Reina's POV

The pain in my chest burned fiercely as I stumbled out of Zayne's apartment. My knees were trembling under the crushing weight of rejection and betrayal. It felt as though my heart had been torn apart and carelessly thrown back into my chest, still bleeding and aching.

But I forced myself to keep moving.

I refused to collapse in front of them. I refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. I would not fall there and let Zayne and Mariana laugh at my weakness. No matter how much it hurt, I had to leave with whatever dignity I had left.

As I walked, a thousand questions crowded my mind.

How could I have been so blind?

How could I never realize that Zayne never truly loved me?

My hand instinctively pressed against my chest as if I could somehow hold my heart together. It clenched painfully, as though it might shatter at any moment. I found it was difficult to breathe and even focus.

Tears streamed endlessly down my face, blurring my vision. I felt abandoned, discarded as if I had never meant anything at all. All the sacrifices I had made, all the effort I had put into building my life, all the love I had poured into him, it suddenly felt meaningless.

I had worked hard to make something of myself. I had been ready to stand by Zayne, to support him in every way I could, to walk beside him as his mate and his partner. Yet in his eyes, I was nothing more than a burden.

Just like I had always been to my father.

That realization hurt more than anything else.

I didn't even notice when I passed through the gates. My body moved on its own, guided only by pain. Before I could stop myself, my legs gave out, and I sank to the ground. I curled into myself, burying my face between my knees, my shoulders shaking violently with sobs.

My voice broke as I whispered into the empty night.

"Why...? Why did it have to be this way, Moon Goddess?"

The phone in my pocket rang, and I finally stood up. My father was calling me, which never happened before. I sniffled my sobs and answered the call for one last time.

"Yes, Dad?"

"Whatever you're doing, leave that. And come home," Fredrick, my father, commanded from the other side of the phone.

"Okay." I hung up and hailed a taxi home. The journey came to an end soon. I had made up my mind. I would tell my father that I no longer wanted his charity and would go my separate ways. However, the moment I stepped into the house, I saw imposing men in black dresses lined up in a circle in the living room.

"Reina, where were you? Why didn't you hurry home?" My stepmother, Madam Britney, rushed to me, grabbing my arm.

"What's happening? Who are they?" I asked her.

He was easily over six feet tall, his presence dominating the room the moment he stood. When he turned toward me, I froze in place, unable to move or breathe.

The golden eyes of the man screamed that he was someone powerful. Stories whispered among werewolves spoke of Alphas with golden eyes. They were rare beings blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. They were said to be the most powerful rulers in existence, feared and respected by all.

And now, one of them was standing right in front of me.

My gaze drifted over his appearance. His jawline was sharp and perfectly defined, while his shoulders were broad and strong. The muscles beneath his white shirt stretched with every movement, hinting at immense strength restrained beneath calm control.

"Alpha Damon, this is Reina Ashfall. You must have already known about her origin. I must not say this,s but she's my illegitimate daughter," Fredrick spoke.

What the hell was happening? Why did my father introduce me like that?

And then, Damon strode to me. My stepmother had already moved as if she was scared of this man.

Before I could step away, Damon's calloused fingers brushed my cheek, and a sound radiated from his mother, "I've been looking for you, mate, for over a decade. Finally, you're mine."

Damon's POV

For more than twelve years, I had been searching relentlessly for my mate.

I had traveled across regions and territories, visited countless packs, and explored every corner of the werewolf world in my desperate attempt to find her. No matter where I went, no matter how hard I tried, there was never even the faintest trace of her presence. At times, I had begun to wonder if fate itself was playing a cruel joke on me.

Never once did I imagine that she had been living all this time in my nephew's pack.

She was so close, yet completely out of my reach.

If it hadn't been for the witch, an old friend who possessed rare abilities to trace soulmate bonds, I might have continued searching for years without success. It was she who finally revealed the truth to me and guided me toward my destined mate.

And now, here she was. Standing right in front of me.

Small and fragile, as though a strong wind could knock her over. Her body was slender, almost alarmingly so, as if she barely ate. I saw faint tear stains marked on her pale cheeks. Even her eyes were swollen and red from crying.

My chest tightened at the sight.

Why had she been crying? Who had hurt her? Who had made my mate shed those tears?

An anger stirred deep within me, but I forced myself to suppress it for the moment. There would be time later to find out who was responsible.

Despite her fragile appearance, Reina was breathtaking. And the scent was hard to avoid. It was of sweet honey and fresh roses.

