After seven years as Elias’s destined mate-to-be, I should have known better.

I should have known I was only a second option—a face to stand next to him during day meetings and dumped at night. But the truth has a way of slamming into you when you least expect it.

Harsh, unforgiving, truth.

On the eve of the Crescent Bonding Ceremony, where Elias and I were to publicly affirm our mate bond, he sent me a gift via a messenger: a silver charm bracelet adorned with tiny wolf pendants. The note read, "For my perfect Luna. Wear this tomorrow and make me proud, Talia."

Seven years together, and this was his grand gesture? My wolf, Ember, growled low in my mind. Even she could sense the mockery in the gift.

Then my head immediately caught on. Talia?

Who was Talia?

I rushed out to find the messenger, but he was long gone, leaving me standing note and gift in hand.

Later that evening, while the rest of the pack buzzed with preparations for the ceremony, I decided to take a walk near the sacred springs. The springs were a place of purity and connection to the Moon Goddess, a site where mates often found clarity and comfort. I needed both.

But what I found instead shattered me.

The sound of laughter—feminine, followed by the familiar grunts of a man—floated through the air. I crept closer, staying hidden behind the thick pines. There they were: Elias and a woman having a bath in the sacred water.

The woman’s face looked like we’d met before, and when I tried to remember, I got it. Elias had introduced me to her some time ago when she first joined our pack. She was fair and beautiful; the kind of woman Elias would love to have in his bed. But since she was infamous for her promiscuous life, I believed Elias had class.

Sadly, I had to watch them in the spring together, surrounded by floating moonflowers, their petals glowing softly in the moonlight.

“This is our secret, Talia,” Elias murmured, his hand trailing through her wet hair. “No one can know.”

Talia’s laughter bubbled up again. “Oh, Elias, you worry too much. Besides, it’s not like Selene could ever compare to me. She’s so... plain.”

Plain. The word cut deeper than I cared to admit. I stepped back, accidentally snapping a twig underfoot. Both their heads snapped in my direction, their heightened senses immediately alert. I stepped into the clearing, letting the moonlight illuminate my presence.

“Selene,” Elias said with concern. “What are you doing out here?”

I ignored him, my eyes fixed on Talia. She smirked, unbothered by my presence. The audacity of it all made Ember snarl inside me. But I forced myself to stay calm, to be composed.

“Just thought I’d take a walk,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “Didn’t realize you’d be... busy.”

Elias stepped out of the water, grabbing a towel to wrap around himself. “Don’t do this, Selene. You’re overthinking things again. Talia and I were just discussing pack business.”

“In the sacred springs? Naked?” I raised an eyebrow. “Interesting business strategy.”

Talia chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Elias, she’s so dramatic. You really should teach her to act.”

That was the final straw. I reached into my pocket, pulled out the charm bracelet, and tossed it at Elias’s feet. The tiny wolf pendants jingled mockingly as they hit the ground.

“Keep it,” I said coldly. “I guess these were for her. It would really suit her.”

Elias’s eyes darkened, his temper flaring. “How did you get your hands on those? They are not yours.”

“Obviously. You never found me deserving of anything.”

“Selene, stop being so childish. You’re my mate, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. But that doesn’t mean I have to put up with your paranoia.”

I laughed bitterly. “Paranoia? You’re the one sneaking around with another woman on the eve of our bonding ceremony. But fine, Elias. You win. I’m done.”

With that, I turned on my heel and walked away. Ember howled in approval, her morale swelling with pride.

Back at the pack house, the atmosphere was festive. Wolves from neighboring territories had arrived, the air buzzing with excitement for the ceremony. But I couldn’t face them, not like this. Instead, I retreated to my room, locking the door behind me.

Sinking onto my bed, I pulled out a pen and a piece of paper. I was going to send a letter to my family. At least it could get to them before they arrived here.

"....Elias has been unfaithful. The bonding ceremony is off."

Reading my written words forced the tears from my eyes and onto the sheet. I wrapped the paper into a smaller piece and sent the fastest runner to deliver it.

The next morning, Elias barged in without knocking, his face furious. In his hands were two letters. He threw them onto the bed, their content opening up for me to read.

I could tell one was mine, and the other a response from my father.

“Happy now?” he snapped. “You got your father to question my leadership and control over my pack. I’m sorry you had to see what you did last night, but the ceremony’s still on. So get up and get dressed. Everyone’s waiting.”

I stared at him, incredulous. “You’re unbelievable. Do you really think a half-baked apology and my father’s support will fix this?”

“Selene, stop being so difficult,” he growled. “You’re my mate. It’s time you started acting like it.”

I stood up. “No, Elias. It’s time you started acting like a mate. But don’t bother. I’m done being your second choice.”

His eyes flashed with anger. “You don’t get to walk away from this. From me.”

“Well, watch me,” I said and brushed past him.

