1.

It was time.

With a surge of excitement and nervousness, Natalia fidgeted with the fabric of white dress as she made her way to the center of the hall where he stood in all his godly glory: Alpha Vitale Moretti. Her mate and the love of her life.

Natalia blushed as his piercing gray orbs stared at her, beckoning her to him. She had dreamed of this moment, lived for this moment, ever since she was young.

Natalia had endured the rejection, the ridicule, and the hostility of his pack members, who deemed her an unworthy outsider, hence unfit to be their Luna.

She had proven her loyalty, her strength, her love for him, and became his beta despite being an outcast. And finally today, with this mating ceremony, they would finally seal their bond, and she became his mate and Luna, earning the acceptance and respect of his pack.

Natalia suck in a deep breath, and hasten her steps to the alter, but the ever cuniving mother fate seems to have other plans for her in mind. Or perhaps, in this case, Olga.

Natalia had barely taken two steps when she felt a sudden splash of liquid on her chest, eliciting a gasp from her lips as her her white dress was drenched in red wine.

Blinking rapidly, she looked up, only to see a smirking waitress holding an empty tray, feigning shock and horror. It was Olga, her once childhood friend and an outcast just like her.

"Oops, sorry about that, I didn't see you coming." Olga said sarcastically as she dropped to her knees trembling, with laughter.

"It's okay." Natalia said after a deep breath. "Accidents happen." She forced a smile, trying to contain her the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"You're too kind, Natalia." Olga said as she got up, then whispered, "I hope you don't mind. It's not like you deserve to wear such a beautiful dress anyway. You're nothing but a pathetic beta who stole our alpha's heart. You don't belong here, Natalia. You and I both."

Natalia felt tears sting her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She clenched her fists and tried to ignore the whispers and snickers of the crowd. She knew they were all watching, waiting for her to break down or lash out. To give them a reason to denounce her, but she wouldn't give them the satisfaction. She wouldn't let them ruin her special day.

"You're right, I don't mind," she said calmly to Olga's retreating figure. "Because I know that this dress doesn't make me who I am. I am more than what you see. I am Alpha Vitale's mate, and soon I will be his Luna. Your Luna. You can spill all the wine you want on me, but you can't change that fact. You can't change his feelings for me. And you can't change mine for him."

With that, Natalia turned to Vitale who was staring at her with a mix of admiration and concern. His fist were clenched and he looked ready to storm over to her, to come to her aid, but he knew she wouldn't be happy if does. He respects her choice to handle it herself.

She smiled reassuringly at him and said, "I'll be right back shortly, my love."

"Take your time, angelo mio." He nodded.

Natalia walked past Olga and headed to the bathroom to clean up, ignoring the stares and whispers of the crowd.

"Why does nothing ever goes my way?!" She cursed scrubbing the stain away, thinking about the reason she was only having her mate ball now despite finding her mate two years ago.

"I wonder if this is a sign from the moon goddess that Vitale and I aren't meant to be?" She mused bitterly. She wonder if this was a sign that she did not belong here, that she did not deserve Vitale or his love. She wondered if the pack would ever accept her or respect her. She wondered if she would ever be happy.

"Unless Olga is the moon goddess, I doubt that." Raven, her wolf, chimed in.

Natalia wiped away a tear and snorted, as she tried to compose herself. She told herself that this was just a minor setback, that it did not matter what Olga or anyone else thought of her. All that mattered was Vitale and their bond, as long as he loved and accepted her, nothing else matters in the world.

But deep down, she longed for a family, for acceptance, for happiness. And she hoped that tonight would be the start of it all.

Natalia finished wiping off the wine and checked herself in the mirror. The stain was still visible, but not as bad as before.

"Had I knew this would happen, I would have brought a spare dress." She sighed, a knock on the door interrupting her right at that moment.

"Natalia? Are you okay?" It was Alpha Alessio, Vitale's fraternal twin brother and the second alpha of the pack.

Natalia opened the door and saw him holding a black coat in his hands, worries etched on his face.

"Hey, Alessio," she said softly. "I'm fine, thank you."

"Here, take this," He smiled and handed her the coat. "It'll cover up the stain."

Natalia took it gratefully and wrapped it around herself. "Thank you so much, you're very kind."

"It's nothing. I just want you to be happy." He shrugged, concealing his age long feelings for her since they were younger.

He didn't mention that he was secretly jealous of his brother for having her as his mate.

He didn't mention that he wished he could be more than just a friend to her.

He knew it was hopeless and wrong. He knew it was best to keep it to himself.

Thus he swallowed his words and escorted her back to the hall, where everyone was waiting for them. But as soon as they stepped back, a low growl rang from the center of the room.

It was Vitale. And he looked furious. Possessive. Ready to commit murder.

The sight of his mate in his brother's arms, wearing his coat snapped his final string, and erupted in a growl of fury, pushing his way through the crowd and reaching them in seconds.

Vitale yanked Natalia out of Alessio's hold, snaking his arm around her waist possessively. This is so not how Natalia had envisioned the party to go.

Glaring at his brother, Vitale gritted. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I was just helping her out, bro. She had a little accident with the wine." Alessio said, raising his hands in surrender.

"Yeah, right. I know what you're up to, Alessio." Vitale snorted, then mind linked him. "You've always had a thing for her, don't you think I know that? But she's mine, so back off."

"Come on, Vitale. Don't be ridiculous. You know I would never do anything to hurt you or her. I respect your bond. I respect your love. I'm happy for you both."

Vitale didn't look convinced, his arms around Natalia tightening. "Well, you can show your respect by keeping your hands to yourself. We have a ceremony to finish."

Natalia might be blind to Alessio's feelings for her, but V isn't. He turned to his and whispered in her ears, his voice softening as if he hasn't been the one ready to kill a second ago. "Are you ready, my love?"

"Yes, I am." Natalia flushed, then smiled at Alessio, "Thank you again, Alessio. You're a good friend."

"Let's go, my love."

The two walked to the center of the hall where the pack's elder, Anton, was waiting for them. They exchanged vows and rings and kissed, sealing their bond, blissfully unaware of storm heading their way.