Valerie’s POV

On our four year anniversary, Alpha Jerry Collins, my mate, missed the special dinner he had promised me that night to be with my sick sister, Nancy. Two days later, he arranged a secret wedding ceremony for her, because her dying wish was to have a wedding ceremony with him. Jerry granted it, while hiding it from me, and ordering everyone present to keep it from me.

But I found out when Nancy sent me the video link of her wedding ceremony to my mate. Feeling betrayed, I immediately accepted the proposal of Alpha Dante Garcia, the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack, the biggest pack in California.

~~

~~

Today was our four year anniversary, but my mate, Alpha Jerry Collins, was nowhere to be found. He had promised to take me to a special dinner that night. I had prepared, and waited for him all dressed up.

I called him several times, but he didn’t pick up. Just as I was about to get worried, my friend, Astrid, sent me a picture of my mate with my sick sister, Nancy. It was a selfie of the two of them stained with paint from head to toe as they grinned at the camera. Jerry was helping her repaint her apartment, while I waited for him at home. I stared at the picture for another moment before I closed it with a resigned sigh.

Unfortunately, I was already used to this sort of treatment from Jerry. This wasn’t the first time he blew off our arrangements without any notice, because of Nancy. Nancy was afflicted with the moonfire curse; a curse that drained the life-force of a werewolf, because of this Nancy was always seeking sympathy and attention, especially from Jerry, and Jerry was always eager to give it to her, keeping me as second priority.

Astrid texted me: ~ Nancy posted that picture on her WhatsApp status. I thought you two were supposed to have a special anniversary dinner tonight. ~

I smiled humorlessly as I replied: ~ Me too ~

I shook my head in frustration. I understood Nancy’s condition, but Jerry’s constant attentiveness and special treatment of Nancy over me was starting to make me feel like I was the stranger, the outsider.

I walked back to my bedroom to remove the beautiful red dress I had put on for the dinner. However, as I glanced at myself in the mirror, I furrowed my eyebrows thoughtfully. I shouldn’t allow this beautiful red dress and my flawless makeup go to waste. That was how I decided to go on the dinner date alone.

The place Jerry had booked was a luxury restaurant in the human world. I sat at the table that Jerry had reserved for us.

I was going to treat myself with or without Jerry. I thought firmly to myself.

After making my order, I waited for my food to be served. My mind flashed back to Jerry’s continuous negligence and nonchalance towards me. It was getting out of hand, and whenever I complained, he always made it look like I was heartless as it concerned my sick sister.

A waiter dropped a very expensive bottle of champagne on my table. I never ordered that. As I opened my mouth to tell the waiter just that, he quickly explained.

“Compliments of the gentleman at that corner” I looked up, and my gaze followed the waiter’s pointing finger.

Seated a few tables away was a handsome man with kind green eyes and a warm smile. He lifted his glass slightly in acknowledgement, watching me and waiting for my reaction. I hesitated for a moment before I smiled in return and nodded my thanks.

As I ate, I could feel the mysterious man stealing glances at me. When I glanced up, my gaze caught with his, but he didn’t look away. The intensity in his eyes caused me to flush slightly as I quickly snapped my gaze away.

I decided to avoid looking in his direction till I left, no matter how hard it was proving to be.

“Forgive me for intruding, but I really need to ask,” A smooth deep voice murmured, and I tensed slightly. I lifted my head to see HIM standing at the other end of my table. From his scent, I knew he was a werewolf. A very powerful and sexy werewolf.

Valerie’s POV

“What’s a gorgeous lady like you doing here all alone?” He asked with a soft smile.

I smiled politely. “My mate couldn’t make it.” I replied.

“Do you mind if I join you then?” He asked softly, with an earnest expression in his eyes.

For some reason, I felt like I could trust him. Something about his eyes and his appearance told me that he was a respectful and kind person.

I nodded, giving him permission to sit. Besides, I needed the company, and he seemed like a pleasant person.

“Thank you, oh where are my manners? I am Alpha Dante Garcia, the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack.” He introduced himself with a warm smile. I recognized the name; it was the biggest and strongest pack in California.

“Valerie Hayes,” I introduced myself. I wasn’t using Jerry’s last name because we hadn’t had a formal wedding ceremony yet.

“Valerie,” he repeated softly. The way my name rolled off his tongue sent a small thrill through me.

He leaned back slightly, still smiling warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Valerie,” he said sincerely.

Dante had a very easy going personality that made it very easy to talk to him. We spend hours chatting, laughing and exchanging stories.

My phone pinged with a notification. It was a message from Nancy. My smile faded instantly,

~~Jerry said that I should inform you that he won’t be back tonight. I was having some symptoms, and he offered to stay to make sure I was taken care of.~~

I pursed my lips in frustration. Jerry hadn’t even called to cancel, to apologize, to postpone, or anything at all. He didn’t even acknowledge our anniversary dinner.

“Val?” Dante muttered softly, watching me carefully. “Are you okay?”

The frustration and the pain were so much that I found myself pouring out everything to him. How Jerry kept prioritizing Nancy over me, his mate. Dante listened with an intense expression on his face.

When I was done, his jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened slightly.

“That’s unacceptable,” he said firmly, “You deserve to be cherished, Valerie, not cast off and made to feel unwanted.”

I blinked in surprise by the intensity in his voice. He sounded genuinely upset for me, as if he really cared. I flushed.

“It’s complicated,” I said softly. “He’s not a bad person. I think… I think he loves me in his own way, but… but I can’t help but feel that he doesn’t really prioritize or respect me.” I admitted.

For a moment, Dante didn’t say anything. He just kept watching me with an intense look in his eyes that made me wonder what was going through his mind.

“Marry me,” he blurted out, leaning forward.

My heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“I know we just met, and it sounds absurd, but there’s just something about you, Val. There’s just something that makes me want to be with you, to protect you, to treat you as you should be treated.”

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. His words were so sudden and unexpected “But…but…don’t you have a mate?” I asked with my eyes wide in shock.

He shook his head, and leaned back with slightly sad eyes. “Three years ago, she cheated on me, and I rejected her. Since then, I have been without a Luna.” He said with a sigh.

I gasped softly. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

He gave me a small smile and leaned forward. “Val, leave him. He doesn’t deserve you,” he said, “Come to my pack. Be my Luna. I promise you Valeria, I’ll make you happy. I’ll love you with everything that I have.” He swore, his eyes burning with so much sincerity.

My breath caught in my throat. The way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered. However, I wasn’t ready to make that sort of decision. I politely declined Dante’s proposal and excused myself. He had barely managed to give me his contact before I ran off.

~

~

I didn’t see Jerry the next day or the day after. He didn’t text or call me once, and I didn’t either. I was getting fed up with being treated less. The only way I knew that Jerry was still alive was through Nancy’s WhatsApp statuses. I had never been a social media person, but I couldn’t help checking Nancy’s statuses with bitterness in my heart as I watched my mate care for my sister like his own fated mate.

Two days later, Nancy sent me a message. Under the message was a link.

~ The moon goddess has really blessed you with a wonderful mate ~

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What was she saying?

Nothing in the world could have prepared me for what I saw when I clicked the link.