The Luna Who Defied Her Fated Mate’s Cruelty

At the pack’s charity auction, Beckham George, the Alpha heir of the George Pack, bid fifty million dollars on a gemstone necklace symbolizing eternal love. The room buzzed with anticipation as he held up the necklace, his Alpha aura commanding attention. He turned to me, his voice steady yet tinged with arrogance, and proposed. The crowd erupted in applause, their admiration for him evident. They all seemed certain I would accept. After all, I had pursued him relentlessly since I was welcomed back into the Mason Pack, and our four years in college were marked by my unwavering devotion.

But they all seemed to forget.

Back then, when I was suffering from a rare heart condition and needed urgent surgery, Beckham accused me of faking my illness after Ruby Simmons, the rising influencer from the Simmons Pack, planted doubts in his mind. He cut off all my access to pack resources, publicly denounced me, and left me to face the brutal backlash alone. My biological parents, the Alpha and Luna of the Mason Pack, turned their backs on me, and my friends distanced themselves. Without the support of my pack, I was expelled from the hospital.

Disheartened, I left the Mason Pack and returned to my adoptive parents, Holland and Mr. Ortiz, the Alpha and Luna of the Ortiz Pack. Once my health improved and I was able to rejoin society, both packs and mutual friends urged me:

"In all these years, Beckham has ignored countless eligible mates. His heart is only set on you, Kiana. He’s been waiting for you to come back so he can mark you as his mate."

"All of that is in the past. He’s overlooked your mistakes. What more could you ask for?"

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

Just as I entered the auction hall, my biological mother, Luna Laylani Mason, pulled me aside. Her sharp eyes bore into me, and her tone was cold. "Kiana, have you even considered the pack?"

"You left home over something so trivial, disappearing for four years. What kind of daughter does that?"

I kept my head down, adjusting the hem of my Victorian-style dress, ignoring her remarks. I had already endured the consequences of desperately seeking acceptance from my biological pack. She continued her tirade, and as I remained silent, she grabbed my arm tightly, her nails digging into my skin.

"Did you hear me? For four years, Beckham has been searching everywhere for you, ignoring even the most accomplished mates."

"After you left, he went public to defend you, pleading with the packs not to target you. Such a proud Alpha heir stooping low for you—how could you abandon him for your own freedom?"

Her voice escalated, drawing the attention of those around us. The whispers began, speculating about my jealousy of Ruby Simmons, my petty reasons for leaving, and my intentional disappearance. My scandal with Beckham accusing me of faking medical records was well-known; today, they scorned me just like four years ago.

But I no longer cared.

I pulled my arm away, revealing the red marks where she’d gripped me. "That’s just his perspective. I’ve long forgotten the past."

The room fell silent, the pack members staring at me in shock. I could imagine why they were surprised. After all, during my four years in college, everyone knew Kiana Mason, the Alpha’s daughter of the Mason Pack, was devoted to Beckham George.

The two universities were two hours apart, yet I made the trek every day to have meals with him. When he trained with the pack warriors, I carried water and supplies, serving as his aide until I was exhausted. Traveling with him to inter-pack competitions, I skipped classes, prepared his meals, and was there whenever he needed me. One time, hearing he was injured during a sparring session, I rushed to see him, only to crash my car, resulting in a fractured leg that left me bedridden for half a month.

Finally, one day, Beckham was moved by my persistence and accepted my confession on graduation day. Once we were together, he was the one making compromises, balancing the expectations of both our packs. They’d arranged for our mate marking ceremony once the mourning period for Beckham’s grandfather ended. I eagerly anticipated the next fall, the season of our impending happiness.

But what awaited me first was Ruby Simmons, sent abroad by her parents during her sophomore year, returning home after gaining fame as an influencer.

Our first encounter was during a pack gathering.

She was wrapped in luxurious fur, her camera aimed at me, adopting a timid expression: "Sister, are you upset that I took your parents away..."

Beckham wrapped my knitted scarf around her neck, his disapproving gaze sweeping over me: "Kiana, it wasn’t Ruby’s fault the mix-up happened years ago; you shouldn’t blame her."

I didn’t understand how I became the one at fault when I hadn’t said a word. But from that day on, Beckham—who once spent every waking moment with me—became Ruby Simmons’s shadow.

She talked about creating a homecoming video; he accompanied her to visit every pack elder. She claimed her fans adored their interactions; he happily appeared in her livestreams. Their seamless camaraderie frequently trended online, yet no one clarified they weren’t mates.

When I finally approached Beckham with Ruby’s videos after a week, he was busy planning a surprise for her birthday. Seeing my displeasure, he pushed me away impatiently.

"Kiana, I’ve always seen Ruby as a little sister. What’s there to be envious of?"

"She’s an influencer. We need to prepare for her birthday properly to boost her image; you’re only holding me up here."

"You... how could you step on Ruby’s poster!"

He abruptly snatched away the poster I accidentally stepped on. I staggered back, and as he gently smoothed the creases on the poster, I collapsed heavily to the ground.