Too Late, Alpha

The Mate He Chose

"Smile, Evelyn."

Bella leaned closer and adjusted the silver ribbon in my hair.

"You don't want everyone thinking you're jealous today."

I stared at my reflection.

The dress wasn't mine.

Nothing about tonight was mine.

Not the gown.

Not the jewelry.

Not even the title I had spent three years earning.

Across the room, servants rushed around carrying flowers and candles.

Outside, hundreds of wolves were gathering in the pack square.

Tonight was the Mate Ceremony.

The night Alpha Damien would officially announce his Luna.

My wolf stirred restlessly.

She already knew.

I swallowed hard.

"Have you seen Damien?"

Bella's smile widened.

"Why? Nervous?"

"Just answer the question."

"Oh, I've seen him."

She smoothed her own dress.

"A lot."

Something in her tone made my stomach twist.

Before I could ask another question, the door opened.

One of the servants stepped inside.

"The Alpha is ready."

Bella immediately hooked her arm through mine.

"Come on, sister."

I hated when she called me that.

We weren't related.

Three years ago, Damien had found me unconscious near the border after a rogue attack.

No family.

No pack.

No memories before age ten.

Nothing.

Damien brought me home.

His pack became my home.

At least I thought it had.

The ceremony platform stood at the center of the square.

Thousands of lights illuminated the night.

Pack members filled every seat.

The moment Damien appeared, cheers exploded around us.

"Alpha Damien!"

"Our Alpha!"

He looked exactly like the leader everyone admired.

Tall. Confident. Powerful.

The man I had loved for three years.

The man my wolf recognized as her mate.

For a second his eyes met mine.

Something flashed across his face.

Then Bella stepped forward.

And his gaze shifted to her.

My chest tightened.

No.

Not tonight.

Not after everything.

The Elder raised his hands.

"The Moon Goddess has blessed this pack."

The crowd fell silent.

"Tonight our Alpha will formally present his chosen Luna."

My wolf whimpered.

I clenched my fists.

Please.

Please look at me.

Damien stepped onto the platform.

The Elder smiled.

"Alpha Damien. Who stands beside you as your mate?"

The world seemed to stop.

Damien reached for someone's hand.

Not mine.

Bella's.

The crowd erupted.

Cheers.

Applause.

Excitement.

Everything became noise.

My ears rang.

Bella climbed onto the platform wearing the smile of a queen.

"I knew it."

"Oh my God."

"They look perfect together."

"I always said Evelyn was delusional."

Someone laughed.

Another person joined in.

Then more.

Damien raised Bella's hand.

"My mate."

The words hit harder than any blade.

My wolf screamed inside my head.

Pain shot through my chest.

Mate rejection.

Not official.

Not complete.

But enough.

Enough to break something.

Bella looked directly at me.

Then she smiled.

Slowly.

Cruelly.

Like she'd won.

The Elder placed a silver crown on her head.

"Future Luna Bella."

The crowd roared again.

I couldn't breathe.

Three years.

Three years of standing beside Damien.

Helping the pack.

Managing disputes.

Organizing supplies.

Taking care