ARIEL'S POV
"Alpha Rhyder!" I finally snapped out of my daze, rushing after him as he scooped Lysandra into his arms and headed for the exit.
Murmurs filled the room, but I paid them no mind. Lifting my gown to move faster, I nearly broke into a run.
"What are you doing, Alpha?" I demanded once I caught up.
"Taking her to the pack clinic," he said like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You could've had any of the guards do that," I snapped. "What about my ceremony?"
"It can wait, Ariel," he said simply. "This is someone's life we're talking about."
I froze mid-step, my vision blurring. I took a deep breath, forcing the tears away. Tears meant weakness—and I wasn't weak.
How could he do this? He knew how long I had prepared for this day, yet he didn't hesitate to put it on hold. He had never been this cold to me before. And the worst part? It was because of another woman.
But I knew she wasn't just any woman. She was Lysandra—his ex-girlfriend.
After her mysterious disappearance, Alpha Rhyder had searched for her—for three whole years—never giving up... until he met me. Every wolf in this pack knew that story.
She was his past now. I was his mate, his present and his future.
So why did he humiliate me like this?
I became a spectacle, standing there with every eye on me—most of them filled with pity. I hated pity.
I tensed when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I turned to find Anya.
Without a word, she gently led me back to the main house. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Beta Vayne and Gamma Malrik rush in the direction of the clinic too—perhaps to talk sense into their alpha.
My Luna ceremony had ended... just when the crown was about to be placed on my head. My heart twisted so painfully I thought it would burst.
After I reached my room, I demanded to be left alone and climbed onto the bed, my gown still on. The moment I touched the mattress, I couldn't hold back the tears.
Hours passed before Rhyder returned, when it was nearly night. As soon as he entered the room, I got up and demanded an explanation.
"You of all people should know I didn't do what I did to hurt you," he said with a frown. "You know how much Lysandra meant to me. After five years, she appears again—injured and barely conscious. The right thing was to take her to the clinic, Ariel."
"No," I said firmly. "The right thing was to have her taken to the clinic. Not abandon the ceremony to do it yourself."
It was the first time I'd raised my voice at him. But in that moment, I didn't care.
"She needed urgent help. How are you planning to make a good Luna if you can't even show compassion?" he asked, disappointment clouding his gaze.
I swallowed hard, opening my mouth to respond—but no words came out.
"A ceremony can be rescheduled. Can you say the same for a life?"
He walked past me toward the door.
"Where are you going?" I asked quickly.
"Somewhere I can clear my head," he muttered before storming out.
I paced the room, biting my fingers, confused. Had I overreacted? Had I been so unreasonable to care about the ceremony more than someone's life?
Maybe Rhyder was right. Maybe I should've shown more compassion.
I considered going after him, but stopped myself.
Even if I was wrong, it didn't ease the ache in my chest. With shaky hands, I stripped out of the gown and dragged myself into the bathroom.
After spending what felt like hours there, I returned, changed into my nightwear, and finally decided to go find him. I checked every usual spot in the house—the office, the lounge, but he wasn't there.
I reached for him through the mind link, only to find he'd blocked me off.
I sighed. I was used to this. Every time we fought, he blocked the link. Said it helped him cool off faster.
I should understand, but I couldn't shake the horrible feeling that he was back with Lysandra.
And no matter how hard I tried not to overthink it, my heart still twisted in pain.
I returned to the room, waiting... until sleep took me.
°°°°°°°°°
The next morning, I stepped out for breakfast even though I had no appetite. It was like a usual tradition to eat breakfast together, and I didn't want to defy it, hoping I'd see Rhyder and talk things through.
Arriving at the large dining room, I found Nerissa and her husband, along with Vayne and Anya, already seated around the circular table. But the person I didn't expect to see was his mother.
I hadn't known she was back from visiting her sister. After Rhyder's father was murdered by his first son—Rhyder's halfbrother—she stepped down as Luna and focused on training Rhyder to take over as Alpha. But now that he officially held the title, she spent her days traveling the world, parading flawless skin and perfect hair like a retired queen clinging to her former glory.
I took my seat, greeting her politely. "Good morning, Luna Brienne. I didn't know you were back already."
I began dishing food onto my plate.
Vayne and Anya gave me concerned looks. Nerissa ignored me, eyes glued to her phone. And her husband? Never speaks unless necessary.
"Morning, Ariel," Luna Brienne replied with a dry smile. "Heard your Luna ceremony ended before it even began."
My throat closed up. Nerissa chuckled.
"Mom," Anya warned.
"What, Anya? I can't express sympathy anymore?" Luna Brienne asked with mock sweetness.
I was used to her. To her disdain. I was an omega, beneath what she wanted for her son. She never hid her disapproval that Rhyder had chosen to keep me instead of rejecting me. To make her displeasure clear, she had even traveled two days before the ceremony, just to avoid being present.
"Anya, have you seen the alpha?" I asked, trying to ignore her and steer the conversation elsewhere.
"The woman Rhyder loves is back, Ariel," Luna Brienne interrupted before Anya could answer. "Where else do you expect him to be? Wake up."
"Mom, that's enough!" Anya snapped.
Nyra, my wolf growled in my head, upset by the Luna's words.
I shouldn't let her bitter old soul affect me but my heart still pounded.
I clenched my fork tightly, trying not to show how her words deeply her words struck. But damn, it was difficult.
"Don't mind Mom, Ari," Anya said gently. "I don't think he's with her."
"I think the alpha is here." It was Vayne.
I sighed in relief as I caught Rhyder's scent. He'd just entered the living room.
I should've been able to smell him from much farther if he had marked me.
I stood up and walked to meet him, relieved that he was finally back—though I couldn't get his mother's words out of my mind.
"Hey, where have you been? I've been looking everywhere. I panicked when I didn't see you all night. I almost went in search of you. Are you okay?" I asked at once, heart racing.
He stopped in front of me and brushed a strand of hair from my face. I caught a strange scent on him—but forced myself not to overthink it.
"Since when does an omega need to worry about an Alpha?"
Omega? He hadn't called me that in months. Something twisted painfully in my chest.
"How... how's Lysandra?" I decided to ask, forcing the words out despite the pain.
"Oh, finally she cares," he said with a sarcastic laugh before focusing back on me. "Lysa is fine. Recovering fast. I need you to lend her some of your clothes—just until she gets her own."
Lysa?
He used Nicknames now?
And I was just an Omega?
My fists clenched as pain stabbed through me.
And now I had to share my clothes with her too?
"I don't think I can do that," I said softly.
Disappointment flickered across his face. "And why not?"
"Why are you suddenly so mean to me, alpha?" I whispered.