The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as I nervously played with my fingers, my heart racing wildly in my chest while I locked eyes with my mate.
Damon, the Alpha of the Dark Valley pack, was meant to be mated with me today.
I had longed for this moment, yet here I stood, feeling utterly overlooked on what was supposed to be my joyous occasion.
As the ceremony commenced and the officiating elder approached the podium, I caught a brief glimpse of Damon’s gaze, but it vanished too quickly, leaving me feeling despondent.
Out of nowhere, his phone rang, breaking the stillness of the moment.
I watched as his expression darkened, and he abruptly turned away from me, storming out of the hall.
My heart plummeted as I reached out, but my words seemed to vanish into thin air, unheard and unacknowledged.
"Damon! Where are you going? This is our mating ceremony! You can't just abandon me like this—what's happening? Is there something I need to know?" I called out, but he dashed away, kicking up dust that stung my eyes.
Tears welled up, blurring my sight as I stumbled backward, the weight of despair heavy on my shoulders.
The king had coerced his son, Alpha Damon, into marrying me solely because I was a silver wolf, a means to enhance his own powers after the ceremony.
I didn’t protest; every woman dreams of finding happiness, especially someone like me who had endured so much pain throughout her life.
As an ordinary omega scraping by with lowly jobs, marrying the Alpha would provide my younger sister, who was fighting leukemia, a chance at life.
But in this moment, I felt that chance slipping away like grains of sand through my fingers.
I couldn’t remain here, not with the pitying glances everyone was casting my way.
I was the first woman in the pack to be abandoned at the altar.
In a panic, I dashed out of the pack hall and headed straight for the hospital, my breath coming in quick bursts.
My heart raced, not just from the sprint but from the terror of losing my only sister—the only person left in my life after death had cruelly taken our parents away.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the sharp scent of antiseptic overwhelmed me, making my stomach churn for the first time.
I rushed to the nurses at the front desk, my voice quaking with fear.
“Where is my sister, Dianne Sinclair?” I asked, dread lacing my words.
I was supposed to sign a document after my wedding with Damon so that my sister could undergo surgery, but now I felt utterly lost, especially since all of Damon’s phones were turned off.
The nurse’s tone was heavy with sorrow. “I’m sorry, but… she passed away just a few minutes ago. However, we do have something that might lift your spirits,” she said, handing me a sealed envelope, which I angrily threw aside.
“No! My sister can’t be gone! I promised to pay for the surgery today; please, you can’t do this to me—she’s all I have left!”
My legs gave way as I leaned against the counter for support.
Dianne was my everything, and she left me without a word, leaving me shattered. It felt like more than just losing her; it was as if my last glimmer of hope had vanished.
I fumbled for my phone, my hands trembling as I searched for Damon's number. Just as I was about to hit the call button, my heart sank at what I saw on Instagram.
There was a photo of my husband in his wedding suit, laughing and embracing another woman, accompanied by the caption:
“Alpha of Dark Valley pack finally weds his Chosen mate in a secret mating ceremony.”
I crumbled into tears, and soon after, the world around me faded to black as I collapsed.
