The Moon Auction Hall gleamed beneath gilded chandeliers carved from enchanted crystal.

As the Beta in charge of logistics,I had arrived an hour early to register the“rare relics”the Hamilton Pack would offer in tonight’s charity auction for orphaned pups.

But as I neared the curtained section marked“High Alpha Access Only,”familiar voices drifted from the crack in the door.

Alexander—and his old pack brothers.

The same wolves I once welcomed into our den,poured wine for,laughed with.

Now their laughter echoed through the chamber,sharp and predatory.

“Now that Stephanie’s back in your life,you’re finally free,Alexander,”one of them drawled.

Another snorted.“What about Lavina?She’s decent,sure,but come on.Between her and Stephanie?One’s the Winslet Pack’s prized daughter—and the other…”He chuckled.“Just a no-name she-wolf from a forgotten valley who got lucky.”

The words hit harder than claws.

I remembered that night years ago,when Alexander had introduced me to them as‘a humble wolf from the outer territories’,saying his friends disliked arrogance.

But now I saw the truth.

He wasn’t protecting me.

He was hiding me—so that Stephanie could shine.

“And infertile too,isn’t she?”someone added,laughing cruelly.“Didn’t she miscarry once?I heard she failed her Healer’s treatments four times.You’d be a fool to bet your legacy on a barren female.”

A chilling silence followed.

Then Alexander spoke.

“It’s not Lavina’s fault,”he said evenly.“She’s been a good placeholder.But that’s all she’ll ever be.I can’t let a substitute carry my bloodline.”

My breath caught.

“The first pregnancy was a mistake,”he continued,voice low and cruelly steady.“When she lost it,I felt bad,sure—but I never meant for her to bear my pup.After that,I made sure she couldn’t.I’ve been giving her suppressants in her tonics for years.She never noticed.”

My world fractured.

The bitter tablets I used to choke down—the ones he claimed would“stabilize my wolf energy.”

Every failed fertility ritual,every moon I wept believing I was broken—

It had all been his doing.

‘We’ll try again when you’re stronger,’he’d said each time,arms around me while his lies dripped like poison.

“Spirits,Alexander,”one of the men muttered.“Your mother despised Lavina enough already.Making her suffer through false hope just for Stephanie’s sake?That’s cold—even for you.”

“I only married Lavina because my grandfather insisted,”Alexander said with a low,bitter laugh.“He liked her purity.I didn’t have a choice.”

He paused,and his tone softened into longing.

“Stephanie is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

That was it.

That was the moment I stopped breathing.

I turned and fled down the corridor.The world blurred into streaks of gold and shadow.My hand pressed against my mouth to stifle the sob threatening to break free.

When my communicator buzzed,I glanced down.

[ALEXANDER:Where are you?Get back here.Now.]

A bitter smile touched my lips.

Even now,he summoned me like an obedient wolf on a leash.

I called the steward of the Hamilton estate.

“Bring me everything from my vault.Now.”

Then,I wiped my tears and straightened my back before reentering the hall—masking the ruin inside with calm precision.

The Grand Auction was filled with Alphas and Betas from every major pack.Flashing orbs of press crystals lit the hall when Alexander appeared—with Stephanie clinging to his arm.

“Lavina,there you are.”

I turned toward them silently as the press surged forward.

“Alpha Hamilton!”a reporter shouted from behind the velvet rope.“Is it true you dismissed your Beta assistant today?”

“Alpha,are the rumors about your assistant being your secret mate true?”

Questions flew like arrows.

Stephanie’s grip tightened around his arm,her eyes blazing with false innocence.

Before Alexander could speak,I stepped forward.

“There has been a misunderstanding,”I said evenly,my voice slicing through the chaos like a blade.“There is absolutely no personal bond between Alpha Hamilton and me.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

“Alpha Hamilton is the leader of this pack,”I continued,tone composed.“And I was merely a subordinate wolf serving under his command.Nothing more,nothing less.I have already accepted an offer from another Alpha to transfer packs.”

The words hit like thunder.Alexander froze,his jaw tightening.

But he couldn’t refute me—not without confirming the truth.

A bold journalist stepped forward,holding up a photo crystal displaying matching rings forged by a Parisian mage.

“Are you saying there’s no secret bond?Because the pair of rings you both wear were enchanted as mating tokens—the male version is still seen on Alpha Hamilton’s hand—”

I raised my hand calmly.My finger was bare.

“No ring,”I said softly.

The silence that followed was absolute.

Alexander stared at me,shock flickering in his eyes.He remembered my vow beneath the Blood Moon—that I would never remove the ring sealing our bond.

I reached into my bag,withdrew a sealed scroll,and handed it to the nearest reporter.

