Chapter 1: The Betrayal

It was the evening of the moonday, the sky basked in its glory with a dense moisture of purple and wine, as the sun began to set, hiding behind the clouds, it was a beautiful sight to behold, and another soul who was just as excited as mother nature herself was Josephine.

She was just like every other girl, who's excited because of her upcoming wedding to the Alpha of the East-Wing Pack. She walked down the road, dressed in her simple floral gowns with purple embroidery, which was a gift from her mate.

She was done with her chores and every other thing, and seeing him this event would put a seal on her happiness.

“I'll be back dad…” she told her father, with a curled smile on her face,

Josephine was the only daughter of the chief, being pretty was an understatement, she was gorgeous and the news of her wedding to Baron, has casted like wild news through the pack,

As she walked down, heading to his house, it occurred to her the front door was usually opened. And this is unlike Baron.

Did he have a visitor? He could ... .but he didn't know if she would visit today so she might as well surprise him.

She took the courage to walk in shutting the door behind her, the house felt different like there's another being other than her mate, Baron in it.

Heading up the stairs, as she ascends,babe could hear distant laughs but she didn't want to jump into conclusions, it could be his sister, Rayna…she was willing to give it a benefit of the doubt when he got closer to the door, she heard her voice and it was nothing like Rayna’s voice

“You're getting married to Josephine in a few days babe….I can't even believe you would do this to me” she heard the girl say,

Baron grunts, as she heated him kiss her, assuring her,

“Josephine is just someone whom I have to marry for the pack but trust me I do not want her….it's you that I want…” he said, just there and then, the her heart crashed into her stomach in hurt, she couldn't believe what she had just heard, Baron did want her?

They had been together for the longest time and the voice sounded so familiar she just couldn't place where she heard that voice but her jealousy spikes up as she hastens upstairs kicking the room open to be welcomed by a disgusting sight.

Baron instantly shovels away from the lady, in shock, staring at her. His face went pale immediately like it was out of blood, as he looked at her, the pain surged her countenance as a single tear dropped from her hazel eyes.

“Baron….” She managed to call, her voice infringed with hurt and pain, she stared at the same man she was about to the the knock in a few days in the present if everyone in the park, he was over the laps if another woman, her heart shatter into a thousand and one pieces,

“Josephine..?” He managed to call with no aiota of guilt in it, “What are you doing here?” His face laced with a frown as he fired her a look.

She lets out an unbelievable sigh, “ You have to be kidding me, Baron…. “ her voice trailed, as soon as she met with the face of the lady, her heart instantly dropped,

“Isabel?” she turned to Baron, then back to Isabel who had a wide smirk on her face,

“Hi, Josephine…” she said, staring deep into her eyes like she was about to curse her soul.

Josephine turned to Baron, “ You said she was just a friend, what the hell is she doing here!” Her voice basked in bananas her veins surged through her neck in a anger,

“Don't you dare raise your voice at me!” Baron fired back at her, the look on his face was what marveled her the most, he was like a whole new different person.

Cold shivers ran down Josephine's spine, as she stepped back, her eyes were bloodshot and ready to pour. She couldn't believe it.

“Did you ever love me?” She suddenly asked, her voice broke in pain, Baron stood up, with an unapologetic look,

“What does it look like to you? You think I want to get married to you?

“What's that's supposed to want, Baron! We were friends, remember? Till you told me you loved me!”

“Holy shit! Get a grip, girl! Did you ever think that I loved you? FYI, it was all fake! It is Isabel I truly love and not you!” He barked at her, she flinched but stood there like a brick, cemented to the ground, her world was shattered before her very eyes she did know what to feel,

Anger? Hurt? Pain? All she knew was that Baron had just rejected her as his mate just to be with Isabel.

“Can you leave? You interrupted the fun..” Isabel suddenly says with rolling her eyes as she grabbed Baron by the collar, and kissed him right in front of her.

