At the Full Moon Gathering, rumors spread that I was about to become the mate of James, the future Alpha of the Stoneback Pack. When the rumors reached James’s ears, he walked straight up to me. He looked down at me, his eyes cold and filled with utter contempt. “Your tricks are pathetic, Emily. You only showed up tonight to get my attention, didn’t you? Let me make this clear: no matter what you do, I will never be with you.” I didn’t argue. I simply requested a three-month leave from the Alpha. The day I returned, Luna Patricia called me to the Pack House to discuss some matters. “Emily, James announced he’s holding his mating ceremony next month. You’ve always been so capable. Could you help organize the event?” I froze in the middle of the living room, the teacup trembling slightly in my hand. My mother, Sarah, looked at me in surprise. “Are you two finally together? I always thought you two were a perfect match.” The atmosphere instantly turned incredibly tense. James’s face darkened to an extreme. “Emily, is it fun spreading these rumors? Let me tell you, even if you lie and say you’re carrying my pup, I still won’t marry you!” Both of our mothers gasped. Luna Patricia quickly apologized, slapping James’s arm. “What nonsense are you talking, James? Emily is a good, decent girl. Stop acting like a fool!” I took a sip of my tea and spoke up calmly. “It’s fine, Patricia. But I’m afraid I can’t help with the ceremony. I’m also getting married next month.” I offered them a polite, bright smile. “Don’t worry, the groom isn’t James.”
My words hit the room like a bomb. James slammed his foot against the coffee table, kicking it over. He gritted his teeth, glaring at me. “Is this some kind of sick joke, Emily? Do you think this is funny?” Ignoring his fury, I poured myself a glass of warm water and sat down on the sofa, completely unfazed. I looked at his raging expression and said, “I’m not joking. I am getting married, and the groom is definitely not you.” I let out a polite, apologetic laugh. “We just finalized the date a few days ago, so I hadn’t had the chance to tell you all yet. I’m sorry, Patricia. You’ll have to find someone else to plan the ceremony.” I lowered my head, took another sip of water, and turned to my mother. “Sarah, I wanted you to come with me today so I could let you know. I’ll handle the wedding arrangements myself.” The silence in the room was suffocating. My mother’s eyes welled with tears, and she was too shocked to speak. Luna Patricia, sensing the heavy tension, quickly dragged James out of the room. Before leaving, James shot me a dark, menacing look. “Even if this is true, I will never approve of it.” The moment they left, my mother slammed her hand on the table. “Emily! I know you have feelings for James, but just because he’s getting mated doesn’t mean you should throw your life away in spite! You’ve never even mentioned having a boyfriend. How on earth do you suddenly have a fiancé?” I looked at her, my voice incredibly peaceful. “Ethan proposed to me, Mom. And I said yes.” She froze, completely speechless for a long moment. “Ethan? Which Ethan?” “The Ethan from the Academy. The Alpha heir of the Ridgefield Pack. He went back to take over his pack after graduation, but we stayed in touch. And… we discovered we are fated mates.” My mother opened her mouth, closed it, and finally let out a long, helpless sigh. “I’m not against you finding love, Emily. But you never told me you were seeing anyone. I thought you only had eyes for James… and now you’re suddenly getting married?” I stood up and set my glass down. As she tried to protest further, I smiled gently. “He’s a good man, Mom. He’s serious about me.” She followed me to the door, her face full of worry. “Of course he’s serious. You’re fated mates. But he’s the Alpha of the Ridgefield Pack. If you marry him, you’ll have to leave the Stoneback Pack. Have you spoken to our Alpha about this? Does he know you’re leaving?” My mind drifted back to the moment Ethan proposed to me. A genuine smile tugged at my lips. The pull of a fated mate never lies. He was going to be an amazing partner. The moment I accepted his proposal, he immediately began planning the wedding, making sure every single detail was perfect for me. