《How A Rogue Took My Place》
Chapter 1
The Luna ceremony was approaching, but my mate wanted to mark the rogue female wolf I had saved from death.
His excuse? She claimed her dying mother wished to see her daughter marked before she passed.
But when Damian Rivers was a powerless wolf cast out from his pack, I stood by his side, nursing him back to health, protecting him from hunters, and helping him build his new pack, Silver Fang. This ceremony was supposed to be mine.
When I confronted Damian, my voice laced with pain, I demanded to know why he would betray me for her. He simply stared at me coldly, his piercing silver eyes filled with annoyance.
"How can you be so heartless, Ember? You can’t let Astrid suffer! She treats you like a sister, and this is how you repay her?"
He spoke as though I were the selfish one, his words cutting deeper than any claw. He was so confident I wouldn’t leave, even daring to ask me to “wait for my turn.”
On the day of his marking ceremony with Astrid, I disappeared.
And Damian’s wolf howled in fury when he heard the news.
“Luna Ember? She’s gone. I heard she left the pack and claimed her birthright as Alpha of Moonshade,” his Beta informed him.
********
That day, I mind-linked my father for the first time in years. “Father, I’m coming home. Let’s rebuild Moon Shade together.”
Surprised, he asked, “And Damian? What of your mate bond?”
I hesitated for a brief moment before answering firmly, “It’s over. He’s no longer my Alpha.”
The door to my chambers swung open suddenly, and Astrid waltzed in with an exaggerated smile.
“Ember, will you come with me to pick out my gown for the ceremony?” she chirped, feigning innocence.
I narrowed my eyes, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “Do you not know how to knock before entering Luna's quarters?”
Her face shifted to one of false hurt, her soft features trembling as though I’d struck her. “I was just so excited. Please don’t be mad…”
I laughed darkly under my breath. A typical act. She was practically glowing with triumph.
“You don’t need to pretend with me,” I said coldly, turning away.
Before Astrid could respond, Damian’s deep voice echoed from behind her.
“She’s about to become Luna. She doesn’t need permission to do as she pleases,” he said, stepping into view with an imposing air.
Astrid blushed, lowering her gaze with practiced modesty. “Alpha Damian, don’t say that. If Ember gets upset, she might refuse to help me pick the dress.”
“She can go or stay. It’s her choice,” Damian replied indifferently, pulling Astrid closer to him. “I’ll accompany you instead.”
As they walked away, hand in hand, a storm brewed in my body.
Three months ago, I’d stood by Damian’s side, dreaming of a future as his Luna.
I met him when he was a lone wolf, barely surviving after being exiled from the Nightclaw Pack.
For him, I turned my back on Moonshade and left my Alpha title behind, choosing to help him build Silver Fang.
We endured harsh winters, fought rogue attacks together, and rebuilt a pack from nothing. I trusted his promises of loyalty and love.
Years later, as Alpha of a thriving pack, he swore to mark me as his Luna.
And then Astrid arrived.
She was a rogue I had saved, found bleeding and near death at the pack's borders. She pleaded to stay, claiming she had no other pack to turn to.
Damian agreed, though at first, he dismissed her as a nuisance.
“She’s only here because of you,” he grumbled one night. “She’s untrained and a liability.”
But slowly, I watched his irritation soften into affection.
Damian began defending her clumsiness, personally guiding her through combat training, and giving her privileges no other wolf in the pack enjoyed.
Astrid wasn’t just a pack member anymore; she was a threat.
And Damian, the wolf I had loved, was blind to the betrayal in front of him.
Chapter 2
When a former pack member relocated to another country and offered me their cabin to do as I wish , I thought it would be a great idea for Astrid to have her own space. You know, for Privacy.
I never expected Astrid tears streaming down her face,to fall to her knees, holding onto me and begging me not to cast her out of the Alpha’s mansion. I was confused.
As I tried to make her understand where I am coming from with the idea , Damian stormed into the room. His sharp gaze darted between us before he stepped in front of her, his stance protective and commanding.
“Ember, have you lost your compassion? How could you bully Astrid like this?” he snapped, his voice laced with anger.
Then, softening his tone, he turned to her. “Don’t worry, Astrid. This is my territory. No one can force you to leave.”
I swallowed my rising frustration, willing myself to stay composed. “Damian, it’s not like that. I only thought it’d be better for Astrid to have her own space. The cabin is close by, and she’d be more comfortable there.”
But instead of understanding, Damian’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold. “Astrid is still adjusting to life in this pack. She’s not familiar with the territory and sometimes loses her way. How can I trust she’ll be safe alone?”
Then he paused, his expression turning sharp and condescending. “Or is this about jealousy, Ember? Are you afraid Astrid will take me away from you?”
His words cut through me like a claw. This was the same wolf who once swore to cherish me as his mate.
Suddenly, I didn’t recognize him anymore. Damian, the wolf I had trusted and loved, now felt like a stranger.
Our relationship spiraled into a silent war. I moved into the guest wing, while he claimed the Alpha’s quarters.
In the past, these fights never lasted long. Damian would always apologize first, his wolf unable to bear the distance between us. But this time, the silent treatment continued on for weeks.
One morning, as I came out of my room into the passage, I looked up and froze. Damian was stepping out from Astrid’s room, his expression peaceful, as if it was not strange for him to be stepping out of her room this early.
“Astrid wasn’t feeling well last night,” he said casually. “I stayed to make sure she was okay. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
His nonchalance stung. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to walk away.
The cracks in our bond only deepened. Astrid no longer came to me for help; she went directly to Damian for everything, even trivial matters.
And Damian? He was drifting further away, his attention entirely focused on her.
