Chapter 1

"It's time," my newfound friend, Mira, said.

I'd been waiting for this night for so long. For weeks, I'd survived on a strict diet, forcing down bland, tasteless meals just to look perfect for the ceremony.

Carefully, I rose to my feet, making sure not to wrinkle my white dress. It had been specially chosen for tonight. In fact, everything I was wearing had been selected with great care.

Even Vera, my stepmother, had lent me her blue necklace—something that still shocked me. She'd told me it would bring me good luck and that I'd need all the luck I could get tonight.

I never knew she cared.

She'd never shown me an ounce of kindness before, but I wasn't about to question it. Even if she was only pretending, everything would change after tonight. Once I became Luna, she'd surely want to stay on my good side.

Mira lifted the hem of my dress as we made our way toward the ceremony hall.

My heart pounded with nervous excitement.

I'd only met Lucas once, and we'd barely spoken, but I'd admired him for years. As the future Alpha, everyone knew who he was. It certainly didn't hurt that he was incredibly handsome.

I was so lucky to be his mate.

Tonight would make it official.

As Mira and I reached the ceremony hall, the doors were pulled open for us.

I stepped inside, and my breath caught.

The grand hall was packed with people from every corner of the pack. The rich, the poor, the young, the old—they had all gathered to witness the ceremony.

To witness the unveiling of their future Luna.

Me.

At the front of the hall stood Lucas.

He looked as handsome as ever, dressed in formal black attire that suited him perfectly.

Then my gaze shifted to the front row, where Vera sat beside her daughter, Manda. Both of them wore bright smiles.

It was... strange.

I hadn't expected either of them to be happy for me. Especially Manda. She'd already told me she wouldn't even attend the ceremony.

So why was she here?

Before I could think any further, I pushed the thought aside.

Today wasn't about them.

It was about me.

Smiling to myself, I walked toward the stage where Lucas was waiting.

Mira quietly slipped away to take her seat.

When I finally reached Lucas, he didn't even glance at me.

I assumed he was simply nervous. Maybe he was lost in thought.

Trying to ease the silence, I smiled at him.

"Hi, Lucas. You look as handsome as ever.

"I'm really happy to be doing this with you."

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then he slowly turned to look at me, his expression unreadable. After a few silent seconds, he looked away again.

An uneasy feeling settled in my chest.

Before I could say anything else, the ceremony began.

My heart pounded so hard it felt as though it would burst from my chest.

I reached for Lucas's hand.

He shoved it away.

Lucas stepped forward, his deep voice echoing through the silent hall.

"Good evening, everyone.

"We all know why we're gathered here tonight."

He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the crowd.

"Tonight, I'll be announcing my future Luna."

A smile spread across my face.

Finally.

This was the moment I'd been waiting for.

I held my breath, expecting to hear my name.

Instead, he said—

"She's the most beautiful woman and wolf I've ever laid eyes on.

"Manda."

My smile froze.

No...

I must have misheard him.

"Lucas..." I said with a nervous laugh. "My name is Aria."

Surely he'd made a mistake.

He didn't even acknowledge me.

Instead, his eyes remained fixed on Manda as she gracefully made her way toward the stage, a triumphant smile lighting up her face.

A chill ran down my spine.

I looked around the hall, searching for someone—anyone—to explain what was happening.

The guests looked just as confused as I was.

Everyone...

Except Vera.

And Mira.

They were both smiling at Manda.

My heart lurched.

Mira.

The friend who had stood by me these past few months.

The friend I had trusted.

Manda stepped onto the stage.

Without a word, Lucas wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her.

Right in front of me.

When they pulled apart, Manda looked straight at me and winked.

My stomach churned.

For a second, I thought I was going to be sick.

"Lucas, what is going on?" I shouted, unable to hold back any longer.

He finally looked at me.

"I'm announcing my mate," he said smoothly.

"But... I'm your mate," I whispered, my vision beginning to blur. "Not her."

"Not anymore."

His voice was cold.

Emotionless.

"I, Lucas, reject you, Aria, as my mate."

The words struck me like a physical blow.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

The entire hall fell silent.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on me.

My wolf whimpered in agony, the bond between us splintering before it had even begun.

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall.

Not yet.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I forced the words past trembling lips.

"I... Aria... accept your rejection."

The moment the words left my mouth, the tears I had been holding back spilled down my cheeks.

I turned to Manda, my chest tightening with every breath.

"How could you do this to me?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Why?"

I grabbed the front of her dress, desperate for an answer.

Before she could respond, Lucas shoved me away.

I lost my balance and crashed into the chocolate fountain beside the stage.

Warm chocolate splashed over my white gown, staining the fabric beyond repair.

My dress...

It was ruined.

Just like my life.

"How did you ever think someone like you could become the future Luna?" Manda sneered.

"A nobody whose own father abandoned her. Someone who's been living off my mother and me all these years."

She was lying.

My father hadn't left me with nothing.

He'd left me the house, money, and everything I needed to live comfortably.

But Vera had convinced me to sign everything over to her. She promised she'd help me find my mother if I did.

I had believed her.

Like a fool.

Now, everything my father had left me belonged to her.

"Lucas could never choose you while I'm here," Manda said with a satisfied smile. "Never."

Vera strode toward me and yanked the blue necklace from my neck.

"No amount of luck could ever be enough for you," she said, her eyes filled with disgust. "You'll always be beneath us."

She tightened her grip on the necklace before stepping away as if touching me had disgusted her.

"Take this filth away," Lucas ordered coldly. "Now."

Almost immediately, a group of well-built guards stepped forward.

Panic surged through me.

I scrambled to my feet and rushed toward Lucas.

"Please..." My voice cracked. "Please don't do this to me. What have I ever done to deserve this?"

Without a trace of hesitation, he shoved me aside.

I hit the floor hard, my cheek striking the polished marble.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Laughter erupted behind me.

Manda laughed first.

Then Vera.

One by one, the rest of the hall joined in until the sound echoed all around me.

I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

Before I could pull myself together, one of the guards roughly hauled me to my feet.

They dragged me toward the entrance.

"Don't even think about coming back to the house," Vera called after me.

"From this moment on, you're forbidden from returning. Find somewhere else to live."

Her words barely registered.

My ears were ringing too loudly.

Everything around me sounded distant, as though I were underwater.

Through my blurred vision, I caught sight of Mira.

Hope flickered inside me.

"M-Mira..."

She heard me.

For a brief second, our eyes met.

Then she lowered her gaze...

...and looked away.

The last person I thought would betray me had abandoned me too.