Nora's pov
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes trailing the soft lilac dress I wore which hugged my upper body but flowed in soft ripples down to my ankles.
I was beyond nervous because I knew this wasn't just a celebration, it was a test. Everyone's eyes would be on me, waiting for my wolf to come out or shaking their heads in disappointment at me once more. For a second I look out the window and all I want to do is bolt, run away and leave everything behind me.
A knock at the door startles me out of my thoughts and I immediately try to compose myself as best as I can.
"Come in" I called out.
"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes" Selene smiles at me as she steps into the room.
"You look beautiful" she said, picking up a brush and gently sweeping it through my hair.
"Thank you" I muttered in reply.
"I know you are nervous about tonight" she whispered.
"Am I that obvious?" I asked with an awkward chuckle.
"You are shaking" she pointed out with a shrug. Only then do I notice how my hands are trembling as I clasped them together.
"It's going to be alright. You aren't under any sort of pressure darling" her words dripped like butter over my skin.
"Funny I feel a lot of pressure right now" I muttered.
"Nora today is about you. This celebration, everyone gathered out there is here because of you. Our Alpha organized this to support you" she told me.
"And I appreciate it but is it really wise to continue with a celebration when we just lost ten members of our pack to rogues?" I questioned.
"What's been done is done. We can't live in despair, those wolves are gone and will never be brought back to us rather we have to look forward in hope" she explained.
"No more moping around. You look beautiful tonight, your wolf may make an appearance and you might even find your mate. Who knows" she winked knowingly at me as a blush stained my cheeks, before heading to the door.
"Come on, let's get out there" she urged me and I silently followed behind her, feeling considerably better than I did before.
I slipped into the crowd, determined to enjoy my night and make the most of it.
Pack members constantly flocked around me, talking, dancing and laughing with me.
"If we weren't siblings I would have claimed you as my mate" Cassian joked, handing me a glass of wine as he stood beside me.
"How are you enjoying yourself?" He inquired as I took a sip of my drink.
"Not bad, not bad at all. Now that I'm here it's clear I was worried over nothing" I shrugged, glancing towards the middle of the room where other packed members danced.
"Alpha Damien just walked in. Go pay your respects and thank him for the party. I'll be right here waiting for you" he said, his eyes trained on our Alpha.
"I'll be right back" I took one last swing of my wine before handing him the glass and making my way towards Alpha Damien.
"Alpha" I bowed once I reached him, baring my neck in respect and submission.
"Rise" he commanded.
"Your wolf is yet to make an appearance?" He asked with a quirk of his brow.
"Yes Alpha" I whispered, my cheeks heating in embarrassment.
"As a member of this pack-" he began but a loud screech interrupts him.
"Treachery!" Selene made her way towards me and to my uttermost shock slapped me across the face.
"We have a traitor in our midst Alpha" she said coldly, looking down at me with disgust and undisguised hatred.
"Selene what are you talking about?" I stared at her in confusion.
"What is wrong Selene?" Alpha Damien asked her as a small crowd settles around us.
"I was tired and decided leave Nora's gift in her room before heading to bed but as I lifted her bed covers look what I found" she lifted up the papers in her hands.
"Maps. The same maps that went missing from the alpha's study a month ago" she explained loud enough for everyone around us to hear.
"Selene I have no idea what you are talking about" I babbled.
"Not only are these the missing maps but they are also maps detailing our borders, each point where our pack members were killed earlier today" she continued as people around us gasped and some growled threateningly at me.
"I would never do such a thing" I urged them to believe me.
"Cassian tell the Alpha what you know" Selene ordered.
"On occasion I've spied Nora leaving the pack house and heading into the forest" Cassian stated, staring straight ahead of me.
"Every pack member goes into the woods for a run" I argued.
"Not members without wolves" Selene countered and the people hum their agreement.
What was happening?
My mind was reeling and I was unable to understand how a perfectly wonderful night could be going down the drain so quickly.
"Selene, Cassian, Alpha please. You all know me, I would never do anything to jeopardize the wellbeing of the pack" my eyes pleaded with them to believe me.
"How do you explain the evidence brought against you?" Alpha Damien speaks up for the first time.
"I have no idea how they got there. I've never seen those maps in my life" I answered.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Selene asked sharply.
"No of course not but maybe someone intentionally put it there to frame me" I explained.
"How would you explain the rogue scent so clearly mising with your on these maps?" Alpha Damien asked.
"You have to believe me Alpha. I would never do anything like that, this pack is my family" I pleaded.
"I didn't want to bring this out but you've left me no choice Nora" Selene claimed, handing over a bunch of letters to Alpha Damien.
"That is the correspondence between her and the rogues. I was quite bewildered when I stumbled upon them. To think I raised you as if you were my own child" she wailed.
Tears pricked my eyes as I looked at Cassian for help but he just looked away. It was quite apparent that I was being set up by none other than my step mother and her son, the only family I thought I had.
"You have betrayed this pack Nora, betrayed your Alpha and all those who cared for you. Rather than kill you here and now I banish you from this pack. You are no longer a member of the blue moon pack" Alpha Damien's voice boomed angrily and a scream ripped through me as I felt the pack bond severe between myself and the pack.
"You have five minutes to leave the pack grounds and I've given explicit orders for you to be shot on site if ever you are seen near these borders" he added before walking away.
I dropped to my knees as tears leisurely strolled down my face.
This couldn't be happening to me.