Abandoned by my mate

Chapter 1

Three months before our wedding, my fiancé Alvin who was supposed to be my destined Mate posted a photo of his marriage certificate with my stepsister Mia on werewolf social media. Along with it was a picture of Mia’s pregnant belly. The caption was icy and merciless: “Welcome our little baby to this world.”

Mia responded with a shy emoji. In that moment, I could almost sense the sickening, provocative scent clinging to her one that never belonged to me. My mother, who should have been my greatest supporter, liked the post and even commented, “I’ll come help take care of the baby once it’s born. Then you two can enjoy your time together.”

I couldn’t stop myself from replying with a single question mark. My fingers shook slightly with rage. Almost immediately, Alvin reacted like a provoked werewolf. The Alpha’s authority seemed ready to burst through the screen. He lashed out at me relentlessly, his expression so vicious it felt like he might shift and bare his fangs at any second. Every sentence was like razor-sharp claws ripping straight through my heart.

“She’s only using my name to be married for one year. Once the baby is born, I’ll come back to you.” His words blew through me like an icy wind, leaving my chest numb. His voice echoed in my head like a wild wolf’s howl, sending shivers down my spine.

“Stop being so narrow-minded. My mom said you have to give birth to a son before we can get the marriage certificate. We’ll hold the wedding first and get the certificate later. Isn’t that the perfect arrangement?”

I shut my eyes and struggled to suppress the werewolf blood surging violently inside me. I didn’t want to lose control in front of everyone.

I only replied with a brief “Yeah,” then quickly wiped Alvin’s social media presence from my account. After that, I posted something new half defiant, half desperate: “Urgently need a new alpha. Who wants to marry me?”

Alvin replied first. The fury in his words was like a werewolf’s roar under a full moon. Even through text, his Alpha’s oppressive presence was unmistakable. “Miranda raymond, are you insane? It’s just a one-year marriage with her. Are you really making such a scene over this? Do you seriously think posting nonsense online can make me jealous? How childish. I’m warning you stop stirring trouble and don’t make things difficult for Mia.”

Mia chimed in right after him. “Sister, Alvin only wants our child to have legal status under the Dark Night Code. I won’t steal him from you. When you marry Alvin, my baby can even call you mom.”

Even my mother called to scold me for being ungrateful. She sounded like one of those outdated elders in the werewolf tribe, stubbornly defending unreasonable traditions. Her voice was sharp and cold, stabbing straight into my heart. “You don’t have to suffer through childbirth and still get a child. Mia is helping you. Shouldn’t you be thanking her?”

Some of Alvin’s friends joined in as well. Their teasing felt like a pack of wolves circling their prey, laughing wildly beneath the moon. “You and Mia are sisters anyway does it really matter who Alvin marries? We’re all family. Maybe Mia can have him Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and you can take Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays!”

I was so shocked that tears instantly filled my eyes. Everyone was joking and laughing. At last, the werewolf blood inside me boiled over. I sprang to my feet. My tail lashed uncontrollably behind me, and my eyes glimmered with faint green light. But in the end, I clenched my teeth, forced myself to calm down, and shifted back into human form. Tears slid down my face, splashing onto my phone screen.

They were clearly the ones in the wrong, yet they still blamed me. It was utterly ridiculous. None of them deserved my tears. I wiped my eyes harshly. Among the chaos of comments, one stood out.

It was from Alejandro Hernandez : “Can I be your new alpha?”

Alejandro and I grew up together. He was always warm, like spring sunlight. After graduation, I stayed in the city while he went to Wolfsford to continue his studies. Since I started dating Alvin in college, we’d gradually lost touch and barely spoke.

While I was still hesitating, Alejandro called me directly. His voice was low, steady, and resolute. “Miranda, I’ve liked you for a long time.” The warmth and certainty in his voice flowed straight through the phone.

“You know I’ve never liked your stepsister, and I would never have anything to do with her. I don’t have those messy friends either. All these years, I’ve focused on my career, and I’ve never had an ex.”

As he spoke, a document suddenly popped up on my screen. When I opened it, I saw transfer papers for all his assets and shares. He was offering everything he valued most to prove his sincerity.

Still stunned, I heard Alejandro speak again, a little nervously. “Miranda, this is my sincerity. Would you give me a chance?”

My nose stung, and my heart softened completely. Memories from our childhood flooded back. I remembered when we were kids and our teacher rewarded us with two candies his favorite. Even though he wanted them badly, he didn’t eat a single one and handed them all to me. Just like now, he was giving me everything he treasured. He had always been this genuine.

With my voice trembling, I said, “I do.”

Love had always felt unreal to me. I had clung to it desperately before, only to end up battered and wounded, like being lost in a forest and scraped raw by thorns. I had even thought that maybe being alone was better. But my grandmother’s final wish before she died was to see me married, to know someone would protect me. Alvin was never worthy of that role. But if it were Alejandro, I knew Grandma would be truly happy.

Alejandro’s voice overflowed with excitement. “I’ll wrap up my work and come back to marry you within two weeks.”

“Miranda, you’ll wait for me you won’t change your mind, right?” His tone sounded almost like a puppy seeking reassurance.

Suddenly, I remembered our childhood promise that when we grew up, I would become his luna. It was our purest vow, like the sacred oaths in werewolf legends meant to be upheld no matter the trials.

I answered softly, “Mm-hmm.” Tears blurred my vision once again.

“Alejandro, let’s pinky swear.”

In that moment, I could almost feel the invisible bond between us stronger than any werewolf mark.