“Here’s a certified record from the Council of Elders.No mating bond ever registered between Lavina and Alpha Hamilton.In fact,”I said,letting my eyes meet Alexander’s,“I am already promised to another Alpha.”

The crowd erupted in stunned whispers.

Alexander took a step forward,lips parting—but before he could speak,the great bronze bell tolled three times.

The auction had begun.

Perfect timing.

The grand hall of the Lunar Auction Gala shimmered beneath golden chandeliers shaped like crescent moons.

When the master of ceremony took the stage,the murmurs stilled instantly.

“Ladies and gentlemen,”he announced proudly,“we begin tonight’s event with a priceless relic donated by the Hamilton Pack.”

Under the spotlight,a velvet box opened.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Inside lay an emerald pendant,deep green and alive—like the heart of an ancient forest after rain.Its glow caught the silver in every wolf’s eyes.

Alexander’s expression faltered.He recognized it instantly.

He had chosen those gems himself,saying they matched my eyes—eyes that once looked at him as if he were the whole world.

Now they reflected nothing but cold light under the moon.

Stephanie leaned closer to him eagerly.“It’s stunning!Who owned it,Alex?I want it.”

Before he could reply,she raised her bidding paddle,her voice dripping with entitlement.

Sold.

Next came the second relic:a diamond wristband,a limited Alpha-edition model.I had gifted it to him on his thirtieth name-moon—the first year he forgot mine.I’d smiled through the ache and clasped it on his wrist anyway.

Sold.

Then came the third.

A vintage brooch inlaid with blood-rubies—a gift from his grandmother when I became his Luna.

The only heirloom I’d ever been given.

Sold.

Each memory-laden piece,stripped and auctioned as though it were scrap.

I stood beside him—composed,silent,exactly as he’d trained me to be.

Alexander turned suddenly,ignoring the murmurs,the stares,the flashing crystals.

“Lavina…”His voice cracked with disbelief.“That necklace was your favorite—you cried when it got scratched once.How could you just give it away?Don’t you remember?It was my gift to you…on our mating night.”

His voice trembled as the pendant was clasped around Stephanie’s throat.

He had given her rarer treasures before,but this—this single token—looked wrong on her skin.

“All I did,”I said quietly,“was strengthen your public image.Kept your reputation spotless,without costing you a single coin.Isn’t that what you always wanted,Alpha Hamilton?”

I reached for a glass of red wine,lifted it high.

“To Alpha Hamilton.”

The crowd echoed the toast in polite applause.

Alexander didn’t move.His eyes stayed locked on mine—haunted,uncertain.

Then he turned away,swallowed by a tide of powerful Alphas and hollow laughter.

I drained the glass in one sharp gulp and walked out,the applause behind me echoing like distant mockery.

The corridor was dim.

And then—she appeared.

Stephanie.

Her lips curled into the same cruel smile she’d worn as a child—

the one she had when she pushed me into the pond till I nearly drowned,

when she framed me for theft before the Winslet elders.

Then came the shove.

I stumbled backward,crashing into a cold-storage chamber.The iron door slammed shut.

“Tonight was mine!”she hissed,voice dripping venom.“You stole my spotlight,sister?Then enjoy your moment—alone,in the dark—while I toast champagne with our Alpha.”

“Stephanie,you’re insane!”I shouted,pounding the door.“Let me out!”

“No one’s coming,bitch.You thought selling off those trinkets would make Alex pity you?Feel guilty?”

“I don’t care about Alexander!You can have him!”

“Oh,I will,”she purred.“But really—thank you.While I was moaning beneath silk sheets in Paris territory,you were busy playing housemaid,polishing his boots and building his empire.”

“You vile serpent!You were the mistress—nothing more!”

“Mistress?”she laughed,the sound slicing through the air.“I was his first,Lavina.His everything.When you were miscarrying,I told him I was ill.He left you bleeding in the healers’ward to hold me in his arms.”

My body went still.Tears burned behind my eyes,but none fell.

She smirked,turning away.

“Enjoy the cold,sis.”

The door clanged shut,sealing me in darkness.

Later that night,when the auction ended,Alexander seethed.

“Alex,”Stephanie said,feigning guilt,“your sister was upset.I didn’t mean to—”

“You didn’t mean to?She’s throwing a tantrum because I dismissed her.Let her!Let’s see how long she lasts without me!”

And with that,he left with her—arm around her waist.

I fumbled for my communicator—no signal.

The air grew thin.My limbs went numb.The world tilted.

Just before my vision went black,I heard a crash.

The door burst open.

“Make way!Move!”

Strong hands wrapped a cloak around me.Deep voices issued crisp orders as medics swarmed.

“Miss Winslet,stay awake!You’re safe!”

Then darkness.

When I woke again,a healer stood beside my bed,my wrist connected to an IV of shimmering moon-infused serum.

