Rejected Luna's New Dawn

The evening air carried the sweet scent of moonflowers as I hurried through the pack grounds, my heart light with anticipation. Tonight marked our tenth mating anniversary, and I'd spent the entire day overseeing preparations for the Feast of the Moon celebration. The pack members had shooed me away early, insisting they could handle the final arrangements without their Luna's supervision.

"Go surprise your Alpha," Beta Sarah had urged with a knowing smile. "Ten years deserves something special."

I clutched the small wrapped package in my hand—a hand-carved wooden frame containing a sketch I'd made of Ryan and me from our marking ceremony. My artistic talents were something I rarely shared with anyone but him.

*He's going to love it,* I thought, touching the Luna necklace at my throat, tracing its intricate moon pattern—a nervous habit I'd developed over the years.

As I approached our private quarters in the pack house, a sharp, unsettling sensation rippled through my chest. My wolf, Lyra, suddenly howled within me, her silver presence agitated and restless.

*Something's wrong,* she whimpered, clawing at my consciousness.

"What is it?" I whispered, stopping in my tracks.

*Follow. Now.*

Lyra had never steered me wrong before. I changed direction, letting her guide me through the moonlit grounds toward the garage at the edge of the property. The building was partially open, a sliver of light spilling onto the gravel outside.

I approached quietly, my Luna senses heightened by Lyra's distress. A foreign scent hit me—female, unfamiliar, and laced with something that made my stomach clench. Beneath it was the unmistakable scent of my mate.

My footsteps slowed as I reached the side entrance. Through the gap in the door, I saw them.

Ryan—my Alpha, my mate, my everything for the past decade—had a woman pressed against the hood of his car. His face was buried in her neck, nuzzling and scenting her in the intimate way reserved only for mates. His hands gripped her waist possessively as she arched into him, her fingers tangled in his dark hair.

The package slipped from my fingers, landing silently on the grass.

A white-hot agony ripped through our mate bond, so intense I had to bite my lip to keep from crying out. My knees threatened to buckle as Lyra howled in anguish, the sound echoing through every corner of my soul.

*No, no, no...*

I backed away, unable to process what I was seeing. The woman turned slightly, her profile illuminated by the garage light—high cheekbones, full lips curved in pleasure. A stranger. A she-wolf I'd never seen before.

Somehow, I managed to retreat without being noticed, my body moving on autopilot while my mind fractured into a thousand painful shards. I retrieved my fallen gift, clutching it to my chest as if it could shield me from the truth.

Lyra's rage and grief threatened to overwhelm me, pushing me toward shifting. I fought it down, forcing deep breaths as I stumbled back toward the pack house.

*Control. I need