“Do you, Kaid Rylan, accept Astrid Dawn as your destined mate and Luna?”

The officiating elder posed the question during our mating ceremony, and I beamed with anticipation, eager for his answer. But what followed was a devastating surprise.

“No, I don’t.”

As soon as those words escaped Kaid's lips, chaos erupted in the hall.

He didn’t seem to care; he shot me a furious look and stormed out, leaving me in stunned silence.

I had just been rejected at my own mating ceremony.

Kaid didn’t come back for two long weeks after the humiliation he had put me through.

My phone buzzed incessantly with calls and messages, each one a reminder of the public shame I endured because of his rejection.

Everyone had warned me, but I had chosen to ignore their advice, blinded by love.

When he finally returned, I confronted him, and the weight of his words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“Astrid, you’ll have to wait two years before I can marry you; it’s crucial that I marry Lylah first,”

“You expect me to stand by for two years after turning me down to wed my maid! Kaid, I’m pregnant with your child! You can’t just abandon me like this!”

“Astrid, my choice is made. I have to marry Lylah. She’s a moon wolf and a valuable asset to this pack. If you can’t wait, then you might as well terminate the pregnancy.”

It felt as if my heart had been torn from my chest, and I could hardly process what I had just heard.

My mating ceremony with Kaid Rylan, the Alpha of the Ashwood pack, was supposed to be the highlight of my life, yet I never imagined that would be the day I would be rejected.

Lylah was a new omega recruit brought to the pack house to help me as the future Luna.

Out of the three girls interviewed that day, I was drawn to Lylah for her beauty, intelligence, and a childlike innocence that reminded me of my late younger sister—little did I know she would herald the start of my downfall.

Kaid claimed that Lylah was a moon wolf, endowed with powers that would benefit the pack.

It all unfolded like a cruel joke; one moment he was discussing her elevation within the pack, and the next, he had already introduced Lylah to everyone as his new Luna.

He married her instead.

I didn’t need anyone to confirm it; my relationship with Alpha Kaid was over.

After dedicating seven years of my life to him, I was swiftly replaced by a woman he had known for less than a year—an ordinary omega at that.

After seven long years of chasing what I thought was love, I finally reached out to my mother. The moment she picked up, I broke down in tears.

“Mom, I’m really sorry for leaving. I see now that I made a huge mistake, and I want to come back home,” I sobbed, flooded with memories of the harsh words Kaid had thrown at me in defense of Lylah.

There was a long pause on the line before she finally replied. “Oh, you want to come home after making your father ill because you chose to marry the enemy!”

“Mom, I regret it…I was wrong, and I want to make things right. I’m ready to take my place as the Alpha of the Moon stone pack.”

“Sadly, that’s not an option, Astrid. The Lycan king, Charles Spaniel, has taken our pack from us. The only way to reclaim it is if you marry him.”

Her words struck me like a blow. I hadn’t anticipated her to forgive me so easily, especially after I had let them down, but marrying Charles Spaniel, the ruthless Lycan king who had lived for over five centuries?

The same king who had taken the lives of five women in under two years due to his violent temper?

I brought this on myself. If I had known it would end up like this, I would have heeded my father’s advice and never accepted the bond.

The Moonstone and Ashwood packs have been at odds for as long as I can remember, avoiding each other at all costs.

When my father found out about my relationship with Kaid, he suffered a heart attack and was left bedridden.

With my father unwell, I was meant to take on the role of Alpha, but I found fulfillment as Alpha Kaid’s Luna.

I was ready to do anything for my mate, and then I fled with Alpha Kaid to his pack, embracing my new life as his mate.

It felt like a title I had earned, as I seamlessly took on my Luna responsibilities.

Before long, the Ash wood pack rose to the top of the werewolf hierarchy, thanks to my many contributions.

Just when I believed that Kaid would finally make me his official Luna, Lylah appeared out of nowhere and shattered my happiness.

I had barely finished my conversation with my mom when Lylah stormed into my room without so much as a knock, clearly showing her utter lack of respect for my space.

“What are you doing here, Lylah? Have you forgotten your manners?” I snapped, my anger boiling over.

