Chapter 4 Betrayal at Midnight

Irene’s Point of View

Hearing Skylar's words made me feel a little better. It was nice to know someone else understood how I felt. Skylar smiled at me, happy to see me reacting to her encouragement. "I’ve been saying the same thing to her, Luna Lorraine," she said, trying to make things feel lighter, but I could hear the sadness in her voice.

I couldn’t say no to the offer, especially since Luna Lorraine was the one suggesting it. Her kindness and warmth made it hard to refuse. She had become the mother I never had, patient, caring, and thoughtful.

"Look, you’ll look so beautiful in this dress, Irene. It’s the same color as your name," Luna Lorraine said softly, her eyes full of love. "I picked it just for you."

Her words hit me harder than I thought they would. The dress was lovely, and the care behind it made my heart ache. Luna Lorraine had always been like a mother to me, and for a moment, I had let myself dream of a life where she was my real mom once I was with Eugene, where I could finally have the family I always wanted. But now, standing here, I realized I couldn’t call her mom when everything with Eugene had fallen apart.

Luna Lorraine would become a mother to Ruby instead.

A wave of anger hit me, and I struggled to stay calm. I hated Ruby’s name, hated the woman who took my happiness. But more than anything, I hated Eugene for giving up on us, for blaming me for his lies and betrayal. How could he just leave everything we had? How could he hurt me like this and then expect me to understand?

"Come here and try this on," Luna Lorraine said softly, her voice comforting, bringing me back to reality.

I looked into her eyes and saw nothing but care and concern. In that moment, I realized I didn’t have much of a choice. Despite everything that had happened, I couldn’t ignore the warmth and care she always showed me. It wasn’t her fault I was hurting. She was just trying to help and make things better, and I knew she truly cared.

With a heavy heart, I took the dress from her hands and forced myself to go to the party that night, each step feeling like a burden. The weight of it all pressed on me, but I couldn’t turn back. I had to face the world, even though it felt like it was falling apart.

As I entered the party, the atmosphere felt heavy and suffocating. This event was meant to welcome the lycan pack, who had once been enemies, trying to expand their power by fighting the werewolves at the border. These were the same people who had killed the warriors I had known, brave souls who never returned home.

The weight of it all pressed down on me, but I couldn’t find the strength to truly enjoy the celebration. The pain in my heart felt deeper than anything the lycans could do. I couldn’t bring myself to smile or pretend that everything was okay. No amount of music or laughter could quiet the chaos inside me.

Anger and bitterness still lingered in the air, even though it was hidden beneath the lively scene. Alcohol flowed, food filled the tables, and music played loudly through the pack house. The party was meant to be happy, but all I could feel was the crushing weight of my emotions.

"You look so gorgeous!" Skylar said after putting a little makeup on my pale face, her voice bright and cheerful, trying to lift my mood.

I knew she meant well, but her words felt empty. I had always been told I was beautiful, but tonight, I didn’t feel it. The dress suited me perfectly, making me look attractive, maybe even stunning, but the sadness in my eyes seemed to spoil the effect.

Despite Skylar’s constant praise, I couldn’t bring myself to feel beautiful. I felt awful, empty, broken, and far from the person I once was.

"Don’t pull a long face like that," Skylar said gently, cupping my face and tugging at my cheeks, trying to get me to smile. "You’ve mourned him for a week. Show him what he missed by not being faithful to you." Her voice was soft but firm, her hands still on my face, trying to bring out something I didn’t feel. "You shouldn’t be upset, he should be. It’s Eugene’s loss for not having you as his future luna."

Her words, though meant to comfort, hurt more than they helped. The sting of Eugene’s betrayal was still too fresh, and no words could make it go away. But for her, I tried to give her a small, strained smile, one that I hoped would hide the pain I still felt. I followed her, reluctantly leaving my bedroom, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

Rumors about Ruby and Eugene had already started. People had noticed I’d locked myself away, isolating from everything. It didn’t take long for the whispers to start, the questions, the looks. I could feel their curiosity, and I hated it.

"Don’t worry, there are so many people right now. We won’t run into Eugene and Ruby," Skylar said, squeezing my hand as we walked. Her kindness was clear, but the mention of their names, Eugene and Ruby, sent another sharp pain through my chest.

I pushed it down, burying it deep as we walked into the garden. The sounds of the party faded behind us. The air outside was cooler, but it didn’t ease the storm inside me. Despite everything, I knew this wasn’t just about the party anymore. It was about facing the truth I didn’t want to accept, the truth that felt like a betrayal of everything I had hoped for.

The night was beautiful and lively, with stars scattered across the sky, but there was a tension I couldn’t ignore. The lycans moved around the pack, reminding everyone of old wounds. People cast wary glances at them, some kept their distance, others exchanged uneasy looks. It felt like everyone could sense the unspoken betrayal that hung over us all.

This was my first time seeing a lycan, and they truly lived up to their reputation as the strongest shifters. The men were tall and muscular, and the women were strong and just as beautiful. They looked like they could fight as well as any male lycan.

I’d heard about the female warriors in the lycan pack. Though there weren’t many of them, they were strong and brave, fighting alongside the men in battle.

"I can’t believe there’s someone so tall like that," Skylar said, staring at a lycan man walking by. He was so tall that she and I barely reached his shoulder.

I looked at the man but didn’t respond. I was too lost in my thoughts to care.

We walked down a busy street lined with stalls selling all sorts of things. The noise of the crowd and the conversations around us started to feel overwhelming.

"I’m tired," I said quietly, feeling dizzy from the crowd. I could see the looks on their faces, the questions they were too polite to ask. "I want to sit down. You can go by yourself; I’ll wait here."

Skylar nodded with a small smile and walked off alone. I found a quiet spot to sit, hoping for some peace. The weight of the night felt heavy, and even though I was alone, I couldn’t stop thinking about how everything had changed. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever feel okay again.

I pointed at a drinks stall. It was almost empty, with just two people there. I felt so overwhelmed and couldn’t imagine walking any further.

"Oh, okay," Skylar said, sounding a bit disappointed. But when she saw how tired I looked, she knew she couldn’t make me keep going. "Are you sure you’ll be okay if I leave you alone?"

I forced a smile, trying to make her feel better. "Go, or you’ll miss out on all the fun."

Skylar scrunched her nose playfully, then walked off. But as soon as she was out of sight, my smile faded. I felt completely drained. I walked toward the drinks stall, needing a moment alone.

"Oh, Irene!" An old man greeted me warmly as I sat down. He made some small talk before I ordered my drink.

"Do you have something sweet?" I asked, my voice rough from all the emotions I had been holding in. The old man handed me a large glass filled with a bright red liquid right away.

I thanked him absentmindedly, then went quiet, my eyes unfocused. I wasn’t interested in the people around me; I was just lost in my own thoughts.

After a while, I felt like someone was staring at me. I looked up slowly, noticing someone across the stall watching me. I shifted in my seat, but didn’t look up right away, unsure of who it was or what they wanted.