Blood Moon Reckoning

Chapter 2: Margaret's Betrayal

The bitter chill of betrayal weighed heavily on Estella’s heart as she stood alone at the altar. Everything had spiraled so fast, that she could barely process what had just happened. Her heart raced with the disbelief and confusion of the accusations Carlos had hurled at her.

Yet through the chaos of her thoughts, there was one face she kept coming back to- Margaret Rae. The woman who had been more than a friend, almost like a sister to her. Margaret had been there for every pivotal moment of Estella’s life, always by her side, always offering support. The sudden realization that Margaret had betrayed her in front of everyone stung more than any accusation Carlos could ever make.

When Estella’s betrothal to Carlos had been announced, Margaret had been overjoyed, or at least that’s what Estella had thought. She’d been the one to help Estella prepare for the engagement ceremony, offering words of comfort and encouragement as Estella grappled with the expectations of marrying into the Vesper family.

And when Estella had confided in her about her growing feelings for Carlos, it had been Margaret who assured her that Carlos would grow to love her too. That trust had run deep, so deep that Estella had shared everything with Margaret-even the news of her pregnancy. That was the part that hurt the most now - Margaret had known her secret, the very secret she had twisted into a weapon.

The memory of that conversation, just days before the wedding, came flooding back.

“Estella,” Margaret had said with her usual bright smile, “you’re glowing! It’s almost like you’re already carrying the future of the pack.”

Estella had laughed softly, the thrill of the secret filling her chest. “Well, about that… I’m pregnant. I’m planning to tell Carlos after the ceremony. It’ll be my surprise gift to him.”

Margaret’s expression had shifted for just a fraction of a second, but Estella had been too caught up in her excitement to notice. “That’s wonderful,” Margaret had said, though in hindsight, Estella could now see the hint of something darker in her eyes, something envious.

It all made sense now - the strange moments of tension, the fleeting looks that Estella had brushed off as nothing. Margaret had been hiding something all alone. But why? Why would she turn against her?

Estella had given Margaret her unwavering loyalty, shared her life’s most intimate details, and trusted her implicitly. How could someone so close inflict so much pain?

Her mind snapped back to the present, to the horrific scene that had unfolded minutes ago. Margaret had stood before the entire gathering, her face a mask of false pity, holding up a piece of paper with shaky hands.

“I’m sorry, Estella,” she had said, her voice trembling with insincere emotion. “But you’ve left me no choice. I can’t stand by and let this happen without revealing the truth.”

Estella’s knees had nearly buckled as she knew exactly what was written on the paper. “No!” she had cried, shaking her head in disbelief. “Don’t! Please! Don’t! I’m begging you!”

Margaret had turned to Carlos with a sorrowful look, as though she regretted what she was about to do, and handed him the paper. “Carlos… I didn’t want to believe it either. But I had to protect you. I had to protect the pack. Estella’s pregnant… and it’s not your child.”

Carlos’s face had contorted with rage, his fists clenched so tightly that the veins on his forearms bulged. “How could you?” he spat, his voice full of venom as he stepped toward Estella. “I trusted you! You—carrying another man’s child, and you thought you could marry me?”

The horror of it all was too much to comprehend. Estella had tried to explain, to protest, but the words stuck in her throat. It was like she had been dropped into a nightmare from which she couldn’t wake up. The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, the shocked whispers cutting through her like knives.

“That’s not true! Carlos, please, listen to me!” she had pleaded, her voice breaking with desperation.

But Carlos wasn’t listening. His face had twisted into something unrecognizable, a mask of pure fury. He didn’t see her as his bride anymore, as the woman he had shared moments of tenderness with. No, now she was nothing more than a traitor in his eyes. The pack members, too, turned their backs on her, their judgment heavy in the air. It was as though the entire world had shifted, leaving Estella isolated and powerless.

Gasps rippled through the crowd like a wave, and Estella felt her entire world shatter around her. How could Margaret do this? How could she betray her like this, in front of everyone?

Carlos’s rage had been palpable, his entire body trembling as he spoke. “You disgust me,” he growled, his amber eyes burning with hatred. “You think you can deceive me, deceive this entire pack, and still stand here like an innocent bride?”

He turned to the crowd, his voice loud and commanding. “Estella Erylis has betrayed this pack! She’s no better than a common traitor.”

Enrique Erylis, Estella’s father, had been silent through the entire ordeal, his face stern and unyielding. But now, he stepped forward, his expression one of cold indifference. “You’ve brought shame to our family, Estella,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless. “You are no daughter of mine.”

His words pierced her heart like a dagger. The one person she had hoped might defend her, might stand by her at this moment, had cast her aside without a second thought. Her father had turned his back on her.

Carlos’s mother, Clarise, the proud and dignified matriarch of the Vesper family, had risen from her seat, her face twisted in disgust. “You dare bring this filth to our family?” she spat, her voice filled with venom. “I always knew there was something wrong with you. But this? This is unforgivable.”

She stormed out of the venue, her long cape trailing behind her, followed closely by several high-ranking pack members. Charles Vesper, the alpha, remained seated, his dark eyes fixated on Estella. He didn’t speak, but the scowl etched across his face spoke volumes. He was disgusted with her, disappointed beyond words.

Tears streamed down Estella’s face as she stood in the center of the courtyard, her beautiful wedding dress now feeling like a prison, constricting her, suffocating her. She was surrounded by people, yet she had never felt more alone. The world she had known, the life she had so carefully crafted, was crumbling around her, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

The whispers of the pack grew louder, their judgment heavy in the air. Estella could barely breathe as the weight of their eyes bore down on her. Her legs trembled, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse right there, under the weight of their accusations.

But then, something inside her snapped. She couldn’t stay there. She couldn’t stand there and be humiliated any longer. With a trembling breath, Estella turned on her heel and fled. She didn’t know where she was going, but she needed to get away - from the pack, from Carlos, from the crushing betrayal that was suffocating her.

As she ran from the venue, the sounds of whispers and judgment followed her. Estella’s chest heaved with sobs as her feet carried her away from the only life she had ever known. Her mind raced with thoughts of despair, with the knowledge that everything she had built, everything she had believed in, was gone.