Lying down on the floor, I was sweating profusely when suddenly I felt a very strong burning sensation in my heart, it was like someone was squeezing it, clawing it, and ripping it apart.

"Please, Moon Goddess, help me," I pleaded weakly, my voice trembling with desperation.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks – when your mate marked someone else, you'd suffer through the pain with them. The mere thought of my mate marking another person sent shivers down my spine. And in that moment, it was happening. He was bonding with his chosen mate, sealing their fate together. The thought of losing him forever filled me with a profound sense of dread.

I hoped his wolf would sway him, but it seemed I was dead wrong. I figured he was just mad at me for not being flawless, but never in a million dreams did I imagine he'd find another mate. A searing ache tore through me once more.

Pushing aside my agony, I bolted from my room to his, flinging the door open without a second thought. My eyes widened in shock at the sight before me.

What lay before me was beyond mere rejection. There, my mate lay bare, laughing with another woman, their joy evident. My heart shattered as I witnessed him sprawled naked atop her.

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. One teardrop escaped, then another, until they streamed down my cheeks like a waterfall.

"N-no!" I sobbed, my voice cracking with emotion.

My cry echoed in the room, startling them both. Mason's expression quickly turned unreadable, but she looked bewildered.

They scrambled to cover themselves as I collapsed to the ground, my sobs intensifying with each passing moment. Mason's deep growl sent shivers down my spine, and I shrank back in fear.

"Why are you here? I told you to stay away from me," Mason's voice was cold, cutting through the air. But I couldn't respond, consumed by my own anguish.

"Why should I? Why did you mark her?" I asked, my voice shaky as my breath hitched in my chest.

"Who do you think you are to question me?" He snarled, his eyes narrowing.

"Your MATE," I replied, each word deliberate.

Lydia, who had been watching silently, suddenly tensed at the word "mate." Her face drained of color, her eyes wide with shock.

"Mate?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Aliyah, you're his Mate?" She spoke a little louder this time, her confusion evident.

I nodded slowly. "But why are you crying? And why didn't you tell me any of this?" she asked, her brows furrowing in bewilderment.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Why am I crying? Seriously? My Mate just marked another she-wolf, and you're asking me why?" My words dripped with sarcasm, my emotions raw and betrayed.

Mason growled, and she snarled, "Stop talking to me like that. You're the one who turned him down, not the other way around. Now that he's chosen me, you're upset." She spoke in a voice I didn't recognize as hers.

"Lydia, do you REALLY think I'd say no to my mate? I always wanted my mate to rescue me from this awful place. But I was scared of being rejected myself. I worried that my mate wouldn't want me, and unfortunately, that fear came true. My mate rejected me and chose you instead. He was even going to finish the mating process with you." 

I stopped, waiting to see her reaction, then continued, "I saw him yesterday when he came to cut the cake. But by the time I got there, he had left. So I followed his smell, and it led me to the woods, where I found him," I said, glancing at Mason, who was glaring at me. "At first, he seemed happy. But when he realized who his mate was, he rejected me. He said he had a girlfriend who could take better care of him and his pack," I finished, crying.

Lydia rushed over to me, her hazel eyes wide with concern as she gently grasped my hands. "But why didn't you tell me any of this?" she asked softly, her voice laced with worry.

"I meant to, but when I arrived at the party, everyone had already left. And today, I looked for you in your room, but you weren't there," I replied, my tone gentle.

She pulled me into a tight hug, her chestnut hair falling softly around her face. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me," she murmured, her voice filled with guilt.

I comforted her, patting her back reassuringly. "It's alright, Lydia. You couldn't have known," I said soothingly.

"No, it's not alright, Mason. You told me your mate rejected you and that she's in love with someone else," she exclaimed, her anger evident in her furrowed brow and clenched fists. 

My jaw dropped in shock as I realized what had happened—Mason had twisted the truth, making it seem like I had rejected him instead. 

"I swear I'm not lying," Mason's fists clenched as he spoke, his eyes flashing black with anger. "I have proof," he continued, his voice low and dangerous. "She's just trying to protect herself, spinning lies to tear us apart. But I won't stand for it." 

He was adamant about proving his innocence and exposing the truth. He gestured firmly, indicating his determination not to let anyone come between him and his chosen mate.

In response, Beta Magnus arrived promptly, his brows furrowed in confusion at the unexpected gathering. He coughed nervously before addressing Mason with respect, "Alpha, how may I assist you?"

Mason implored Beta Magnus, his voice tight with frustration, "Please, tell your daughter the truth. I'm not lying about being rejected by my mate. You have evidence too, don't you? Proof that she's seeing someone else." He gestured towards me, his expression pleading for validation.

