Chapter 1 001: Dumped At The Altar

Arianna's POV

"Today's finally the day!! "

The ceremony was supposed to start at noon, and by eleven thirty, the sacred garden of the Nightshade Tribe was already glowing with white petals and gold ribbons.

I’d flown in from California two days ago, cancelling a meeting with the Alpha King’s legal team....something I never did but this was my mating day.... My new beginning.... My forever with Ethan Hale, the man who once swore the moon itself would witness our bond.

Now the only thing witnessing me was silence.

My phone buzzed against my palm for the upteenth time yet no message, no missed call.... Nothing from him.

I looked down at the gown I’d spent weeks choosing; a sleeveless satin piece that caught the light like water.

My wolf, Lyra, was restless beneath my skin, pacing.

"He’ll come," she whispered. "He has to."

The guests began shifting in their seats, murmurs slipping through the hall.

My step-sister Maya leaned in from her front-row seat, lips curling.

“Maybe he forgot he’s supposed to marry you,” she said sweetly. “Or maybe he’s with someone more.... exciting.”

"Is he coming or not?" My mother asked.

"I'm sure he's on his way," I managed to mutter.

At twelve-thirty, Elder Rowan who was supposed to join us together cleared his throat and asked.

"Should we perhaps move the date to some other time? Since the groom isn't here yet," he advised. It was clear he wanted to get this done and go home.

The sun was high and hot, sweat rolled down the back of my neck. Every eye in the gathering piercing through me like a blade.

“I’ll call him,” I said, forcing a smile. “He’s probably stuck in traffic.”

The first call rang through then the second by the fifth, the line went dead.

A ripple of laughter ran through the crowd, quiet but sharp.

Someone whispered, “Poor girl.”

My chest tightened.

He wouldn’t do this to me. Not Ethan, who’d stayed up nights talking about our future pack, our territory, our kids with his eyes full of love.

Then my phone chimed.

I scroll through my notifications hopefully, wondering if he's sent a message saying he's on the way but it wasn't anything like that. It was an email. No subject line. Just an address.

I shouldn’t have opened it there but I did.

The preview froze me where I stood. The video thumbnail was of a hotel suite, the lighting low and dim and in the center of it was Ethan.

His body, his voice, his hands on Clara his foster sister.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. The world spum around me, the ceremony dissolving into noise and heat.

I shouldn't have gone further, I should've stopped there but something in me screamed to play the video.... Maybe curiousity or not wanting to believe it was what I think it was.

“Only you make me feel alive, Clara,” Ethan’s voice drawled from the screen. “Ariana’s too obsessed with her company to notice anyone else.”

Laughter followed, hers and his. The video stopped. My hand went numb.

I wanted to vomit.

Someone shouted my name. My mother, I couldn’t answer. All I saw was Ethan’s face, the same smile that used to make my knees weak.

Maya’s voice cut through the ringing in my ears.

“Guess he chose his mate after all,” she whispered, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

I turned and walked off the platform before anyone could stop me. The veil snagged on a flower stand, tearing in half. Good, It deserved to.

Outside, the air hit cold against my skin. My heart was hammering so hard it hurt.

"This can’t be real," I thought. "There has to be another explanation."

But deep down I knew there wasn't.

My phone buzzed again—a message from Clara.

"Ari, I’m so sorry, there’s been an accident. I just came back from London yesterday. Ethan brought me to the hospital. Please don’t be offended."

Angry didn’t even cover it. I stared at the message until the letters blurred. Accident, my ass.

Fifteen minutes later, I was in my car, dress bunched around my knees, my hair coming undone, my car speeding toward Hale medical Center.

My mother kept calling, my father texting Come home, now, but I didn’t stop.

By the time I reached the hospital, my makeup was smeared and my pulse still feral.

The receptionist didn’t even ask who I was when I mentioned Ethan’s name and mentioned my name after it.

I found the VIP ward easily. The glass door was slightly open

Inside, there was laughter, familiar voices, warmth and happiness.

Through the crack, I saw Ethan leaning over Clara’s bed, tucking a blanket around her shoulders like she was fragile.

She didn’t look hurt—just flawless, radiant in an oversized hoodie. Two of Ethan’s friends stood nearby, grinning like they were watching a rom-com instead of a betrayal.

“You shouldn’t have abandoned the ceremony,” one of them said.

“Forget it,” Ethan said, his voice low. “Clara’s return means more to me than a ritual.”

What?!!

Caring for someone who is clearly hurt is more important than attending the mating ceremony of someone you claim to love?

I clenched my fist in anger, my heart arcing, tears flowing from my eyes. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I pushed the door open. The noise stopped instantly, four pairs of eyes swung toward my direction.

“Guess you weren’t stuck in traffic after all,” I said, my voice shaky.

Ethan’s eyes widened. “Ariana what....what are you doing here?”

“What am I—” I laughed, the sound sharp. "Does that sound right in your ears?"

He looked embarrassed for a second, then his tone shifted, practiced and cool.

“Clara was in a car accident. I had to make sure she was safe, the ceremony can wait.”

Clara’s lower lip trembled. “I’m sorry, Ariana. I didn’t want to ruin your big day.”

My eyes turned to the monitor beside her—normal vitals, perfect oxygen levels. No injury.

“You look fine to me,” I said. "But maybe I should’ve known better than to expect honesty from either of you."

Ethan stepped closer, hands raised. “Don’t make a scene.”

“Scene?” I almost laughed again. “You made one for me already. On camera.”

I pulled out my phone and played the video, making sure to increase the volume to the highest.

Suddenly, the blood drained from his face. Clara froze.

Good—so they hadn’t expected me to see it yet.

“You were never supposed to…” Ethan began.

“To find out? To find out I wasted my seven years for nothing ?" The words came out louder and sharper than I had expected it to. “I loved you since I was sixteen, Ethan. I thought time would make you love me too turns out, time just gave you more ways to humiliate me.”

“Maybe this is fate, Ariana. The Moon Goddess…”

"Don’t you dare bring the Goddess into this,” I cut in. “She wouldn’t bless a liar and a scum.”

The silence that followed was thick enough to choke on. Then I pulled off my engagement ring and threw it at Ethan.

“There won’t be a next time,” I said quietly. “Congratulations, Ethan. You and your precious Clara deserve each other.”

He reached for me, but I stepped back.

“Ariana, don’t…”

“Don’t what? Finally come to my senses?” I met his gaze one last time. “You’re free now and so am I.”

I turned, the hem of my torn gown dragging behind me as I walked out. Tears flowing from my eyes.

Outside, rain poured on the street, like the sky was crying with me.

The rain washed off my makeup and brought a sense of relief.

I inhaled deeply, feeling Lyra stir inside me again.

"He broke us," she whispered.

No, he didn't.

But it wasn't true, he did break me...

The veil slipped from my hand, caught in the wind, and vanished down the street.

Let it go.

Let him go.

Tonight, Ethan Hale lost his mate.