On what should have been the happiest day of my life, Nicholas Robertson, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, acted as if I were a stranger. In front of the entire pack, he declared that Goldie Cruz, the Luna of the Crimson Tide Pack, was his true mate, demanding I remove the ceremonial gown I had prepared for our marking ceremony.
"You’re absolutely not worthy of being my Luna. Take it off!"
I was desperate, humiliated, and tried to remind him of the bond we had shared, the memories we had built over the years. But he dismissed me with a cold sneer, calling me an unfit mate. I turned to my parents, fellow Omegas of the pack, seeking their support, but all I received were harsh words of blame.
"You chased after the Alpha, and now you’re embarrassed—serves you right!"
My spirit shattered, I faced the impossible. Later, Nicholas claimed his memory had returned and pleaded with me not to leave him.
***
The marking ceremony was supposed to be in full swing, yet I found myself locked in the ceremonial chamber, stripped of my dignity. Just a wall away, the ritual was unfolding, the Luna exchanging vows with the Alpha. That Luna was meant to be me.
The gown I had designed and sewn with meticulous care for three days and nights now adorned Goldie Cruz, the Luna from the Crimson Tide Pack who had always been Nicholas’s unattainable ideal. Clutching my phone, I watched the live broadcast in disbelief.
Goldie, in her gown embellished with moonstone and silver threads, stepped toward Nicholas. He rushed to her side without hesitation, enveloping her in his arms as they sealed their mate bond with a kiss. The pack hall erupted into howls of approval; confetti rained down on them, heralding a future together.
Yet this ceremony was supposed to be mine.
I had secretly loved Nicholas for a decade. One summer, during a pack gathering, he stood up for me when I was being bullied by a group of Deltas.
"Enough! Anyone bothering her again will answer to me!"
Though he wished for peace to enjoy the gathering, those words ended months of torment. I was grateful, and gradually, I got to know him, falling deeper into my feelings.
Nicholas was proud and commanding, a true Alpha. When Goldie rejected his mate bond publicly and left to join the Crimson Tide Pack, I saw my chance.
I pursued him for three years, memorizing his every preference. He was particular about his meals, so I crafted lavish feasts with dishes like venison stew and honey-glazed pheasant. He admired strength and confidence, so I pushed myself to train harder, to stand taller, to speak with authority.
I poured my heart into earning his affection, and finally, he acknowledged our mate bond.
Today was meant to be our marking ceremony, the day I had dreamed about for so long. Every detail, every ritual was carefully planned by me. I had rehearsed it over and over in my mind.
But as I stood before him, my heart overflowing with joy, I saw only disdain in his piercing blue eyes.
"Who are you? I don’t know you at all! I would only ever bond with Goldie!"
They told me he’d lost his memory, so I frantically recounted our shared moments, the bond we had nurtured. But he was bored and uninterested, tugging at the ceremonial gown I wore.
"This isn’t yours! You’re not worthy to be my Luna. Take it off!"
No matter how I begged, he didn’t relent.
I felt exposed, like a rogue cast out for all to see.
The pack’s murmurs and the flashing lights of the ceremony hall blinded me as Nicholas’s actions left me standing on the dais, my gown torn away, reduced to my undergarments.
"Stop embarrassing yourself! Today is Nicholas and Goldie’s marking ceremony!"
My mother yanked my arm, dragging me back into the shadows of the hall.
I finally noticed Goldie’s scornful gaze from the audience. Somehow, the ceremonial scrolls had been altered to show her as the Luna, her name etched beside Nicholas’s.
"Just behave! If you upset the Alpha, you’ll regret it when we get back to the packhouse!"
She left me abandoned in the ceremonial chamber, while Nicholas never once glanced back at me, not even for a moment.
