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.

Reina's POV

I stood silently in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection.

The woman looking back at me felt like a stranger.

Wrapped in an elegant wedding dress adorned with shimmering diamonds, I looked nothing like the fragile girl who had grown up in the servants' quarters. And yet, beneath the expensive fabric and delicate lace, I was still the same broken Reina.

A bitter smile curved my lips.

Once, I had imagined myself wearing a wedding dress for Zayne.

I had pictured him standing at the altar, smiling at me the way he used to. I had believed that one day, I would become his Luna, walking beside him as his rightful mate.

Even before his betrayal... I had believed in that dream.

My chest tightened painfully.

A tear slipped down from the corner of my eye, tracing a slow path along my cheek. I quickly wiped it away before it could fall any further.

I couldn't afford to cry anymore for a man who fooled me for a year.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a loud bang.

"I heard you're getting married!"

Mariana's sharp voice echoed through the room as she stormed inside without knocking. Her eyes immediately landed on me, then dropped to my dress.

"Fuck," she muttered in disbelief. "Are those real diamonds? Did you even meet Damon before? Why would he marry trash like you?"

Her words burned, but I remained silent.

Before I could respond, Britany entered behind her, holding an elegant necklace box in her hands.

"Lower your voice," Britany snapped. "If Damon hears you, all of us will be dead."

Mariana scoffed.

"Mom, are you serious?" she protested. "Damon can't possibly become Reina's husband. This is ridiculous."

I could see the jealousy blazing in her eyes. She couldn't stand it. She couldn't accept that Damon had chosen me instead of her.

"For your information," I finally said, meeting her gaze, "Damon claimed that I am his mate."

The room went silent. Mariana froze for a second before bursting into laughter.

"What?" she snickered, stepping closer to me. "You must be joking."

Before she could say anything else, Britany interrupted sharply.

"Go outside and stay with your father," she ordered.

"Everything is happening too fast. Make sure Damon doesn't get angry."

She opened the necklace box as she spoke. A soft gasp escaped her lips.

Curious, I turned my head.

Inside lay a breathtaking necklace set crafted with rare crimson diamonds. The stones glowed softly under the light, radiating elegance and wealth. I had never seen anything like it before.

My eyes widened in shock.

"No way..." Mariana whispered in disbelief. "Damon gave that to her?" Her voice trembled with envy.

I glanced at her and noticed her fists clenched tightly at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.

"Give it to me," she demanded suddenly.

"Shut up," Britany scolded harshly.

Grabbing Mariana's wrist, she dragged her toward the door without another word. Before leaving, she turned back to me.

"Put it on," she ordered.

The door closed behind them. The room fell silent once more.

With trembling fingers, I picked up the necklace and carefully fastened it around my neck. The cool diamonds rested against my skin, heavy and unfamiliar. I stared at my reflection again, barely recognizing myself.

Why would Damon spend so much on me? Why would he be so generous to someone he barely knew? The questions haunted me, but no answers came.

I finished putting on the last earring when a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Miss, if you're ready, we need to hurry," a maid said gently.

"Yes," I replied. "I'm ready."

I lifted my veil and adjusted it over my head before picking up the bouquet resting on the table.

As I took a deep breath, I realized that the sharp pain in my heart had dulled slightly. But it hadn't disappeared fully. And it wouldn't.

"Miss," the maid said softly as she helped adjust my veil, "I truly hope you find happiness with Alpha Damon. You have suffered so much in this house. I've seen everything. I think the Moon Goddess has finally blessed you with a mate who will protect you and cherish you the way you deserve."

Her gentle words reached deep into my heart. They were the kindest words I had heard all day. Perhaps... the Kindest I had heard in years.

For a moment, I couldn't speak. My throat tightened, and my vision blurred as tears shimmered in my eyes. I hadn't realized how badly I needed someone to acknowledge my pain, how desperately I needed someone to see me, to understand what I had been through.

Someone finally had.

"Thank you," I whispered sincerely.

I didn't know whether happiness was truly waiting for me in this marriage. I didn't know if love would ever bloom between Damon and me. My heart was still wounded, and trust felt like a distant dream.

But one thing, I knew with certainty.

This family, this house, and this pack were the reason for my suffering.

And today, as I walked toward a new life, I silently promised myself that I would never allow them to hurt me again.