hapter 9 Ryan was abruptly woken by the ringtone of his phone . " Hurry up , the mating ceremony is about to start . " " Why can't I reach Tessa ? " Olivia's voice came through the line , tinged with urgency . Ryan muttered a quick reply before hanging up . By then , Chloe had also been disturbed by the noise . " Ryan , once Tessa becomes your Luna , will you still like me ? " Chloe's eyes were watery as she gazed at him , her fingers poking at his arm incessantly . Without a word , Ryan pulled her into his embrace . " Of course , everything I'm doing is for you . " He gazed at Chloe with deep affection , pressing a passionate kiss onto her lips . " Alright , babe , let's get ready . We should head to the Moon Tree . " Once Ryan was ready , he immediately dialed Tessa's number . He called once , then twice . By the third time , when the line went to voicemail , an ominous feeling settled in his chest . His wolf also got agitated . Had something happened to Tessa ? He grabbed his things , ready to rush to the pack house , ignoring any protests . Just then , his phone rang with an unfamiliar number . It was Tessa . " It's me . There's something wrong with my phone , and it's not functioning right , but don't worry . I'm waiting for Tree . " " I've prepared a surprise for you . " . Hearing her voice , Ryan's anxiety melted away . He smiled and reassured those around him . " Tessa just called . Don't worry , she's preparing a surprise for me . Just His smile beamed with joy as he basked in the moment . He was about to replace his brother and become the true Alpha of the pack , a dream fulfilled It seemed even Tessa was trying to make this moment special for him Friends nearby chuckled and teased . you under the Moon " You two are still so in love after all the all this time . Truly , you're the picture of happiness . " As the ceremony drew near , there was still no sign of Tessa Olivia leaned in to whisper in Ryan's car . " Do you think she's having second thoughts ? It's getting late , and we still haven't seen her . I she tries to run , I won't let her off easily . ' Ryan tupped at his mother's sleeve . " No , she loves ine. There's no way she'd run . Besides , she said she was preparing a surprise ! " He was still oblivious to the gravity of the situation Listen Al But as the elders urged them to take the stage , panic began to seep Ryan stood on the platform , trying to cover for Tessa's absence . in . " Please , everyone , just wait a moment . The ceremony will begin soon … " Before he could finish , murmurs rippled through the crowd . People began checking their phones , all ves now on Ryan Olivia , unable to stand it any longer , climbed onto the stage and pulled Ryan down , holding her phone in front of him . " I , Tessa Carrington , reject Alpha Ryan of the Slivermoon Pack as my mate . " The crowd gasped . " Tessa posted on social media ! " " She rejected Alpha Ryan ! " Tessa , before meeting Ryan , had been a renowned designer - an icon of freedom and love for many members of the wolf packs . No one had expected someone as successful and beloved as her to be caught in such a deceit . Ryan stood frozen , unable to process what he was seeing . In his mind , Tessa had always been thoughtful , obedient , and understanding . She had always been good to him . But now , it was clear - she had known about his relationship with Chloe all along and had hidden the fact that she was aware of it . How had she found out ? In that instant , he realized that everything happening today had been planned by Tessa . The " surprise " she had promised him ? This was it . His mind went blank , and for a moment , he stood there , stunned . A delivery man arrived at the scene , noticing the commotion . " Is Chloe Carrington here ? " The room fell silent as Chloe shyly stood up from the corner . " I'm Chloe Carrington . What's going on ? " The courier placed a package on the table in front of her . " This is from Tessa Carrington . " Chlor's eyes widened asshe recalled Tessa's words - this was a gift from her . The courier , per Tessa's instructions , opened the package in front of Chloe and the other pack members . Inside , there was a snow white wedding dress and a beautifully handcrafted bracelet . " Tessa Carrington says , ' Wishing you a happy marriage . " " The room erupted in whispers , with the crowd murmuring about Chloe and Ryan's sordid affair A few of Tessa's friends didn't hold back , angrily voicing their opinions " How could you sleep with your sister's mate behind her back ? That's disgusting ! " " A couple of llars . Don't you ever get tired of pretending ? Do you think we're all fools ? " " Disgusting ! " Chiloe's eyes filled with tears as she heard the alts . Unable to take it anymore , she turned and ran out of the ro Ryan , though , was no longer concerned about anything else . Listen Al Google Play All he wanted now was to find Tessa . Listen Al