I lay on the healer’s stone bed inside the pack infirmary, my body still weak after losing my pup, when glowing images appeared before my eyes.

In them, my mate and Alpha Axton Bloodridge, was kissing another she wolf.

At first, I believed it was only a cruel vision brought on by pain and moon sickness. But everything shattered when I returned to our den and saw him myself, tangled in bed with Ramona Frostvein, the sister of his closest friend.

“Quiet, Axton. Be gentle,” Ramona laughed softly while I stood hidden in the shadows. “What about Lunessa?”

“She will not wake,” Axton answered calmly. “I gave her a sleeping tonic.”

I thought betrayal was the worst pain I would face. I was wrong.

“That tonic might be the reason her pup died,” Ramona said lightly.

Axton let out a cold laugh. “So what? I never wanted that pup. Lunessa was always annoying, only to show her love to me.”

My blood turned to ice. The Alpha who once swore devotion to me had slowly poisoned my body. He ended our pup’s life because he found my love troublesome.

As if that was not enough, he later bought the moon sapphire necklace I had long wanted and gave it to his mistress. On the night of our bond anniversary feast, he left me alone in the hall to run to her side.

He believed I was weak. He believed I was still the obedient Luna waiting for him at home.

He had no idea how wrong he was, or what awaited him when he returned to see the gift I left behind for our anniversary.

——

I was still resting in the infirmary when the visions came again. Axton kissing another she wolf. I told myself it was my imagination until I saw him with my own eyes in our den, twisted together with Ramona on our bed.

“Quiet, Axton. Be gentle,” Ramona whispered, her voice teasing as her hands slid down his back. “What if she wakes and sees us?”

“She will not wake,” he replied, his voice deep and rough. “I mixed the sleeping herbs into the drink she took earlier,” Axton said casually, as if he were speaking of calming a restless animal. “She will not open her eyes until morning.”

The world seemed to tilt.

Ramona stopped moving. “You are still giving her that? That potion could be why she lost the pup.”

My hand flew to my mouth. I bit down hard to keep the scream from escaping.

Axton laughed.

It was empty and cruel. “That might be true,” he said, shrugging as he pulled her closer. “But who cares? I never cared about the pup. She was the one who kept begging for it. It was annoying.”

Annoying…

My dead pup. My pain. My devotion.

To him, it was nothing.

Ramona traced his jaw with her fingers. “But do you love her?”

“Of course I love my Luna,” Axton replied without pause. The lie flowed easily from his lips. “That is why she must never know. And your brother too. He cannot find out. Understand?”

Then they kissed again, desperate and hungry, clinging to each other while I stood unseen, breaking apart piece by piece.

A laugh escaped me, thin and hollow.

How could he speak of love while betraying me with another?

I stepped away and left them in their filth.

The next day, I waited until Axton left for Alpha duties. He kissed my forehead with that same lying mouth, told me to rest, told me he loved me. I waited until his footsteps faded beyond the pack gates.

Then I dressed.

I pulled on my coat, hiding my shaking hands, and walked out.

I went straight to Maven’s chambers. Maven was an old friend and the pack’s legal keeper, someone who knew me before I became Luna of Bloodridge.

“Prepare the bond severance papers,” I said.

Maven froze, his quill hovering in midair. He looked at me with concern. “Lunessa? Are you certain? It has only been a week since the loss.”

“It was not fate,” I said calmly. “Please do it.”

He leaned back and rubbed his temples. “Very well. I will keep this hidden for now. I will not submit it to the Alpha Council yet. But Lunessa, think carefully.”

He looked at me from head to toe, at my pale skin and weakened body.

“Where will you go?” he asked gently. “You gave up your healer rank. You left your work. You sold your home. You only have him left.”

I lowered my gaze.

He was right. Axton had taken everything slowly. My independence. My strength. My friends. He made himself my entire world so that when he broke it, I would have nowhere to stand.

“He loved you deeply,” Maven said softly. “I have never seen an Alpha so devoted. Remember last winter when you were ill? He never left your side for three days.”

I closed my eyes.

I remembered.

Four years…

Four years trapped inside his lie.

