Another woman with mate?

Cecilia's POV :

This is the day I have been waiting for years. Today, I’m marrying my best friend, Alpha Caleb…

The thought sent a thrill through me, making my heart flutter with excitement. I couldn't help but smile as I sat in front of the mirror, my reflection looking back at me with wide, sparkling eyes.

Caleb and I had been friends since the old Alpha found me during his weekly visit to the borders. They treated me like a real family, and we trusted each other.

I was in love with Caleb before I knew it. I had loved Caleb for nearly five years, silently hoping, and wishing. I didn’t think he would like me, I’m just nobody. So when he said he wanted me to be his future Luna, I thought I'd never be happier than that.

The traditional Luna dress embroidered with gold and silver on the sides hugged my figure perfectly, giving me a magnificent look like a true Luna.

I never thought this day would happen. There were times when elders of the pack challenged him about me since I was an orphan with no significant pack lineage but he still chose me over the powerful she-wolves.

As the pack’s best warrior, I faced countless challenges, but today felt like the most significant battle of all. Not because it was difficult, but because it was something I had wanted for so long.

And now, it was happening.

"Are you thinking about Alpha Caleb, Luna Cecilia? " My friend, Adele teased me with a wink.

"I am not Luna yet. " I emphasized, even though I could barely contain my excitement to get marked by him.

She scoffed, " Well, everyone knows about how much he loves you, breaking the rules of Moon Goddess herself."

She was right because we were not destined mates but it had not made him love me any less. Our love was stronger than any mate bond.

'I will reject any woman who comes between us, Ceci. It's just you and me… ' His words rang in my head and I took a deep breath, avoiding the pink blush getting back on my cheeks.

I hissed," Adele! "

"Alright, I will give you a break now. You can think about the first night as much as you want… " She winked at me and went back to the ballroom to join the pack members.

The ballroom buzzed with anticipation as the guests began whispering to each other in slow voices. I somehow found an unsettling feeling catching my heart as they stole glances at me. The pack elders motioned me to move to a corner and I immediately walked to them.

"Cecelia, mind link Alpha Caleb. Everyone is getting impatient now. " I looked up at the pack elders. It was then I realized that Alpha Caleb had still not arrived even after three hours.

I gave them a nod and closed my eyes. My wolf, Riley, tried to form a connection with him. As soon as we mind linked, my legs wobbled as the moans of a woman filled my head.

"Yes, Caleb. I am going to squirt all over you! Fuck baby! "

I froze at the moans echoing in my head. Fear gripped my heart as the color began draining from my face. The doubtful eyes of the pack members pierced right into my heart. I concentrated again and the sounds of skin slapping against each other were blasting now.

No.. no, it couldn't be… I must have misheard him. Caleb would never betray me. Yet my throat tightened when I parted my lips to speak.

I panicked at the thought of them leaving on my special day and immediately got down to persuade them.

Suddenly the ambiance of the room changed, I followed the elders' gaze and found Alpha Caleb standing in a somewhat disheveled state.

"Where were you? Our wedding… "

I stopped mid sentence when I saw a pair of hands clutching onto his shirt from behind. Bianca, the daughter of Beta Larry, clung to Caleb like a puppy in love.

At that moment, I felt like I was struck by lightning. The blood pounded against my ears and I took a few steps back. My mind went blank. But I still held on to a glimmer of hope instinctively. I waited for Caleb to speak first, to clear the misunderstanding.

But he just glanced at me with apologies and walked past me with Bianca by his side as they both stood at the altar.

"I want everyone to meet my fated mate, Bianca. " As he said this, he looked tenderly at his mate. Just like he once used to look at me with love and admiration. But now it was just Bianca's right to be the center of his attention, not mine…

It felt as if I was punched in my guts, yet I remained stuck to the floor. A loud angry growl escaped my chest, catching everyone's attention.

"You can't do this to me! You promised that you would reject any woman for me! " I cried out in frustration.

Caleb shifted on his feet, " I’m sorry, Ceci. But the bond is undeniable. It's too pure and strong to break it off just like that.”

“But we're still friends, aren't we?” He then added.

The spark in his eyes and their scents mingled with each other gave me my answer. The moans that my wolf heard were indeed true.

I was desperate and broken. Even though he said we were still friends. But how could he just forget the love we had for each other? Just because of their MATE BOND?

I growled again, " I thought what we had was pure and unique too. No, you have to reject her! "

"No, I can't. " He commanded in his Alpha tone.“Submit, Cecilia.”

He used his Alpha pheromone on me, making me fall to my knees in submission!

I couldn't believe he did this to me! How could he treat me like this? Did he forget how much he loved me before?

Bianca laughed at my state and I couldn't go against them now under the Alpha command.

"Shall we start the Luna Coronation ceremony? " The elders said, completely ignoring my pain.

The realization dawned on me as I saw how the elders didn't even care who was chosen as the Luna. I mean nothing to them as an individual and lost my value as soon as Caleb discarded me.

How could the pack elders be so cruel? They were supposed to be the authority who did justice in the pack!

Bianca stopped in her tracks and turned around. Her eyes narrowed playfully and a scoff settled on her face as she watched me with hatred in her eyes.

" I want Cecilia to crown me. " Her voice sounded so sweet. If I wasn't watching her face, then I would have believed she meant it as a genuine request, and not to just demean me even more.

“Bia, don’t…”Caleb gave me a quick glance. Should I be grateful that he seemed to be looking out for me?

“Why? The crown is on her head. It's convenient to have her give it to me, isn’t it?” Bianca shook Caleb's arm, acting like a spoiled child.

It was disgusting.

I didn't move from my spot as it would kill me to give her what belonged to me. When I didn't respond, she said more firmly, " Are you going to defy Luna's command? "

“Please Ceci,” Caleb sighed, agreeing to Bianca's unreasonable demands. “Just listen to her. Everyone's waiting.”

How funny I was! I thought he would actually speak for me! I looked around. People all looked impatient and seemed to be rushing me.

Great. no one ever wanted to help me.

With my eyes closed, I placed the crown on her head but a gut wrenching scream made me shake from fear. Bianca suddenly fell to the floor, crying out in pain, her skin blistering with wounds.

"What's wrong, Bia? Please open your eyes. Speak to me, love… " His whole body was shaking with fear and shock.

She cried, " Cecilia, she tried to kill me… She used the wolfsbane on me! "

Her allegations threw me off guard but Caleb stared back at me with so much anger and disbelief.

The warriors held me fast and I struggled against them, " No, I didn't do anything… "

"Search her! " Caleb commanded, his eyes turning dark.

Their hands patted down my gown, ripping the shoulders off in the process.

"We found the wolfsbane dust in her gown's pocket! " They handed it over to Caleb who clutched it tightly.

"It's not mine. I don't know how it got there…" I sobbed uncontrollably.

Caleb growled and everyone went silent. He took deadly steps towards me which made me tremble like a dry leaf. His eyes showed confusion and disappointment.

"Why did you do this, Cecilia? You know that the punishment for harming Luna is death. Don't you?"