"Why are you tense? Is there anything you want to tell me?" Theo asked me, politely, his voice deep and his face worried.
I took my time to process this question. I do have a lot to say, but how can I tell him right now? I had all the time in the world, but I chose not to tell him. I am a victim of bullying and I find it hard to speak out.
He placed his huge palm on my lap and pressed gently, his eyes reassuring.
"I'm sorry, Theo", I said, at the brink of tears.
He sat back on his chair, confused and shaken.
"Are you going to reject me?"
He asked, and I could feel the coldness in his voice.
"Promise me. You won't hate me for this?"
He didn't move, or say anything.
I do not want to lose Theo, I am deeply in love with him, and he is going to mark me as his Luna in a few minutes.
But I had a secret I was hiding from him, one that could ruin him as an Alpha and also risk my life.
We were already seated at the council. The moon was almost full.
I decided to face my fear and tell him before he made me his Luna.
Right when I was about to get up and take him outside, Agnes grabbed my hand.
Agnes is my best friend and sister. We would do anything for each other.
"Where are you going?" She asked, her face concerned.
"I need to tell Theo before the full moon"
"Tell him what?" She frowned.
"That I'm...."
"Silence please!" Theo's deep voice roared from the podium.
I didn't know he had left his seat to start the occasion.
I looked up, and it's already a full moon. It was too late. I frowned at Agnes and she smiled sheepishly. Infuriating me more.
"You'll be fine, he doesn't have to know" she said, making an effort to calm me down.
"I can make my decisions myself, Agnes!"
I knew she intentionally distracted me, I didn't even know Theo had left for the podium.
Theo cleared his throat again, to grab both our attention.
"As we all know, this is a day I've always waited for. It is a day for me as an Alpha to choose my queen."
He paused and looked around the congregation. He was excited.
"Some people here already know who my heart belongs to while some are totally in the dark."
He turned towards Agnes, and she started waving, giving him her sheepish smile again.
I saw him smile back at her and turned towards the elders.
"Agnes!"
He shouted, the crowd couldn't contain their shock, and my sight started getting blurry. I was not expecting that.
"Did someone reveal my secret to him? Or was he just trying to avoid rejection?"
I asked myself.
He still has that smile on his face. Agnes stood up, majestically. Like she was not shocked, they definitely have this planned from the start. I was fooled by them.
She walked slowly to the podium, her steps steady and majestical. She stopped and turned back to face me.
Agnes bowed mockingly and continued.
At that point, I understood how desperate she was to be with Theo. She has always been jealous of my relationship with him and I never noticed they had anything together behind me because I trusted my "sister."
She finally reached his side and Theo handed him a sheet of paper he was holding.
"Can you do me the honor of reading my Luna's name out loud?"
"Errr, No.. I mean Yes..."
She stuttered.
I smiled.
I was wrong to have misjudged Theo, he obviously would never choose Agenes over me.
And I was a little disappointed at Agnes, she's always trying to add herself into the picture. I got used to that part of her already, she is like my blood sister because I was an only child.
I've always known her to make her moves on Theo while he barely shows any interest.
She was visibly pissed and ashamed. The smirk on Theo's face showed he did it intentionally.
She took the paper and wanted to start reading immediately.
"Introduce yourself first." Theo commanded, his voice low but firm.
She adjusted her gown slowly, her bold eyes locked with mine.
"I am Agnes.. and as most of us here know, I am an important member of this clan..." She stopped and cleared her throat.
"I was 7 when Steve and Madison took me in as their daughter.."
She smiled and I could see my parents smiling too, they looked nervous, so did I.
"I grew up as their daughter with Snow as my sister.."
"That's enough" Theo ordered
Agnes was nervous, I could sense it from afar. She was restless and looking around.
"Just read what's in the paper."
Theo persisted.
I could see the little rage in his eyes.
Then, Elder Jaylen stood up from his seat and whispered something to Theo.
"A new development just came up and I will hand it over to Elder Jaylen right away."
Theo smiled at me while walking towards me with Agnes behind him. They were coming back to their seats.
Theo sat beside me, exactly where Agnes was supposed to sit and she went towards another seat.
I expected her to look pissed but to my surprise, she had a cold expression. The kind of face she makes when she's doing something naughty or crazy.
That expression scares me a lot.
"Information reached me recently that one member of this clan is wolfless, and as we all know it is a heinous crime to lie to the clan about your wolf."
My heart jumped.
I looked towards my parents and could see the fear in their eyes.
Agnes moved closer to me and whispered.
"Who told him that you are wolfless?"
The question made me angry, like "how was I supposed to know?"
Agnes is an Omega while I am wolfless. I cannot shapeshift.
Being wolfless comes with a lot of stigmatisation, trauma and isolation, which was why my parents hid it from everyone.
Being wolfless also means no mate and in most cases they end up lonely with no child to continue their bloodline.
My parents knew better, there was no reason for me to be tested at any point of my life.
I have claws which isn't a trait of a normal wolfless person.
The elder stopped talking and started walking around, to fish out the culprit. I knew I was in trouble.
Theo was completely oblivious, he wasn't suspecting anything. He didn't know I was wolfless.
The Elder stopped in front of me. Theo's mouth dropped wide.
He was dumbfounded.
I closed my eyes, waiting to be dragged out and I heard a sharp cry. He dragged Agnes by hand, forcing her to the middle.
I tried to hold her hand, to help her and free her from his hold but I wasn't strong enough. I started crying as guards held her to the ground.