"Judy is not an outsider!" Enzo's voice was firm and final.
I clenched my fists, biting my lip, trying not to cry or break down, but Goddess, can I even do that?
Today was my birthday, and of course, the Blood Moon Festival day that I'd wanted to enjoy with the love of my life.
But he'd brought Judy alongside to be a third wheel.
I heaved a sigh. "Alright. Is Judy not an outsider, right? Then it's fine."
I pulled the chair and sat down. I couldn't afford a breakdown — at least not today. Not on my birthday.
Judy settled beside Enzo like it was her place, while they watched the bloodmoon together from the high-end restaurant I'd booked.
We all waited for the moon to be red before filming it, and since it hadn't, I got up to pee.
"Should I come and help, Tiana?" Judy asked, blinking innocently. It took everything in me not to smack her. I forced a smile instead. "No Princess Judy. You stay here with Enzo, I'll be back shortly."
I left in haste, and after using the restroom, I had to wash my hands, but in the process, I caught my reflection in the mirror — princess Tiana Plumbloom of Teja clan. Or I used to be.
Reaching out, I swiped my hand on the reflection with a sad smile. "Thank goddess for life," I whispered. Life hadn't been easy since I was three years old and lost my mother. It doesn't want to smile at me, life took dad and my brother tragically.
Now here I am, not married, but living with Alpha Enzo, my boyfriend, who'd never let me free for a day without sex.
I left the bathroom after making sure I was spotlessly clean, but getting back to the table, Judy and Enzo weren't there.
My heart snapped, then I flagged down a waiter. "Excuse me, did you see the people I came with?"
"Oh, did you mean the couple sitting there?" He pointed to our seat. "They'd booked another seat in the penthouse."
My heart slammed against my ribs, and I felt bad. Enzo left me for Judy on my birthday night?
Only if my brothers were here then maybe things wouldn't be like this.
I sank into my seat alone. Watching the moon as it turned blood-red and fireworks graced the sky to celebrate.
My second brother loved fireworks, but he's no longer here. "Brother, are you watching this?" I whispered slowly into the air, wishing I could bring him back to watch this with me.
But the rehabilitation center wouldn't release him. He'd be completely mad from drugs.
"Excuse me?" The waiter tapped me.
I snapped out of my trance. "Yes?"
"Your bills have been cleared by Alpha. He asked me to give you this.
He presented me with a small gift box.
Inside lay a silver necklace with a crescent moon pendant. The same symbol of the Teja clan that I'd worn since childhood.
I clutched it to my chest, the cool metal against my palm and the only comfort on this miserable night. It brought tears to my face because this was the first birthday gift from my father when I was 10 years old. I wonder how Enzo got it.
But does that matter?
~~~
Two months passed since my birthday, two more blood moons came and went, and with each one, the symptoms worsened. I could hear heartbeats from across the university quad. The smell of blood from the campus clinic made my mouth water in ways that terrified me. Sometimes I'd wake up with my fingernails elongated into something sharp and deadly, only to blink and find them normal again.
Today I visited the shaman, hoping for answers, but she saw nothing. I came back home desperately to beg Enzo to take me to the next pack's healer.
Maybe dear healer couldn't explain why I felt like something was trying to claw its way out of my skin every time the moon rose.
"I told you Tiana is just a useless hoe."
A masculine and familiar voice laughed as I got to the doorstep. "She told me about her recent symptoms, about hearing things and blood, whatever… But I don't care. She's just too boring."
I froze on the spot when I heard this. Desperately, I pushed open our matrimonial bedroom, only to meet Judy and Enzo straddling each other while gossiping about me.
"E… Enzo?"
He stopped and rolled off her since he was on top, his naked body still tangled with hers on our bed, while Judy was naked.
"You're here?" He waved at me lazily. "We're just talking about you. Remind me about those symptoms…or what did you call them?"
I stood frozen, trembling. He was fucking another woman and could brag about it?
"Enzo, what are you doing?" I yelled agitatedly.
Judy grabbed his cock possessively. "What does it seem like we're doing, Omega? Did you hear my moaning from afar too?"
Tears rushed from my face immediately. "I should have known better. From my birthday when you sneaked into the penthouse, I should have suspected something. But I was desperate to believe you loved me and I ignored every red flag waving in my face."
"Hey, what would the princess from a dead clan do?" Judy taunted me with pride. "Enzo is merely helping you! You should stand with whatever he loves."
Her words pricked me like a needle. "A dead clan? Did you forget that Enzo was mine at first?"
The two of them burst into laughter. "Wait…." Judy laughed again. "Did you really think Enzo loves you?"
I blinked, "W… What?"
Enzo got up from the bed, grabbed the towel, and wrapped it around his groin. Then she moved and stood before me, "This is all a plan," Tiana said. All this time, Judy is betrothed! It's just…"
He shrugged, looked back at Judy as if taking permission before he talked. "…just a prank."
My hand moved before my heart did. I slapped him, and the echoes must have reached the servants downstairs. "You… you're playing pranks with my heart?"
"Are you mad!?" He held his cheeks painfully. Judy also got up from bed with a rage. "Who did you think you were? Slapping my..."
Enzo looked up with anger. One thing about him is that he hates it when his pride is stepped on, and I love it that way.
Our love has been on a slow burn since the day Judy stepped into the picture.
Even though she'd always been there since the third year that I met Enzo, things weren't like this — maybe the betrothal was a lie.
"Meet me in the throne room!" Enzo commanded and stormed out.
Judy shoved past me with a hiss and also stormed out. Whatever awaited me in that throne room, I had no one to protect me. No brothers, no father, no boyfriend— I was completely alone.