Josephine couldn't take it anymore, she stared at the ring in her hands, she took it off, with a tears in her eyes,

“You're going to regret this.” She added and then turned, running off from the house,

“Josephine…I” the door opened with his sister walking in but she walked past her, slamming the door so hard as she ran, she ran, tears fell at their own free Will. She just couldn't take it all in one day, she was rejected.

“Do you think I ever loved you?” The voice kept ringing in her head, she ran, the sky roared as it announced its downpour, droplets of rain began to fall, hitting her but she didn't care. All she wanted was to take this pain away.

She got home, drenched in the rain, her father opened the door, she booked down once again,

“Why?... How could you come home drenched in the rain? Where's Baron? He let you go home like this?” He asked but she was out in a daze,

“Josephine? Talk to me about what the heck happened at Baron’s house?”

“Dad …..he rej….he rejects….” She couldn't finish her words as she immediately collapsed to the floor.

“Josephine!” She heard him scream her name but the pain was slowly taking her away, she couldn't bear it all.

Chapter 2: The Decision To Forget

Her eyes slowly opened, she felt out a small breath, squinting her eyes about to figure out where she was, she noticed she was in her bedroom, she turned over to see her father lying down on the couch, with a crusty old news paper, he looked tired,

Had he been watching her all night?

She slowly got up, for a moment she forgot what was going on but then it all came rushing back, like waves in an ocean, flooding her mind with the thought of betrayal she got from her supposed mate.

Her heart aches, this was the second time she was being abandoned, first it was her mom, after her birth, she didn't want to stay with her but instead left and now, the only person she ever loved had left her to be with another woman.

She just cannot let it go, she stood up from the bed, the moment her legs hit the ground , she felt the first wave of dizziness, as she tried to hold herself up, she had been out all night .

Looking at her father still asleep, she said slowly, “ I'm sorry Papa but I have to fight for my love.” She then grabbed her jacket from the rack, wearing it over her, As she walked out, it was heavily snowing, but she didn't care, she walked through the snow, heading to Baron's house, she did think she heard it well the last time and this time she wanted to be sure he was over her and moved on,

She stood at the long, steeled gate, she banged it, but got now answer. She knew Baron was home, the lights were off but the chimney was out with the smoke from his fireplace inside.

“I know you're in there, let me in Baron…. Please…” she pleaded, but he paid deaf ears to her,

She banged the gates again with all her strength, when suddenly the gates open and Isabel walked out,

“Are you out of your mind? What are you even doing here? I thought Baron made it clear to you that you two are no more?”

Josephine stood still, she had a lot to say but she was reserving it for Baron,

“Can you please let me in, I have something important to tell Baron? She added with a grunt.

“And I said, Baron is unavailable. He is mine now. You should deal with that!”

“You bi**h!” She cursed under her voice,

“Call me whatever you want. But I am not the laughing stock, you are? You just kept going on and on about how Baron this and Baron That…well news flash, Baron is gone now.”

Josephine could not take her condescending attitude, she instantly swayed her hands landing a slap on Isabel,

“Do not think I am weak, I need to speak with Baron.” She said and with that she walked passed isabel, heading to the house where she saw Baron seated, he gave a frowned

“What are you doing here?”

“To hear the truth from you…”

Baron scoffed, “what other truth do you want to know? Your father came here raging last night about how you had died or something but from what I see here you are perfectly fine. You are just a whole bunch of liars. You stink, Josephine. You are classless and I don't even know how I thought I could make you the Luna. You are no fit…”

She rammed her hands across his face, giving him a slap, her why was raged in anger…she could take anything he dishes out but not her father.

“I don't care anymore. I have loved you too much to forget you. You two can go ahead and do what you want to do, but I'll pay back every shred of wickedness you've shown to me”.

“Get out.” Isabel demanded, Josephine stood there, looked a the both of them and then walked out, the wind blew, as it snowed hard, the road was covered in snow…she was cold, but the pain in her heart warmed her up but not for long.

