Alpha’s Betrayal, Luna’s Redemption

The news of Jalen's rejection spread like wildfire, and it seemed everyone in the werewolf community knew I had been cast aside. Despite the humiliation, I still received an invitation to the gathering hosted by one of the prominent Alphas in the city. I had prepared myself for this moment, knowing full well what I was walking into.

It was a habit of mine to spot Jalen in a crowd. Back then, we would arrive together, and I’d beam with pride when people called us the perfect pair. Now, it was Ariella who clung to his arm, her scent—a mix of rosemary and vanilla—drifting toward me as if to mock my loss. Though the whispers about them were far from kind, Jalen looked utterly content, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

When his eyes locked onto mine, a shiver ran down my spine. That familiar glint in his gaze—I knew he was up to something. He let out a loud laugh, his Alpha tone resonating through the room, commanding everyone’s attention.

"Thank you all for honoring the Blue Moon Pack," he began, his voice dripping with false modesty. "But I must say, Sofia sitting so prominently at the high table doesn’t sit right with me."

My jaw tightened. He hadn’t even officially marked me as his mate, yet here he was, acting as if he had the right to dictate my place in the pack. The audacity.

I forced a polite smile and met his gaze head-on. "Where I sit is the host’s decision, Alpha Jalen," I replied, my voice calm but firm. "I don’t believe that’s any concern of yours."

The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air. Jalen’s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, his Alpha aura flaring as if to remind me of his rank. Ariella’s grip on his arm tightened, her scent sharpening with irritation.

I held my ground, refusing to let him—or anyone—diminish my worth. The gathering was far from over, and I was determined to navigate it with the dignity I deserved.