My Alpha Announced His Luna Before the Pack

The silver moonlight filtered through the tall windows of the Alpha's suite as I arranged the final touches. My fingers trembled slightly as I smoothed the black silk sheets, wondering if tonight might be different. Tonight might be the night Jayce finally acknowledged our bond publicly.

I heard his footsteps before I saw him—confident, measured strides that commanded attention even in private. My wolf stirred within me, recognizing her mate even before my eyes did.

"You're still here," Jayce said, his voice carrying that hint of surprise it always did when he found me in his private space. He adjusted his platinum cufflinks, the moonlight catching on the Silvercreek Pack emblem etched into them.

"I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for tonight's announcement," I replied softly, my gaze dropping to the polished wooden floor. An Omega's place was to serve, not to stare.

Jayce moved to the mirror, straightening his already impeccable tie. "The Southern Alliance trade agreement is important, Violet. I need you to stay out of sight during the ceremony."

My heart sank. "But I thought—"

"This is Alpha business," he cut me off, his tone hardening slightly. "The dignitaries don't need to see an Omega hovering around."

I stepped forward instinctively, reaching for his arm. "Jayce, please—"

He shifted away from my touch, his eyes meeting mine briefly in the mirror. "No, Violet. Not tonight."

The rejection stung more than it should have after two years of hiding in the shadows. I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Of course, Alpha."

He softened slightly, running a hand through his dark hair. "You understand this is for the good of the pack."

"I understand," I whispered, though my wolf whined in protest. She didn't understand why our mate kept us hidden, why he denied our bond.

---

The Grand Gala glittered with wealth and power. Crystal chandeliers cast prismatic light across the ballroom as I moved silently between guests with a tray of champagne flutes. My simple black dress—the only formal attire I owned—faded into the background, just as I was meant to.

I caught glimpses of Jayce across the room, his tall frame commanding attention as he spoke with visiting Alphas. Sofia Gonzales hovered nearby, her ruby-red gown clinging to her curves, her dark hair cascading down her back in perfect waves. Even from a distance, I could see her calculating eyes assessing the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the Beta announced, "please direct your attention to Alpha Jayce Hart, who has an important announcement."

My heart stuttered as Jayce took center stage, his presence commanding immediate silence. This was it—the moment I'd been waiting for.

"Tonight marks a new chapter for Silvercreek," Jayce began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the ballroom. "To strengthen our position and secure our future, I'm pleased to announce..."

I held my breath.

"...a union that will bring unprecedented prosperity to our pack."

Sofia stepped forward, her smile radiant as she took Jayce's outstretched hand.

"My chosen mate and future Luna, Sofia Gonzales of the Southern Territories."

The room erupted in applause and cheers. I froze, my tray suddenly heavy in my hands.

"Through this alliance, we secure not just trade routes, but military strength that will make Silvercreek unstoppable in the region," Jayce continued, his voice proud.

Sofia's eyes found mine across the room as she pressed herself against Jayce's side. Deliberately, she tilted her head and released a wave of her pheromones—a clear marking of her territory, her mate.

My wolf howled in agony within me.

*No! He's ours! Ours!*

The pain hit without warning—a burning sensation that started in my chest and radiated outward. Mate Sickness. The physical manifestation of a bond being violated.

I gasped, my vision blurring as the tray slipped from my fingers. Crystal shattered across the marble floor, the sound cutting through the celebratory noise like a knife.

Every head turned toward me.

"Clean it up," Jayce ordered, his Alpha tone vibrating through my bones. "And leave the hall immediately."

I looked up at him, searching for any sign of the man who had held me in the darkness, who had whispered promises against my skin. His face remained impassive, but his eyes—those eyes I knew better than my own—showed a flicker of something before he turned away.

"Alpha," I managed to whisper, my voice breaking as another wave of pain crashed through me.

"You're embarrassing us all," he said coldly. "Do as you're told."

Sofia's smirk widened as she watched me crumble, her hand possessively gripping Jayce's arm. The pack members closest to me backed away, unwilling to be associated with an Omega who had disrupted such an important moment.

I fell to my knees among the shattered glass, my body trembling with the effort to breathe through the pain. As I gathered the shards with shaking hands, each one cutting into my skin, I realized with crystal clarity that the mate bond I had cherished for two years meant nothing against power and politics.

And somewhere deep inside, something began to break.