A rogue struck without warning, its ambush nearly cost me my life and taking with it the pups I had long carried close to my heart.

My mate, Alpha Tobias of Wraithmoon, left with his assistant for his duties. He saw me lying there, blood-soaked and on the verge of death, yet looked right past me as though my wounds were a figment of the air.

Through our mind link, he was already aware of my condition. Still, he focused on his duties alongside Nathalia, neglecting my suffering as if it were nothing.

Only a few loyal warriors and concerned pack members rushed to my side, carrying me to the infirmary. The pack healer barely glanced at me and whispered, "Luna Cassiopeia, your pup is gone."

Desperately, I asked the healers to look again. Yet, the outcome remained unchanged.

Left to endure the pain alone, I tried to believe my mate was overwhelmed by duty. Yet, concerned warriors soon revealed the truth: he had set everything aside, canceled all his duties as an Alpha to stay by his assistant’s side, choosing her over me in my darkest hour.

If only I had listened to my Alpha father, who once adopted me, instead of running off to be with Alpha Tobias, perhaps my life would be different now.

Days passed, yet Tobias, supposedly in a neighboring town for an Alpha meeting, had still not returned, and Nathalia was with him.

Left in the shadows of his indifference, I felt my heart shatter, haunted by regret for the choices that led me here.

Endless days and nights of crying left me drained until a sudden mind-link from my Alpha father reached me, saying, “My dear daughter, we miss you in Lunarviel. Why not come visit soon?”

If he had reached out before, I might have ignored it, but after everything that happened, I found myself with no choice but to respond, ''Dad, I’ve decided to come back. I only hope you can forgive me for my stubbornness.”

Just when I thought I could take no more, Alpha Tobias arrived home after his supposed meeting with the other Alphas.

My trusted spy had already sent word through our mind link: while a meeting had indeed taken place, it had ended days ago.

My mate had simply decided to linger with Nathalia. Despite this painful truth, I kept my composure, preparing to slip away from Wraithmoon, once my sanctuary, and to sever my ties with Alpha Tobias.

He approached me, beginning to discuss the events of days past, the attack, offering apologies. "I’m sorry for being away when you needed me. I consulted the healer, and he assured me it was just a minor injury, nothing serious. I know you’re safe."

Alpha Tobias had no inkling of the torment I had endured, the deep claw marks etched into my skin, or the heartache of losing our pups.

Yet, he had the audacity to lie. Still, I chose silence, unwilling to confront the truth. Just that afternoon, I had visited the pack healer for treatment of my wounds.

The healer, his sympathy evident, apologized for the pain and loss I had faced. He wasn’t to blame for the loss of our pups; that burden lay heavy on my heart. With this understanding, I regained my composure.

When Alpha Tobias bid me farewell, instructing me to handle the duties left in his absence, he walked away, leaving me alone in my grief.

Aware of the lies that cloaked his words, I sent my spy to follow him in secret, confirming my worst fears.

Alpha Tobias had indeed returned to Nathalia's side as if they were true mates. At the same time, I was left to endure the heartache.

A moment later, I opened my social media and discovered a fresh post—an apology letter. [I shouldn’t have allowed my dedicated assistant to feel let down by her Alpha. I promise to treat her to dinner after completing my Alpha responsibilities and to compensate for her ten-minute wait. That’s on me. I’ll strive to be a more responsible Alpha.]

Instead of tears, a smirk spread across my face. Just in time, my Alpha father mind-linked me again, letting me know that the members of Lunarveil had been informed of my return and were buzzing with anticipation.

But I had only promised to share the news when I was ready to sever ties with Alpha Tobias and leave this pack behind.

Wraithmoon was becoming nothing more than a fading memory, slowly buried deep and forgotten.

When I awoke the next morning, a servant came in with the news that Alpha Tobias had cooked breakfast for me.

Despite his earlier neglect, a thrill of excitement ran through me as I hurried downstairs to enjoy the pastries he had prepared. But just as I was about to grab one, he intervened.

“I made this for you. Don’t just dig in,” he said, gesturing toward the peanut butter bagels. “You enjoy these, right? Go ahead, take one.”

The realization struck me like a lightning bolt. Alpha Tobias hadn’t cooked those pastries for me; they were meant for his assistant, Nathalia.

He had even forgotten that I was allergic to peanuts. When I brought it up, he merely shrugged and countered, “So what if you’re allergic? If you don’t want it, then don’t eat it.”

His words left me disheartened, and I could no longer bear his presence.

Just before tears could spill from my eyes, I said, “Alpha Tobias, I once prayed to the Moon Goddess, hoping you would be my one true mate. But it seems you are not destined to care for me; you are merely my mate, bound to reject me.”

