At the engagement feast beneath the full moon, Fredrik of the Graywolf Pack learned that his childhood mate was to be bound to his crippled rival from another Alpha bloodline.

His expression changed at once. He trapped me near the stone pillars, his aura pressing down like a command, ordering me to hand over the Bloodmoon Bracelet, the Graywolf clan relic that marked me as the future Luna, and give it to Zora of the Wargrove lineage. His voice carried the weight of an Alpha. There was no room to refuse.

"Hurry. Zora will not be mated to that broken wolf. I will not allow him to destroy her fate."

I had loved Fredrik Graywolf for ten winters. I had lived within the Graywolf territory for five winters. I had once thrown myself before a speeding carriage for him while carrying his pup. The pup was lost. I almost followed. And still, I had endured, step by step, until I reached this moment.

Every wolf in the hall watched, their instincts sharp, waiting for me to lose control, waiting for me to become a disgrace whispered through the packs.

But as I looked at the man before me, once so familiar and now colder than winter frost, something inside me stilled. When a heart has already died, even pain loses its voice.

I smiled.

"Fine. She can have it."

Shock flickered through Fredrik’s gaze. Zora, wrapped in her ceremonial gown and held within his arms, stopped her tears as if on cue. A sweet smile curved her lips as she lifted her hand toward me.

Without a tremor, I removed the Bloodmoon Bracelet and placed it around her delicate wrist, the relic glowing faintly under the moonlight as it accepted a new bearer.

Only then did Fredrik give me a satisfied glance.

"Caylin, remember your place. You owe me."

I lowered my eyes to my empty wrist and smiled without a word. I never owed you anything.

That same night, Fredrik’s private jet carried him and Zora across the skies to a distant desert kingdom for their early mating journey.

He believed I would remain as I always had, standing in place, waiting for his return like a loyal shadow.

What Fredrik did not know was that not long after he left, his crippled rival came to my door.

"I don’t forgive insults. Alpha Graywolf took my intended mate. I won’t let that pass in silence."

"Alpha Rydell, what are you implying?"

Dante Rydell sat in his wheelchair, yet nothing about him seemed weak. His presence was like a resting predator, calm yet dangerous, his wolf hidden but watchful.

"Lady Celviere, would you consider walking into the Hall of Bonds with me?"

I glanced at the image spreading through Pinehowl City, a magical projection shared among the elite packs, showing Fredrik and Zora locked in an intimate kiss beneath the rising sun.

Without hesitation, I gathered my documents and went with Dante Rydell to the Hall of Bonds.

Only when I saw our names inscribed together under the sacred seal did the truth settle in.

I was mated.

And my mate was not Fredrik Graywolf, the man I had loved for winters, but the man he despised above all others.

"Now that the bond is sealed, you are my Luna." Dante’s fingers brushed lightly over my wrist, his smile edged with danger. "When will you return to my territory?"

"Give me ten days. I need to finish things here."

He gave a low hum. "Then in ten days, we will hold the mating ceremony. The time is short, but I will not let anything fall short of perfection."

He gestured for me to lean closer.

Then he fastened a platinum brooch over my chest, set with a deep green gem that shimmered like living magic.

"This belonged to my great ancestor. It guarded my bloodline for generations. Now it guards you."

When he finished, I noticed something unexpected beneath his careless expression. The tips of his ears had turned faintly red.

I brushed my fingers over the brooch and let out a soft laugh. "I will treasure it."

Seven days into their mating journey, Fredrik finally remembered me.

"I’ll be back tonight. Prepare everything. I want a Graywolf clan banquet held this evening."

The call woke me at dawn. Not a single word asking how I had endured these past days, confined within the estate while every noble pack in Pinehowl City passed around my humiliation like entertainment.

The same commanding tone. As if nothing had changed.

But it was not that nothing had changed. It was that my existence had never held weight in his world.

Meanwhile, his time with Zora had been displayed openly across the elite circles through magical projections.

I had seen them. The two of them sharing a kiss above the clouds. Resting together in sacred hot springs. Exchanging vows beneath ancient castle walls blessed by moonlight.

