Three years had passed since I lost my wolf. Three years of silence, of feeling like a hollow shell of who I once was. I had lived in a constant state of numbness, unable to shift, unable to feel the pulse of my instincts the way I once did. But tonight, everything changed.

The connection had returned like a long-lost heartbeat, weak but steady. My wolf stirred at the edge of my consciousness, groggy from years of forced slumber but alive. The void that had plagued me for so long had begun to fill, the bond between us mending, knitting together what I thought was lost forever.

I was whole again.

The first thing I wanted to do was tell Caleb.

For Three years, he had been my mate, my anchor—the reason I held on when the darkness of being wolfless threatened to consume me. Even when the pack whispered behind my back, calling me weak, broken, unfit to be the Luna of the Riverdale Pack, Caleb had remained at my side. He had reassured me, promising that my worth was not tied to my ability to shift.

I had believed him.

I had believed that, despite my missing wolf, he still saw me as his mate. That I was enough.

That lie unraveled the moment I reached the packhouse and overheard a conversation that shattered everything.

“I still love Astrid,” Caleb admitted, his deep voice heavy with regret. “I’ve decided to give her the Riverdale lands.”

The world tilted beneath me.

I had been seconds away from pushing open the doors, my heart still soaring from the realization that I was no longer wolfless. But at Caleb’s words, my body turned to stone.

From inside the grand meeting hall, Darius, Caleb’s Beta and closest friend, let out an incredulous chuckle. “You’re serious? Giving her your land? That’s reckless, even for you.”

“I owe her that much,” Caleb said smoothly. “Astrid didn’t choose me back then, but I can still prove I never stopped loving her.”

A sharp, clawing pain tightened around my ribs.

No.

I must have misheard. This had to be a misunderstanding.

I pressed my palm against the cool wooden surface of the door, my breath shallow, my pulse thundering.

Darius scoffed. “And what about Nyra?”

Silence stretched for a moment, thick with unspoken truths.

“She told me she loved me,” Caleb finally said, his tone eerily calm. “She swore she’d stand by me through anything. A little hardship won’t kill her.”

The casual dismissal in his voice sent ice down my spine.

Darius exhaled sharply, frustration clear in his tone. “You marked her, Caleb. You made her Luna. You spent Three years with her. Does none of that mean anything to you?”

There was no hesitation in Caleb’s response. “I marked her because it was necessary. Without her wolf, she was vulnerable. I needed to keep her away from Lucian and secure Astrid’s happiness.”

My stomach twisted violently.

So that was the truth.

The mate bond that I had endured—forced upon me with empty reassurances and carefully crafted lies—had never been real to him.

I wasn’t his choice.

I was a shield, a pawn in his plans to protect another woman.

The sharp scent of betrayal filled my senses, bitter and overwhelming. My nails dug into my palms, a futile attempt to ground myself against the storm raging inside me.

Darius’s voice was softer now, hesitant. “Caleb, if Nyra ever finds out—”

“She won’t.” Caleb’s voice was absolute. “She’s wolfless. She can’t sense what’s right in front of her.”

A tremor ran through me, my entire body locking in place.

I clenched my teeth, swallowing the sharp scream building in my throat.

Three years.

For Three years, I had been a fool.

The winter air burned against my skin as I stood there, unmoving. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, dusting the ground in an untouched white blanket, but I felt none of the cold.

All I felt was the steady unraveling of everything I thought I knew.

When I had lost my wolf, I had mourned. I had grieved the part of me that had been ripped away, believing I would never be whole again. But through it all, I had held on to Caleb.

Now, I realized I had been mourning the wrong loss.

It wasn’t my wolf’s absence that had truly broken me.

It was Caleb’s betrayal.

I had trusted him. I had loved him. And all along, he had been waiting for the moment he could rid himself of me.

My hands trembled as I pressed them against the cold stone of the packhouse. A dark, bitter laugh threatened to escape my lips.

What a fool I had been

I forced myself to move, shoving open the doors to the grand hall.

Darius saw me first. His dark eyes widened in alarm, his expression flickering with something dangerously close to pity.

“N-Nyra—”

Caleb turned sharply at his Beta’s stammer, his golden gaze locking onto mine.

