Blurb：
Rae was supposed to sign the mate bond with Logan Alpha of the Eastside Moonclaw Pack. But when Emma, his childhood packmate, called, he abandoned Rae at City Hall. This time, Rae doesn’t cry or beg. She calls her Beta sister and Alpha Dad, deciding to return to her home pack at the Ridge. Discover a story of rejection, strength, and finding one’s true path. Will Rae find a true mate who values her? Dive into this werewolf romance filled with pack dynamics, Alpha hierarchy, and the journey of a rejected Luna. Perfect for fans of fated mates, second chances, and strong female leads.
Content：
I was sitting in City Hall, about to sign that damn mate bond certificate with LoganAlpha of the Eastside Moonclawswhen his phone buzzed.
One glance.
Then he stood up like this was all just another errand.
Didnt even flinch when he said:
Something came up. Lets push the bond signing to another day, yeah?
And just like that, he was gone.
Left me sitting alone, surrounded by bonded pairs, all glowing with that sickly sweet forever vibe.
Why?
Because Emma, his darling little childhood packmate, twisted her ankle during pack-speed trainingtrying to keep up with the advanced wolves when she barely passed the basic shifts.
Ten minutes later, I get a text:
Emmas injurys kinda serious. I gotta stay with her. Lets move the wedding, okay?
Just another timemaybe the lastLogan picked her over me.
But this time?
No tears. No begging. No rage.
The clerk gave me a quiet look, like she already knew how the story ended.
Maam… do you still want to proceed?
I pulled out my phone.Didnt wait for him to change his mind.
The clerk gave me that soft, pitying look.
Maam… do you still want to proceed?
I shook my head, and dialed home.
The moment my Beta sister picked up.
Tell Alpha Dad Im coming back to the Ridge. Today.
A pause.
You sure?
Yeah, I said, standing up, my voice steady. Im done here.
And just like that, I walked out.
Not just from the buildingbut from him.
Chapter 1
Mom we didnt complete the bond, I said quietly, phone pressed to my ear. Emma twisted her ankle during Pack drills. Logan went to the clinic to stay with her.
I didnt cry.
Didnt even feel surprised.
It had happened too many times.
At some point, you stop waiting for the painyou just expect the letdown.
There was a sharp inhale on the other end of the line.
Then my mother exploded.
He rescheduled?! Just like that?! The guests todaydo you know how many of them are high-bloodline Alphas? Council members? You think they came to watch him play pretend with your life?! If this gets outhe didnt even think about what this does to you! To our name!
Then, suddenly, she went quiet.
The silence wasnt rage anymore. It was… resignation.
Like something inside her finally caught up.
I remember, she said softly. All the times you stayed. The way you kept bending yourself, hoping he’d eventually meet you halfway.
A long breath.
Then her voice steadied again, gentler this time.
So do you want me to talk to his family? Maybe reschedule the ceremony for next week? Or… do you have other plans?
I stared out at the city, the concrete cold under my feet, the bond certificate still unsigned in my bag.
No, I said. My voice didnt shake. Im not going through with it.
A pause. And then
Im not going to be with Logan anymore. Im going back to the Ridge. Back to my Pack.
Three days.
Thats all I had left in this city. I already started packingslowly, quietly, like if I made too much noise, someone might stop me. But no one would.
We planned to see a movie today. His idea. Said he missed spending time with me.
I actually put on makeup. I waited at the theater for twenty minutes before checking my phone.
Something came up. Emma got a fever after yesterdays drill. Im heading over. Sorry.
I didnt reply.
But right after, another message came in.
Not from him.
From her.
Chapter 2
Emma.
Thanks for giving me all your stuff, Rae. Your time, your place in the pack for him, Ill take good care of him too.
I just stared at it. My blood didn’t even boilit went cold.
I thought about that damn Lego model.
The one he mentioned offhand once during our night runs, how he used to build it as a kid when his parents were still alive. I went on Amazon, paid a fortune to find the exact limited-edition set.
Spent three weeks building it by hand. Got a cut on my palm from a stupid sharp piece and didnt even care.
He loved it. Said it was the best gift anyone had ever given him.
But the next time I saw it?
It was on Emmas shelf.
She said he lent it to her.
I didnt say a word.
I could still remember that day. The look on his face when I gave it to him.
And now it felt like everything I touched just slid into her hands.
My chest tightened. Not angerjust this quiet, hollow ache. Like I was slowly erasing myself from his life, and he didnt even notice.
And then came the mountain.That stupid Pack bonding hike.
He asked me to come. Said itd be good for my instincts.
Emma, of course, tagged along.
Halfway up, she sidled next to me, acting all tired and clumsy. I knew something was off, but I didnt expect it.
She stumbled. Crashed right into me.
Next thing I knew, I was rolling down the slope, rocks tearing through my sleeves, pain blooming down my right side.
I groaned, tried to sit upand there she was. Smiling. Leaning down like she cared.
She whispered:
You think hell believe you over me? He already chose.
When Logan came running up the path, she was crying like she broke every bone in her body.
I didnt mean to, Rae mustve been tired, I just reached out to help her…
She even made her voice shake.
I looked at him, waitingbeggingfor a hint of doubt.
He didnt ask about my bleeding arm. Didnt ask if I could even walk.
He picked her up. Turned to me and said:
Stop being dramatic, Rae.
I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood.
