Rejected Mate's Vengeance

I had been involved with Ronan for three years, yet he never wanted our relationship to be public. Even when pack members whispered about us after spotting us together, he would immediately deny it, saying, "We’re just packmates." When the other Deltas sneered at me, calling me delusional for thinking I could ever be worthy of a Beta, he brushed it off lightly, saying, "Don’t worry about it." I couldn’t understand why a Beta needed to maintain an image of being unmated. He claimed he was at the height of his career, with the Alpha relying on him heavily, and asked me to be patient. But then, when he was caught embracing Callie Jackson, a Gamma from the Crimson Fang Pack, by a patrol group, the pack erupted with gossip. He quickly called a pack gathering, standing before the Alpha and the rest of the Silver Moon Pack, and publicly declared, "Let me introduce you to my mate." That was when I knew my love story had ended.

Ronan’s announcement spread like wildfire through the pack. Whispers and murmurs filled the training grounds, the dens, and even the healer’s den. Some warriors called him a hypocrite for maintaining an unmated image to benefit from the attention of the pack’s females, while others praised him as a true Beta who gave his mate a sense of security. Callie quickly stepped forward, her voice sweet but carrying an undercurrent of triumph. "Life is precious, grateful to have you by my side," she said, her words echoing through the gathered crowd. She wore a ceremonial wolf pelt draped over her shoulders—a symbol of status and pride. I recognized it immediately. It was mine, a gift from the Alpha for my dedication as a Delta. Just last month, it had been sitting quietly in Ronan’s den, which I had accidentally stumbled upon. I assumed it was a surprise he was planning for our three-year anniversary, so I pretended not to notice and secretly looked forward to it for a long time. Now, reality slapped me hard. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, and forced myself to remain calm.

I stepped forward, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I, Nadia Richardson, Delta of the Silver Moon Pack, bless the bond between Ronan Griffin, Beta of the Silver Moon Pack, and Callie Jackson, Gamma of the Crimson Fang Pack." The words tasted bitter on my tongue, but I refused to let my pain show. Barely five seconds passed before Ronan’s voice rang out, sharp and impatient, cutting through the silence. "Nadia, can you stop stirring up trouble? Do you know how stressed I am right now? I—" I turned on my heel and walked away without waiting for him to finish, my wolf growling faintly in the back of my mind.

Ronan returned to our shared den late that night. The room was pitch dark, and he softly called out to me, but I didn’t respond. With a sigh of resignation, he emerged from the bathing chamber, and I felt the bed dip as he lay down beside me, wrapping his arms around me from behind. "Nadia, I know you’re awake," he whispered, his face nestling into the curve of my neck. "This was an unexpected situation. Callie’s been dealing with a broken bond and needed someone to comfort her, just to support an old friend. I didn’t think it would end up like this. You know how vicious pack gossip can be, saying the nastiest things. Callie has a fragile constitution and can’t handle such stress. I had no choice but to do this." He continued, "Believe me, there’s really nothing between us."

Of course, I understood all too well the cruelty of pack gossip. It was during my second year with Ronan. It was my birthday, and after much pleading, he finally agreed to spend the day with me at the pack’s hunting grounds. We were spotted by a patrol group, and the whispers spread like wildfire. He was furious, scolded me harshly, and even left me there alone. "Nadia, are you a pup? Have you never been on a hunt before?" His anger was branded into my mind. Though he apologized later, the crack in my heart never healed. He later responded to the rumors with just four words: "We’re just packmates." But the others weren’t convinced, accusing me of trying to manipulate my way into a higher rank. I was inundated with sneers and snide remarks, my den flooded with mocking messages. Those days left me sleepless and tormented. On the rare occasion I did sleep, nightmares would jerk me awake. And Ronan? He merely shrugged it off, saying, "Don’t worry about it."

Now, with Callie in the spotlight, he suddenly cared so much. Truly laughable. I didn’t respond but instead shook his hand from around my waist and stood up, leaving the den. Ronan’s expression turned cold instantly. "Nadia, do you really have to make such a big deal?" he asked. "I’ve explained this to you already; it’s just a temporary tactic. Once the attention dies down, we’ll quietly part ways. Can’t you understand that?" I ignored him, slamming the door behind me, shutting his voice out completely.