Five years ago, my ex-mate rejected me before the entire pack.

He chose his childhood sweetheart, who carried another he-wolf’s pup.

Now, I'm back. And he was the one dispatched to greet me.

"Look at you," his eyes locking on the necklace on my neck. "Still so desperate for attention you'd wear a cheap knock-off like that."

"Your time for games is over. You're to return and care for her pup."

My fingers grazed the cool diamonds.

The idiot had no idea. This necklace was a gift from my Alpha.

And of all his gifts, this was the very least.

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1

As I walked into the arrivals hall, I saw someone holding a sign that read "Mrs. Rodriguez."

I strode toward the sign and froze in my tracks.

It was Alaric Sullivan, my ex—the man I hadn't seen in five years.

Five years of dead silence. Not a single call. Not one message. Not a word of explanation or apology.

Now, here he was, his arm casually draped over Cassia Bennett's shoulder. Behind them, a crowd of fawning sycophants buzzed like flies.

One of them spotted me and laughed smugly. "Well, well, Alaric... isn't that your little shadow? What was her name? Isadora something?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Alaric's eyes—but the arrogant mask quickly slipped back into place. A slow, mocking smile curved his lips. "I told you. She'd come crawling back with her tail between her legs sooner or later."

The group erupted in snickers. "Isadora Vasile just disappeared without a word. Now that Alaric's the Beta of the Obsidian Fang Pack, she must be kicking herself. Probably cries into her pillow every night."

Another voice chimed in. "But Isadora, if you're going to play the 'chance encounter' card, at least dress the part. What on earth are you wearing? My grandma wouldn't be caught dead in that."

"Don't tell me you've been so poor since leaving Alaric that you can't even afford a decent outfit. How pathetic."

None of them knew that this seemingly ordinary casual outfit was custom-made for my pregnant figure by a top designer at Kieran's request—every thread woven for ultimate comfort.

After getting pregnant, I had long grown accustomed to wearing no makeup. But in their eyes, I was still the same pathetic creature who caked on lipstick in a desperate attempt to attract Alaric.

Five years ago, I left him.

I bonded with a Lycan who truly saw me, who desired me. He loved me for who I was, not for the vanity I could bring him. That Lycan was Kieran Rodriguez, the Alpha Supreme of the Lycan Council. Clearly, the "Mrs. Rodriguez" they were all waiting for was me.

But not a single one of them realized it.

Seeing my silence, a werewolf I vaguely recognized tried to smooth things over. "Isadora, it's good that you're back. Actually, Alaric has been looking for you all these years."

Instantly, Alaric's smile froze.

He shrugged dismissively, hiding his embarrassment. “Cassia’s pup is starting school. You can handle getting him there and back.”

He was just as arrogant, just as entitled as I remembered. But I was no longer his puppet.

Looking at him now, I only felt a bone-deep revulsion.

I was about to reveal my identity when Cassia interjected.

“Isadora, don't be mad at Alaric. He's just looking out for you. You disappeared for five years, who knows what kind of lowly jobs you've been doing out there?”

“Look at the state of you... Even if he wanted you as his mistress, you'd only embarrass him looking like that. But don't worry, as long as you take good care of my son, no one will look down on you.”

Five years had passed, and Cassia was as smug as ever.

I just raised an eyebrow, my hands protectively cradling my slightly swollen belly. I said nothing. I wanted to see just how deep their delusion ran.

However, Alaric misinterpreted my silence. He thought I was heartbroken, jealous.

His low, mocking laugh confirmed it.

“Oh, come on. She obviously couldn't make it on her own and came crawling back. She should be grateful I'm even offering her a job.”

“Take care of the kid and stay out of trouble. Know your place.”

“Don't worry, I'll let you stay by my side, just like you wanted. The nanny's room is empty, you can stay there.”

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted in malicious laughter.

“Isadora, see how good Alaric is to you. He was worried you were suffering out there, he even arranged a place for you to live.”

“So what if he's asking you to help Cassia with her pup? Compared to the miserable life you must have been living, isn't this a godsend? You should be on your knees thanking him.”

Cassia touched her diamond earring, adding in a sickly sweet, hypocritical tone, "Don't worry, Isadora. If my son misbehaves, I'll discipline him for you. I won't see you mistreated."

