I'd had a crush on my brother's best friend, Ethan—the most powerful Alpha of our Northern Territory—since I was twelve years old.

When I was fifteen, I boldly confessed my feelings to him. He laughed and patted my head, casually promising, "When you turn eighteen and shift, if you're my mate, I'll mark you."

That offhand promise became my greatest hope for three years. I spent every day waiting for my wolf to awaken, praying to the Moon Goddess that she would designate us as mates.

But on the night of my eighteenth birthday, after my wolf first awakened, I was shocked to discover that Ethan truly was my mate!

Ignoring the intense shifting pain coursing through my body, I immediately shifted into my wolf form and ran toward Ethan's training grounds. I clutched the gift I'd prepared long ago, but instead heard Ethan urgently confessing to his Omega assistant Victoria:

"Who would be stupid enough to actually care about a true mate? The bond between her and me is just the Moon Goddess's mistake. I only love you. I'll only mark you as my Luna."

The words hit me like silver bullets to the chest.

My wolf whimpered in pain, the mate bond burning like acid in my veins.

I stood frozen behind the trees, watching the man I'd loved for six years dismiss our sacred connection as if it meant nothing.

Later, Ethan introduced Victoria as his "fiancée." When Victoria demanded that I publicly bless their marking ceremony, Ethan remained completely indifferent to my humiliation.

"Sylvia should give us her blessing," Victoria announced at the pack meeting, her voice sweet as poison. "After all, she's been like a little sister to Ethan all these years."

Every wolf in the room could smell my distress. But Ethan said nothing, refusing to even look at me.

When rogue wolves attacked our territory and I was surrounded, Ethan didn't hesitate to scoop up Victoria—who had only a tiny scratch on her finger—and carry her away to find the pack healer.

He left me bleeding and alone, silver claws ha

When I was twelve, Ethan was eighteen.

He was my brother Alex's best friend and the most powerful Alpha in the northern territories.

He was magnetic, commanding, with an aura that made every wolf in the pack lower their heads in respect.

I was completely obsessed with him.

This wasn't just a crush. When he was around, I felt my entire world shift on its axis.

I baked cookies for their pack meetings, the kind loaded with chocolate chips that Ethan always grabbed first.

I drew little pictures of wolves running under moonlight, pencil strokes filled with a longing I couldn't even name.

Every story about his victories in territorial disputes, I knew by heart.

My fifteenth birthday.

I was still in high school, my wolf hadn't emerged yet, but my dreams were full of shifting and finding my mate.

But that day, only Ethan mattered. Only the courage building in my chest like a wildfire.

After the pack celebration, Alex snuck me a small sip of the ceremonial wine.

It tasted like rebellion and bravery.

Enough bravery to seek out Ethan. He stood near the training grounds, his dark hair catching moonlight as he discussed border patrol schedules with his Beta.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Ethan?"

He turned, those piercing amber eyes settling on me.

"Hey, Sylvia. Happy birthday, little wolf."

The words tumbled out, clumsy but sincere: "I really like you, Ethan. I have for years."

Then, fueled by wine and years of pent-up hope, I leaned up and kissed him.

The kiss was brief, probably awkward.

He didn't push me away, but he didn't kiss back either.

When I pulled back, cheeks burning, he looked at me with a mixture of amusement and surprise.

He ruffled my hair, the gesture both gentle and dismissive.

"You're still just a pup, Sylvia."

My heart sank.

"But," he continued, his voice lazy and indulgent, tinged with the casual confidence of an Alpha, "when you turn eighteen and shift, if you're my mate, I'll mark you."

He said it so easily, almost like a joke.

But I clung to those words like a lifeline.

Eighteen. It sounded like a promise.

Three years.

Three years of high school, of waiting, of dreaming about my wolf awakening and the Moon Goddess pairing us together.

His "promise" became my secret timeline.

I counted down every full moon, every birthday, every pack gathering where I might catch his scent and feel that familiar flutter of hope.

I planned my eighteenth birthday with meticulous care.

This wasn't just a birthday. This was destiny knocking.

I even picked out a small carved wolf pendant as a gift, something to give him after we discovered our bond.

Eighteen.

The day finally came.

My birthday fell on a full moon, and I felt the stirring in my bones as evening approached.

The shifting came suddenly, powerfully, like lightning striking every nerve in my body.

Pain tore through me as my bones cracked and reformed, as my senses exploded into hyperdrive.

But when my wolf finally emerged, when I felt her wild joy singing in my blood, I caught a scent that made my heart soar.

Ethan. My mate.

The Moon Goddess had heard my prayers.

I didn't care about the lingering shift pain. I transformed back to human form, threw on clothes, grabbed the pendant, and ran toward the training grounds where his scent was strongest.

