Beneath the Winter Moon

And there he stood, proudly next to the one who he chose as his mate, casting me aside like I meant nothing.

Blair Anderson.

**

A few years ago, I left my pack, my family, to be with my mate. Grayson Stone, newest Alpha to the Redstone pack.

We never bonded. We never told a soul we were fated. I should have seen that something was wrong from the beginning, because he believed I was an omega. I figured out why very fast.

“I, Grayson Stone, take you, Blair Anderson, as my mate and Luna of Redstone pack,” Grayson stated smiling at Blair as they stood in front of the elders.

“And you, Blair?” one of the elders turned to face her.

“I, Blair Anderson, take you, Grayson Stone, as my mate and Alpha of Redstone pack,” Blair smiled so brightly, stealing small glances at the crowd. Her eyes landed on me, and she gave a smirk only I seemed to notice.

“With the Moon Goddess as our witness, along with all the Alpha’s, Luna’s, and invited guests. I pronounce that these two are now fated to one another as mates and have become your new Alpha and Luna of Redstone pack,” an elder announced as Grayson and Blair kissed.

Everyone cheered, and I stood there fighting back heartbreaking pain that radiated through my body as our bond had completely broke. He didn’t even reject me properly. He let the bond snap as he kissed her, as if I never mattered.

But I clapped along with the rest, my hands moving on instinct, not heart. As the happy couple made their rounds, basking in praise and admiration, I drifted toward the garden gate.

The garden was blooming, perfumed with roses and wild jasmine. Petals trembled under the soft evening breeze, catching slivers of moonlight like they were trying to glow. Laughter echoed behind me, clinking glasses and cheerful chatter bouncing off marble and stone—but none of it touched me. It all felt muted, as if I were underwater, sinking inch by inch.

Each step felt heavier than the last. My hand found the cold iron latch, ready to slip away unnoticed—until the air shifted.

The Alpha King. He hasn’t been seen since his coronation, and even then, no one has ever really seen him.

“Your majesty,” Grayson said as he bowed his head as he had walked up to him, “We are greatly appreciated that you have decided to join our occasion.”

“I didn’t have anything in particular that kept me from coming, and plus it’s not every day one choses who their mate is instead of waiting for their fated mate,” the Alpha King said. Grayson looked as if he was caught in a lie.

“Your majesty,” Blair came to Grayson’s side, and bowed her head, “Although it is a rare thing for wolves to do, it is not unheard of. Sometimes you have to go against destiny if you’ve truly fallen in love,” she took Grayson’s hand and smiled.

“Have you ever felt the mate bond, Luna...?” The Alpha king trailed off.

“Luna Blair Stone, your majesty and no I have not unfortunately, but I cannot doubt what I feel for Grayson is not too far off from what one can feel with the mate bond,” she smiled.

“Even with you two being chosen mates, your bond will not be as pure or strong as a true mate bond. You may enjoy your chosen love, but you will never experience the real thing,” the Alpha King seemed mad at their choices.

“Your majesty, it seems as if there is a problem that Blair and I have decided to choose one another instead of waiting?” Grayson asked. I think everyone could feel the slight hostility in the air.

“Truthfully Alpha Stone, I find it in bad taste that an Alpha can be so impatient to one’s destiny. We are given a fated mate from the Moon Goddess for a reason, and going against what she has set for us has unforeseen outcomes,” the Alpha King explained, “But if she becomes your downfall, you cannot say I didn’t warn you what would happen going against the Moon Goddess.”

With that, the Alpha King turned to leave—but not before tilting his head, just slightly, in my direction. Our eyes met. He starred at me for just a brief moment. Tearing his eyes away he walked away. I opened the gate and slipped out while the others stood frozen in confusion, still unraveling the meaning of his words.

“Celeste?” Grayson whispered as I caught a glimpse of him staring at me as I walked away from the garden.

In that moment, I knew—I was done. I couldn’t stay, and I couldn’t go back. So, I chose the only path left: to disappear into the human world. The thought of returning to my pack filled me with dread, not just because of the shame, but because I had let so much time pass without a word to my family. They knew Grayson was my mate. I’m sure they heard of the news—hearing Blair’s name instead of mine. That alone shattered something in me. I couldn’t face their questions, their pity, their anger. I didn’t want to explain. I didn’t want to remember. I wanted to forget Grayson, forget Redstone, forget the place I once called home.

This wasn’t a goodbye. It was a severing. A death of the version of me that believed in fate, in fairy tales, in him. Whatever came next—pain, freedom, reinvention—it would be mine. Mine alone.