Anna's POV:

The makeup hides the shadows under my eyes. The dress hides everything else.

I look at myself in the mirror. White silk. Delicate lace. Hair pinned up with pearls. I look like every Omega's dream—a bride on her perfect day.

I look like a lie.

My phone buzzes. A text from Vivian: 'Everything's at my place. You've got this.'

I take a deep breath. Check the time. The ceremony starts in thirty minutes.

Time to go.

The venue is beautiful. Someone spent a fortune on flowers—white roses everywhere, their scent thick and cloying. Chairs arranged in perfect rows. An archway covered in more roses where the officiant stands.

Where Allen stands.

I see him from the entrance. His back is straight, shoulders tense. He keeps checking his phone, glancing toward the door.

Waiting to see if I'll show.

The guests mill around, talking in hushed voices. I recognize most of them—Pack members, Allen's family, business associates. The Gamma and his mate sit in the front row, looking proud.

Some people notice me. Their conversations stop. They stare.

"Is that—"

"She actually came."

"I heard there was trouble last night."

"Look at her. Walking in here like nothing happened."

I keep my chin up. Keep walking. Each step feels surreal.

A woman from the Pack—someone who always looked down on me—leans toward her companion. "Omega trash. She should know her place."

Her friend nods. "The Gamma's son could do so much better."

I don't react. Don't give them the satisfaction.

More whispers follow me down the aisle. Some people smile, thinking I'm here to go through with it. Others look confused. Curious. Hungry for drama.

Allen turns. Sees me.

His whole body relaxes. Relief floods his face. He actually smiles.

He thinks he won. Thinks I couldn't go through with the public humiliation. Thinks I'm here to be his obedient little Omega after all.

I reach the altar. Take my place across from him.

The officiant clears his throat. "We are gathered here today to witness the union of Allen, son of Gamma Marcus, and Anna—"

The words wash over me. I don't hear them. Don't process them. I just watch Allen's face.

He's smug. Confident. His eyes say 'I knew you'd come. I knew you couldn't reject me.'

The guests settle into their seats. The venue goes quiet except for the officiant's voice droning through the traditional ceremony.

"—mate bonds are sacred, blessed by the moon—"

Allen reaches for my hands. I let him take them. His grip is too tight.

"—through trials and triumphs, through the seasons of life—"

His thumb rubs circles on my palm. A possessive gesture. A claiming gesture.

I wait.

"And now," the officiant says, turning to me with a benevolent smile, "we invite the bride to speak her vows. Anna, do you have words for your mate?"

This is it.

I pull my hands from Allen's grip. His smile falters.

"I do have words." My voice carries clear and strong through the venue. "I, Anna of Clear Moon Pack, reject you, Allen, Gamma heir of Clear Moon Pack, as my fated mate."

Silence.

Absolute, crushing silence.

Then the venue erupts.

"Did she just—"

"She rejected him!"

"At the ceremony!"

"This is outrageous!"

Allen's face drains of color. "Anna—"

"I reject the mate bond between us." I speak over the chaos, making sure everyone hears. "I reject any claim you have on me. I reject everything about you."

"You can't—" His hand shoots out to grab my arm.

I step back. "I just did."

The Gamma surges to his feet. "This is an insult to our family!"

"Your son is the insult." I turn to face him. Face all of them. "He's been sleeping with my bridesmaid for years. They have a son together. He was planning to use me for his position, then throw me away."

Gasps ripple through the crowd.

"Lies!" Allen's face flushes red. "She's lying!"

"Am I?" I look at Daisy, sitting three rows back. Her face is pale. Guilty. "Tell them, Daisy. Tell them about your son. About all the times Allen snuck into your bed while I planned our wedding."

Daisy doesn't speak. She doesn't have to. Her silence confirms everything.

More whispers erupt. Louder now. Shocked. Scandalized.

"She's making excuses!" Allen lunges forward. His hand closes around my wrist. "You're my mate! You can't reject me because you fucked some stranger last night!"

Pain shoots through my arm. His claws are extending, digging in.

"Let go—"

"You're mine!" His eyes are wild. "The bond doesn't just disappear because you want it to! We're connected!"

I feel it then. The mate bond straining, stretching. It pulls at something deep in my chest. Painful. Wrong.

But not unbearable.

"The bond is broken." I yank my arm free. Don't care that blood wells up from the claw marks. "I've formally rejected you. In front of witnesses. It's done."

The officiant steps forward. "The rejection has been witnessed and acknowledged. The mate bond is severed."

Allen stares at me. At all of us. His chest heaves. Then his face twists with rage.

"Fine!" He spits the word. "Fine! Take your rejection! You think you're so special? You're nothing! A weak, pathetic Omega who couldn't keep her legs closed for one night!"

Gasps from the guests. Even his father looks shocked.

I should feel humiliated. Should feel ashamed.

But all I feel is free.

"You're right." I reach up, pull off the veil. The delicate fabric tears in my hands. "I am nothing to you. And you're nothing to me."

I pull the pins from my hair. They scatter across the floor with tiny pinging sounds. My hair falls around my shoulders.

"Goodbye, Allen."

I turn. Start walking back down the aisle.

Behind me, chaos erupts. Allen shouting. The Gamma demanding answers. Guests talking over each other, their voices rising in a cacophony of judgment and scandal.

I don't look back.

Someone tries to block my path—one of Allen's Beta friends. "You can't just leave—"

I push past him.

Another person reaches out. I dodge.

The exit is right there. So close.

"Anna!" Allen's voice, raw with fury. "You'll regret this! You and your family! I'll make sure—"

I'm through the doors before he finishes the threat.

The afternoon sun blinds me. I blink hard, keep walking. Across the parking lot. Toward the street.

My hands shake as I pull out my phone. Text Vivian: 'It's done. On my way.'

Three dots appear. Then: 'I'm here. Come home.'

Home.

Not my parents' house, where Allen can find me. Where his family can make good on their threats.

Vivian's place. Safe. Temporary.

But it's something.

I flag down a cab. Climb in. The driver looks at my wedding dress with raised eyebrows but doesn't ask questions.

"Where to?"

I gave him Vivian's address.