Behind The Luna’s Mask

2. MONSTER FIANCE

LIORA’s POV

Shock. Agony. Frustration, and then denial sift through my veins.

As I looked at the man whom I had learned to love for four years, those emotions were fighting the battle of custody.

I did not which one to feel exactly but denial was starting to win at this point because I didn't want to believe the man in front of me, that my own fiance could be the reason why I was in such a dilemma.

"W-what?" I forced out that one syllable in disbelief and Dorian shrugged with a proud smile on his face.

"What?" He asked, grinning evilly from ear to ear. "Are you surprised?"

I couldn't bring myself to respond. Instead, I kept looking at this man, wondering if he was the same person I had been sharing a bed with, if he was the same man I vowed to spend the rest of my life with and not some clone.

Maybe the real Dorian is still out there for the business trip and this imposter was claiming to be him. Because there is no way my Dorian would be this heartless. There's no way my Dorian would watch me break down in tears for something he orchestrated. There's no way my Dorian would see me locked up and would have such a smug smile etched on his face.

Wanting to confirm if he was indeed the one, I found myself muttering. "Dorian?"

"In flesh and blood." He responded. "Why? Are you still trying to process it? There's no need, Liora. I'm clarifying things to you right now because you deserve that much. I am behind the whole setup. I instructed him to go into your room without knocking and do those things to you. I have been the one calling your phone with a burner phone to back up my claim."

With my chest heaving and my mind trying to pace what the hell was going on, I blurted. "How could you?"

Dorian's laughter echoed through the walls as he continued to reveal the truth. "How could I? Well, there are a lot of reasons why. You are not my type, you are wolfless, worthless. But let me start with the major reason— I wanted to become the Alpha of this Pack."

My mind was numbed at this point as I listened to him yap. If I said my whole world was crumbling before, it is nothing compared to this. Compared to knowing the person whom you loved so much could betray you just for their own selfish interest.

"But you said you loved me, Dorian? You said you never want to lose me, are you aware of what you are doing to me right now?" I asked as though I was hoping he would apologize and then clarify it all as a prank. Nonetheless, the serious look he had on told me otherwise.

"You are so gullible, Liora. I have never loved you. For the past three years, I have been pretending to love you but it was all a ruse."

"A ruse?" I repeated after him, refusing to believe this was happening.

Nothing in this world could have prepared me for the agony coursing through my veins at this moment. Nothing at all.

"You see, I have always known I could never become the Alpha of this pack. I mean I was just a meaningless Beta son. Being a Beta son just leaves me as the next Beta or better yet, the next Alpha might decide not to want me and appoint someone else. So when I realized you never got a mate after your eighteenth birthday and your wolf never surfaced, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I decided to be the prince in shining armor that would sweep you off your feet." He admitted proudly.

As I remained there, I could feel the weight of his betrayal like a storm, pressing into my chest. Its wind whispering doubts and insecurities into my mind. I could not believe this— the person I once trusted, someone I thought would never harm me, has left me questioning the truth of every moment we shared.

I replayed our words and actions, searching for clues I might have missed, blaming myself for not seeing the cracks in the foundation of our bond.

All these while, I confided in him. I told him many untold secrets about my family that I would never reveal to anyone else. I revealed how I felt guilty for my mother's death and wished it never happened. Dorian consoled me and whispered so many reassuring words into my ears, yet he never loved me. Is this how callous men can be? Is toying with a woman's heart a game to them?

With fresh tears pooling in my eyes, I asked him just to be sure. "You did this simply to become an Alpha?"

"Well, I am a ruthless bettor. I would do anything to become an Alpha."

Then it dawned on me, when he asked me out, my older Brother, Rex was still alive and was supposed to be the next Alpha. So how did he intend to become an Alpha through me, knowing Rex was the heir apparent to the throne?

The question tugged at the back of my throat so I had to ask. "How did you intend to do that then with Rex still in the picture?"

Dorian chuckled. Every air on my skin rose from the dreadful sound. I knew what he was about to say next would either ruin or destabilize me for life, nevertheless, I wanted him to speak.

