A sudden, searing pain tore through my chest. The mate bond tore at me, howling, demanding answers. My face went pale instantly, and my body swayed beyond my control.

"Kath!" Derek caught me immediately, panic flooding his face. "What's wrong?"

Nearby guests glanced our way with concern.

"I..." I clutched my chest, gasping for air. "I'm fine..."

"I'm taking you to the hospital!" His voice shook.

"No." I steadied myself with effort. "It might be... the moonstone's energy. It's overwhelming me."

"The moonstone?"

"Yeah." I took a deep breath. "Its power is too strong. My body needs time to adjust."

Derek hesitated, then pulled me close. "Let's go home first. If you still feel bad, we're going to the hospital."

I looked at his worried expression and found it almost laughable. He was such a good actor. Finally, I managed a weak nod.

In the car, I leaned back against the seat with my eyes closed. The gemstone pendant burned hot beneath my clothes, desperately suppressing the mate bond's furious reaction.

"Derek," I spoke suddenly.

"Mm?"

"I heard an old legend once."

"What legend?" He held my hand.

"Alphas who betray their mates have their power taken back by the Moon Goddess."

Derek's hand stiffened around mine. The air in the car froze for several seconds. A moment later, he laughed. "Then I'm perfectly safe."

He leaned closer, looking seriously into my eyes. "Katherine, I swear I will never betray you.

"You're the most precious thing in my life." He kissed my forehead. "How could I ever betray you?"

I closed my eyes and let his lies wash over me. If I didn't know the truth, I'd probably be moved to tears.

Halfway home, Derek's private phone rang. Only the pack's inner circle and his closest contacts knew that number.

He glanced at the caller ID, and his expression changed completely.

"Stop the car," he said to our driver, David Knight.

The car pulled over to the side of the road. Derek turned to me, apology written all over his face. "Kath, there's an emergency at the border."

"What kind of emergency?"

"Rival pack invasion. I have to get there immediately." He sounded anxious. "Go home and rest. I'll be back as soon as I handle this."

"Should I go with you?"

"No, the border is dangerous." Derek opened the car door. "Get some rest. Wait for me to come back."

I got out of the car, and he quickly flagged down a cab for me. I then watched his car disappear into the night.

"Ma'am, where are we..." the driver asked.

"Follow that car." I cut him off.

"But the gentleman just said..."

"Follow it."

The driver hesitated for a second, then pressed the gas pedal. We tailed Derek's car from a distance. It didn't head toward the border. Instead, it drove to the opposite end of the city.

Finally, the car pulled into a private airfield.

"Ma'am, this is..." The driver sounded surprised.

"Stop here."

I got out and hid in the shadows of the parking lot. Derek's figure appeared on the tarmac. That was when I saw her.

Her blonde hair whipped in the night wind, and she had a body that turned heads. She wore a fitted flight attendant uniform, the skirt short enough to show off her long, slender legs. Her heels clicked crisply against the pavement.

It was the woman from the livestream, Sheila Thorne. She ran toward Derek with a smile and threw herself into his arms. He didn't push her away.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. Under the moonlight, two figures clung tightly together. Then they walked toward the private jet together, climbed aboard, and entered the cockpit.

The cabin lights turned on. Through the window, I saw two silhouettes tangled together.

Their bodies intertwined. Her hands climbed up his neck, and he pressed her against the control panel. I turned away and stumbled back to the car.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror.

I didn't answer.

"Ah." The driver sighed. "Ma'am, rich men like that are all the same. They have one at home, but keep one outside. You just... Just put up with it, and it shall pass. Making a fuss over this kind of thing isn't worth it."

I clutched the cold gemstone pendant at my chest. It felt like ice, just like my heart in this moment.

"No." My voice came out hoarse but absolutely firm. "I won't forgive this."

"You sold the moonstone?"

Derek burst through the door in the rain, clutching a jewelry box. Water dripped from his hair onto the expensive carpet below.

"Why? I bought that specifically for you! It could enhance your Luna abilities!" His voice rang with disbelief.

I looked at him calmly. "Because I don't need it."

"Katherine Vance." His voice took on that Alpha authority. "Why did you get rid of it?"

"I donated all the money to Pup Relief Foundation." My voice stayed light. "Anonymously. Abandoned wolves need the help more than I do."

Derek froze, then opened the jewelry box. Inside lay the Deep Sea Moonstone, glowing with ethereal blue light.

"I tracked it down at the auction house and bought it back." He walked toward me and grabbed my hand. "This belongs to you. It always will!"

He gently fastened the necklace around my neck again. The gemstone settled against my collarbone, feeling ice-cold.

"Katherine, you've been acting strange lately." He stared into my eyes. "Tell me what's going on."

I didn't struggle and let him do as he pleased. "Nothing. I just think money should be used for something meaningful."

Just then, his phone rang. It was his Betas.

"Alpha Derek, the inner circle is meeting tonight. Are you coming?" Noisy chatter came through the speaker.

Derek instinctively started to refuse, but I spoke up. "You should go. Spend time with them."

He looked at me in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll go with you." I smiled. "I haven't seen them in a while."

An hour later, we sat in a private room at the city's most exclusive restaurant. Derek's three Betas and several core pack members were already there. The table overflowed with expensive dishes and fine wines.

Derek always acted especially attentive toward me at gatherings. Tonight was no exception.

He forbade anyone from shifting in front of me. "Katherine doesn't like seeing that wild side."

He wouldn't let them discuss bloody territory disputes. "We're only talking about light topics tonight."

All evening, he devoted himself to serving me. He cut my steak, peeled my shrimp, and poured my wine. Every gesture was meticulous.

"Katherine likes her steak medium rare."

