Forsaken by My Mate, Chosen by the Beast

They say fate is carved into our bones before we even take our first breath. If that’s true, then I was destined to suffer from the very beginning.

My father had once been a powerful Alpha, respected and feared. But when betrayal struck, he lost everything. Some claimed he had conspired with rogues, others whispered of a crime so grave it warranted exile. Whatever the truth was, he vanished, and my mother—loyal to the end—followed him into the unknown.

I was left behind, an unborn child carrying the weight of his sins.

From the moment I could walk, the pack saw me as a burden. I wasn’t just an orphan—I was a disgrace. And when I failed to shift at sixteen, the whispers turned to open mockery.

"An Alpha’s daughter who can’t even shift? She’s nothing but a weak Omega."

I learned to live in the shadows, to lower my head, to expect nothing.

Then, on my eighteenth birthday, the impossible happened. I shifted.

The power that surged through me was undeniable. I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t an Omega. But after years of being told I was worthless, I hesitated. What would they do if they knew the truth? If they had already cast me aside as an Omega, how would they react to a secret I had kept from them?

So, I hid it. No one knew. No one, except Owen.

Alpha Owen. My mate.

He promised me everything—acceptance, love, a place by his side. Tonight was supposed to be the night he kept that promise. Tonight, after his father’s retirement ceremony, he would claim his title as Alpha. And once the celebrations settled, he would announce me as his mate.

At least, that was what I believed.

I made my way to his quarters, my heart pounding with anticipation. The halls were still filled with the echoes of celebration, but I barely heard them.

I reached his door. Took a breath. Pushed it open.

And the world as I knew it ended.

Mara lay on the floor, motionless, her lifeless eyes staring at nothing. The scent of blood hung thick in the air. Owen stood above her, his hands trembling, a bloodied knife clutched between his fingers.

I couldn’t breathe.

“What… what happened?” My voice barely came out.

Owen’s eyes darted to me, wild and desperate. “Ariana. It’s not—it’s not what it looks like.”

A pause. A shaky inhale. And then, “She came onto me. I told her no. She wouldn’t stop. There was a struggle, and—I didn’t mean to.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “Owen…”

“If they find out,” he cut me off, stepping closer, “they’ll exile me. I’ll lose everything.” His voice was strained, urgent. “Ariana, you know how the pack is. You know how much this means to me.”

I just stared at him.

Then, his next words nearly made my knees buckle.

“You have to take the blame.”

My breath hitched. “What?”

“If you say it was you, they won’t question it,” he pressed on. “You’re already an outcast. They expect the worst from you.” His fingers curled around my wrist, his grip tight. “But if you do this for me, I swear, I’ll make it right. When I become Alpha in five days, I’ll fix everything. I’ll come for you.”

A lump formed in my throat. “You’re asking me to confess to murder.”

“I’m asking you to trust me.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that, after everything, fate hadn’t been so cruel as to lead me to this moment just to shatter me.

I took a shaky breath. “If I do this… you promise you’ll come for me?”

His hands tightened around mine. “I promise.”

The door burst open.

Caleb, Owen’s Beta, stepped in with several warriors. His eyes took in the scene—Mara’s lifeless body, the knife in Owen’s hands, the horror on my face.

His voice was cold when he spoke. “What the hell happened here?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“It was me,” I said, my voice steady. “I killed her.”

A beat of silence. Then Caleb’s jaw clenched. “Take her to the cells.”

Rough hands grabbed me. I didn’t resist.

I barely registered Cynthia’s voice, distant but desperate. “Ariana! Tell them the truth! Tell them it wasn’t you!”

But I said nothing.

Even as the iron bars of my cell clanged shut, even as the weight of my choice settled on my chest, I clung to Owen’s words.

"Five days."

"I’ll come for you."

"I promise."

But deep down, in the place I had buried all my fears, I already knew.

Promises meant nothing to the Moon Goddess.

And tonight, she had been crueler than ever.

"Ariana, daughter of the banished Alpha James," Alpha Marcus's voice rang through the hall, filled with cold authority. "You stand accused of taking the life of Mara, a cherished member of our pack. Do you admit to this crime?"

Kneeling before the council, my wrists bound behind me, I could feel the weight of countless stares pressing down on me. Hatred filled their eyes, their judgment already cast before I had even spoken a single word.

I had the chance to tell the truth—to fight for my innocence. But as my gaze met Owen’s across the crowded room, the silent plea in his eyes reminded me of the promise he made. My heart pounded as I forced the words out.

"Yes, I confess."

Gasps rippled through the room, followed by hushed murmurs. It was as if the entire pack had been waiting for this moment, eager for the confirmation of what they had already believed—that I was nothing more than the disgrace they had always seen me as.

Alpha Marcus lifted a hand, immediately silencing the pack. "Ariana, you have admitted to a serious offense. Before we determine your fate, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Frantically searching for the right words, I took a shaky breath. "We argued," I said, my voice carefully controlled. "She mocked my bloodline. Called me a cursed omega. She insulted my family… and I lost control." It was the only explanation they would find believable—the uncontrollable outburst of a powerless girl with nothing to lose.

