Lachlan’s face flickered with surprise, but it was quickly replaced by his usual arrogance, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight. His broad shoulders and towering frame loomed over me, a reminder of the power he once held—and the betrayal that followed.

“Remarried?” he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “Don’t make things up just because I’m bringing Ayah home. You really think I’d fall for that?”

Laughter erupted from the pack members nearby, their voices sharp and mocking:

“This Omega sure knows how to spin a story. Remarried? Who’d want her anyway?”

“Must be out of her mind, talking like this.”

My chest tightened, but I refused to let their words break me. Just then, my daughter Oakleigh came running over, her small frame weaving through the crowd. Her wide eyes filled with concern as she looked up at me, her voice sweet but laced with worry. “Mommy, who are these people?”

Before I could answer, Ayah’s two sons approached. Declan, the older one, reached out and shoved Oakleigh with a force that sent her tumbling to the ground. Her knee scraped against the pavement, blood welling up as she cried out in pain.

Reed, the younger one, lifted his chin and sneered, “Hmph, you think you can compete with us for Dad?”

Anger surged through me, and I rushed over, pushing the two boys away. As I turned to Oakleigh, a sharp kick to my lower back sent me sprawling forward. My hands scraped along the ground, leaving long streaks of blood.

Before I could gather my senses, Lachlan strode over, his Alpha presence suffocating. He looked down at me with disdain, his voice cold and cutting. “Hazel, what’s gotten into you? How dare you lay a hand on the pups!”

With that, he kicked me hard on the shoulder, the hard sole of his shoe connecting with my bones. The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest as memories of his betrayal flooded my mind. Old grievances surged up, and I slapped him hard across the face.

“You’re not even a wolf, Lachlan!” I spat, my voice trembling with fury.

Lachlan held his cheek in disbelief, his Alpha aura flickering with rage. Ayah stepped forward, looping her arm through his, her voice soft but laced with venom. “Alpha Lachlan, I’m sure Hazel didn’t mean to hit you. Don’t be mad; it’s my fault for not keeping an eye on the pups.”

Her words rekindled the anger in Lachlan’s eyes, his voice rising as he glared at me. “Hazel, you’re not even worth a strand of Ayah’s fur!”

I couldn’t help but scoff internally. Once, my classmates had torn up my notebook and stolen my lunch money. Lachlan, the Alpha’s son, had not only avenged me but had declared throughout the pack: “Hazel is with me. Anyone who bullies her is challenging me!”

After that, no one dared to bully me, the girl under the future Alpha’s protection.

Under the cherry blossoms lining the pack grounds, Lachlan had touched my head, promising, “When we grow up, I’ll mark you as my mate and protect you for life.”

I had blushed and nodded, completely believing in his promise. So when our families arranged the mate bond, I thought it was a love story come true. Only on the night of our marking ceremony did I realize he had someone else in his heart all along.

Lachlan seemed ready to explode in anger, but seeing my silence, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. Ayah’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling as she played the victim. “Alpha Lachlan, Hazel must love you so much that she acted out of confusion. You should forgive her this once.”

Any guilt in Lachlan’s eyes vanished with Ayah’s words. He suddenly grabbed a cocktail glass from a waiter and splashed its contents at me. The drink soaked through my clothes, leaving me utterly disheveled.

The crowd erupted in shock, their whispers cutting through the air like knives.

“She’s lost it!”

I didn’t want to deal with this madness anymore. I picked up my crying daughter and turned to leave, but Lachlan blocked my path, his Alpha tone sharp and commanding. “Hazel, apologize to Ayah and the pups right now, and then get out of here. The Gonzalez pack gathering is no place for someone like you.”

I held Oakleigh close, my voice cold and steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I’m not apologizing. And let me make it clear one last time, I’m remarried. My life is none of your business. Stay away from me.”

