in shock.

"Wh-What did you say?" his voice trembled, “Sarah… she can understand ancient language?”

“ Not just understand it but can also speak fluently, didn't she tell you yet?” Liam asked, his voice carrying the weight of deepness as he added, “She told me everything after showing me her newly found wolf.”

“A… a wolf?” Kaid stuttered, “She regained her wolf… and all her powers?”