It was the same healer who had overseen my fertility treatments for years.

“Miss Lavina,”she said gently,“you’re incredibly lucky.Lord Damien was gravely ill last night,but when you didn’t answer his calls,he forced us to halt his treatment and ordered a search party.Another hour and both your lives could’ve been lost.”

My lips trembled.“Both…?”

The healer smiled softly.

“Yes.You and your pup.Congratulations,Luna—your conception ritual finally succeeded.You’re five moons along.”

After being released from the healers’ward,I took a carriage back to the Hamilton Pack Estate.

The moon was waning,its pale light spilling over the grand manor that had once felt like home.

I entered quietly,heading straight to my chamber to gather what little still belonged to me—when I heard the faint rustle of silk,followed by a soft giggle.

Stephanie.

She stood before the mirror wearing my Luna gown.

The pearl-laced dress that my grandmother had hand-stitched on her deathbed—her final blessing to me after realizing that the Winslet Pack never cared for her true-born granddaughter.

I had worked five shifts across pack borders to buy that silk.

And now?

It hung loose on Stephanie’s frame,the front torn open,her claws gripping the fabric like a predator playing with its prey.

“Oh,sister,”she beamed,twirling.“You’re alive.Pity.I was hoping you’d die.But guess what happened last night?”

My chest tightened.I already knew.

She stepped closer,the shredded hem dragging across the marble floor.

“Alexander took me to the Moonspire Suite—you know,your favorite?The one where you spent your last birthday alone?”

Her voice dripped with false sweetness.

“He said he wanted to see the same view you adored.The same balcony where you and he first marked each other.”

My stomach twisted.That had been our place—the place where he’d first whispered“mine.”

“We left the curtains open,”she smirked.“I howled his name loud enough for the staff to hear.”

I tried not to flinch.

“Alexander said I taste sweeter,”she added,tugging at the ripped neckline.Red-purple bite marks shimmered across her skin.

“When I told him I wanted to start a family,he didn’t hesitate.Who knows?Maybe I’ll bear his heir soon.”

My hands trembled,claws threatening to unsheathe.

“You’re vile,”I whispered.

She tilted her head,feigning sympathy.

“Funny.That’s not what your husband says when he’s inside me,growling my name.Maybe I’ll give him what you couldn’t.”

Something inside me snapped.

Slap.

The sound cracked like thunder.Stephanie staggered,falling backward in shock.

“You—!”

“Lavina?”

Alexander’s voice boomed from the doorway.

He stopped dead,eyes flicking between us—Stephanie half-naked in my ruined gown,me standing rigid and furious.

Stephanie’s tears came instantly.

“I’m sorry,sister!”she sobbed.“I was just trying on your gown for a modeling campaign!It ripped—I didn’t mean it!I already stole your parents’love,but please forgive me!I can’t bear this guilt—I’ll just die!”

Before I could react,she grabbed a fruit knife from the table.

“Stop,”Alexander barked,snatching it away.She twisted dramatically in his arms,then darted toward the wall as if to smash her head open.

He caught her mid-lunge,arms circling her waist.She collapsed against his chest,crying as if she were some fragile creature deserving rescue.

“Stephanie,”he murmured firmly,“I invited you here as my guest.If anyone dares harm you—they’ll answer to me.”

I stared,numb.Stephanie weeping in his arms.Alexander shielding her like a wounded pup.

A bitter smile curved my lips.

When he turned to me,his voice was colder than steel.

“Lavina,apologize to her.”

“Apologize?”I asked quietly.“Alexander,aren’t you even curious where I was last night?”

“I don’t care!”he snapped.“You don’t lay a hand on her!If you don’t apologize right now,I’ll cut off your access to pack funds and move you to the servants’quarters!”

My heart lurched.

Our pup had nearly died.

And all he cared about was her.

“That should humble you,”he sneered.“Maybe I’ve spoiled you too long.”

I said nothing.

Because I finally understood.

To him,I was never a mate—just a pet.A servant.

He thought taking away comfort would break me.

But I’d already known hunger,loneliness,and humiliation long before I met him.

He turned to the guards.

“Move her things.She’ll stay in the servants’quarters until she apologizes.”

And just like that,I became the villainess in their love story.

After Alexander and Stephanie left the manor,my communicator buzzed.

An unfamiliar number flashed on the crystal display.

“Where was he,”the voice thundered,low and furious,“while you were locked in that cold chamber,barely breathing,Miss Winslet?”

I froze.I knew that voice.

Alpha Damien Stone.

“He was…with her,”I whispered.

“I can’t stay away anymore,”he said,his tone trembling with restrained fury.

“How long?”

“One week,”he vowed.“After that,I’ll come to take you home.”

My fingers tightened around the crystal.

“Alright,”I breathed.