With that, I turned and walked away, my head held high. Lachlan stood dumbfounded behind me, his Alpha aura flickering with rage and embarrassment. Then, consumed by fury, he shouted after me, his voice echoing through the gathering:

“Hazel, don’t think you can use this excuse to dodge the apology. This isn’t over!”

But I didn’t look back. I had already left that life behind.

My parents were killed in a tragic accident, their lives cut short by a rogue attack during a pack run. Because of the close ties and the mate agreement between our families, Alpha Owens treated me like his own daughter, and Luna Salazar showed me compassion. But everything was upended because of Lachlan.

His faked death turned me from a cherished Luna to a scorned Omega. If it weren’t for Alpha Elijah, I might not have made it to this day.

As I was lost in thought, Elijah mind-linked me, his voice steady and reassuring. *I’ll be there in about 15 minutes, Hazel.* Today was his birthday, and I didn’t want to spoil the mood, so I chose to hide what had just transpired.

*I’ll bring Oakleigh to meet you at the entrance,* I replied, pulling myself together. I treated my daughter’s wounds, the sight of her scraped knees making my chest tighten, and we headed to the entrance of the pack gathering.

There, I unexpectedly encountered Lachlan, his arm draped possessively around Ayah’s waist, his lips brushing her cheek. Upon seeing me, he curled his lips into a mocking smile, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight.

"Has reality finally kicked in, Omega?" he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. "Well, if you realize your mistake, you can kneel and apologize to Ayah now, and maybe I’ll cut you some slack."

The pack members around us chimed in, their voices sharp and cruel:

"Yeah, hurry up and kneel. Let’s get a show before Alpha Elijah and Luna Hazel arrive."

Ayah feigned innocence, her voice soft but laced with venom:

"Lachlan, let’s not do this. It’s only going to make Hazel dislike me more. I can handle a little bit of hardship..."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the locket around my neck, and she gasped, covering her mouth in mock disbelief:

"Sister, this locket... Isn’t it the one Alpha Elijah bought at the charity auction for his mate? How is it with you?"

The crowd was visibly stunned, their whispers cutting through the air like knives.

"Impossible. Did she really have the nerve to swipe something from Luna Hazel?"

"Besides the locket’s huge value, Alpha Elijah is absolutely devoted to his mate; he wouldn’t let this pass."

Upon hearing this, Lachlan’s face twisted with rage, his Alpha tone booming as he shouted at me:

"Hazel Gonzalez, how dare you steal Luna Hazel’s locket? Have you lost your mind?"

Lachlan rushed over, his Alpha aura suffocating, and violently grabbed my throat:

"Don’t think you can do whatever you want here. You can’t afford to cross someone like Alpha Elijah!"

I fought free from his grip, gasping for air, and glared fiercely at him, my voice trembling but defiant:

"I am Luna Hazel. How dare you question me wearing my own locket?"

The entire room erupted in disbelief, their laughter and jeers echoing in my ears.

Lachlan laughed hysterically, his Alpha tone cutting through the noise:

"If you’re Luna Hazel, then I’m the Lycan King. Seriously, stop dreaming; we’re dying of laughter here!"

The crowd joined in the laughter, their voices cruel and mocking:

"She has no shame. Imagine trying to climb the pack hierarchy with such wild claims."

"She’s really lost it, spewing these crazy lies."

My daughter, Oakleigh, bravely shoved Lachlan, her small frame trembling with defiance:

"You can’t bully my mom!"

Ayah’s two sons immediately reacted; one bit my arm fiercely, his teeth sinking into my skin, while the other pushed Oakleigh down. She fell, further injuring her knees, and cried out, her voice breaking:

"Just wait till my dad arrives; he won’t let you get away with this!"

Right then, the entrance stirred, the crowd parting like the Red Sea as Elijah appeared, his presence commanding and his Alpha aura radiating authority. His sharp suit only accentuated his powerful build, and his eyes burned with intensity as he took in the scene.

Oakleigh shouted, her voice filled with relief and anger: "Dad, you’ve finally arrived! They were bullying me and Mom!"