Her soft features, her expressive eyes, and her quiet strength made her more beautiful than anyone I had ever seen. She was everything I had imagined in my dreams and more. From the moment I sensed her presence stepping into this pack, I knew without a doubt that she was mine.

My Luna, my mate, and my future.

"I've been searching for you for over a decade, my mate," I said. "And now, I've finally found you. You're mine."

The words felt powerful as they left my lips.

It was as if I had finally won the longest and hardest battle of my life. Years of loneliness, frustration, and uncertainty vanished in that moment. All that remained was relief and triumph.

But her reaction was nothing like what I had expected.

Instead of smiling, stepping into my arms, and accepting her fate, Reina quickly stepped back, pulling away from my touch. The sudden distance left my fingers cold and empty.

"Sorry... what?" she asked in disbelief, her voice trembling.

Before I could respond, she shook her head repeatedly.

"I... I'm not your m-mate," she stuttered, her eyes filling with fresh tears.

Her words struck me like a blow.

What?

Before I could process her reaction, Fredrick's harsh voice cut through the room.

"Reina, have you lost your mind?" he barked angrily. "Do you even realize who is standing in front of you? This is the most powerful Alpha in the world, Damon Kingsley!"

She looked up at me again, and suddenly, she began to cry. She cried as if her heart was breaking all over again.

I frowned in confusion.

What was wrong with her?

Why was she reacting like this?

She was my mate and my destined partner.

Shouldn't she be happy? Shouldn't she be relieved?

I had expected her to smile, to feel the bond, to reach for my hand.

Never, in all my imagination, had I thought she would cry.

"I... I don't want a mate," Reina whispered brokenly.

Her words pierced through me.

For a moment, I was unable to speak.

Before I could respond, Fredrick hurried forward, panic evident on his face.

"Alpha Damon, please forgive my daughter," he said hastily. "She has been under a lot of stress lately because of work. She doesn't know what she's saying."

Then, without even sparing her a glance, Fredrick added firmly, "As per your proposal, the two of you will be married tomorrow."

I watched closely as Reina lifted her head to look at her father in confusion.

And that was when I made my decision. "We aren't waiting until tomorrow," I said coldly.

The room fell into stunned silence. Every pair of eyes turned toward me. Only then did Reina look at me, her gaze filled with confusion and fear.

"Reina and I will be married tonight," I continued firmly. "Everything has already been prepared. The wedding dress is ready."

Her lips parted slightly in shock, and her face drained of color.

"Of course, Alpha Damon," Britney replied quickly, forcing a polite smile. "I'll get her ready immediately."

Before Reina could protest, Britney grabbed her arm and began pulling her away. Reina stumbled slightly, her steps hesitant, as though she wanted to turn back. Within moments, she was dragged out of my sight.

My jaw tightened. Something was terribly wrong. No daughter should look that frightened in her own home. No father should allow his child to be treated that way. And I didn't want to leave Reina alone in this house even for a second. I wanted to make her my Luna, my wife.

Slowly, I turned my gaze toward Fredrick.

"Do you hurt your daughter?" I asked.

The golden glow in my eyes intensified.

Fredrick immediately lowered his head and bowed deeply. "Not at all, Alpha Damon," he replied without hesitation. I knew he was lying straight in my face.

I took a step closer to him, forcing him to retreat slightly.

"Then why did you introduce her as your illegitimate daughter?" I demanded. "Why would you humiliate her in front of my men and me?"

My voice hardened with every word.

"If I am going to be her husband, then she is to be treated with respect," I continued coldly. "She is to be honored as my mate and my future Luna."

I stopped right in front of him, towering over his trembling form. "Do you understand me, Fredrick?"

He nodded frantically. "Yes, Alpha... I understand."

"You will apologize to her," I added sharply. "For every mistake you have made. For every wound you have caused her. And you will do it before I uncover those mistakes myself."

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice to a dangerous whisper. "Because if I do... You will not like the consequences."

I glanced at my beta, who understood my command and walked away.

Reina's POV

My stepmother shoved me into my room without any gentleness and slammed the door shut behind me, making me flinch.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, she turned toward me with her merciless gaze.

"Listen to me carefully, Reina," she said in a low, threatening voice. "This pack and this house have never given you anything except disrespect and hatred. No one has ever wanted you here."

