I Was Dumped by Four Mate Candidates Chapter 11

I Was Dumped by Four Mate Candidates Chapter 11

The day of the Silvermoon and Thunderbird alliance ceremony, New Moon Hall shone bright as the moon itself. 

I stepped into the final dress. Silver–grey. The moonlit lily–of–the–valley brooch Lucian gave me pinned at my chest. 

Elara smiled. Dabbed at her eyes. 

“You look incredible.” 

“Today’s not the day for tears.” I pulled her into a hug. 

Lucian came down the corridor. 

Black formal wear tonight. Platinum–blond hair smooth. 

Cedar pheromones everywhere. 

“Sloane. You’re beautiful tonight.” 

Elara made a noise. Turned and walked off. “Alright. I’ll leave 

you two alone.” 

The banquet began. 

It wasn’t just the two packs‘ core members. Delegates from allied territories. Nobility from The Crescent Circle. Observers 

from several neutral territories. 

I stood with Alaric and Elara in the reception area. Greeted the guests. Every wolf who passed dipped their head and released ceremonial pheromones as a sign of respect. But most of their gazes slipped to the man at my side. 

Black formal wear. Platinum–blond hair nearly silver under the lights. Violet eyes that mesmerized. 

Kael arrived with his parents. 

He stood not far off. Saw Lucian beside me. His amber eyes 

dimmed. 

Flynn clearly hadn’t fully processed the news yet. His gaze 

kept snagging on Lucian. His lips moved a few times. Nothing 

came out. 

Silas’s expression was the coldest. His grey eyes swept over 

Lucian’s face, then settled on the lily brooch at my chest. 

Soren stood further back. Chestnut eyes gentle as ever. But his 

fingers around his wine glass were tight. 

They all saw it. 

The platinum–haired man at my side. Every inch of him a 

silent declaration. Alpha. Far more powerful than them. 

When the guests had gathered, Alaric finally took the dais. 

Lifted his glass. 

The hall quieted. 

“Thank you all for being here tonight.” His deep Alpha 

pheromones unfurled. The distinct silver–moon aura of the 

Silvermoon territory. 

“Two matters.” His gaze swept the room. Landed on Lucian 

and me. 

“First. We welcome our honored guests from the Thunderbird 

Pack. From today, the Silvermoon Pack and the Thunderbird 

Pack formally enter a territorial alliance.” 

A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The Thunderbird 

Pack was ancient. Legendary. The thunderbird bloodline Alpha heir showing up in person was a powerful signal in itself. 

“Second.” Alaric paused. His voice was steady as bedrock. “My daughter. Sloane Silvermoon. And Lucian Stormcrest. Have already sealed a fated–mate bond beneath the moon. The wedding date will be announced soon. Tonight, I ask the moonlight and all of you to bear witness.” 

One beat of silence. 

Then applause and startled whispers exploded at once. 

I saw it clearly. Those four faces. 

Flynn blanked first. Like he hadn’t processed it. Forest–green 

eyes went empty. 

Silas’s face fell almost instantly. Grey pupils shrunk to 

pinpoints. 

Soren’s knuckles went white around his glass. That 

ever–gentle mask finally cracked. 

Kael didn’t move. Stood rooted. Amber eyes staring straight at 

1. me. Like someone had just driven a blade into his back. He forgot to breathe. 

Lucian took the microphone. 

He stood on the dais. Light falling on his platinum crown. Violet eyes sweeping calmly across the room. 

“Thank you all.” 

He turned his head toward me. His features looked deeper under the lights. “I learned your language for Sloane. I came to 

Silvermoon territory for Sloane.” 

Kind laughter and applause rippled through the hall. 

But in that moment, everything else faded. 

Lucian released a thread of pheromones. Not heavy. Enough 

for every wolf in the room to feel an Alpha’s pressure. Not a 

challenge. A declaration. She is under my protection. 

The speeches ended. 

I’d barely reached the exit when Flynn caught up. 

“Sloane.” 

I stopped. Looked back. 

He must’ve jogged the whole way. Still catching his breath. 

Red hair a mess. Forest–green eyes full of disbelief. 

“You really… sealed a fated bond?” 

“Was it not obvious?” 

His throat worked. Voice rough. “Then what about us?” 

I wasn’t even surprised. I just found it funny. 

“Us?” 

I repeated it softly. Lifted my eyes to his. 

“Flynn. We were never what you thought we were.” 

Color drained from his face. Slowly. 

I kept going. “I used to think of you as friends.” 

“And now?” 

“Now too.” I paused. Kept my voice even. “Just not the important kind.” 

Further down the corridor, Silas and Soren had stopped. 

They’d clearly heard. 

Flynn’s eyes rimmed red. His voice barely held together. “But 

you were always—” 

“I was always what?” 

“You grew up with us.” 

“Yeah.” I smiled a little. “So I really don’t get it. Why was I your first suspect when it came to hurting Ruby?” 

Silence. 

It was awful. The quiet. 

Silas’s grey eyes fixed on me. His lips moved. Like he wanted to speak. 

Soren still said nothing. He stood there. Still as stagnant water. But I knew he was hurting the most. He was the one who’d personally crossed my name off the Greenwood Haven program with his own hand. 

I looked at those familiar faces. Felt that last shred of 

bitterness finally fade. 

“Who you like. Whose side you’re on. That’s your call.” I said it 

plain. “Just stop dragging me into it.” 

Behind me, steady footsteps. 

Lucian reached my side. 

He didn’t ask a thing. He just took my hand. Natural. His palm dry and warm. Violet eyes swept across the four of them. Calm. He didn’t speak. He just shifted slightly. Putting himself 

between them and me. 

It wasn’t calculated. It was instinct. 

“Excuse us.” His voice was mild. Emotionless. “My fated mate 

still needs to check in with the elders.” Then he led me away. 

I walked beside Lucian. No footsteps followed. I didn’t look 

back. 

From the side hall to the main chamber of New Moon Hall was 

a long corridor. Crescent–shaped crystal lamps hung overhead. Moonlight fell through the arched windows. Landed on our joined hands. 

Lucian stopped. Turned to face me. 

“You said earlier. They thought you’d hurt that she–wolf.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Ridiculous.” His voice was low. Silver light flickered in his violet eyes, the thunderbolt bloodline mark that surfaced 

when his emotions stirred. 

I looked at him. Suddenly laughed. 

“Why are you angrier than I am?” 

“Because you don’t deserve to be treated that way.” He said it seriously. Every word weighted. “You are Sloane Silvermoon. They are not worthy.” 

My nose stung. I turned my face toward the window. 

“Lucian.” 

“Mm?” 

“Thank you. For coming early.” 

He didn’t answer. Just held my hand tighter. 

A few seconds passed. Then he said lowly, “I told you. I’ll always stand by you.”