Chapter 3: The Call from the Ex-Boyfriend

[Margaret’s POV] A week had passed since my coming-of-age ceremony. Initially, I had struggled to accept the situation, but as time wore on, numbness settled in, forcing me to acknowledge the reality—my boyfriend, Armstrong, and my twin sister, Elizabeth, were fated mates. It was a bitter truth that gnawed at me. My sister, who had never taken anything seriously except her appearance, was going to be the Luna of our pack. She would take a role that required wisdom, strength, and leadership—qualities she had never possessed. But in the world of werewolves, destiny was law, and no one dared question the mate bond. Our kind revered the bond above all else. No one seemed to consider my pain, and no one cared that I had loved Armstrong first. My Beta father had even come to me, expecting my cooperation. "Elizabeth doesn’t understand the responsibilities of being Luna," he had said. "You need to help her." It made me furious. How was it that, despite everything, I was still expected to be the one to make sacrifices? Frustration built up within me, and I swiped my arm across my desk, knocking over everything in its path. Papers fluttered to the ground, and my lamp tilted dangerously before settling at an odd angle. I threw myself onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, anger coursing through my veins. I had always tried to excel—in school, in training, in every aspect of my life—yet I had been overlooked. My father’s favoritism had always been clear. "Elizabeth is my pride," he would say. But what about me? Was I not also his daughter? Did my achievements mean nothing? A loud bang disrupted my thoughts. "Margaret!" Only one person barged into my room without knocking—Elizabeth. "What do you want?" I snapped, barely restraining my irritation. "Next week, Armstrong is hosting a ceremony to officially make me Luna," she announced, as if I hadn’t already been dreading it. "I don’t know how to organize such things, so I need your help." I scoffed, shaking my head. "I don’t—" "Father said you would help me," she interrupted smugly. The words died in my throat. Father again. The man who had always chosen Elizabeth over me. He must have been thrilled that his favorite daughter was going to be Luna. I clenched my fists and forced myself to breathe evenly. Fighting would be pointless. "Fine," I muttered. "I’ll help." Satisfied, Elizabeth flounced onto my bed, making herself comfortable. "By the way, Anthony told me again that he wants to ask you out." I groaned. "I’m not interested." Anthony was the Beta of the pack. He had pursued Elizabeth in the past, but she had rejected him. Now that she had Armstrong, she had taken it upon herself to play matchmaker for me—most likely just to flaunt her own relationship. "I already told him you’d go," she said carelessly. "He’s a good guy, Margaret. Maybe you should give him a chance." "You had no right to do that," I snapped. "I’m not going." Elizabeth shrugged. "Suit yourself. You can tell him that yourself." She got up and sauntered to the door before pausing. "Not that you want to hear it from me, but maybe it’s time you moved on." She left, and I sat frozen in place. Moved on? I hadn’t been the one who ended my relationship. My phone vibrated suddenly. A name flashed on the screen. Armstrong. My heart clenched. Why was he calling me now? With shaky fingers, I answered. "Hello?" "Margaret." His voice was steady, familiar. It sent an ache through my chest. "What do you want?" My voice came out colder than I intended. "I need to talk to you," he said. I exhaled sharply. "Is this about Elizabeth’s ceremony? I already promised to help." "That’s something Elizabeth insisted on," he admitted. "She’s my mate, and I don’t want to upset her." A bitter taste filled my mouth. So that was how it was now? He was afraid of upsetting her, but he had no problem breaking my heart? "Then what is it?" I asked. "Next week, Lycan King Donald is visiting our pack." I sat up straight. "The Lycan King?" Every werewolf knew about the Lycan royal family. Their power was unmatched. A single royal Lycan was as strong as an Alpha. They rarely involved themselves in pack affairs, but when they did, it was for a reason. "Yes," Armstrong confirmed. "But I have an obligation that day. I’ve already spoken to the Lycan King and informed him that I may not be present when he arrives." I clenched my jaw. I could already tell where this was going. "Elizabeth doesn’t have the experience to handle this on her own," Armstrong continued. "But as Luna, she’s the one who has to do it. Margaret, you’re capable. I need you to help her receive the Lycan King." His voice was soft, almost pleading. It made my stomach churn. Had he ever spoken to me like that when we were together? Had he ever needed me the way he needed me now—not as his lover, but as a convenience? "Margaret?" he prompted. I took a deep breath, fighting the emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "I’ll do it," I said finally. And just like that, I found myself sacrificing once again—for the sister who had taken everything from me and the man who had once been my world.