Chapter 1:The Return

Freya's pov 

Today was the day.

The day the pack’s future Alpha—and my mate—would finally return after three long years of training at the Alpha Institute.

“Freya…”

My mother’s voice floated in as the door creaked open. She leaned against the frame, eyes sweeping over me with a look that said she wasn’t impressed.

“Don’t tell me that’s how you plan to meet Micah?”

I glanced down at my simple outfit. “Why not? He’s my mate. He’s seen me in worse… and better.”

She arched a brow. “He’s been gone for three years, Freya. Maybe… welcome him with something he actually remembers loving.”

That earned a reluctant smile from me. She always knew how to get under my skin.

I turned back to my closet, fingers brushing over the few dresses I had until I pulled out the one that always made Micah’s eyes linger a little longer. I slipped it on and stared at my reflection in the mirror, a shy smile curling on my lips.

“Now that’s more like it,” my mother teased, stepping forward to kiss my forehead. “You’ll make a perfect Luna, Freya.”

The words settled warmly in my chest, filling me with a flutter I hadn’t felt in so long.

When she left, I couldn’t stop myself from pacing the room, heart pounding, every nerve alive with anticipation.

Micah was finally coming home.

..........................

The entire pack had gathered in the courtyard, the air buzzing with excitement. Everyone whispered about the Alpha heir’s return—their future leader, the pride of Blue Moon Pack.

And my mate.

My palms were damp as I stood near the front, the same place we’d said goodbye three years ago. Back then, he’d promised to come back stronger, better—for us. I’d held onto those words like a vow written in my bones.

Then the sound of engines rolled through the trees. A sleek black SUV pulled up, tires crunching against gravel. My heart leapt to my throat.

Micah stepped out first.

He looked… different. Taller, broader, with the kind of presence that made everyone lower their heads without thinking. His dark hair was shorter now, the rough edges of his jaw sharper, more commanding. But it was still him—my Micah.

“Micah…” I breathed, taking a small step forward.

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. And before I could move closer, the passenger door opened.

A woman climbed out—tall, graceful, her long blonde hair catching the sunlight like threads of gold. She slipped her hand into Micah’s without hesitation, her body molding easily against his side. The way she looked at him—it wasn’t friendly.

My heart stuttered.

Laughter rippled through the crowd as they started greeting their future Alpha, but all I saw was her. The way her manicured fingers curled over his arm, how he didn’t pull away.

I told myself it didn’t mean anything. Maybe she was a friend from training. Maybe she was nervous. Maybe—

“Micah!” I called, unable to hold back anymore.

His gaze swept over the crowd, landed on me. For a heartbeat, something flickered in his eyes—recognition, maybe even warmth. Relief flooded through me.

I ran toward him.

But when I threw my arms around him, he stiffened… and gently pushed me back.

The crowd went silent.

“Freya,” he said, voice low but firm. “Don’t.”

Confusion hit me like cold water. “It’s me,” I whispered. “It’s Freya.”

“I know who you are.” His tone held no affection, only the steady weight of authority. “But this isn’t the time… or place.”

The blonde woman’s lips curled into a faint smile as she leaned closer to him, whispering something that made his jaw tighten.

My breath caught. “Who is she?”

Micah’s eyes darted away. “My chosen mate,” he said finally, his voice slicing through me like a blade.

“Your chosen mate?” I repeated, barely above a whisper, the words tasting like ash on my tongue.

The blonde woman smiled, smug and victorious. “I guess she hasn’t heard the news yet,” she said sweetly, her voice dripping with mockery.

“What news?” I asked, my chest tightening, fighting to keep my voice steady even as the ground seemed to tremble beneath me.

Micah took a step forward, his expression unreadable—too calm, too collected for the storm he was about to unleash. “That I’m rejecting you, Freya.”

The world stopped.

I blinked at him, waiting for a laugh, a hint that this was some twisted prank. “You’re joking,” I breathed out, forcing a small, broken laugh. “You can’t reject me… you can’t. I’m your fated mate—”

“You don’t have a wolf,” he said flatly, cutting me off. “You were supposed to shift two years ago and you didn’t. A Luna without her wolf is a weakness, Freya. You know that.”

The words sliced through me deeper than claws ever could.

“I don’t care,” I whispered, shaking my head. “We’ll figure it out, Micah. The Moon Goddess made us for each other, please—”

He flinched, just barely, but it was enough for me to see it. There was hesitation. Guilt. Maybe even pain. But it was gone in an instant, buried beneath his cold, perfect composure.

“The pack needs strength,” he said quietly, almost like he was convincing himself. “And you… can’t give them that.”

The blonde—his chosen—tightened her grip around his arm, leaning against him possessively. “Come on, Micah,” she purred. “You’ve said what needed to be said.”

The crowd had gone silent, eyes darting between us, between the broken girl and the rising Alpha.

My lips trembled. “So that’s it?” I whispered. “After everything?”

His eyes softened, just once, before they hardened again. “I’m sorry, Freya,” he said, and those three words hurt worse than the rejection itself.

A faint glow pulsed around his neck—his mark fading, the bond severing. The pain hit me like fire under my skin, spreading through my veins until I could barely breathe.

I stumbled back, clutching my chest as the whispers rose again.

“She’s wolfless…”

“No wonder.”

“What a shame…”

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of them. Not in front of him.

So I straightened my back, forced a hollow smile, and whispered, “Congratulations… Alpha Micah.”

Then I turned and walked away, each step heavier than the last, each breath a struggle against the ache burning through me.

Behind me, the laughter and chatter resumed, but to me, the world had already gone quiet.