Chapter 1 The Marking Ceremony

Selene's P.O.V

I hurried up to the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel, double-checking the message in my hands, my heart already fluttering with excitement.

Yes, this was the place.

Malcolm Sullivan, Alpha of the Blackridge Pack, was my boyfriend. Today, he would finally hold the marking ceremony.

We'd been together for three years. Because I was an Omega, he had never marked me or disclosed our relationship to the outside world.

And now, the day was finally here.

A warm, sweet thrill spread through me. I forced my racing heartbeat under control and stepped into the grand lobby.

The moment I walked in, I saw his tall, commanding figure.

"Malcolm—" I called out, my voice bubbling with happiness.

But the next second, I noticed a pale, slender arm linked through his. My breath caught in my throat, and the words I had meant to say died on my lips.

I instinctively shifted my gaze toward Malcolm's side, only to see a familiar face.

It was Christina White, Malcolm's ex-girlfriend.

When I saw their arms linked, my heart sank, and I froze in place.

Three years ago, she had broken up with Malcolm and left the pack.

So why was she here now? And why was she acting so close to him?

Before I could make sense of the whirlwind of thoughts in my head, it felt like everyone around me had turned their gaze toward me because of my shout. The hushed murmurs of the crowd seeped into my ears, sharp and judgmental.

"Who's that?"

"I don't know, but how did some low-ranking Omega crash Mr. Sullivan's event?"

"Pathetic. Should just kick her out!"

Wait. This was supposed to be my marking ceremony with Malcolm. How had it become this nightmare?

I looked to him, desperate for an explanation, but all I saw was his brow furrowed in disgust.

"Selene, I arranged this banquet for Christina's return to the pack. What are you doing here?" Malcolm said, his face full of disdain. "This isn't a place for you. Go home. Now!"

Malcolm's cold words and the look of disgust on his face stabbed straight into my heart. My fingertips went numb, and it felt as if I had fallen into an icy pit.

It wasn't for me. All this... it wasn't for me.

I forced my breath to steady, desperate not to lose control in front of everyone. Then, I heard Christina speak.

"Are you Ms. Kingsley?" Her smile was soft, delicate, almost innocent. "I've heard so much about you from Malcolm's friends. They said that while I was gone these past three years, you've stayed by his side and taken care of him. You were more devoted than any servant. I've been meaning to thank you."

As she spoke, she walked to the table and picked up a glass of wine, then approached me.

I took a deep breath and was about to refuse, but Christina had already hurried up beside me. She leaned close, her voice soft and gentle, yet laced with venom.

"Selene, this is the surprise I prepared for you. Do you like it?"

The text message had been from her!

Before I could even react, she flashed a strange, calculating smile.

Suddenly, she stumbled to the side, and the glass in her hand slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor.

The proud, confident Christina I'd seen moments ago suddenly became fragile and pitiful. She looked at me with wide, sorrowful eyes. "Ms. Kingsley, why are you treating me this way? Do you hate me?"

When Malcolm saw this, he rushed forward instantly and shoved me aside.

I stumbled back and twisted my ankle.

A werewolf's healing ability might have dulled the pain in my ankle, but it did nothing for the ache in my heart. It felt as if a silver blade had pierced it, leaving me gasping for air.

He didn't even look at me. Instead, he pulled Christina close, worry etched across his face. "Christina, are you hurt?"

Tears glistened in her eyes as she shook her head. "I'm fine. It's just... Ms. Kingsley doesn't seem to like me. It's all my fault."

Her clumsy act should have been obvious, but Malcolm actually believed her. He spun toward me, his anger blazing.

"Selene! Christina was just offering you a drink, and you treat her like that? Of course. Typical lowborn Omega. Get out of here!"

Lowborn Omega?

If Christina's presence had shocked me, Malcolm's words shattered me.

A tidal wave of grief washed over me.

I had given everything to be with him.

He liked gentle, submissive she-wolves, so I defied my mother and gave up my place as the heiress to the Lunaris Pack, pretending to be an Omega just to stay by his side.

He often got stressed over Blackridge Pack affairs. I carried his burdens, ran errands, smoothed conflicts, and kept everything in order.

Once, he was poisoned by wolfsbane, and all the pack's healers failed. I risked my life, venturing into the swampy wilderness, nearly losing my life, just to get the cure from the sorceress and save him.

He had once promised me that even as an Omega, he would always treat me well.

I had believed that one day, he would mark me and claim me as his Luna.

But now, seeing Christina here and hearing him call me a lowborn Omega, I realized the truth.

All these years of sacrifice had been nothing. It was just a cruel, bitter joke.

Selene Kingsley, how much longer are you going to keep deceiving yourself?

I laughed bitterly, letting the storm inside me settle into a cold, steady calm.

"Malcolm," I called his name calmly. When he turned toward me with that impatient look, I finally said the words I should have said a long time ago. "We're done. Let's break up."

The moment the words left my mouth, the room seemed to freeze in stunned silence.

The reaction was most obvious among the Blackridge Pack wolves present. They had all seen the devotion I'd poured into Malcolm over the past three years, and their faces reflected pure shock and disbelief.

Malcolm's eyes flickered with surprise, but then a smirk twisted his face. "Stop playing these silly mind games, Selene. You're just an Omega. Who would want you if you left me? If you really break up with me, don't come crying later."

"Don't worry. I won't."

I turned and walked away. My ankle throbbed with every step, but I held my head high and clung to the last shred of my dignity.

Behind me, sharp, unmasked voices of mockery cut through the silence.

"Hah, mark my words. In a couple of days, she'll regret walking out and come crawling back to the Alpha. Let's hope he doesn't give in when that happens!"

"Exactly. Everyone knows she loves the Alpha more than life itself. She almost lost her life for him. There's no way she'll let him go easily. She's just throwing a tantrum!"

Malcolm caught their words and sneered. "Relax. Even if she's throwing a tantrum, she won't get another chance. I won't give in."

Too bad this time, they would all be disappointed.

I was leaving for real and returning to the Lunaris Pack.

From now on, I would no longer be the lowly Omega at Malcolm's side. I was the Lunaris Pack's future Alpha.

As I stepped out of the hotel, I reached through the mind link and called out to my mother.

"Mom, I lost our bet. As agreed, I will return to the Lunaris Pack and accept everything you have arranged for me, including the marriage alliance."