The day I received the life-changing news from the pack healer, confirming my pregnancy, was the same day my world began to unravel. My best friend, Talia, posted a provocative photo on the Ashenwood Pack’s community board. In it, she posed in a flowing crimson silk dress, showcasing her swollen belly with pride. A powerful, muscular hand, claw marks faintly visible, cradled her stomach. My stomach twisted in knots. The caption read: *"Even in the darkness, love makes you shine. A pup on the way!"*

I scrolled down, my heart in pieces, and commented, "Congratulations." The words felt like poison leaving my fingertips.

Moments later, Talia called me. Her voice was shaky, filled with false regret. "Vivian, I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner," she said. "My mate wanted to keep things quiet, but you deserve to know."

As she spoke, I heard it—Eamon’s voice. My Alpha, my mate. He was speaking softly in the background, venom dripping from every word. "She's jealous. She can't carry a pup, so seeing someone else pregnant drives her crazy. No wonder she can't conceive with all that negativity."

They laughed together, as though my pain was nothing but a joke. I pretended not to hear, my throat tight with emotion.

"Congrats again, Talia," I whispered, hanging up before the sobs clawing at my throat could escape.

Five minutes later, another post from Talia appeared. This time, it read: *"Soon, I’ll have two strong Alphas to protect me!"* And there, at the bottom of the post, was the most painful thing of all—Eamon, my mate, had liked it.

That voice... the hand in the picture… the man she was boasting about was Eamon. I knew it as surely as I knew my own heartbeat.

When Eamon arrived at the den that evening, he found me sitting by the hearth, staring into the flames, numb with disbelief. His eyes grazed over me with casual indifference.

"Throwing a fit over something trivial again?" he asked, amusement dancing in his cold, grey eyes.

I looked up, keeping my voice steady. "What do you mean?"

He chuckled darkly. "You’re overreacting. But I don’t care, Vivian. Do whatever you want. You’re the one who’s desperate, not me."

I took a deep breath, the words I wanted to say—the news of our pup growing in my womb—suddenly lodged in my throat. But before I could speak, Eamon handed me a small, dark wooden box. I opened it to find a pair of worn-out silver combat boots, the kind we used to wear in training. They were scuffed and scratched, no longer fit for a Luna.

"Someone special inspired me to get these for you," he muttered, avoiding my eyes.

My stomach churned. "Who’s this someone?" I asked, staring him down.

He shifted uncomfortably. "That’s none of your business."

My hand trembled, but I kept my voice low and lethal. "Who is she, Eamon?" My gaze burned into him, demanding the truth.

His shoulders tensed, his bravado faltering for the first time. "Stop this," he growled. "I’ve told you before—"

"Who *is* she?!" I roared, rising to my feet, my wolf bristling beneath my skin, ready to unleash her fury.

His face twisted in frustration. "Talia. You know it already, don’t you?"

My heart shattered at the confirmation. “Talia?” My best friend. My Alpha. Both of them betraying me. "Eamon... how could you?" My voice broke as the pain surged through me.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, avoiding my gaze. "I need a pup, Vivian. Talia can give me what you can’t. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be."

Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "So you betray your mate—your Luna—for her?" I whispered.

He looked at me with chilling detachment. "I’m doing what’s best for the pack."

Minutes before he came home, Talia had posted another message: *"To the Alpha who takes care of me and our future pup, thank you for your love. It gives me the strength to stand tall!"*

I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed the box of boots aside. Eamon’s face hardened in frustration. "Vivian, you’re almost thirty moons old. You haven’t given me an heir. And now, instead of being grateful for the truth, you’re making this more difficult."

His words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper into my heart. In his anger, Eamon tossed the box at me. The wooden corner hit me squarely on the temple.

I winced, holding my head as blood rushed to the surface, a dull ache spreading through my skull.

Eamon’s eyes widened, his anger fading to guilt. "I didn’t mean to do that. Let me—"

"Don’t touch me," I muttered, pulling away from his outstretched hand.

