His Alpha Betrayal, My Luna Rise

With just a week left until the mating ceremony, Aiden, my Alpha and mate, shaved off all my long hair while I was sleeping.

That evening, Zaria, the Gamma from a rival pack, showed up with her alluring curls, offering an apology.

"I’m so sorry, Mazie," she said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "I was joking with Aiden, telling him I shaved my head to become a nun. I never thought he’d try to comfort me by not only shaving his own head but also yours."

Aiden probably expected a big reaction from me, so he quickly moved to protect her, his Alpha tone commanding the room.

"It was all my idea. Zaria had nothing to do with it, so don’t blame her," he insisted, his voice firm yet dismissive. "Besides, hair grows back. We can just wear wigs for the ceremony, don’t you think?"

What Aiden didn’t know was that I no longer intended to complete the mating bond. My newfound parents, a gentle Omega and a supportive Beta from my new pack in France, had reached out to me, offering a place in their pack. I had just bought a ticket to fly to them.

---

After eight years together, I didn’t want our parting to be filled with unnecessary drama, so I kept my thoughts to myself, simply watching him in silence.

"Mazie, I realize I didn’t think this through..." Aiden’s voice faltered as he reached for my hand, his head bowing under the weight of my silence.

Then, as if on cue, Zaria stepped forward, her lips forming a pout.

"Mazie, don’t be upset with Aiden," she pleaded, her tone sugary sweet. "You’re about to complete the mating bond soon. Why argue over something like this now? And didn’t he shave his head too?"

Looking at her feigned innocence, I found it all quite ironic. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of disapproval echoing in my mind.

My expression seemed to sting Zaria, her face turning pale before she adopted a wounded look.

"Mazie, do you want me to shave my head too? Is that what would make you happy?" she asked, her eyes misty with tears as though I was the one who’d initiated all this.

"Sure," I replied with a faint smile, focusing on her shiny, dark hair. "Since you feel like shaving it, go ahead. You started this whole thing, after all."

Zaria was caught off guard by my words, her breath momentarily stopping. She hesitated for a brief moment before regaining her composure.

She picked up the scissors from the table, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at Aiden.

"If it makes Mazie happy, I’m willing," she declared, her voice firm but her face displaying exaggerated sorrow.

Just as she was about to go through with it, Aiden’s strong hand grabbed the scissors from her grip and tossed them onto the floor with a loud clatter.

"Enough," he growled, his Alpha tone reverberating through the room. His protective stance over Zaria only solidified my resolve.

I turned away, my wolf’s growl growing louder in my mind. The bond between us, once so strong, now felt like a chain I was desperate to break.