Lies Of Mating, Leave Him , Be Me

The entire pack gathered to celebrate our fifth mating anniversary. As the Luna of the Bloodstone Pack, I stood beside my mate, Alpha Darius Blackwood, the embodiment of strength and perfection.

“Luna Celeste, you’re glowing tonight,” someone gushed, and Darius wrapped an arm around my waist, his touch light but possessive.

“She always glows,” he said smoothly, his voice like honey to the ears of our admiring pack mates.

He kissed my temple, the perfect picture of a devoted mate. Yet, beneath his loving gaze, my heart felt as if it were being crushed.

Because I knew the truth.

Earlier that day, I found a small velvet pouch hidden in his office. My fingers trembled as I pulled out the contents—an intricate ruby necklace. A pang of confusion hit me. Rubies had always been my favorite, but Darius had never once gifted me anything with them. He claimed red didn’t suit me.

The attached note answered the unspoken question: “To my dearest love, Selene.”

Selene Hayes. His Beta’s sister. His secret lover.

I had suspected for months, noticing the lingering touches, the stolen glances, and the nights Darius didn’t come to bed. But this? This was undeniable proof.

“Celeste,” Darius murmured, pulling me back to the present. He held a small box out to me, his dark eyes filled with something akin to triumph. “Happy anniversary, my love.”

The crowd erupted into cheers as I opened the box. Inside was an exquisite sapphire necklace, the deep blue stones glinting under the chandeliers.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Darius said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

The crowd swooned. “Such a romantic Alpha!” someone sighed.

I smiled, masking the bitterness rising in my throat. “Thank you, Darius. It’s lovely.”

Lovely. Just like the countless other blue trinkets he had given me over the years. To the pack, they were tokens of his undying love. To me, they were chains, each one heavier than the last.

But tonight, I refused to cry. I refused to let him see how deeply he had cut me.

The celebration continued, and Darius played the role of the perfect mate flawlessly. He held me close during the dance, whispered sweet nothings in my ear, and even knelt on one knee to pledge his love again.

Yet, as the night wore on, Selene made her presence known. She stood at the edge of the crowd, her ruby-red dress clinging to her curves, her eyes fixed on Darius. She raised a glass in our direction, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Darius’s grip on my waist tightened. “Excuse me, my love,” he said, brushing a kiss against my cheek. “Duty calls.”

Duty. That’s what he called her.

I watched him stride away, his broad shoulders cutting through the crowd as he approached her. My heart twisted painfully, but I kept my smile intact, nodding politely as guests continued to praise our bond.

Minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Selene.

[Selene: The sapphire suits you, Luna. But we both know who owns his heart. :)

Attached was a photo of Darius leaning in close to her, his hand resting intimately on her lower back.

Rage burned beneath my calm exterior. Yet I couldn’t confront him. Not yet.

When Darius returned, his face was a mask of composure. “The elders wanted my opinion on the upcoming alliance,” he explained, his voice smooth.

“Of course,” I replied, my own mask firmly in place.

As the night came to an end, Darius escorted me back to our chambers, his arm draped protectively over my shoulders.

“You’ve made me proud tonight, Celeste,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “The pack sees us as the perfect team.”

Perfect. The word tasted bitter on my tongue.

When we reached our room, he turned to me with a smile that once melted my heart. “I’ll be back soon. There’s an urgent matter I need to attend to.”

I nodded, watching as he disappeared into the night. I knew exactly where he was going.

Alone in our room, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the sapphire necklace still clinging to my neck like a noose.

I traced the cool stones with trembling fingers, a storm of emotions swirling within me. Anger, betrayal, pain—but also a fierce determination.

Darius thought I was blind. That I was weak.