She fell to the ground, crying

“You shouldn't have told me anything ... .I just wished I could forget all …it hurts….” She cried …

“The wind immediately stopped, she first saw another presence around her, it was definitely not a rogue, it had no foul smell but she was suspicious.

“Who's there?” she called, but no one answered,

She turned frantically, to the left and right but couldn't see anyone,

“Show yourself!” She demanded in frustration.

“I must say you have impressive senses.” A light voice said from behind, she turned immediately, to see her, she didn't look like she was from here.

She was dressed in all black, with a staff in her hand, her skin looked pale almost as clear as white, but her eyes were pretty.

Josephine took a step back, “ Who are you and what is a witch doing in the East Wing Pack?”

“The name is Adel..” the woman says, with her arched brows, as she accessed Josephine, she needed no magic to tell her the poor soul was bleeding inside.

“pretty yet you're so dark inside.” She said Josephine instantly got shocked.

“Whats your deal here?”

“Tour….I heard the East Wing Pack is an interesting place and its Alpha really takes care of it and from the looks of it I must say he is one Alpha.” she flashed a smile, she had the prettiest smile.

“ A tour? You want me to believe that?” she asked as she shuddered in the cold.

Adel snapped her finger, and instantly, she felt warm…..her eyes widened…

“You're really a witch.”

Adel laughs, “I thought you figured that already.”

Josephine was not sure what her motive was but witches were not as trustworthy as they seem, and now he says she comes for a tour? Or a spy?

“You can try….” Adel suddenly says,

Josephine was taken aback, “ You read minds ..” she asked and Adel nodded,

“Now is there something you want me to do for you?” Adel asked Josephine that it was more like a trap than a question. If she wanted a request, the moon goddess was one to ask but from a witch?

“Try Me …”

Josephine was a bit hesitant, but then she said,

“I want to forget someone.” She said,

Chapter 3 A Broken Promise

“I want to forget someone…” She began with eyes filled with hurt. Adel looked at her , her soul was the purest so she wondered what had happened for the Alpha of East Wing to break such a soul. She wasn't the kind of witch, she was evil, staring at Josephine gave her a sense of remembrance of what it was like trusting a werewolf.

Her claws elongates to signify her anger, she stared at Josephine then said,

“You want to forget him? Well, good thing there's magic in the world..” she smiled evilly, What other way to get her perfect revenge on the members of the East wing pack is not making their destined Luna forget all about them.

Josephine was the perfect tool to use against them all, she smiled then turned her gaze to her,

“How can I forget the pain? Make me forget this pain….. please…” Josephine pleaded as she beat her chest.

“I can do that….” Adel began…. “ Close your eyes..” Josephine says.

Adel looks at her, “ you can only forget the pain if you forget the face behind the pain… and with that she swayed her airs as twinkles began to float on the air as she began to change, Josephine fell to the ground she felt her memories detach from itself….she held herself as her felt her joints pains her just before she closed her eyes she felt lighter, Adel stared at her,

“Who is Baron of the East Wing Pack?”

“Alpha of the East Wing Pack.”

Adel nods, “ but who is he to you?”

“Is he anything to me?” She asked but Adel smiled

“Good. Now you're going to go home and pack and leave, to the Dark West Pack. You'll be safe there?

“But my father….?”

“Baron would spare him.” And just as Josephine nods, she thanks her and turns to leave when she heard Adel say

“You have two weeks to leave….that's when the spell would begin to take place” then Disappears, Josephine sighs, as she walked home in the cold snow storm,

Entering home, her father was pacing, he was worried.

“Oh goodness, Josephine!” He called, “ Do you want to kill me?”

“I'm sorry Dad ….”she says she wrapped her arms around him then she noticed another figure seated on the couch.

Baron.

“Why is he here?” She asked,

“He wanted to talk to you after he chased you.. “her father said.

“Right….he chased me dad ..so I don't want to talk to him.” She walked past her father heading to her room.

“Josephine please….”Baron held her by the wrist before she would walk passed him,

“Go and meet Isabel!”