“It’s you who lacks manners, taking over my bedroom. As the new Luna, I have every right to everything you own, and I’ve instructed my husband to kick you out of the pack house. I can’t stand the sight of you!” she shouted, yanking me off the bed to emphasize her point.

“Get off me, you foolish Omega!” I shouted back as we struggled, but she ultimately managed to shove me off the bed, and I hit the floor with a painful thud just as Kaid walked in.

I thought he would rush to help me, but instead, Lylah broke down in tears.

“What’s wrong, Lylah?” Kaid asked, scanning her for injuries while I tried to rise, wincing from the pain.

“It’s this witch you rejected! She slapped me!” she sobbed, clutching her face, and Kaid shot me a furious glare. Just as he seemed ready to confront me, I felt a warm rush of blood trickle down my legs, and I screamed.

“Lylah! You’ve killed my baby!”

Losing my child was already unbearable, but Kaid took it a step further by ordering the guards to confine me in an underground cell for three days, denying me food and water as punishment for raising my hands against Lylah.

For those long days, I wept over the betrayal. The two individuals I had trusted most turned on me, showing a level of cruelty I never expected.

On the third day, when he finally let me out, I learned that the news had spread throughout the pack like wildfire: the new Luna was pregnant, expecting an heir.

It became clear that Kaid had been unfaithful with Lylah while we were still together.

Ignoring the bruises on my body and the gnawing pain of hunger, I grabbed my bag and began to pack my belongings.

I was finished with this farce of love. Once I regained my strength as the Alpha of the Moon Stone pack, I would return for my revenge.

Just as I was about to complete my packing, Kaid stormed into the room, his expression shifting to one of fury upon seeing me.

“Where do you think you're going?” he demanded, his voice laced with anger.

“What does it look like? I'm leaving, Kaid! I’m done!” I shot back defiantly.

“You’re not done unless I say so. We are officially mated, and you belong to me!” he retorted, gripping my arm with a force that made my skin ache. Yet, the emotional turmoil I felt far outweighed the physical pain.

Tears streamed down my face as I stood there, feeling his nails dig into my skin.

“Kaid, look at what you've done to me! You've turned me into a joke! I gave everything for you, and what did I receive in return? Betrayal! You chose an ordinary Omega over me—my own maid!”

“You're missing the bigger picture, Astrid. She's a moon wolf and…”

“Save your breath, Kaid. Your intentions are crystal clear, and it's time I made my stance known. I've sacrificed too much for you, but that ends now!”

“What are you saying? You can't just walk away because of Lylah! Just give it two years… two years, and once I get what I need from her, I’ll come back to you,” he said, pulling his hand away from me, revealing the blood that was seeping from the wound.

“You're the most self-centered person I've ever known, Kaid. We lost our child, and you had the audacity to announce Lylah's pregnancy to everyone!”

“Lylah forced my hand! She's Luna now…”

“We're saying the same thing, Kaid,” I cut in sharply.

“You can't have two Lunas, which is why I, Astrid Dawn, Alpha of the Moonstone pack, reject you, Kaid Rylan, as my fated mate and Alpha!”

“No!” he shouted, clutching his chest as the pain of rejection washed over him, his words coming out in desperate gasps.

“What have… you done?” he cried out, and I let out a dark chuckle.

“I’ve done exactly what you did to me, Kaid! I despise you! I hate you so deeply!”

“I still love you, Astrid… d… don’t do this,” he pleaded, and in a fit of rage, I spat on him and stomped my foot on his chest, watching as he coughed up blood.

In those fleeting moments, I harnessed my strength, initiating the rejection and leaving Kaid vulnerable to my wrath.

“This is only the start, Kaid! I will return for revenge, and you will all experience my fury!” I shouted as I stormed out of the pack house, where a taxi was already waiting for me.

***

Twelve hours later, I found myself back in my pack.

As anticipated, my family and friends greeted me with a frosty reception, but I was determined to make things right.

To begin, I used my healing abilities to cast a spell on my father.

I watched as his bones realigned with a painful snap, and he let out a growl before gradually regaining his strength.

My mother attempted to reach out to me afterward, but I had no interest in anyone's sympathy.

I simply asked her for the address of the devil Lycan and set off to his pack, which was only a two-hour drive away.

The devil Lycans are descendants of both vampires and werewolves, making them the most formidable and malevolent of all immortal beings.

