My Mate Gave My Dress Away. I Rejected Him

I’d been with Hurley, the heir to the Crescent Claw pack, for seven years. He’d insisted on throwing me a huge birthday party. But on the day of the party, Hurley gave the million-dollar custom gown my mother had commissioned for me to his childhood friend, Rachel. He said it so casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Rachel’s dress got ruined, and we couldn’t find a replacement in time. You two are about the same size, so I just let her borrow it.” “I remember you have a few backup dresses, right? Why don’t you just wear one of those tonight?” I thought back on the past seven years, and how this wasn't the first time he'd put me second for Rachel. For one of my birthdays, he gave me a cheap necklace from a street stall but bought Rachel a ruby necklace at a high-end auction. His excuse? “You’re an Alpha’s daughter; you already have everything. Rachel’s different.” When I was sick with a fever and needed him, he was busy comforting Rachel because she was afraid of the dark. He’d told me, “Rachel’s fragile and timid. She needs me more.” It happened over and over again. This time, I was finally done. The borrowed dress and the unfaithful man—I wanted neither. Chapter 1 To ensure I was the center of attention at my birthday party tonight, my mother, Elena, had commissioned a one-of-a-kind gown from a top designer a year in advance. It was covered in crushed diamonds and moonstones. But just hours before Hurley was due to pick me up, my gown still hadn't arrived at the manor. My mother contacted the designer. His voice was full of apology. “I arrived a while ago. But Mr. Hurley picked me up first and took me to Miss Rachel’s apartment. He said you’d already given your permission for Miss Rachel to wear the gown.” I froze. I knew nothing about this. I called Hurley. His voice drifted through the phone, utterly unconcerned. “Oh, that. Rachel’s dress got ruined, and she was crying her eyes out. We couldn’t find a replacement in time. You two are about the same size, so I just let her borrow it.” “She’s like a little sister to me. As her future sister-in-law, you should try to be more understanding.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “So, on my birthday, you went behind my back and gave the million-dollar gown my mother had made for me to another woman?” He was starting to sound annoyed. “It’s just a dress. Besides, I remember you have a few backups, right? Why don’t you just wear one of those tonight?” I glanced at the clock. Three hours until the party. I swallowed my anger and tried to explain patiently. “It’s not the same! My mother had it custom-made for me. She wanted me to be the star of the show. It means something to me!” “Rory, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world to me, with or without that dress.” “Alright, let’s not waste any more time on something so trivial.” Beep, beep, beep. He hung up. I clutched my phone, my chest constricting until I could barely breathe. Seven years together, and in that moment, our relationship felt so fragile. What was the point of this party anymore? My two best friends, who had heard the whole call, just stared at each other. Stella, my fiery friend, was the first to erupt. “What is wrong with Hurley? Doesn’t he know the birthday girl is the most important person at her own party?” “Letting her wear a million-dollar gown your mother had made? The nerve of that girl!” “She sounds more like his other fiancée!” Maya, the gentle one, tugged on her sleeve. “Don’t say that. The most important thing right now is getting the gown back.” The smile my mother had worn all day vanished. She took my hand and spoke decisively. “Rory, don’t worry. I’ll send someone to get it right now.” “As long as we get it back in time for you to wear it, we can figure something out.” I stared out at the darkening sky, nodding numbly. My mind drifted back to yesterday. Hurley, who never cared about these things, had suddenly asked for the designer’s contact information. He’d even asked if a top designer’s gown was more stunning than regular couture. I thought he was just showing how much he cared, so I’d happily bragged to him. “Of course! It’s one-of-a-kind! You can’t get it with money alone; it’s all about connections. Just you wait. I’m going to leave every wolf in the room breathless tonight.” What a fool I’d been. This was his plan all along—to hijack my one-of-a-kind gown for Rachel. My mother called Rachel herself. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. Rachel’s sickly sweet voice came through the speaker. “Is that you, Elena? I’ve already put the gown on. It fits perfectly.” My mother fought to control her temper, her voice as steady as she could make it. “That was custom-made for Rory’s birthday party. If you don’t send it back now, you’ll ruin the event! You should know better.” Rachel’s voice turned whiny. “But… I felt the waist was a little loose, so I had it taken in a little. It probably won’t fit Rory anymore…” “You—! You did this on purpose!” My mother was so furious her chest heaved. She slammed the phone down. “She’s had the dress altered. She never planned on giving it back.” Chapter 2 The Head Elder, who had always doted on me, stared wide-eyed and cursed, “What is this madness! In all my years, I’ve never seen someone steal the guest of honor’s gown at her own birthday party! That girl has no shame!” The clock on the wall ticked on. Two and a half hours until the party. The videographer, camera in hand, chose his words carefully. “Should I… keep recording?” I was so angry I let out a bitter laugh, digging my nails into my palm. “Yes. Keep rolling, and point it right at me. I’m calling Hurley again.” “I’m going to ask him, once