Some time ago, Alpha Deryl had offered me a position as a teacher at the academy near the Blazemane Pack, the very same academy where Jeremy and I had first met. It was also the place where I had once been one of the most outstanding students.

Teaching there had been a long-cherished dream of mine, one I had quietly buried when I chose to follow Jeremy to the Nightshade Pack after our wedding. I had put aside my aspirations, thinking that my role as Luna was my new purpose.

However, after three years, Alpha Deryl’s unexpected call about the academy’s vacancy had stirred something in me. There was a teacher retiring, he had said, and I was the first person that came to mind to fill the position.

At first, I dismissed the idea. How could I, as Luna, possibly abandon the Nightshade Pack? My duty was in Nightshade, or so I had believed.

But after yesterday’s devastating attack and the realization that Jeremy had prioritized Alexa over me while I laid bleeding, the clarity hit me.

I was Luna in title, but to Jeremy, it seemed I was nothing more than an afterthought. The loss of our baby, my near-death experience, none of it had shaken him.

Why should I stay in a pack where my presence barely mattered to the Alpha, the man I called my husband?

My decision was made, and with a firm heart, I called Alpha Deryl back, agreeing to transfer back again to the Blazemane Pack.

“That is wonderful news, Everly. Our pack will always welcome you,” Alpha Deryl said, his voice warm, a smile I could almost feel through the phone.

“I will take care of the transfer paperwork and send you the files as soon as they are ready. You should start preparing things on your end to ensure a smooth move.”

“Thank you, Alpha Deryl,” I replied, my voice steady, though a whirlwind of emotions brewed within me. “I appreciate the opportunity. I promise I will work hard.”

After ending the call, I stood there for a moment, taking in the enormity of the decision I had just made. It was final, I was leaving.

But first, there were still obligations to fulfill, one of them being Jeremy’s lunch.

I packed it up, adding a few snacks for the workers who were rebuilding parts of the pack that had been destroyed in the attack.

It felt like one last act of duty, something I had done so many times before, but that day, it had a different weight.

That was my goodbye to a life I could no longer sustain.

As I headed to Jeremy’s office, I could not help but reflect on my time in the Nightshade Pack.

The truth was, I did not hate it.

The pack members, for the most part, had been kind and welcoming to me, even though I was not originally one of them.

But kindness from the pack did not erase the hurt I felt in my own home. If my house was not a place of love, if my husband was not there to support me when I needed him most, what was the point of staying?

A home should be a sanctuary, but for me, it had become a place of loneliness.

Lost in thought, I arrived at the Alpha’s office and, as usual, made my way in without needing permission.

The workers there greeted me warmly, and I stopped by the lounge to leave the snacks I had prepared.

As I stood there, my phone buzzed. It was an email from Alpha Deryl with the transfer forms attached. The moment was real, and I decided to print them out in Jeremy’s office later.

But just as I was about to head there, I overheard the familiar sound of gossip. I paused, my heart sinking as I recognized the subject of their conversation.

“You should have seen it,” one of the pack members whispered excitedly. “At the clinic, Alpha Jeremy gave Alexa flowers. It was so romantic.”

“Really? He has been so sweet to her. With everything Alexa’s going through with Beta Adrian in a coma, she must be devastated.”

Another voice chimed in, “I wonder… if Beta Adrian doesn’t wake up, do you think Alpha Jeremy will marry Alexa?”

“Who knows? I mean, some say they are already mates.”

A gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it. Were they serious? My chest tightened as I stood there, frozen in place.

“What? How can they be mates? Alexa already has a mate,” someone asked, incredulity lacing their voice.

“Well, I heard Beta Adrian is not really her fated mate. And besides, it is not unheard of for Alphas and Lunas to marry even if they are not true mates, right?”

They were right, Jeremy and I were not fated mates.

We had met in the academy, and it had been Jeremy who pursued me first. I resisted at first, clinging to the belief that I would wait for my fated mate.

But Jeremy was persistent, and he convinced me. He made a promise that if by the age of seventeen neither of us had found our mates, we would marry each other.

So, we did. For three years, we had lived together, thinking we had escaped the pull of fate.

But hearing their words at that moment, a deep, crushing realization settled over me.

What if Jeremy really had found his mate? What if that mate was Alexa?

Tears stung my eyes, but I swallowed them back. I could not let them see my pain.

With a cold tone, I interrupted their conversation. “Is that true?”

The pack members gasped, startled by my presence. “Luna Everly, we didn’t see you there….”

But before I could press them further, the lounge door burst open. A voice broke through the tension, announcing, “Beta Adrian has died.”

