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.

Damon's POV

The moment Reina stepped into the moonlit garden, the world around me seemed to fall into one place, and that was her. The aisle was lined with white petals, and as she moved toward me, the silk of her gown clinging perfectly to her frame, my breath caught in my throat. She held a tiny bouquet with trembling fingers, but her face was a mask of expressionlessness.

There was no bridal glow, no spark of anticipation. She didn't want this bond; she didn't want me. My heart tightened with the knowledge that while I had spent a lifetime craving her, she didn't desire someone like me.

My gaze drifted to the curve of her neck, where a fading mark marred her skin. I had noticed it earlier. Someone had discarded her only hours ago, tearing their soul away from hers and leaving her hollow. It was the reason she had fought me; the reason she looked at the altar as if it were a scaffold.

Fredrick reached the end of the aisle and came to a halt. Without a word, he placed Reina's hand in mine. Her glove was cool, but I grasped her hand firmly, offering a silent strength she wasn't ready to accept. I led her the final few steps toward the priest, whose robes fluttered in the evening breeze.

"The moment is auspicious," the priest murmured, gesturing toward the glow above. "It appears the Moon Goddess herself has descended to witness the union of two destined mates."

I felt Reina flinch at the word destined.

"Start the official ceremony," I commanded.

The priest gave a solemn nod and began the sacred incantations. Then, the time came for the exchange of promises.

"I, Damon Kingsley," I began, "vow to protect you, to love you, and to respect you for as long as I draw breath. In every triumph and every shadow, you will find me standing firmly by your side. I swear my eternal loyalty and my heart to you, Reina Ashfall."

I watched her closely, searching for any crack in her composure. Her long eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks, a solitary sign of the storm brewing beneath her skin, yet she still refused to meet my gaze. It was only when it was her turn to speak that she finally lifted her head. As she repeated the holy vows after the priest, her eyes locked onto mine for a fraction of a second. 

"Please, exchange the rings now," the priest said. 

My beta stepped forward with a decorated basket that had two ring boxes laid in it. I picked one while Reina picked the other. I slid the ring onto her finger, and then she slid into mine. Her touch was cold, yet it sent a burning sensation through my entire body. Was this what they used to say a mate's touch?

"I declare you both husband and wife. May Alpha Damon kiss his bride." 

I lifted the veil slowly and saw her hands tightly clutching the bouquet this time. I cupped her face when our eyes met. However, I didn't kiss her on the lips; instead, I planted a kiss on her cheek. As I pulled away, I saw a shocking look in her eyes. I passed her a smile and said, "Reina, it is my honor to be your mate. I am so happy to have you as my luna."

~~~~~

Reina's POV

I stood in stunned silence. I never expected an Alpha, especially one of his stature, to speak to me with such reverence. He seemed genuinely, inexplicably happy to claim me as his Luna. What shocked me even more was his restraint; he didn't force a kiss to seal the union, a mercy I hadn't anticipated.

"Shall we go?" he asked, his voice softening.

I gave a stiff nod and allowed him to take my hand. As we turned to leave the altar, my eyes caught Mariana. She was biting her nails, her face twisted in a mask of pure envy. In all the years of living in her shadow, I had never seen her look at me with anything but disgust; this new expression was unsettling.

We had barely started down the aisle when my father stepped forward, blocking our path. "I have nothing grand to offer you," he said, his voice devoid of its usual coldness. "But this is a small wedding gift from my side. I hope you stay happy."

I stared at the envelope in his hand, bewildered. Before I could reach for it, Britany lunged forward. "Honey, there is no need to give money to Reina," she hissed, her fingers twitching to snatch the envelope back. "She has secured a very rich husband for herself."

She was inches away from grabbing it when Damon's hand shot out, intercepting the envelope with terrifying speed.

"A father wishes to provide for his daughter, Mrs. Ashfall. I fail to see a problem with that." His voice was low, vibrating with a subtle threat that made the air around us feel heavy.

"I don't need it," I snapped, the bitterness rising in my throat. I pushed past them, refusing to look back. The audacity of my father's "blessing" stung more than his neglect ever had. How could he tell me to be happy today, when he had spent a lifetime ensuring I wasn't? He wasn't being kind; he was performing for the man standing beside me.

"Ahh!"

In my haste to escape their gazes, my heel caught on a stone. My ankle twisted sharply, and a pain shot up my leg, forcing a cry from my lips as I stumbled toward the ground. 

However, before I could fall down, Damon's strong arms protected me, and the next moment, I was in his arms.

"Careful, love," Damon said with a smirk as he began walking, "and hold me tightly."

I slid my hands up his shoulders and locked them behind his neck. Up close, he looked far more handsome and intimidating at the same time.