Lycan Prince Saves Rejected Mate

The grand hall of the Moonstone Pack house glittered with silver and gold decorations for Emma's coming-of-age ceremony. My daughter—my beautiful, innocent daughter—stood beside me in her white dress, her eyes bright with excitement. At eighteen, she was finally going to be recognized as an adult member of the pack.

"You look beautiful, Mama," Emma whispered, squeezing my hand. "Do you think Father will be proud?"

I smoothed her hair, ignoring the whispers that followed us. "Of course he will, sweetheart. You're perfect."

But as we took our places in the ceremonial circle, I noticed Matias's cold stare. His Alpha aura pulsed with barely contained anger, and Amelie stood beside him in a gown that cost more than most pack members earned in a month.

"Members of the Moonstone Pack," Matias's voice boomed across the hall. "Today we celebrate our daughter's transition to adulthood."

The crowd cheered, but their eyes darted between Matias and me. Something was wrong.

"But before we proceed," Matias continued, his voice hardening, "there is a matter of pack honor to address."

He snapped his fingers, and Beta Marcus stepped forward with a tablet. My stomach twisted as images appeared on the screen behind them—photos of me, beaten and broken after the rogue attack years ago.

"Vivian Chapman," Matias's Alpha voice slammed into me like a physical force, "step forward."

My legs moved against my will, the Alpha command impossible to resist. Emma gasped beside me.

"Father, what are you doing?" she cried.

Matias ignored her. "These images show the true nature of the woman who claims to be your Luna. Weak. Damaged. Unfit."

The photos changed—close-ups of my arm with its dozens of needle marks from blood donations that had funded his Alpha training.

"Worthless Omega marks," Amelie whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"Mother!" Emma screamed, but Matias's Alpha aura expanded, forcing me to my knees.

"I, Alpha Matias Hughes of the Moonstone Pack," he announced formally, "declare Vivian Chapman unfit to be Luna."

The ceremonial rejection words sliced through me like claws. I felt our mate bond stretching, tearing.

"Emma," I gasped, reaching for her as she swayed.

Her eyes widened in horror—not at the photos, but at seeing her mother forced to kneel before the entire pack. The trauma of witnessing my humiliation, combined with the shock of our severing mate bond, was too much.

"Mommy," she whispered, her voice faint.

Then she collapsed.

"Emma!" I screamed, breaking free from Matias's Alpha hold just enough to catch her as she fell.

But she was already gone. Her heart—her beautiful, young heart—couldn't withstand the shock.

"No," I sobbed, cradling her body. "Please, someone help her!"

The pack doctor rushed forward, but I already knew. I could feel it—the emptiness where our bond had been.

In the medical room, Dr. Samuel Hayes confirmed what I already knew. "It was mate bond trauma," he said quietly. "Her connection to your bond made her vulnerable. The shock of seeing you...of seeing what happened..."

I held