It was already dark when I arrived at the packhouse. The living room was empty, so I thought Maro wasn't yet home. But then I sniffed in the air and caught a faint whiff of his scent. I followed it, and my feet led me to the backyard, where I found a table with a lot of freshly cooked food laid out. Scented candles lit the room, and I could see Marco standing by the table. He picked the flowers on the table and walked towards me with a sheepish smile, saying, "Happy birthday, Fiona."

Marco’s eyes glimmered with tenderness as he pulled out a chair at the table. He gestured for me to sit, and though every instinct screamed at me to leave, I forced myself to stay. This was part of the act, after all—pretending everything was fine until I could disappear from this life for good.

"Where have you been?" he inquired nonchalantly as he sat down beside me in his chair. "I tried reaching your phone."

This was the question I have expected. "I was inspecting our jewelry stores at the city," I countered unflappably.

He leaned over and caressed my shoulders. While I felt my body responding positively to his touch, the mind of me kept shrieking at me to guard myself. "Fiona, are you fine? You seemed tired."

I nodded, pushing the big lump forming in my throat back. "Just a long day," I whispered.

Sorry I wasn't able to be there with you, love. I was supervising at the mines today on-site. You know, these rogue clans have just started hitting up territories left and right. I did not want to leave them vulnerable for this one's safety," he explained kindly.

My heart was breaking at the excuse. So Kira was one of those miners, and he was digging in her cave! "It's okay," I mumbled, trying to muster up a small smile.

He didn't ask for more but instead reached for a stack of brochures on the table. "By the way, I wanted to show you these before dinner," he said, spreading them out in front of me. "These are the new gems we're adding to our stores. Imported from the finest sources."

I nodded, barely looking at the shining stones in the photos. My head was elsewhere, with all my attention to stifle the anger that just barely didn't erupt.

Marco took up another folder, which was thinner. "Also, about the upcoming promotions, I think we should use models this time, not celebrities."

That made me take notice. "Why?" My voice came out harder than I intended.

He shrugged off. "Celebrities are too demanding. Models are more flexible and easier to work with. It's better for the budget and the timeline."

His words felt like a knife twisting in my chest. Models. Of course. He meant Kira. My stepsister was a model. I stared at the papers in front of me, my vision blurring as my wolf whirled in despair.

But I couldn't let him see my pain. Not now. I took the pen he offered and signed the documents with a steady hand, sealing my part in this sham of a partnership. It didn't matter. I'd be gone soon enough.

Dinner passed in strained silence. Marco talked about plans for the pack and the boutiques in the city, while I nodded and occasionally hummed in agreement. Every word he spoke was a bitter reminder of the man he was pretending to be—the man I once loved.

As I drank my wine, Marco leaned back in his chair. "Why don't we go for a swim?"

"I'm exhausted," I said quickly with a sigh.

He frowned, regarding me. "Come on, Fiona. It'll calm you down. The pool is warm."

I hesitated. My bruises hadn't healed enough yet, and I wasn't about to let him catch sight of them. But before I could say anything, his posture stiffened. His eyes glazed over-the sure sign of a mindlink.

"Who is it?" I asked.

He hesitated, then shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It's my father. There's an urgent matter with their pack. You should sleep while I take care of this."

I didn't believe him, but I said nothing as he carried me to the bedroom, laying me gently on the bed. He pulled out the bottle of vitamins I'd been taking and handed me two pills.

"Take these. You need to rest."

I swallowed the pills in front of him, forcing a small smile as he kissed my forehead and whispered, "Goodnight, Fiona."

As soon as he left the room, I sprinted to the bathroom and tried to vomit the pills into the sink. My body trembled as I leaned against the counter and could only shake my head, catching my own reflection in the mirror.

I knew his plan now. Every time I slept, he left for her. With Kira. My heart was aching, but I clenched my fists, forcing myself to be straight.

"Just a few more days," I told myself. A few more days, and I would get out of this nightmare.

The minutes dragged on like hours as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring into the darkness. My wolf stirred restlessly in my mind, pacing like a caged animal. I could feel her irritation, her desire to break free and roam. She growled lowly, her frustration buzzing in the back of my mind.

Let it go, I told her firmly, though I wasn’t sure if I was speaking to her or to myself. None of this matters anymore. It’ll be over soon.

But my wolf didn’t listen. Her restlessness only grew, and it was contagious. I clenched my fists, trying to suppress the rising urge to give in, but it was no use. My wolf was my other half, and tonight, she was in no mood to be ignored.

“Fine,” I muttered under my breath, rising from the bed. My wolf’s growl echoed in my mind as I slipped out of the room.

I stepped outside the packhouse, the cool night air kissing my skin as I let the transformation take over. My clothes shredded as my body shifted, fur sprouting as my limbs lengthened. In seconds, I stood on four legs, my silver-gray coat shimmering under the moonlight.

“Luna!” Beta Jay called. He sounded as though he was out of breath, likely trying to catch up to me.

But I wasn’t in the mood to deal with anyone from the pack tonight.

So, I opened the mindlink. ‘Stay away, Jay. This is my only warning!’

There was a pause, and then his reply came, hesitant but obedient. ‘Yes, Luna.’

When his presence faded, I slowed my pace, my sharp ears picking up the sound of soft rustling ahead. I sniffed the air, catching the scent of a deer grazing peacefully in a by the pond.

The sight of it triggered something primal in me. My wolf crouched low as her instincts took over. She stalked silently with her focus narrowing to the prey before her.

