Just before my wedding, my fate mate, my Alpha fiancé, Fabian, stripped me of my wedding dress—our wedding dress—and handed it to his mistress, Yolanda Porter. Not only that, but he locked me in the dressing room like some rabid wolf he needed to contain. “Yolanda has a terminal illness.She just wants to experience being a bride before she dies.” I lunged forward, my wolf howling inside me. Alpha’s strength pressed against mine, his dominance forcing my muscles to lock. My claws twitched, itching to break free. “You bastard!” I snarled, my breath ragged. Fabian barely blinked. Instead, he let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head . “She’s dying, and you can’t even show a little compassion?” His tone dripped with disappointment, as if I were the villain here. “You’re only losing a wedding, but Yolanda… Yolanda is losing her dreams and her life.” I was adjusting the hem of my dress when Alpha Fabian walked in. My white gown shimmered under the dressing room lights, the fabric hugging my figure perfectly. In just a few minutes, I’d walk down the aisle and officially become Luna of the Silver Claw Pack. Everything was perfect. Until I saw his face. “Salena, I…” Fabian’s voice wavered—and that was odd. I turned, smiling, reaching for his hand. “Why is the Alpha more nervous than the bride? Don’t tell me you’re going to cry from excitement later.” Normally, he’d roll his eyes and smirk, maybe pull me in close and whisper something entirely inappropriate for a pre-wedding conversation. But not this time. His usual sharp, confident aura was replaced by something… hesitant. “What’s wrong?” My stomach tightened as I smoothed my dress. “Did something happen at the wedding?” When I tried to step past him, he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. His fingers were warm, but his grip was tight—like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I frowned. “Fabian?” A long pause. Then, finally, he met my gaze. “Salena, Yolanda… she’s terminally ill.” My breath hitched. Yolanda Porter. His childhood friend. His beautiful, always conveniently present childhood friend. The same Yolanda who had spent years lurking in the background, reminding everyone how she and Fabian grew up together, how they understood each other in a way I never could. The same Yolanda who had smiled sweetly in public and sabotaged me in private. She had been my biggest thorn, never missing a chance to remind me that I wasn’t worthy of the Silver Claw Pack’s Luna. But I had won. I had Fabian. And now— I swallowed hard. “She’s sick?” Fabian nodded, jaw clenched. “She doesn’t have much time left.” A strange mix of emotions twisted in my chest. Guilt? No—why should I feel guilty? Jealousy? Maybe. Fear? Definitely. Because I knew that look in Fabian’s eyes. I’d seen it before. “I only see her as a sister,” he’d told me a hundred times, exasperated, brushing off my concerns. It wasn’t until his birthday this year, when Alpha Fabian proposed to me, that Yolanda finally faded from our lives. “Yolanda has a terminal illness?” I blinked up at Alpha Fabian, my fingers instinctively tightening around the fabric of my wedding dress. My wolf stirred, sensing the tension radiating from my mate, but I didn’t panic. Not yet. “That doesn’t mean you need to rush to the hospital right now, does it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even. “The wedding starts in ten minutes—” Fabian cut me off, his voice urgent. “Yolanda is already here. She said…” A pause. I folded my arms. “What did she say?” He exhaled, rubbing his temple. “She said she’s never been in a relationship her whole life and wants to experience being a bride… before she passes away.” Silence. The kind that made my wolf growl low in warning. Sadness filled Fabian’s dark, stormy eyes, his tone so reverent it was as if Yolanda had ascended straight into sainthood. Meanwhile, I sat down, slowly, like a queen lowering herself onto her throne, staring at him. “Don’t tell me she expects you to ditch our wedding and take her to a bridal shop?” Fabian shook his head. I sighed in relief. For a moment, I thought the little green tea snake had finally grown some self-awareness. Then, Fabian opened his mouth again. “There’s no time to go outside. Salena, why don’t you lend your wedding dress to Yolanda?” A bolt of lightning crashed through my brain. I stared at him. Did my Alpha mate just get possessed by sheer stupidity? “What, is she not going to survive until tomorrow? Or have all the bridal shops in the city suddenly gone out of business, leaving her no options but to take the dress right off my back?” “Salena.” Fabian’s face darkened, his eyes filled with disappointment—like I was the unreasonable one. “Yolanda is already so pitiful. Why would you curse her like that?” I laughed in disbelief, standing so fast my chair scraped against the floor. “Alpha Fabian, did a door slam on your head? Or did you hit it against the packhouse walls for fun? She’s terminally ill, and you think lending her my wedding dress is going to cure her?” I placed a hand over my chest dramatically. “What, is my dress some kind of divine elixir? More effective than a healer? Will she ascend straight to the Moon Goddess in couture?” My wolf was practically snarling inside my mind, tail flicking in rage. “Yolanda has spent years using these little tricks to pull you away, and I let it go before. But today is our wedding day—do you understand