Hidden beneath the ancient pines, I watched my mate gently support his lover as they entered the Moon Healers' Sanctuary for her prenatal examination.

Two years earlier, when I lost my first pup, the head healer had told me the truth.

It had not happened because my body was weak.

It happened because Dorian arrived too late after my labor began.

Our pup never drew its first breath.

Even after that tragedy, he never accompanied me to a single examination during this pregnancy.

There was always another excuse.

Another duty.

Another council.

Another border patrol.

I still remembered his cold voice.

"Stop behaving like a frightened pup. You are the future Luna of Blackthorn Pack. Learn to carry yourself with dignity. I have an entire pack to protect. Ask your mother to take you to the healers."

Those had been his words when I begged him to come with me.

Yet now he stood beside Seraphina, personally collecting healing herbs and protective tonics.

Only then did I understand.

He had never been too busy.

I simply had never been important enough.

He had abandoned me long ago.

The sanctuary was crowded with warriors and expecting mothers.

Dorian instinctively drew Seraphina closer.

"Little wolf, those sour berries I brought yesterday have been sitting too long. Don't eat them."

Seraphina laughed.

"They're only a day old."

"No."

His voice was full of concern.

"I won't risk anything that could harm you or our pup. Come. I'll have the kitchen prepare fresh honey milk. The mountain air is cold tonight."

She smiled playfully.

"Then you have to promise me something."

"Anything."

"When we complete our mate ceremony, I want the grandest celebration any pack has ever seen."

Dorian smiled without hesitation.

"You'll have it."

He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Give me one more moon."

"When Selene gives birth, I'll send her back to Ravenfall under the excuse that she needs time to recover."

"Then I'll publicly claim you as my true mate."

"You'll become the most admired Luna among every allied pack."

Seraphina pouted.

"You'd better keep your promise."

Dorian chuckled before leaning down to kiss her.

I stood frozen.

It felt as though something inside my chest shattered beyond repair.

Once, we had looked at each other that way.

Once, those promises had belonged to me.

Now he was planning how to erase me from his life.

Without realizing it, I followed them.

Like a wolf still bound by a broken mate bond.

The night wind swept through the forest, carrying a bitter chill.

Dorian removed his own wolf-fur cloak and wrapped it carefully around Seraphina's shoulders.

Dark clouds gathered overhead.

Thunder rolled across the mountains.

The first drops of rain began to fall.

Dorian hurried her into the carriage before she could become wet.

Standing beneath an ancient oak, I watched through the open carriage window.

My mate gently cupped her face before kissing her.

Then Seraphina slowly opened her eyes.

She looked directly at me.

Without breaking the kiss.

Instead, she wrapped her arms around Dorian's neck and kissed him even more deeply.

She had known I was there all along.

Again and again, she glanced toward me.

Every look carried the same message.

He had never truly belonged to me.

My trembling fingers reached for my communicator.

I called Dorian.

Inside the carriage, he noticed the crystal glowing with my name.

For a single heartbeat, guilt crossed his face.

Then Seraphina whispered something into his ear as she wrapped herself around him.

His expression hardened.

He dismissed the call.

I tried again.

This time he answered.

"What is it?"

His voice was filled with irritation.

"Don't you have anything better to do than interrupt me?"

Before I could speak, the connection vanished.

Moments later, he sealed his communicator against mine.

Cold rain poured from the sky.

The carriage disappeared into the darkness.

The warriors assigned to escort their Alpha followed close behind.

Soon the sanctuary courtyard was empty.

Only I remained beneath the storm.

"I release you."

My voice was barely louder than the rain.

"Dorian."

"My life no longer belongs to you."

"And neither does my heart."

Gathering what little strength I had left, I made my way to the Ravenshield Hall.

The pack's oldest lawkeeper, Lyra Ashbourne, looked up as I entered.

One glance at my soaked clothes and pale face told her everything.

She quietly removed the parchment she had been reading and handed me a dry cloak.

No unnecessary questions.

No empty comfort.

Only silent understanding.

Perhaps she had seen too many broken mate bonds in her lifetime.

Just not one involving the future Alpha.

I placed everything before her.

The recordings.

The messages.

The land transfer records.

The evidence of betrayal.

Finally, I activated the memory crystal.

Dorian's voice echoed through the chamber.