Ignoring me, he moved closer, pulling my hand away to examine the swelling. His expression darkened. "This isn’t fine. Stay here. I’ll get some ice."

As he turned to leave, his phone buzzed. The screen lit up, revealing a name that stabbed me straight through the heart—*“Little Wolf”*.

"Talia," he answered immediately, his voice soft and affectionate.

"Eamon, my Alpha," I heard her whimper, "my stomach hurts. I think something’s wrong. I’m scared."

Eamon tensed, his protective instincts kicking in. "Why didn’t you call me sooner? I told you I’d take you to the healer."

"I didn’t want to trouble you. I know you’re with Vivian," she sniffled.

"Talia, nothing’s more important than you and the pup. Send me your location, and I’ll come get you."

I watched him, frozen, as he reassured her, his voice filled with a care and gentleness he hadn’t shown me in moons.

Before he left, I handed him something he always kept for Talia—her healer’s pass. "You’ll need this," I said, my voice hollow.

Eamon’s expression softened for a moment, surprised by my gesture. "Thanks," he murmured, taking the pass from my hand.

He looked like he wanted to say something more, but I didn’t let him. "Take care of her," I said, turning away, my heart heavy with the weight of betrayal.

As he left the den, I knew that the bond between us—once sacred, once unbreakable—had been severed. And deep inside, beneath the sorrow and pain, something else stirred.

Freedom.

With trembling fingers, I picked up my phone and dialed Talia’s number. The ringing echoed in my ears as my heart pounded, fury and heartbreak crashing over me like a tidal wave. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, restless and agitated, sensing the betrayal.

Finally, she answered, her voice sickeningly cheerful. "Hey, Luna!"

The word *Luna* twisted in my chest like a knife. Talia had no right to call me that anymore. My throat tightened as I forced the words out, "You've been sleeping with my mate, Talia."

The silence that followed was deafening, but I wasn’t done. My voice was sharp, filled with the pain I could no longer contain. "You were supposed to be my sister in the pack, my confidante. I’ve stood by you through everything. When you were cast out by your last pack, I brought you into ours. I convinced Eamon to give you a place here. And this—this is how you repay me?"

There was no shame in her voice when she finally spoke, just a casual, almost bored tone. "Well, now that you know, there’s no need to pretend, is there?"

Her words were like a slap to the face, knocking the breath from my lungs. I gripped the phone tighter, trying to keep my voice steady as tears threatened to spill. "So much for loyalty, Talia. So much for being a pack sister."

And then came the blow I hadn’t expected. Her voice dropped, becoming cold, laced with malice. "Eamon is mine now, Vivian. He chose me." There was a cruel chuckle on the other end. "What’s your problem, really? You act like you’re the perfect Luna, but the truth is you’ve been holding him back. Let’s face it, you’re not even half the wolf I am."

I could hear the smirk in her voice as she continued, each word like poison seeping into my veins. "You had the position, the rank, the pack—all of it handed to you because of Eamon. But here’s the thing: you can’t give him the one thing he wants most. You can’t give him an heir. I’m the one giving him that. I’m carrying his pup."

Her words twisted the knife, leaving me gasping for air. "You should be thanking me, really. I’m giving Eamon what you could never give him. I’m fulfilling your duty as Luna. Isn’t that what you want for him?"

She laughed again, the sound sharp and mocking. "But hey, no hard feelings, right? What are pack sisters for?"

I couldn’t take it anymore. Tears blurred my vision as I slammed the phone down, a scream tearing from my throat, raw and full of pain. The betrayal from Eamon was one thing, but Talia? The woman I had trusted with my secrets, my life? It was too much to bear.

I collapsed to the floor, my body shaking uncontrollably as the weight of it all crashed down on me. How could it have come to this? How had I been so blind, so naïve? I had believed in the bond of the pack, in the loyalty that should have kept us together, and now it was all unraveling before my eyes.

I stared down at the symbol of my bond to Eamon—the silver chain that marked me as his Luna. Once, it had been a mark of pride, a symbol of our unbreakable connection. Now, it felt like a chain around my neck, choking me. With a deep breath, I ripped it off, tossing it into the corner of the room.

