Chapter 1

Carrie

I was over the moon when my alpha boyfriend asked me to go to the annual Moonlight Gala with him. In my mind, this invitation was one step closer to me being his wife and Luna. This party was dedicated to alphas and other high-ranking members of different packs so, of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

However, my family’s reaction was different. In their words, it would only ruin my reputation. This party was exclusive to those alpha pairs and married-to-be couples. We were neither but not for long…I hope. 

“Mate…”

I couldn’t imagine how that single word changed my life in a blink of an eye. I came here to this party hoping to have one of the best nights of my life. I dressed up for the occasion, making sure that everyone would turn their head once they see me. I sure get everyone’s attention, but all for the wrong reasons. 

I watched in horror as I saw my boyfriend, Noah Frost, inched closer to the woman he called his mate. She so smote him that he totally forgot about my three-year relationship with him. I looked like a total fool, standing still where he left me, hearing all of the whispers and malicious comments from the very people who used to admire my beauty when I arrived ten minutes ago. Well, I couldn’t blame them. 

Because in this love story, I was the third party. 

Perhaps I considered my situation as one of the books. As a werewolf, we were expected to wait and remain loyal to the mate that the moon goddess had chosen for us. But my heart had other plans. Because despite the discouragement I received from the people around me, I began having a relationship with the Alpha of our pack.

Noah Frost was my childhood friend and a constant figure in my life. We grew up together, as he was friends with my older twin brothers. I started admiring his messy-looking auburn hair, light blue eyes, and smile that could take all worries away from afar. Eventually, I gathered enough courage to confess my feelings for him against the wishes of my wolf, Vera. I was ecstatic when Noah accepted my love. We were happy during those times we were together. But not until this night when he laid his eyes on that petite girl in a blue gown he called his mate. 

“That’s what she gets from being a slut! That’s karma!”

“She should have not assumed that Alpha Noah would name her his Luna. She was not even his mate!”

“Serves her right!”

I could only bite my lips as those nasty comments kept on filling my ears. But I stood my ground, raising my chin upward. This couldn’t be the end. Those three years that I and Alpha Noah had spent together weren’t just for nothing. I knew that I made him feel loved and genuinely happy. So I refused to believe that he would throw it all out for a girl he just met tonight. 

Gathering the remaining confidence inside me, I went in their direction. Noah looked tense while the girl was totally clueless about what was happening. I draped my hand on Noah’s arm before offering my other hand for a handshake, “Caroline James, Noah’s girlfriend.”

Noah’s face turned pale while removing my hand from his arm. “Carrie, please. Not in here.”

“And where should we discuss this matter, then?” I queried, raising one of my eyebrows in the process. I turned to the still-stunned woman and began addressing her afterward,  “I think this little miss over here deserves to know the truth.”

“I have a name,” she stated, almost in a whisper. “Lia Addams of Moonriver Pack.”

“Moonriver Pack? Do you happen to be related to Alpha Bennett Addams?” Noah asked. 

Lia smiled and took a nod. “He was my father.”

I saw Noah’s face lit up upon hearing it. A mateship between an alpha with an alpha daughter was considered a million chances to one. He hit the jackpot! 

The turn of events was a tough pill to swallow. Slowly, I could feel that the love of my life was slowly drifting away from me. 

All because of a stranger and that stupid mate bond that drew them together! 

“Noah…?” 

It was more than me spitting out his name, rather,  my way of asking him how we would move forward with our lives after this night. 

It was basically me, asking for what I had become in his life after he found his destined mate. 

“It’s over, Carrie. We are done,” he uttered. There was no hint of remorse in his eyes. I felt like useless garbage that he dumped without hesitation. 

And then without a warning, he grabbed Lia’s waist and pulled her into a kiss. Everyone gasped as they showed their support to the newly-found mates. 

I stepped back, still dumbfounded about how this night went. All of the restraints I built inside my eyes were destroyed, letting my tears finally stream down my face. 

“No…This is not happening…” I whispered to myself. 

It was hard to imagine that the love I defended from the world left me with broken dreams, trampled ego, and a shattered heart. Those nights I snuck out of our house to meet him against my Beta father’s wishes were all put to vain. The humiliation I was forced to suck up was all for nothing. 

Noah had dumped me. He left me for the mate he had told me once, he wishes to not meet. 

With that, I ran out of the place. I didn’t know how but my body, which was frozen in that spot earlier, finally had the strength to move.  I bowed my head in the process, as shame finally took effect on me. I’ve never felt so humiliated in my entire life. Only tonight. 

If this was the price I have to pay for falling in love, then I no longer wanted it. Noah would be my first and last heartbreak. I wished not to bear similar pain and betrayal in the future. I am done with this bullshit. 

I was in the middle of pledging myself out of love when suddenly, an intoxicating aroma filled my nostrils. The scent was aromatically woody, with a captivating trail that was hard to resist. The mysterious smell reminded me of rocky landscapes and earthy trails. 

But before I could wrap my head around it, I saw my wolf jumping up and down inside my head. 

“It was him! He was here!” Vera exclaimed.