“Do you, Kaid Rylan, accept Astrid Dawn as your destined mate and Luna?”
The officiating elder posed the question during our mating ceremony, and I beamed with anticipation, eager for his answer. But what followed was a devastating surprise.
“No, I don’t.”
As soon as those words escaped Kaid's lips, chaos erupted in the hall.
He didn’t seem to care; he shot me a furious look and stormed out, leaving me in stunned silence.
I had just been rejected at my own mating ceremony.
Kaid didn’t come back for two long weeks after the humiliation he had put me through.
My phone buzzed incessantly with calls and messages, each one a reminder of the public shame I endured because of his rejection.
Everyone had warned me, but I had chosen to ignore their advice, blinded by love.
When he finally returned, I confronted him, and the weight of his words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“Astrid, you’ll have to wait two years before I can marry you; it’s crucial that I marry Lylah first,”
“You expect me to stand by for two years after turning me down to wed my maid! Kaid, I’m pregnant with your child! You can’t just abandon me like this!”
“Astrid, my choice is made. I have to marry Lylah. She’s a moon wolf and a valuable asset to this pack. If you can’t wait, then you might as well terminate the pregnancy.”
It felt as if my heart had been torn from my chest, and I could hardly process what I had just heard.
My mating ceremony with Kaid Rylan, the Alpha of the Ashwood pack, was supposed to be the highlight of my life, yet I never imagined that would be the day I would be rejected.
Lylah was a new omega recruit brought to the pack house to help me as the future Luna.
Out of the three girls interviewed that day, I was drawn to Lylah for her beauty, intelligence, and a childlike innocence that reminded me of my late younger sister—little did I know she would herald the start of my downfall.
Kaid claimed that Lylah was a moon wolf, endowed with powers that would benefit the pack.
It all unfolded like a cruel joke; one moment he was discussing her elevation within the pack, and the next, he had already introduced Lylah to everyone as his new Luna.
He married her instead.
I didn’t need anyone to confirm it; my relationship with Alpha Kaid was over.
After dedicating seven years of my life to him, I was swiftly replaced by a woman he had known for less than a year—an ordinary omega at that.
After seven long years of chasing what I thought was love, I finally reached out to my mother. The moment she picked up, I broke down in tears.
“Mom, I’m really sorry for leaving. I see now that I made a huge mistake, and I want to come back home,” I sobbed, flooded with memories of the harsh words Kaid had thrown at me in defense of Lylah.
There was a long pause on the line before she finally replied. “Oh, you want to come home after making your father ill because you chose to marry the enemy!”
“Mom, I regret it…I was wrong, and I want to make things right. I’m ready to take my place as the Alpha of the Moon stone pack.”
“Sadly, that’s not an option, Astrid. The Lycan king, Charles Spaniel, has taken our pack from us. The only way to reclaim it is if you marry him.”
Her words struck me like a blow. I hadn’t anticipated her to forgive me so easily, especially after I had let them down, but marrying Charles Spaniel, the ruthless Lycan king who had lived for over five centuries?
The same king who had taken the lives of five women in under two years due to his violent temper?
I brought this on myself. If I had known it would end up like this, I would have heeded my father’s advice and never accepted the bond.
The Moonstone and Ashwood packs have been at odds for as long as I can remember, avoiding each other at all costs.
When my father found out about my relationship with Kaid, he suffered a heart attack and was left bedridden.
With my father unwell, I was meant to take on the role of Alpha, but I found fulfillment as Alpha Kaid’s Luna.
I was ready to do anything for my mate, and then I fled with Alpha Kaid to his pack, embracing my new life as his mate.
It felt like a title I had earned, as I seamlessly took on my Luna responsibilities.
Before long, the Ash wood pack rose to the top of the werewolf hierarchy, thanks to my many contributions.
Just when I believed that Kaid would finally make me his official Luna, Lylah appeared out of nowhere and shattered my happiness.
I had barely finished my conversation with my mom when Lylah stormed into my room without so much as a knock, clearly showing her utter lack of respect for my space.
“What are you doing here, Lylah? Have you forgotten your manners?” I snapped, my anger boiling over.
“It’s you who lacks manners, taking over my bedroom. As the new Luna, I have every right to everything you own, and I’ve instructed my husband to kick you out of the pack house. I can’t stand the sight of you!” she shouted, yanking me off the bed to emphasize her point.
“Get off me, you foolish Omega!” I shouted back as we struggled, but she ultimately managed to shove me off the bed, and I hit the floor with a painful thud just as Kaid walked in.
I thought he would rush to help me, but instead, Lylah broke down in tears.
“What’s wrong, Lylah?” Kaid asked, scanning her for injuries while I tried to rise, wincing from the pain.
“It’s this witch you rejected! She slapped me!” she sobbed, clutching her face, and Kaid shot me a furious glare. Just as he seemed ready to confront me, I felt a warm rush of blood trickle down my legs, and I screamed.
“Lylah! You’ve killed my baby!”