"If she gives birth to a strong male pup and accepts Seraphina as Luna, I may allow her to remain in Blackthorn."

"If she refuses, I'll use the child to force her out of the pack."

My heart tightened as the words replayed.

Slowly, I turned the silver mate ring around my finger.

Not out of hesitation.

Out of resolve.

Lyra closed the crystal.

Her gaze remained calm.

"My Lady."

"With this evidence, I will ensure your mate bond is dissolved according to the Ancient Laws."

"You deserve a future that no longer includes Alpha Dorian."

After leaving Ravenshield Hall, my communication crystal suddenly glowed.

Mother.

I answered at once.

"Selene."

Her warm voice immediately filled the silence.

"I heard from one of the servants that you had a fever yesterday."

"Did Dorian take you to the Moon Healers?"

My throat tightened.

Tears threatened to spill.

"I'm... feeling much better now."

"Don't lie to me."

She sighed softly.

"You sound exhausted."

"Are you truly alright?"

I closed my eyes.

"Yes, Mother."

"Dorian is here."

"He bought me warm honey milk."

"He even accompanied me to my examination."

"The healers said our pup may arrive at any time."

A long pause followed.

"Good."

Although doubt still lingered in her voice.

"I've never fully forgiven him for what happened to your first pup."

"But if he's finally taking care of you, perhaps he's learned."

Another wave of cold swept through me.

"Selene."

"It's raining hard."

"Come home soon."

"I made your favorite venison stew."

I bit my lip.

"I'll be home soon."

Before she could hear me cry, I ended the call.

My legs finally gave out beneath me.

I sank onto the rain-soaked forest path.

Rain beat against the earth.

The ancient bell atop the Moon Temple echoed through the valley.

Steady.

Unchanging.

The world continued moving forward.

Even though mine had completely fallen apart.

For the first time in my life, I understood that everything I had believed in had been nothing more than a beautiful lie.

Late that night, Dorian contacted me through our communication crystal.

"Selene, I'm tied up at the border. Can you ask Beta Elias to send me the trade records from the Silverfang Pack?"

I closed my eyes.

"It's past midnight."

My voice was rough with exhaustion.

"I had a fever yesterday. If you refuse to care about your own pup, then at least stop treating your pregnant mate like a pack servant."

Silence.

"...What?"

Far away, Dorian sat inside Seraphina's woodland lodge while she rested comfortably against his shoulder beside the fireplace.

The coldness in my voice had caught him completely off guard.

"Selene, little wolf, it's important. The pack needs those records."

"Then find them yourself."

I cut him off.

"Or ask one of your warriors."

My voice trembled with restrained anger.

"Why must everything fall on your pregnant mate?"

Months of bitterness finally broke free.

"Or are you trying to lose this pup too?"

"Just like our first one?"

"Selene!"

His voice rose sharply.

But I had no strength left.

Before he could continue, I severed the connection.

What I didn't know was that Dorian remained motionless for a long time.

For the first time, he realized I truly believed he was responsible for our first pup's death.

Guilt crossed his face.

Then regret.

He tried contacting me again.

I ignored every request.

The following morning, several rare Moon Roses were delivered to my chambers.

His apology.

I ordered the servants to throw them into the fire.

Later that morning, I returned to Ravenshield Hall.

Without hesitation, I signed the petition to dissolve our mate bond.

When the final seal was placed upon the parchment, I instructed Lyra to send a copy directly to Seraphina's woodland lodge.

The Moonstone Valley.

My family's ancestral land.

The home that had once belonged to me.

Five years of devotion.

Five years of sacrifice.

Now I was finally leaving it behind.

I had only just returned to my chambers when someone knocked.

Opening the door, I found Seraphina standing outside.

Around her wrist gleamed a silver moonstone bracelet.

The moment I saw it, she smiled knowingly.

"You recognize it."

She slowly lifted her arm.

My chest tightened.

Of course I recognized it.

It had been part of the ceremonial gift my father presented to Dorian and me after our mating ceremony.

A Ravenfall heirloom.

Engraved with my father's crest.

Years ago, Dorian told me it had been lost during a rogue attack.

I had mourned it for days.

Now I knew exactly where it had gone.

"What do you want?"

Instead of answering, Seraphina walked into the room without permission.