The pack could whisper all they wanted. I had made my decision. And I was going to keep to it.

Tonight I was going to head to Bright Dawn and stay with Venice and her pack for a while before figuring out what next.

Elias’s voice haunted me, his commands, his lies. All the promises he made were nothing but empty words. He had chosen appearances over the truth, power over loyalty. There was nothing left for me here but pain.

“Seize her”

Elias’s barked an order behind me and I froze in my tracks. My stomach dropped as I turned slowly.

He was leaning against a pillar, his posture as casual as if he were watching a game.

“You have to let me go,” I said, my voice breaking as I spoke out.

A muscle in his jaw ticked, but he didn’t budge. “You’re not leaving, Selene.”

“I am,” I shot back, trying to sidestep the guards blocking my path.

But they were faster, their huge frame cutting me off with ease. Before I could make another move, he raised a hand, and they tried to hold me.

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, but they didn’t stop. Rough hands grabbed my arms, holding me in place. I thrashed against their grip, but it was no use.

Elias closed the distance between us. His eyes burned into mine, his face tense as he spoke. “You will not embarrass me tonight. Do you have any idea what it would look like if the Alpha’s mate ran away on the night of the bonding ceremony?”

I glared at him, forcing my voice to stay steady. “You care more about your reputation than you ever did about me. I won’t be paraded around like some ornament for your ego, Elias. Let me go.”

His gaze softened for a split second, a flicker of hesitation that almost made me falter. But then, just as quickly, his mask slipped back into place. “You’re not thinking clearly,” he said, his tone almost patronizing. “This is the bond speaking. You don’t really want to leave.”

I laughed bitterly. “The bond? You destroyed that bond the moment you lied, cheated and spat on our union. Don’t pretend to care now.”

The words hit him like a slap, but he wasn’t giving me up. He turned to the guards, his voice cold and authoritative. “Take her to the room and lock her in. She doesn’t leave until the ceremony begins.”

“No!” I yelled, struggling against the guards as they dragged me away.

I turned my head, shouting over my shoulder. “You’ll regret this, Elias! I will never forgive you!”

He didn’t respond, didn’t even look at me. His eyes were just staring at the floor, deep in thoughts, but he said nothing.

The guards pushed me through a side door, my boots scrapping against the stone floor as I kept resisting, but it was no use. They were too strong.

We stopped in front of a small, dimly lit room. Without ceremony, they shoved me inside. I stumbled, catching myself against the cold, bare wall as the heavy door slammed shut behind me.

The sound of the lock clicking into place brough reality to my eyes, but I refused to let it show. I turned to face the door, pressing my palms against it as if I could will it open.

“This isn’t over,” I muttered, a part of me losing hope.

But the hallway beyond was silent, the guards’ footsteps fading into the distance. I was alone.

The room was small, with only a narrow cot and a barred window letting in the faintest light from outside. I squeezed myself to one edge of the room, my hands trembling as I clenched them into fists.

My wolf stirred within me, restless and angry. She hated this as much as I did, but there was little comfort in that shared fury.

Elias wanted me to know that I couldn’t run away from him. Message passed.

I didn’t know how, but I would find a way out.

For a moment, I tried to bask in the silence and listen for any sounds.

I heard one instantly.

A loud knock on the door, startling me.

My head snapped toward the door, my heart pounding. For a moment, I thought it might be Elias, coming to gloat or perhaps to demand some forced apology.

Instead, the lock rattled, and the door creaked open.

My maid, Maria stepped inside, balancing a tray with a plate of food. Her face was calm, almost neutral, but her dark eyes betrayed her. I knew something was up.

She closed the door behind her and approached me, setting the tray down on the cot with a bit more force than necessary.

“Maria,” I began, confused, “how did you—”

She cut me off with a sharp whisper. “My Queen, please keep your voice down.”

I blinked at her, taken aback. My eyes darted to the tray—simple bread and stew, nothing out of the ordinary—and then back to her. “What are you doing here?”

She straightened, glancing over her shoulder as if she expected someone to burst in at any moment. “I’m here to get you out of here,” she said firmly.

“What?” I stared at her, trying to process her words. “Maria, what are you talking about? How did you even know I was—”

“I saw the guards drag you away,” she interrupted again. “I sent word to the closest person I knew, Venice as soon as I could. She ordered me to get you out of here by any means necessary.”

Venice. My friend turned sister. The mention of her name gave me hope.

“Rise, my Queen. There’s limited time before the ceremony starts.”

I hesitated, still trying to make sense of everything. Maria had always been loyal, but this? Risking her own safety to help me escape?

She didn’t give me time to question it further. “The food is just a cover,” she said, pulling me to my feet. “We need to leave. Now.”

I followed her, clutching the small bag she thrust into my hands. “Maria, this doesn’t make any sense. Elias—”

“Elias isn’t here,” she snapped. “He’s busy playing Alpha for his bonding ceremony. He won’t notice you’re gone until it’s too late.”

