My mate had chosen my half-sister, and before I could even step into his pack as his Luna, he had demoted me to a chosen mate.

They acted as though they were my saviors, as if allowing me into their lives was some grand act of mercy.

Jalen Nelson, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, looked at me with pity in his eyes. "Allowing you to join the pack is already unfair to Ariella," he said, his voice heavy with condescension. "But if you bring your dowry, we won’t mistreat you."

They were so deeply entangled in their affection for each other that I felt like an intruder in their world.

I decided to let them have their happiness—and I would take my substantial inheritance with me when I left.

==============================

Today, the Silva family came to formalize the mark ceremony. I was giddy with excitement, hiding behind the grand hall’s decorative screen to watch the proceedings.

Everything seemed normal at first.

Then, my half-sister, Ariella Gray, rushed into the hall, her presence immediately commanding everyone’s attention. She stood in the center, silent, her eyes fixed on Jalen with a look of longing.

The moment she appeared, Jalen’s gaze never left her.

My parents, the Alpha and Luna of the Silver Fang Pack, were still exchanging pleasantries with Jalen’s parents, the former Alpha and Luna of the Blue Moon Pack. Suddenly, Jalen dropped to his knees.

"I thought I could suppress my feelings and live the life you’ve planned for me," he declared, his voice trembling with emotion. "But when she walked in, I realized I couldn’t."

The elders in the room seemed to understand what was happening but pretended otherwise.

"What nonsense are you speaking?" my father said with a forced laugh. "You must be overwhelmed with joy at the thought of marking Sofia, such a fine young woman."

"I want Ariella as my mate," Jalen said firmly, his Alpha tone cutting through the room like a blade.

My father’s face darkened instantly. "What are you saying?" he demanded, his aura flaring with authority.

"Ariella refuses to be a chosen mate," Jalen continued, his voice unwavering. "So I must ask Sofia to step aside. If she’s willing, she can remain as a chosen mate. If not, I’ll ensure she finds another suitable mate."

His decision sparked outrage from both families.

My father’s voice thundered through the hall. "What do you take my daughter for? You think you can discard her so easily?"

I had never seen Jalen so determined. Even as the four elders berated him, he stood his ground.

"Alpha Hughes," he said, addressing my father with the respect his title demanded, "my true mate can only be Ariella."

My parents’ faces flushed with embarrassment as they demanded to reject the mate bond, while Alpha Callahan and Luna Loretta shouted at Jalen, their voices sharp and furious. The room was in chaos.

I stood frozen, my mind reeling, unable to comprehend what had transpired between Jalen and Ariella. How could this happen? How could he betray our bond?

In the midst of the commotion, Ariella spotted me, her eyes lighting up as if I were her last hope. She rushed over, tears streaming down her face, and grabbed my arm, pulling me behind the ornate screen that divided the room. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, “Sister, please, help me convince Father to let me be with Jalen. You could be his chosen mate. I promise, once we’re in the same pack, neither Jalen nor I will mistreat you.”

I stared at her, my heart aching with a mix of anger and betrayal. “Do you really think I’d settle for being a chosen mate?” I asked, my voice low but firm.

Something in my words must have struck a nerve, because Ariella’s tearful expression shifted. The vulnerability in her eyes vanished, replaced by a smug, triumphant smile. “You never change, do you, Sofia? Always looking down on those beneath you, always despising me for being the illegitimate one.”

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “But here’s the thing, sister: even though I’m the illegitimate one, I’ve still taken everything from you. Our parents’ affection, your position in the pack, and now, your mate. And yet, you still act like you’re above it all.”

Her words cut deep, leaving me speechless. As the legitimate daughter of the Silver Fang Pack’s Alpha, I had always believed I held a certain status, a certain respect. But now, standing here, I realized that none of it mattered. Not to her, and not to Jalen.

Ariella’s sweet scent and charm won over not only our father but even my own mother, Zelda Hughes.

Years of my hard work paled in comparison to a single comforting gesture from Ariella.

Mother, the Luna of the Silver Fang Pack, prided herself on fairness and impartiality, managing the pack’s affairs with precision. She cared deeply about her reputation, always fearing that other packs might criticize her leadership.

To maintain this image, she never treated anyone in the pack unfairly—except perhaps me.

In terms of privileges and resources, my siblings always had more than I did.

When Ariella fell ill, the entire pack rallied around her, fussing over her like she was the center of the world. Meanwhile, I was left to fend for myself, seeking out a healer in silence.