He Regretted When His Fated Luna Chose Another Alpha

I was getting mated.

But the Alpha I had loved for eight years had no idea.

Lately, Adrian had been consumed by his new attendant, Julian.

She had arrived at the Moonfang Pack six months earlier, claiming to be the last surviving daughter of a fallen southern pack. No one could prove her lineage, yet Adrian accepted her into the pack without a single question.

From the day she arrived, they seemed inseparable.

They trained together at dawn, rode through the forest together, and shared quiet conversations beneath the ancient moon oaks long after the rest of the pack had retired.

Their laughter drifted through the Alpha Hall day after day, as though neither of them remembered I existed.

For Julian's birthday, Adrian ordered the pack's finest confectioner to prepare an enormous hazelnut honey cake.

He had once memorized every herb, flower, and food that could make me ill.

Now he had forgotten that even the scent of hazelnuts could leave my wolf struggling to breathe.

The entire Great Hall had been decorated with silver ribbons, moonflowers, and enchanted lanterns.

Pack warriors, elders, and servants gathered to celebrate.

Julian dipped her finger into the sweet frosting and playfully smeared it across Adrian's face.

Instead of pulling away, he laughed.

With a grin, he scooped up another handful and gently brushed it across the tip of her nose.

The hall erupted with laughter.

They looked like two carefree young wolves sharing a festival beneath the full moon.

No one noticed me standing quietly at the edge of the celebration.

No one remembered that I was Adrian's fated mate.

……

No one noticed when the scent of hazelnuts reached me.

My throat closed at once.

My wolf recoiled in agony as my chest tightened, stealing every breath. I staggered backward and crashed into a wooden chair, sending it clattering across the stone floor. My lungs burned, desperate for air, but each breath became weaker than the last. Instinctive fear gripped me as darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

Before anyone realized what had happened, I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying inside the pack healer's chamber.

Bundles of dried herbs hung from the rafters, and the air carried the bitter scent of healing potions. A dull ache lingered in my chest where the healer had forced my breathing to return.

That was the moment I finally accepted the mating alliance my family had proposed years ago.

My mother wasted no time.

The moment I returned to my chambers in the eastern tower and shut the door, my communication crystal began glowing without pause.

One message after another appeared across its enchanted surface.

Ceremony preparations.

Guest arrangements.

Offerings for the Moon Goddess.

Everything had already been planned.

I read through them until my gaze settled on the final message.

"Deep down, I always knew Adrian would never make you his Luna."

"If he truly intended to complete the Moon Bond before the Moon Goddess, he would never have kept you waiting for eight years."

"It is not too late, Seraphina. Everything is ready."

"The mating ceremony will take place in three days."

"Pack your belongings whenever you are ready. There is no need to hurry."

I stared at the glowing words for a long time.

The truth was impossible to deny.

While I had stubbornly believed Adrian's promises, everyone else had already seen the ending.

Everyone except me.

After a quiet sigh, I activated the crystal and recorded my reply.

"Mother, decide everything as you see fit. I trust your judgment. Keep the ceremony simple."

I never noticed Adrian approaching.

The door to my chamber had been left slightly open, and he had clearly heard enough.

His voice broke the silence.

"A mating ceremony? What mating ceremony?"

My body went rigid.

I instinctively hid the crystal behind my back, but Adrian had already stepped toward me.

Just as he reached out, the communication crystal hanging from his belt suddenly began to glow.

A frightened woman's voice echoed from it.

"Adrian! Someone is stalking me through the forest! I've changed trails twice, but they're still following me!"

It was Julian.

The change in Adrian was immediate.

His expression hardened, and worry filled his eyes without the slightest hesitation.

"Julian, go to the Moon Shrine and stay within the sacred barrier. Don't leave. I'm coming."

Without another word, he snatched up his cloak and hurried out of the chamber.

The wooden door slammed shut behind him.

I remained where I was, my expression calm.

Only the dull ache spreading through my chest reminded me that my heart had not yet learned how to let him go.