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On the day of my mating ceremony with my Alpha mate, Derek, his childhood sweetheart returned.

Victoria, using her supposed silver poisoning as an excuse for needing care, crashed our ceremony.

My mate carried her to the pack healer, leaving me alone and humiliated. But he didn’t know that I was the one truly poisoned by silver.

……

During my mating ceremony, my heart pounded with anticipation as I waited for my mate Derek to walk through the doors.

Instead, those doors burst open to reveal Victoria—Derek's childhood sweetheart—wearing a dress identical to mine. Her parents trailed behind her.

The crowd gasped collectively. I froze, my claws instinctively extending before I forced them back.

"Derek," Victoria announced, her voice carrying throughout the hall, "I'm here to be your mate!"

The assembled pack members began murmuring among themselves.

Ignoring everyone's protests, Victoria threw herself into Derek's arms. Her eyes, rimmed with just the right amount of tears, focused solely on him as if I didn't exist.

"Didn't you promise we'd be together forever?" she whimpered loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Even if you're mated, can't I be your only one?"

I watched Derek's face carefully. Doubt and confusion flickered in his eyes. My stomach twisted into knots as I realized what was happening.

Though Derek had marked me in private, we hadn't yet held the formal ceremony or announced it to the pack.

Today was meant to officially introduce me as his mate to the other packs. To declare me as Luna.

High-ranking werewolves from seven neighboring packs had gathered, curiosity evident on their faces. They all wanted to see who would become the future Luna of the powerful Shadow Creek pack.

Before Derek could even respond, Victoria's parents fell to their knees before him.

"Derek," Victoria's father pleaded, his voice trembling just enough, "you and Victoria grew up together. You're practically family."

Her mother joined in, "Since she returned to Shadow Creek, she's been silver-poisoned. Her wolf can't heal anymore."

She dabbed at non-existent tears. "She feels so useless and has been hurting herself. When she heard about the mating ceremony, she insisted on coming."

Victoria's father pointed to her wrists. "Look at her wounds, Alpha-to-be. As parents, we can't bear to see our child in such pain..."

I examined Victoria more carefully. Her dress was elaborate with intricate beadwork—clearly not thrown together at the last minute.

Her wrists were wrapped in pristine white bandages, blood seeping through in perfect, almost artistic patterns, staining the fabric just enough to be noticeable without being excessive.

Anyone who saw her would think, "Poor thing." But I knew better.

Derek stood several feet away from me now. With my weakened senses—a secret I'd kept from him—I couldn't hear what he said, but I watched him nod sympathetically to the elderly couple.

The knot in my stomach tightened as I observed his body language. He was leaning toward them, not me.

When he finally met my eyes, he hesitated, confirming my worst fears.

After what felt like an eternity, he approached me, his voice lowered. "Emma, you can see Victoria's silver-poisoned. Silver is devastating to wolves. It's affected her brain, causing memory regression..."

I knew what was coming. I'd been preparing for this moment ever since Victoria returned to our pack. Still, the reality hit harder than expected.

Anticipating his next words, I sighed and asked, "So?"

My voice came out steadier than I felt, surprising even myself.

His response was casual, indifferent—as if discussing a minor change of dinner plans rather than shattering our future.

"So... I'll have to ask for your understanding today. We'll pause the ceremony." He glanced back at Victoria. "Don't be upset. Once Victoria's better, I promise you a grander mating ceremony. Consider this a rehearsal, okay?"

I stared at him, eyes brimming with tears I refused to let fall. "If she's silver-poisoned, shouldn't she see a healer? Why come to you? What can you do?" My voice rose with each question. "You knew today was our ceremony, yet you're acting so thoughtlessly!"

I knew he'd side with Victoria—he always did—but hearing him defend her to my face while dismissing our mating ceremony made my heart fracture.

Derek's expression showed a flicker of guilt, quickly replaced by impatience. "Be good, Emma. I'm your destined mate. That won't change." He touched my cheek briefly. "There's no need to be angry. You're making a scene."

With those brief, patronizing words, he turned and left me, carrying Victoria away in his arms like she was precious cargo.

Her parents hurried after them, but not before Victoria's mother shot me a triumphant glance over her shoulder.

Suddenly, it seemed like the ceremony had been meant for Derek and Victoria all along. I was just an inconvenient placeholder.

I stood alone at the altar. The pack's malicious stares and whispers surrounded me like circling wolves.

"Looks like Shadow Creek's future Alpha still has feelings for Victoria," someone said, not bothering to lower their voice.

Another added, "Of course. Childhood sweethearts, first loves. Plus, the Evans are old werewolf nobility. Only a fool would choose this stray wolf over Victoria."

"Derek and Victoria make such a perfect pair," a female wolf from a neighboring pack remarked. "That girl should know her place. Her mate abandoned her for another woman during their own ceremony. How pathetic to still hang around!"

"Maybe she's just after the Luna title and power," sneered another. "Who cares about her feelings? She's nobody."