My bare feet flew over the forest floor, my newly awakened wolf senses guiding me straight to him.

But as I approached the clearing, I heard voices.

I slowed, staying hidden behind the treeline.

There was Ethan, and beside him stood Victoria, his Omega assistant.

She was pressed close to him, her hand on his chest.

And then I heard words that shattered my world.

"Who would be stupid enough to actually care about true mates?" Ethan's voice was urgent, passionate. "The bond between me and her is just the Moon Goddess's mistake. I only love you. I'll only mark you as my Luna."

My blood turned to ice.

Victoria's voice was soft, worried: "But what about Sylvia? She's been waiting for this day."

Ethan laughed, cold and cruel.

"That's easy. I'll just tell her you're pregnant. She'll run away fast enough then. No eighteen-year-old girl wants to compete with a pregnant woman for her 'mate's' attention."

Alex. My brother. His voice sounded uncomfortable, offering weak protest.

"Ethan, man, that's pretty harsh."

But he didn't push back. Probably for pack harmony. Or maybe he just didn't care.

The pendant slipped from my numb fingers.

It hit the forest floor with a soft thud that seemed to echo like thunder.

Everything I'd dreamed of, everything I'd waited for, crumbled in an instant.

I turned and ran, deeper into the woods, letting my wolf take over as tears streamed down my face.

My thoughts drifted back involuntarily, stupid and painful.

Years ago, during a territorial dispute near our borders. I was twelve, definitely too young to be wandering alone, but Alex and I had gotten into a fight and I'd stormed off into the woods.

The northern territories were dangerous then, with rogue wolves testing our boundaries.

Chaos erupted around me. Snarls echoed through the trees, the acrid scent of fear and aggression everywhere.

A pack of rogues had found me, their eyes gleaming with malicious hunger as they circled.

I was just a small, wolfless child. Easy prey.

Suddenly, a massive form crashed through the underbrush.

Ethan.

He'd shifted into his Alpha wolf, all black fur and lethal grace, his eyes blazing with protective fury.

The fight was swift and brutal. The rogues scattered after he'd torn into their leader.

"Are you hurt?" he asked after shifting back, his voice rough with concern.

I could only shake my head, heart pounding with terror and awe.

He pressed something into my small hand. A silver dagger, small but perfectly balanced.

"Learn to protect yourself, little wolf," he said, his amber eyes serious. "The world won't always be safe."

That was the moment. My childish admiration crystallized into something I thought was real, something worth waiting for.

That dagger. I kept it in a velvet box beside my bed.

Now, even that memory felt like a betrayal.

All those years.

The cookies I baked for pack meetings, the drawings I made of our future together, the nights I stayed awake dreaming of my eighteenth birthday.

I planned my entire life around his careless, probably forgotten promise.

Every choice I made, every dream I harbored, was colored by hope for him.

His words echoed: "Can't believe she's still hung up on that."

I'd become a burden. My love wasn't a gift but an annoyance to be dealt with through cruel lies.

I needed to find a new path. Away from him, away from all of this.

The mate bond pulsed between us like a wound that wouldn't heal, connecting me to someone who saw me as nothing more than an obstacle to his happiness.

I turned and melted back into the shadows of the forest, leaving behind the life I'd built around a promise that meant nothing.

I fumbled for my phone with stiff, cold fingers.

I needed to talk to Alex, to scream and demand answers, to make sense of all this.

But what was there to make sense of?

Alex had been sitting right there. He'd heard Ethan's plan. His silence in that clearing spoke louder than any words could.

He knew Ethan was serious about Victoria. He knew Ethan would break my heart, and he'd let it happen.

Maybe he even agreed with Ethan's approach. Maybe I was just the annoying little sister.

A mindlink buzzed against my mental barriers.

Unknown sender, but my chest tightened. I knew who it was.

Ethan.

His voice echoed in my head, cold and dismissive: "Heard you were in the woods tonight. Sorry if you overheard something. Victoria and I are serious. You should move on."

Not an apology. A dismissal.

My carefully constructed fantasy life shattered into a million pieces.

Move on.

Yes.

I slammed my mental barriers shut, blocking his mindlink completely.

Then I reached for Alex's connection too.

Blocked.

I stumbled back to my small room in the pack house, water dripping on the worn wooden floors.

My gaze fell on the velvet box on my dresser.

The silver dagger.

I picked it up. It felt cold against my palm, foreign somehow.

A symbol of a lie.

With sudden fierce determination, I hurled it into the trash bin, burying it under discarded sketches and coffee grounds.

I didn’t want it anymore.

Ethan sensed my wolf nearby and quietly moved away, but he didn't care.

Ethan thought my silent departure from the woods was some kind of strategy.

