I had long grown accustomed to the cold indifference of my parents, willingly ceding them to Ariella, and I had given up on everyone who favored her over me.

Jalen was the only exception among them. He had always been radiant, even from a young age.

So many wanted to be near him, to bask in his aura, that he could barely remember Ariella’s existence.

That was why I had chosen him as my future mate.

But now, even he had been taken by Ariella. The last person I thought I could hold onto had slipped through my fingers.

An old wound, long scarred over, tore open again, binding me in a suffocating grip.

I couldn’t tell if it was despair or grief that choked me, but the weight of it pressed down on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

My wolf, Lyra, stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a soft whimper escaping her, but I pushed her down. There was no comfort to be found there, not now.

Jalen, with his commanding presence as the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, had always been a beacon of strength and power. His dominance, his alpha tone, had once been a source of security for me. But now, it felt like a cruel reminder of what I had lost.

Ariella, with her sweet smiles and cunning words, had always been the favorite—the one everyone gravitated toward. Even now, she clung to Jalen’s arm, her scent of lavender and vanilla mingling with his, a fragrance that should have been mine.

I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself. The pack’s whispers echoed in my ears, their judgmental gazes piercing through me. I was nothing to them now—just an Omega, a shadow of the woman who had once stood by Jalen’s side.

But I wouldn’t break. Not in front of them.

I straightened my shoulders, forcing myself to breathe deeply. The air carried the faint scent of pine and earth, grounding me.

“You’re stronger than this,” I told myself, even as Lyra’s whimpers grew louder in my mind.

I had survived years of neglect, of being overlooked in favor of Ariella. I had survived the rejection ceremony, the humiliation of having my mate bond severed in front of the entire pack.

I would survive this too.

But as I turned away from the gathering, the weight of Jalen’s betrayal and Ariella’s triumph pressed heavier on my chest, and I wondered if I truly would.

I watched as Callahan and Loretta dragged Jalen away, leaving behind the chaos of the aftermath.

Ariella was the root of it all, and now, with my parents seated on the high platform, they began to scrutinize her.

My father’s face was dark, his tone heavy with the commanding presence of an Alpha. “Ariella,” he said, his voice sharp and demanding, “you’d better have a good explanation for what happened today.”

Ariella rushed to my mother’s side, tears welling in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she spoke, “Mother, I’ve rejected Jalen so many times, but he was determined to make me his mate.”

She wiped her tears, her delicate features only adding to her pitiful appearance. “I know Sofia loves him deeply, and I couldn’t bear to see her suffer through a rejection. So, I begged Jalen to let her stay by our side, even if it meant she’d be a chosen mate instead of Luna.”

“It doesn’t matter if Sofia isn’t the Luna,” she continued, her voice breaking. “We’re sisters, and I’d never let anyone mistreat her. Mother, I didn’t know what else to do.”

Ariella’s tears flowed freely now, her fragile frame shaking as if she might collapse. She had always been skilled at playing the victim, and it was no different today. Her tearful performance nearly convinced my parents to step down and comfort her.

My mother cleared her throat, her expression softening slightly. “It’s not Ariella’s fault,” she said, her voice firm but laced with justification. “Sofia lacks the aura and strength expected of a Luna. She’s weak, like an Omega. Any Alpha would choose Ariella over her.”

I smiled faintly at their words, unbothered. I was used to their favoritism, and their attempts to belittle me no longer carried any weight.

With a calm nod, I said, “If you’ll excuse me,” and turned to leave, heading straight for my private quarters without another word.

The next day, Jalen arrived.

But he didn’t come to my door. Instead, he went straight to Ariella’s quarters.

After a while, Jalen and Ariella walked into my living room, arm in arm.

As soon as Ariella saw me, she began her usual act of tears and apologies.

"I’m so sorry, Sofia," she said, her voice trembling. "I brought Jalen here to apologize to you."

"It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have fallen for him, and I shouldn’t have gotten close to him."

"Every mistake is mine. Please, Sofia, don’t blame Jalen for this."

Jalen’s heart ached at her words. He gently pulled Ariella to her feet and comforted her. "Ariella, you’ve done nothing wrong. I’m the one who insisted on making you my mate. This is my fault, not yours."

I hadn’t even said a word, yet they’d already painted me as the villain.

I was furious and frustrated, but I couldn’t find the words to refute her.

All my life, Ariella had overshadowed me, and it was always because she was better with words.

Jalen had known me for ten years. He knew my nature, and he knew how Ariella had always bullied me.

For years, he’d told me to be patient with her, and I thought it was for my sake.

Now I realized it was only because he loved her.