Beta Magnus nodded solemnly, signaling for someone to enter, acknowledging Mason's request without a word.

A stranger walked into the room, his unfamiliar face framed by tousled blonde hair and piercing brown eyes.

"Tell us what you know, or face the consequences," Beta Magnus demanded, his voice stern.

The guy looked visibly afraid, his eyes darting around the room. "Y-Yes," he stammered. "She's my girlfriend. We love each other. But she insisted on keeping it a secret. She said it could cause trouble because she's an omega."

I gasped in shock, turning to Lydia with pleading eyes. "No, Lydia, he's lying! You know I don't have a boyfriend. I've never even seen him before!" I pleaded desperately.

Lydia turned to her father, confusion clouding her features. "Dad, is it true?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

He glared at me, his anger evident. "No, Lydia. Don't believe her. I don't know what she's talking about," he snapped, his fists clenched in frustration. "Let me tell you what I heard. You won't believe the lies this... girl told Alpha Mason. After the party, when Alpha disappeared, I went looking for him. We followed his scent into the woods and found another scent too. I was worried something had happened to him. But when we reached them, we overheard Aliyah rejecting Alpha, claiming she had a boyfriend. She broke his heart. And now, because of you, he's finally starting to heal, and she can't stand it."

As Beta Magnus finished speaking, Lydia's expression turned hostile, her eyes narrowed, and her lips curled in anger. She shot me a look of utter disgust.

"No, Lydia, please listen. I swear I'm not lying. Let me explain," I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice.

Lydia's growl grew louder, her body tense with fury, while Mason, his arms folded, stood behind her, a smirk playing on his lips, enjoying the drama unfolding before him.

"You expect me to believe that you're telling the truth while my father and your boyfriend there are both lying?" she snarled, her voice dripping with skepticism.

"I am telling the truth!" I shouted, frustration bubbling up within me.

Lydia's fury erupted like a volcano. "Shut up!" she spat, her words cutting through the air like knives. "You rejected your mate, but now that he's moving on, suddenly you want him back. You always told me I deserved love, and now that I'm finally finding it, you're trying to snatch it away from me!" With a guttural sound of anger, she lunged at me, catching me off guard. I stumbled backward from the force of her attack, only to be caught by Mason, who held her back, preventing her from reaching me.

Mason grabbed me by my hair, wrenching me up and delivering a stinging slap across my face. Pain shot through me as he dragged me along, my attempts to break free only earning me a tighter grip on my hair. We trudged until we reached the borders of our pack, near the towering pack house. With a forceful shove, he sent me crashing to the ground, my knees meeting the earth with a painful thud, and a scream escaping my lips as they began to bleed. His foot connected with my stomach and chest, the impact shattering something inside me.

My palms grew clammy, my head swimming, eyes stinging, as a thousand questions raced through my mind.

"Everyone! Gather at the pack borders!" His command echoed through the pack's mental link.

In a matter of minutes, the pack assembled, some still rubbing sleep from their eyes, others hastily pulling on clothes. Lydia and Alpha Magnus flanked Mason, a formidable trio.

Every member snapped to attention at the alpha's commanding growl, louder than any they had heard before. Fear gripped me so tightly that I trembled uncontrollably from head to toe.

“Today you are here gathered to see what happens to an abomination who dared to disrespect your Alpha and future Luna," his voice boomed, commanding attention from all. His towering figure cast a shadow over the crowd, his eyes ablaze with authority.

I glanced around, feeling the weight of the silence suffocating me. The tension hung thick in the air, leaving me unsure and anxious. What could I even think, let alone do or say?

"You dared to scheme on my territory, to invoke MY name in your feeble plots. You, not even a true werewolf, a mere human, dare to defy us. Does she deserve mercy, I ask you?!" His accusation cut through the stillness, directed at the pack.

But he was lying, twisting the truth to suit his agenda. I hadn’t done anything!

In unison, the pack roared, “NO!”

I sought out Lydia's familiar face, once a friend, now turned traitor, her betrayal etched in the lines of her expression. She whispered something to Mason, a sly grin spreading across his features as his eyes locked onto mine.

“Although you merit no leniency, our compassionate Luna has spared you. Your fate is sealed—you shall be sold as a slave in the council's annual auction, stripped of all ties to our pack! Will you accept this judgment?!” His words echoed, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable under the scrutiny of the crowd.

Tears welled up in my eyes, my heart heavy with the weight of their condemnation. I searched his face, feeling the pressure of countless eyes boring into me, urging me to respond.

"I..." I choked back a sob, trembling as I raised a hand to my mouth. "I accept," the words escaped me, each syllable heavy with agony. A deep ache settled within me, tearing me apart from the inside out.