I remembered how perfect it all seemed. The way he looked at me across crowded halls. The way he abandoned meetings for my smallest wish. Once, I mentioned craving a rare chocolate from a distant human land. He did not order it. He flew there himself and abandoned a deal worth a fortune just to place it in my hands.

He carried me when I was tired. He swore I was his faith.

“I would burn the world for you, Lunessa.”

But he did not burn the world.

He burned me.

It was all a performance. A mask hiding the monster beneath.

The soup he fed me likely held the same poison. His care was control. His love was a cage.

The memory of his laughter over our dead pup shattered every sweet moment into ash.

I opened my eyes. Tears burned, but I refused to let them fall.

“Complete it,” I said, standing and straightening my coat. “I want it done in one week. I am leaving this land.”

When I returned to the den, Ramona was stretched across the sofa, flipping through a magazine. Her hair was tangled and her lips swollen. Axton stood nearby, fastening his cuffs. When he stepped closer, the scent hit me at once.

Heat.

Sweat.

Sex.

It clung to him, heavy beneath his expensive cologne.

“Lunessa, my love, where have you been?” he said quickly, taking my hands, his face filled with false worry. “I have been messaging you nonstop.”

He pointed toward a vase on the table. “I picked those moonflowers for you. I planned a private dinner. Just us.”

I looked at the flowers. Then at Ramona, who did not even glance up.

I forced a smile that felt like breaking glass. “I am tired, Axton. I want to rest.”

He did not argue. He played the perfect mate, guiding me to the bedroom and placing a glass of warm milk in my hands.

“Drink this,” he murmured, kissing my forehead. “It will help you recover.”

I nodded.

But the moment the door closed, I went to the washroom and poured the white liquid down the drain.

I did not sleep.

I lay awake in the darkness, staring at the ceiling. The den was quiet, but the walls were thin.

All night long, I listened to the muffled sounds of them together in the guest room.

“Yes. Send the bond severance papers through moon mail.”

I spoke softly into the crystal communicator, my back turned to the chamber door as I stared out the tall window at the glowing Alpha city beyond our territory. Pack towers and watch fires lit the night. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break my ribs.

I ended the call and turned around.

Axton was standing there.

I almost dropped the crystal. He leaned against the doorway, still dressed in his Alpha council suit, his face drained of color, eyes wide with panic I had never seen before.

He had heard everything.

“Bond severance?” he rasped. The words felt sharp and dangerous in the air. He stepped closer, his hands trembling. “Lunessa, what does that mean? Why would you say that?”

Cold fear rushed through me. If he realized I was leaving the pack, everything would end. He would confine me. He would poison me again.

I forced a laugh. It hid the terror tightening my throat.

“Oh, Axton. You startled me.” I walked toward him, slipping the crystal into my pocket as if nothing mattered. “I was talking about Sabryn. You remember her. My academy friend.”

He blinked, the fear still there. “Sabryn?”

“Yes. She contacted me in tears. She discovered her mate was unfaithful.” I shook my head in fake anger. “After all she sacrificed for him. I told her to break the bond right away. I even said I would help since I know Maven, right? He is the best law keeper in the territory.”

The tension vanished instantly.

Axton sagged with relief and let out a long breath, rubbing his hair.

“Moon above,” he whispered. He pulled me into a tight embrace, pressing his face into my neck. “I thought you were talking about us. I thought you were leaving me.”

His hold was strong. Claiming.

“You terrified me, Lunessa,” he murmured. “Never say words like that inside this den again.”

I stood stiff for a moment before forcing myself to soften and return the gesture.

“Why would I leave you?” I pulled back slightly and met his eyes. “Unless you betrayed me.”

He froze for a heartbeat.

Something dark flickered in his gaze before his gentle mask returned.

“Of course not,” he said quickly, sounding wounded. He cupped my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. “I would never betray you. You are my Luna. My world. I live for you. How could you even think that?”

“Good,” I said quietly, my tone calm but sharp beneath the surface. “Because if you ever did, I would never survive it.”

“You will never need to fear that,” he promised, kissing my forehead. “I would never hurt you.”

