Chapter 1

I've been pregnant for six months, but my Alpha mate, William, has delayed our mating ceremony 29 times.

He's waiting for his adopted sister, Rita, to find a mate so they can have a "two-couple mating ceremony."

The 30th time I altered the waist of my beloved mating ceremony dress, the bridal shop assistant looked embarrassed,

"Miss, this dress really can't be widened anymore. How about you choose another one?"

Disappointment rose in my throat like bile. I called William, asking when the ceremony would finally happen.

But William said:

"I will give you an unforgettable mating ceremony, but Rita's mate hasn't been matched yet. Darling, can you wait a little longer? We shouldn't ruin her whole life over such a small thing, right? I know you'll understand. You're always so kind."

My heart clenched suddenly.

So, my dream mating ceremony is just a small thing.

Rita's sweet, high-pitched voice chimed in: "Brother, my mating ceremony dress matches yours so perfectly!"

That was the moment I realized I was never the one being chosen.

I looked down at my round pregnant belly, tears slipping quietly from the corners of my eyes. Then, with a trembling hand, I dialed the number that had always been waiting for me.

"I'm ready to leave."

After the call ended, the clerk cautiously asked: "Would you like to choose another one?"

"No. Just cancel it, please."

I took one last glance at the dress that would never belong to me.

If this ceremony was never for me, then I won't stay for it.

...

The phone screen lit up with mother's words:

[Your dad tore up the mating ceremony invitations, saying our family can't be humiliated like this. People are all saying you're a desperate woman trying to force a mating ceremony because you're pregnant. Hunny, how long are you going to drag out this mating ceremony?"]

I tilted my head back, suppressing the sourness in my eyes.

Then I quietly scheduled an induced abortion a week later.

The doctor called back quickly, repeatedly emphasizing the harm that late-term induced abortion would cause to my body.

Hearing this, I hesitated for a moment before finally telling the doctor,

"I'll think it over. Please give me some more time."

As I walked out of the bridal shop, it suddenly started pouring rain.

I didn't notice that the driver who came to pick me up had been replaced.

As soon as the car started, it repeatedly slowed down and then accelerated again.

My stomach churned, and I nearly threw up.

The driver's eyes were full of excitement.

I suddenly realized it was another prank by Rita.

Ever since William marked me, Rita had been insisting on holding her mating ceremony at the same time as her brother's.

After I got pregnant, she dumped several arranged mates, delaying the wedding date again and again.

She even printed a picture of my pregnant belly on the invitations and sent them to all my relatives and friends.

The shock and humiliation caused my father's wolf spirit to weaken dangerously, and he was rushed to the pack's healer.

In his eyes, having a child out of wedlock was a stain on the family name.

However, William consistently sided with her even before understanding the situation fully, advising me to stay calm and not make a fuss.

I took a deep breath and yelled, "Stop!"

"I can't, Miss Rita instructed me to make sure you get home safely."

Ignoring my repeated refusals, the driver sneered, stepped on the gas, and then slammed on the brakes again.

My stomach slammed into the back of the front seat.

Sharp pain instantly spread throughout my body.

The driver dumped me on the far end of the highway with a malicious smile.

The rain slapped me full in the face with a whoosh.

I couldn't see anything and fell heavily into the muddy water.

No matter how many times I tried, I couldn't reach William, so I had no choice but to call the pack guard.

After sitting there listlessly for four hours, William finally decided to come to the pack headquarters to pick me up.

"What are you doing here? I told you to be nice. It was just a dress fitting. How did things get so out of hand at the pack headquarters?"

I quietly looked at the impatient man in front of me.

But this time, I didn't immediately lower my head and admit my mistake as usual.

He couldn't see the bruises on my knees, and couldn't see the churning emotions in my eyes.

He only saw that I had wasted his time.

I stumbled as I stood up, and everything went black before my eyes.

I waited here for him for four hours and didn't even have a drop of water.

William seemed to have just noticed that something was wrong with me.

He frowned, then gently supported me, softening his tone.

"How could you make such a mess of yourself over such a small matter? You could have obviously done it all by yourself."

I laughed.

I arranged all the procedures for the mating ceremony alone.

I picked out the ring alone.

I went to prenatal checkups alone.

I faced those gazes, whether of pity or oddity, alone.

I was still naively thinking that he was genuinely too busy.

Until I scrolled and saw the post Rita had just made this afternoon.

It was a mating ceremony rehearsal.

My mate is amidst the blessings of friends and family, saying the mating ceremony vow I'd been anticipating with Rita.

Only then did I realize he was only "busy" for me.

Fine, I won't need him anymore.

Seeing that I wasn't crying and making a scene like before, A hint of smugness flashed into William's eyes, thinking I was giving in.

He urged, "Go home quickly. Puppy loves the dog food you make so much. Rita will worry about it if it's late."

At that moment, tremendous sadness and despair overwhelmed me.

He doesn't care that I was almost run over by a car on the highway...

He only cares if Rita's dog is hungry.

"There's still some dog food I made. It's in the fridge. Just… take it, if that's what matters."

By the time I reacted, I had already pushed the door and gone out.