My Second Chance Mate is a Barbarian

Sera

"Thank you all for coming tonight."

Kane's voice carried across the ceremonial hall, strong and clear. I stood at the back, smoothing down my dress for the hundredth time. Blue, because he'd told me it brought out my eyes. I'd spent hours getting ready for this moment.

Three years. Three years of waiting, and tonight he was finally going to make me Luna.

The hall was packed. Every wolf in Blackwater had turned out for the ceremony. Kane stood on the platform in his formal Alpha robes, looking exactly like the man I'd fallen in love with four years ago. Tall, broad-shouldered, those blue eyes that had locked onto mine across a bonfire and changed everything.

"Tonight marks an important moment for our pack," he continued. "Three years ago, I found my mate."

My heart jumped. This was it.

His eyes found mine across the crowd. "Sera has been by my side through some of our most challenging times. She's worked harder than anyone I know, proven her dedication over and over, shown this pack what real commitment looks like."

People turned to look at me. I felt my face heat up but I kept my expression calm. Professional. Like a Luna should.

"I want everyone here to understand how much I value what she's done for Blackwater," Kane said. "The effort she's put in, the late nights, the work she's taken on without complaint. It hasn't gone unnoticed."

Someone nudged me forward. I took a step, then another. The crowd parted to let me through. My legs felt shaky but I kept walking, kept my head up. This was what I'd been waiting for. What I'd earned.

"But the truth is," Kane said, and something in his tone made my stomach twist, "she can't do it all alone."

I stopped walking.

What did he mean by that? I frowned, trying to understand where this was going.

"The role of Luna is demanding. It requires someone who can handle the political pressures, the pack dynamics, the constant demands on their time and energy. And Sera has been shouldering that burden for three years without the actual title or authority to back her up." He paused. "I think it's time we fixed that. Time we gave her the support she deserves."

My chest loosened a little. Okay. He was building up to it. Making sure everyone understood why it took so long.

"Which is why I'm pleased to announce that Elara Vance will serve as Luna of Blackwater Pack."

The words didn't make sense at first.

Then they did.

The hall erupted in applause.

Elara walked up from the opposite side of the crowd wearing white. An actual white dress like this was her wedding day. She climbed the platform steps and Kane took her hand, raised it high for everyone to see. The pack cheered louder.

Not Second Luna. Not support. THE Luna. My position. The title I'd been working toward for three years.

He'd given it to her.

I turned around and left before anyone could see my face.

Nobody stopped me.

I made it to the corridor before my legs gave out. My back hit the wall and I slid down, hands pressed over my mouth to keep the sound inside. If I started screaming now I wouldn't be able to stop.

Three years. Three years of him telling me to be patient, to prove myself, to show the pack I was capable. Three years of doing every single thing he asked. And he'd just handed my position to the woman he'd been fucking behind my back.

I couldn't get enough air.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor.

I looked up. Elara stood there in her white dress, face carefully arranged like she gave a shit about how I was feeling.

"Sera, I wanted to check on you—"

"Get away from me."

"I know this is difficult, but you have to understand Kane's position. The pack needs strong leadership, and he's trying to do what's best for—"

"I said get the fuck away from me."

Something shifted in her expression. The fake sympathy disappeared and I saw what was actually there. She'd won and she knew it.

"You really should try to handle this maturely," she said, and her voice was different now. Sharper. "Kane made the right choice for the pack. Surely even you can see that."

"I've been doing everything he asked for three years."

"You've been trying," Elara said. "I'll give you credit for that. You really gave it your best shot." She stepped closer. "But let's be realistic here, Sera. You were never actually going to be Luna. An omega playing dress-up, hoping everyone would be polite enough to pretend they didn't notice what you really are."

The words hit me in the chest. I felt my claws starting to come out and I forced them back.

"Kane marked me. We're mated."

"Kane marked an omega," Elara said. "Did you honestly think the pack was going to accept that? An omega Luna?" She smiled, small and cruel. "You've been patient, I have to admit. Three whole years of waiting for something you were never going to get. But it's over now. Kane chose me. The pack chose me. Time to accept reality."

"He's my mate."

"And he's my Alpha." Her hand moved down to rest on her stomach. Just sat there, casual. "I'm carrying his child, Sera. The pack's heir. So tell me, what exactly are you bringing to this relationship?"

Everything stopped.

The noise from the ceremony faded out. The corridor went silent. All I could see was Elara's hand on her stomach and that small, satisfied smile on her face.

"You're lying."

"Am I?" She shrugged. "You should ask him yourself. I'm sure he was planning to tell you eventually. When the time was right." She turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Sera? You might want to start looking for somewhere else to stay. It's going to get awkward once I'm showing."

Then she walked back toward the ceremony and I was left standing there trying to process what she'd just said.

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