You Had Your Chance, Alpha

Selene stared at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. It was her second anniversary with Nikolai. Today marked one year since she and Nikolai had stood before the Moon Goddess and exchanged vows. Two years since they became husband and wife. Two years since she became Luna of Ironfang pack. The dining hall was quiet and Selene made sure to decorate it down to the details. Warm and beautiful. Just the way she had imagined. Selene checked the time and smiled once again. Nikolai should be home from the office soon. She had prepared everything herself. His favorite food. His favorite wine. Even the dress she wore tonight was one he once said looked beautiful on her. For once, she wanted a night that belonged only to them. A night without pack matters. Without emergencies and without interruptions. Without her. A bitter thought slipped into her mind. Bianca. Nikolai's best friend and the wife of his beta. Selene immediately pushed the thought away. She didn't want to think about Bianca tonight. Not today. Not on their special day. Selene sat on the chair and kept glancing at her phone when a servant suddenly entered the room. "Luna Selene," she said. Selene turned. "What is it?" she asked. The servant looked nervous. "Alpha Nikolai sent a message," she said while clasping her hands together. The smile on Selene's face weakened. "A message?" she asked. "Yes, Luna," the servant said. A strange feeling settled in her chest. "What did he say?" she whispered. The servant hesitated. Then handed her a folded note. Selene opened it. The words were short. Something came up. Don't wait for me. That was all. No explanation. No apology. No greetings for their anniversary. Nothing. Selene stared at the paper. For a moment, she couldn't move. Then she laughed softly. Not because it was funny. Because she had expected it. Deep down, she always expected it. "Did he say where he went?" she asked quietly. The servant lowered her head. "Beta Jeffrey's estate." Selene closed her eyes. Of course. It was Bianca again. The room suddenly felt colder. The candles she had carefully arranged now seemed ridiculous. The food, the decorations she did and even the dress. Everything. All for someone who didn't even remember what day it was. A sharp pain formed in her chest. Not because Nikolai went to Bianca. Aria was married. Selene knew that. So why does Nikolai kept coming to her? Sometimes Selene wondered if he chose her at all. The doors suddenly opened. Hope instantly rose inside her. "Nikolai?" she called, but it wasn't him. Beta Jeffrey stood there instead. Confused and concerned. His eyes moved across the decorated room. The candles, the flowers and room decorations, and the untouched food. Then realization appeared on his face. "He didn't come home?" he asked. Selene's smile trembled. "No," Selene said, forcing a smile. Jeffrey looked away. For the first time, Selene saw something unusual in his expression. Anger. "I'm sorry, Luna. Bianca must have called him again," Jeffrey said, lowering his head apologetically. Nikolai and Bianca had known each other since their diaper days. They had grown up together, sharing countless memories throughout their childhood and teenage years. Many people in the pack had even hoped that they would become mates one day. However, when the time came for them to find their destined partners, the Moon Goddess had chosen differently. Bianca found her mate, and Nikolai found Selene. "It's okay, Jeff," Selene said with a small smile. But deep inside, she was hurting. Today was supposed to be special. It was their first wedding anniversary, yet her husband had once again chosen someone else over her. Jeffrey glanced around the beautifully decorated living room and sighed. "I'm going home now. I'll tell Alpha Nikolai that you've been waiting for hours," he said before offering her a reassuring smile and turning to leave. Selene watched him go. Once the front door closed, the smile on her face slowly disappeared. The living room suddenly felt too quiet. She stood up and looked at the decorations she had spent all day preparing. The balloons, candles, flowers, and carefully arranged table now seemed meaningless. A painful sadness settled inside her chest. "Alia!" Selene called. A few moments later, Alia hurried into the living room. The servant immediately froze when she saw Selene holding a bundle of balloons that had already been removed from the wall. "Luna..." Alia whispered. "Let's clean up," Selene said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "This place is a bit dusty," she added lightly. She blinked several times, forcing the tears threatening to fall back into her eyes. Alia knew better than to point out that the room wasn't dusty at all. Instead, she silently helped her Luna take down the decorations. The two women worked quietly. The sound of popping balloons and rustling ribbons filled the room. Halfway through cleaning, the sound of a car pulling into the driveway broke the silence. Selene's hands froze. A few seconds later, the front door opened. Nikolai walked inside. His eyes swept across the living room, taking in the scattered decorations, the partially cleaned table, and the deflated balloons lying on the floor. "What the hell is this?" he asked. Selene immediately motioned for Alia to return to the kitchen. The servant hesitated before quietly leaving the room. Once they were alone, Selene smoothed the wrinkles on her dress and forced a smile as she faced her husband. "You didn't remember?" she asked softly. Nikolai frowned. "Would I ask if I remembered?" he replied sarcastically. Selene clenched her hands at her sides. The bitterness in his voice stung more than she wanted to admit. She looked directly into his eyes. "It's our anniversary," she said. For a brief moment, she saw something flicker in Nikolai's gaze. Recognition. Then it vanished just as quickly. "And?" he said with a shrug. "It's just a regular day," he added. Selene felt her heart sink. A regular day. That was what their anniversary meant to him. "But Bianca..." she couldn't help but say. Nikolai's expression immediately darkened. "Bianca? She was hurt, and Jeffrey wasn't with her. Do you want me to leave her alone in pain?" he snapped. Selene's eyes widened. "That's not what I meant," she whispered. She had never asked him to abandon Bianca. She had only wanted him to spend one evening with his wife. "You're f*****g selfish," Nikolai added. The harsh words hit her like a slap. Selene stared at him in shock. She wasn't angry because he helped Bianca. She was hurt because he had forgotten about her. Forgotten about them. "No," Nikolai continued before she could respond. "You're selfish. I don't know why the Moon Goddess paired you with me." The words pierced straight through her heart. For a moment, Selene couldn't even breathe. "If you wanted my attention, fine! You got it. Are you happy now?" Nikolai said. Selene opened her mouth, wanting to explain herself, wanting him to understand. But before she could say a single word, his phone rang. Nikolai immediately pulled it from his pocket. The irritation on his face disappeared the moment he saw the name on the screen. Bianca. His expression softened instantly. "Biancakes, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice gentle and sweet. It was nothing like the tone he had used with Selene moments ago. Selene felt her chest tighten. Nikolai barely spared her another glance. Still talking to Bianca, he walked past his wife and headed toward the door. A few seconds later, he was gone. Leaving Selene alone in the living room. Alone with the ruined decorations. Alone on their second wedding anniversary.