Ivory's pov
I knew something was wrong the moment I woke up by almost noon today, especially because I never sleep in. Today, the long-awaited annual Crystal ball was taking place, and it's an important day for me cause I'd be introduced to the whole pack as the Prince's mate and future Luna. I've been eagerly looking forward to this day since the moment we both discovered we were mates some months ago, and I couldn't believe I somehow slept through my alarms!
I rushed out of bed and got dressed fast, my uneasiness rapidly increasing when I realized that no one else was home.
Not my parents, not my siblings. Not even Reina, my personal maid. The house was completely empty.
What's happening?
There was no time to dwell on that, and after hurriedly dressing up, I made sure to tie my hair up and slip on my hat, my parents' warning from last night still echoing through my head.
"You had better not embarrass the family at the ball tomorrow if you love yourself." My father, Jeremy, a man whom the whole pack respected and admired, had seriously warned me last night after he finished his frequent nightly visits to me when everyone else was asleep.
He'd close my mouth, muffle my terrified screams with his hand and then do certain… uncomfortable things to my body that make me puke whenever I remember them against my will during the day.
According to him, that was my punishment for bringing him so much shame with my very existence.
My father came from a line of strong, gifted pure blooded gammas, who were dedicated to directly serving the moon goddess and carrying out her will. It meant my family was very popular, and admired by everyone in the pack.
Well, except me.
Because compared to the rest of my family, I wasn't a gamma. I wasn't anything, to be exact.
I didn't have their powerful towering wolves that led wars at the frontlines, I didn't have their pure blood that could heal. I was a null, a defect that shouldn't exist— my multi-colored weird hair, my eyes which lacked irises, and my lack of a scent, was proof of that.
I wasn't accepted by anyone, not even my family, so it shocked me immensely when Jaden, the pack's prince, didn't instantly reject me after discovering we were mates. Instead, he accepted me, and we fell in love shortly after that, and today at the ball, he'd announce our relationship to the entire pack.
I rushed to the palace after leaving the house, my stomach still in a knot of unease. All my family's phones have gone unanswered and I wondered if they were already at the ball.
Of course they didn't bother to wake me after I slept in.
I tried not to let that get to me and focused on getting to the palace. The ride was fast and I thanked the driver after alighting the car, ignoring the sneer on his face as he wrinkled his nose at my lack of a scent.
My nerves tripled when I made my way into the palace, not surprised to get almost all the attention as soon as I walked in. My dress was pretty, I was certain, but that wasn't what everyone was staring at right now. They were pointedly staring at my hat, knowing it hid my freak hair.
I shifted around in unease while looking around for Jaden, and I spotted my family first. My father and mother were speaking to the pack's beta and his mouth instantly went dry as soon as he noticed me, making my heartbeat kick up with extra nerves. I gripped my dress tightly and forced myself to look away.
I was scared of all my family members, especially my father and my two older brothers. They hated whenever I embarrassed them in public, but I never do anything but just exist. Elias, my oldest brother's lips curled in anger as he watched me before whispering something to Zion, my second oldest brother and I were thankful we were in public right now cause one thing they'd never do is to hit me where anyone could see.
I caught sight of Isis, my twin sister mingling with the other cool, pretty girls at the other side of the hall. Her dress was show stopping, bold and red in color. That was a dress I saved up for, cause I don't get allowances like the rest of my siblings.
I was supposed to wear that dress today, seeing as this is my big day. But my parents insisted I'll attract more attention in that and that's unacceptable since I'm the freak of the family, so they forcefully took it and gave it to Iris.
"Everyone, please gather around. Prince Jaden would select his fated mate now." A voice announced and an excited cry went up in the air from all the young unmated maidens gathered right now.
They all instantly moved closer to the stage, clearly hoping to be selected and I accompanied them, happiness instantly starting to roar through my veins at the sight of Jaden arriving on stage in his regal princely robes. At once, everyone screamed happily while waving at him, and he had a glowing smile as he wished the crowd a good afternoon, his deep voice making my chest tingle.
I held my breath as he spoke next.
"I'm happy to announce that my selected mate and future luna, is none other than Gamma Isis Macwulf." Jaden's smooth voice rang out and as a roar erupted through the air, it felt like my world stopped.
I staggered, my head swimming from confusion while my heart felt like it would burst.
What just happened?
Everyone was screaming happily while Iris proudly walked up the stage, and I stood in a shocked state, watching as Jaden pulled Iris into his arms and kissed her right there. My parents and brothers had proud looks of approval and I still couldn't wrap my head around what I was staring at.
I felt tears fill my eyes and that made me feel so angry at myself.
Jaden is my mate. I felt the bond right after turning eighteen some months ago, even without having a wolf. When he accepted me, he literally worshipped the ground I walked on.
So, why did he pick my twin instead?
My hands shook at my sides and before I could stop to think, I pushed through the crowd till I was at the foot of the stage.
"Jaden… why?" I called out once he and Iris noticed me and silence fell over the crowd. My chest hurt so bad and it was almost a struggle to breathe.
"We're fated mates, how can you take my sister instead?"
Just last night when we met and kissed under the moonlight, he promised to cherish me forever.
His mouth curved in a sneer as he looked me up and down. "I can't take a fucking freak as my mate, The fuck? How would you rule beside me with no wolf?" He stared at me with so much disgust, while Iris looked very pleased.
"I, Prince Jaden, reject you as my mate!"
I gasped, pain cutting through my chest like a knife just as Laugher rang through the room and I wished I could disappear.
"She's delusional."
"What was she thinking? That the prince would accept her?"
"A disgusting freak can't ever be our luna!"
More words echoed around me just as Jaden continued in a booming voice.
"And besides, I also can't mate with a person with such a wicked heart. Can anyone believe she tried to kill her own twin?!"
My mouth fell open in shock just as a ruckus broke out, everyone talking at the same time and now openly pointing at me.
"What? That's not true!" I cried out as my heart pounded away, unable to believe my ears.
Like rejecting me wasn't enough, why was he doing this now?
My parents and brothers looked murderous as watched me, making me more shocked. Weren't they gonna defend me right now?
"Oh, shush. A prince never lies. You confided in me, remember?" He sneered, shocking me even further.
"No. That's not true. I'll never try to harm my sister." I cried out while looking around, but no one seemed to believe me. Even though I might hate my twin for always making my life hell since we were little, I'll never ever try to kill her!
"There's even physical proof. Let's see how you'll deny this."