That was two weeks ago. And ever since, every day felt like I was walking out of my own life, step by step, watching someone else step into it.
Now?
Im three days from being gone.
I was about to call the driver, my phone rang.
It was him.
His voice, as always, warm and calm.
Rae, Im sorry.
For a second, I thought he meant it and he actually want to be with me. That he was finally apologizing for leaving me at the bonding registry, for letting our pack elders wait while he disappeared without a trace.
I opened my mouth to speak
And then I heard her.
Emmas soft, sugary tone bleeding through the line.
Rae-sis, Im really sorry I-I didnt mean to damage your Wedding dress
She even threw in a sob. It just tore when I was trying it on. I didn’t mean it, I swear
And then Logan, gently soothing her, like it was nothing.
Its okay. Dont cry. Rae isnt the type to get upset over this.
Then, finally, he turned his attention back to me.
Anyway, Rae. The ceremony’s off for now. Ill take you to pick out a better Wedding dress later. Something new, something just for you.
I didnt say anything.
Chapter 3
Didnt ask why they were in the den meant for us both. Didnt ask why Emma was touching what wasnt hers. Didnt remind him how wed bled our fingertips sewing our family sigils into that Wedding dresss lining by moonlight.
None of it mattered anymore.
Not when I only had two days left.
The pain spreads through my heart.
Two more days. Then Id be gone.
Back to the Ironclaw Mountains. Back to my birth pack.
Id already begun pulling awayshifting clothes, preparing supplies, memorizing border routes.
Every moment now was a step away from him.
Being with Logan had once been all I wanted. Back in university, he made me feel chosenlike the moon had whispered my name into his soul.
But since Emma reappeared, Id felt that thread fray.
There was always a new excuse. A reason not to show up. A message left unanswered.
I remembered that pack celebration a few moons ago. Id only had a few sips of bloodroot wine before it hit me. On my way back from the washroom, I heard her voice rise above the chatter:
Logan, I swear youre the only mate Ill ever want in this life.
Silence.
Everyone knew Logan and I are already officially dating, soul-bound. Not formally sealed, but witnessed by the council and the spirits.
I stood there, frozen.
Waiting for him to say something. To draw the line.
But all he said was, Let me get her some ginger brew. Shell have a headache later.
That was the moment I felt it:
The shift.
So I forced my voice flat.
Its fine. If the Wedding dresss ruined, toss it. Doesnt matter anymore.
He paused, taken aback.
I felt the thread between us thin furtheralready faint, like a dying ember of the bond.
Anything else? I asked, steady now.
No, he said.
Just as I moved to hang up, I heard her again.
Logan, how about these shirts? Should I fold them for you?
End call.
I imagined his face harden.
Dont touch my things, I pictured him snapping, voice clipped. Ill take them myself. Im just settling you in. Ill be back.
Emmas tearful gasp, no doubt weaponized. Youre leaving me? You said you wouldnt abandon me I only have you
His voice, softening, as it always did for her. I wont abandon you. But Emma you need to learn to stand on your own. If it werent for your injury, Rae and I wouldve already completed the bond.
But I wasnt there to hear it.
And it didnt matter.
I was already halfway gone.
He came later that night.
I was still folding the last of my travel cloaks, stuffing flint, herbs, and moon-stamped seals into a satchel when the door opened.
Logan stood there, his eyes scanning the roomhalf-empty, unspoken.
Rae
I didnt stop packing.
He stepped closer. I came back to say this properly. Im sorry for how Ive been. For how things have happened.
I glanced at him, saying nothing.
His voice gentled. About the wedding Theres no rush now. The new place still isnt ready anywaysome furniture hasnt arrived. I talked to the elders, and weve postponed the ceremony.
I folded the flap of my satchel closed.
He hesitated, then added, Also Emmas leaving soon. Her treatment overseas I promised to go with her. Just to get her settled. Shes never had anyone in her cornerno ones ever stood up for her. I hope you can understandHer condition is critical, and right now, Im all she has to lean on.
He looked at me then, like it was a reasonable thing to say. Like it shouldnt crush me.
I hope you understand. She needs someone. Ill come back after a few weeks. Well figure things out.
It was that moment.
That moment the last thread snapped.
I straightened, met his gaze, and smiledcool, distant.
You should go, then.
He flinched, slightly. Rae
I understand perfectly, I said. You made your choice. And Ive made mine.
His brows furrowed. Are you going somewhere?
He flinched, just a little. Rae dont be mad, okay? Once Im back, well do the bonding ceremony, just like you wanted. I promise.
Im not mad. Go take care of Emma, I said with a small smile, but my eyes stayed fixed on his face, memorizing him one last time. In my heart, I whispered, If you leave now, dont come back. I wont be waiting.
Maybe he sensed something was off, because he reached out, trying to comfort me. Rae, you really are the most understanding mate in the world. Im so lucky to have you.
Its getting late, I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. Go pack your things. Dont you have a flight in the morning?
I was hopingprayinghed say he wasnt going. That hed stay, that hed choose me.
But instead, he just pulled me into a hug, then turned and walked away.
I stood there until his figure disappeared around the corner. Then, slowly, I wiped the tears from my face, grabbed my suitcase, and pulled out my phone.
I threw away the SIM card. Logged out of my werewolf identity with the Eastside Moonclaws.
Logan, lets never meet again.
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