Selene’s POV

“What?” Aiden snapped, standing up so abruptly his chair scraped against the floor.

“What?” Elara and Marissa echoed at the same time, their voices rising with disbelief.

“Wh—what?” I choked out, my pulse skidding as the words rang in my ears.

Did I hear that correctly? They wanted me to marry Aiden Crowe?

“No—no,” I gasped, shaking my head, barely able to breathe.

Aiden’s eyes were blazing as he rounded on his father. “You can’t be serious!” he barked. “I will not marry someone who isn’t my mate. Marissa is my mate. I’m in love with her!”

Alpha Orion’s eyes narrowed, his voice calm but laced with steel. “My decision is final,” he declared, his aura suffocating the room. “You will marry Selene. The engagement will be held in three days, and the mating ceremony will take place on the next full moon.”

“This is insane!” Aiden roared, his fists clenched at his sides, knuckles going white. “You’re making a huge mistake!”

“Lower your voice, Aiden,” Alpha Orion growled dangerously, his eyes glowing golden, his wolf rippling beneath his skin. “You will not disrespect my word. This is what’s best for the Hawthorn Crest Pack.”

Marissa burst into tears beside me, her whole body trembling as she turned her face into Elara’s chest. My stepmother wrapped her arms tightly around her, gently rocking her while murmuring soothing words. “Shhh, baby. Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay.”

My own heart pounded, panicked and disoriented. This couldn’t be happening. This was a nightmare. Aiden would never want me. He would hate me, and I’d be forced to love him in silence for the rest of my life.

I turned to my father, Darius, searching for some sort of intervention—some sign that he would speak up and put an end to this madness. But he sat there, unbothered, sipping his drink as if nothing chaotic had just exploded into our lives.

I stood up, desperation choking my voice. “Alpha Orion,” I said as respectfully as I could, “I cannot marry Aiden. He and Marissa are true mates. They’re in love. You’re asking for heartbreak—for disaster. Please… please reconsider.”

His gaze pinned me like a spear, unwavering and unbending. He raised one brow, and I shrank under his scrutiny. But I couldn’t back down. I had to stop this before it tore all of us apart.

Luna Selah reached for my hand and offered a sympathetic squeeze. “Sit down, Selene. I understand this is overwhelming, but your Alpha’s word stands. This wasn’t a hasty decision—we’ve discussed this thoroughly, even with the Elders.”

“But… Luna Selah, Marissa is Aiden’s mate,” I said, struggling to hold my voice steady. “How can this be right?”

“She’s right!” Aiden barked, shooting a furious glare at his parents. “You hid this from me! How could you keep such a life-altering decision a secret?”

Marissa sobbed harder. “This can’t be happening,” she whimpered against Elara.

Elara looked up then, her eyes red but sharp as she turned to me. “This isn’t right. Aiden and Marissa are fated. You can’t possibly think this is fair.”

I looked at her, heart aching. “I don’t want this either. I don’t want to come between them. Let Marissa be with him.”

But Luna Selah only smiled gently and cupped my cheek. “Selene… I gave my word to your mother, before she passed, that you would one day marry my son. And I believe with my whole heart that it was meant to be. You and Aiden complete each other. We’ve trained you for this—you’ve always been prepared to be Luna.”

My breath hitched. They’d spoken with the Elders? My mind reeled. I turned to my father again, silently begging him to do something.

He just looked at me… and smiled faintly. Then he said, like an afterthought, “Happy birthday, Selene.”

My mouth fell open. That was why he hadn’t said anything to me all day?

Aiden stood up so fast, the chair behind him slammed to the ground. His jaw was clenched tight, fury emanating off him as he stormed out of the hall.

“I want to go home,” Marissa cried. “Please, Mom, let’s go.”

Elara nodded and helped her up. Together, they bowed stiffly to Alpha Orion and Luna Selah and exited without another word.

I followed them into the grand foyer, calling after Marissa. “Marissa, wait—please!”

She spun around, her face streaked with tears and twisted in fury. “Save it!” she snapped. “You should have rejected the decision—fought harder! You want him, don’t you? You want to be Luna, to sit beside him in that throne and claim what was mine!”

I flinched at her words, my throat tightening. “That’s not true. I didn’t ask for this. I told them you were his mate—”

“Oh, spare me your act,” she hissed, stepping closer. “Your protests were pathetic. You barely raised your voice. You just stood there and let it happen. You’re a coward and a snake.”

“Marissa, I never wanted to hurt you—”

“You think you’re some noble little saint, huh? After everything my mother and I did for you? The way we welcomed you, supported you? And this is how you repay us?” Her voice cracked with rage. “If you have any shame left, you’ll call off this engagement before you come back home. Because if you don’t, you’re dead to me.”

With that, she turned and stomped out, Elara close behind, throwing me a look that was all ice and venom. Just hours ago, they were my family—my support. Now, I was nothing but a traitor in their eyes.

I stood frozen, trying to process the wreckage, then slowly turned back toward the main hall. My limbs felt like lead. My heart… just a shattered mess.

Somewhere deep inside, I knew Aiden was meant for me. My wolf, Myra, whispered it like a soft ache. But what did that matter if Aiden didn’t believe it too?

Rowan appeared in the hallway, catching me mid-step. He smiled and pulled me into a hug.

“Congrats, hurricane,” he chuckled. “Looks like you’re officially part of the family.”

I groaned and nudged him. “This is a nightmare, Rowan. Don’t congratulate me.”

He laughed. “Nah. It’s not. But if Aiden screws up, just know I’m still single.”

I rolled my eyes and smacked his arm. Rowan had been like a brother to me for as long as I could remember. He was two years younger than Aiden, and though not as intense, he had his own goofy charm.

When my mom passed away when I was fourteen, everything changed. But Alpha Orion’s family had never let me feel like I was alone.

Luna Selah was waiting when I reentered the main hall.

“Don’t go back home tonight,” she said gently. “Stay with us. Your first shift is coming, and we’d like to be there for you.”

It was tradition for the Alpha and Luna to bless each pup during their first shift. I had hoped Aiden would be there too. But in my heart, I knew he would likely be with Marissa, tending to her broken heart.

Tears threatened again.

“Yes, Luna,” I murmured and glanced over at my father, who was still chatting easily with Alpha Orion like none of this chaos had happened.

“Father,” I called. “Can I speak with you?”

He looked up with a calm nod.

I had to try again. He was the only one who might be able to convince the Alpha to undo this decision.