The lie burned.

He smiled that charming Alpha smile that once made my heart race.

“Let us forget this sadness. Tomorrow is our bond anniversary. Let us go out tonight. There is a charity auction at the Moon Gallery. I will buy you something beautiful. Anything you desire.”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “All right.”

The auction hall glittered with power and wealth. Alphas, Betas, nobles from different territories filled the room. Moon wine flowed freely. Gems sparkled beneath enchanted lights. All eyes followed us.

The perfect Alpha and Luna.

Axton held my hand the entire night, showing me off like a prized possession.

“Look at that,” I said softly, pointing to the auction scroll. Item forty five. A rare ancient sapphire necklace infused with moon magic. Deep blue and breathtaking.

“It is beautiful.”

“You want it?” Axton asked, squeezing my hand. “Then it is yours.”

But once bidding began, the price climbed fast. Axton placed several bids, but then an unknown bidder using a sealed communicator pushed the price higher and higher until it became impossible.

“Sold to the sealed bidder,” the auction master announced.

A small ache formed in my chest. I hid it.

“It is fine,” I said. “It cost too much anyway.”

Suddenly, Axton stood. He walked onto the stage and took the speaking crystal. The hall fell silent.

“I may have lost that necklace,” he declared confidently, “but my Luna will not leave empty handed. I will purchase every remaining item in this collection for her. Because nothing is too precious for Lunessa.”

Gasps filled the room. Applause thundered. Eyes turned toward me with awe.

“You are blessed,” a woman beside me whispered. “Your Alpha truly treasures you.”

I smiled and lifted my hand in greeting.

That night, I thought the den was quiet again.

I went to the kitchen for water from a sealed bottle I kept hidden when voices drifted from the study.

“You did not take me with you,” Ramona snapped, her voice sharp. “I had to watch the auction through a public crystal. I want jewels too, Axton. And that speech was ridiculous. Nothing is too precious for Lunessa. Please.”

I moved closer, pressing my ear to the door.

“You play the loving Alpha so well now,” she mocked. “Everyone online praises you. Alpha of the year.”

“Calm yourself,” Axton said gently. “It is an act. You know that. I need to keep her content. She must not suspect anything.”

“Well, I am not content,” Ramona snapped.

“I prepared something for you,” he replied.

Fabric shifted. A box opened.

“Oh moon goddess,” Ramona gasped. “The sapphire necklace. You were the sealed bidder.”

“Of course,” Axton chuckled. “She admired it, but I bought it for you. It suits you better. Blue makes your eyes shine.”

My stomach twisted painfully. He had outbid himself just to give my desire to his mistress.

“Oh, Axton.” The sound of kissing followed. “Do you love me?”

“Yes. You know I do.”

“Then leave her,” Ramona begged. “Bond with me instead. I am tired of hiding.”

“I cannot. Not yet,” Axton whispered. “I need my inheritance from my grandfather. The Alpha trust requires me to remain bonded and never sever ties with my Luna. It will be released next moon cycle.”

“Next moon?”

“Yes. Be patient. And you know how your brother would react if he discovered us. Rhydan would kill me. He never approved of us, let alone betrayal.”

I stepped back. The floor creaked beneath my feet.

I froze.

They did not notice.

“Just a little longer,” Ramona whispered.

“Yes,” I whispered silently to myself. “Just a little longer. Then I will disappear from your world forever.”

I stood before the tall mirror, smoothing the emerald fabric of my dress. It was simple and graceful, the kind of dress a Luna wore to mark four years of a bond. Yet the wolf staring back at me looked empty.

She was not excited. She was waiting for pain.

I stepped into the main hall just as Ramona walked out of the guest chamber.

She wore a piece of red cloth that barely covered her body. It hugged her curves tightly, the neckline low, the hem far too short.

Axton stood near the entrance, checking the time crystal on his wrist. He looked up and froze. His eyes widened, then darkened.

“No,” he said sharply. “Where do you think you are going dressed like that?”

Ramona smiled, adjusting a strap she did not need to touch. “I am going out. I want to have fun. It is boring here with you two acting like bonded lovers.”