For a fleeting second, something raw flashed in his expression—an instinctive flicker of guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an infuriating calm.

“What are you so panicked about?” Caleb said smoothly. “She doesn’t have her wolf. She wouldn’t have sensed a thing.”

The words twisted like a blade in my gut.

Darius visibly relaxed, even chuckling under his breath. “Right. Of course.”

Caleb rose from his chair and approached me, his steps measured, his expression warm and familiar. As if the past Three minutes hadn’t destroyed me.

He picked up a thick fur-lined cloak from the chair and draped it over my shoulders. His fingers brushed against my skin, warm and steady.

A lie.

His golden eyes softened, his voice carrying that familiar gentle lilt. “What were you doing outside in the cold, love?”

Once, I would have been moved by his concern. I would have believed in the sincerity of his words, in the kindness in his eyes.

Now, every gesture, every touch, every carefully crafted word felt like part of an elaborate deception.

I forced a small, tight-lipped smile. “I was just… taking a walk.”

Caleb studied me for a moment, searching my face.

I gave him nothing.

The rage, the grief, the heartbreak—I buried it deep.

He couldn’t know.

Not yet.

But something in my silence unsettled him. His fingers lingered on the edges of my cloak, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “Is something wrong?”

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “Nothing at all.”

He didn’t look convinced.

Daruus cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly. “Nyra, we were just—”

“I’m exhausted,” I cut in smoothly, my voice steady. “I think I’ll rest early tonight.”

Caleb’s hand curled slightly against my cloak before he finally let go.

“Of course,” he said, his voice unreadable. “Sleep well, love.”

I turned on my heel and walked away.

Not once did I look back.

Because I knew if I did, I might break.

And I couldn’t afford to break.

Three years ago, I had no choice.

The night of the Bloodmoon War, Riverdale Pack stood on the brink of destruction. The battlefield was drenched in blood, the air thick with the scent of death. My father, Beta of the Nightbane Pack, fought fiercely to protect our warriors, but we were outnumbered. Lucian the Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack, had come for me.

His claim was clear—I was his fated mate.

At the time, my wolf, had whispered of a bond, a connection she sensed in Lucian presence. But before I could understand what it meant, my father rejected the idea outright. He didn’t trust Lucian, and neither did I.

The battle was my father’s attempt to keep me from Lucian grasp. But it wasn’t a war we could win.

Then came Caleb’s offer.

Riverdale was the strongest of the allied packs. Caleb, their Alpha, was ruthless, feared across the region. He had no interest in a mate, but he made my father a promise:

"Give me Nyra, and I will ensure Nightbane survives this war. I will take her as my Luna, and Lucian will never lay claim to her."

A forced bond. A cold transaction.

It was never love.

And yet, I had been fool enough to believe that over time, Caleb had come to care.

Now, standing in the aftermath of what I overheard, I realized the truth—he had never seen me as anything but a shield. A pawn. A burden he had endured out of necessity.

Not his Luna.

Never his mate.

The night I was marked still haunted me.

After the war had ended and Caleb had upheld his end of the bargain, I had been brought to Riverdale’s estate. The packhouse, a towering stone fortress nestled deep in the mountains, had felt more like a prison than a home.

I remembered the way Caleb had looked at me that night—impassive, detached, his golden eyes unreadable. There was no warmth, no tenderness. Just obligation.

“You will be Luna,” he had said simply, unbuttoning his shirt with slow precision. “This is the price of peace.”

My wolf had stirred in protest. Everything in me had screamed that this wasn’t right, that this wasn’t how a bond should feel. But there had been no choice.

Caleb had bitten down on my neck, sealing our bond with cold finality. I had clenched my teeth against the pain, my body trembling as the forced connection took root. A mate bond was supposed to feel like fire and lightning, a rush of power that united two souls.

For me, it had felt like chains tightening around my throat.

For him, it had meant nothing.

That night, I had lain awake, staring at the ceiling, waiting for something—anything—to change. But Caleb had remained distant, leaving the room as soon as the bond was sealed.

And I had learned, in that moment, that I was nothing more than a means to an end.

Back in the present, the weight of that memory pressed down on me as I climbed the stairs to my room in the packhouse. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my expression neutral.