and for all, who matters more today: me or Rachel.” But when he answered, before I could even speak, Hurley’s angry voice shot through the phone. “Rory, what did your mother say to Rachel? She hung up and burst into tears! She’s so distraught she says her heart is hurting!” “It’s just a dress! Did you have to be so cruel? You’re being so petty, it makes me question if you’re even worthy of being my mate!” His accusation struck me like a physical blow. I fought back tears, refusing to let my voice crack. “My mother didn’t say a single harsh word to her. Only a fool like you would fall for her little act.” “And let me make one thing clear. You will have her take that dress off and return it to me. Now. That’s the only way this party is happening.” Hurley must have heard the finality in my voice. He fell silent for a moment before mumbling, “I’ll… I’ll figure something out.” After he hung up, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. Tears streamed down, splashing onto the back of my hand. I’d been looking forward to this day for six months, ever since Hurley first proposed this party. My mother had spent the last six months preparing for it. My gown was a handmade masterpiece that took the designer half a year. We’d hired the best video crew. I’d even designed the invitations myself. This party meant the world to me. But to Hurley, none of it mattered more than his childhood friend, Rachel. Hurley always made me give in. When we ate out, I had to let her order first. If we bought gifts at the same time, she got first pick. And now, at my own birthday party, I was expected to give up my own custom-made gown! A seven-year relationship. The mate-to-be I chose myself. And on what should have been one of the most important days of my life, he ripped away my dignity and ground it into the dust in front of my friends and family. I finally broke down, sobbing on Maya’s shoulder. Stella and Maya’s eyes reddened in sympathy. They hugged me, murmuring comforts about how the birthday girl shouldn’t be crying on her big day. My father, Marcus, heard my cries and rushed in, his voice soft. “Don’t cry, Rory. Daddy’s here. No one gets to bully you.” “Worst case? We cancel the party. And this engagement? We’ll call it off, too!” Seeing my father so protective made my eyes well up again. For twenty-seven years, my father had treated me like a precious jewel, checking on me himself if I got so much as a scratch. An elder once joked that for such a powerful Alpha, he acted more like a doting mother hen around his daughter. He had just laughed and replied, “You don’t get it. I want every pack to know that my daughter is the jewel of the Silvermoon pack. Our little princess.” But the princess he had cherished for twenty-seven years, who had never known a moment of real pain, was now being utterly humiliated on her birthday by her own mate-to-be. For a second, I did want to cancel the party, to humiliate Hurley in front of everyone. But my union with Hurley was more than just about us; it was an alliance between the Silvermoon and Crescent Claw packs. I couldn’t be that selfish. I couldn’t drag my parents’ name through the mud. Chapter 3 To lift the heavy mood, my mother pulled herself together and started giving orders. “Forget the dress for now. Let’s get your hair and makeup done. You’re the star tonight, and you have to be stunning.” Stella immediately chimed in. “Your mom’s right. No matter what, Rory, you have to look absolutely stunning tonight!” Maya gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze. The tense atmosphere in the room finally began to ease. Just then, Hurley called again. The Head Elder saw the name and chuckled. “Go on, answer it. He’s surely calling to apologize. Perhaps he’s even bringing the gown himself.” I rolled my eyes but still answered with a sliver of hope. “Rory, don’t be mad, just listen. The gown’s been altered now, so you can’t wear it even if I bring it back. Why don’t we just let Rachel have it? She’s coming to the party anyway. Think of it as her just adding to the party's glamour.” “I’ve had a new gown sent over for you. It’s one I bought at an auction, just as fitting for your status. Just wear that for now so we don’t delay the party.” His words hit me like a bucket of ice water. My ears rang, and I could barely process what he was saying. The chatter in the room died instantly. Everyone froze. Stella and Maya rushed to my side, supporting me from behind. My voice came out as a raw whisper. “Hurley, do you even want this union anymore?” Hurley, suppressing his impatience, switched to his Alpha tone. “Rory, of course I do. It’s just a dress; it doesn’t matter who wears it. Be reasonable. I’m just trying to find a quick solution.” I raised my voice. “You still think this is just about a dress?” “This is about my dignity! It’s about you letting them stomp all over my pride as your future mate! At my own birthday party, the gown my mother spent a fortune on is for some Omega instead of me, the birthday girl? Who do you want to be with, Hurley?” “In our seven years together, I’ve given in every time you’ve asked me to. But this is my birthday party. Do I have to give this up for someone else, too?” Hearing my voice, raw with pain, Hurley seemed to hesitate for a second. But then he remembered his mother’s words. “Rory comes from a noble bloodline. After your bonding, she might use her influence to meddle in pack affairs. If you don’t break her spirit before the bonding ceremony, you’ll regret it later!” He hardened his heart. “The party starts in less than two hours! You don’t want to make a mockery of our packs’ alliance, do you?” “Stop making a scene. Just put on the other dress. After the party, I’ll buy you any jewelry