Chapter 1 of The Alpha Regretted Rejecting His Dying Mate

The morning of my son’s sixth birthday, I woke up believing the Moon Goddess had granted me one perfect day.

I had planned everything down to the last detail — a private VIP tour of the Ocean Bay territory, an exclusive lunch near the dolphin lagoon, and a custom-made cake prepared by the pack’s best baker waiting for Aiden at sunset. As the Luna of the Ashclaw Pack, wealth and resources were never an issue. If I wanted the sea cleared, the Alpha’s guards would clear it. If I wanted the entire place reserved, it would be done before dawn.

But love? Loyalty?

Those were things even a Luna couldn’t command.

The healer’s den visits had drained more than just my energy. Stage four brain cancer — the human doctors called it that, but the pack healer called it a slow soul sickness. A cruel, lingering illness that even the strongest wolves struggled to survive. It was a silent thief, stealing my strength, my future, my time.

I had kept it a secret from Dorian.

My Alpha.

My mate.

He had made it clear he didn’t have time for what he called “meaningless weakness.”

"Stop wasting herbs and healer time, Evelina," he had said once, his voice cold through the mindlink. "You always exaggerate small pains."

I wasn’t exaggerating.

I was dying.

But today wasn’t about me.

Today was about my son.

By noon, Ocean Bay was filled with excited pups, their laughter echoing near the water. The scent of saltwater mixed with roasted meat drifted through the air. Aiden tugged me toward the giant glass tank where massive sharks glided slowly through the blue.

His small fingers were warm in mine.

“Mommy, look! It’s so big!”

I laughed softly, bending to kiss his curly hair. My wolf stirred faintly at the scent of my pup — one of the few things that still brought her comfort.

“Bigger than you?”

He nodded eagerly, his excitement making the exhaustion in my bones worth it. For a moment, I forgot the weakness in my limbs, the dull ache behind my eyes.

Then suddenly, his voice lit up even brighter.

"Mommy! Look! Daddy’s here too!"

I frowned.

Dorian?

That wasn’t possible.

He had told me through the mindlink this morning that he was handling pack business at the northern border. That he was too busy to even mindlink Aiden to wish him a happy birthday.

I followed my son’s gaze.

And the ground beneath me seemed to vanish.

There, in the middle of the plaza, Dorian was on one knee.

Holding a ring.

For Elira.

My younger sister.

My wolf whimpered weakly inside me.

The one who used to sleep in my room when she was afraid of thunderstorms. The one who cried to me about rejected mates and broken relationships. The one I comforted every time she felt abandoned.

The one who had sworn Dorian was like a brother to her.

She stood there with wide, teary eyes, her hands covering her mouth.

"Marry me," Dorian said, his Alpha voice steady, clear, commanding. As if this was the most natural thing in the world.

Elira let out a shaky sob, nodding furiously. "Yes! Yes, Dorian, yes!"

My entire family stood around them.

My parents. My uncles. My aunts. Pack elders.

Clapping.

As if they weren’t destroying me right in front of them.

The ring slid onto Elira’s finger.

Something inside me shattered.

Aiden tugged at my sleeve, confused but excited. “Mommy! Is Daddy giving Aunt Elira a present? Can I go too?”

I couldn’t breathe.

Then, as if she had only just noticed me, my mother’s smile faltered.

The applause slowly faded.

One by one, their gazes turned toward me.

Dorian rose slowly, his golden Alpha eyes locking onto mine.

There was no guilt.

No shame.

Only the same mild irritation he always wore when I inconvenienced him.

Elira, on the other hand, looked annoyed.

Dorian crossed his arms, exhaling like I was exhausting him. His voice entered my mind through the bond, cold and sharp.

"Evelina, don’t do this here."

I cut the mindlink immediately.

"Do what, Dorian?" My voice shook.

"Make a scene," he said aloud this time, rolling his eyes. "You’re always so dramatic."

The slap echoed across the plaza.

The sound was loud enough that even the wolves nearby stiffened.

My palm stung, but the burning rage in my chest was worse.

Dorian’s head snapped to the side, his jaw tightening. When he turned back, there was still no shame. Only irritation.

"Really, Evelina?" he scoffed. "Was that necessary?"

The audacity left me breathless.

"Evelina!" my father barked.

Alpha Darius Nightborne.

Former Alpha of the Nightborne Pack. A man feared across territories.

"Don’t ruin your sister’s happiness."

My stomach dropped.

Happiness?

I let out a hollow laugh, my vision blurring. “Is this a joke?” My hands trembled. “You all knew?”

My mother smoothed her dress calmly. "Evelina… you and Dorian have been distant for a while. We thought this was for the best."

"For the best?" My voice cracked. "For the best? Betraying me behind my back?"

Dorian sighed, exasperated.

"Evelina, stop embarrassing yourself."

"A scene?" My voice rose. "You proposed to my sister, surrounded by my family, on my son’s birthday — and I’m embarrassing myself?"

Elira stepped forward, her expression soft but fake. "Evelina… I love him."

She reached for my hand.

I jerked away like she burned me.

"Don’t touch me."

Her face twisted slightly. "God, Evelina, why are you so selfish? You never appreciated Dorian. You were always disappearing to the healer’s den, leaving him alone. What did you expect?"

My stomach lurched.

"You’re blaming me for your affair?"

She shrugged. "You pushed him away. I was just… there for him."

"You mean you threw yourself at him like a desperate she-wolf," I snapped.

Her eyes darkened.

"Careful, Evelina."

"Or what?" I whispered. "You’ll steal something else from me?"

Dorian sighed.

"Evelina, let’s act like adults."

"Adults?" I laughed bitterly. "You mean sneaking behind my back? Lying? Betraying your mate?"

He didn’t even flinch.

Elira smirked, lifting her hand to show the ring.