THE ALPHA WHO BURIED ME

The moon that night looked like it was watching. Not shining. Not blessing. Just… watching. Cold and full, hanging over the Bloodfang Pack like a judgment that had already been decided. I stood at the center of the grand hall, barefoot on marble that was too clean for a place so full of lies. Every candle along the walls flickered like they were nervous. Like even fire didn’t want to witness what was about to happen. This was supposed to be my coronation. My binding night. The moment I became Luna. I could still feel the ceremonial markings on my skin—silver ink drawn along my collarbone, glowing faintly under the moonlight spilling through the open ceiling. The elders had called it sacred. My mate had called it destiny. My mate. Alpha Kael Virethorn. The man every wolf in this hall bowed to without question. And the man who had stopped looking at me like I mattered. The hall was full—nobles, warriors, elders, pack members. Everyone dressed in ceremonial blacks and golds, their attention sharp with anticipation. I could hear whispers slipping through the crowd like poison. “She looks nervous…” “She’s just an omega raised to Luna status…” “Do you think he’ll really choose her?” My fingers curled tighter around the fabric of my gown. No. Not omega. Not anymore. Not after everything I endured to stand here. The drums began. Slow. Rhythmic. Final. The sound that marked the beginning of the binding ritual. I lifted my eyes. And that was when I saw him. Kael stood at the far end of the hall, beneath the stone arch carved with ancient wolf runes. He was dressed in ceremonial armor, black and gold etched with the sigil of our pack. His presence alone silenced half the room without effort. But his eyes… They weren’t on me. They were cold. Detached. Like I was already a memory he had decided to erase. My chest tightened. No. Not tonight. Not after everything. The High Elder stepped forward, raising his staff. “Alpha Kael Virethorn,” his voice boomed through the hall, “do you accept the bond of mate and Luna with Seraphine Vale?” That name. Mine. It echoed through the hall like it was supposed to mean something sacred. Kael didn’t move immediately. A pause stretched. Too long. Too heavy. I felt it before I understood it—something shifting in the air. Something wrong. Then he spoke. One word. “No.” The hall froze. Not a gasp. Not a whisper. Just silence so deep it felt like the world had stopped breathing. I blinked. Once. Twice. My mind refused to process it. The High Elder frowned. “Alpha Kael, this is a sacred—” “I said no.” His voice was sharper this time. Final. Like a blade cutting through bone. My heart stuttered violently. “Kael…” My voice came out softer than I meant it to. “What are you doing?” That finally made him look at me. And I wish he hadn’t. Because there was nothing in his eyes. Nothing warm. Nothing familiar. Nothing of the man who once held me like I was his entire world. Just judgment. And something worse. Disgust. “You were never meant to stand here,” he said quietly. The words didn’t make sense. My throat tightened. “What?” A ripple moved through the crowd. Whispers grew louder now. Kael lifted his hand slightly. And from the side of the hall, she stepped forward. Lysandra Vale. My cousin. Beautiful in a way that felt effortless. Silver hair braided like royalty, eyes glowing faintly with power she was born into—not fought for. She wore white ceremonial silk that shimmered under the moonlight like she was already chosen by it. My stomach dropped. No. No, no, no— She walked toward Kael like she belonged there. Like she had always belonged there. And when she reached him, he didn’t stop her. He took her hand. The hall erupted. Gasps. Murmurs. Shock turning into chaos. The High Elder stepped back, stunned. “Alpha… this is unheard of—” “She is my chosen Luna,” Kael said firmly. Chosen. The word hit me like a physical blow. My knees nearly buckled. Lysandra turned to me slowly. And smiled. Not kindly. Not apologetically. Triumphant. Kael’s gaze returned to me one last time. “You were a mistake I should have corrected sooner,” he said. The world tilted. My breath stopped. Every sound faded. Mistake. That was what I was. Years of loyalty. Years of pain. Years of enduring everything to stand beside him— Reduced to a mistake. The elders were speaking now, but their voices were distant, like I was underwater. My chest burned. Something inside me cracked open so violently I thought I might scream. Instead, I laughed. One short, broken sound. And that seemed to annoy him more than my silence. “Remove her,” Kael ordered. Two warriors stepped forward. My own pack members. The same ones I trained beside. The same ones I trusted. Hands grabbed my arms. I struggled instantly. “Don’t touch me—Kael, stop this!” But he didn’t move. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t care. Lysandra leaned closer to him, whispering something I couldn’t hear. And he smiled. Smiled. That was the moment something inside me went completely still. Not broken. Not hurt. Dead. They dragged me across the marble floor. My ceremonial gown tore slightly at the hem, silver ink glowing faintly on my skin as if even the ritual itself was confused. Whispers followed me like knives. “Pathetic…” “She really thought she was Luna…” “An omega reaching too high…” The doors of the grand hall opened. Cold night air slammed into my face. And I was thrown outside. I hit the stone steps hard, pain shooting through my palms and knees. The doors closed behind me. Not slowly. Not gently. Shut. Like I had never existed. For a moment, I just lay there. Listening to the muffled celebration continuing inside. My mate was inside. Crowning another woman. While I was outside. Discarded. The moonlight above me felt heavier now. Watching. Judging. Something warm slid down my arm. I looked down. Blood. Not much. But enough. Enough to remind me I was still real. Still breathing. Still here. My hand moved instinctively to my stomach. A secret I hadn’t dared to speak. A life I had been hiding. His heir. My breath shook for the first time. Not from pain. From realization. I couldn’t stay. Not here. Not anymore. Because if I did— They wouldn’t just bury my status. They would bury me. Slowly, I pushed myself up from the steps. My legs trembled. My heart didn’t. Inside that hall, I heard laughter rise again. And I made a silent promise to it. This isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of your downfall. I turned away from the Bloodfang Pack gates. And walked into the night. Unclaimed. Unwanted. Unbroken. Not yet.