I couldn’t let Caleb see the truth.

I couldn’t let him know I had heard everything.

The halls of Riverdale were quiet, the pack already asleep for the night. The massive stone walls made the space feel cold, unwelcoming. I passed the portraits of Alphas before Caleb, their watchful eyes seeming to follow me as I walked.

For years, I had convinced myself that this was my home.

I had convinced myself that Caleb would someday see me.

How pathetic.

I stepped into my room, shutting the heavy oak door behind me. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting silver streaks across the floor. I crossed the room and braced my hands against the wooden dresser, my breathing uneven.

I touched my neck where Caleb’s mark burned.

Could I break the bond?

The thought had never fully formed before tonight. A bond between mates wasn’t meant to be severed—it was meant to last for life. But tonight, something had shifted in me.

For the first time in Three years, I wasn’t afraid of the consequences.

I reached for the pendant around my neck—a simple silver charm in the shape of a crescent moon. My mother had given it to me before the war, whispering that it held a protection spell, that I should never remove it.

I had kept it close all these years, even when my father had fallen in battle, even when my mother had disappeared.

Now, I clutched it so tightly that the edges dug into my palm.

"You will be Luna. This is the price of peace."

No.

I would not pay this price any longer.

A knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. My pulse jumped, and I turned sharply, schooling my expression into calm neutrality.

“Caleb?” I called, though I already knew who it was.

The door pushed open, and sure enough, he stood there. Tall, powerful, exuding the quiet dominance of an Alpha who had never been questioned. His golden eyes studied me, unreadable as ever.

His gaze flickered to my clenched fist. “What are you holding?”

I forced a small smile and released the pendant, letting it rest against my collarbone. “Nothing. Just a habit.”

Caleb stepped inside, his presence filling the space. He didn’t come near me, but he didn’t need to. His presence was enough to suffocate.

His expression remained unreadable as he spoke. “You’ve been quiet tonight.”

A test.

He was gauging me, searching for any cracks in my facade.

I met his gaze steadily. “I’m just tired.”

Another test.

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. Instead, he nodded toward the bed. “Get some rest. There’s a gathering tomorrow.”

Astrid’s gathering.

The one where the entire pack would celebrate the true Luna—the woman Caleb actually wanted.

My stomach twisted, but I kept my expression neutral. “Of course.”

Caleb lingered for a moment longer, as if debating something, but then he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

I waited, listening to his retreating footsteps.

Then I exhaled shakily, my hands trembling as I pressed them against the dresser.

Tomorrow, the pack would gather.

Tomorrow, Caleb would stand at Astrid’s side.

Tomorrow, I would be nothing more than an afterthought.

But tomorrow would also be the last time I let them humiliate me.

Tomorrow, my plan would begin.

I would break this mate bond.

I would leave.

And I would never look back.

Morning arrived too soon.

The Riverdale Pack’s estate was already alive with movement by dawn. I could hear the steady rhythm of boots against stone, warriors preparing for their patrols, servants hurrying about to prepare for the gathering tonight. The entire pack was buzzing with anticipation.

Anticipation for Astrid.

I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the tall mirror. Dark circles rimmed my silver eyes, evidence of the restless night I had spent trying to silence my thoughts. My long black hair hung in loose waves over my shoulders, a stark contrast to the pale skin that had grown even lighter over the years.

I had once been vibrant—before the forced bond, before I lost my wolf. Back when I had a future I could control.

Now? I was nothing but a Luna in name only.

A sharp knock on my door shattered my thoughts. I exhaled slowly, schooling my face into something unreadable.

“Enter,” I called.

The door swung open, and Darius stepped inside. Caleb’s Beta, his closest friend. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with dark brown hair that always looked slightly tousled, as if he spent too much time training and not enough time caring about appearances.

His hazel eyes studied me carefully, unreadable but searching.

"You're expected at the gathering," he said.

Expected. Not wanted.

I rose to my feet, smoothing down the dark blue dress I had chosen—elegant, but understated. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken, but I wouldn’t dress like a woman desperately clinging to a position she never truly had, either.

Darius didn’t move as I approached, and for a moment, he hesitated.