**

The funeral was held with a solemn reverence, the air thick with grief.

I stood at a distance, watching as Jeremy wrapped his arms tightly around Alexa, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

The sight was painful, a familiar ache spreading through my chest, but I pushed it down, determined not to let it show.

When I stepped closer, Alexa immediately glanced in my direction. Her tear-streaked face twisted into something like guilt, and she hastily pulled away from Jeremy.

“Oh Luna Everly, I am so sorry. It is just that… we have been very close since childhood,” she stammered.

Before I could respond, Jeremy beat me to it.

“You don’t have to apologize, Alexa,” he said softly, his hand still lingering on her shoulder. His tone was gentle, far too gentle for a man comforting a friend, especially in front of his wife.

I let out a quiet sigh, resigned to the scene unfolding before me.

It was not the first time Jeremy’s attention toward Alexa had stung. But that day, amidst the whispers of pack members and the sadness of the day, it cut deeper.

I could hear them, those same whispers that followed me everywhere, murmuring that Jeremy had long since lost his feelings for me.

But if that was true, why had he married me at all?

I could not help but wonder if it was all tied to the bond that formed between Alexa and Adrian shortly before our wedding. Had Jeremy married me to prove to her then?

I shook my head, dismissing the thought.

It could not be. Jeremy and I had a relationship long before any of that.

He would not have proposed to me just to make a point to Alexa. Or would he?

Lost in my thoughts, I had not realized the funeral had ended, and the crowd had dispersed.

Only the three of us remained, standing under the cloudy sky that threatened rain at any moment.

The silence between us stretched thin, and I turned to leave. There was no point in staying any longer, especially when it was clear that neither of them cared about my presence.

As I walked away, I heard Alexa’s soft voice behind me. “We have to reveal the mastermind behind these attacks, Jeremy.”

“Of course,” Jeremy replied. “We will find Adrian’s killer. I will make sure of it.”

I stopped in my tracks, the words hanging in the air like a noose tightening around my heart. They were planning together again.

But that time, I did not want to hear more. I could not.

With the pain in my chest overwhelming me, I broke into a run, not caring where I was going, only needing to escape. The forest called to me, offering a sanctuary for the torment that had built up inside me.

As I shapeshifted and ran through the trees, the drizzle began to fall, blurring the world around me.

My wolf, Keena, stirred within me, her voice calm and steady, pulling me back from the brink of losing control.

“Calm down, Ev,” she urged. “You need to settle your mind. After all, Jeremy is not your mate. Remember that. Focus on yourself.”

Her words were like a balm to the storm in my heart.

“You’re right, Keena,” I whispered, coming to a halt in the middle of the forest, breathing heavily. “If Jeremy can find his fated mate, then we can too. We deserve that, don’t we?”

“Of course,” Keena answered with confidence.

With a renewed sense of resolve, I made my way back home. I showered, letting the water wash away the remnants of my emotions, and then headed to the closet to begin packing.

“Tomorrow, I will leave for the Blazemane Pack,” I muttered to myself.

It was time to move on, to reclaim the life I had sacrificed for someone who did not see my worth.

However, as I pulled my suitcase from the shelf and began to fold clothes into it, the door to the room creaked open.

Jeremy stood there, his expression unreadable, his eyes drifting to the empty suitcase in my hands.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with something cold, almost detached.

“Just organizing the closet,” I lied, feeling the weight of the suitcase under my hands as I folded clothes with a calm that masked the storm brewing inside me.

“I see. Anyway, I will be traveling to another pack soon with Alexa to discuss the rogue attack,” Jeremy said as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

His tone was indifferent, almost rehearsed. “While you are in the closet, can you help me pack?”

“Sure,” I replied, my voice hollow. I kept my eyes on the clothes, refusing to meet his gaze.

“I will take a shower, and then I will be working late at the office again. You don’t need to prepare dinner,” he added, walking toward the bathroom.

I did not respond that time, my silence louder than any words I could have mustered. I kept folding my clothes, placing them neatly in the suitcase.

It did not matter anymore if he worked late or spent the night at Alexa’s house, or even shared her bed. I had lost the energy to care.

The next morning, I was startled awake by the sound of the door creaking open.

Jeremy walked in, looking disheveled. His face was twisted in a scowl.

“Why did you only pack your things and not mine?” he asked, his voice laced with annoyance.

I glanced up at him with a neutral expression. “Oh, that was my mistake. I will pack yours later.”

“Fine,” he muttered, clearly unsatisfied but too tired to argue further.

