He Abandoned Me for His Fragile Human Mate

I smoothed down the silk fabric of my dress for the third time, my fingers trembling slightly. The grand hall of the Silver Moon Pack house buzzed with anticipation, every wolf dressed in their finest to welcome home our golden boy. My golden boy.

Lennox had been gone for eight months on that European border mission, and every single day felt like an eternity. But tonight, he was finally coming home. Tonight, in front of our entire pack, he would formally propose our chosen mate ceremony. My father had hinted as much last week, that proud smile on his face when he'd squeezed my shoulder.

"You look beautiful, Princess," my brother Marcus murmured beside me, his future-Alpha aura radiating calm confidence. Gabriel stood on my other side, arms crossed, scanning the crowd with his Gamma instincts already sharp.

"He's late," I whispered, hating how my voice wavered.

"He'll be here," Marcus assured me.

The massive oak doors swung open, and my heart leaped. There he was. Lennox Meyer, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair slightly longer than when he'd left. But something was wrong. My wolf, Lyra, stirred uneasily inside me, a low whine building in her chest.

He wasn't alone.

A woman clung to his arm, small and delicate, with pale skin and wide, frightened eyes. She looked fragile, like a strong wind might blow her away. Her clothes were simple, almost shabby, and she pressed herself against Lennox's side as if the crowd terrified her.

The hall fell silent. Every eye tracked Lennox as he walked forward, his hand firmly clasping hers. Not mine. Hers.

My father stepped forward from his Alpha's seat, his expression carefully neutral. "Lennox. Welcome home."

"Alpha Hughes," Lennox said, his voice carrying that familiar confidence I'd loved since childhood. But there was something different in his eyes. Something cold. "Thank you for your hospitality. I've returned with important news."

Important news. The words should have filled me with joy. Instead, ice spread through my veins.

Lennox's gaze swept the room, landing on me for just a moment before sliding away. That brief glance felt like a slap. "I'd like to introduce Chelsea Dunn. She's... she's my fated mate."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Lyra howled inside my mind, a sound of pure agony that made my knees buckle. Gabriel's hand shot out to steady me, but I barely felt it.

Fated mate. Fated mate. The Moon Goddess had given him someone else.

"Lennox," my father's voice held a warning edge. "You and Astrid have been promised since childhood. The pack expects—"

"I understand, Alpha," Lennox interrupted, and the disrespect of cutting off my father made several wolves growl low in their throats. "But the mate bond is sacred. Surely you wouldn't ask me to reject the Moon Goddess's gift?"

The manipulation in his words was masterful. He'd backed my father into a corner, using pack law and tradition against us.

Chelsea made a small, frightened sound, pressing closer to Lennox.