Sera's POV

Tristan, the alpha of my pack and my mate, adjusted his microphone as he spoke into it, a confident smile spread on his lips.

"Thank you all for coming tonight," he said. "Ten years ago, I stood before this pack and I promised to protect you all with my life. And I have tried my best to honor that promise every single day."

The pack cheered and he raised his hand to quiet them.

"But tonight, I have another announcement. Something that the Moon Goddess has blessed me with. Honestly, it was something I never expected but I have come to accept."

I felt my smile freeze on my face.

Something was wrong.

I could feel it in my stomach, that sinking feeling like the floor was about to drop out from under me.

Tristan looked out at the crowd and then he looked at me.

"Sera has been my wife for ten years," he said. "She has been a wonderful Luna to this pack and I will always love her."

I felt my hand tighten on my champagne glass.

"But the Moon Goddess has seen fit to give me a second chance at a fated bond. She gave me a second mate… and I have decided to accept that blessing."

The room erupted.

There were whispers and gasps as people turned to each other and I stood there like a statue.

I watched Tristan step aside and gesture toward the back of the room as she walked forward.

It was Willow.

She looked like she had been waiting for this her entire life as she walked up to Tristan and took his hand and then the pack started clapping.

I could barely believe my ears. They were clapping.

For her.

For them…

Suddenly, I heard whispers around me.

"Two mates... how lucky..."

"Willow has always been so sweet..."

"Poor Sera..."

I did not turn to see who said that last one as I kept my face still and my shoulders straight.

Tristan lifted Willow's hand and kissed it and the pack cheered.

I stood there and I watched my husband welcome another woman into his life while my wolf’s heart broke into a thousand pieces.

---

After the speeches, Tristan found me in the side hall. I was standing by the window when I felt his scent fill the air.

I immediately retched.

"Sera." He called out, but I did not turn around. “That was not how I wanted you to find out."

A sudden laugh escaped from my mouth without even meaning to.

"Not how you wanted me to find out," I scoffed, my words bitter. "So there was a good way?"

"No, there was no good way," he said, and he stepped closer. "But I was going to tell you privately, after the gala. I did not want to embarrass you in front of everyone."

I turned around then.

"Oh really? You did not want to embarrass me?” I asked. "You announced another woman as your mate in front of three hundred people. You told them she was going to be my equal, and you did not want to embarrass me."

His jaw tightened. "Willow is my second mate. I did not choose this. The Moon Goddess chose it."

"The Moon Goddess," I said, pressing my lips together. "The Moon Goddess made you sleep with her, right? Just because you were given a gift doesn’t mean you have to fucking accept it!"

"That is not fair."

"No," I said. "It is not."

He reached for my hand and I pushed it away.

"I know this is hard," he sighed. "I know you are hurt, but you are still my first Luna. You will always be my first Luna. Nothing changes that."

My throat was tight and I swallowed.

"Nothing changes," I said. "Except I have to share you. Except I have to smile at pack functions while everyone whispers about how you replaced me."

"No one is replacing you and no one is whisp…”