Hidden beneath the shadows of the pack house, I closed my eyes and focused, reaching deep within the mate bond that still faintly pulsed between Ezekiel and me. The bond was weak, but I could still tap into it, using the strength I had left as Luna. Through that fragile link, memories flooded over me. Moments that weren’t mine but had been branded into Ezekiel’s mind.

Flashes of him and Lucia slipped into my thoughts. Their intimate scenes from their meetings under the cover of the forest. I saw him smiling at her, that warm smile that once belonged to me alone. They stood close. Then she reached up to his shoulders. His fingers grazed her cheek as if she were something precious. My chest tightened as I saw Lucia leaning into him, whispering words I couldn’t hear but didn’t need to.

I pulled back, breathing heavily, but the vision continued, pressing forward with relentless clarity. I saw them in the moonlight, where she feigned tenderness. She pressed her hand against her stomach as if she were carrying his pup. My stomach twisted. She was lying to him. She was manipulating his sense of duty, weaving a web that would trap him in a bond of deception. The ache in my heart grew sharper as I realized he believed her. He saw her as his future, while I was nothing more than a shadow in his past.

The images faded, but their residue clung to me. I could feel my baby kicking. It was like it sensed my pain. I placed a hand on my belly, grounding myself in the reality that this child was my reason to keep fighting. I couldn’t allow Ezekiel’s betrayal to weaken me or jeopardize the life growing within me. He had failed our bond, but I would not fail our pup.

Steeling myself, I returned to the present, gathering my resolve. As Luna, I still held influence within the pack. And I intended to use it. If Ezekiel wanted to keep his lies hidden, then he had severely underestimated the strength of a Luna betrayed. I knew every wolf in the pack, their habits, their movements, and I was ready to quietly uncover the evidence I needed.

Starting with the pack’s resource records, I combed through the ledger, finding irregularities that confirmed my suspicions. Several resources had been transferred to a location near Crescent Moon territory. The very area I had sensed Lucia’s presence.

My breath came shallowly as I uncovered supplies meant for our pack diverted, food and medicine that should have been used to strengthen our wolves but instead had gone to her. I recorded everything, saving the proof I needed, securing it with the precision of a warrior.

The betrayal ran deep, infecting every part of what I thought was secure. It was as if he was tearing down everything I had helped build in this pack, stone by stone. I took screenshots of the records. Then carefully tucked each piece of evidence away.

Ezekiel’s actions were no longer a private betrayal. They threatened the foundation of our pack, the loyalty of our wolves, and the very fabric of our unity.

My discovery bore down on me, but I kept moving, seeking out allies among the wolves who had always been loyal to me. I felt their concern, their uncertainty, even whispers that hinted at what I now knew to be true. My position as Luna meant I knew which wolves had always stood by me, those who respected the bond of the pack above all else, and their loyalty was a lifeline in the storm of deceit surrounding me.

Through quiet conversations, I planted seeds of doubt, careful to ensure they wouldn’t trace back to me. I let slip the smallest hints, fragments of truth that would feed the rumors already circulating. A glance here, a word there, and soon, the whispers began to grow, spreading through the pack like wildfire. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the news reached even the lowest-ranking wolves, making it impossible for Ezekiel to hide his betrayal any longer.

And as the rumors swirled around us, I could feel the pack’s loyalty begin to waver, slipping like sand through Ezekiel’s fingers. Where there had once been respect, there was now hesitation, doubt. Wolves avoided his gaze. Murmurs followed him wherever he went. And the energy in the pack shifted, like the betrayal was a wound that each of us felt.

I knew the cost of this revelation would be high, but it was a price I was willing to pay to protect the pack from a leader who had lost his honor. I had to face the truth. Ezekiel’s choices were tearing us apart. And I could no longer stay silent.

As I stood alone under the rising moon with my hand resting over my child, I’d come to a decision. The time would come when I would have to choose between my mate and my duty as Luna. But for now, I would let the truth spread, let it corrode the loyalty he thought he could command with a smile and empty promises.

