My Alpha's Betrayal at the Altar

I’ve always been upfront.

When I found flirty messages between Christian, my mate and the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, and a girl I didn’t recognize on his phone, I didn’t stew over it. I handed the phone to him and demanded an explanation.

After a long pause, he admitted, "She’s someone I rescued during a rogue attack—a Delta from the Shadow Fang Pack. She’s been struggling with depression. I’ve developed some feelings for her. But Violeta, we’ve been through so much together, from our first meeting as pups to this stage in life. I promise to keep my distance from her now."

Christian’s sincere eyes met mine, and despite the hurt, I chose to forgive him, allowing the marking ceremony to proceed as planned.

On the day of the ceremony, however, his Beta, Kannon, suddenly burst into the grand hall: "Alpha, Emersyn found out about the marking ceremony and is threatening to jump!"

The ceremonial pendant slipped from my fingers and landed on the floor as Christian dashed out like a bolt of lightning.

Through my tears, I shouted after him, "Christian, if you walk out that door today, it’s over between us!"

He hesitated briefly but then left without looking back.

Ultimately, he broke his promise.

The ceremony descended into chaos, with guests’ whispers piercing my ears. Our parents rushed to us, bewildered by the turn of events.

Kannon stood nearby, his face red with embarrassment. "Luna Violeta... Emersyn has depression. She attempted to jump before, and the Alpha saved her. She’s very reliant on him. Only he can calm her down... It’s a life-or-death situation, and he had no choice. Please don’t blame him..."

Kannon had served as Christian’s Beta for three years, always polite and friendly, calling me "sister-Luna" with a smile. But now, he couldn’t even meet my gaze.

I wondered how many secrets he had helped Christian keep from me, and what connections he had with this girl named Emersyn. The pain spread through my chest, deepening the sting of Christian’s betrayal.

My parents clutched my hands, anxious. "What’s going on? He’s supposed to be here for the marking ceremony. Who’s calling him away for an emergency now?"

Christian’s parents dialed his number with worry, muttering, "Violeta, don’t worry. I’ll have him back right now. He’ll face my anger if he doesn’t return!"

The pendant lay on the carpet, kicked aside, just like my shattered heart.

I stood there, the train of my ceremonial gown dragging on the ground, like a wilting cloud after a storm. The dreams of the marking ceremony I’d cherished seemed futile compared to this chaos.

The Alpha abandoned his Luna in a hall full of blessings for another woman.

Five hours and 108 calls later, Christian didn’t pick up. I watched my phone screen dim and brighten, until it faded completely into darkness.

Moonlight streamed through the grand hall’s stained glass, casting patterns on the floor, chilling my empty neck where the pendant should have rested.

Guests eventually trickled away, leaving behind a mess of ceremonial flowers and half-eaten meals. Suddenly, the room spun, dizziness overwhelming me, with my mother’s panicked cries echoing as the last thing I heard.

When I woke up, the smell of antiseptic surrounded me. The pack healer was adjusting my IV, and seeing me awake, she gently said, "You’re not alone now. You need to take care of yourself."

I stared at the ceiling as silent tears slid into my hair. From the moment I received Christian’s first mind-link message at seventeen on our pack’s training grounds, to his surprise visit after a 20-hour journey during our first official pack meeting, and the day he became the Alpha, declaring with tears in his eyes, "I’ll protect our pack and always keep you safe"—those seven years flashed through my mind like a fast-forwarding movie.

I looked at my parents and Christian’s parents, unable to hide their concern, with tears brimming in my eyes. How do I tell them that this seven-year journey of love has reached its end?