“You are not going anywhere,” Axton snapped, moving closer. “That outfit shows too much. You look careless, Ramona. Go change.”

“Why should I?” she challenged, folding her arms.

“Because I am worried,” Axton replied tightly. “Your brother would not approve. Rhydan would lose his temper if he saw you like this.”

I watched from the side of the hall. To anyone else, it might have sounded like an Alpha watching over his friend’s sister. But I saw the truth in his eyes. The way his gaze lingered on her bare skin. It was not worry. It was jealousy. He did not want other wolves seeing what he believed belonged to him.

Ramona scoffed. “You are not my mate. And you are not my brother. I stay here only because Rhydan ordered it. You do not control me.”

She grabbed her bag and walked past him, her shoes striking the floor loudly. The door slammed shut.

Axton stood still, his hands clenched, staring at the door with fury burning in his eyes.

I cleared my throat.

He jumped and turned. For a brief moment, the anger was still there before he forced a smile.

“Are you ready, my Luna?” he asked, though his voice was stiff.

The ride through the pack city was heavy with silence. Axton held the wheel tightly, his knuckles pale. He checked his communicator again and again, his leg shaking with unease.

“If you do not want to go,” I said softly while looking outside, “we can return home.”

He breathed out hard. “I am sorry. I am just worried about Ramona. If something happens to her, Rhydan will blame me. I promised to watch over her.”

“Is that the only reason?” I asked, turning toward him.

He looked at me, eyes wide and innocent. “Of course. What else could it be?”

I smiled slightly. A quiet and sad smile. “All right.”

The restaurant was beautiful. Soft firelight, gentle string music, and the scent of fine wine filled the air. This was where he had asked me to be his Luna. But he was not truly there. His body sat across from me, yet his mind chased a she wolf in red.

He checked his communicator constantly. He barely touched his food. When I spoke of small things, he answered without thought.

Then his communicator buzzed.

He grabbed it so fast he nearly spilled his drink. His face drained of color as he read the message.

“I have to leave,” he said suddenly, standing up.

“What?” I froze, my fork still in my hand. “Axton, we have not even ordered the main meal.”

“It is urgent,” he said, already pulling on his coat. “Pack work. A system failed. I must go now.”

“On our bond anniversary?”

“I am sorry, Lunessa. I will make it right.” He placed a stack of coins on the table without meeting my eyes. “Take a carriage home. I love you.”

Then he left.

I sat there alone, his words echoing in the empty space. A server approached carefully.

“Is everything all right, Luna? Should I bring the next course?”

“No,” I said quietly. “Just the bill.”

I returned home by carriage. The den was dark when I entered. I expected silence.

Instead, I saw them.

Ramona lay across the couch, her red dress wrinkled, her face smeared with makeup. She laughed loudly, her words unclear. A bottle of strong spirit sat half empty on the table.

And Axton was there.

He knelt beside her, gently wiping her face with a damp cloth. He was not at the pack office. He was not handling a crisis. He was caring for her.

“You are a mess,” he murmured, his voice soft. “I warned you not to go out.”

“I just wanted to dance,” Ramona laughed, reaching for his face.

Axton caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm.

Then he saw me.

He stiffened and stood quickly, stepping away from her.

“Lunessa,” he said nervously. “I received a call. She was drunk at a tavern. The owner contacted me. I had to bring her home.”

So that was the emergency.

Not the pack. But her.

“I understand,” I said calmly.

“I am sorry about dinner,” he said, moving toward me. “I was about to explain.”

I walked past him.

I did not shout. I did not cry. I even did not look at Ramona.

“It is fine,” I said. “I am tired.”

I entered the sleeping chamber and locked the door. I leaned against it, listening to his quiet voice outside as he told her to keep silent, lifting her and carrying her to the guest room.

My communicator chimed. I looked down. A new message from Maven.

[Bond Severance Papers Ready

Lunessa, the documents are complete. They are attached below.]

Then another alert appeared. From Travel Authority.

[Territory Exit Permit Approved]

I stared at the glowing screen. The tears that had waited all night disappeared completely.