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve already spoken to the Alpha. He won’t stand in the way of a fated mate bond. Besides, with modern transport, I won’t be that far from you. I’m heading to the training grounds now.” I packed my things and walked out. Passing by James’s private villa, I remembered I still had some belongings left there. I pushed the door open, only to find the door to my old room wide open. It was completely empty. All of my belongings had been packed into cardboard boxes and shoved into a dusty corner of the hallway. I saw the handmade scarf I had knitted for him to keep him warm during the harsh winter. I saw the pack-blessed protection amulet I had walked miles to get for his safety. I saw the first-aid kit I had painstakingly prepared with supplies from the clinic, fearing he would get hurt during training. All those little things, representing years of my devotion and care, were piled up like trash. If the person didn’t matter to him, then her efforts were nothing but garbage. Through the half-open door, I saw a brand-new vanity table in the room. It had an elegant carved wooden mirror, luxury perfumes, and the bedsheets had been changed to a soft, romantic pastel color. I remembered when I had tried to put a simple throw pillow in his room, and he had thrown it out immediately. *”If you clutter my room with your trash, people will think this is your bedroom, Emily. Keep your place.”*
My eyes stung. I knew this was just the reality of a fated mate bond. I was just a Beta’s daughter; I had to make way for his true mate. But it still hurt to see our years of friendship trampled so easily. I bent down, picked up all my old belongings, and threw them straight into the outdoor trash bin. Then, I turned and walked away. Just as I stepped out of the villa, my best friend Catherine called, sounding frantic. “Emily! That bastard James is getting mated!” The news was spreading like wildfire on the Stoneback Pack’s private Snapchat groups. I wasn’t surprised she had already seen it. Hearing it again, I felt completely calm. “Yeah. I just found out too.” “Have you seen his Instagram? We’re all losing our minds! He never posts anything, and suddenly he uploaded a whole album of photos! We all thought the bride was going to be you! But it’s…” I didn’t want to hear it. I cut her off. “Do you want to hear something even more shocking?” Catherine gasped. “What?” A soft smile warmed my face. “I’m getting married next month. And you’re going to be my maid of honor.” “WHAT?!” “I’m serious. Next month.” I sent her a photo of Ethan. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “Oh my god, Emily! I thought you were going to waste your whole life chasing after James. I was literally calling to tell you to move on, but look at you! You’re getting married! This is amazing!” “Tell me everything! Who is he?” “I’ll keep it a secret for a few more days,” I said playfully. “Once he finishes up his pack duties at Ridgefield and comes back, you’ll be the first to meet him. I’ll be moving to his pack soon after, so we won’t see each other as often.” She promised to help with all the preparations before we hung up. As I sat down by the training grounds, Catherine posted a quick update on Snapchat: *[Thank god! My bestie Emily is getting married, and I’m the maid of honor!]* I was about to text her to keep it low-key. But the next second, James, who had been completely silent, left a comment: *[? You’re getting married? To who?]* Catherine immediately clapped back: *[Single people shouldn’t worry about those of us who are happily taken!]* Seeing her response instantly lifted the weight in my chest. I hummed a tune and spent a peaceful afternoon organizing the training schedules. Later, I took a picture of the gorgeous diamond engagement ring Ethan had given me and posted it on my Instagram story. *[It feels so good to be cherished.]* For the first time in his life, James replied to my story: *[You’ve lost your mind.]* In his eyes, my happiness had nothing to do with me. It was always just a ploy to get to him. I didn’t reply. When training ended, a familiar black SUV pulled up right in front of me. James rolled down the window, looking incredibly annoyed. “Get in.” I stood my ground. “I have plans.” “I wasn’t asking, Emily. Get in.” Sighing, I quickly texted my ride telling them not to pick me up. I habitually walked toward the passenger side, but after catching his cold glare, I quietly opened the back door and sat in the rear. James slammed on the gas, driving so fast the wind whipped violently against my face through the cracked window. At a red light, he habitually pulled out a cigarette, caught my reflection in the mirror, and threw it away in frustration. “You can’t get married, Emily. I don’t care who you slept with that night, but this marriage is not happening.” I clenched my fists, a sharp pang hitting my chest. “I already told you, James. The groom isn’t you. You have no right to interfere.” James cursed under his breath and slammed his hand on the steering wheel, honking the horn loudly. “Stop acting! I know you, Emily. You don’t have the kind of charm that would make any decent Alpha want to marry you.” He looked at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes dripping with mockery. The window reflected my pale face. I didn’t argue with him. Since we were kids, James had been the golden boy of the Stoneback Pack. He was tall, handsome, and excelled in every single combat trial. The Omegas and Betas chasing him could line up from his front door to the pack borders. Even my breakfasts were constantly bought by his secret admirers. Because I was plain-looking, those girls assumed I was no threat to them. When I first started passing their love letters to him, James had looked at me in shock. *”Hey, why are you giving me this? I don’t like you, Emily. Don’t get any ideas.”*