"Oh, Liora. Your family's position and power are the keys to my success. I knew your brother would be the next Alpha, so I had to take him out."

My heart shattered into a million fragments. If I had acknowledged Dorian to be a betrayer, snitch, and bastard. I never knew a murderer should be added to his portfolio.

"You were the one that killed Rex?" I queried, my eyes bulging out the terror my soul felt.

Dorian nodded his head delightfully. "And your Dad too."

I plonked my ass on the ground frozen, my heart racing and mind in a haze, as the news sank in. The world around me seemed to blur, each word crashing into me like waves in a storm.

My hands trembled, unable to grasp the full weight of what had just been revealed. Everything I had once known, trusted, and believed in was now shattered. My breath came in short gasps, and for a moment, the ground beneath me felt like it might give way. My mind raced through a whirlwind of disbelief, confusion, and deep sorrow as if reality itself had warped into something unrecognizable. The shock gripped me, knowing that with this, my life had completely changed forever.

I could not find the strength to utter a word as I sat there, staring at the monster I once loved in front of me.

But he remained there, smiling as though he did not know the weight of the words he had just driven into my heart.

"Come on, Liora. Don't be like that." He cooed, obviously making a mockery of me. "I made your Dad's death so painless. All I did was press a pillow on his face while he slept. I helped him reduce the burden of being an Alpha. And as for your brother, we both know he was never cut out for the task of an Alpha. The dude was cowardly and he only had eyes for young girls."

"Shut the f**k up!" I roared at him after summoning the strength to speak. "Don't you talk about my brother like that!"

Dorian clicked his tongue. "Come on, Liora... we both know Rex never loved you. If I'm being honest here, I have been the only one that showed you what true affection really is."

My face contorted in anguish. "You are a bastard, Dorian! A dirty swine!"

"Uh uh." Dorian hushed by waving a finger at me. "You are the swine here, Liora. You were the one caught having an affair." He pretended to be crying before adding. "You cheated on me."

"It was all you!" I fired back angrily. "You did this! Just wait until I tell my uncle about this, wait until—"

"Your uncle?" Dorian scoffed. "He has been the one helping me with everything. He's the mastermind behind the whole game of chess, I just followed his instructions."

Like a gush of wind, another pain struck me. The pain is sharp, like a blade twisting with every memory. This was too much for me to take in the entirety of one night.

I felt weak to the bone, almost numb from crying too much and I wanted nothing more than to just die at this point.

Why? I thought to myself. Why did the moon goddess condemn me to such a miserable life?

"You know what?" Dorian's voice split through my thoughts. "Since I'm done telling you all of it, I guess it's time I let you go. I was hoping to kill you but no, the weight of what you now carry would kill you in less than a week. Or perhaps after I publish the news of your cheating scandal across all media in a week." He threw my cellphone at my feet and I immediately picked it up. Thereafter, he beckoned on the guards who were at the far end of the hall. "Once I leave, open this cell and throw her out of the pack. She has been banished for consecrating our marital bond."

"Yes, Alpha." chorused the guards and Dorian looked at me one last time, smiled then he stretched to his feet and left.

The cell door opened and without remorse, five hefty guards picked me up from the ground above their heads. My screams and wails to put me down fell on deaf ears.

We got outside the mansion into the dark, heavy downpour.

Not minding the rain, they strutted across the pack until they had gotten to the Pack boundary and then they discarded me like a big pile of trash.

My whole body ached from the bruises I had sustained but nothing could hurt more than what Dorian had done to me. He took my whole life in front of him and then broke into tiny bits.

Although, I wished to die right now. Though I have no other reason to live, for some unknown reason I found myself wanting to.

Dying right now means I allowed Dorian to win. It means he would reap where he didn't sow and live happily. I would not allow it. Maybe I'd find some people to help me take him down, but since I had no evidence right now, I needed to wait.

With a heavy heart, I picked myself up ignoring the whiplash of the rain making the bruises on my skin more painful. I continued down the pathway and made it to the highway away from my pack.

Just as I was about to cross the other side of the road, an oncoming car speeding with full light honked. But it was too late because all I could see at this point was blinding lights.