The next morning, my wolf was restless.

Even suppressed by Silver Dust, it could feel my rage and despair.

I could hear its faint growls, like a beast trapped in a cage.

I drove to an independent clinic on the edge of the city.

Old Shaman Mira tended to werewolves who didn't trust the pack doctors.

Her clinic smelled of herbs and the faint scent of wolfsbane incense.

The familiar scents calmed my repressed wolf slightly.

"I want to check the state of my wolf," I said, looking directly into her ancient, wise eyes.

Mira’s nostrils flared as she sniffed the air around me.

She frowned.

"You smell of silver. Heavily."

My heart pounded.

"Please, check me."

She motioned for me to lie on the examination table and placed her hands on my chest.

As she used her own wolf to sense my condition, her eyes suddenly turned gold—the sign of a shaman entering a trance.

A few seconds later, she snapped her eyes open, staring at me in shock.

"By the Moon Goddess... child, your wolf…"

"What is it?" I asked, my own wolf beginning to struggle faintly.

"Your wolf isn't damaged. It’s just… encased in a thin silver film, like a cocoon. This isn't natural, it's—"

BANG!

The door was violently thrown open.

A crushing Alpha presence slammed into the room like a tidal wave.

I felt my wolf instantly curl into a ball.

Mira fell to her knees, whimpering in pain.

"It's like what?" Kael’s voice boomed, his eyes glowing gold, fangs peeking past his lips.

A sign of an Alpha's rage.

"Alpha Kael…" Mira managed, her wolf completely submissive before him.

"My Luna is unwell. What were you doing to her?"

Kael strode to my side, pulling me up with a powerful arm and shielding me behind him.

His wolf radiated a fierce, protective aura.

But through our mate bond, I felt his anxiety.

"I was just... checking on her wolf's recovery..." Mira stammered.

"Recovery?" A dangerous glint flashed in Kael's eyes. "Shaman Mira, I think you're mistaken. My Luna's wolf was severely traumatized in a rogue attack three years ago. She's still in recovery. You weren't thinking of performing some dangerous forced awakening ritual, were you?"

"No, I wasn't—"

"Such a ritual would be too dangerous for her. Her wolf is in no condition to handle it."

Kael held me tighter. "Right, Clara?"

I looked at Mira's terrified face, at how she couldn't speak the truth under Kael's crushing presence.

"Yes," I whispered. "Let's go."

Back in the car, Kael held my hand tightly.

"Baby, why did you go to that old shaman? If you're worried about your recovery, I can arrange for the pack's best healers to see you."

He soothed me with his Alpha scent, trying to calm me.

"I just wanted to know when I'd get better."

"You will. I promise. But it takes time. You can't rush it." He kissed the back of my hand. "Those radical awakening rituals are too dangerous. I can't let you take that risk."

The same old excuse.

I asked him softly through our bond, "Kael, do you love me?"

His answer was instant. "Of course. I love you more than anything."

But the emotion that came through the bond was ice-cold.

Not love, but burden.

Not protection, but imprisonment.

And a flicker of something I'd never felt before... guilt?

"Then why don't we ever talk about our future? When can we have pups? When will I have my Luna ceremony?"

His hand stiffened.

"There's no rush for any of that. We'll talk about it when you're fully recovered."

When I'm recovered.

But I'll never recover, will I?

Because you're the one injecting me with Silver Dust.

I felt the coldness and rejection from his wolf, and my heart sank completely.

Three years of a mate bond, and I'd been living with an actor.

I stifled a sigh and turned to gaze out the window.

Over the next few days, Kael became exceptionally attentive.

He drew hot baths for me, cooked my favorite mushroom soup, and constantly asked how I was feeling.

"Did that old shaman scare you the other day? She's reckless."

He sat beside me, his arm wrapped tightly around me. "From now on, just tell me if something's wrong. Don't go to outsiders again."

"Okay." I leaned against him, feeling the superficial warmth of his embrace.

Suddenly, a thought brushed against Kael’s mind through a link—one that wasn't mine. It was a private mind-link from another wolf.

And it was a woman's voice, alluring and seductive.

Kael's body went rigid. His wolf gave off a scent of longing.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"My Beta has an urgent matter to discuss." He stood up quickly. "I'm just going to the study."

"But it's late…"

"It'll only be a moment." He kissed my forehead, but the gesture was rushed and perfunctory.

After he left the living room, I used my sharp wolf hearing to track his footsteps.

He didn't go to the study.

He went to the back garden.

Ten minutes later, my phone buzzed with an anonymous message.

A video file.

I opened it. By the moonlit lake, Kael and Selene were locked in a tight embrace.

He was gently placing a wolf-fang necklace around her neck.

The same one I'd seen in his safe.

Then they kissed.

A deep, lingering kiss.

My weak wolf let out an enraged howl that only I could hear.

The mate mark on my chest burned—the tell-tale sign of betrayal.

The video's timestamp showed: one month ago.

The message vanished a moment later, but the image was seared into my mind.

I knew it was Selene.

She was declaring war.

Three days later was the alliance ceremony for the five great North American packs.

I dressed meticulously in a deep blue evening gown.

It was my first time appearing at such an event as a Luna.

But Kael’s attention wasn't on me at all.

His nostrils flared, searching for a specific scent.

Until Selene appeared.

She wore a silver gown, her wolf giving off a pure, intoxicating scent.

Every Alpha in the room instinctively turned to her.

Kael immediately left my side and strode toward her.

"Selene, you look beautiful tonight."

He took her hand and gently kissed the back of it.

I stood frozen, watching my mate openly display affection for another she-wolf.

"Everyone," Kael raised his glass to all the Alphas present, "I have an important announcement. The Silver Moon pack and the Red Fang pack will form the deepest of strategic alliances."

