The Alpha's Dead Mate

Mira’s POV I should have rejected my mate when I had the chance. That was the first thought that burned in my chest as I paced my small bedroom, tears streaking hot and bitter down my cheeks... Because the night my mate announced his engagement to another woman was the night I stopped believing the Moon Goddess had a plan for me. I wrapped my arms around myself and tried to breathe, but everything in me hurt... my heart, my wolf, my pride. It all hurt. “Can you please stop crying?” Lia said gently from where she sat on my bed. “It hurts to see you like this.” “Stop?” I turned to her with a broken laugh. “My mate is out there getting engaged to another woman, another woman, Lia... and you want me to stop? No, no... This is hell.” Before she could reply, my bedroom door burst open so hard it slammed against the wall. I jumped in shock as Elias, the Beta, walked in with two guards behind him. They didn’t knock; they didn’t even hesitate. “What is the meaning of this?” I snapped, wiping my tears quickly. “Why would you come in here without knocking?” Elias didn’t flinch. His jaw was tight, expression cold like he was upset about something. “You have been summoned.” Lia stood. “By whom?” “By the Alpha,” he replied. “He wants to see Mira. Now.” I laughed bitterly. “Oh hell no. After what he has done? I am not going anywhere near him.” Elias gave a silent signal, and the guards moved at once. “Seize her.” “What? No... no! Let me go!” I struggled as their hands clamped around my arms. Panic clawed through me when Elias started searching my room, pulling open drawers, and lifting my mattress without saying a word. “What are you doing? What are you looking for? Elias, stop!” I yelled as I fought to break free from the guards. “I don’t want to see him... Let me go!” But they didn’t listen; the guards lifted me off my feet like I weighed nothing, dragging me out of my room while I kicked and screamed. “Elias!” I shrieked desperately. “Elias, answer me!” He never looked back, and as they dragged me away like a ragdoll, I knew something was terribly wrong, but what? By the time I realized what was happening, I was already standing in front of Alpha Cassian, my mate, and Lena... his new fiancée, in the pack arena, surrounded by pack members dressed for a celebration that had now fallen disturbingly silent. That should have been me; I should be the one standing by his side, getting engaged to him, but as hundreds of eyes stared at me. Judging me, whispering... I knew I had bigger problems to focus on. I had never felt so exposed. Cassian stood tall and powerful in his black jacket; his expression was unreadable as usual. He didn’t look at me, and that hurt more than anything else. “Today is my engagement ceremony,” he said, his voice strong and clear enough to command silence. “But we cannot proceed because someone has stolen something precious from my fiancée.” He glanced at Lena, who was dabbing fake tears under her eyes. “A family heirloom,” Lena said dramatically. “Passed down from generations. I must wear it today as tradition, but someone took it.” I swallowed, confused as to why it was my business. “Okay… but what does that have to do with me?” Cassian finally turned to look at me; his blue eyes were filled with disappointment. “Lena believes you took it to stop the engagement.” I stared at him, stunned. “What? That is a lie... you know I would never steal.” Before he could answer, Elias emerged from the crowd and walked forward while holding a small carved wooden box in his hand. My heart dropped. “I found this,” Elias said, opening the box, “in Mira’s room.” Gasps erupted everywhere. My ears rang. Inside the box sat an ornate silver choker with a blood-red jewel in the center... the heirloom. Lena let out a dramatic gasp. “Oh, my goodness, that’s mine!” Cassian exhaled like he was in pain, like he didn’t want to believe it, but he did. I shook my head slowly. “No. No, no, no... that wasn’t in my room. I have never seen that before!” Cassian stepped closer, eyes cold. "I wanted to believe you, Mira. I prayed this was a misunderstanding, but you lied. You stole from my fiancée.” His words punched through my chest, and tears burned my eyes as I stared at the disappointing look on his face. “I didn’t steal anything,” I whispered. “Cassian, look at me...look at me. I am innocent, I swear on my wolf, I didn’t do this.” I reached for him, desperate... just to touch him. Just to remind him I was his mate, but before I could, Lena shoved me to the ground. “Don’t touch him, you pathetic thief!” She snapped in her high, sugary voice. I glared at her. “You are the thief. You stole him from me, and you planted that in my room to get rid of me!” Gasps spread through the crowd in disbelief, but it is true; that had to be the only explanation for this mess... I am innocent. “He is my mate, and he will always be. You are the one who should leave; you don’t belong here!” “How dare you!” she shrieked. “Enough.” Cassian’s voice ripped through the arena like a storm, and silence fell. He stepped forward; his eyes were cold like steel... not at me, but through me. “I, Alpha Cassian Black of Lethal Moon Pack…” My breath hitched, and I took a step back. “…reject you, Mira Gabriel, as my mate.” For a moment, I didn’t feel anything. No air, no heartbeat, no emotions. Just… nothing. Then it hit... Agony. A tearing pain deep inside my soul as the bond ripped apart. My knees buckled and my vision swam. The crowd gasped, someone laughed, and another person whispered, “She deserves it.” I stared at Cassian through blurring eyes; he had ruined me, he had killed me with a sentence, and in that moment, I knew… I should have rejected him first.