“Don't you get it? Isabel is just a friend! I just had to pull that front so she wouldn't hurt you.”

Josephine looked at him, “ Do you even hear yourself? She is a friend? So it's me overreacting right?”

“Josephin….”her father tried to calm her down but she held out her hand,

“You can Isabel for all I care, I don't want you back. You are not worth it and trust me I can't be with you.” With that she walked into her room and shut the door.

Baron remained frozen in time, his hand still suspended in mid-air where Josephine had just wrenched herself free. He had a heart beating madly against his ribs, but the ache in his heart could not even be compared to the developing throbs of fear that clawed at his mind. He had envisioned her fury, even cursing at him, but something in her eyes- something missing disturbed his scheming. It was absent like a fire from their bond, like pain that ought to torment between them.

Her father sighed and dragged his hand down his tired face. "Baron, you should get out of here," he said with a heavy-set voice. "She has had enough." "No," murmured Baron, shaking his head. "I need to fix this."

Josephine breathed against her closed door to her room, panting and choking. Her pulse should have raced and her wolf should have howled in agony as he stood before her, but all she felt was... deprivation. A dull void where something should have been. Touching her chest, she expected to feel the bond pulling her towards him, but it was silent.

The spell had already begun rooting itself. She did not regret it. The memories of his treachery faded like whispers in the wind; the pain still lingered, though. She could no longer recall what it was about Baron that used to make her heart race, but she knew that she had fallen due to him. And she would never, ever again let herself fall to such pain.

Outside, Baron clenched his fists. Not like this: he wouldn’t leave. He marched straight towards her door, determination flashing in his eyes. "Josephine, open the door. We need to talk." Silence. His jaw tightened.

"You can be mad at me all you want, but you don't get to pretend like what we have means nothing!" Josephine took a deep breath; the weight of his words washed over her like echo from a life she no longer recognized, What they had? What was he talking about? She had no idea what he meant.

"I'm not pretending," she said through the door almost too softly to be heard but firmly impenetrable, "You just don't matter to me anymore."

Baron flinched as if she had hit him.

Then a knock came at the door. She felt the weight press down on her, causing her moody father to advance and open it. There was a Beta of the East Wing Pack looking grim. "Alpha, we need you back at the packhouse immediately. It's urgent," the Beta said.

Baron cursed under his breath. He cast one more glance over his shoulder toward Josephine's door and then left, his heart that much heavier with every step. "I'm not finished here, Josephine," he vowed. "I'll come back, and I'll make you see the truth."

Josephine did not respond.

When she was assured he was gone, Josephine exhaled and pressed her forehead against the wood of the door. Two weeks will be given to her before the spell is complete-and the last bits of Baron will go away with it out of her soul. Two weeks before she would leave and not look back. And this time she would ensure nothing or no one would ever make her remember.

Chapter 4: Witnessing the Final Blow

Josephine had decided not to follow.

After their quarrel, after the icy finality of her words, she had told herself that there was nothing to say and nothing to feel. Yet there she was, trailing the Baron through the dark, snow-filled streets, her footsteps slipping away in winter's great shroud of chill.

A part of her, a stubborn, foolish part, had to see it-to see for herself that her choice was right: that she was giving up on something that deserved a fight.

Her breath fogged away in the frigid night air as she followed him into the hospital. A small one. Its lights were dim against the winter gloom. The moment the Baron had disappeared into the threshold, Josephine hesitated. She could go back now, leave the place before anything shattered the little left of her.

But suddenly, her feet were in motion even before she could argue the case.

She slipped into the warmth of the hospital-warmed corrosively by the smell of antiseptics and sickness. Stalking quietly, she followed the familiar scent of his presence through muted whispers of nurses and blipping machines to a private hospital room.

And there, they were.

Baron was seated on a chair next to Isabel's bedside, his great broad frame hunched over an already fragile body. His head was bowed, his hand gently cradling hers while his face bore the signs of worry. Isabel looked weak, her long dark hair obscuring the pillow, her cheeks pale, lips trembling as she struggled to stifle a sniffle.

