My grandmother’s death was a storm, ignited by Ella’s venom. The day of her memorial, a day that should have been for mourning, was instead marked by chaos—the same day as Alpha Ethan’s wedding. He, consumed by pride and blinded by Ella’s manipulation, accused me of faking my grief, of trying to ruin their ceremony. In a surge of fury, I took my grandmother’s casket and left. Days later, the truth clawed its way to the surface, and Ethan, finally awake from his delusions, was swallowed whole by regret. And as for Ryan, the mate who had been bound to me only because of Ella—he too was forced to face the punishment that was long overdue. I was jolted awake by the sharp ring of my phone. The hospital’s number flashed on the screen. “Alice,” the voice on the other end was tight, trembling. “It’s your grandmother… her condition has worsened. You need to come immediately.” My grandmother… no. She was the only family I had left,. I dashed out the door. Where is Ryan? As I barreled into the hospital, my chest heaving with urgency, I noticed it immediately. The emptiness in the air where his presence should have been. I pulled my phone from my pocket, panic clawing at my insides. With trembling fingers, I unlocked it, praying for something—anything—from him. My eyes locked onto the message that blinked back at me, its words slicing through me like a blade. “I’m sorry, Alice. I couldn’t be there. We’ll need to postpone the wedding. Something came up with the pack.” For years, I had trusted his every word. His role as Beta to the Crescent Moon Pack demanded sacrifices, and I had accepted them with unwavering loyalty. I knew what it meant to be with someone bound by duty—a wolf’s promise to his Alpha was sacred. Alpha Ethan had stolen my heart before I even understood love. We were bound by a legacy, a promise that I foolishly believed could never be broken. But it wasn’t fate that tore us apart—it was her. Ella, the manipulative vixen who had wormed her way into Ethan’s life, stolen his heart, his loyalty, and now, my new mate, Ryan. The woman whose engagement now claimed the venue meant for my wedding. The hall that should have been draped in moonlit silks and scented with lavender, my favorite, was instead bathed in golden lights and laughter for her. The guests who had once RSVPed to witness my vows had seamlessly redirected their allegiances, joining the celebration in her honor. And Ryan was now nothing more than Ella’s lapdog. The way his gaze lingered when Ella entered the room. The way his wolf’s energy shifted, restless and alert, when she was near. I had been blind, clinging to his promises while he drifted further into her orbit. The call from the doctor broke me. Nana was gone. I ran to her side, but it was too late. The warmth in her hands had faded, her last words a plea I couldn’t fulfill. “Don’t cry, child,” she had said only days ago, her voice weak but steady. “Just let me see you in your wedding dress.” I had failed her. When I returned home, the house felt emptier than ever—until I noticed Ryan’s scent. It clung to the air, heavy with pine and musk. He was waiting for me, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim living room light. He stood with a bottle in his hands, his expression caught between guilt and something unreadable. “Alice,” he murmured, stepping closer. “I brought you something.” The scent of the forest clung to him, familiar but distant, like the echo of a memory. “What is it?” I asked, my voice colder than I intended. His lips quirked into a tentative smile as he held the bottle out to me. It was glass, filled with a dark amber liquid that shimmered faintly under the light. “Wolf’s Mead,” he said softly. “For the ceremony. It’s tradition, isn’t it? I thought we could drink it together when we—” I interrupted, my voice trembling. “When we stand under an altar that was supposed to be mine but was draped in lights for Ella instead?” Ryan froze, his wolf’s energy flickering as the words sank in. I stepped back. “This? This is her favorite, isn’t it? She’s the one who told you about this tradition. You never cared about it before.” His silence was louder than any excuse. “You’ve been chasing her all along, haven’t you?” My voice grew stronger, fueled by anger and the sting of betrayal. “Every time you came home smelling like her, every time you smiled at her name… Did you even fight for me? Or was I just the consolation prize?” His wolf stirred, a low growl vibrating in his chest, but I didn’t flinch. “ Ryan. We’re over.” I turned toward the door, grabbing my suitcase, but his hand shot out, gripping my arm. His touch was warm, electric, the pull of the mate bond still strong despite the betrayal. “Don’t do this,” he growled, his voice thick with desperation. “You’re mine, Alice. You’re my mate.” I met his gaze, the glow of his wolf’s eyes clashing with my resolve. “I was yours,” I said softly. “But you gave me away.”