Every place had once been part of my dream journey. He fulfilled them all, just not with me.

"Answer me, Caylin. Have you lost your hearing?"

When I stayed silent, Fredrik’s voice turned cold.

I forced myself back to the present.

"Understood. I will prepare everything."

This would be the last time.

For five winters, every Graywolf gathering had been arranged by my hands. With the least resources, I created the greatest display, making him appear as an unrivaled Alpha.

Fredrik paused briefly.

"Remember. Without me, you are nothing but a stray with no pack."

Then the call ended.

What he did not know was that in three days, my mate would come for me with the highest honor. I would become the youngest matriarch of the Rydell bloodline, the most powerful clan in the capital.

I worked without rest until the sky darkened. By the time I stopped, night had already fallen.

The Graywolf banquet began exactly on time. The hall shimmered with power, filled with the city’s strongest wolves.

Amid the sound of glasses and voices, Zora entered on Fredrik’s arm with perfect timing.

They wore matching silver garments. Her gown glowed under the chandeliers like flowing moonlight.

She lifted her hand with deliberate grace, ensuring every gaze fell upon the Bloodmoon Bracelet resting on her wrist.

Gasps and praise spread through the crowd.

"That’s the Graywolf relic. It suits Lady Wargrove perfectly."

"That woman who left Alpha Graywolf for a better match once thought she could claim that bracelet. Thought she could be Luna. What a joke."

Cold stares cut toward me like blades.

Seven winters ago, I had ended things with Fredrik and accepted a bond with his uncle, Layne Graywolf.

Within two winters, Fredrik defeated Layne and took the position of heir. The first thing he did was bring me back, ignoring all opposition.

For five winters, I stood beside him, rebuilding the Graywolf clan from ruin and raising it higher than ever.

And now, I was nothing but a greedy climber in their eyes.

I said nothing. I remained seated, quietly drinking water.

Fredrik offered no defense.

He moved through the hall, speaking with others, holding his glass, acting every part the perfect Alpha. At times, his gaze drifted toward me.

After Zora absorbed all the attention she desired, she walked toward me, her steps light and deliberate.

Her lips curved as her eyes fixed on the ruby earrings I wore.

"Caylin, the bracelet is already mine. Do you not think those earrings should belong to me as well?"

Those earrings. Fredrik had traded a fortune for them, simply to match the bracelet. They were meant for me.

A cruel smile formed on Zora’s lips as she reached for my ear.

I raised my hand to stop her. I had not even touched her when she suddenly cried out and fell to the ground.

When she stood again, a red mark appeared on her palm.

She trembled, her voice sharp with pain.

"It hurts. I only wanted to try them. Why did you push me, Caylin?"

Fredrik turned instantly. The entire hall fell silent as his expression darkened.

He strode forward, lifted Zora into his arms, and stared at her injured hand. Then his gaze snapped toward me, filled with fury.

"Who allowed you to lay a hand on her?"

He did not intend to hear me. His voice carried only anger for me and concern for her.

I looked at him, the man I had loved for a decade, the man I had given everything to, and a sharp pain twisted in my stomach.

I closed my eyes and forced the tears back.

When I opened them again, there was no anger left.

I lifted my hand to my ear and grasped the ruby earrings.

Before the stunned crowd, I tore them free. The metal ripped through my flesh, and blood ran down my neck.

Without expression, I placed the earrings into Zora’s hand.

"You are right. I was wrong. Since you are to be the Luna of the Graywolf Pack, these were always yours."

Fredrik’s pupils shrank sharply.

Zora took the earrings and went still, too shocked to even continue her act.

I looked at Fredrik. My eyes were empty.

"I have apologized. I gave everything to her. Can I leave now?"

His lips tightened, and a deep line formed between his brows. He was about to speak when Zora let out a weak cry and leaned into him.

"When Caylin pushed me earlier, I twisted my ankle. It feels swollen now."

Fredrik lifted her at once, placing her gently onto a chair as if she were fragile.

Then he knelt before her, those same hands that ruled over powerful pack deals now carefully rubbing her ankle.

