When My Mate’s Promised Ceremony Turned to Betrayal

The sound of low voices drifted from the pack hall as I approached, my arms full of ceremonial candles for tomorrow's Marking Ceremony. I had left Till's office to retrieve them, my mind buzzing with anticipation for what would finally make our bond official. After years of managing pack affairs together, of sharing his bed and his burdens, tomorrow would seal what everyone already knew—that I was his chosen Luna.

I paused outside the heavy oak doors when I heard my name.

"...seriously think Till's going through with marking Giselle?" The voice belonged to Derek, one of the younger Beta descendants who'd always seemed skeptical of my position.

"Honestly, I'm shocked," came another voice—Ryan, whose father had been my father's rival for the Beta position years ago. "I mean, everyone knows he's just been playing around with her. She's useful, sure, but Luna material?"

My blood turned to ice. The candles nearly slipped from my grasp as I pressed closer to the door, my wolf's enhanced hearing picking up every cruel word.

"Come on," Derek continued, his tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "Till's been clear about his feelings for Ariel. That's his real mate. This thing with Giselle... it's just convenience."

Ariel. The name hit me like a physical blow. I'd never heard Till mention anyone named Ariel.

"But the ceremony's tomorrow," Ryan said, sounding genuinely confused. "Why would he—"

"Because Giselle's been loyal," a third voice interrupted. Marcus Flint, Till's Gamma. My stomach dropped as his cold tone carried through the door. "She's done good work for the pack. Till hasn't decided what to do with her yet, but he's not heartless. She deserves something for all those years of... service."

The way he said 'service' made my skin crawl. Like I was some hired help who'd earned a pension.

"So he's just stringing her along?" Derek asked.

"Till knows what he's doing," Marcus replied with finality. "The girl's been useful, but she's not Luna material. Too emotional, too attached. A real Luna needs to be strategic, not lovesick."

Laughter rippled through the group, each chuckle driving deeper into my chest like shards of glass.

"Poor Giselle," Ryan said, though his tone held no sympathy. "She really thinks tomorrow's her big day."

"She'll figure it out soon enough," Marcus said. "Till's got bigger plans than playing house with his father's old Beta's daughter."

I stumbled backward, my hands shaking so violently that one of the candles crashed to the stone floor. The sound echoed through the corridor, and the voices inside the hall went silent.

Panic flooded my system. I couldn't let them find me here, couldn't let them know I'd heard. Moving as quietly as possible, I gathered the fallen candle and retreated down the hallway, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Ariel. Ariel. The name echoed in my mind as I made my way back to Till's quarters—our quarters. Who was she? How long had Till been in love with someone else while I'd been