The night before our marking ceremony, my mate Harry Hawkins was reportedly killed by rogues on his way back to the packhouse. Everyone expected me to collapse in grief, mourning his loss as if my life had ended. But I simply folded the ceremonial gown I had sewn myself and carried on as if nothing had happened.

Three years later, he returned from the dead, his arm wrapped around another woman.

“So, you’re the mate who waited three years for me?” he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. “You’re not much to look at, are you? No wonder no one else wanted you.”

He paused, as if considering a great favor. “But I suppose, out of pity, I could take you as my chosen mate.”

He expected me to fall at his feet in gratitude. Instead, I stepped past him without a word, heading straight into the packhouse. Harry didn’t know that on the day he faked his death, I had watched him from a distance, his betrayal etched into my memory. He had no idea that in the three years he spent frolicking with Mackenzie Scott, I had already found a new mate—his uncle, Bowen Carter, the Alpha of the Carter Pack.

---

As I stepped out of the car, I overheard my name being tossed around like a joke.

“Harry, I heard Renata’s coming to the pack gathering today. Are you ready to face her?”

“Ready? She’s the one who should be worried,” Harry scoffed. “I’ve been gone for three years, and she vanished too. Now that I’m back, she’s suddenly back in town. Clearly, she’s still hung up on me.”

“So, are you planning to take her back?” someone else chimed in.

Harry laughed, cold and dismissive. “My mate is Mackenzie now. As for Renata? Let’s see how she behaves.”

The group erupted into laughter, their voices sharp and cruel.

“Do you think she’ll burst into tears the moment she sees you?”

“Even if she was once the most admired she-wolf in the pack, three years have turned her into a spinster. Who else would want her now?”

“Exactly. After Harry ‘died,’ everyone said she was cursed. Her reputation’s in ruins.”

Their words stung, but I kept my composure. Just as I considered leaving, someone spotted me and called out, “Renata!”

All eyes turned to me, and the laughter died down. The young wolves who had been mocking me suddenly looked away, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

Someone tried to salvage the situation. “Renata, you must be shocked. Harry’s alive, but he lost some of his memories. That’s why he never came back to you.”

My gaze swept over them, finally landing on Harry. He looked me up and down, his expression arrogant.

“So, you’re Renata, my former mate?” he said, his voice laced with disdain. “You’re not as impressive as everyone claimed. You’re nothing compared to Mackenzie.”

He was putting on a show, his tone dripping with superiority. I felt no joy in seeing him again, only disgust.

Then Mackenzie stepped forward, her arm looped through Harry’s. She smirked at me, her eyes full of malice.

“Renata, it’s been so long. Still unmated, I see?” she said, her voice sickeningly sweet. “When Harry forgot about you and chose me, I never imagined you’d wait for him all these years.”

Harry leaned down to kiss her forehead, his voice tender. “With a flower like Mackenzie by my side, who could remember a weed like you?”

Their display made my stomach churn. I clenched my fists, the fabric of my dress crumpling in my grip.

Harry mistook my anger for jealousy and smirked. “Enough with the sour face. Mackenzie’s generous enough to let you be my chosen mate. If you behave, you might even earn a place in our home.”

The others chimed in, urging me to accept his “offer.”

“Renata, you’re not getting any younger. Harry’s being kind by taking you in.”

“Just serve Mackenzie well, and she’ll treat you fairly.”

Mackenzie giggled, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “Renata, I know it’s hard to go from mate to chosen mate, but that’s just how things are now.”

Harry shot me a condescending look. “What’s there to complain about? With your reputation, you should be grateful I’m even considering this.”

Even though I no longer cared for Harry, his words still cut deep. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the same man who had once vowed to protect me.

When I was 15, I fell gravely ill with a fever that wouldn’t break. Harry had knelt before the Moon Goddess for seven days, refusing to eat or drink, praying for my recovery. When I finally got better, he collapsed from exhaustion. But he never regretted it. “Renata,” he had said, “as long as you’re safe and healthy, I’d do it all over again.”

Those memories felt like a lifetime ago.

---

I kept my expression neutral, my voice calm as I spoke. “I’m already mated.”

The air grew heavy with silence, then erupted into laughter. Harry raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“Mated? To who? Some rogue?” he sneered. “Don’t think I’ll believe you just because you’ve styled your hair like a mated she-wolf.”

Before I could react, he reached out and yanked the ceremonial necklace from around my neck. My hair tumbled down, and anger surged through me.

Someone in the crowd gasped. “Isn’t that the necklace the Lycan King gifted to Alpha Bowen as a reward for defeating the rogue army? He said he’d give it to his mate.”

Mackenzie snatched the necklace from Harry’s hand, examining it closely. After a moment, she burst into laughter. “Renata, you’re not trying to claim that you’re Bowen’s mate, are you?”

The crowd erupted into mocking laughter. Bowen Carter, the Alpha of the Carter Pack, was a legend among werewolves. He had quietly mated three years ago, vowing never to take another mate. But no one in the pack had ever seen his mate.

“Renata, you’re pathetic,” Mackenzie said, tossing the necklace back to me. “Impersonating Alpha Bowen’s mate? Do you have a death wish?”

Harry’s face darkened with anger. “Renata, I’ll let this slide for old times’ sake. But if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll hand you over to my uncle myself.”

