Chapter 3

I ignored Dylan and turned to leave.

Seeing him chase after me, I hailed a taxi and urged the driver to hurry away.

When I got home, my parents, who had just returned from their vacation, had already heard about what happened between Dylan and me.

My mother was furious. "That Dylan! What does he take my daughter for! If he won't bond with you, so be it! My daughter doesn't need a mate! We can support her!"

My father sighed heavily. "That's right! I never imagined that boy would be so out of line!"

He added, "The Elder told me you're going to be paired with that crippled warrior from the Moonshade Pack?"

My mother was shocked. "What? I've heard that Gabriel, the former warrior from the Moonshade Pack, is notoriously difficult. After his legs were crippled in the pack wars, his temperament became even more unpredictable. Fionna, not to mention you have Emma. I'm afraid he won't be good to you."

Emma was indeed my greatest concern.

I thought for a moment and said, "I told the Elder my conditions. Since the Moonshade Pack agreed, then they must be willing to accept Emma."

"Besides, even though Gabriel is disabled, he's already a decorated hero at such a young age. Someone like that has to be a hero to his pack. I don't think he's as terrible as everyone says he is."

Hearing me say that, my parents nodded thoughtfully. "That's true. The Moonshade Pack has produced warriors for generations, so how bad could Gabriel really be?"

After I made that statement to the press the other day, Dylan tried to contact me a few more times.

I never responded.

Furious, he resorted to sending someone to inform my parents that he and Elisabeth had scheduled their bonding ceremony for the night of the new moon next month.

When I checked the date, I realized it was the exact same day as my bonding ceremony with Gabriel.

All these years, because Elisabeth's parents had saved their lives, my parents had treated her almost like their own daughter.

Now that she had stolen my mate, my parents felt that the debt of gratitude had finally been repaid.

Elisabeth never came back after she was discharged from the hospital; I heard she moved directly into Dylan's villa on Alki Beach.

All sorts of rumors were flying around, but most of them painted me as worthless. My mom came back furious every time she went out.

I, on the other hand, didn't have much time to deal with it, as I was busy preparing for my bonding ceremony with Gabriel.

One day, the bridal boutique called to let me know it was time for my dress fitting.

I arrived at Chic Bridal Boutique in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood.

An attendant helped me change, and as I stepped out, she said, "Miss, the gown Alpha Gabriel chose for you is absolutely perfect..."

Before she could finish, Elisabeth's voice cut in from behind me. "I've taken a liking to the one she's wearing. I'll take it."

I turned to see her plopping down into a nearby chair. "Why is my dear sister, who's already been dumped, still trying on gowns? How amusing."

"I've had my eye on this design for a long time. Why are you trying to take it from me?"

I retorted, "You've had your eye on it? Do you have any idea what this gown is before you claim you want it?"

She scoffed, "I don't care about its origins or how much it costs. My Alpha Dylan can afford it."

The attendant beside me couldn't help but snort. "That's a bold claim. This gown is priceless..."

Infuriated, Elisabeth slammed her hand on the table. "What are you laughing at? Do you have a death wish? Do you have any idea who I am? I am Alpha Dylan's future mate!"

"Is there anything in this world my Alpha Dylan can't buy?!"

I couldn't help but find it laughable. "Actually, there is."

Elisabeth stomped her foot in anger and was about to speak when Dylan, walking in, wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Don't be mad. She's just jealous that I chose you."

"Fionna, you've really got some nerve. I'm not even bonding with you, so why are you here trying on wedding dresses?"

"Aren't you just embarrassing yourself by being here?"

"Since Elisabeth likes the dress you're wearing, you'd better take it off and give it to her. Don't force me to have someone rip it off of you."

"Haven't I told you? This ceremony with Elisabeth is just her graduation gift. The Luna position will still be yours in the future, so what's the rush? Do you have to fight with Elisabeth to bond with me at the same time?"

I was left speechless by his shameless audacity. "Who said I was going to bond with you..."

Before I could finish speaking, a strange male voice came from behind me, “I'd like to see who dares to touch my mate?”

At his words, everyone was shocked.