The Alpha studied me, his sharp eyes narrowing. Slowly, he began to circle me. "You expect us to believe that an omega—one abandoned by the Moon Goddess herself—managed to overpower and kill a warrior’s daughter?" He stopped in front of me, his stare burning into mine. "Do you take us for fools, Ariana?"

My throat tightened. He was right—my lie was full of holes. But I had already spoken, and there was no turning back now.

"Yes," I repeated, my voice steady despite the sweat trickling down my back. "I did it."

Alpha Marcus shook his head and gestured to one of the warriors standing nearby. "Bring the body."

The warrior disappeared through a side door, returning moments later with two others carrying a stretcher. They placed it before the pack, and with a solemn nod from the Alpha, the sheet was pulled back.

The sight of Mara’s lifeless body twisted my stomach, not because of the brutality of it, but because I knew who had really wielded the knife that ended her life. My gaze dropped, fixing at a distant point on the wall behind the elders.

Alpha Marcus's voice was heavy with finality. "This is the result of your actions, Ariana."

Before he could continue, a voice suddenly cut through the tension.

"YOU!"

Lucas, Mara’s brother, shoved his way through the crowd. Before anyone could stop him, he lunged at me, his hands locking around my throat.

"You worthless omega! You took my sister from me!" he snarled, his fingers tightening until I struggled for breath. "You cursed, goodfornothing creature!"

Spots danced before my vision, the lack of air making my head spin. Just as darkness started creeping in, strong hands pulled Lucas off me. He fought against the warriors holding him back, his furious eyes never leaving mine.

"Your family is cursed," he spat, his voice shaking with rage. "You bring nothing but ruin to this pack!"

"Enough!" Alpha Marcus's voice rang with authority. He raised his hands, and silence fell once more.

"This crime cannot go unanswered," the Alpha declared, his voice a decree of fate. "Ariana will be held until the coronation. Then, under the full moon, she will meet her judgment." His gaze swept over the crowd. "Her execution will cleanse our land and serve as a lesson for all."

A roar of approval erupted from the gathered wolves. They surged forward, pelting me with stones and clumps of dirt. My guards shielded me as best they could, but pain still stung as a rock struck my cheek, leaving a sharp sting behind.

Dragged away, I was thrown into the cold, damp prison cell that had become my home. Even as the heavy door slammed shut, the jeers of the pack still echoed in my ears.

But through the suffocating despair, a single thought kept me going.

Owen had promised to free me when he became Alpha.

Five days. Five days until this nightmare would end.

Yet, time inside the cell blurred into an endless cycle of hunger, exhaustion, and fear. The food was barely edible, and the knowledge that the pack wanted my blood kept me constantly on edge. I curled up in the cold corner, haunted by the memories of that night over and over again.

Then, on what I guessed was the fifth day, familiar footsteps approached my cell.

"Ariana?" Cynthia’s whisper was soft but urgent.

I scrambled toward the bars. "Is anyone watching?"

"No, I was careful." She slipped bread and dried meat through the gaps. "I'm sorry it took so long. I got caught twice trying to bring you food."

I devoured the meal, my throat tight with emotion. "Thank you," I whispered between bites.

She sighed, settling on the other side of the bars. "Owen's ceremony is tomorrow. He'll be Alpha."

My heart leapt. "Tomorrow? Then that means I’ll be free soon?"

"That’s what he promised, right?" Cynthia’s tone was hesitant. "Ariana… are you sure about this? Something feels… off."

"He loves me," I insisted. "I’m his mate. Once he’s Alpha, they’ll have to accept me."

She was silent for a moment. "I hope you’re right." Then she forced a small smile. "Tomorrow, I’ll bring you something special. We should celebrate your last night in here."

"You're the best," I murmured, squeezing her hand through the bars.

After she left, sleep refused to come. My mind raced with dreams of freedom, of finally standing beside Owen, of the pack seeing me as their Luna.

The next day crept by, every footstep outside my cell making my heart pound with anticipation. And then, as the sun dipped below the horizon, multiple sets of footsteps approached.

Owen appeared before my cell, dressed in his Alpha robes, exuding power. My heart swelled with pride.

"You did it?" I asked, barely containing my excitement. "You're Alpha now?"

"Yes," he said smoothly, a smile playing on his lips. "And it's all thanks to you, my love."

Relief flooded through me. "So… you’ll let me out now?"

"Tomorrow," he replied. "But first, I have something to show you."

Confusion flickered inside me. "What is it?"

Before he could answer, more footsteps echoed down the corridor. Cynthia stepped into view, and for a brief moment, my heart lifted—until I saw the way Owen looked at her. The way his hand settled possessively on her waist.

No.

The world tilted beneath me.

Before I could find my voice, Owen turned to Cynthia, pulling her closer. Then, right in front of me, he kissed her. Deeply.

The breath left my lungs.

It wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t a ploy.

He kissed her with passion, with intent. And as their lips met, my world shattered into pieces.