Without looking back, I left the den and headed straight to the healer. I couldn’t bring this pup into a world filled with lies, betrayal, and a mate who had shattered every ounce of trust. Within the hour, I had returned home, drained but resolute. After a long, scalding shower, I collapsed onto the bed and sent a message to Elder Aidan,the pack's Elder who's in charge of dissolving bonds, officially starting the process to dissolve the bond with Eamon. As soon as my head hit the pillow, sleep claimed me, though it brought little peace.

Sometime in the middle of the night, my phone buzzed, dragging me back into consciousness. Groggily, I reached for it, squinting at the bright screen. It was 1 a.m., and as usual, the other side of the bed was still empty. A WhatsApp message from Talia appeared, my heart sinking as I saw the preview.

**[Eamon is so strong and perfect. Can’t wait to feel his warmth tonight!]**

Attached was a photo of Eamon, fast asleep in Talia’s den, his body sprawled across a bed that was not ours. His face, once a source of comfort, now made me sick to my stomach.

As I stared at the screen in disbelief, the “typing...” indicator flashed, and soon, another message came through.

**[Oops! Sent that to the wrong person! My bad, Vivian. Guess it’s just you and me now! Don’t be too upset. Sleep well, bestie!]**

Her arrogance was infuriating. She expected me to lash out, to scream and fight. But I didn’t feel any of that anymore.

I simply blocked her number and rolled over, exhaustion weighing me down. I was done playing her games. Let them have each other.

The next morning at the packhouse, they both showed up together. Talia, ever the dramatist, pretended to stumble as they entered the main hall. Eamon caught her easily, his arms wrapping around her protectively, while she shot me a smug glance.

"Can you believe her?" one of the pack members whispered beside me. "Talia doesn’t even know how to hunt properly, yet she acts like she runs the pack."

I barely registered the comment, too focused on sending a quick message to Elder Aidan. "Maybe," I muttered absently.

Before I could gather myself, I heard Eamon’s commanding voice behind me. "Vivian, I need to speak with you."

I turned, finding his gaze fixed on me, cold and unreadable. No one in the pack knew we were bonded mates; Eamon had always enforced the rule that pack business stayed separate from personal matters. He kept his distance at all times unless it served his interests.

Reluctantly, I followed him into his private quarters. Talia was already lounging on the couch, her smile sly and triumphant. Eamon whispered something to her, and she slunk off into another room, leaving us alone.

Once the door closed, Eamon approached, his tone soft but accusing. "Still upset, Vivian?"

I pulled my hand from his, keeping my voice cold. "I’m not upset."

His eyes narrowed. "I didn’t return to the den last night, and you didn’t call or come after me. And now you’re pretending like everything’s fine?"

I clenched my jaw. "You were with *Talia*, right? She’s your… concern now."

His face darkened. Without warning, he shoved me back onto the couch, his anger flaring. As I braced myself, my hand brushed something soft—Talia’s red scarf, her scent unmistakable.

Eamon’s expression faltered when he saw what I had found. "That’s not—"

I didn’t wait for his excuses. Tossing the scarf aside, I rose, my voice calm but final. "If that’s all, Alpha, I’ll be going."

I left him standing there, too disgusted to care anymore. Let him deal with his lies.

That evening, I stepped out of the packhouse just as Eamon’s black truck pulled up. Talia sat in the passenger seat, grinning triumphantly.

"Get in," Eamon ordered. "We’ll drop Talia off first, then we’ll talk."

I didn’t even look at them. Instead, I raised my hand and flagged down one of the pack's scouts. "You two go ahead. I’ve got business to take care of."

Eamon’s expression darkened, but I didn’t care. Whatever they had, whatever game they were playing, was over for me. Let them enjoy the ruin they had created.

I was done being part of it.

What I didn’t expect was for Eamon and Talia to follow me to the tavern.