I had replied honestly: “They aren’t from me. Other girls asked me to hand them over.” “Good.” He had let out a sigh of relief. “Let’s make one thing clear. Don’t ever catch feelings for me. In my eyes, you’re just a Beta’s daughter, and you’ll be my future Beta assistant.” I had felt a dull ache in my heart, but I quietly accepted my role. When he was twelve, he collapsed from exhaustion during his first endurance trial. As his caretaker, I rushed to hand him water. He had smiled and said, *”You’re the only reliable one, Emily.”* That was the first time my heart had skipped a beat for him. That was when I realized my feelings had crossed the line. But I knew a Beta’s daughter had no right to dream of mating with the future Alpha. He didn’t love me. I started caring about my appearance at pack gatherings, clumsily trying to put on makeup. He had glanced at me and said coldly, *”It doesn’t suit you.”* Later, the Ridgefield Pack invited me to join them as a senior Beta, but I turned them down just to stay by his side. At sixteen, during a campfire game, people kept teasing us. I had gathered my courage and jokingly said, “I like you, James.” He had instantly frowned and snapped, *”Don’t make jokes like that.”* The final straw was the Full Moon Gathering three months ago. The Alpha heirs from all the neighboring packs had gathered, supposedly to find their fated mates, but realistically it was an alliance-building event. James had asked if I was going. I told him I wasn’t sure. He assumed I was going there to chase him. But that night, I was actually on a date with Ethan. We had met back at the Academy, and running into each other again made us realize the Moon Goddess had blessed us as fated mates. But someone had spotted me at the gathering, and by the next morning, rumors were everywhere claiming I was trying to force myself on James. James was convinced I had started those rumors myself. A sudden screech of brakes pulled me back to reality. The car had stopped in an empty lot near the pack border. I took a deep breath, deciding to finally tell him the truth about that night. “James, about that night at the Full Moon Gathering…” Before I could finish, he threw his door open and rushed out without looking back. “Grace, don’t worry! I’m coming right now. Just wait for me!” He walked away with absolute urgency, leaving me entirely alone in the cold car. That was the first time I heard the name Grace. She was his fated mate. I sat there and waited until the sky turned pitch black, realizing he was never coming back. Why would the pull of a fated mate ever care about a plain Beta’s feelings? I wanted to call Catherine. But I was terrified James would accuse me of making a scene and upsetting his precious mate. In the end, I pushed the door open and walked all the way back home on foot. *** A few days later, I ran into Grace at the pack diner. She walked over with her tray, offering me a sweet smile. “I heard you’re James’s childhood friend. I think we crossed paths years ago.” I smiled politely and invited her to sit down. She noticed the sparkling ring on my finger and gasped. “Oh! You’re engaged? Congratulations!” Before I could speak, James walked over out of nowhere and quickly intervened. “She made that decision on her own. It has nothing to do with me.” He quickly added, “I only drove her home the other day out of courtesy.” Luna Patricia, who was walking behind him, chimed in. “Yes, indeed! Our James is just naturally helpful. Don’t overthink it, Grace.” Grace glanced at him but remained silent. I remembered when they first met. I had been helping James train on the field, and he was complaining that I wasn’t retrieving the weights fast enough. While picking up the gear, he had spotted Grace practicing her violin under a maple tree. James had frozen. He later told me that was the exact moment he felt the fated mate bond snap into place. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Even though Grace went abroad to study shortly after, the bond never faded. The moment she returned, they immediately got together. No wonder James was so eager to settle down and get engaged. Within a few days, the news of my upcoming marriage spread throughout the entire Stoneback Pack. Some of our old classmates organized a party. “Emily is getting married, and James is getting mated to his fated mate. Two major celebrations! We absolutely have to celebrate!”