As much as I longed for our mateship to sever in an instant, freeing me from years of neglect, Alpha Tobias brushed my feelings aside.

He urged me to concentrate on my duties as Luna, convinced that I was simply envious of his dedication to his responsibilities rather than craving his presence as my mate.

When Alpha Tobias was about to depart to handle his responsibilities, I walked into the bedroom. I returned with a bag, presenting it to him. “Please return this to your assistant, Nathalia.”

As he opened the bag, a look of confusion washed over him, and his eyes grew wide with shock at the lace bra inside.

He was about to offer an explanation, but seeing my calmness, he settled for, “I’ll remind her to be more careful. I don’t know why it was there.”

Yet, as Alpha Tobias sensed something was amiss, he offered to accompany me while I attended to my duties.

I hated him, not wanting to face my unfaithful mate.

After seven long years together, he had never once chosen to walk beside me, regardless of the stormy weather.

But Nathalia? On her very first day as his assistant, he had already become her devoted chauffeur.

As I pondered the troubling difference in how my mate treated his assistant versus me, a sigh of resignation slipped from my lips.

Later, while handling my duties and visiting various pack members, I returned to the office and noticed several pack members casting sympathetic glances my way as if they sensed my position as the overlooked Luna.

Then, out of nowhere, I caught snippets of their gossip, oblivious to the fact that I could hear their murmurs.

"Is it true? Luna Cassiopeia is set to be rejected, and Alpha Tobias has run off to be with his assistant?" one murmured.

Their words ignited a fire in me, causing the mug I held to slip from my fingers, shatter on the floor, and silence their whispers. I knelt down to collect the fragments, quietly tossing them into the trash can, choosing silence over confrontation.

Right. It stirred memories of the choices I made in the past. Back when I was a mere pup, our pack, a mystery to me even now, was attacked, and it was the Alpha of Lunarveil who rescued me, adopting me as his own.

He raised me to be a Luna warrior, teaching me the ways of strength and service. But then he made a chilling proposal, “You are an underestimated warrior of Lunarveil. I want you to become the mate of the Alpha of Celestfang Pack, our greatest rival, only to betray him and bring about his downfall.”

Though I hesitated to accept my father’s offer, his forceful demeanor left me no choice but to leave the pack the moment I laid eyes on my fated mate.

I found refuge in Wraithmoon, believing that Alpha Tobias held the key to avenging my biological parents, who had been attacked.

My heart soared with hope, especially when he claimed me as his mate and declared me Wraithmoon's Luna.

The warmth of his care and love began to fade the moment he brought an assistant on board, redirecting his attention solely to her.

I blinked twice, snapping back to reality, only to realize I was working late into the night. Out of the blue, I felt a weight on my shoulders.

It was Alpha Tobias, bombarding me with questions about why I had been ignoring his messages. His only concern was for my coffee order. Yet, in the past, he had scolded me for asking him to fetch coffee, insisting I should act like a Luna instead of indulging in childish whims.

Alpha Tobias stood before me, offering a steaming cup of coffee, yet I found myself ignoring him.

When he encouraged me to take a sip, I countered, “It's past ten. If I drink this now, I'll be up all night.”

A little later, as he slipped into the bathroom, his phone buzzed with a message from Nathalia: [Alpha, you've sent me so many coffees! Are you trying to keep me awake tonight? You silly!]

It dawned on me then that this was merely part of a surprise he had planned for her.

While I awaited Alpha Tobias’s return, my confidant appeared, leaning into a murmur, “Luna Cassiopeia, there's no use in tailing Alpha Tobias. His mind is set—he’s chosen Nathalia over you, his mate.”

Before I could reply, he slipped away. At that moment, Alpha Tobias reentered, determined to take us both back to the pack mansion.

It was already eleven when we made our way into our room, with Alpha Tobias heading straight for a shower.

When he emerged, he declared, “I have a trip to the capital regarding some business matters. Write down what you want, and I’ll get it for you.”

Knowing Nathalia would be with him, I felt a surge of frustration and opted for silence, which only fueled his anger.

“Stop being so dramatic! Cassiopeia, you’ve crossed a line. You should be thankful that I chose you as my mate and Luna,” he admonished before storming into his study and slamming the door shut.

Throughout our seven years of mateship, he had a knack for delivering silent treatments, often leaving me to grapple with the weight of his disapproval.

Each time, I humbled myself, seeking forgiveness and trying to make amends. But this time, I was exhausted. I stared at the door he had slammed, tears welling in my eyes as I chose to seek solace in sleep.

“Call me whatever you like,” I whispered to the empty room, “but when I finally break free from this pack, don’t come crawling back, begging for my return.”

The following morning, I awoke at the crack of dawn, intent on making breakfast for Alpha Tobias and me with the servant's help.