I had barely taken my seat in the corner when the door swung open, and they strolled in like they owned the place. Without hesitation, they sat across from me, their presence heavy with arrogance.

I stared at them, trying to contain my anger. “I’m meeting Alpha Valen from the Raven's Claw Pack,” I said, cutting straight to the point.

Eamon raised an eyebrow, leaning back lazily. “Did Alpha Valen say he didn’t want to see me?”

I clenched my jaw, refusing to engage. Despite everything, Eamon was still my Alpha. Fighting him in public was not an option.

As the meal began, Alpha Valen signaled for his omega to bring out a bottle of rare, high-quality bloodwine—a delicacy among wolves. I frowned as my mind wandered to the words the pack healer had spoken when I scheduled the ritual to sever the bond with Eamon. *“You've already lost one pup from the rogue attack, and your womb was nearly damaged beyond repair. The fact that you're carrying again is nothing short of a miracle. But if you lose this child, you may never have another.”*

I pressed my lips together, about to refuse the bloodwine politely, when Talia spoke up, her voice sweet and false. “I heard Vivian can drink more than any wolf here. Come on, let’s see it in action!”

Her innocent smile was nothing more than a mask. I narrowed my eyes at her, my tone cold. “Who told you that?”

Talia’s smile faltered, and she glanced nervously at Eamon, who sat next to her like a predator about to strike. “Did I say something wrong again?”

Eamon, ever her protector, patted her hand and turned his icy gaze toward me. “Vivian, it’s just bloodwine. Don’t make a scene.”

His words sent a chill through my spine, but I forced a smile. I wasn’t backing down. “Alpha, I can’t drink. I’m pregnant.”

The entire table froze. The air between us crackled with tension.

Talia was the first to break the silence. Her eyes flickered with something dark before she forced a smile, raising her glass to me. “Congratulations, Vivian!” She lifted the cup to her lips, but before she could take a sip, Eamon stopped her.

“Talia,” he growled softly, “you’re pregnant too. No drinking.”

For once, Talia didn’t listen. “No, I have to! I’ve caused Vivian so much trouble since joining the pack. This is my way of making amends.”

Tears filled her eyes as she tilted her head back, downing the bloodwine in one defiant gulp. Her face flushed immediately, and she began coughing violently, her breaths labored.

Eamon shot up from his seat, fury in his eyes. “Is this what you wanted, Vivian? To make her look weak in front of the pack? If anything happens to our pup because of you, I’ll never forgive you!”

I barely acknowledged him. “Do what you want,” I muttered, rising from the table.

Without sparing him or Talia another glance, I turned to Alpha Valen. “Apologies, Alpha. I’ll take my leave now.” And with that, I strode out of the tavern, my heart pounding with rage.

Eamon’s voice echoed after me, filled with fury. “Vivian, I’m done with this! You can’t accept Talia, you can’t accept our bond. Maybe we should just end it—dissolve the bond!”

The words hung in the air, sharp as a dagger. I paused for a brief moment but then shrugged. After all these years, he was willing to admit our bond just to push me aside for Talia.

I turned back to him, my voice calm, my eyes cold. “Alright, Eamon. Let’s dissolve the bond then.”

And with that, I walked out.

As I left the tavern, I dialed Elder Aidan, the pack's lawyer, arranging the details of the separation. But midway through the conversation, a blinding light flashed in front of me. A sleek black car—one I recognized all too well—was barreling straight toward me.

My heart slammed in my chest as the car swerved at the last second, grazing my leg. I fell to the ground in shock, my hands trembling.

A passing wolf rushed to help, her eyes wide with alarm. “You’re bleeding!” she gasped, looking at the blood pooling around my waist.

I stared at the dark stain spreading across the ground, my mind numb. I knew that car number. It was Eamon’s. We had picked it together when we were newly mated.

At the hospital, the healer asked if I had any family to contact. I gripped my phone, staring at Eamon’s name on the screen, but I couldn’t call him. Instead, I dialed Elder Aidan again.

I couldn’t shake the image of the car, the license plate… It was his.