He reached into his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash. “Here for today. I also bought you breakfast, so make sure you cook lunch. Oh right, can you make a double lunch? One for me, and one for Alexa. She is still devastated about Adrian’s death after all.”

I took the money and slipped it into my purse with the simple answer, “Sure.”

“Oh, and pack my things by tomorrow,” Jeremy added, heading toward the door. “I will go again since I have got an important meeting at the office, see you.”

Before I could answer, his phone rang, and he was gone, already immersed in another world, one that did not include me.

I stared after him, the man who had once showered me with affection became barely noticing my existence.

In the early days of our marriage, whenever I gave him the silent treatment, he would immediately try to make amends.

He would bring me my favorite foods, whisk me away on impromptu trips, or surprise me with gifts. But those days were long gone. At that time, even my indifference didn’t register.

“Looks like he really doesn’t care about us anymore, Ev,” Keena, my wolf, murmured in my mind.

I nodded, letting out a deep breath. “Well, that just means we won’t have to feel guilty about leaving for Blazemane,” I whispered to myself.

I climbed out of bed, heading to the bathroom to shower.

After breakfast, I went to the market, preparing to cook Jeremy’s last meal.

Since that was to be our final day, I might as well go all out. Besides, I had to cook for his fated mate too. I smirked at the thought, the bitter irony of it all.

“Meat. We definitely need lots of meat to make it more festive,” Keena suggested with a hint of dark humor.

“Absolutely,” I agreed, while imagining Jeremy’s expression when he realized I was gone.

On my way back from the market, I passed by the training grounds where the young scouts were taking lessons from the Gammas.

After yesterday’s rogue attack, the pack needed new blood, and the training had become more rigorous. I watched them for a moment, a pang of nostalgia hitting me as I realized that would be the last time I would see them as their Luna.

Feeling a surge of affection for the young wolves, I walked to a nearby snack shop and bought treats for them. I handed out the snacks, smiling as they gathered around.

“Thank you, Luna Everly,” they said in unison, their voices filled with gratitude. “May you always be happy wherever you are.”

I smiled, though their words felt heavier than they knew. “Keep working hard, kids,” I told them.

It almost felt as if they knew I was leaving, as if they could sense the goodbye in my actions.

As I returned home and busied myself in the kitchen, preparing two lunch boxes.

I used to cook two lunches often, but back then, one of them was for me. Because Jeremy and I would eat together in his office, chatting and enjoying our lunch breaks.

But I could not remember the last time we had done that. The last few days, I was just the delivery girl, and even then, if I lingered too long, Jeremy would grow annoyed.

“Since when did everything change?” I muttered under my breath, wondering how we had gotten here.

When had the love we shared faded into indifference? Was it when Alexa’s mate, Adrian, had been killed?

Or had it begun long before that?

As I walked to Jeremy’s office with the lunch boxes in hand, I felt an odd sense of detachment, like I was watching someone else’s life unfold.

That would be the last time I did it, preparing male for him. The last time I would bend over backward for someone who could not be bothered to notice I was slipping away.

Then, as if he was dedicated to worsening my day, the moment I walked into his office, it was empty. I was not surprised, since he had a habit of disappearing without a word.

Later, after asking his new Beta, I learned that Jeremy had gone to Alexa's place.

"I will just wait inside then," I said, keeping my tone neutral as the Beta left me alone in Jeremy's room.

The silence was thick, and I took the opportunity to open the drawer of his desk. My heart raced, but I knew I had to remain calm.

I found what I was looking for, the pack stamp that would make everything official.

I directly printed the letter Alpha Deryl had sent me, and read it in my hands.

“Do I need Jeremy’s signature here?” I muttered under my breath.

Thankfully, Alpha Deryl had thought of everything. All that was needed was the Pack stamp, so I did not need to beg Jeremy for a signature.

A wave of relief washed over me as I stamped the letter, finalizing the transfer.

One copy was left on Jeremy’s desk, the other safely tucked into my bag. It was the key to my freedom, allowing me to cross the pack border.

"The next thing to do is...." I whispered, feeling the weight of the decision before me.

Before I could finish the thought, Alexa's voice entered my mind through our pack link.

"Everly, I heard you are already in Jeremy's room? Sorry, he did not inform you, he was in a hurry to my place. Could you bring lunch here?"

Her soft tone grated on my nerves. I had no desire to go to Alexa's house, especially after the last time when she, Adrian, and Jeremy treated me like a ghost at dinner.

But that would be my last act of service to Jeremy. So, I forced myself to respond.

"Okay," I said briefly, dragging my feet out of the room.

When I knocked on Alexa’s door, it was Jeremy who opened it. His brows furrowed and his voice tight.

