The Neglected Luna: Tangled in Fate, Freed by LoveChapter 1
The moon knew how long I had waited for this night. The night I would walk down the aisle, bathed in its silvery glow, dressed in white, and meet my mate’s gaze at the altar where we would finally exchange our vows before the moon goddess. With our pack gathered, bearing witness to what should have been a moment five years overdue.
It was perfect. The night sky was clear, the air still, and everything felt right. But deep down, I knew that when things felt too perfect, something always shattered them.
And I was right.
The moment Jasper took my hand, a scream pierced the night, causing him to flinch. I turned and saw Briana, his childhood friend, collapsing into the arms of our packmates. Jasper’s eyes flashed with worry. Before I could process it, he dropped my hand and rushed to her side.
"Jasper!" My voice broke as I called after him. "What are you doing?"
He turned, his expression cold, his words sharp. "We can reschedule the ceremony. Briana needs me."
I froze. Did he just abandon me, his mate, at our mating ceremony? In front of the entire Moonlake pack?
I watched in disbelief as he scooped Briana into his arms, carrying her away like she was the only one that mattered. My chest tightened, breath catching in my throat. And maybe it was my imagination, but I swore I saw a smirk tug at Briana’s lips.
A bitter sigh escaped me as I looked around at the confused faces of the pack. Some pitied me, others whispered. The weight of their stares was crushing, yet Jasper expected me to endure it.
I ran out of the moon temple, my chest tight with anger, tears blurring my vision. Every step felt like fire under my skin, the betrayal burning deeper with each second. Jasper had never put me first—never. It was always Briana. Briana this, Briana that.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized, maybe this whole mate bond was just in my head. Maybe 'Briana' was his true mate all along. I was just an afterthought, a placeholder while he fawned over her.
I stormed back to my parents’ house and locked myself in my old room, shutting out the world. Mom and Dad followed me from the moon temple, knocking softly on the door, worried. But I was too shattered to respond. I buried my face in the pillow and cried until I felt empty—numb.