I could hear Ezekiel’s footsteps echoing through the silent pack house as he slipped out the door. I almost didn't hear his voice when he muttered something about “urgent pack matters.” He didn’t wait for me to ask questions. He didn’t even look back as he disappeared into the shadows outside, leaving nothing but the scent of pine and that sickening hint of something floral.

I waited only a moment, letting him think he’d escaped unnoticed. But as soon as the door clicked shut, I was on my feet. My instincts kicked in with a fierce determination. I shifted quietly, feeling the surge of power as my wolf took over. My senses sharpened as I tracked his scent through the night air.

He moved quickly. He led me out of Silver Fang territory and closer to the boundary of the Crescent Moon Pack. My heart hammered as I followed, feeling the strain in our bond as he ventured further from our territory.

As I approached the edge of the Crescent Moon Pack’s lands, I caught sight of him through the trees. He was standing in the moonlight. His figure was illuminated as he waited. And then she appeared.

Lucia.

Her silhouette emerged from the shadows. She moved delicately as she made her way to him. Her eyes were fixed on Ezekiel with a longing gaze that made my stomach churn.

I crept closer, and crouched low in the brush. My heart pounded as I took in the scene before me. Ezekiel’s face softened as she reached him. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her skin in a way that felt like a dagger in my chest.

Their voices drifted toward me as if they were the only ones in the world.

“I’m sorry it took so long to get here. The pack business is… complicated. But I’m here now,” he explained.

Lucia pouted, leaning into him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “You shouldn’t have to apologize, Ezekiel. I know you’re carrying the weight of your responsibilities. But I worry… I’m afraid of being alone.” Her voice quivered just enough to elicit his sympathy. Her vulnerability was carefully crafted. And each word was supposed to bait him.

He held her closer. Then he rested his hand on her back as he whispered, “You’re not alone, Lucia. You have me.”

I clenched my fists. My nails dug into my palms as the mate bond flickered and sputtered. The pain of his betrayal laced through it like poison. My vision blurred. And the edges of my mind were fraying as I struggled to keep my emotions in check, to keep from storming into their twisted little moment and tearing apart the illusion they’d created.

Then, with a soft smile, Lucia placed a hand on her stomach. Immediately, Ezekiel’s expression shifted. His gaze dropped to her abdomen. My heart stopped as he reached down, covering her hand with his own. His face lit up with tenderness that I hadn’t seen in years.

“Do you really think he’ll be safe here?” she whispered worriedly.

Ezekiel’s grip tightened. “I’ll protect you both, Lucia. You and the child. Nothing will harm you under my watch.”

I stifled a gasp, feeling the mate bond strain and tear as the final threads holding us together began to unravel. The pain was sharp and relentless. It was like fire that seared through me. My wolf howled within me. A cry of betrayal that echoed through every part of my being.

He believed her. He believed her lies about a child that didn’t even exist. The realization settled over me like ice, chilling me to my core. He was willing to sacrifice everything we had, everything he’d ever sworn to protect, for a deception spun by a rival wolf who had wormed her way into his heart.

As their laughter echoed through the trees, mingling with whispers of a future I would never be part of, I felt the mate bond shatter completely, its final pieces disintegrating like ashes on the wind. The pain tore through me. It was unbearable and merciless.

Ezekiel had betrayed me, betrayed our bond, and our pack. But I would not let him continue this farce. I would not let him carry on as Alpha while his loyalty lay with a wolf who had no claim to our pack. No right to stand beside him.

I forced myself to turn away, back toward Silver Fang territory. My chest felt hollow. But as I crossed back into our lands, I made my decision. I would reject him. I would strip him of the bond he had so carelessly discarded.

The ritual of rejection was a painful one. And I knew it would be excruciating to sever the last remnants of the bond. But I had no choice. The role of Luna was mine by right. And I would not allow him to desecrate it any longer.

The moon hung high above me, casting its light over the pack house as I approached. The time had come. I would face him, call upon the ancient power of the Moon Goddess, and end this once and for all.