The Forged Mark: I Was Never Your Fated Luna

Because the Lunar Sanctuary declared me the only fated mate of Kael Blackwood, the strongest Alpha of the North was forced to marry me. But in our two years of marriage, he never truly treated me as his Luna.

The blizzard howled outside the thick glass windows of the Silvermoon territory command center. Ice battered the panes, a harsh contrast to the suffocating silence inside the corridor.

"Dismissed. Have the border patrols doubled by dawn," Kael barked from inside his office.

The heavy oak doors swung open. Three Beta commanders filed out, their heads bowed to avoid eye contact. They hurried past me, eager to escape the crushing weight of their Alpha's aura.

I stepped into the room. The fire in the hearth cast long, flickering shadows across the stone floor. Kael sat behind his massive mahogany desk, reviewing tactical maps.

I wore a thin, black silk dress. He had glanced at it twice during a banquet last month. For me, two glances were enough to make it my favorite garment.

"You're still awake," Kael noted, not bothering to look up from his papers.

"I waited for you," I said.

"The storm is worsening. I need to be back at the eastern command post soon."

I crossed the room, my bare feet silent on the thick rugs. I rounded the desk and stepped into his personal space. I didn't ask for permission. I just slid onto his lap, draping my arms loosely around his neck.

He breathed out a heavy sigh, finally abandoning his pen. He didn't push me away.

"You have a few minutes," I murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his jaw.

He didn't turn his head to meet my lips.

In this world, Alphas wield raw, destructive wolf strength. Betas enforce order through mental suppression. Omegas provide healing and comfort. As an Omega, I possessed no predatory instincts to read his mood. I could only gauge his desire by the sudden, rigid tightening of his arms around my waist to keep me steady.

His grip was iron-clad, yet his silver-gray wolf eyes remained entirely calm. Cold, even.

"Evelyn, hurry up," he urged, his tone flat and unyielding. "I have to return to command in half an hour."

"You're leaving again? Tonight?"

"The rogues don't care about the snow. Neither do I."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. I lowered my head, preparing to kiss him anyway. Preparing to take whatever scraps of affection he was willing to offer before he vanished into the freezing night.

Right before our lips brushed, the sanctuary stone resting on the corner of his desk flared. A violent, blood-red light washed over the dark wood.

Kael stopped. His eyes darted to the glowing rock.

"Emergency transmission," he stated.

"It's from the High Priest," I said, reaching over to pick it up.

"Answer it," Kael ordered, leaning back in his leather chair. "Make it quick."

I pressed the smooth, warm stone to my ear. The ancient magic within it ensured the voice on the other end echoed only in my mind, shielding the conversation from even an Alpha's sharp hearing.

"Luna Evelyn," the High Priest's voice rushed into my head. He sounded out of breath, frantic.

"I'm here," I answered softly.

"Are you in a secure location?"

"I'm with Kael."

"Do not put this on speaker. Do not let him hear."

I shifted on Kael's lap, turning my shoulder slightly to shield my expression.

"What happened, High Priest?" I asked.

"The priest who officiated your mating ceremony two years ago was arrested by the Sanctuary guard tonight."

"Arrested? For what?"

"Treason," the old man hissed. "We reopened the sealed Moon Disk to audit his past rituals. We found a horrific violation of the goddess's laws. Your mate mark, Evelyn. It was artificially altered."

My fingers clamped down hard on the stone.

"Altered?" I echoed.

"Kael Blackwood is not your fated mate."

The world stopped spinning. The roaring fire in the hearth faded into absolute silence.

*Not my fated mate.*

I stared blankly at the far wall. The words crashed through my mind, shattering two years of desperate hope.

"Evelyn?" Kael's voice broke the spell.

I looked down at him. He was frowning, his silver-gray eyes filled with impatience.

"Well?" he demanded. "Are we continuing or not? My time is short."

I studied his handsome, stoic face. Suddenly, every agonizing memory slotted into place.