Her words hurt me, but they were the truth of my life. Even Zayne didn't want me. That's why he rejected me so cruelly, tossing me away like I was some kind of trash.

"An illegitimate daughter like you would never find a husband on her own," she continued cruelly. "No respectable family would accept you. And now, a powerful Alpha like Damon wants you."

She stepped closer, her finger pressing harshly against my chest.

"So you will quietly do exactly what your father and I tell you to do. You will marry him without causing trouble."

Her lips curved into a cold smile.

"Because if Alpha Damon leaves without you," she added slowly, "you will be dead."

A shiver ran down my spine. I knew she wasn't joking.

She had never been the type to make empty threats. When she said something, she meant it. And in this house, her words had always been backed by cruelty.

My hands trembled as I stood there, feeling completely helpless.

Marrying a stranger, a man I barely knew, right after being betrayed by the one I loved, it was overwhelming for me.

Everything was happening too fast.

My heart was still broken, aching with every beat. My chest felt tight, as if I couldn't breathe properly. My body was exhausted, my mind numb, my soul wounded, yet none of them cared about it. They wanted to get rid of me.

Why was fate being so cruel to me?

Why did it keep pushing me from one pain to another without giving me time to heal?

What kind of twisted game was destiny playing with my life?

Britany's cruel words continued to echo relentlessly in my mind, refusing to fade no matter how hard I tried to ignore them.

"If Damon had asked for my real daughter's hand, I would have agreed immediately," she had sneered. "Who wouldn't want to be with an Alpha of his stature? But he chose you instead. That's truly pathetic. Still, it doesn't matter. At least I won't have to see your face every day anymore."

Her every sentence felt like a blade stabbing into my already wounded heart.

I clenched my fists tightly, fighting back fresh tears. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell her the truth that Mariana had been sleeping with my mate... Now, my ex-mate.

I wanted to expose their betrayal and watch her proud expression crumble.

But what would be the point?

This family had never trusted me. They had never believed a single word I said.

Even if I told them everything, they would dismiss it as another lie, another attempt to gain sympathy. They would never believe that Zayne had been my mate. To them, I had always been insignificant, invisible, unworthy of being taken seriously.

So I stayed silent. I swallowed my pain and buried my anger in the depths of my wounded heart. Just like I always had.

A soft knock suddenly sounded at the door.

"Madam, the wedding dress has arrived," a gentle voice said from outside.

Britany's expression changed instantly. She hurried to the door and opened it, allowing the servant to step inside while barely acknowledging my presence.

The servant carefully carried in a large, elegant box and placed it on the bed before opening it.

My breath caught in my throat. Inside lay the most beautiful dress I had ever seen.

The fabric shimmered softly under the light, and delicate diamonds were sewn into its design, sparkling like tiny stars.

"Are those real diamonds?" Britany gasped, her eyes widening with greed as she leaned closer to inspect it.

Her fingers hovered over the dress as if she were afraid to touch it.

"They're glowing so brightly," she murmured in awe.

Then she clicked her tongue and turned sharply toward me, her face twisted with jealousy and resentment.

"You're really lucky, aren't you?" she hissed. "Alpha Damon bought you a dress worth millions."

Her gaze swept over me with clear disdain.

"Tch. How could he possibly choose someone as trashy as you?"

Even I was confused now. Why would Damon want me?

Why would someone like him, a powerful Alpha feared and respected by all, choose a girl like me? He barely knew anything about me. He didn't know my story, my past, my struggles. He didn't know that I was the woman everyone in this pack despised and looked down upon.

Or... did he know?

And if he did, why didn't it matter to him?

A thousand questions raced through my mind, each one more puzzling than the last.

"What are you staring at?" Britany snapped sharply. "Get dressed already!"

Her harsh voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I flinched slightly and slowly picked up the wedding dress from the bed. It felt heavier than it looked, as if it carried the weight of my future. My fingers trembled as I held it close, and I took a deep, steadying breath.

Maybe this was the path destiny had chosen for me, whether I wanted it or not.

If this was what life had decided for me, then I would accept it.

But I made a silent promise to myself.

I would not give him my heart. I had already loved once, and it had destroyed me.

This marriage was not about love. It was about my survival.

It was my only way to escape this house, this family, and this pack that had never treated me as their own. It was my only chance to finally be free.

So if marrying the most powerful Alpha, an Alpha feared by everyone, was the price I had to pay for that freedom, then so be it.

I would become his wife. But I would never allow myself to fall in love again.