Rejected by the Alpha’s Heart

Eight years into our mate bond, Gunnar had grown distant.

He had appointed a young and beautiful Beta, Gemma Simmons. She didn’t care for the luxurious lifestyle of the Alpha’s inner circle; all she wanted was to wander the city streets with him, savoring the simplicity of life. She seemed too innocent for this world.

It was clear Gunnar was enchanted by her.

When I brought her up just once in conversation, he responded as if under attack, cautioning me, "Gemma and I are just packmates. Don’t use your tricks to ruin an innocent wolf’s life."

At that moment, I finally understood—our bond was over.

***

"Mom, did the mermaid princess and the prince live happily ever after once they defeated the wicked witch and got married?"

Before bed, my pup Alaiya listened with her cheeks slightly puffed in frustration at the story’s abrupt conclusion. "Why do pack legends always end with the marking ceremony? They never say what happens afterward!"

Holding the storybook, I hesitated slightly. Perhaps it’s because the stories after the marking ceremony aren’t always happy. Even the deepest mate bond can wane under life’s daily pressures and conflicts.

But I wanted my pup to have a happy ending to her legend. I closed the book and tapped her nose with a smile. "Afterward, they had a pup and lived happily ever after as a pack."

Alaiya clapped her hands, beaming, "Just like you and Dad, with me. Our pack will be happy forever!"

"It’s time to sleep, sweetheart. Goodnight." I kissed her forehead and quietly left her room.

As I stepped out of her cozy den, the rest of the Alpha’s quarters lay dark and cold, consumed by the solitude of night. I composed a message to Gunnar using the pack’s mind link.

[It’s pack night. Be home by 10 PM.]

Unsurprisingly, the message seemed to disappear into a void, with no reply in sight. I wasn’t shocked and continued my evening routine, showering and preparing for bed.

When I emerged from the bathroom, still damp, Gunnar had finally returned. He leaned against the headboard with a sardonic smile aimed at me.

Ever since I mentioned his Beta at dinner, Gunnar had been distant, sulking and avoiding me. He’d taken to staying in the pack’s guest lodge, perhaps as a warning against my suspicions or as a threat.

"So, Luna," he said, his tone taunting, the curve of his lips tinged with bitterness, "it seems you don’t trust me, and you’re ordering me home to fulfill my mate duties?"

I didn’t reply, simply walked over to him.

Gunnar’s gaze grew colder as he yanked off his tie, pulling me roughly toward him.

That night was a torment—harsh and relentless. He acted as if trying to forcefully prove his innocence, more like retaliation, without any regard for my feelings.

As I stared at the blurry moonlight outside the window, I thought back to our first time together.

It was on our marking ceremony night.

During our courtship,