CHAPTER 3- A Gleam of Hope

Lilian, after Morgan's harsh rejection, felt her strength draining, both physically and emotionally. The searing pain in her chest wasn't just heartbreak—it was the agony of a severed mate bond. Her wolf, Elara, whimpered constantly in her mind, weakened by the loss of the bond that was supposed to bring them closer to their fated mate. But Lilian refused to let herself break. Despite the dizziness and the stabbing pain in her heart, she forced herself to continue with her daily chores, clinging to a sense of normalcy. She hoped, perhaps foolishly, that Morgan would come to his senses, realize his mistake, and accept her as his Luna.

But as she dusted the shelves in the living room, the sound of muffled voices and soft laughter caught her attention. Curiosity pulled her towards the hallway. When she turned the corner, her heart shattered all over again.

There, in the dimly lit corner of the hall, Morgan was wrapped around Samantha, the Beta of the Diamond Pack. The sight of their lips pressed together, Samantha’s slender fingers trailing down his chest, was enough to make Lilian’s stomach churn. Samantha was everything Lilian wasn’t—gorgeous, fierce, and confident. But more than that, she was arrogant, ruthless, and undeniably manipulative, especially with the way she flaunted her charm to those in power.

Lilian froze in place, too shocked to move, too heartbroken to breathe. She gripped the edge of the wall to steady herself, praying this was some kind of nightmare. Her vision blurred, tears welling up in her eyes, but she couldn't tear them away from the betrayal unfolding in front of her.

“Morgan, when are we going to get married?” Samantha's voice purred, as she clung possessively to him.

Morgan chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind Samantha's ear. “Soon enough, babe,” he replied smoothly, his hand resting on her waist. His next words, though directed at Samantha, sent a dagger straight through Lilian’s heart. “You know you’re the one I’ve always wanted to marry.”

But as he spoke, his eyes slid away from Samantha and landed on Lilian.

For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Lilian felt the cruel weight of his indifference. He saw her—there was no question about that. Yet, he showed no shame, no regret. Instead, his gaze hardened as if daring her to react, to challenge his choice.

Morgan leaned back casually, his arm still draped around Samantha’s waist, as if the sight of Lilian’s pain meant nothing to him. His expression was cold, detached, as he spoke without even glancing at her.

“Uhm, Lilian, bring us some food,” he demanded, his tone indifferent, almost as if he were talking to a servant instead of his rejected mate. His words felt like salt on the open wound already festering in her heart.

Lilian stood frozen for a moment, her body stiffening at the sound of his voice, as though the simple command had drained whatever small reserves of strength she had left. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, but she forced herself to respond. She couldn’t afford to show weakness—not in front of them.

Before Lilian could even move, Samantha, nestled comfortably under Morgan’s arm, tilted her head, her lips curling into a smug, taunting smile. She raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her eyes glimmering with amusement as if Lilian’s very existence was nothing more than a joke to her.

"Make it fast, worthless beta. I’m hungry now," Samantha snapped, her voice dripping with venom. She rolled her eyes dramatically, as if the mere act of waiting for food was beneath her. Her haughty gaze scanned Lilian from head to toe, taking in her faded clothes and the exhaustion etched across her features. There was no sympathy, no empathy—only a mocking cruelty that radiated from her every word.

The title “worthless” stung more than the insult itself. Lilian was not worthless. She was Morgan’s mate, his fated partner. The bond they were supposed to share had once been sacred, powerful, something that could never be broken. Yet here she was, treated as though she were nothing more than a lowly servant, unworthy of even a shred of respect.

Lilian swallowed hard, her throat tightening. Her wolf whimpered in her mind, the pain of rejection clawing at her heart. But she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her break. She couldn’t. With a stiff nod, she turned toward the kitchen, each step feeling heavier than the last, the weight of humiliation pressing down on her shoulders.

As she walked away, she heard Samantha giggle softly, her laughter like nails on a chalkboard. “Honestly, Morgan, you could have done so much better from the start,” she purred, loud enough for Lilian to hear as she disappeared down the hall.

Lilian could no longer hold back the torrent of emotions welling up inside her. Tears blurred her vision, streaming down her face uncontrollably. Her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces, the weight of Morgan’s rejection and Samantha’s cruel taunts too much to bear. She wiped at her eyes with trembling hands, but the tears just kept coming.

She hadn’t even noticed Aurora approaching until she felt the gentle tap on her shoulder. Startled, she turned around, only to find the kind and compassionate eyes of her mother-in-law, the former Luna of the Blue Moon Pack, gazing at her with deep concern.

“Please, don’t cry, dear,” Aurora said softly, her voice full of warmth as she pulled Lilian into a comforting embrace. Aurora’s arms wrapped around her tightly, like a protective cocoon, and for a moment, Lilian allowed herself to break. She rested her head against Aurora’s shoulder, sobbing quietly into the older woman’s chest, feeling both ashamed and grateful for the comfort.

Aurora gently stroked her hair, her touch soothing. “You need to be strong, Lilian,” she whispered, her tone firm but loving. “The Moon Goddess chose you to be Alpha Morgan’s Luna. You were fated to stand by his side. You should fight for what is yours, child. Don’t let anyone take that from you.”

Lilian pulled back slightly, looking up at Aurora’s face, searching for reassurance, but her heart was still heavy with doubt. Her voice trembled as she spoke, her tears refusing to stop. “Do you think it’s worth it, Mom?” she whispered, her lips quivering. “Morgan already rejected the mate bond. He doesn’t love me. I can feel it every time he looks at me. It’s like… like I’m nothing to him. Just a mistake he wants to erase.”

Her voice broke, and another sob escaped her mouth, her shoulders shaking with the weight of her heartbreak. The image of Morgan kissing Samantha, whispering sweet promises of marriage, flashed in her mind, twisting the knife in her chest even deeper. How could she fight for something that was already broken? How could she fight for a man who didn’t want her?

Aurora’s expression softened with sympathy, but there was also a fire in her eyes. She cupped Lilian’s face in her hands, wiping away her tears with a gentle thumb. “Listen to me, Lilian,” she said, her voice firm but filled with maternal love. “Mate bonds are sacred, and they’re not something that can be so easily cast aside. Morgan is confused right now, blinded by temptation and his own arrogance. But that doesn’t mean he’s beyond redemption.”

Lilian shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “But what if he never learns to love me, Mom? What if... what if he has truly chosen Samantha?”

Aurora’s grip on Lilian’s shoulders tightened slightly, grounding her. “Then you must decide what is worth fighting for. But know this—whether Morgan realizes it or not, you are his true mate. The Moon Goddess does not make mistakes. You were chosen for a reason, Lilian. And even if he rejected you now, that doesn’t mean the bond is gone. He can’t simply erase what was written in the stars.”

Lilian’s tears slowed, her heart still aching but now filled with a small flicker of hope. Could she truly believe that? Could she really fight for a love that seemed to be slipping away?

Aurora kissed her forehead softly and pulled her into another hug. “You’re stronger than you think, Lilian. I know it hurts now, but don’t give up so easily. Fight for yourself. Fight for the Luna you are meant to be.”

Lilian closed her eyes, the warmth of Aurora’s embrace offering her a brief moment of solace. She still didn’t know if she had the strength to fight, but at least now, she didn’t feel entirely alone.