I didn’t say yes or no, knowing they just wanted to watch the drama unfold. Catherine wanted to decline on my behalf, but I stopped her. “It’s just a party. It’ll be nice to see some old faces.” Worried about me, Catherine stayed glued to my side the moment we entered the venue. People I barely recognized kept glancing between me and James. We used to be inseparable. Now, we stood on opposite sides of the room, worlds apart. James held Grace like she was a priceless treasure, basking in everyone’s envious stares. Ignoring them, I focused on eating the fresh fruit platter. Seeing that they couldn’t get a reaction out of me, the onlookers slowly dispersed. As everyone started reminiscing about the old days, they began counting who was missing. Someone suddenly remembered. “Wait, isn’t there one more person coming? I think he’s on his way. What was his name again?” “Oh, Ethan! The Alpha heir of the Ridgefield Pack. I remember that guy actually confessed to Emily back at the Academy! She rejected him, and he supposedly went home and cried his eyes out!” Someone laughed and turned to me. “He was pretty brave to shoot his shot with you, Emily. But he went back to his own pack after graduation, and we haven’t seen him since.” The room erupted into laughter. I kept quiet. James, however, frowned. “Is it really funny to tease someone who’s about to get married?” He glared at the speaker. “Besides, Emily has nothing to do with him. She’s currently…” He trailed off, but the look he sent me was filled with a strange, sudden guilt. I shrugged, completely unbothered. “Since you’re all so curious about my fiancé, he should be here any minute.” Before anyone could process my words, the double doors of the lounge swung open. An incredibly handsome, elegant man walked in, his eyes locked onto mine with pure warmth. “Sorry I’m late, sweetheart.” The glass in James’s hand shattered, falling straight to the floor. Ethan carried himself with the natural authority of a powerful Alpha as he politely greeted everyone. I pulled out the chair next to me. “Sit down.” Before anyone could say a word, I turned to Catherine. “As promised, you’re the first to meet him. Catherine, this is my fiancé, Ethan.” Catherine’s eyes went wide, and she stammered, “Wait… the chubby kid from the Academy? How did you get so hot?!” “And when did you two even start dating? How did this happen so fast?” I smiled and explained. “He’s the Alpha of the Ridgefield Pack. We reconnected after graduation and realized we are fated mates. Our Alpha has already approved my transfer. I’ll be moving to Ridgefield right after the wedding.” “As for how he got so fit, he claims running an entire pack kept him too busy to eat.” Ethan gazed at me with pure adoration, nodding along to my every word. “Emily’s right. She didn’t even recognize me at first. I had to introduce myself.” He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit shy. “I knew we were meant to be the moment we met again. Later, the bond clicked, and we realized the Moon Goddess had blessed us.” Hearing our story, the room fell into a stunned silence. Only Catherine cheered happily. “Fated mates! No wonder you two are so perfect for each other! When is the ceremony? I need to get my maid of honor dress ready!” Before I could answer, James slammed his hands on the table and stood up, his face pale with rage. “Emily, have you had enough of this childish tantrum?!”
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