Rejected by the Alpha’s Deception

The day my ex-mate, Eric Silva, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, returned from a neighboring territory, he conveniently got into an accident and ended up with amnesia. When he woke up, he asked his daughter, Judith, who I was. Judith, with a face as calm as still water, said, "Just the Omega of the Silva family." That moment felt like being plunged into an icy abyss. For six years, I had treated Judith as my own pup, yet failed to melt the ice around her heart.

On the day Eric decided to mark Alexandra, his ex-mate and Judith’s biological mother, as his Luna again, I left the Silver Moon Pack and moved to the Shadow Fang territory. Our next encounter was at a pack gathering, three years later. Old pack members questioned me on the sidelines, "Not long after you left, Eric regained his memory but didn’t mark Alexandra as his Luna. He was searching for you everywhere, nearly losing his mind, promising to mark you as his Luna if you came back." I smiled, knowing they were unaware that Eric had pretended to have amnesia to test Alexandra that day. They presumed I'd come back and forgive Eric and his pup. But they were wrong.

"Vivienne, don't hold a grudge against Alpha Eric," pleaded Lenora Morrison, a longtime friend and Beta of the Shadow Fang Pack. "He only said those things because he had amnesia from the accident. He's been looking for you everywhere these past years, nearly going mad."

I found it ironic and asked calmly, "And what about Judith?"

Lenora hesitated, then said, "She was only eight back then, too young to understand. You shouldn't hold it against her." She added, "After Alpha Eric regained his memory, he did reprimand Judith. You practically raised her. I can't believe you would really abandon her."

I couldn't understand why Lenora chose to deceive me even now. Eric had the accident on his way to pick up Alexandra. I was on a patrol out of the territory when I got the news and ran back overnight. But when I rushed to the healer’s den against all odds, I overheard their conversation right outside his room:

“Alexandra's back, and I realized I still haven’t forgotten her after all these years,” Eric had confessed. Lenora, looking at Judith in surprise, said, "But what about Vivienne? We've all seen how dedicated she's been in taking care of young Judith."

"She's not Judith's real mother. If she has her own pup in the future, will she still treat Judith the same?" Eric's next words made my blood run cold. "When Alexandra arrives, I plan to pretend I still have amnesia to test her. If she's willing to reconcile, I'll explain everything to Vivienne."

But before Alexandra could arrive, I had already pushed the door open. Eric was momentarily taken aback before launching into his amnesia act. He asked Judith who I was. Judith turned to look at me, her voice placid, "Just the Omega of the Silva house, Alpha. Luna Alexandra will be here soon."

At that moment, my heart felt as if it was being carved by knives. For five whole years, I had taken care of Judith. I had long decided not to have pups of my own for her sake, treating her like my own pup. Yet, her cold dismissal shattered me. I don't remember how I left the healer’s den, just that the pack mind link immediately buzzed with the #EricSilvaAmnesiaChasesMate drama. Overnight, I became the target of pack ridicule. Everyone compared me to Alexandra, naturally concluding, "If I were Alpha Eric, I'd choose Alexandra too. After all, your first mate can't be replaced just like that, especially since she's the pup's mother."

It was only then that I realized, for Eric and Judith, I was expendable the moment Alexandra decided to turn back. So, on the day I saw the news about Eric and Alexandra planning to mark each other again, I left the Silver Moon Pack on my own.

“Vivienne, you came back because you couldn’t let go of them, right?” Lenora’s words pulled me back to the present.

"No, I’ve already moved on..." I started, but the gathering hall suddenly burst into a commotion. "Isn’t that Alpha Eric of the Silver Moon Pack? What’s he doing here?" "And next to him is Judith, the Silver Moon heiress. Wow, she’s grown up so beautifully, looking just like her mother."

I hadn't expected to see them here. The guest list definitely didn't mention the Silver Moon Pack. Seeing Lenora’s phone screen, which was still lit, everything clicked.

“Vivienne, Alpha Eric really wants to win you back.” No sooner had Lenora finished than Eric disregarded all the stares and walked straight towards me.

“Vivienne, I finally found you. Are you still angry at us?” Judith followed close behind, biting her lip and trying to tug at Eric's sleeve. "Alpha, she chose to leave back then. Why are we still pursuing her?" Eric brushed off Judith's hand, his tone stern, "Judith! If it weren't for you lying that Vivienne was just an Omega to me back then, would she have left in anger?"

He thought I didn’t know the truth of that day, trying to shift the blame onto Judith. “Apologize to Vivienne! This is something you owe her!” Judith, sulking, wouldn’t comply, her eyes welling with tears as she gazed at me, pitifully.

Once, such a look would have softened me immediately, making me forgive her without further thought. But now, I clearly saw through their facade.

“You don’t need to apologize to me.” Eric's expression changed, thinking I had quickly forgiven them. "Vivienne, I knew you wouldn’t abandon us." Judith's eyes sparkled instantly, "So, when are you coming back to the Silver Moon Pack?"

I calmly questioned, "And why would I return?" “Didn’t you forgive me? Who’s going to attend my pup gatherings then? All my packmates say I’m a pup without a mother.” “But you do have a mother, isn’t Alexandra her name?” Judith was at a loss for words, then shouted, “I don’t care, you always went to those gatherings before!”

I found it laughable. Before, Eric’s duties as Alpha meant I was the one attending Judith’s gatherings. To make a good impression, I would bring well-prepared treats for her packmates each time. They would envy her, saying, "Judith, your mother's really good to you." Judith, though a bit smug, would outright deny, “She’s not my mother; she’s just the Omega!”

Perhaps, even back then, I should have realized that some wolves just don't appreciate what they have. No matter how openly you offer your heart, they'll still trample it without hesitation.