She slowly examined everything around her.

"So plain."

She smiled.

"Just like you."

Her eyes settled on me.

"No wonder Dorian grew tired of you."

She looked around again.

"When I become Luna, everything here will be replaced."

To her disappointment, I showed almost no reaction.

My thumb lightly brushed the place where my mate ring had once rested.

My heart was strangely calm.

She frowned.

I smiled instead.

"Replacing other people."

She froze.

"That's what you've always been good at."

I drew a slow breath.

"My home."

"My mate."

"My family's heirloom."

My gaze drifted briefly toward her swollen belly.

"What comes next?"

I tilted my head slightly.

"Pretending that pup is truly his?"

The color drained from her face.

Then fury replaced it.

"So what if those things were once yours?"

She snapped.

"They belong to me now."

Her hand instinctively covered her stomach.

"My pup will become Blackthorn's future Alpha."

"Unlike yours."

"Your child will grow up without a father."

I almost laughed.

"Really?"

My voice remained calm.

"You truly believe a wolf as ambitious as Dorian would abandon his own heir for anyone?"

Her expression stiffened.

"And honestly, Seraphina..."

"You can have him."

I shrugged.

"A coward who lies to everyone isn't worth fighting over."

Her eyes widened.

I continued before she could answer.

"Do you know why the former Alpha trusted me with the pack's affairs instead of his own son?"

Silence.

I answered for her.

"Because Dorian couldn't manage them."

For years I balanced the pack's stores.

Negotiated with neighboring Alphas.

Settled disputes.

Prepared winter supplies.

While Dorian carried the title, I carried the burden.

I looked directly into her eyes.

"Who cared for the widowed she-wolves after every border battle?"

"Who organized patrols whenever rogues appeared?"

"Who kept Blackthorn alive?"

The answer was obvious.

Me.

"When I leave..."

"Every responsibility becomes yours."

I smiled faintly.

"I wish you luck."

For the first time, panic flashed across her face.

Dorian had promised her the position of Luna.

He had never told her what that position truly required.

"I'd rather free myself from people like you than waste another day living this lie."

I rested both hands over my stomach.

Then I turned to leave.

Seraphina's expression twisted with rage.

"What are you planning?"

She stepped forward.

"You think I believe you're giving him up so easily?"

Without warning, she seized my hair.

Pain shot across my scalp.

"You miserable wolf!"

She yanked harder.

"What did you say to Dorian last night?"

Her voice trembled with fury.

"Why did he leave me before dawn?"

I struggled to pull away.

She shoved me with all her strength.

Everything happened in an instant.

My foot slipped across the polished stone floor.

Then I fell.

Pain exploded through my abdomen.

For one terrible moment, I couldn't breathe.

Then I saw it.

Blood.

Dark red against the stone.

My vision blurred.

No.

Please...

Not again.

The memory of losing my first pup flooded back.

I looked up.

Seraphina stood frozen.

Terror filled her face.

Then she turned and fled.

Coward.

Monster.

I wrapped both arms around my stomach.

"Help!"

My voice broke.

"Please..."

"Save my pup!"

I screamed until my throat burned.

"Someone..."

"Help me!"

Shaking uncontrollably, I reached for my communication crystal.

I called Dorian.

The connection formed immediately.

For my pup, I was willing to beg.

"Dorian..."

He never let me finish.

"You caused enough trouble yesterday."

His voice was cold.

"And now you've skipped the elders' council as well?"

"I'm busy fixing the problems you created."

The crystal went dark.

He had ended the call.

I stared at it in disbelief.

The wolf I had loved all my life had abandoned me once again.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

"My Lady!"

An elderly servant rushed into the chamber.

The moment he saw the blood, his face turned white.

"Moon Goddess..."

He shouted toward the doorway.

"Fetch the healers!"

"Inform the Alpha immediately!"

The room began to spin.

Voices faded into the distance.

"My Lady, stay with us!"

"Please don't close your eyes!"

I tried.

I truly tried.

But the pain swallowed everything.

Darkness slowly consumed my vision.

Just before unconsciousness claimed me, one final thought echoed through my mind.

If I lose this pup...

I will stand before the Council of Alphas myself.

I will sever my mate bond.

And I will erase Dorian Blackthorne from my life forever.