He sensed my mood before I could mask it, his tone softening like the wind before a storm. “Alice, are you still upset about the wedding delay? Don’t worry. I’ve already dealt with it. This time, nothing will interfere.” He stepped closer, the faint scent of pine and frost curling around me—a scent that had once brought comfort but now felt suffocating. “I’ll explain to your grandmother personally,” he added, guilt flashing briefly in his silvered eyes before being replaced by a practiced calm. I let out a bitter laugh, as cold and sharp as the winter winds in the mountains. “Don’t bother. The wedding’s off. You don’t need to meet my grandmother—she wouldn’t want your explanations anyway.” His composure cracked for the briefest moment, irritation flickering in his eyes like a predator cornered. “Alice, you’re overreacting. The wedding has been three months in the making. Invitations have been sent to every pack. Do you realize the dishonor you’re bringing to me?” “Dishonor?” I echoed, my voice laced with ice. “Was it honor that kept you running off on ‘urgent pack matters’? Or was it her?” His lips parted, but before he could spew another lie, his phone buzzed. He glanced down, and as if pulled by instinct, his lips curved into a smile that sliced through me like a silver blade. “I’ll make it up to you,” he murmured before disappearing into the night, his figure melting into the shadows like smoke. The scent of Ella lingered faintly in the air. Only she could summon him with a single message. Once, I might have believed his excuses. Now, the truth gleamed brighter than the full moon rising above us. He didn’t even bother hiding it anymore. After he left, I gathered every gift he’d given me over the past hundred days. Trinkets meant to placate me. Tokens for a love that had long since decayed. I intended to return them all. The next morning, as I was about to leave, the seamstress called. “Miss Alice, your custom wedding dress has arrived. When can you come for the fitting?” I steadied my voice against the tide of emotions threatening to drown me. “Cancel it. The wedding’s off.” The woman hesitated. “This dress was a moonlit commission. The deposit alone was fifty million. If you wish to cancel, you’ll need to come in person to sign the forms.” Reluctantly, I went to the boutique. As I signed the cancellation forms, another dress caught my eye. It gleamed like frost under moonlight, adorned with rare starsteel threads and enchanted diamonds that pulsed faintly with lunar energy. “That’s…” My words faltered as two assistants wheeled it out with reverence. Their whispered chatter pierced through me like claws. “Ella is so lucky,” one said with an envious sigh. “This dress is the most exquisite piece we’ve ever seen! It’s commissioned by an Alpha and an Ryan together.1 billion can’t even cover its magic enhancements.” “Imagine two dominant wolves competing to spoil her,” another added. “What kind of blessing must she have to deserve that?” My grip tightened around the pen, my claws threatening to pierce the paper. When I arrived at Ryan’s office, the box of returned gifts felt heavier with every step. The receptionists greeted me with bright smiles. “Mrs. Stone,” they chirped. “You’re so lucky! Ryan took a month off to prepare for your wedding!” “Did you hear?” one whispered loudly. “He even bought a lunar relic necklace at auction for ten billion. It’s probably for the wedding.” Their voices dripped with envy, but their words struck like daggers. Every detail they spoke of wasn’t mine. The wedding plans, the jewelry, the grand gestures—they were all for someone else. The elevator doors slid open, and her voice spilled out before I saw her. Ella, leaning against Ryan, her arm looped through his. “Ryan, this necklace is ridiculous. I can’t even move my neck with all this weight!” He smirked, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “Didn’t you say you wanted Ethan to feel threatened? Consider it a success.” I stepped into the room, the air thick with their shared intimacy. Ryan’s expression shifted when he noticed me, his gaze hardening like steel. “Why are you here?” he demanded. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from the office? You’re disrupting my employees.” His eyes fell on the box in my hands. “What’s that? Trash? Security, throw it out.” Before I could speak, the guards seized the box and dumped it into the bin. I stared, my breath catching as the truth sank in—everything he’d given me was counterfeit. Cheap imitations. Worthless lies. Ethan’s voice broke the silence. “Ryan, your mate is standing here, and you’re holding mine. Care to explain?” Ella stepped back, tears welling in her eyes as she turned to me. “Alice, I know you and Ethan have a history, but you accepted Ryan’s proposal. Why can’t you let Ethan go?” Ryan’s glare deepened. “This is your fault,” he growled. “You knew Ella’s insecurities, yet you reached out to Ethan. Was it to humiliate me?” The contempt in his voice cut deeper than any claw. Ethan’s words were the final blow. “I never loved Alice,” he said coldly. “Not before. Not now. Not ever.” Ella’s tears spilled over, but the triumph in her eyes was unmistakable. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed before fleeing. Ethan followed without hesitation, leaving me in the suffocating silence of Ryan’s disdain. Ryan turned to me, his gaze devoid of warmth. “You’ve embarrassed me enough. Leave. Now.” For the first time, my voice didn’t falter. “No, Ryan. You leave.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295278”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #校园School #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #狼人Werewolf
Leave a Reply