And then I pounced.

The deer didn’t stand a chance. My claws tore through its flesh, and my teeth sank into its neck. The kill should have been quick, but my sorrow and rage boiled over, driving me into a frenzy. I clawed and bit at the lifeless creature long after it had drawn its last breath, the blood staining my silver-gray fur.

When it was over, I stepped back, panting in the deepest pit of my wolf. The clearing was silent again, but the air was heavy with the scent of death. My wolf howled mournfully as the guilt settled in as we looked at what I had done. The poor dear didn't deserve my wrath. Kira and Marco did.

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the overwhelming emotions. I couldn’t go back to the packhouse, not like this. Instead, I turned and ran, my paws pounding against the earth as I headed toward the neighboring pack.

It wasn’t long before I reached the edge of their territory. I stayed hidden among the trees, my silver-gray fur blending into the shadows. My eyes scanned the packhouse where Marco’s father, Elder Khan, lived.

For a long time, there was nothing. I began to doubt my suspicions, wondering if perhaps for once, Marco had been telling the truth. But then the wind shifted, carrying a familiar scent to my nostrils.

Marco.

I shifted back in my human form. My heart clenched as I saw him emerge from the forest on the other side of the sward. He was heading toward the packhouse. But he wasn’t alone.

Kira was with him.

She clung to him, her arms wrapped possessively around his waist as she laughed at something he said. My wolf whimpered softly, the sound filled with heartbreak and anger. I watched as they approached the door, where Elder Khan stood waiting.

“Elder Khan,” Kira greeted warmly, her voice carrying across to me. “Finally, I’m pregnant with Marco’s heir.”

The world blurred around me as our entire being was shattered by Kira’s words.

‘You heard them!’ she roared. ‘She’s pregnant, Fiona! They’ve made us fools! Let me take over. I’ll tear them apart!’

Her rage was suffocating, pressing against my will. I stumbled back into the shadows as my chest heaved, struggling to keep her at bay.

“No,” I whispered. "Not like this. We don’t even know the full story yet—”

‘There is no story! The truth is right there! They betrayed us, and you want to sit here and watch? Coward!’

I gritted my teeth, my fists clenched as I fought for control. The urge to shift again, to let her take over, snapped at me. My wolf’s instincts were hot and raw and demanding action.

But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t act on blind rage, not when every part of me felt so fractured. I needed to think, to process, to breathe.

“Let it go,” I snapped back at her, though my voice was cracking. “I’ll handle this, not you.”

She snarled, pushing harder. ‘Handle it? Look at you. You’re weak! You’re breaking! Let me fix this!’

My chest tightened as she surged forward, tearing at the barrier between us. For a terrifying moment, I felt myself slipping, her will overpowering mine. My fingers twitched, and the familiar burn of a shift began to ripple through me again.

“No!” I screamed, slamming my mental walls shut, forcing her back with a strength I didn’t know I still had. The shift retreated, leaving me gasping and trembling in my human form.

The silence was deafening, save for the sound of my ragged breathing. My wolf was still there, growling low in protest, but for now, I was in control. Barely.

Even with the sedating drugs, I had not slept. Not really. I'd spent the night lying on my side, hugging a pillow to my chest as if it would protect me from the pain. My wolf howled mournfully in my consciousness, and her sound merged with my sobs till I couldn't tell the difference.

I couldn't help but recall Mother's words when she was still alive. "Fated mates aren’t always the ones who’ll bring you happiness, Fiona. Sometimes, the Goddess’s will isn’t what you’d choose for yourself."

At the time, I had dismissed her advice. I was too young, too caught up in the fairy tales spun by the elders and books. The stories of perfect love and eternal devotion had been a dream I clung to desperately, even when the reality was far more bitter.

And now I understood what she had meant.

I wasn’t in love with Marco—I never had been. I had fallen in love with the idea of Marco. The fantasy of the perfect mate, the alpha who would protect and adore me, who would make me feel whole. But it had all been a lie.

My phone vibrated on the bedside table, and I gasped, snatching it up with trembling fingers. My heart leaped, hoping it was the National Pack Registry with news of my new record's release. But the screen displayed a different name: Marco.

For a moment, I stared at it, my chest tightening as I debated whether to answer. Finally, I swiped to accept the call.

“Hello,” I croaked.

“Fiona, I’m so sorry I didn’t come home last night. My father needed me as my brother and the warriors are on a five-day hunt. Someone had to manage things in their absence.”

My wolf growled low in my mind. The audacity of him fabricating a perfect lie to cover up his mess, namely a mistress with a baby on the way!

“I understand," I said, shutting my eyes.

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost hear the relief in his exhale. “Thank you, Fiona. I’ll make it up to you today, I promise. I’m all yours for the rest of the day. What do you want to do? We could go shopping in the city or spend a relaxing day at the beach. Just say the word.”

Shopping. The beach. All distractions, all meaningless compared to the ones I deserved the most—love and loyalty.

“I’ll think about it."

“Perfect,” he replied. “I’ll head back now to pick you up. Take your time, love.”

By the time Marco arrived, I had transformed myself into the perfect picture of a Luna. My hair was neatly styled, my makeup was flawless despite my sleepless night. I wore a sleek, fashionable dress, the emerald pendant glinting at my throat.

When he stepped inside, his eyes lit up at the sight of me, though the stiffness in his posture didn’t escape my notice.

“Have you decided?” he asked eagerly.