The Luna Who Defied Fate

Lachlan’s face flickered with surprise, but it was quickly replaced by his usual arrogance, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight. His broad shoulders and towering frame loomed over me, a reminder of the power he once held—and the betrayal that followed.

“Remarried?” he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “Don’t make things up just because I’m bringing Ayah home. You really think I’d fall for that?”

Laughter erupted from the pack members nearby, their voices sharp and mocking:

“This Omega sure knows how to spin a story. Remarried? Who’d want her anyway?”

“Must be out of her mind, talking like this.”

My chest tightened, but I refused to let their words break me. Just then, my daughter Oakleigh came running over, her small frame weaving through the crowd. Her wide eyes filled with concern as she looked up at me, her voice sweet but laced with worry. “Mommy, who are these people?”

Before I could answer, Ayah’s two sons approached. Declan, the older one, reached out and shoved Oakleigh with a force that sent her tumbling to the ground. Her knee scraped against the pavement, blood welling up as she cried out in pain.

Reed, the younger one, lifted his chin and sneered, “Hmph, you think you can compete with us for Dad?”

Anger surged through me, and I rushed over, pushing the two boys away. As I turned to Oakleigh, a sharp kick to my lower back sent me sprawling forward. My hands scraped along the ground, leaving long streaks of blood.

Before I could gather my senses, Lachlan strode over, his Alpha presence suffocating. He looked down at me with disdain, his voice cold and cutting. “Hazel, what’s gotten into you? How dare you lay a hand on the pups!”

With that, he kicked me hard on the shoulder, the hard sole of his shoe connecting with my bones. The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest as memories of his betrayal flooded my mind. Old grievances surged up, and I slapped him hard across the face.

“You’re not even a wolf, Lachlan!” I spat, my voice trembling with fury.

Lachlan held his cheek in disbelief, his Alpha aura flickering with rage. Ayah stepped forward, looping her arm through his, her voice soft but laced with venom. “Alpha Lachlan, I’m sure Hazel didn’t mean to hit you. Don’t be mad; it’s my fault for not keeping an eye on the pups.”

Her words rekindled the anger in Lachlan’s eyes, his voice rising as he glared at me. “Hazel, you’re not even worth a strand of Ayah’s fur!”

I couldn’t help but scoff internally. Once, my classmates had torn up my notebook and stolen my lunch money. Lachlan, the Alpha’s son, had not only avenged me but had declared throughout the pack: “Hazel is with me. Anyone who bullies her is challenging me!”

After that, no one dared to bully me, the girl under the future Alpha’s protection.

Under the cherry blossoms lining the pack grounds, Lachlan had touched my head, promising, “When we grow up, I’ll mark you as my mate and protect you for life.”

I had blushed and nodded, completely believing in his promise. So when our families arranged the mate bond, I thought it was a love story come true. Only on the night of our marking ceremony did I realize he had someone else in his heart all along.

Lachlan seemed ready to explode in anger, but seeing my silence, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. Ayah’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling as she played the victim. “Alpha Lachlan, Hazel must love you so much that she acted out of confusion. You should forgive her this once.”

Any guilt in Lachlan’s eyes vanished with Ayah’s words. He suddenly grabbed a cocktail glass from a waiter and splashed its contents at me. The drink soaked through my clothes, leaving me utterly disheveled.

The crowd erupted in shock, their whispers cutting through the air like knives.

“She’s lost it!”

I didn’t want to deal with this madness anymore. I picked up my crying daughter and turned to leave, but Lachlan blocked my path, his Alpha tone sharp and commanding. “Hazel, apologize to Ayah and the pups right now, and then get out of here. The Gonzalez pack gathering is no place for someone like you.”

I held Oakleigh close, my voice cold and steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I’m not apologizing. And let me make it clear one last time, I’m remarried. My life is none of your business. Stay away from me.”

With that, I turned and walked away, my head held high. Lachlan stood dumbfounded behind me, his Alpha aura flickering with rage and embarrassment. Then, consumed by fury, he shouted after me, his voice echoing through the gathering:

“Hazel, don’t think you can use this excuse to dodge the apology. This isn’t over!”

But I didn’t look back. I had already left that life behind.