He moved with ease, as though this was something he had done many times before.

The music rose again. Laughter and voices filled the hall, and the feast continued as if nothing had happened.

I turned and walked away, heading upstairs, leaving behind the shining hall that no longer belonged to me.

Fredrik’s gaze followed my back, lingering until I disappeared beyond the stairs.

Back in my room, I searched for the medicine the healer had given me and swallowed it with cold water.

As soon as it settled, a sharp pain gripped my stomach.

I clenched my teeth and forced myself to the washroom, pressing a cloth soaked in alcohol against my bleeding ears.

In the mirror, my face looked pale and lifeless.

It was the face of someone who had finally let go of all strength and found nothing left inside.

Love, no matter how deep, still had an end. Even a love that lasted ten winters.

Exhaustion pulled me down, and I fell into a heavy sleep.

But it was not empty.

In my dream, I returned to nine winters ago, when Fredrik and I still loved each other.

Back then, the Graywolf pack was close to ruin. Fredrik, seen as a rejected son, was constantly suppressed by Layne, barely allowed freedom, forced to endure each day.

It was my nineteenth birthday. He had climbed over the walls in the dead of night, risking punishment just to see me.

He carried a small cake against his chest, the skin beneath it burned red.

When he placed it in my hands, it was still warm.

Tears filled my eyes. "Why would you do something like this? If I wanted one, I could have it made."

"And you should not have come out for me either. If Layne finds out, he will make things worse for you."

He held my hands tightly, his eyes red.

"Caylin, this is all I can give you now. But I promise, one day I will make every day of your life full of happiness."

I ate that cake through my tears.

It was soft and sweet. The best thing I had ever tasted.

Between sleep and waking, I felt fingers brushing lightly across my forehead.

I curled closer, whispering weakly, "Fredrik, I want that cake..."

I thought I was still dreaming. But when I opened my eyes, a tray sat beside the bed.

On it was a delicate cake.

Chocolate, my favorite. Soft and light.

Fredrik sat at the edge of the bed.

"You are awake? How did you become this thin? Others might think I have been neglecting you."

He had not, not in a physical way.

I looked at the cake, but I felt no hunger.

It was not what I wanted anymore. Just like him.

Why did he come now? After everything? Pain first, then kindness?

"My stomach hurts. I cannot eat."

Fredrik reached out and pulled me into his arms.

My body stiffened. I tried to move away, but his hold tightened.

His other hand rested over me, warmth spreading from his palm. "Do not move. Let me help. Before, when you were unwell, this always worked."

The pain made it hard to resist. I leaned weakly against him.

"At the feast earlier, why did you not argue?"

His voice broke the silence suddenly.

I lowered my eyes, my tone calm and empty.

"You always tell me to remember my place. I gave her the bracelet and the earrings. Shouldn’t that please you?"

Something unreadable passed through his eyes.

He lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him.

A strong scent reached me at once. It was not mine. It was sweet and heavy, making my stomach turn.

"Zora and her father helped me greatly. I must repay that debt. But as long as you stay obedient, I will not deny you wealth or comfort. You have behaved well, so I will stay tonight. Take it as your reward."

His tone was careless, like tossing something insignificant.

Before I could react, his breath came close.

Then a weak voice sounded from outside.

"Fredrik, I feel dizzy. Are you there?"

The door opened before the words faded.

Zora froze when she saw us together. "What are you doing?"

Fredrik released me instantly.

Without hesitation, he pushed me away.

I fell to the ground, the impact making my head spin.

"Caylin was feeling unwell. I was only helping her."

The excuse came quickly. As if we had been caught in something wrong.

Zora’s eyes filled with tears as she stepped closer, looking down at me.

"But Caylin has always been healthy. I have never heard of her being sick."

Fredrik’s eyes darkened.

When he looked at me again, suspicion filled his face.

"Caylin. Are you truly unwell, or is this another act?"

I stood up slowly. My lips parted, but before I could speak, his voice cut through.

"You are the same as always. Never changing. You are skilled at pretending. It is unpleasant."