Last weekend, neither of them returned to the packhouse. When I called, I learned from a warrior that Astrid’s mother had fallen ill, and Damian had taken her to her home village.
For two days, they ignored my messages and calls.
On the third day, they finally returned. As I opened the packhouse door, I was greeted by the sight of Astrid sobbing into Damian’s embrace.
“Damian, my heart belongs to you,” she wept. “I cannot bear to lose you…”
With his voice soothing. He caressed her hair gently, “ You won’t lose me. I’ll make sure of it.”
They didn’t even notice me standing there, frozen in disbelief.
When they finally broke apart, Damian pulled me aside, his face filled with frustration.
“Astrid’s mother is gravely ill,” he began. “Her dying wish is to see Astrid mated. She was planning to accept a bond with some random wolf just to fulfill that wish.”
His expression darkened. “I couldn’t let that happen. The wolves in her village already think I’m her mate. If I don’t mark her, her reputation will be ruined.”
I stared at him, tears welling in my eyes. “And what about us? What about me?”
His jaw tightened, his tone dismissive. “Ember, you’re being unreasonable. Astrid needs me right now. More than you do.”
He added calmly, as if his words weren’t breaking me apart, “I’m not rejecting you. I’m just giving her a ceremony.”
A bitter laugh escaped me.
He had betrayed me, shattered my trust, and still had the audacity to paint me as the selfish one.
Had he forgotten why he had marked me so hastily earlier this year?
It was because my grandmother, her time running out, had wanted to see me as Luna before she passed.
Damian had knelt before her, his voice filled with promises of love and devotion.
Now, those promises felt like ashes in the wind.
Chapter 3
The Luna ceremony date was set. The pack was abuzz with excitement, the event was predicted to be the grandest in Silver Fang’s history. But it wasn’t my Luna ceremony.
It was Astrid’s.
The announcement spread like wildfire. Wolves who had once been loyal to me whispered in hushed tones, their gazes pitying or mocking whenever I passed by them.
That evening, Astrid cat walked into the guest wing, where I now stayed, carrying a tray of tea with a smile that dripped with smugness.
“Luna Ember, I brought you tea,” she said, her voice syrupy sweet. “I hope you won’t mind if I wear the dress you picked out for your ceremony. Damian thinks it suits me better.”
Her words were a dagger to the heart, but I refused to flinch. I kept my expression neutral, refusing to let her see the impact.
Turning back to the papers on my desk.“Why should I be bothered about something that is no longer mine?” I replied coldly.
As she kept the tray on the table, her hand “accidentally on purpose” tipped the cup, spilling very hot tea on my hands. I felt the pain instantly, but before I could react, Astrid cried out dramatically, clutching her own hand.
Damian burst into the room moments later, his piercing silver eyes scanning the scene. Predictably, his attention zeroed in on Astrid.
“What is it ?” he asked, his voice overflowing with concern as he grabbed her hand to inspect the nonexistent burn.
Astrid sniffled, as she cried her eyes out with crocodile tears. “I… I just wanted to bring Luna Ember some tea. But she got upset and—”
“She spilled it on me,” I interjected, my tone sharp but controlled.
Damian’s glare snapped to me, cold and accusing. “Ember, how could you be so careless? Astrid only meant well.”
I rose, ignoring the stinging pain in my hand, and left the room without another word.As I swallowed the bitter laugh that threatened to escape me.
The next day, the packhouse was bustling with more preparations for Astrid’s Luna ceremony. I stayed hidden in the shadows, watching as wolves that once allied themselves to me waited on her hands and feet .
Later that afternoon, Astrid walked up to me again, this time she was holding a beautiful piece of jewelry—a green necklace with a crescent moon pendant.
“Damian gave this to me today,” she said, her tone full of triumph. “He said it reminded him of me. Isn’t it beautiful?”
The necklace was strikingly similar to the one Damian had gifted me years ago when we first rebuilt Silver Fang. A symbol of unity, he’d called it. Now it felt like a cruel joke.
“That necklace suits you,” I said flatly, walking away before my emotions betrayed me.
But Astrid wasn’t done. Her voice followed me down the hallway.
“Oh, and Damian wanted me to invite you to the ceremony personally. He thinks it’ll mean a lot to the pack if you give your blessing.”
By the time the ceremony day arrived, my resolve was ironclad.
Damian’s betrayal had cut deep, but it had also granted me clarity.So I spent the past few nights packing up my belongings, preparing to leave the pack I had built with my own blood, sweat, and tears. As I descended the stairs with my box dragging behind me, I found Damian waiting for me near the packhouse entrance.
“You’re leaving,” he said flatly, his tone more observant than accusatory.
“I am,” I replied, meeting his gaze with unflinching determination.
For a moment, something flickered in his silver eyes. Regret? Anger? I couldn’t tell.
“You’ll regret this,” he said, his voice low. “Silver Fang is your home, and you’ll always be my mate, no matter what.”
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “You lost the right to call me your mate the moment you chose Astrid over me.”
He stepped closer, his presence imposing, but I stood my ground.
“This is about her dying mother,” he insisted. “You know how important pack bonds are. Astrid needs me. But you… You’re stronger than this. You’ll survive without me.”
I stared at him, my heart heavy but resolute. “You’re right. I will survive. But not here.”
With that, I walked past him, out into the cold night air, leaving behind the pack I had sacrificed everything for.
As I crossed the border of Silver Fang territory, a mournful howl echoed through the forest. It was Damian’s wolf, crying out in fury and despair.
But I didn’t look back.
My path now lay ahead, and it was time to reclaim the life I had left behind.
“Father,” I mind-linked. “I’m coming home.”
