After My Mate Called Me a Liability, I Became Queen

The scent of lavender and moonflower filled the preparation room as Elder Marissa's weathered hands gently poured the fragrant oil over my shoulders. The liquid cascaded down my bare skin, leaving trails of shimmering silver in the candlelight.

"Hold still, child," she murmured, her voice carrying the weight of countless ceremonies she had witnessed. "The moon rises soon. Your Alpha will sense your beauty from across the clearing."

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be bathed in the ceremonial herbs. The scent was supposed to heighten my natural aroma, making me irresistible to my mate. Not that Harrison needed any encouragement—we were fated, bound by the Moon Goddess herself.

"Are you nervous?" asked Elder Sophia, her kind eyes meeting mine as she wrapped a delicate white sash around my waist.

"Terrified," I admitted, then immediately regretted my honesty. "I mean—"

"We understand," she smiled, patting my hand. "Even the strongest Luna feels fear before her marking."

My wolf, Luna, stirred within me, unusually restless. *Something feels wrong*, she whispered in my mind.

*It's just nerves*, I assured her, though I couldn't shake the memory of Harrison's distant behavior earlier that day. He'd barely looked at me during our final meal together, his eyes constantly drifting to the maps spread across the table.

"The war calls," he'd said simply when I'd questioned him.

Now, as the elders continued their preparations—weaving moonflowers into my hair and painting sacred symbols on my palms—I felt the pull of our bond intensifying with each passing minute. The moon was rising, and so was my anticipation.

"He'll be proud when he sees you," Elder Marissa said, stepping back to admire her work. "His Luna, blessed by the moon herself."

---

The pack house altar stood beneath the open sky, bathed in moonlight that seemed to pool around the ancient stone like liquid silver. Hundreds of pack members gathered in concentric circles, their faces turned expectantly toward us.

I knelt before Harrison, my white dress pooling around me like spilled milk. His eyes met mine for just a moment—something flickered there, something I couldn't quite name.

"Harrison," I whispered, reaching for him.

He stepped back abruptly, raising his hand for silence. The crowd immediately stilled.

"Before we continue," he announced, his voice carrying across the clearing, "I have an announcement."

My heart stuttered as he turned away from me, addressing the pack instead.

"The Rogue Wars have escalated. Our allies need immediate reinforcement." His voice hardened. "I must leave tonight."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I remained frozen, kneeling on the cold stone.

"A Luna cannot accompany me to battle," he continued. "And a fated bond is... a liability on the battlefield."

The words hit me like physical blows. Liability? Our sacred bond—the gift of the Moon Goddess herself—was a liability?

"Therefore," Harrison's voice cut through my shock, "I will not be marking Kennedy tonight."

The silence that followed was deafening. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think.

Instead, he turned and beckoned to someone in the crowd.