I watched in silence, hidden in the shadow of a nearby tree, as Jaxon and Amara laughed together, sharing little touches and stolen glances. My heart twisted painfully when I saw him slide our ring off his finger and tuck it casually into his pocket. It was as if he’d erased every promise, every memory, every word he’d ever said to me in one thoughtless move.

He looked so at ease, so focused on her, that it was like I was invisible. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to walk over and confront him, but my shift phone buzzed in my hand, breaking me from my trance. I glanced down to see files and reports filling my screen—information on his mistress, her entire background in black and white. Her name was Amara Ironpaw, a lorekeeper associate. She came from an average family, nothing special in status. But her youth, beauty, and that refined air she wore like a crown? Those traits must’ve been what captivated him.

I scrolled through, bile rising in my throat as I took it all in. This was what he’d chosen over everything we’d built. Anger burned hot and fast, numbing the ache in my chest, and I knew what I had to do.

I sent a message to my emissary, my trusted aide for all things legal and confidential.

"The council needs to be aware of what’s happening," I typed, my fingers steady. "Begin the proceedings to sever my bond with Jaxon."

After hitting send, I looked up one last time. My heart screamed at me to walk away, but my legs wouldn’t move. Just then, Amara’s eyes met mine across the road. She wore a smug smile, as if she’d known all along that she would win this twisted game. It was a taunt, one that cut through me deeper than any blade. And Jaxon? He remained at her side, oblivious to the storm that was about to break...

My phone buzzed again, jolting me from my thoughts, and I glanced down. It was my mother. The timing couldn’t have been worse. She’d come all this way to visit, eager to see us—her daughter and son-in-law—together, unaware of the painful truth tearing through my heart.

I felt a wave of dread wash over me, tightening my throat. What could I say? How could I even begin to explain?

With a shaky breath, I pressed the phone to my ear, trying to steady my voice. “Hi, Mom,” I greeted, forcing a brightness I didn’t feel.

“Luna! There you are. I’ve been calling for hours,” she said with a laugh. “I thought maybe we could all have dinner tonight. Just the three of us. It’s been so long since we’ve sat down together.”

Her voice was so warm, so hopeful. She had no idea. I closed my eyes, feeling the bitterness of the lie I was about to tell.

“Oh... we’re, um, already out having dinner, actually.” The words felt sharp and cold on my tongue. I almost choked on them, fighting back the nausea creeping up my throat. It felt like a betrayal—not just to myself, but to her too.

There was a pause on the line, then a soft laugh. “Oh! You two are always one step ahead, aren’t you? Well, enjoy it. And tell Jaxon I say hello. We’ll catch up tomorrow.”

Her voice was filled with so much joy, and all I could do was hold onto my composure, my voice barely a whisper. “Will do, Mom. Love you.”

As I ended the call, my hand fell limply to my side, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The silence around me felt heavy, suffocating. I wanted to scream, to cry, to tell her the truth and feel her arms around me, telling me it would all be okay.

But I couldn’t. Not yet.

Instead, I stood there, alone, haunted by the lie that now sat between us. My mind spiraled, imagining the questions that would follow if she found out. What would she say if she knew the truth? If she knew the man she’d once trusted, once adored, had been lying to us both?

And then another thought crept in—a terrifying, shameful thought. What would she think of me for not knowing this had been happening behind my back?

The next day after consulting with my emissary, I felt my resolve solidify. I couldn’t avoid this confrontation any longer. If Amara thought she could taunt me, I’d show her she was sorely mistaken. So I reached out, and, to my surprise, she agreed without hesitation. It was like she wanted this face-off just as much as I did.

But I had another motive other than annoy her.

We met in a secluded clearing on the edge of the pack’s territory, where the trees seemed to close in, isolating us from the world. The air was thick with tension, and Amara stood there, arms crossed, with a smug smirk on her lips as if she’d already won some twisted game. Her eyes danced with satisfaction, relishing every second of this encounter.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "I think I don’t need to introduce myself further, right?”

I held her gaze, refusing to let her see even a flicker of hesitation. "Oh, I know exactly who you are,” I replied, keeping my voice steady, a slight smirk touching my lips.

“Good.” She lifted her chin, eyes gleaming with malice. “So, how did you like the little ‘present’ I sent over? Those pictures, the videos…did they hit hard enough?”

I felt a wave of disgust, but I smirked, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. “Thanks for that, Amara. They really helped me see the truth,” I said coolly. “In fact, they almost made me puke.”

Her smug expression faltered, but she quickly recovered, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, Luna…you should know it didn’t take much to have Jaxon wrapped around my finger. The mighty Luna, all alone now, huh?”

Her words stung, each syllable like a needle in my chest, but I held steady. I clenched my fists, letting my anger fuel me instead of weaken me. “You think you’ve won just because you managed to steal what wasn’t yours?” I said, my voice trembling with barely restrained fury. “Enjoy it while it lasts, Amara. Men like Jaxon—they betray everyone. One day, they’ll betray you too.”

Her smirk vanished, and for a split second, her confidence wavered. But then her face twisted into something dark, something bitter. She stepped closer, her voice lowering into a venomous whisper. “You’re just bitter, Luna,” she spat. “Face it. You weren’t enough for him. That’s why he came to me. He wanted someone… better.”

I took a step forward, matching her cold gaze. “You’re delusional if you think he’ll stay faithful to you,” I snapped, my voice rising with each word. “You’re just his latest thrill. Eventually, he’ll get bored, and you’ll be left with nothing—just like the others. And don't you think I didn't know your motive? I've had you checked, a whore and a liar."

"You bitch!"

Her face got drained and in a minut flushed with anger, the words hitting their mark. I barely had time to react before her expression hardened, her eyes flashing with fury. In one swift, furious motion, she lunged at me, her claws extending as she reached out.

She caught me off guard, her hands shoving me with surprising force. I stumbled back, pain flaring in my side as I felt her claws scratch my skin, sharp enough to leave a burning ache. I tried to steady myself, but a wave of dizziness hit me. My stomach twisted painfully, and then—sudden warmth spreading between my thighs, like a physical manifestation of the turmoil that had been building inside me. A dread more profound than I’d ever felt swept over me.

Amara took a step back, her confidence faltering as she registered the look of shock and pain on my face. Her bravado crumbled, and she looked at me with something akin to fear. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to…” she stammered, her wide eyes betraying her panic. And just like that, without another word, she turned and fled into the forest, disappearing as quickly as she’d come.

I stood there, my breaths shallow and rapid, the world spinning around me as I struggled to stay on my feet. My vision blurred at the edges, darkness threatening to overtake me. Panic bubbled up inside, and my thoughts were a whirlwind. My baby...

The sudden warmth between my thighs sent a wave of horror crashing through me. I stumbled, my stomach turning with fear and dread. No... not again. Not this time.

Just as my knees buckled beneath me, I heard footsteps—multiple pairs. Several pack wolves rushed into the clearing, their faces etched with concern, their eyes scanning me for signs of injury.

I couldn’t focus on them. My mind was consumed with one thought: This can’t happen again.