I had stopped hoping for anything from him long ago.

Yet hearing those words, my heart still tightened in pain.

Five winters ago, when Fredrik brought me back to his side within the Graywolf territory, I tried to explain why I had ended our bond.

He shook his head. "No need to explain. It does not matter."

Back then, I believed he understood me.

Now I knew he had never believed a single word.

"Fredrik, forget it. Caylin has always been skilled at pretending in front of men. Otherwise, how do you think she made your uncle fall so deeply for her?"

Zora slipped her fingers into his, her eyes flicking toward me with clear triumph.

Fredrik looked at me, his gaze filled with disappointment so deep it almost turned to disgust.

"There is a music gathering tomorrow night. I will take Zora. She has been learning the violin." He looked down at me, his tone firm. "Give her the Mooncrest violin."

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

That Mooncrest violin. Five winters ago, when I returned, he had spent an enormous fortune at auction to claim it. It was a rare relic, the only one of its kind.

I had treated it as the symbol of our new beginning. No one was allowed to touch it.

Once, one of his relatives secretly took it to play. She was expelled from the Graywolf estate that same day.

Back then, Fredrik had protected me without hesitation, warning the entire pack that anything belonging to me could not be touched.

And now, he wanted me to place it into Zora’s hands myself.

My chest tightened as if something heavy was crushing it.

I looked at his face. There was no space to refuse.

Slowly, I nodded.

"Fine. I will give it to her."

Fredrik held my gaze for a moment, then wrapped his arm around Zora and left.

The villa was well sealed, yet it could not fully block the soft cries and broken breaths from the room next door.

I was not sad. The pain in my stomach had only grown worse.

Lying curled on the bed, I saw my crystal communicator light up. A message from Dante.

[Caylin, everything is prepared. I will come for you in two days.]

I held the cold crystal communicator tightly and closed my eyes.

Two days until the mating ceremony.

The next morning, I handed the violin to Zora.

She opened the case right away and lifted the bow.

A harsh sound cut through the air, sharp enough to make anyone uneasy.

Then she took out a pair of scissors and, without hesitation, cut the strings one by one. The strings I had specially commissioned from a master craftsman.

"These strings are terrible. I cannot even play a proper note."

Zora looked at me, a mocking smile on her lips.

I did not respond. I turned and walked away.

As I passed the study, I heard Fredrik speaking with a relative.

"I heard you gave Zora the Bloodmoon Bracelet and the earrings. Now you even made Caylin give up that violin?"

"Caylin lost her pup trying to save you. Her parents died pulling you out of that fire. You treat her like this. Are you not afraid she will leave?"

I stopped walking.

Fredrik’s voice came out calm and careless.

"Leave? She has no pack. Where can she go?"

"Besides, she needs to let go of that useless pride and understand who holds power here. Once she behaves and stops troubling Zora, I will allow her to stay."

His relative sighed.

"Are you not worried she will truly give up on you?"

Fredrik let out a short laugh, full of disdain.

"She was raised to chase wealth. Whoever holds power, she follows."

"Why else would she leave me back then and go to Layne?"

"Now that the Graywolf power is mine, she clings to me like a shadow. Do you really think she would walk away?"

The other voice pressed again. "But what happened back then... will you not at least hear her side?"

Fredrik answered with a faint smile, his voice cold.

"She’s not worth it."

Cold spread through my entire body. I could not stop trembling.

So he had never understood.

All this time, he believed I left him for power, and returned for the same reason. So he kept me by his side while slowly crushing my dignity.

Five winters ago, Fredrik buried my parents, set aside hatred, and told me he would give me a home.

But my parents had died in the flames saving him. And I had spent two winters beside Layne, secretly gathering proof of his crimes, then sending it all to Fredrik.

That was why Fredrik could defeat Layne and rise as heir.

The one not worth anything was not me.

It was Fredrik Graywolf.

My nails pressed into my palms. Blood fell slowly, one drop after another. I felt nothing.

I stepped back quietly and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor.

"Lady Celviere!"

An old voice called out from deep within the hallway.