"Everly? Who told you to come here?" he asked while hastily zipping up his pants, with a shabby shirt around it.

I met his gaze for a second before shifting my eyes to Alexa behind him. "Am I bothering you?"

Alexa stepped forward; her voice overly sweet. "No, of course not. I asked him to come. Jeremy, relax."

Jeremy, as if he had not accused me a moment ago, nodded and sat on the sofa, making himself comfortable like it was his own home.

"Come in, Everly," Alexa said, taking the lunch box from my hand. "Let me help you."

I followed her in, pretending to be friendly as I asked about her well-being. "Are you okay?"

She put on a fake sad face; her words hollow. "It was hard at first, losing Adrian. But I realize now that he did his duty as Beta. I should be proud of him, right? Even if it cost him his life."

Her tone was all wrong, her eyes dry and unconvincing.

I could not help muttering in my heart, "Poor Adrian, he did not even get a chance to catch them cheating before the Moon Goddess called him."

But instead of dwelling on Adrian’s fate, I felt a growing pity for myself. I had allowed that charade to go on for too long.

As I opened the lunch box, Alexa’s eyes drifted to my neck, where my tattoo marking me as Jeremy’s mate was visible. “So, that’s the mark Jeremy told me about. Isn’t it fun to have one?”

I didn't even glance at her, focusing on the food. “It’s just a tattoo. You can get one too, if you want. But you were really mated to Adrian, so your mark would be real, not fake like mine.”

I was planning to have the tattoo removed soon anyway. It meant nothing to Jeremy, and it meant even less to me.

Without waiting for her answer, since Alexa seemed at a loss for words, I turned around to set the lunch on the table.

Suddenly, my phone rang. Glancing at the screen, I saw Evan, my twin brother’s name, flash across.

So, I picked up and stepped outside.

"Everly, is it true what Alpha Deryl said? Are you really coming back to Blazemane?" Evan’s voice was full of concern. "It’s not because Jeremy hurt you, right?"

I sniffed, holding back tears. "Yeah, I’m sorting out the transfer now. How’s Mom?"

Evan did not push the subject. “She’s fine, but we have all missed you, especially Mom. When are you coming home? Alpha Deryl said maybe this week?”

“I have missed you too. Don’t worry, I will be home either today or tomorrow.”

As I hung up, I turned to see Jeremy approaching.

“Who called you?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“My brother,” I replied truthfully. “He was just asking how I am doing.”

Jeremy nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Join us for lunch, then, since you are already here."

His nonchalance stunned me. There was no shame, no guilt in his eyes. He acted like it was perfectly normal for me to be delivering lunch to him and his lover.

“No thanks,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “I have already eaten, and I have other things to do.”

"Alright, see you at home," he said dismissively.

But I knew better. We would not be seeing each other at home again. My next stop was the court to finalize my divorce.

As I arrived at the courthouse, doubt crept in. I hesitated at the door, wondering if that was truly the right decision.

But then, memories of that humiliating night flooded back, along with the whispered rumors, the way Jeremy and Alexa had become inseparable while I stood in the shadows, forgotten.

The news of their bond as mates had spread like wildfire, burning away any lingering hopes I had for our marriage.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Live happily with your mate, Jeremy,” I muttered. “Because I will too.”

With renewed resolve, I signed the divorce papers and returned home. I left both our wedding rings and the papers on the dining table with a short note, ‘Please make time to sign it.’

In the evening, I stepped on the gas, leaving the Nightshade Pack behind.

At that moment, I felt a strange mix of relief and anticipation. Even though I held the transfer letter in hand, stamped and official, a small part of me worried whether the border officers would allow me, their Luna, to leave without resistance.

But, as expected, the rumors of Jeremy and Alexa's bond had already spread. The officers barely questioned my request, offering me a sympathetic nod before waving me through.

Night passed swiftly, and the familiar landscape of Nightshade Pack fading as I neared Blazemane Pack.

I was not tired, despite the long drive all night. In fact, I was eager, ready to reclaim my life, to return home.

As the Blazemane Pack border came into view, a familiar figure stood waiting. It was my twin brother, Evan.

As soon as I stopped, Evan was already at my door, pulling it open.

"Welcome home, troublemaker," he teased, his eyes sparkling. "Now, move over, let me drive the rest of the way."

I laughed, a sense of normalcy washing over me for the first time in weeks. "Sure, thanks, baddie."

Settling into the passenger seat, I stretched my legs, feeling the weight of my journey lift.

Just then, Jeremy’s voice pierced through my mind in a panicked mind link.