Rejected by My Fated Mate

I woke that morning with hope fluttering in my chest like a caged bird finally sensing freedom.

Three years. One thousand and ninety-five days of waiting, of proving myself worthy, of pouring Silvercrest's resources into Shadowclaw's crumbling infrastructure. Tonight, the treaty would expire. Tonight, Holden would finally claim me as his Luna.

I was Emryn Reyes, daughter of Alpha Marcus of the Silvercrest Pack, and I'd gambled everything on love.

The morning sun streamed through the windows of Holden's office as I searched for the guest list he'd mentioned. My fingers brushed against a crumpled receipt tucked beneath a stack of territorial maps. Diamond necklace. Three thousand dollars. My heart soared. He'd bought me a gift. After three years of distance, of sleeping in separate rooms, of his wolf remaining stubbornly silent to mine—finally, a sign.

I pressed the receipt to my chest, letting myself imagine the weight of diamonds against my throat, his hands fastening the clasp, his lips brushing my neck before he marked me.

The fantasy shattered when I rounded the corner toward the main hall.

Sloan stood there, sweeping the marble floors in her Omega uniform. But it wasn't the broom that caught my attention. It was the glittering diamond necklace resting against her collarbone, catching the light with every movement.

My necklace.

She looked up, and her lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Beautiful, isn't it?" Her fingers traced the diamonds with deliberate slowness. "Holden has such exquisite taste."

The receipt crinkled in my fist. "That's—"

"A gift from my Alpha." She tilted her head, false innocence dripping from every word. "You know, Emryn, true love can't be bought with treaties. It can't be negotiated like a business deal." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me. "Some things are simply... destined."

My throat tightened. "The treaty expires tonight."

"I know." Her smile widened. "We're all very excited for the announcement."

She swept past me, leaving the scent of vanilla and something else—something chemical and wrong—in her wake.

I spent the rest of the day trying to silence the doubt clawing at my insides. I bathed in rose water, let the pack's attendants style my hair in intricate braids, and slipped into the ceremonial white gown I'd commissioned months ago. The silk felt like a shroud.

My fingers found my bare neck. Soon, I told myself. Soon there would be a mark there. Soon I'd finally belong to someone.

The Pack Gathering hall blazed with candlelight and the chatter of visiting dignitaries. I spotted my father immediately—Alpha Marcus stood near the dais, his silver-gray wolf radiating authority even in human form. His eyes found mine across the room, and something flickered in them. Concern? Pity?

I looked away.

Holden took the stage as the moon reached its peak. He looked every inch the Alpha in his formal attire, though I'd learned to see the weakness beneath the posture. My heart hammered as he raised his hand for