I stood still in the office, the pain in my chest making each breath heavy.

I once believed that no matter how Ronan treated me, he at least cared about the pup.

I believed he would become a worthy Alpha father.

Now I finally understood that it was only my own dream.

Our pup was not even born, yet he could already take everything meant for her and use it to please another she wolf without hesitation.

I did not dare imagine that if my daughter were truly born, would she one day have to fight a pet for her own clothes?

The last bit of hope I had shattered completely.

When I stayed silent, Ronan stepped closer instead. He bent slightly, his eyes falling on my belly, then said with a gentle voice, “Little one, when you arrive, your father will buy you the finest and most beautiful garments in all the Alpha kingdoms, alright?”

“We do not need those old clothes from other packs.”

He reached out and lightly pinched my cheek, smiling the same charming smile as always.

“Do not look so upset, little crier,” he said softly. “Be good. I will make it right for you.”

Looking at the face I once knew so well yet now felt so far from, a bitter laugh rose inside me.

There was a time when Ronan and I stayed in this same tower office night after night, studying trade maps, speaking with allied packs, planning future territories.

Now the floor was covered with scattered scrolls, overturned documents, and even used protective charms thrown carelessly onto the carpet.

Everything in the room felt filthy.

The crushing feeling rose in my chest. I covered my mouth and rushed out.

I barely made it to the washroom before I threw up, my body shaking until I could hardly stand.

When I returned home, I never mentioned the clothes again.

Instead, I quietly packed every item prepared for my pup. The garments, the toys, the small storybooks of wolf legends, the moon charm hanging for the cradle.

I had them all sent to the house I purchased years ago in a distant human land beyond pack borders.

Ronan noticed nothing.

He thought I had finally learned to be understanding.

So he began sending gifts to please me.

Expensive maternity robes made from rare fur, limited edition jewelry blessed by minor priests, designer garments stacked high in the walk-in closet.

I never touched them.

Each time he sent a batch, I had someone remove them just as quickly.

At the same time, Marielle began streaming more often from her chamber. Sometimes, during her broadcast, with a slight turn of her head, Ronan would appear in the background.

At times he handed her water. At times he leaned close to whisper to her. At times only his blurred profile could be seen.

Even those brief moments caused excitement among viewers. More and more began pairing their names together.

Some envied her. They said Marielle was fortunate. They said Ronan was strong, wealthy, gentle, and willing to appear publicly by her side.

But not all voices praised them. Soon other comments surfaced.

“Is this not betrayal?”

“So cheat long enough and it becomes true love?”

“When Alpha Ronan once pursued Luna Valea, did he not give her everything and almost kneel for her?”

“Let us be honest. He is only playing.”

Reading those words late at night, my thoughts drifted back many years.

In the Royal Werewolf Academy, I was the top student of my division. Moon scholarships, combat contests, elder recommendations, everything came easily. My life was the library tower, the training field, and ancient spell books.

While Ronan was the opposite.

He skipped lessons, arrived late, ignored instructors, and lived wildly. If not for Elder Ardena, I would never have crossed paths with him.

That year, with her support, I completed my studies without worry. She treated me kindly and spoke plainly.

“Ronan’s wolf runs untamed. You steady him.”

I agreed.

So I dragged him to lectures, forced him to train properly, made him finish assignments, even arranged his study scrolls.

I used every simple method I knew to make him behave like a future Alpha.

Slowly, he changed.

He arrived on time. He left his reckless circle. He began focusing on study and real responsibilities.

Later, Ronan fell in love with me openly and fiercely.

He cut off all unclear bonds, declared before the entire academy that he was courting me and began taking on serious duties to prove himself.

Many said I was the chain that anchored Ronan.

Back then, I believed it. I thought I was special. I thought I was the one who saved him.

Now I see clearly. I was never a chain. Perhaps I only appeared earlier than the others.

Three days remained before the mating bond would be dissolved.

Today was the fifth anniversary celebration of Moonbond. We prepared for a full year.

I believed that even if our bond was broken, Ronan would still keep reason when it came to the company.

Moonbond was not only my work. It was the kingdom we built from nothing, the heart of the company, and the shared memories of countless wolves.

Because I was carrying a pup and easily tired, Ronan was meant to stand on the stage tonight as the main Alpha.

Two weeks ago, during rehearsal, everything went smoothly.

I assumed today would be the same.

The host’s voice echoed with excitement as he introduced the special guest of the night.

The lights brightened.

The one who was meant to rise onto the platform was a newly famous wolf actor we paid heavily to invite.