Thunderous applause.

"Alpha Selene is not only beautiful, but a symbol of wisdom and strength. She will be the most outstanding heir for the Red Fang pack."

Kael's gaze rested on Selene, full of affection. "I am confident that under her leadership, our cooperation will usher in a new era for our packs."

Selene blushed, lowering her head shyly.

"Thank you, Alpha Kael, for your trust and... support."

Just then, an Alpha from a northern pack stood up.

"Alpha Kael, I have a question."

"Please."

The Alpha brought the microphone to Kael. "Alpha Kael... you have yet to complete the final bonding ceremony with your Luna. Is it because you're waiting to mate with the Alpha heir of the Red Fang pack instead?"

The room fell silent.

All eyes were on Kael.

Kael looked at the expectant crowd and slowly raised his glass.

His wolf exuded a complex scent.

It held the confidence of an Alpha, but also a deeply hidden desire.

"Fellow Alphas," his voice was low and magnetic, "the Luna ceremony is indeed sacred. I trust that when the Moon Goddess guides me to my true mate, everything will fall into place."

He gave Selene a look so tender it was palpable, a silent vow that everyone in the room could feel.

"As for Selene..." he paused, "she is indeed a very special she-wolf. If only she weren't already mated to Alpha Ethan."

The room erupted in suggestive laughter and whistles.

Every wolf understood his implication.

I felt the mate mark on my chest burn, threatening to consume me.

"Then let us continue with tonight's festivities," an elder stood up. "It is now time to unveil this year's most important project—the new defensive rune matrix for the five-pack alliance."

A complex and exquisite rune pattern was projected onto the large screen.

I froze.

That was my design.

Three years ago, when I was still the heir of the Red Fang pack, I had designed this original rune matrix to protect our territory.

It had taken me six months of painstaking work, blending ancient Moon Goddess blessings with modern defensive concepts.

"This masterpiece was designed by the heir of our Red Fang pack, Alpha Selene," the elder's voice boomed. "Her talent and wisdom are astonishing."

Selene stood and bowed gracefully.

"A truly genius design!"

"As expected of the future of the Red Fang pack!"

"Alpha Selene is as brilliant as she is beautiful!"

Praises echoed throughout the hall.

My wolf roared within me. Even suppressed by Silver Dust, the rage made it struggle to break free.

That was my work!

My blood, sweat, and tears!

"No!" I shot to my feet, my voice ringing through the hall. "That's not her design!"

All eyes snapped to me.

I strode toward the stage.

"That rune matrix is mine! It was my original design for the Red Fang pack three years ago!"

I pointed at the screen. "Look here, this lunar phase transition rune, and this energy flow path—these are my unique creations!"

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Selene’s face turned pale, but she quickly composed herself, her eyes welling with crocodile tears.

"Clara, how could you say that… this really is my design…" her voice trembled. "I know you're upset about losing the inheritance, but…"

"Liar!" I cut her off angrily. "The core concept of this design is based on my research of ancient Moon Goddess runes. You couldn't possibly—"

"Enough!"

Kael’s furious voice thundered, carrying the full force of his Alpha command.

The entire hall fell silent. Every wolf was stunned into submission, instinctively bowing their heads.

And I, as his mate, bore the brunt of the impact.

My wolf instantly recoiled, my body trembling uncontrollably.

"Clara!" Kael strode toward me.

His eyes were completely gold, glowing with a dangerous light. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm telling the truth!" Even under his pressure, I held my ground. "That's my design!"

"You're out of control," Kael said coldly, then turned to the crowd. "My apologies, everyone. My Luna, due to the trauma to her wolf, sometimes suffers from... episodes. Delusions of persecution."

A wave of sympathetic murmurs went through the crowd.

"A wolfless mate is often mentally unstable..."

"Poor Luna..."

"Alpha Kael is so considerate, still protecting her like this..."

"Guards!" Kael commanded. "Take the Luna back to her room to rest. She needs to calm down."

Two guards immediately stepped forward, politely but firmly taking my arms.

"No! Let me finish! It really is my design!" I struggled, but it was useless.

Selene walked over and took my hand with false sympathy.

"Clara, you're tired. Get some rest. Everything will be alright."

Her voice was gentle, but her eyes gleamed with triumph.

I was escorted out of the hall.

By the time I got home, it was late.

I sat alone in the living room, a storm of anger and despair raging inside me.

At two in the morning, Kael returned.

He smelled of alcohol and Selene’s vanilla scent.

Clearly, they had spent more time together after the gala.

"Clara," he stood before me, his tone cold. "We need to talk."

"Talk about what? How you humiliated me in public? Or how you helped Selene steal my work?"

"That wasn't your design," he stated flatly. "Your wolf was damaged three years ago. You couldn't have completed such a complex rune project."

"You know that's not true!"

"What I know is that your behavior tonight embarrassed me in front of every Alpha!" His eyes began to glow gold again. "How could a Luna publicly question the heir of another pack? Do you have any idea how that affects our alliance?"

"So in your eyes, a political alliance is more important than the truth?"

"In my eyes, your health and safety are what matter most." He suddenly lunged forward, pinning me to the sofa. "Perhaps I've been too lenient with you. It's time to complete our final mating ritual."

His wolf radiated a powerful possessiveness and control.

His Alpha scent pressed down on me, suffocating.

This wasn't love. It was conquest.

"No," I pushed back. "Not now."

"Why not?" he kissed my neck forcefully, right over my mate mark. "You're my Luna. This is your duty."

Duty.

Not because of love, but duty.

I shoved him away with all my might, tears in my eyes.

"Kael, who do you really want to mark? Me, or Selene?"