The Alpha Rejected mate is now his step mother

The first rays of dawn painted the sky pink as I slipped from Damon's warm body.

His muscular arm fell across the space where I'd been lying, and I held my breath, watching his chest rise and fall in peaceful sleep.

Three months ago, this same bed...

"You're mine," he'd whispered against my neck, his hands tangled in my hair. "No one else will ever touch you like this."

I'd melted into him completely. "Promise me," I breathed. "Promise you'll choose me."

"Always," he'd sworn, his lips finding mine.

"You're my everything, Fiona."

Now, I grabbed my clothes from the floor, remembering how he'd torn them off me last night with desperate hunger.

Every stolen moment felt like borrowed time, but Damon always made me feel like I was his world.

I tiptoed toward the door, but his sleepy voice stopped me.

"Where are you going, beautiful?”

I turned, my heart fluttering at the sight of him—hair messy, sheets low on his hips, those gray eyes that saw straight through my soul.

"Dawn patrol will start soon," I whispered. "I can't be seen leaving the Alpha's quarters."

He sat up, running a hand through his dark hair. "After tomorrow, you won't have to sneak around anymore."

Tomorrow. The Mating Ceremony. My stomach filled with butterflies.

"Everyone will know you're mine," he continued, pulling me back into bed. His hands roamed my curves like he was memorizing them. "My Luna. My queen."

I melted into his kiss, tasting mint. "I love you," I breathed against his lips.

"And I love you more than life itself."

Two months ago, in this same spot...

"The pack won't understand at first," he'd said, tracing patterns on my bare shoulder. "An omega becoming Luna? They expect me to choose someone from the noble families."

My heart had clenched. "Maybe they're right."

"No." His voice was fierce. "You're strong, brave, loyal. Everything a Luna should be. I don't care about bloodlines—I care about you."

Now, as I finally pulled away from his embrace, Damon caught my hand.

"Nervous about tomorrow?"

I was terrified, but I couldn't let him see that.

"Just excited to finally be yours. Officially."

He brought my fingers to his lips. "You've always been mine, Fiona. Tomorrow makes it real for everyone else."

I dressed quickly and slipped out through the private exit, my heart soaring. In less than twenty-four hours, I'd be Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. Damon's mate. His equal!!!!

The morning air was crisp as I jogged toward the training grounds, trying to look like I'd been on my usual dawn run.

Some of the guards and pack house workers nodded as I passed, clueless about where I'd really spent the night.

Back in my small cabin, I stared at the calendar on my wall. Today was marked with a simple red heart.

Tomorrow had "MATING CEREMONY" written in bold letters.

This was it. The day before my entire life changed.

I showered and headed to the pack house for breakfast, trying to contain my excitement.

The main hall buzzed with ceremony preparations. Flowers, decorations, and tables are being arranged.

"Fiona!" My friend Sarah bounded over. "Can you believe it's finally happening? Tomorrow we'll know who our next Luna is!"

I forced a casual smile. "Any guesses?"

"My money's on Celeste Ravencrest. Her family's practically royalty, and she's been hanging around the Alpha frequently."

My blood turned cold. "Celeste?"

"Haven't you noticed? They've been having private meetings all week. Very cozy-looking." Sarah winked. "I think she's the obvious choice."

The room suddenly felt too small. Too hot. "I... I need some air."

I stumbled outside, my mind racing. Private meetings? With Celeste? That was impossible. Damon loved me. He'd promised me. We'd been together every night this week—hadn't we?

Actually... My stomach dropped. Tuesday, he'd cancelled. Said he had pack business.

Wednesday too. And Thursday...

No. I was being paranoid. Damon loved me. He'd literally whispered it in my ear every time.

But I keep doubting.

I found myself walking toward the Alpha's office, telling myself I'd just peek in. Say hello. Confirm everything was normal.

The door was slightly open. I heard voices inside.

"...beautiful in the ceremony dress," a female voice purred. Celeste.

"You always look beautiful," came Damon's reply.

My world tilted. I pressed against the wall, straining to hear.

"I can't wait to be your Luna," Celeste continued. "Finally, we can stop hiding our relationship."

Hiding their relationship.

The words hit me like physical blows.

"Soon, my love," Damon's voice was soft, intimate. "After tomorrow, you'll be mine completely. My Luna. My queen."

The exact words he'd said to me an hour ago.

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. This had to be a mistake. A misunderstanding.

"I know it's been hard," Celeste said, "pretending to be just friends in public. But my father says it's better this way. More dramatic for the ceremony."

"Your father's right. The pack loves a surprise." Damon chuckled. "They'll never see it coming."

Neither did I.

My legs gave out. I slumped against the wall, bile rising in my throat. Everything—every kiss, every promise, every night in his bed—it was all lies!.

But then I heard something that made my blood freeze entirely.

"What about the omega lass? Fiona?" Celeste's voice turned sharp. "She's been sniffing around you lately."

"What about her?"

"She needs to be dealt with. She's... inconvenient."

A long pause. Then Damon's voice, cold and unfamiliar: "Don't worry about Fiona. I'll handle her."

"Handle her how?"

"The rogue attacks have been increasing near the eastern border. Accidents happen during patrol."

My heart stopped. They were planning to kill me.

"Clever," Celeste purred. "No one questions an omega’s death”

I stumbled backward, my entire world crashing down. Not only had Damon betrayed me—he wanted me dead.

And I'd been so stupidly, blindly in love that I'd never seen it coming.

Footsteps approached the door. I ran, my mind screaming with one thought: I have to get out of here.

“Did you hear something?” Celeste asked.

Damon’s voice, sharp and suspicious “Who’s there?”

I ran.