Instead, Ronan slowly rose from beneath the stage platform, holding Marielle’s hand tightly in his own.

I felt as if moon magic had frozen my whole body in place.

In my ear crystal, the voices of the backstage warriors came low and tight. Several kept asking what went wrong, yet no one dared rush onto the stage to stop it.

The crowd went silent for one breath.

Then anger exploded like a storm.

“Where is the star we came for?”

“Who is she? Did she walk onto the wrong stage?”

“Get down!”

Marielle gripped the moon mic. Her voice trembled. The moment she tried to sing, she lost the tone.

Her weak singing completely fell apart under pressure. Each line sounded worse than the last.

My head buzzed. Ignoring all rules, I almost rushed backstage and ordered them to cut the music.

But someone stepped in front of me. His face was tense.

“Luna… this was Alpha Ronan’s arrangement.”

His men blocked me from going onstage.

Meanwhile, Marielle forced the song to the end. The shouting grew louder.

According to the schedule, Ronan was next to speak.Under countless floating cameras, he began calmly.

“In these past years, for Moonbond to reach today, we must thank someone. Marielle Evergrove.”

“Because if it’s not for her livestream support, Moonbond would not have grown so fast. Today’s success belongs partly to her.”

The audience erupted again.

I closed my eyes. My chest tightened again and again. My communicator shook nonstop in my hand. The public relations team. Investors from other Alpha kingdoms. Trade partners. Core elders.

Calls came without pause. Yet Ronan stood proudly on that stage, openly shielding his mistress. He used everyone’s hard work as a gift to please her.

After he finished, the host almost ran out to fix the disaster, quickly bringing back the planned program and inviting the famous young wolf actor we had paid heavily to attend.

Only then did the atmosphere calm a little.

But the rest of the event felt rushed and broken.

Offstage, Ronan stood beside Marielle, speaking softly. Her eyes were red as she whispered.

“It is all my fault. If I had not sung poorly, they would not shout at you.”

Ronan answered gently, almost indulgent.

“It is fine. Wolves forget quickly. This will pass.”

I could not bear it any longer. I stepped forward and raised my communicator before him.

On the screen, the top trending tags glowed.

#MoonbondFiveYearAnniversaryDisaster

#AlphaVallorenBringsMistressOnStage

I looked at him and spoke each word clearly, “You think it’s not serious? Alpha, tell me. Who will repay the losses from tonight?”

He clearly did not expect such backlash from the online packs.

The livestream channel was flooded with mocking comments and anger. The backstage message box was exploding.

I held the screen toward him. Within seconds, more partner calls came in.

He only frowned slightly. “Is it truly that severe? Players only want comfort. Give them some free spirit skins and limited outfits. They will forget.”

He continued speaking lightly, “I will cover tonight’s losses. Stop making a scene.”

As soon as he finished, several partners hurried over and pulled him aside to deal with the chaos.

After Ronan left, the quiet and obedient mask on Marielle disappeared. The fear on her face faded, replaced by a faint smug smile.

“Luna, even if you carry a pup, what does it change? You still cannot keep your Alpha.”

“You are already being pushed aside. Why not step down yourself? If you wait to be cast out, it will look worse.”

I looked at her calmly, then said, “Who do you think you are, speaking to me this way?”

Her face stiffened. Anger flashed in her eyes as she opened her mouth.

I did not let her continue. My hand struck her across the face. The sound was clear in the tight backstage room.

“Being a mistress is shameful enough. But someone as low as you, this is the first time I have ever seen.”

She covered her cheek, stunned. Then tears poured down.

Almost at once, Ronan rushed back in. He shoved me aside without restraint and pulled Marielle into his arms.

“What happened? Marielle, who hurt you?”

Curled against him, Marielle cried harder.

“Alpha… I only wanted to explain things to Luna Valea… But she called me low and suddenly struck me…”

Her lies flowed smoothly.

Ronan had pushed me so hard I stumbled backward. My back hit a metal camera stand, sharp pain shooting through me.

My stomach tightened painfully. But Ronan’s eyes were already cold as he looked at me.

“Valea, have you caused enough trouble?”

“Look at yourself. What part of you still resembles Luna of Valloren? You look like a jealous and loud woman.”

“What proper she wolf behaves like this, bullying an ordinary girl?”

“How did you become so cruel? We have been mated for five years. How did you turn into this? Where is the gentle Valea from before?”

I held my belly. My fingers were cold. I fought back the sting in my nose.

“So what?”

