Rejected by the Luna He Took For Granted

As Landon, the Lycan Prince, and I stood at the altar of the Silver Moon Pack’s grand hall, the moment came for the groom to kiss the bride. The air was thick with anticipation, the scent of rosemary and pine filling the space as the pack elders and warriors watched. Suddenly, Landon pushed me aside, his towering frame casting a shadow over me, and kissed Jasmine, the Omega bridesmaid standing behind me.

After a deep, fervent kiss, he turned back to me, his golden eyes gleaming with a casual arrogance. "Penelope," he said, his voice smooth but dismissive, "Jasmine has decided she never wants to mate but wanted to experience what a marking ceremony feels like. We agreed she could share in ours. Let’s carry on with the ceremony."

I glanced around the hall, the guests whispering amongst themselves, their scents mingling with unease. Jasmine’s satisfied expression, her lips curled into a smirk, made my stomach churn. The pack’s hierarchy was on full display—Landon’s Lycan status commanding their attention, my Gamma rank rendering me almost invisible in comparison.

With a smile that masked the storm brewing inside me, I replied, "If she’s 'borrowing' our marking ceremony, let this ceremony be yours instead."

Landon feigned hesitation, his broad shoulders shrugging as if this were a minor inconvenience. "That doesn’t seem quite right, but if you insist, I’m okay with it."

I nodded, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I’m fine with it, too. Just make sure you handle the ceremony expenses. It’s just over half a million dollars."

==============================

"What do you mean, Penelope?" Landon demanded, his voice sharp with disbelief, his alpha tone cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. His face paled visibly, the faint scent of rosemary turning bitter.

I ignored him, stepping past him with my head held high. I took the microphone from Alexis, the pack’s Gamma warrior, and addressed the hall. "Dear friends and family, I apologize for today’s scene. The marking ceremony will go on, but I’m no longer the mate. My guests are invited to the second floor for a separate celebration. All gifts will be returned."

With that, I handed the microphone back to Alexis and walked off the stage toward my parents, my heels clicking against the marble floor. The pack’s hierarchy pressed down on me, their scents—vanilla, pine, and rosemary—filling my nostrils as I moved through the crowd.

My parents, respected elders of the Moonlight Pack, had never faced such humiliation. My mother’s scent, usually warm and comforting, was tinged with sadness, while my father, a retired Gamma, remained composed despite the weight of the situation.

"I’m sorry, Mom and Dad," I apologized, my voice barely above a whisper.

My mother looked at me with eyes that mirrored my pain, but my father’s steady gaze anchored me. "You’re an adult now, Penelope, responsible for your own decisions. Take care of this, and we’ll handle the guests upstairs."

My eyes welled up instantly, but I blinked the tears away. "Dad, Mom, let’s go."

"Penelope, stop right there!" Giovanni’s angry voice echoed from behind, his alpha tone commanding and sharp. The scent of pine and leather, once familiar and comforting, now felt suffocating.

I asked my parents to guide our relatives and friends upstairs while I stayed to deal with the situation. Once they were gone, I turned back to face Giovanni, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, the man I’d loved for seven years. My demeanor was calm, but my wolf stirred within me, a low growl of defiance.

His gaze was icy, his tall, muscular frame imposing as he stepped closer. "Penelope, is this really necessary? You’re overreacting to a small issue."

"Today was supposed to be our marking ceremony, and you embarrassed me in front of the entire pack," I replied, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest.

He actually thought I was making a fuss over nothing—how laughable! In his eyes, kissing Jasmine in front of all these guests was trivial. My grievances were petty, making a fuss over a minor issue. I still hoped he would recognize his wrongdoing and apologize, but it was a pipe dream.

Seeing my silence, Jasmine began her sympathetic act, her scent of lavender cloying. "Penelope, don’t be small-minded. I’m just planning never to mate, and Giovanni was generous enough to let me experience the feeling of a marking ceremony at yours. I’m not trying to compete with you."

Giovanni’s friends, Deltas and warriors of the Silver Moon Pack, started to criticize me as well, their scents sharp with judgment.

"Come on, Penelope, don’t take it so seriously. Loving someone means accepting them completely. You know Jasmine is Giovanni’s close friend; it’s never been an issue before."

"Penelope, good Alphas like Giovanni are hard to find. Don’t ruin a lifetime of happiness over a moment’s impulse."

"Since Giovanni chose to mate with you, Jasmine decided not to mate ever. Letting her experience it at your ceremony—what’s the harm?"

They were all dressed in designer clothes bought with my money, wearing watches purchased with my money, and still spouting this nonsense. I remained silent, simply watching them, my wolf growling low in my mind.

Giovanni’s parents, elders of the Silver Moon Pack, started to panic, their scents laced with fear. "Penelope, today is your special day; don’t hold it against him."

"His dad’s right. Mating is important; you shouldn’t decide halfway through a ceremony to call it off. Listen to me: complete the ceremony first. Couples argue but make up; it’ll blow over soon."

"Giovanni, apologize to Penelope."

Giovanni looked down at me with a condescending air, his eyes full of disdain. His alpha tone was laced with arrogance as he said, "If she’s got the courage, she’ll reject me and never mate with me."

"Fine, let’s reject the bond," I said, my voice clear and unwavering. The words echoed in the grand hall, the weight of the rejection pressing down on everyone present. The scent of rosemary turned sour, the air thick with tension as I spoke the formal vow. "I, Penelope, Gamma of the Moonlight Pack, reject you, Giovanni, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, as my mate."

The bond snapped, a searing pain coursing through me, but I stood tall, refusing to show weakness. My wolf growled in agreement, a silent affirmation of my decision.

Giovanni’s face darkened, his alpha tone faltering for the first time. "You’ll regret this, Penelope."

But I knew I wouldn’t.