Alaric glanced at me sideways, sneering, "What's she got to complain about? She ran off over a little thing, and now that she's crawled back, she deserves to suffer a bit."

My brows furrowed. He called forging a mate bond with Cassia ‘a little thing’?

So, the Alaric who once loved me... was truly dead.

The Lycan who had once carried me, covered in blood, across half the territory was dead. The Lycan who had nothing but swore to give me the world was dead.

Now, all I saw was an empty shell of a man.

But that was fine. After all, I was about to have my second pup.

I shook off the thoughts. Arguing with these idiots was just a waste of breath.

I turned to Alaric and deliberately played along. "Aren't you here to pick me up? Let's go, then."

The air froze for a second, then the entire hall erupted in shrill, wild laughter.

Cassia let out a sharp scoff and said coldly, "Pick you up? In your dreams."

She pointed to the sign. "Look closely. We're here to pick up a VIP. Do you have any idea who that is?"

My mate was the Alpha Supreme. Did I have any idea who they were waiting for? Please.

“We’re waiting for the Alpha Supreme’s mate, Mrs. Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez is known for being ruthless and decisive, but in front of his Luna, he’s a complete madman. They say he was celibate for years for his Luna before he finally won her over.”

“Everyone knows the fastest way to get on Kieran Rodriguez’s good side is through his Luna. She’s his only weakness, the center of his world.”

Listening to their chatter, a soft, satisfied smile touched my lips.

In the five years since we bonded, Kieran had led the Crescent Moon Pack to unprecedented strength, and all the while, his obsessive devotion to me had never wavered for a moment.

Cassia was always desperate to one-up me.

Therefore, she never missed a chance to show off. "I heard that Mr. Rodriguez once spent a fortune at an auction just to make his mate smile."

“It was the ‘Eternal Moonlight’ necklace, a symbol of eternal love and devotion. Worth ten million dollars. That gift made his mate the object of insane jealousy among the she-wolves of every pack.”

She stopped mid-sentence. Then her voice suddenly shot up as she pointed at my neck. "Wait. That's it!"

Everyone fell silent. They held their breath, staring intently at me.

Alaric suddenly grabbed my hand, looking me over roughly. He sneered, "Not a bad imitation. Which poor bastard trying to act rich gave it to you?"

I pulled my hand back, smiling as I caressed the necklace. It was a gift from Kieran on our first bonding anniversary; while it wasn't the most valuable piece in the collection he'd given me, it was incredibly meaningful.

To me, it meant love.

However, in their eyes, I was completely unworthy of owning the real thing.

Seeing my complete lack of panic, Alaric's pupils constricted. Without warning, he lunged, his hand clamping around my throat as he violently ripped the necklace free.

The metal chain dug deep into my skin, leaving a searing red mark.

Cassia stepped forward, took the necklace from Alaric's hand, and turned it over in her fingers. "It's definitely more exquisite than the fakes I've bought online."

“But I have some self-respect. I wouldn't dare parade around in a knockoff and let people laugh at me.”

“Or... Isadora, are you trying to say that you're the VIP? The legendary mate of the Alpha Supreme?”

Instantly, the others erupted in even louder laughter. To them, it was too absurd.

Kieran was a legend. A cold, ruthless leader.

And I was the pathetic ex-girlfriend Alaric had dumped five years ago—the fool who had once begged for scraps of affection.

In their minds, there was no world in which I could possibly be worthy of Kieran.

Cassia twirled the necklace on her finger, smiling smugly. "You know, Isadora, I actually quite like this. Sell it to me. I'll give you double whatever you paid for it."

I rushed forward, worried she would break it.

"Give it back. That necklace was a gift from Kieran..."

Before I could finish, Alaric slapped me hard across the face. My head snapped to the side, and the taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.

“Shut up!” he glared at me, his eyes full of disgust. “Isadora, who do you think you are? How dare you speak Mr. Rodriguez's name? Are you trying to spread rumors about a connection to him and get us all killed?”

His sycophants echoed his anger, their eyes burning with hostility.

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing, Isadora?”

“This is our only chance to make a good impression on Mrs. Rodriguez! Are you trying to ruin the alliance between our pack and the Council?”

“Alaric worked so hard to get into our Alpha’s inner circle. You’re just a broke, dumped nobody. Do you think you can just waltz in here and pretend to be Kieran’s mate?”