The woman had tears in greatly pitiful eyes, arms outstretched to Baron. Her voice was soft and broken.

"Baron, I'm scared..."

A tightening within Josephine's chest.

"I'm here, Isabel," Baron said, a rough voice with utmost gentleness. "I'm not going anywhere."

Josephine swallowed hard; there was a lump in her throat. She had known. From somewhere deep inside, she had always known. But seeing-witnessing-it was all far more real than she was ready to stand.

He was lost to her.

Everything they ever had-between them and everything they had ever been for each other-was leading to this point: Baron was kneeling next to another woman, promising her forever.

An ice-cold emptiness spread in her chest. A hollow agony took its birth within her.

As Josephine turned to leave, a last instinct made her glance back.

That was when she saw Isabel looking directly at her.

All at once, their eyes locked. Josephine froze.

Then, slowly, deliberately, Isabel smiled.

Not a kind smile. Not a relieved smile. A smug, victorious smile that twisted with revulsion in Josephine's gut.

Josephine wheeled around and stalked off, her footsteps quick and uneven. More was not his need. Whatever Baron would say next, was unnecessary to her ears.

She had her answer.

When she reached the exit of the hospital, her phone vibrated. She hesitated before drawing it out. Hands clenched at the sight of the message.

Isabel: Enjoy the show? He's mine now. You should probably run along before you embarrass yourself any further.

Josephine breathed out sharply, fingers tightening around the phone until her knuckles went all white.

For a moment it was seething anger in her: hot and consuming. By the next moment, however, it had vanished, leaving only tiredness in its wake.

She was wasting too much time.

Time to go.

Josephine never stopped to walk until she reached her house. Snowstorm picked up the howling wind carrying through empty streets, but hardly would that have been felt. Her thoughts were their own storm.

He was waiting for Josephine when she stepped into the house.

“Josephine!” he called out, his voice suffused with worry. “Where have you been?”

She wouldn’t answer immediately. Instead, she walked toward the fireplace, hands outstretched toward the warmth, trying to thaw the deep chill settling within the very bones of her body.

Her father came closer, worry written all over his face. “Josephine?”

"I'm leaving," she finally said.

His expression tightened. "What?"

"I'm leaving the East Wing Pack," she repeated, turning to face him. "I can't stay here. Not anymore."

Sadness washed over his features: his face fell. "Josephine... you don't have to do this. We can work through this together."

She shook her head. "No, Dad. Nothing worth having remains for me here. Not Baron. Nor the pack. I need to go somewhere, where I can try again . Somewhere they can't hurt me anymore."

His shoulders slumped. "You saw him, didn't you?"

Josephine nodded. "In the hospital with Isabel."

Her father closed his eyes for a long moment, as if trying to find the right words for comforting her, but there were none. Instead, he sighed deeply. "If this is what you really want, I won't stop you."

She gave him a grateful look. "Thanks."

"You'll need to pack," he said quietly.

"I know."

Josephine turned toward her bedroom, but before she could go, her father spoke again.

"You'll always have a home here, Josephine," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "No matter what happens."

She stopped, the weight of his words settling over her. Then, with a small but sad smile, she walked away.

That night Josephine packed everything she could manage to carry: the clothes, the little important mementoes, anything which would not stir memories of the past. Movement was quiet as she forced herself into the act, without allowing the emotions to drown her completely. She found an old box out in the corner of her closet. Inside lay the once treasured memories. Letters from Baron, little things he had given her during the years, a tattered scarf he had wound around her shoulders on their first winter together.

Her fingers seemed as if they would pet them.

Then, with no scruples, she flung them into the flames.

The flames consumed them ravenously, crackling and sparking as the past burned to ash before her demure slot eye.

Josephine kept her eyes on it until there was nothing.

No greater reminders. No more hurt.

After the flames died down, she took deep breaths and then whispered to herself, "This is the last time I cry for you, Baron."

And she meant it.