Then, in a voice lower than before, he muttered, “Are you alright?”

I stilled, caught off guard by the question. Darius had never been cruel to me, but he had also never acted as if my wellbeing mattered much.

I let his gaze, lifting my chin slightly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

A muscle in his jaw tightened, but he didn’t call out my lie. Instead, he let out a quiet sigh.

“Just… stay close to Caleb tonight,” he said at last. “Things are changing. And not in your favor.”

I felt it then—the warning underneath his words.

Whatever happened tonight, it wouldn’t just be another celebration in Astrid’s honor. It would be a shift in power.

A shift meant to push me out.

I nodded once, then stepped past him. Let them try.

Because after tonight, I’d be gone.

By the time the sun set, the packhouse had transformed.

Golden lanterns lined the pathways leading to the grand hall, casting a warm glow over the snow-covered courtyard. A bonfire burned at the center of the gathering space, its flames licking at the sky as warriors and pack members milled about, exchanging greetings.

Laughter and music filled the air. But beneath it, I could feel something else—a shift, just like Darius had warned.

This was more than just a gathering.

It was a declaration.

A reminder to everyone that Astrid was Caleb’s true mate.

I took my place near the main table at the front of the hall, my posture perfect, my expression unreadable. Caleb had yet to arrive, but it didn’t matter.

I could feel the weight of her presence before I even saw her.

Astrid.

She entered as if she were already Luna.

Her golden dress shimmered under the firelight, perfectly tailored to hug her figure in a way that demanded attention. She didn’t need to claim power—she already carried herself as if she had won.

And why wouldn’t she?

She had Caleb. She had the pack’s admiration.

She had never been forced into a bond with a man who would never love her.

She was the one he chose.

Astrid’s gaze found mine across the room, and I saw the flicker of amusement in her honey-colored eyes. She tilted her head slightly, then made her way toward me, her smile saccharine sweet.

“Nyra,” she greeted, her voice smooth, sickly sweet. “I’m so glad you made it.”

I offered her a polite smile, refusing to let my expression betray anything. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Her lips curved just a little higher, and she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice so only I could hear.

“I’m surprised,” she murmured. “I assumed you’d have given up by now.”

I stiffened, the veiled insult cutting deeper than it should have.

She knew.

She knew Caleb never wanted me. That this bond had never been real.

And she wanted me to acknowledge it.

To accept defeat.

I forced myself to meet her gaze evenly. “I don’t break as easily as you’d like.”

Astrid laughed lightly, stepping back as if she were simply enjoying a casual conversation. But before she could say anything else—

Caleb entered the hall.

And my breath stalled.

He walked straight toward her.

Not me.

Her.

His golden eyes never even flickered in my direction.

Instead, he stepped beside Astrid, resting a hand lightly on her waist. The entire room stilled, watching, waiting.

A gesture of possession. Of claiming.

Something inside me snapped.

For Three years, I had stood by Caleb’s side. I had endured his distance, his indifference. I had accepted every cold glance, every quiet dismissal.

But this?

This was a public humiliation.

A calculated move to show the pack who truly held his loyalty.

Astrid turned to him, smiling, tilting her head ever so slightly so he would meet her gaze. And Caleb—my mate, my Alpha—looked at her the way he had never once looked at me.

As if she was the center of his world.

The room spun.

I couldn’t breathe.

Caleb’s voice cut through the silence. “Astrid, tonight is for you.”

A thunderous roar filled my ears. A deafening, crushing weight pressed against my chest, but I refused to move. I refused to let them see the cracks forming in my mask.

I curled my fingers into fists beneath the table, keeping my voice level, detached. “A generous gift, Alpha.”

The term Alpha made him pause for a fraction of a second.

Because it was the first time I had addressed him as only that.

Not as my mate. Not as my husband.

Just an Alpha.

Because that’s all he was.

Nothing more.

I rose from my seat, my movements slow, controlled. Every step felt heavier than the last, but I forced myself forward, keeping my chin high.

The crowd parted as I walked toward the exit.

And I didn’t look back.

Because after tonight, I would never let them look down on me again.

Because after tonight, I would be free.

Because after tonight, I would break this bond—and they would never see me again.