Chapter 1

Aria's POV

Liam clinked his glass with a spoon and a handsome smile on his face “Can I have everyone's attention please?”.

Everyone paused and gave him their full attention, including me. I was supposed to be serving drinks at the party, but I couldn't resist watching HIM.

Liam Reed, the son of the Alpha of the Grey Moon pack, and my mate.

I knew I had a stupid smile on my face, but I couldn't help it.

Many times, I wondered how I got so lucky, how an omega like me got blessed with an alpha-to-be for a mate, an alpha that loved me so much.

“Aria…” my friend, Claire whispered harshly, trying to grab my attention.

I blinked my eyes as I came out from my daydreaming. I was still holding a tray of drinks in my hands.

“You're supposed to be serving drinks, not drooling over Liam Reed” she teased.

I rolled my eyes jokingly, “I'm not drooling,” I replied, but I got distracted again when Liam started speaking.

“Today is a very special day for me and for this pack.” Liam stated, and my heart skipped a beat.

“As I turn twenty-two today, I would love to also introduce to you all my mate, the future Luna of this pack.” He declared, his eyes were shining with excitement and love.

Excited murmurs and whispers filled the room. My heart skipped again, I couldn't believe it. He was going to do it today.

Excitement surged through my body, he had promised to reveal me as his mate when the time was right, and I was thinking he was going to wait till he would be crowned as alpha.

I didn't know it was closer than I thought. Rhea, my wolf was giddy with excitement inside me. We weren't expecting this right now.

I wished he had given me a clue that it was happening today, on his twenty-second birthday. So that I could have been dressed more impressively, but maybe he just wanted to surprise me.

I grinned as I braced myself to be introduced to the pack.

Liam waited patiently for the whispers to die down before he continued speaking. “Please welcome my fated mate, chosen for me by the moon goddess herself, and the future Luna of the Grey Moon pack,”

Everyone held their breaths, I included.

“…… Veronica Hall!” Liam declared.

Everyone in the party burst into cheers and applause, except me.

My mind went blank. Did I hear that right? Veronica Hall? Not me? Not Aria?

I stood frozen and the tray of drinks shook in my hands. I watched in shock and disbelief as Veronica, the beta's daughter, a tall and beautiful she-wolf with long, black hair, stepped forward confidently as though she was expecting it.

She approached Liam, who was looking at her with love and admiration. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a long kiss.

No. This can't be happening.

The crowd was still cheering and applauding them, but my ears were ringing. It felt like I couldn't breathe and my heart pounded painfully in my chest.

Rhea howled in pain in my head, and I clutched my chest as the pain was too much.

My eyes were burning with tears, but I controlled myself, because I didn't want to cry in front of everyone, even though it was so hard as I remembered what I thought we had together. 

What went wrong? Did I do something wrong?

We were fated mates, and Liam had always told me that he loved me. But now he was standing there, kissing another woman publicly, when he had never acknowledged me in public.

I remembered how it always hurt me when he walked past me without any form of recognition in his gaze. But he always came back in private to apologize and kiss me senseless. Promising to reveal us as mates when the time is right.

His mother, Luna Flora Reed, hugged Veronica with a bright smile on her face, while his father, Alpha Maxwell Reed patted his shoulders with approval.

"Aria," Claire called me with concern in her voice "Are you okay?"  

I couldn't speak, I could only nod. I never told anyone about my relationship with Liam. Even my foster mother, Felicia, wasn't aware of my relationship with him.

I couldn't turn my eyes from the scene playing out in front of me. I could only watch as my world crumbled around me.

Liam finally broke the kiss and turned to the crowd with a proud smile on his face. He didn't even look my way, even though I knew he knew I was here.

Veronica was smiling too, looking like the future Luna, as if she had always known this moment would come. How long had she known?

"I need to get out of here," I whispered. My voice trembled. It sounded like the voice of a broken person.

I didn't wait for any reply as I dropped the tray of drinks on the table and I rushed to the restroom in the party to compose myself.

As I made my way out, I could still hear Liam's voice. It was full of so much joy and pride. “Thank you, everyone, for your support and love. Veronica and I are truly blessed by the moon goddess.”

Each word felt like a dagger that was being pierced into my heart.

Immediately I entered the restroom and I locked the door, I slid down against it, and the tears I had been holding back flowed down my cheeks uncontrollably. 

I sobbed loudly as I thought of how much I loved Liam. It felt like my heart was being torn to pieces.

I cried for a long time before the tears stopped flowing. A thought flashed through my head and I paused.

There had to be an explanation. Maybe Liam was forced into this by his parents. He had told me many times of the pressure he was facing from his parents. Maybe he had another plan. Maybe he needed to see me, so that he could explain everything to me. Yes, that must be it.

I stood up, wiped my tears away and took a deep breath. l splashed some cold water on my face, as I tried to compose myself.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and my sapphire blue eyes stared back at me miserably. My blonde hair was a mess, so I had to rearrange it to its usual ponytail.

I took a deep breath again and prepared myself.

I opened the restroom door and stepped out into the corridor, however I froze at the sight before me. Liam and Veronica were in the hallway. Their bodies were pressed against each other and they were kissing passionately. Veronica's hands were tangled in his hair, and Liam's arms were wrapped tightly around her waist. They were like people that couldn't get enough of each other.