what those words mean?” My breath was shaky, but my tone was firm. Fabian, however, wasn’t listening. Instead, his expression grew even colder. “Salena, I never expected you to be such a heartless person.” And then he looked at me—no, through me. Like I was nothing. Like I was a burden instead of his mate. My wolf fell silent. And just like that, the bond that once made my heart race with love… felt like a chain tightening around my throat. Chapter 2 “Fabian.” The air was thick with tension, our standoff silent but charged. My wolf, restless inside me, paced in my mind, ears pinned back. Then, the door swung open. Yolanda stepped in, her long hair cascading over her frail shoulders, her lips trembling as crystalline tears shimmered in her wide, doe-like eyes. She looked like the Moon Goddess herself had personally crafted her to inspire pity. Her voice was soft, weak, as if merely speaking was draining the life from her. “Don’t fight with Salena because of me,” she murmured. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have gotten sick and then clung to life instead of just… dying right away…” I blinked. Did she really just say that? Fabian gently covered her mouth, like she was the most precious thing in the world. His eyes were brimming with so much raw tenderness . “Don’t be afraid,” he said, voice low, soothing. “No matter what happens today, no one will stop me from granting your wish.” A growl rumbled deep in my chest. My wolf was furious, tail flicking in agitation. Fabian turned toward me then, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. Alpha presence rolled off him in waves, oppressive and suffocating. “Salena, I advise you to show some kindness.” I crossed my arms. “And what if I say no?” Fabian paused, his jaw tightening. Then, without another word, he turned and took Yolanda’s hand, leading her out. For a second, I thought he had finally come to his senses. I was wrong. He returned. And this time, he locked the door behind him. My wolf’s ears flattened. “Salena, don’t blame me for this.” Something in his tone—a chilling finality—sent a sharp spike of alarm through me. I shot up, ready to run, but he was faster. His Alpha reflexes kicked in, his grip iron-tight as he spun me around and pinned me against the vanity. My wolf snarled, but Fabian’s strength overpowered mine. “Are you insane?! Fabian, let me go!” My frantic struggles meant nothing. I felt the zipper of my wedding dress sliding down, scraping against my skin like a brand. “Stop!” I cried out, pain flashing through me as his grip dug into my waist. My wolf whimpered, but Fabian didn’t let go until the dress—my dress—was completely gone. When he finally released me, I crumpled onto the floor, my arms wrapping around myself. My meticulously styled hair was now a wild mess. My body—bare, vulnerable—felt like a broken relic of what should have been my happiest day. Fabian, breathing heavily, held my wedding dress in his hands like a damn trophy. His voice was cold. “Does it hurt? You brought this on yourself.” I stared up at him, my wolf silent—too shocked to even growl. Then, I spoke. “Alpha Fabian, we are done.” His brows furrowed. I pushed myself up, chin high, and let my next words tear through the bond like claws through flesh. “I, Salena Carlson, reject you, Fabian Parkinson, as my mate.” The rejection hung in the air. For a second, he simply blinked at me, as if he hadn’t heard right. Then, irritation flickered across his face, and he let out a short, humorless laugh. “Stop acting out. I’ll make it up to you with another wedding.” He turned to leave. “But today, Yolanda’s dream must come true.” My vision blurred, my heart hollowing out as he disappeared. Then— Click. The sound was quiet. But the moment I heard it, my blood ran cold. I rushed to the door. Locked. I pounded on it, but no one answered. A bitter laugh escaped me. He really did it. I turned back, my gaze landing on a white T-shirt draped over a chair. Desperate for something to cover myself, I grabbed it and pulled it over my head—only for the collar to get stuck. Frustrated, humiliated, trapped—I could do nothing but fall onto my knees and cry and cry. “Tsk. Looking this miserable?” A deep, smooth voice cut through my despair. I lifted my tear-streaked face, my breath hitching. The moment I saw the man leaning against the doorframe, casually elegant in a crisp white suit, I knew trouble had arrived. Alpha Halbert. Fabian’s archrival. The Moon Goddess really had a twisted sense of humor. His eyes, sharp and mischievous, flickered with amusement as he took in my ruined appearance. My makeup was a mess, my hair tangled beyond saving—I probably looked like a rogue that had lost a fight with a tornado. His lips quirked, but for just a moment, his teasing faltered. Then, his voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “Want to get some payback?” My wolf’s ears perked up. I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing here?” Everyone knew Alpha Halbert and Fabian had been close once, back in college—before something ripped them apart, turning them into bitter enemies. No one ever talked about why. “I don’t recall inviting Alpha Halbert.” Halbert, unfazed, simply raised a brow and took a slow, deliberate step forward. His scent—crisp pine and the kind of danger that lured people in—drifted over me, sending a shiver down my spine. My wolf stirred, intrigued. