The Lost Alpha’s Daughter

Avery's POV

The soft glow of the setting sun seeped through the curtains, painting the room in warm golden hues as I carefully adjusted the oversized bow on the gift box. My heartbeat quickened with anticipation, and for the first time in weeks, a glimmer of hope sparked within me. Tonight marked five years since Harland and I had vowed to stand together as husband and wife. This anniversary wasn’t just another milestone—it was my last chance to hold onto the fragile remnants of my life as Alpha Harland’s Luna.

Everything was set—the box, the ribbon, the Moonstone, and the small pregnancy test I gripped in my trembling fingers. Five years of longing, of silent prayers whispered into the night, and now—finally—I had been given a miracle. After all the years Harland had yearned for an heir, I was carrying his child. I envisioned his reaction: the sheer joy lighting up his features, the strength of his embrace, and the pride in his eyes when he realized our family was about to begin.

I wanted more than just the title of Luna. I wanted to be in his heart and soul. Especially now, when everything else in my world collapsed.

The sudden sound of the front door opening jolted me from my thoughts. My pulse leapt. Harland was home. Without hesitation, I climbed inside the gift box, adjusting the bow from within, ensuring everything was perfect. I bit my lip to hold back a giggle, imagining his reaction when he saw the surprise.

Then I heard his phone buzz, followed by the soft click of him putting it on speaker. I stilled, listening closely as his deep voice filled the room.

"Hey, Harland," a familiar voice greeted—it was Chad, his closest friend.

"What is it?" Harland asked, his tone indifferent.

"You won’t believe this," Chad said, amusement lacing his words. "Maureen is coming back."

I froze. Maureen?

Harland hesitated. "I know."

"Crazy, right?" Chad continued. "Turns out, she’s the real Alpha’s daughter. The one your father made you leave behind was actually the one he wanted you to marry all along."

Silence stretched between them before Harland spoke again, his voice steady but firm. "Yeah. That’s good news."

A lump formed in my throat.

"Back then, my father forced me to break up with Maureen and marry Avery because we thought she was the Alpha’s daughter," Harland admitted, bitterness creeping into his voice. "It was all about the alliance."

Chad chuckled. "Bet that was a shock."

"I’m tired of Avery," Harland muttered. "She’s dull. Always trying too hard. I put up with her because I had no choice, but now… now, I might finally have a way out."

Ice coursed through my veins.

"She’s just so... desperate," he continued, his tone filled with disdain. "Always planning these ridiculous surprises, thinking they’ll make a difference."

My fingers dug into the edge of the box, my knuckles turning white. My breath hitched, and tears burned my eyes.

"Speaking of which," Harland added with a sneer, "there’s a giant gift box sitting in the room. Probably another one of her pathetic attempts to impress me. I don’t even want to open it."

Chad laughed. "Classic Avery."

I bit down on my lip, swallowing a sob. My heart splintered into a thousand shards. Everything I had done—all the effort, all the love—had been for him. Just to see him smile, to feel even a sliver of affection. But now I realized the truth: he never saw me. Not as his Luna. Not as his partner. Not as anything.

The faint sound of running water signaled that Harland had stepped into the bathroom. I remained inside the suffocating darkness of the box, silent tears streaming down my face, struggling to process what I had just heard.

A week ago, I learned the truth: I wasn’t the Alpha’s biological daughter. A hospital mix-up had switched me with Maureen at birth. Overnight, the parents who once showered me with love turned distant. Their affection faded into indifference, their warmth replaced by empty stares. I was no longer their cherished daughter—just an outsider in a place I no longer belonged.

So, I had placed all my hope tonight. Harland was supposed to be my last refuge, the one person who wouldn’t abandon me like everyone else had.

For years, I clung to the illusion that I mattered. That I had a place. My parents’ love had vanished. My rightful position had been taken. And now, the man I had devoted myself to had shattered my final hope.

I had sacrificed everything for Harland—endured his indifference, loved him through every cold glance. But no matter what I did, I was never enough.

My hands trembled as I pressed the small button inside the box, triggering the lid to open with a soft click. I stepped out, my vision blurred by unshed tears. My gaze landed on the Moonstone in my hand, its soft glow a symbol of the devotion I had once carried for him. I had gone to great lengths to obtain it, believing it would prove my unwavering love.

But he wasn’t worthy of it.

Taking a deep breath, I let the Moonstone’s energy seep into me, absorbing its power. Its radiance faded, leaving behind a dull, lifeless stone. Just like my love for Harland—it no longer held any meaning.

Without hesitation, I tossed the stone into the trash can, followed by the discarded gift box. I wiped away my tears.

Stepping outside into the cold night air, my phone buzzed. I answered out of habit.

"Where are you?" Harland’s impatient voice barked through the line. "Get back here. We’re throwing a party for Maureen’s return."

Maureen. The real daughter. His first love.

I ended the call without replying. The world around me blurred as tears spilled down my cheeks. My life had crumbled into ruins, leaving me utterly alone.