Out of nowhere, Alpha Tobias strode in, declaring, "I’ll be attending a gathering at the neighboring pack tonight. Can you forgo your duties as Luna and bake me a cake?"

Right. The neighboring pack had graciously invited both Alpha Tobias and me to their gathering. Yet, only he had committed to attending, expecting me to stay behind and assist the pack members during his absence.

I was fully aware that Nathalia would serve as his escort and act as Luna, but I chose to keep my silence.

With no way out, I reluctantly nodded and inquired about the design and flavor he envisioned.

As I agreed, I couldn't help but notice the genuine smile spreading across his face while I thought to myself, “Once I finish this, I am done with you, Alpha Tobias.”

Undeterred, I canceled all my appointments and duties as Luna.

This cake would be my final act within the pack, after which I would sever my ties with Wraithmoon and relinquish my title as Luna, a decision I had firmly made.

The day passed as I devoted myself to baking. Once the cake was ready, I presented it to Alpha Tobias as he headed to the gathering, not even expecting a word of thanks for my efforts.

As the clock struck ten that evening, with Alpha Tobias still absent, I called upon the elders. I declared, “I, Cassiopeia, wish to step down as Luna of Wraithmoon.”

The elders were stunned, their whispers buzzing with curiosity about my motives, but they ultimately reached a decision.

The head elder rose, exclaiming, “Luna Cassiopeia, are you out of your mind? You are Alpha Tobias’ mate, and the title of Luna is yours for life, even beyond his death.”

As I pressed on, sharing my intention to reject Alpha Tobias in the future, the elders warned me to inform him of my decision. They cautioned that I would face his wrath.

While I wasn’t intimidated by their threats, the potential burden of my return to Lunarveil loomed over me.

In a moment of resignation, I complied, letting the elders seal their lips in exchange for my continued status as Luna, striving to calm their fears and restore order.

Not long after, Alpha Tobias sent me a mind link that sent a chill down my spine.

To my surprise, he exclaimed, “Hey, the cake you made is outstanding! Nathalia absolutely loves it, and so does everyone at the gathering, even me! Thank you for all your hard work!”

His unexpected admiration caught me off guard.

More deceit. Before I could utter a word, Nathalia's voice flooded my mind. “Oh, Luna Cassiopeia! I heard you were the one who made the cake! You have such a gift! I wish I had your skills, but I’ll always be the Alpha’s clumsy assistant.”

Her praise felt like a thin veil over her true intentions.

In the end, I opted for silence, choosing not to engage with their insincerity. As I prepared to slip into bed, Alpha Tobias reached out through the mind link.

He revealed he was aware of Nathalia’s message and added, “If she invites you to the gathering, please don’t attend. I’d rather the other Alphas didn’t see you.”

Despite the situation, Nathalia, slightly tipsy, kept sending me mind-links, gushing about how much she relished her time as Alpha Tobias's acting Luna.

Just when I thought Alpha Tobias was finished for the night, a text buzzed in, requesting that I bring some chips for his so-called acting Luna.

With a heavy sigh, I longed to decline, but knowing the elders would never allow me to relinquish my title as Luna, I found myself with no choice.

I prepared to attend, clutching the letter of rejection meant for Alpha Tobias, alongside my explanation for stepping down from my role and returning to my original pack.

Without hesitation, I made my way into the neighboring pack. The warriors, well aware of my status as Alpha Tobias' true Luna, allowed me access to the Pack Hall.

However, the moment Alpha Tobias locked eyes with me, his gaze darkened, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

With all eyes on us, whispers of betrayal rippling through the crowd, Nathalia immediately broke the silence, exclaiming, “Luna Cassiopeia, it’s a pleasure to have you here!"

As expected, Alpha Tobias discreetly probed into why I was there.

Yet, before I could articulate my thoughts, Nathalia, his beloved assistant, chimed in with a flourish. “I was the one who encouraged Luna Cassiopeia to come! It’s simply tragic for her to be sidelined while we revel in the gathering. As Luna, she should be part of it too!”

Her persuasive tone gradually calmed Alpha Tobias’s wrath. Unbeknownst to him, I had no intention of enjoying the night.

“It’s true, but I’m here for this,” I replied, extending the letter toward him. “One of our warriors lost his mother and needs to take a month off. I just need your signature.”

As the words left my lips, I noticed Alpha Tobias’s expression darken.

“You came all this way just for that?!” he exclaimed, disbelief etched across his face.

I placed the pen in Alpha Tobias’s hand. He signed without reading, his expression cold, then motioned for me to go, clearly indicating that I should never return.

“Sure thing, Alpha,” I mumbled, a knowing smirk spreading across my face as I turned. “Once you put your signature on that letter, I’ll be free, and you’ll never see me again.”