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” His voice was smooth, tempting. “Opportunities like this don’t come twice.” He extended a hand toward me. My wolf growled softly, uncertain. Before I could even decide, Halbert moved. In a blur of movement, he pulled me to my feet—so effortlessly it was like I weighed nothing. His strength was undeniable. Then, before I could protest, he lifted a pristine white handkerchief and wiped my face clean. His touch was gentle, careful, as if he were handling something delicate and breakable. His golden eyes assessed his work before giving a small, approving nod. “Much better.” I blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, his grip tightened around my wrist, his warmth steady, grounding. “Let’s go.” His voice was quiet but firm. “Revenge is best served fresh. Bottling it up will only hurt you in the end.” For the first time since this disaster started, I didn’t feel alone. Chapter 3 “Fabian Parkinson, for richer or poorer, will you stay by Yolanda Porter’s side, never to part?” The officiant’s voice rang out over the crowd. Onstage, Alpha Fabian gazed at Yolanda with a tenderness so nauseating it made my wolf bare her teeth. “I do not.” The words ripped through the ceremony like a thunderclap. Gasps filled the air. Every head in the room snapped toward me. I saw it then—the exact moment realization dawned on Fabian’s face. His smile froze, his fingers twitching against Yolanda’s hand. “Where’s security?” Fabian growled, voice low and commanding. “Escort the troublemaker out.” Halbert, standing beside me, handed me the microphone with an amused smirk. I didn’t even look at Fabian. Instead, I turned up the volume to max and let my voice ring across the hall. “Everyone, I am Salena Carlson. Tonight’s bride, Salena Carlson.” Chaos erupted. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. The sharp rustling of guests flipping through their invitations was almost comical. Fabian’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching so tight it could snap a bone. “Hey, she’s right! The invitation says the bride is Salena!” “Then who the hell is the woman onstage?” “Fabian’s wedding was so rushed, I didn’t even question it. But this…?” The murmurs grew louder, sharp whispers turning to judgmental glares. Yolanda’s fake innocence cracked, her wide doe eyes filling with crocodile tears. Fabian tightened his grip on her hand, his voice low but authoritative. “Everyone, there was a typo on the invitation.” His lips curled into a forced smile. “This is the real bride.” A laugh burst from my throat before I could stop it. “A typo?” I drawled, arching a brow. “Right. And let me guess—my name embroidered on the wedding dress? Also a typo?” More gasps. A few guests exchanged pointed looks. Fabian’s pathetic attempt at damage control had done nothing but pour gasoline on the fire. “The venue? The photography? The décor? Paid for with my money.” I pulled out my phone and, with a single tap, projected the receipts onto the massive screen behind the altar. “13.14 million.” I smiled, slow and deliberate. “Alpha Fabian, will that be on your credit card or by check?” Silence. The air was thick with tension, the scent of unease rolling through the room like a storm cloud. Fabian’s gaze flickered toward the doors, searching. Probably for security. “Don’t bother looking.” My smirk widened. “The security staff? Paid for by me. They don’t answer to you.” Fabian’s nostrils flared, frustration rolling off him in waves. And then, because the universe loved giving me more reasons to hate her, Yolanda decided to play her final card. “Salena, I know you have issues with me.” She sniffled, stepping forward. “It was wrong of me to borrow your wedding, but I have a terminal illness.” She paused for dramatic effect, gauging the crowd’s reaction. And just like that, a few whispers started up again. “She’s dying, though…” “Maybe Fabian was just trying to be kind.” “Is Salena really this heartless?” Yolanda lowered her gaze, trembling ever so slightly—but not before I caught the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. I felt my wolf bristle beneath my skin, a growl curling low in my throat. Oh, this little actress wanted a show? Fine. I’d give her one. I swatted Yolanda’s hand away, my wolf thrumming beneath my skin, urging me to rip through her pathetic act. “Oh, a terminal illness?” I arched a brow. “What’s the diagnosis? Which hospital declared it?” Silence. “Funny how someone on death’s doorstep has enough energy to steal my multimillion-dollar wedding and act like she deserves it.” Yolanda stumbled back, clutching her chest, her breath turning shallow. Her wide, watery eyes flitted around the room, as if searching for sympathy. Cue the dramatic coughs. She hacked so hard that her pale face turned ghostly, as if she might crumple to the floor at any moment. And, right on cue, Alpha Fabian was there in an instant, shielding her with his broad frame, his scent sharp with irritation. “Salena.” He growled my name like a curse. “You’ve only lost a wedding, but Yolanda—she’s losing her life.” His voice dripped with righteous fury, like I was the villain here. “How can you stoop so low as to bicker with someone who’s dying? Where’s your compassion?” I stared at him. For a brief moment, I remembered the man I once loved—the one who whispered promises under the moonlight, who swore I was his forever. Now?
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