Alpha's Rejected Luna Mate

In the third year of being mated to Ricardo, the Alpha of the neighboring Shadowmoon Pack, I waited eagerly for him to fulfill his promise of marking me as his Luna. But he had long forgotten that promise, his attention entirely consumed by his first mate, Mallory, who had just returned from abroad. When I mind-linked him to ask if we were still going to cement our bond, he scoffed, his alpha tone dripping with condescension, “Aurora, will it kill you not to be my Luna?”

Ha, of course not. Because I could easily walk away and bond with someone else. So why was he crying and begging me to come back?

---

Amid the noise on the other end of the mind-link, I recognized Mallory’s voice. I could tell it was her. Yet, even so, I asked, “Ricardo, are we still going to complete the marking ceremony?”

Immediately, there was a burst of laughter, followed by Ricardo’s taunting voice, his alpha tone sharp and dismissive: “Aurora, will it kill you not to be my Luna?” Even though I had anticipated this, my heart still ached, and the mate bond between us flared with a painful, searing heat.

I moistened my dry lips and said, “Alright, let’s end this.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Aurora. Mallory is your cousin. You didn’t even come to her welcome-back gathering, and now you’re acting out with me!”

“Didn’t you go?” I paused briefly, then steeled myself. “I’m serious.”

“Fine. Just don’t regret it,” he snapped, his voice cold and final.

After severing the mind-link, I turned and walked back into the living room of my family’s packhouse, looking at the man sitting across from me. “Beta Morrison,” I said formally, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I accept your proposal to become your mate.”

Stephen Morrison, the Beta of my pack, stood, his tall, muscular frame exuding calm strength. His dark eyes softened as he nodded. “Wonderful, Aurora. Please get ready; we’ll head to the pack’s sacred grounds for the marking ceremony now.”

“Sure,” I replied, though my mind was still in a fog.

Even as we left the sacred grounds, I felt as though I were walking through a dream. Holding the newly forged mate bond in my heart, I finally felt a sense of reality. Is this... really what it’s like to be mated?

“Sorry, I have some pack duties to attend to,” Stephen said, his voice gentle but firm. “I’ll pick you up later, and our families will have dinner together tonight to celebrate.”

I nodded, still dazed, not yet processing the fact that I was now his mate. Stephen seemed to catch my thoughts and said, “Aurora, becoming your mate isn’t a game. I hope my Luna doesn’t have another wolf on her mind.”

“I understand, Beta Morrison. Don’t worry,” I replied, forcing a small smile.

Yes, Stephen was my parents’ choice for a mate. Three years ago, when I first bonded with Ricardo, my mother, the Luna of