you want to make it up to you. I promise!” My parents were now standing beside me. My mother, a formidable businesswoman who rarely showed her emotions, was visibly seething. She silently took my hand and squeezed it reassuringly. A vein throbbed on my father’s forehead. He took the phone from my hand, his eyes red with anger, but his voice was calm. “Hurley, Rory is our only daughter. No one gets to bully her in front of me.” “You and Rory have been together for seven years to get to this point. We all wanted this day to go smoothly. We have different perspectives, and if you don’t understand, we won’t blame you. But I need one thing from you. Bring that gown back now. Show me you’re serious about a future with Rory.” There was a long pause on the other end. “Alpha Marcus! Let’s think about the bigger picture. Help me convince Rory to change her mind. I’m on my way with the convoy to pick her up. The guests from the other packs are already arriving. Let’s not make a scene.” “After the party, I swear I’ll make it up to Rory!” “Don’t you dare call me that.” My father hung up, his face a mask of disappointment. I took my phone back and texted my assistant. “Cancel all pre-party press and media events.” She replied quickly. “What about the rest of the schedule? Should we proceed as planned?” I thought for a moment. “Keep the cameras rolling. We’ll see about the rest.” I looked up. “Mom, Dad. I’m not letting this go.” Chapter 4 My parents exchanged a look. My father stepped forward, gently wiping a tear from my cheek. “Don’t be afraid, Rory.” I’d heard those words for twenty-seven years. With him here, I truly had nothing to fear. “I’ll summon a few dozen of our elite pack warriors right now.” I was an only child, but the most elite warriors in my father’s pack were my cousins. They’d watched me grow up and treated me like a little sister. My mother gave me a soft hug. “Whatever you do next, Mom supports you.” I had the makeup artist wipe away the glamorous look prepared for the party, replacing it with something simple and sharp. I changed into a sleek, severe black dress. Stella muttered curses about the scumbag, while Maya rubbed my back soothingly. The Head Elder, who had witnessed everything, was indignant. “I’ll handle the other elders. No one gets to bully one of our own like this.” The videographer gave me a thumbs-up, signaling that he was recording everything. Hurley called again. I rejected it. He tried to reach me through our mind-link, but I blocked him completely. I took off the backup gown I had prepared and put on a fierce black dress and a leather jacket. Finally, he sent a text. “My love, the party starts in an hour. I know you’re mad at me. I promise this is the last time. After the party, you can do whatever you want to me.” I let out a cold laugh. Perhaps because things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the anxiety that had been gnawing at me since I’d learned about the dress was replaced by an eerie calm. The last seven years with Hurley flashed through my mind like a movie. We met at a pack gathering. He fell for me instantly after I single-handedly took down a rogue wolf that tried to attack. He pursued me relentlessly. Hurley was tall, handsome, and had a sunny personality, not to mention the halo of being the Crescent Claw Alpha’s son. It was easy to fall for him. We dated, trained, and patrolled our territories together. We’d had some incredibly sweet years. Then, after we came of age, his childhood friend, Rachel, started appearing more and more in our lives. We were on a mountaintop watching the moon when Rachel called, saying she was sad and wanted a snack from a place they used to go to as kids. Hurley left me there to go get it for her. On our anniversary, Rachel’s cat got sick. Hurley left me to go with her to the vet. We’d go on vacation overseas, and Rachel would somehow show up in the middle of it, stealing all of Hurley’s attention with his doting approval, leaving me alone. I cried. I threw fits. But I couldn’t let go of the relationship. He would always laugh and sweet-talk me until I forgave him, but he never changed. The excuse was always the same: She’s just an Omega. Let her have her way. And I let her, right up until now. With half an hour to go, dozens of elite pack warriors arrived, their grim faces a stark presence in the manor’s living room. After a few quiet words of comfort, they stood silently by my side. The younger pack members, who were supposed to be celebrating, stood in neat, serious rows. Stella and Maya flanked me like two guards, ready for battle. My parents stood by the main chairs in the living room. My father’s face was a mask of stone, while my mother calmly offered everyone tea. “We’ll be counting on you all later,” she said, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather. (Hurley’s POV) Rory wasn’t answering his calls or texts. A knot of unease began to form in Hurley’s stomach. But he was confident that Rory loved him to death and was too sensible to cause a scene at such an important event. He pushed the feeling down and led the convoy to pick her up as planned. Rachel got into his car on the way, saying she wanted to come with him to get Rory. He opened his mouth to object, a knot of unease tightening in his gut, but he couldn’t resist her pleading and, as always, gave in. The moment they arrived at the Silvermoon pack manor, he saw that it was eerily silent, with none of the festive atmosphere of a celebration. The bad feeling in his gut grew stronger. He strode into the living room unopposed and was met with a wall of grim-faced warriors, with Rory standing before them in a severe black dress. His stomach dropped. “Rory, what’s going on? The party is about to start.”