“Is kindness only when I endure everything, hide and cry, stay silent, and never fight back? Is that your meaning of gentle?”

“Like before, staying in the den feeling pain alone, pretending not to see anything, only then am I a good Luna in your eyes?”

I lifted my head and looked at him. My voice trembled.

“I am not the same as five years ago.”

“And you, Alpha Ronan… You bring your mistress into our territory more boldly each day. Are you still the same Ronan who once swore he loved only me?”

Ronan’s face tightened for a brief second. But he did not notice my reddened eyes. He did not hear how close my voice was to breaking. He only saw that I questioned him in front of others, without restraint.

In the next breath, his expression darkened completely. Burning with anger, he lifted Marielle into his arms and turned away.

He left behind one cold sentence.

“You better not regret this.”

The pain in my back made my heart pound wildly. I did not even have time to ask where he was going. He clearly still had chaos to handle. I could only go to the Healing Hall alone.

When the moon healer confirmed that the pup was safe, I finally released a breath.

The fear that had been pressing on me rushed back. I sat on the corridor bench, covering my face, crying until I could barely breathe.

I did not dare imagine what I would do if something had happened to my pup.

When I returned to the Alpha stronghold, Ardena already knew everything.

She held my hand, her eyes red with pain for me.

“Two days remain before the bond severing is complete. Valea, you have endured too much.”

I sniffed and forced a faint smile. “I am fine.”

She sighed softly.

“Tomorrow is your grandfather’s eightieth winter. He does not have much time left. Can you, for these final two days, let him feel peace?”

I still nodded.

Grandfather Theron’s celebration was held at the old ancestral manor of the Valloren Pack.

Ardena and I arrived first. Theron sat upright in the main hall chair. His aura was weak, yet he forced himself straight. When he saw me, he gave a small nod.

His gaze shifted toward the doorway, and he sighed.

“Where is that foolish boy? On a day like this, he still refuses to appear.”

It was clear he knew of Ronan’s recent conduct.

I only smiled lightly and said nothing.

Soon, movement sounded at the entrance. Ronan stepped inside. Marielle followed closely behind him.

In that instant, the air in the hall froze.

Theron’s face darkened at once. His cane struck the stone floor heavily.

“You dare bring this shameless girl into my hall?”

The cane swung down in the next second.

“You unworthy grandson!”

Ronan stepped back, jaw tight, but he did not resist.

Suddenly, Marielle rushed forward. She spread her arms and shielded Ronan, tears falling immediately.

“Elder, please do not strike Alpha Ronan. This is my fault. It is because I am carrying Alpha’s pup that he brought me here. I know I am low born and do not deserve to stand in this hall.”

She bit her lip and added softly. “But the pup is innocent.”

Pup?

I stared at her, unable to believe what I heard.

Ronan’s face shifted slightly. He pulled Marielle into his arms. “Marielle is with pup. It is my blood. I must take responsibility.”

He paused, then spoke as if convincing himself. “And her pup is a son. While Valea carries a daughter. Grandfather, I am doing this for the Valloren bloodline.”

For the bloodline?

Those words felt like a dull blade pushed into my chest.

In a clan like Valloren, the gender of my pup had been known from early moon rites.

Yet Ardena, Theron and even Ronan’s parents in distant territories never once cared whether my pup was a boy or girl.

Ronan once held me tightly and swore.

“Boy or girl, as long as the pup is yours, it is precious to me. It carries the Valloren name.”

In the past year, many she wolves tried to conceive his heir. He rejected them all.

But now Marielle was pregnant. And she carried a son.

And my own mate stood before me, using the words carry the bloodline as if it were right.

I drew in a slow, deep breath. The collapsing pain inside me, I forced it down.

Theron shouted in anger, his cane striking the floor again and again. Ardena’s eyes were red as well. She struck Ronan’s back, scolding him for foolishness.

Everyone expected me to lose control.

To cry.

To question him.

To break.

But I did not.

I rose slowly. My voice was calm and cold.

“Today is Great Grandfather’s birthday. It is a joyful gathering. Let us not ruin it over this. As for the pup, we will speak when the time comes.”

The hall fell silent.

Ardena opened her mouth, but in the end swallowed her anger. She steadied herself and continued the banquet while everyone hid their thoughts.

During the feast, I said I felt unwell and left early.

Seeing that I neither cried nor argued, a strange unease rose in Ronan’s chest.

“Was she planning to dissolve the bond?”

He quickly dismissed the thought.

How could I ever choose to leave him?