He placed food on my plate tenderly. "She doesn't eat spicy food, but she loves sweets. I remember all her habits and preferences."

The Betas always marveled at Derek's attentiveness.

"Alpha Derek, the way you treat Luna Katherine is just..." One of them sighed. "We're genuinely touched."

"It's what I should do." Derek's tone was firm. "Katherine is the most precious person in my life. She deserves all my tenderness."

He turned to look at me, his gaze overflowing with warmth. "Right, my moon?"

I nodded, my lips curving into a perfect smile. "Derek has always been wonderful to me. He's never let me down."

The room erupted with teasing laughter.

"Alpha Derek, you're a role model for all male wolves!"

"No wonder Luna loves you so much! Look how sweet you two are!"

"This is what a perfect mate bond looks like! We should all learn from you!"

Derek beamed at the praise and pulled me closer. "Katherine deserves the best of everything. Nothing makes me prouder than being her Alpha."

He announced in front of everyone, "In this world, no one is more important than Katherine. She's my everything."

Applause and admiration filled the air. The Betas raised their glasses in toast.

"To Alpha Derek and Luna Katherine's eternal happiness!"

"A match made in heaven!"

"The perfect mates!"

I raised my glass and clinked it gently against Derek's. The wine sparkled under the lights, just like the devotion in his eyes.

If I didn't know the truth, I'd feel lucky to have someone so attentive. But now, I only felt disgusted.

"I'm heading home."

After several rounds of drinks, I stood up and smoothed my skirt gracefully. "You all keep talking. I'm a bit tired."

Derek immediately rose. "Let me take you back."

"No need." I pressed his shoulder down. "You hardly ever get together with everyone. Stay and chat. I can get home on my own."

"Then let me have David take you."

"I'll call a cab." I kissed his forehead. "Take care of yourself. Don't drink too much."

Derek watched me leave with reluctance written all over his face.

The Betas teased him. "Alpha Derek, you two are inseparable."

I walked out of the private room and waited for my ride at the restaurant entrance. It was raining today, so the traffic was heavy.

About 30 minutes later, I spotted a familiar figure. It was Sheila.

She wore a tight red dress with a plunging neckline and stiletto heels, walking toward the restaurant with deliberate allure. Her blonde hair whipped in the night wind. Every step dripped with calculated seduction.

I followed her instinctively. Instead of walking to the front desk, she walked straight toward the private room where Derek was. Clearly, she knew exactly where to go.

The moment a server pushed open the door for her, a thick wave of pheromones hit me. Derek's cedarwood scent and Sheila's rose sweetness twisted together into a nauseating combination.

I hid in the shadows around the corner and watched Sheila throw herself straight into Derek's arms. He didn't push her away.

"Babe!" Sheila called out in that sickeningly sweet voice. "I missed you! I've been waiting forever!"

The door to the private room closed, but the soundproofing in this restaurant wasn't perfect. I heard laughter and the clinking of glasses inside.

"Come on, since Sheila's here, let's play a game!" The Betas hollered. Their voices carried through the gap under the door.

"How about Truth or Dare?"

"Great idea! That'll make things interesting!"

Then came the crisp sound of glasses clinking, mixed with Sheila's bell-like laughter. Ten minutes later, Derek's voice drifted out, slightly slurred with alcohol.

"Alright, alright. I pick truth. You guys are all such gossips."

"Alpha Derek, tell us about your most thrilling experience!" The Betas laughed mischievously.

Derek laughed. "That time in the cockpit. In the pilot's seat, high above the clouds. I felt like I was conquering the sky. I can't even describe it."

"Wow, Alpha Derek is on another level! Even having fun in the sky!"

"We can only be jealous!"

I heard Sheila's flirtatious giggle. "Then, should we go somewhere even higher next time? How about a spaceship?"

"Ha, we could consider it." Derek's voice carried an indulgent laugh. "Whatever you want."

Then came another Beta's curious voice. "Alpha Derek, what do you think is the difference between a Luna and a lover? We're all really curious."

There was a brief silence.

Derek spoke slowly, his voice turning contemplative. "A mate is your safe harbor. A lover is the thrill of the storm. The harbor gives you peace, belonging. The storm gives you excitement, the thrill of conquest."

"Exactly right!"

"Men need a little spice in life! Otherwise, it's so boring!"

"Absolutely! What you have at home gets too familiar. A lover feels fresh!"

"But Alpha Derek, you need to be careful. Don't let Luna Katherine find out," someone reminded him.

Derek's voice turned serious. "Of course. Katherine absolutely can't know. If she ever finds out..."

He paused, his tone worried. "All of you remember this. Don't slip up in any way in front of Katherine. She's my Luna. No matter what, this can't reach her."

"Don't worry, Alpha Derek. We're not idiots. How could we let Luna Katherine find out?"

"Exactly. We're all adults. We know what matters."

I stood outside the door, my body trembling. It wasn't from anger or heartbreak, but from a sense of disgust. Pure, overwhelming disgust.

So the entire pack leadership knew. Everyone knew about Derek's affair and was helping him cover it up. Only I was kept in the dark, like a fool.

Everyone was laughing at me. I turned and stumbled toward the elevator. When my finger pressed the button, I noticed my hand shaking.

It was pouring outside. I walked through the rain, letting the water hit my face. I couldn't tell if it was rain or tears.

A memory surfaced from years ago. That winter, when I was 17 years old, I got caught in a bear trap. My leg bled heavily, but Derek found me and carried me on his back through the blizzard all night long.

"Katherine, don't be scared. I'll get you home." Back then, his eyes were so clear and sincere. "I'll never let you get hurt."

How ironic.

I didn't know how long I walked. It was such a long journey, much longer than the journey Derek carried me home when I was 17 years old.