Rejected Mate's Vengeance

I cut short my studies and returned home earlier than planned. As soon as I stepped off the plane, I spotted Alonzo Garcia, Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack, in the waiting area. He wore a black trench coat that accentuated his broad shoulders and towering frame, his commanding presence impossible to miss. His gaze was fixed intently on the exit, a bouquet of deep red roses in his hand—each bloom vibrant and full of life, a rare gesture from a man who seldom indulged in grand displays.

Alonzo rarely went out of his way to make a scene. After five years as his Luna, I knew him well. He must have found out about my early return and come to pick me up. Just as I was about to approach him, a heavily pregnant woman hurried past me and flung herself into his arms. "Alpha, the baby and I missed you so much," she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.

Alonzo embraced her tightly, his protective aura enveloping her, their intimacy drawing a mix of curiosity and applause from the onlookers. My grip tightened on my suitcase handle. If he was her mate, where did that leave me?

I stood there, frozen at the exit, until someone’s suitcase collided with mine from behind. A grumbled complaint followed, "Why are you just standing there blocking the way? Can't you see people behind you?"

The commotion caught the couple’s attention. Alonzo lifted his eyes, and his gaze locked onto mine across the crowd. The air between us thickened with tension. I wasn’t sure who felt more awkward—discovering my mate’s betrayal in an airport, a scene that even the most dramatic pack gossip would struggle to conjure.

The stiffness in Alonzo’s posture made the woman in his arms suspicious. She turned to see me, her face paling at the sight. It was no stranger after all. The pregnant woman was Shiloh Hansen, a Delta in our pack and my old friend.

I took a deep breath, the scent of roses and something faintly floral—Shiloh’s mate scent—assaulting my senses. I walked briskly toward them, my heels clicking sharply against the floor. Shiloh’s face turned ashen as she hid behind Alonzo, mumbling, "Luna, why are you back?"

My knuckles whitened around my suitcase handle as I met Alonzo’s gaze, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Can someone explain what’s going on here?"

"If I hadn’t come back early, I suppose I’d never have known that the two most important people in my life betrayed me together."

Shiloh stepped forward, her hand instinctively moving to her prominent belly. She retreated to Alonzo’s side, her eyes filled with a mix of guilt and pity. "I’m sorry, Luna, we didn’t mean to keep it from you..."

I didn’t miss the fleeting triumph in Shiloh’s eyes, and I raised my hand, slapping her hard across the face. The sharp sound echoed, silencing her, shocking everyone around us. No one expected someone as composed as me, the former Luna, to lash out.

Alonzo held Shiloh protectively, his Alpha aura flaring as he frowned at me. "I had planned to tell you sooner. I didn’t want it to affect your studies, so I kept quiet. Shiloh said you took your education seriously, and if it disrupted your studies, she’d feel terribly guilty."

"Shiloh was only thinking of your best interests, and you should appreciate her intentions."

"If you need to blame someone, blame me. It's all my fault."

Shiloh covered her face, her eyes red, looking at me without speaking, only sniffling and saying, "Luna, can we talk about this at home?"

Home? Whose home? Mine and Alonzo’s, or hers and Alonzo’s? I no longer cared to know. The sudden blow felt like a punch right between the eyes. I held onto the suitcase handle, trying to maintain the last shred of my dignity. I enunciated slowly, "No need, my mentor sent a car to fetch me."

"Now I just need to know one thing—how long have you been together?"

Shiloh clutched her belly, stepping back in fear. Alonzo moved forward, shielding her with his body. "The duration doesn’t matter anymore. The child she’s carrying is mine. Do what you need to—yell or curse, it’s up to you. Since you don’t want us to drive you, let’s discuss this at home."

The two of them walked away, leaving me standing in the airport, my heart hollowed out like a cold wind sweeping through a valley. The anticipation and joy of a long-haul flight had turned into the biggest joke of my life. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of pain and betrayal that echoed in the depths of my mind. But I silenced her. Now was not the time to show weakness. Not in front of them. Not in front of anyone.