I finally understood why his inner wolf had never recognized mine on the day we met. I understood why our moon crests refused to truly connect during the binding ritual, leaving me in agonizing pain while he felt nothing. I understood why, no matter how hard I tried to please him, he never once looked at me with love.

Because he wasn't mine. And I wasn't his.

"Did you hear me?" Kael asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous, Alpha rumble. He hated being ignored.

For the first time in two years, I didn't apologize. I didn't cling to his neck and beg for his attention.

I placed my hands on his chest and pushed myself off his lap.

Kael blinked, surprised by the sudden loss of contact.

I stood up straight and pulled the edges of my silk collar together, buttoning it up to my throat.

"No," I said, my voice eerily calm. "We aren't continuing. Go do your work."

Kael froze. A muscle twitched in his jaw. He searched my face for the usual desperation, but found nothing.

"What did the Sanctuary want?" he asked, his tone sharpening with suspicion.

"Just a routine check on the territory wards," I lied smoothly. "Nothing that concerns the military."

He stood up, towering over me. The sheer size of him used to make my heart race. Now, it just made me feel exhausted.

"You're acting strange," he noted.

"Am I?" I asked.

"You usually beg me to stay five more minutes."

"You said yourself, the rogues don't care about the snow. Your soldiers need you more than I do."

He frowned, stepping closer. He reached out, his large hand gripping my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"Did someone disrespect you today?" he demanded. "Did one of the Betas say something?"

"No, Kael. No one said anything."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I'm a stranger."

I pulled my chin out of his grasp.

"We've been married for two years. How could you be a stranger?" I replied.

The sarcasm was subtle, but his wolf caught it. A low growl vibrated in his chest.

"I don't have time for these games, Evelyn. If you have a problem, state it."

"I have no problem. Have a safe trip to the eastern post."

He stared at me, his silver-gray eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. Finding none, he finally turned away.

"Fine," he snapped, snatching his heavy black military coat from the brass rack. He threw it over his broad shoulders. "I'll be gone for three days. Don't wait up."

He strode out of the office, the heavy oak doors slamming shut behind him.

The moment the latch clicked into place, my knees buckled. I caught myself on the edge of his desk, gasping for air.

I lifted the glowing red stone back to my ear.

"I'm still here," I whispered, my voice shaking. "If Kael isn't my mate... who is?"

"We don't know his identity," the High Priest replied, his tone heavy with sorrow. "The original moon crest was severely damaged by the dark magic used to alter it. The symbol is still recovering its true shape."

"So you have no idea who I actually belong to."

"We only know that he exists. And Evelyn... the readings from the Moon Disk are unprecedented. Your soul resonance with this unknown male is incredibly strong. The pull between you two will be overwhelming once the false mark begins to fade."

I turned my head. Above the grand stone fireplace hung our wedding portrait.

It was a massive, expensive oil painting. Kael stood tall and imposing in his formal military dress, staring straight ahead like a soldier going to war. I stood beside him, looking small and fragile, reaching out to hold his arm.

He had never looked at the painting once it was hung.

I reached up to my collarbone. My fingers brushed against the cold metal of my moon-silver necklace. The sacred jewelry symbolized my status as the Luna of the Silvermoon pack.

It was a lie. All of it was a lie.

I unclasped the chain. It slipped off my neck and pooled heavily in my palm.

"High Priest," I said, my voice stripping away the last two years of weakness.

"Yes, my child?"

"Keep this a secret. Temporarily."

"You aren't going to tell Alpha Kael?" he asked, sounding alarmed. "He has a right to know his territory has been compromised."

"No. Do not tell him yet." I squeezed the silver necklace, the sharp edges biting into my skin. "I'm going to end this mistaken marriage myself before he finds out the truth."

"Understood," the Priest murmured. "But be warned, Evelyn. The true mate bond is already waking up. You will start feeling his emotions soon... and wherever he is, he will come hunting for you."