Vivian's gaze lingered on me, her lips curling in a pitying smile. "Ova, I understand your attachment to Edmend-you grew up together, after all. But surely you know those days are over. Edmend and I are bonded now. You shouldn't keep clinging to the past."

Before I could speak, one of Edmend's packmates shoved me roughly. "Vivian, you're too kind," he sneered. "Why waste words on someone like her? Just send her back where she belongs-on her knees in the dirt."

"Exactly," another chimed in. "If she ruins your union with Edmend, we'll tear her apart ourselves."

The force of the shove sent me stumbling, nearly falling to the ground. Anger surged in me, hot and unrelenting, but I swallowed it down and forced myself to stand tall.

"I told you," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me, "I'm not here for Edmend. Today, I will become alpha's Luna."

Laughter erupted from the crowd, sharp and mocking.

Edmend stepped forward, his golden eyes gleaming with cruelty. "Still pretending, Ova? Where's your Alpha, then? Call him out, if you dare."

He shoved me hard, and my head struck the cold earth with a sharp crack. Pain blossomed, but I bit back the cry threatening to escape.

"Edmend, stop," Vivian gasped, feigning concern. "She's just a girl, desperate and a little vain. Don't humiliate her any further in front of everyone."

But even her supposed kindness dripped with venom, each word diminishing me further.

One of Edmend's packmates sneered. "Look at her fancy wedding dress-must've cost a fortune. Trying to bribe her way into Edmend's favor, no doubt."

"She probably spent every coin she had," another added with a smirk.

Vivian's gaze flicked to my dress, envy flashing in her eyes before she masked it with a saccharine smile. "Oh, Edmend, I'll wear something even more beautiful. You'll find me the finest seamstress in all the lands, won't you?"

Edmend chuckled, pulling her into his arms. "Of course, my love. Only the best for my mate."

A bitter ache twisted in my chest at his words-words he'd once said to me. He had promised me the world, once. Promised I'd stand beside him, his equal.

But those promises were ashes now.

When I didn't move, Edmend's patience snapped. "Ova, take off that dress," he barked.

I stared at him, horrified. "What did you say?"

"You heard me," he growled, his tone cutting like a blade. "You stand here in front of my gates wearing that dress, and people might think I've taken you as my second mate. Take it off before you disgrace me further."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Despite everything, I had thought there might still be a shred of the boy I'd known. But this. this was a stranger.

When I didn't move, he gestured sharply to his packmates. "If she won't take it off, help her. She doesn't deserve to wear it."

Two guards stepped forward, their eyes glinting with malice. One shoved my maid Natasha aside, while the other reached for me.

"No!" I screamed, trying to twist away. "Edmend, you can't do this! If the Alpha finds out-"

"The Alpha?" Edmend laughed cruelly. "You're still clinging to that lie? Show us your Alpha, then. Let's see him protect you."

As I fought against the soldiers, the sound of ripping fabric filled the air. A gemstone bracelet tumbled from my pocket, landing at Edmend's feet.

The sight of it silenced the crowd.

I scrambled to my feet, desperation clawing at my throat. "That's the Alpha's! It's proof-he gave it to me as his token."

Edmend bent to pick up the bracelet, turning it over in his hands with a sneer. "Do you really expect us to believe the Alpha would give this to you? This is his promise to his future Luna. You must have stolen it."

"I didn't steal it!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "He sent it to me with his proposal. It's the truth!"

Vivian's eyes widened in mock horror. "Ova, I thought you were just misguided, but stealing from the Alpha? That's a crime punishable by death."

"She's lying," Edmend growled, his fury rising. "And if she isn't. well, the Alpha can deal with her himself. But I doubt he'd claim someone as pathetic as you."

"I'll give you one last chance. Where did you get this gem bracelet?" Edmend's voice was cold as ice.

I held my ground, my voice steady despite the anger burning within me. "It was given to me by Alpha."

Edmend's expression twisted with growing malice. "Still refusing to speak, huh?" His eyes darkened as he snapped his fingers. "Take her to the government office. Let's see how long she can keep lying."

I was roughly shoved forward, my body stumbling as they dragged me through the streets. The murmurs from the growing crowd of onlookers echoed in my ears.

"Did you hear? She stole Alpha's bracelet," someone whispered.

"Look at her, still wearing that wedding dress. I heard she was willing to be Edmend's concubine, but he turned her down."

"She's a disgrace, trying to climb higher by using the Alpha's name."

The judgmental stares felt like daggers, but I kept my head high, the tightness in my chest only growing stronger. They were all wrong. I wasn't the thief they claimed me to be. And I wasn't some weak woman begging for Edmend's approval.

Just when I thought I might drown in the waves of humiliation, a thunderous sound interrupted the noise-the sharp, heavy pounding of hooves.

Before I could even process it, a tall, imposing figure on a black stallion appeared, riding smoothly through the crowd, his presence commanding the air. He was the Alpha. William.

His cold, piercing voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

"What's going on here?"

Some of the onlookers dropped to their knees, trembling in fear. Others, desperate to gain favor, scurried towards him, eager to play the hero.

"Alpha, this woman-Ova-she stole your gem bracelet. We caught her red-handed. What should we do with her?"

I lifted my head, meeting his eyes.

William's face hardened at the sight of me, his icy gaze narrowing into something lethal. Without a word, he cracked his whip, the sound of it tearing through the air as it struck the man who dared to speak. The crack was followed by a sickening slap, and the man fell, clutching his bleeding cheek.

"How dare you speak of my Luna in such a manner!" William's voice roared with the fury of a storm, shaking the very ground beneath us.

The crowd fell into stunned silence, no one daring to speak. Edmend stood frozen, disbelief etched across his face. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by a sharp command from William.