Chapter 1
CLARA POV
On the day of our mate bond renewal ceremony, my mate, Alpha Darius stopped the ceremony and asked me to transfer my academy admission to his childhood sweetheart, Tyla.
My father and pack members supported him. I was accused of not considering the pack and not a good Luna.
I thought that's the final betrayal but when I learned that my mate had cheated on me with Tyla and was pregnant with his child.
I walked away without looking back. By the time Darius realized what he had lost, it would be too late.
*********
As I walked down the aisle with my white dress sweeping the ground, my gaze stayed on Alpha Darius, my mate who was waiting to receive me.
Standing before him, Elder onyx announced. "Now, let's begin the ceremony,"
The music softened as conversations hushed.
I looked at Darius expectant of him to recite the ritual vows but instead, he raised one hand
"The ceremony can't start yet." He said, voice stern cutting through the quiet hall.
A murmur spread among the guests, and Elder Onyx's brows drew together.
There were only ten minutes left before the auspicious time passed. Why was he stopping now?
"What's wrong?" I asked.
He looked directly at me.
"I want you to transfer your admission to the Werewolf Academy to Tyla."
For a moment, I thought I had heard him wrong.
"What?"
Darius sighed, as though he had expected me to react that way.
"The admission you received three days ago. I want you to give it to Tyla.” He said. "The academy allows a rightful heir to nominate another eligible applicant in their place, provided the heir gives up their own admission. Tyla can take your place if you agree to the transfer.”
"You're joking, right?" I asked, my voice rising despite my effort to stay calm.
"Tyla has tried to gain admission to the Werewolf Academy three times, Clara, and she has failed every time. The academy only holds its admission process once every three years. She's already twenty-five, and the age limit is twenty-seven. If she misses this opportunity, she'll be twenty-eight by the next admission period and won't be eligible anymore.”
I stared at him in disbelief. Beside him, Tyla stood with her hands folded and her eyes lowered. She did not look shocked at all.
"And what about me?"
"You already have me, Clara. You're my Luna, and you have a place in this pack. Tyla needs this more than you do."
Something in my chest went cold. He made it sound so simple, as though my dreams of attending the academy meant nothing simply because I was already his mate and Luna.
"You're asking me to give up my own opportunity because Tyla failed her examinations three times?"
"I'm asking you to put the pack first. Tyla needs this training to become a stronger Beta, and you already have a place here. Why do you need the academy as well?”
"You stop our sacred renewal for Tyla's admission?" I asked, the pain breaking through my voice.
"Yes. We have to settle this before we can proceed," he replied without hesitation. "The admission is important to Tyla and the entire pack."
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
So it was important to Tyla. Not the ritual I had waited months for.
"You want me to give up an admission granted to the rightful Alpha heir of each pack?" I asked slowly.
"There is no need for a Luna to attend. Tyla is more suitable, and she'll use the opportunity to benefit the pack more. Try to look at the bigger picture."
My smile vanished.
"What if I refuse to transfer it?" I asked.
He sighed, disappointed.
"You're being selfish, Clara. What use is the admission to you when you're already my Luna and have the love of the pack?"
I was already his Luna. As though that was supposed to be enough.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice only slightly, though the silence made it clear that everyone was listening.
"I'm not going to force you to give it to her."
I could not believe he was using our sacred ritual to pressure me into giving up my opportunity.
"Give up your admission, and we can continue the ceremony," he said. "If you refuse, I will call off the renewal.”
My heart pounded painfully against my ribs. I looked at the man I had loved and trusted and struggled to recognize him.
Then I glanced at my father, hoping he would finally speak up for me. He knew I was the rightful heir of Hayes Moon Pack. He knew the admission belonged to me, yet he stood among the crowd without saying a word.
I had spent years hoping he would one day see me as his daughter instead of blaming me for my mother's death. Even now, when I needed him to defend something that was rightfully mine, he chose silence.
“Don't forget, only eight minutes remain before the auspicious time is over,” Darius reminded me gently, as though he were doing me a kindness.
Everyone in the hall knew what that meant. If we failed to renew our mating bond within the appointed time, we would never get another chance. It was considered a bad omen for both the pack and the relationship between the Alpha and Luna.
Yet Darius was willing to risk all of that just to give Tyla my admission.
The music had stopped, and the entire pack watched us in tense silence. I glanced at my father, hoping he would finally speak up for me, but he remained unmoved.
I looked back at Darius, the man I had loved for years, and swallowed the pain rising in my throat.
"I refuse. It belongs to me.”