Rejected by My Mate, Saved by the Lycan King

The needle pricked my finger for the third time that morning, but I didn't stop. Blood welled up, crimson against my pale skin, but I quickly sucked it away and continued stitching. The ceremonial tunic for Edward's Alpha Ceremony had to be perfect. My mother had taught me these protection runes before she died, and I wanted to give him this final gift before our bond was officially recognized.

"It'll protect him," I whispered to myself, carefully weaving the silver thread through the thick fabric. "Just like he'll protect me."

The sun had barely risen over the Silver Mist territory when I finished. My fingers ached, but the satisfaction of completing something meaningful outweighed the pain. I held up the tunic, admiring how the runes caught the light—invisible to most, but powerful to those who knew what to look for.

"He'll love it," I told my reflection, trying to ignore the dark circles under my eyes. Sleep had been elusive lately, with the ceremony approaching and whispers about my unshifted state growing louder.

I made my way to Edward's cabin, clutching the carefully folded tunic to my chest. My heart fluttered with anticipation. Would today be the day he finally marked me? The pack had been restless about his future Luna being an unshifted Omega, but Edward had always promised to wait for me.

"You're early," Edward said when he opened the door, his voice oddly flat. He didn't invite me in.

"I finished your tunic," I said, holding it out. "I stayed up all night working on it."

He took it without meeting my eyes, his fingers barely brushing mine. Something cold settled in my stomach at his distance.

"It's nice," he said, tossing it onto a nearby chair. "Thank you."

Just then, Bailey emerged from inside the cabin, her perfectly styled hair and confident smile a stark contrast to my exhausted appearance. My stomach twisted further.

"Is that the ceremonial tunic?" she asked, picking it up and examining my work. "How... quaint. Edward, you should try it on to make sure it fits properly."

She held it against his chest, her fingers lingering longer than necessary. I watched as she casually lifted a heavy wooden ceremonial box that I would have struggled with.

"Strength matters in a Luna," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The pack needs someone who can lift more than just a needle and thread."

Edward flinched, then cleared his throat. "Louisa, I need to prepare. We'll talk later."

Dismissed like a servant, I nodded and backed away, the knot of dread in my chest tightening. Something was wrong, but I pushed the thought aside. It was just nerves before the ceremony.

---

"Louisa! There you are!" Edward's voice carried across the pack grounds that evening, stopping me in my tracks. He hadn't spoken to me all day.

"Edward," I breathed, relief washing over me. "I was starting to worry—"

"I want you to meet me at the northern border," he