The Orphan Luna

Serena had been counting down the days for three years.

Not out loud, but every morning when she opened her eyes the same thought greeted her.

One day closer to turning twenty, one day closer to finally belonging.

And now that day had arrived.

She stood before the small mirror inside her cottage smoothing the pale blue dress Mrs. Willow had helped her sew.

It was not expensive. Nothing Serena owned ever was.

But the fabric hugged her figure perfectly and for the first time in years she thought she looked beautiful.

Tonight she would not be the wolfless orphan everyone ignored.

Tonight she would become their Luna.

Her fingers drifted to the silver necklace resting against her throat.

Damien had given it to her on her seventeenth birthday.

She still remembered the way his hands had trembled as he fastened the clasp behind her neck after the first night they had shared together.

“You are mine,” he had whispered against her skin.

“Not just tonight, always. When you turn twenty I will tell the whole pack you are the woman I have chosen.”

Chosen.

That single word had become her reason to endure every cruel whisper and mocking glance.

Then there was Kieran.

Wild, reckless and impossible to tame.

After one of the pack celebrations, he had stolen her into the forest, kissed her until she could barely breathe and held her close beneath the moonlight.

“I do not care what fate says,” he had murmured, his forehead resting against hers.

“If the Moon Goddess gives me another mate she will have to fight me for you. I choose you Serena, I will always choose you.”

She had believed every word.

And Lucien, the hardest to understand.

On a stormy night he had appeared at her door soaked from the rain.

He had not spoken much, he never needed to. His actions always carried more weight than words.

Afterward as she lay wrapped in his arms he had brushed damp strands of hair from her face.

“I do not make promises lightly,” he had whispered.

“But this one I will keep. On your twentieth birthday you will stand beside us where you belong.”

She had believed him too.

She had given all three men everything.

Her body, her trust, her first love and her entire future.

Tonight they were finally going to keep their promises.

The walk to Alpha Manor felt longer than ever.

Pack members passed her along the path.

Some nodded politely.

Most walked straight by as though she was not there.

No one wished her a happy birthday.

Serena had grown used to being invisible. She was the wolfless orphan. The nameless baby left on the pack’s doorstep twenty years ago.

No family…no wolf…no place. She existed but only barely.

Tonight that would finally change.

Music drifted softly through the hall as pack members laughed together.

At the center of it all stood Damien, Kieran and Lucien.

The three future Alpha heirs, the three men she loved and the three men who had promised her forever.

When Serena entered all three looked up.

Damien smiled first. “There you are.”

“You look beautiful,” Kieran added with an approving grin.

Lucien simply held her gaze, his expression unreadable but the warmth in his eyes made her heart race.

Everything was happening exactly as she had imagined.

An elderly pack woman touched Serena’s arm.

“Stand closer to the future Alphas dear.”

Serena blinked. Closer? Her heart began pounding.

Was this really happening?

Trying to hide her trembling hands she stepped forward until she stood only a few feet away from them.

Around the ballroom conversations slowly died away.

Every eye turned toward the stage.

Damien stepped forward.

“Thank you all for joining us tonight,” he announced, his confident voice carrying through the hall. “This evening is an important one.”

Serena’s heart fluttered wildly. This is it, he is finally going to tell them.

Damien smiled.

“Tonight I would like everyone to meet the woman chosen by fate to stand beside me.”

For a heartbeat Serena could not breathe.

Then Damien turned.

Not toward her…

Towards a stunning young woman waiting near the entrance in a crimson gown.

“Please welcome the woman chosen by the Moon Goddess… my fated mate, Elena.”

Cheerful applause erupted throughout the ballroom.

Serena froze. No! No!! This was not right.

Damien crossed the room, took Elena’s hand and lifted it gently to his lips.

“My future Luna.”

The words sliced straight through Serena’s chest.

Before she could even process them Kieran laughed.

“I suppose it is my turn.”

He reached for a blonde woman standing nearby.

“I would like everyone to meet Rosaline, my fated mate.”

More applause, more cheering, more congratulations.

Kieran wrapped an arm proudly around Rosaline’s waist as though she had always belonged there.

Serena felt something inside her crack.

Her eyes searched desperately for Lucien. Please, not you too.

His eyes met hers. For the briefest moment she saw it…regret, pain.

Then he looked away.

“This is Selene,” he said quietly.

“My mate.”

The room exploded into celebration once again.

Three mates, three futures and three promises gone.

The music disappeared…the applause became distant.

All Serena could hear were the echoes of promises whispered against her skin.

She remembered Damien’s hands.

Kieran’s kisses, Lucien’s gentle touch.

They had all sworn forever, they had all taken pieces of her heart, pieces she could never get back.

A burst of laughter snapped her back to reality.

Someone noticed her standing there…one woman frowned.

“Why are you still here?”

Another chuckled.

“Did she actually think they would choose a wolfless orphan over their fated mates?”

Soft laughter spread through the nearby guests.

“It must be embarrassing.” “I almost feel sorry for her.”

“No,”someone else whispered with a smirk. “She should have known her place.”

Every word struck harder than a slap.

Serena looked toward Damien. He heard them but he said nothing.

She looked at Kieran, he did not defend her.

Lucien’s hands tightened at his sides but he remained silent.

That silence hurt more than any insult. It told her everything. They had made their choice and it was not her.

Tears burned behind her eyes but she refused to let them fall…not here, not in front of everyone.

Without saying a word Serena turned and walked toward the ballroom doors.

No one followed, no one stopped her, no one even called her name.

Behind her the celebration continued. Laughter…music...congratulations.

The sound of three happy couples beginning their future together.

The heavy doors closed behind her with a dull thud.

For the first time in her life, Serena realized that some promises were only meant to keep a woman warm until fate arrived.