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 Emma's body against mine, rocking her as if she were still my little girl. "She's gone," I whispered. "My baby is gone."

Matias stood in the doorway, his face impassive. "This is what weakness brings to our pack," he said coldly.

Behind him, Amelie's eyes gleamed with triumph.

"Accept responsibility for bringing shame to our bloodline," Matias ordered, his Alpha voice making my shoulders slump. "Your weakness has cost us our daughter."

Three days later, after I'd barely slept or eaten, Matias summoned me to Amelie's quarters.

"You'll serve as her personal Omega," he declared. "Since you've proven yourself unfit for any other position."

I stood silently as Amelie dumped her designer clothes into my arms.

"These need hand-washing," she said sweetly. "The delicate cycle isn't good enough for silk."

In the laundry room, other pack members gathered to watch my humiliation. Their whispers cut deeper than any claw.

"Look at her—the rejected Luna."

"Always knew she wasn't worthy."

"Serves her right for thinking she could keep Alpha's attention."

I scrubbed Amelie's dresses until my hands bled, each stroke a reminder of everything I'd lost.

When I finally gathered the courage to take Emma's body for a proper burial, Matias stopped me at the door.

"Rejected mates have no authority over pack decisions," he growled, using his Alpha command to freeze me in place. "Including their own children's final rites."

I couldn't move, couldn't speak, could only watch through tears as he carried my daughter away.

"Rest well, Vivian," Amelie called over her shoulder. "Tomorrow you'll learn what it means to serve a real Luna."

As darkness fell over the Moonstone Pack house, I lay paralyzed on the floor, wondering how much more I could endure before I broke completely.