As we moved out the door, bodies of guards laid on the hallway unconscious with bowls of stew beside them.

“Poison,” she explained. “Not lethal, just enough to knock out the guards for a few hours. It would soon be out of their systems.”

I gaped at her. “You poisoned them?”

Maria gave me a look. “I had no other choice, My Queen.”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“To the border of Bright Dawn,” she replied curtly. “There’s a passage that leads out of the pack territory. There, we’ll meet Venice.”

Bright Dawn. My sanctuary.

As we fled the gates, my mind began to replay everything I had endured in this cursed place. Elias’s favoritism toward Talia and the other women who constantly vied for his attention. The countless nights I spent alone, waiting for him to come home, only to find out he’d already eaten, laughed, and shared his time with someone else.

I thought about the mornings when I woke up to an empty bed, and the excuses he gave when I asked him why he was so distant. The promises he made but never kept.

The betrayal burned hotter with every step.

“My Queen,” Maria called out, her voice breaking through my thoughts. “We’re almost there.”

I nodded, wiping at my eyes. I didn’t even realize I had been crying.

I stopped and turned back toward the direction of Elias’s pack, his palace barely visible in the distance.

And then it hit me.

Everything I had endured. Seven years of pain, humiliation, and neglect. Seven years of hoping that things would change, that Elias would see me as more than an obligation. Seven years of watching him take and take while giving nothing in return.

The thought crushed me, and I sank to my knees, letting the tears flow freely.

Maria knelt beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder, but she said nothing.

I cried for the sad, lonely woman Elias had turned me into. I cried for the years I wasted on a man who never saw my worth. A loveless mate.

The sobs racked my body, releasing years of pent-up pain and frustration.

And then, a voice broke through the night.

“You won’t have to cry again. Ever.”

I froze, my breath hitching. Slowly, I turned toward the voice, and there she was.

“Venice!” I scrambled to my feet and rushed to her.

She opened her arms, and I threw myself into her embrace.

Venice held me tightly, one hand cradling the back of my head. “You’re safe now, Selene,” she whispered.

She took my hand and led us down the path to her pack.

When we emerged into the heart of the Bright Dawn pack, it was like stepping into another world. Warm lights and pack members moved about, all welcoming.

“You’re home now.” Venice glanced at me, smiling softly.

She turned to one of the nearby pack members. “Prepare a bath for her and have the kitchen make something warm. She needs to eat.”

The pack member nodded and hurried off. Moments later, I was relaxing in a tub filled with steaming water, and fragrant oils floated on the surface.

After my bath, I dressed in the clean, soft clothes Maria had packed for me and made my way to the dining room. Venice was already seated with a few other pack members, including Maria.

I smiled at her as I took my seat. “Thank you, Maria. I don’t even know how to begin repaying you for what you’ve done.”

Maria shook her head, her cheeks flushing. “You don’t need to thank me, my Queen. It was the right thing to do.”

The meal was lively, laughter and stories going round the table. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering back to Elias.

What was happening at the bonding ceremony? Had he noticed my absence? Were his guards already searching for me?

Venice seemed to notice my distraction. “Stop,” she said, gently placing a hand over mine.

I blinked at her. “What?”

“You’re thinking about him,” she said.

I swallowed hard, “But what if—”

“No,” Venice said firmly. “You’re not going back to him. That’s not an option. Not anymore.”

I nodded, her conviction giving me strength.

That night, I slept better than I had in years and when I woke up, Venice greeted me alongside the morning light.

She had been sitting beside my bed with a tense look and her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Venice?” I sat up. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Elias is here.”

The blood drained from my face. “What?”

“He’s outside,” she said. “With a group of his strongest pack warriors. He’s demanding to see you.”

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, anger replacing the fear in my chest. “He has no right. Right?”

“I know,” Venice said, standing as I did. “But he’s here, and he’s not leaving without a fight. I need to know, Selene. If it comes to war, will you stand by me? I don't want your feelings to meddle.”

Her words hit me like a slap. But there was no hesitation in my answer. “Yes,” I said firmly.

Venice nodded, her expression softening. “Good. Then let’s show him what happens when he tries to control you.”

I followed her outside immediately, repeating to myself the words I'll use to reject him in the presence of everyone.

Then, the moment my eyes fell on him, my speech filtered to the wind. His piercing gaze locked onto me the moment he saw me and he cleared his throat to speak.

But before he could speak, another voice rang out from among the men gathered, loud and clear.

“I challenge you, Elias, Alpha of the Crescent Pack!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd as a man stepped forward, tall, broad shouldered with blazing hazel eyes.

“A fight to the death. Winner takes the damsel as mate.” the stranger announced, pointing a finger at me.

The words registered in seconds, leaving me in shock.

It was a challenge.

A fight to the death.

For me.