He turned to the crowd, his voice dripping with disdain. “Next month, we’re holding a celebration for Alpha Bowen’s return. His mate will be there too. Renata, I’ll make sure you get an invitation. Don’t disappoint me by not showing up.”

I clutched the necklace tightly, my gaze locked on Harry. He shifted uncomfortably under my stare, a flicker of unease crossing his face.

“Harry,” I said, my voice cold, “I’m not interested in being your chosen mate. I’m already mated.”

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, his grip tight. “Renata, don’t push your luck.”

I yanked my arm free and shoved him aside. “Get out of my way.”

As I walked away, Harry shouted after me, “You’ll regret this, Renata! When my uncle’s mate shows up, you’ll wish you’d taken my offer!”

It seemed Mackenzie was worried I wouldn’t show up, as she immediately added, “Harry, don’t push her. Renata might be too scared to face her lies.”

I paused mid-step, turning to face the two of them, their mocking tones grating on my nerves. “You don’t need to provoke me. I’ll be at the welcome banquet. And I expect you both to bow respectfully and call me ‘Luna’ when I arrive.”

Without waiting for Harry’s twisted expression to fully form, I stepped into the car, deciding to skip the pack gathering altogether. Only when their figures disappeared from view did I feel a sense of relief.

My mind drifted back to three years ago, the night before Harry and I were supposed to mate. He had staged his own death, claiming he’d been attacked by rogues, and then, with Mackenzie in his arms, he’d laughed lazily, “Mackenzie, we’ll have three years to travel and live like true mates.”

Mackenzie had feigned concern, “But what about Renata?”

“Renata might be talented, but she’s dull and lifeless. The thought of spending my life with her is a nightmare. But considering how devoted she is to me, when we’re done traveling, I’ll take her as my mistress. She’ll probably cry tears of gratitude.”

“With how obsessed she is with me, I’m almost afraid she’ll take her own life if I’m gone. Good thing I’ve already arranged for someone to keep an eye on her.”

If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed the man who had sworn to grow old with me could say such things. Watching them laugh together, my heart felt as though it had been pierced by a blade, the pain unbearable.

The five years of affection I’d held for Harry vanished in those brief, cruel words.

That afternoon, Harry sent me an invitation. The welcome banquet was set for three days later, coinciding with Bowen’s return to the pack. Everyone assumed I wouldn’t show, but I arrived as promised.

The moment I appeared, Harry’s tense expression relaxed. My gaze swept coolly over the crowd before I stepped inside with deliberate calm. Just then, several pack omegas passed by, carrying trays of refreshments.

As they walked past me, someone shoved me from behind, causing me to collide with the omegas. The sound of shattering glass filled the air, and my dress was soaked with spilled tea, leaving me looking utterly disheveled. My fingers were cut by the broken shards, blood seeping from the wounds.

The room erupted into chaos, all eyes on me. I struggled to stand, only to be shoved down again. Mackenzie’s furious voice rang out above me, “Renata, we invited you to Bowen’s welcome banquet, and this is how you repay us? Are you here to sabotage the event?”

“Oh, I see. You’re afraid your lies will be exposed, so you’re trying to ruin the banquet, aren’t you?”

The room was filled with curious onlookers, eager to see the woman who had tamed the notoriously cold Alpha Bowen Carter. Bowen was a favorite of the Lycan King, and even the Lycan Princes treated him with respect, let alone ordinary pack members.

Hearing Mackenzie’s accusations, the crowd began to whisper, “Isn’t that Renata? Three years gone, and now she dares to disrupt Bowen’s banquet. How is she going to explain herself?”

“Look at the silver pendant around her neck. Doesn’t it resemble the one Bowen received as a reward from the Lycan King three years ago? She’s wearing a fake? Doesn’t she know that’s punishable by death?”

“It’s true. She must have lost her mind after Harry rejected her and mated with someone else.”

Harry noticed the pendant too. His expression darkened as he realized I had the audacity to wear a replica and disrupt his uncle’s banquet. He grabbed my hair, yanking the pendant off with force.

“Renata, I can’t believe you’d stoop so low to cling to my uncle. You’ve lost all sense of dignity!”

“I must have been blinded to ever consider mating with someone as shallow as you.”

He dragged me by my hair into the center of the room. My loyal omega, Arya, tried to help me, but Mackenzie’s people held her back. The pain in my scalp was excruciating, and tears streamed down my face.

“Harry, how dare you! Let me go, or Bowen will make you regret this!”

I struggled to free myself, but Harry’s strength was overwhelming. My defiance only fueled his anger. He laughed bitterly, “Renata, you still refuse to admit your mistakes? Fine. I’ll teach you a lesson on my uncle’s behalf.”

He pulled a whip from his belt and lashed out without mercy. One strike, two strikes, three strikes… My back was soon a bloody mess. The pain was so intense I couldn’t even scream. I lay on the ground, enduring the scorn and ridicule of the crowd.

Hatred burned in my chest. When the truth came out, I wouldn’t let a single one of them off the hook.

Suddenly, an omega’s voice rang out, “Alpha Bowen and the future Alpha have arrived!”

Through my tangled hair, I saw Bowen, dressed in his ceremonial Alpha attire, carrying our son as he stepped through the doors.