There are whispers that King Charles offers his wives as sacrifices to their god, Dracula, in exchange for power after their demise.

I was prepared to face that brutal destiny just to liberate my people from his control and reclaim my title.

But if I were to perish, I would ensure that Lylah and Kaid followed me to the depths of hell for all they had done to me.

As soon as I reached the entrance of the pack, the guards seized me roughly and dragged me directly to the king upon catching my wolf scent.

They thrust me into the throne room, and the moment our eyes locked, my wolf snarled within me.

“Mate,” King Charles growled, and I collapsed.

I woke up with a pounding headache and a dry, scratchy throat.

As I finally opened my eyes, I was startled to find a pair of icy eyes fixed on me, causing me to gasp in shock.

“I thought you’d never wake up. Pleasure to meet you, mate,” he said, a smirk creeping across his face that sent a shiver down my spine, as if he were hinting at my impending doom.

“I know you want me dead, King Charles, but before that happens, I have a request—three requests, actually,” I replied, counting them off on my fingers.

He paused, shaking his head, then turned to me and handed over a glass filled with a foul-smelling concoction.

“It’s my special brew; you’ll feel better in no time,” he assured me, but I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Yet, when he raised his voice, I had no choice but to gulp down the contents.

“So, what were you saying?” he asked, legs crossed, his gaze piercing into me, making me squirm in discomfort.

“I mentioned I have three requests before I meet my end…” The moment the words left my lips, he erupted into laughter. I stared at him, puzzled, unsure what was so amusing.

“You wolves never fail to surprise me. You hear a few whispers and take them as gospel. If I truly wanted you dead, Astrid, I would have done it long before you chose to betray me for someone else!” he shouted, and I swallowed hard, nervously toying with my fingers as his glare bore into me.

On my twenty-first birthday, I had a one night stand with King Charles.

Just as he was about to claim me, I panicked and plunged my dagger into him before fleeing into the night.

I was young and terrified, and the whispers surrounding him only heightened my fears.

The thought of becoming his wife was unimaginable, and I had no idea he was my destined mate

My friends, emboldened by his notorious reputation in bed, dared me to seduce him, pushing me into a situation I wasn't ready for.

“I’m so sorry…I didn’t realize you were my mate. I just ran because I was scared of you,” I confessed, tears streaming down my face as I watched him unleash his fury on the wall.

“You turned me into the monster I am today, Astrid! I searched for you endlessly, only to learn you had run off with someone else! What did I ever do to deserve this, Astrid?”

“I didn’t mean to…”

“Did you just say you’re sorry? We shared a night of passion, and just as I was about to mark you, you stabbed me and left me for dead! I lay in a coma for months, yet you were always on my mind! When I woke up, I searched for you, but finding you was impossible! My anger and frustration turned into a rage I took out on other women!”

"Please forgive me; I was young and foolish. You can take my life, but spare my people and my pack! Don’t let them suffer because of my mistakes. All I ask is for your help to take down my ex-mate—he betrayed me, and I crave revenge!" I spat, fury lacing my words.

"You really think I’ll just let you die!” You belong to me, Astrid!"

He shouted, lunging at me and marking me right then and there.

A scream of pleasure escaped my lips as we shared that moment, lingering together until he finally let me go.

Breathless, I was at a loss for words. I was about to question his motives for marking me when he cut me off, his voice harsh.

"Astrid, where is my son?" he bellowed, and panic surged through me as I frantically searched for a way out.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about!" I replied, my gaze racing around the room as he advanced, gripping my neck in a fit of rage, cutting off my air as he lifted me off the ground.

“Your best friend Miranda was once my mate before her tragic death. In my quest to find you, I uncovered the truth from her. That night we shared resulted in a son—where is he?” He shouted, his eyes shifting in color as I felt my strength fading.

“I don’t know,” I replied, and he let go of me, causing me to collapse, gasping for air.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“You murdered my best friend! What could she have possibly done to deserve such a fate at your hands?” I cried, tears streaming down my face.

“She was aware she was marrying a monster, yet she still chose to do it. Now, answer me! Where is my son?”

“I gave him to a couple I met years ago in the woods. They were rogues, and I have no idea if he’s still alive. I’m so sorry!”