What else could I do but walk down the ceremonial platform?
Each step felt like walking on the edge of a blade.
The crowd instinctively parted to make way for me, their gazes a mix of pity and contempt.
I had once been the pride of the pack—the Alpha’s daughter.
Now I was nothing but a liar in their eyes, an imposter exposed under the harshest light.
Their mating ceremony continued flawlessly.
Leon, the strongest Beta in the Black Stone Pack, and Mia, now revealed as the Alpha’s true daughter, their bond had been blessed by the Moon Goddess.
A glowing silver light shimmered around them, soft but divine, pulsing with sacred power.
The pack was in awe.
“It’s been years since we’ve seen a light this bright.”
“This is a true blessing, which proves the Moon Goddess approves their union.”
“What a perfect match. Our future is secure now.”
My father raised his voice to declare the ceremony complete, and slowly, the crowd dispersed.
No one looked back.
No one remembered the rituals that had once belonged to me.
The day that should have been mine had been rewritten into a celebration for them.
My father didn’t spare me even a glance.
He walked away with Mia’s child in his arms, smiling faintly, as if he had finally found the child who truly belonged to him.
I watched them go, and at last, I understood.
In this world, blood is everything.
Leon approached. His face, once familiar, was now cold and distant.
“Pauline,” he said flatly, “for the sake of our childhood, I’ll give you a word of advice. Leave the pack willingly.”
“You’re no longer the Alpha’s daughter. Staying here will only bring more shame.”
I looked at him, my heart felt heavy.
“Do you really believe I lied to you? That blood alone defines the truth?”
He let out a bitter laugh.
“What other explanation is there? Your Alpha aura is gone. Mia carries the bloodline. She is the true heir, my true Mate.”
Mia stepped closer, her smile deceptively sweet.
“You stole my name, my place, my life. You owe me an apology.”
Leon turned to her with fondness, then looked back at me with ice in his eyes.
“You? You’re nothing. A stray with no known lineage. You have no right to question her.”
“How could a bastard like you ever be worthy of a Beta like me?”
His voice hardened as he delivered the final blow:
“I, Leon, reject you as my Mate.”
His words cut through me like lightning.
Pain exploded in my chest, tearing through every nerve.
My wolf screamed in agony, as if she were being ripped from my soul.
Still, I forced myself to stand tall.
Looking into his eyes, I said:
“I, Pauline, accept your rejection.”
The bond between us snapped clean, final and irreversible.
For a brief second, Leon’s face paled. But then he recovered.
Mia leaned into him, eyes sparkling with triumph.
“Leon’s wanted this for a long time,” she said. “Honestly, letting you go like this is more than you deserve.”
Leon looked down at her with admiration.
“Mia is everything a true Alpha-born woman should be.”
Then he smirked at me.
“You’re not worthy of being my Mate, but if you want, you can still be my lover.”
I said nothing.
I stepped past him, turned my back, and walked away.
This place had rejected me.
And from this moment on, we were nothing to each other.
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.