He thought I was being clever, playing hard to get after overhearing his words.

He really didn't get it.

He couldn't imagine how deeply I was hurt.

What irritated him more was that I'd nearly ruined his pre-ceremony mood with Victoria.

"See? Complete psycho," he muttered to his pack members after she'd gone.

"Good thing our Alpha has a plan," said Marcus, his Beta, always eager to agree with Ethan's words.

"Yeah, babe, let's just go through with the marking ceremony. That'll scare her off completely," Ethan said, trying to appear confident for Victoria's sake as she raised an eyebrow at him.

But Victoria seemed somewhat hesitant. "Darling, but everyone in the pack will object to you rejecting your true mate to mark me..."

"Can you invite Sylvia to publicly bless our mating ceremony? If your 'true mate' gives her blessing, no one in the pack will dare say I don't deserve to be Luna, or that the Moon Goddess will curse our union."

A few hours later, after their pack meeting ended, Alex found me.

I was curled up in my room, tear-stained and shivering despite the heater running full blast.

"Sylvia," he began, his voice hesitant, "Ethan told me you were in the woods tonight."

I didn't look at him.

"He's an asshole, Sylvia. What he said, his plan... it's awful."

"You didn't stop him," I whispered, my voice hoarse.

"I tried talking to him before, when he first mentioned the idea of 'scaring Sylvia away' with Victoria's pregnant. But he wouldn't listen."

He ran his hands through his already messy hair. "He's completely obsessed with Victoria."

I remembered Ethan in that clearing, the way he looked at Victoria, with an expression I'd never seen him give anyone.

The kind of look I'd always dreamed he'd give me.

"He's really with her, isn't he?" I asked, needing to hear it out loud to make it real.

Alex nodded slowly. "Yes, Sylvia. He's serious about her. Has been for a while now, very serious."

He was about to say something more, about how Ethan was an idiot, about how I deserved better.

But then my phone buzzed with a notification. I'd set Ethan's social media to special alerts—a pathetic habit I suddenly regretted.

Even Alex could hear the notification sound in the quiet room.

"Don't look at it, Sylvia," he warned, but I was already reaching for my phone.

Instagram. Ethan had posted something new.

The photo made my blood freeze. A woman's hand adorned with a massive diamond ring—clearly a Luna ring, with the traditional moonstone centerpiece surrounded by diamonds.

The caption read: "Victoria deserves nothing but the best. #mylunamate #forever"

The post was barely five minutes old. While Alex had been here trying to comfort me, Ethan had been somewhere else, celebrating with her.

Planning their future.

Making it Instagram official.

"Jesus," Alex muttered, seeing my face. "He's completely lost his mind."

Alex sighed heavily. "See? He's obsessed. I tried telling him you're not some kid with a crush, that you genuinely love him. But his buddies, Marcus and Leo, they just egg him on. 'She's still just a pup, what does she know about love, Ethan. Victoria's a real woman.'"

It was obvious. I was a problem. An inconvenience.

The next day, I walked to the my healing instructor’s office.

I steadily filled out the application for the European Royal Healing Academy.

My healing instructor had been encouraging me to apply for months. She said I had a rare gift, that I could be one of the most powerful healers of my generation if I trained properly.

I'd turned down the opportunity earlier this year because it would mean leaving the pack. Leaving Ethan and Alex.

Now, it felt like a life raft.

Europe. A new continent, a new life.

As far away from Ethan as I could possibly get.

The application asked for my reasons for wanting to study abroad. I stared at the blank space for a long moment.

Then I wrote: "To discover my true potential without the limitations of my current environment."

It was honest enough.

I sealed the envelope and walked it directly to the expedited processing office.

A few days later was Alex's 26th birthday.

There was a party at the pack house's main gathering hall.

I didn't want to go. The thought of seeing Ethan, seeing them together, made me physically sick.

But Alex pleaded with me. "Please, Sylvia. It's my birthday. Just for a little while."

So I went, trying to put on a brave face.

The hall was crowded and loud, packed with pack members trying too hard to look important.

Then I saw them.

Ethan, with Victoria on his arm.

She was beautiful in that sharp, polished way. Perfectly styled blonde hair, designer clothes that hugged every curve, and a smile that never quite reached her eyes.

But what struck me most was how... developed she was. Curves in all the right places, the kind of mature feminine figure that screamed "woman" while I still looked like I was playing dress-up.

They walked straight toward me. My stomach lurched.

"Sylvia!" Ethan's voice was a bit too cheerful. "So glad you could make it. I want you to meet someone."

He gestured to Victoria. "This is Victoria. My fiancée."

Fiancée. The word hit harder than I'd expected, even though I knew it was part of their plan.

Victoria extended a perfectly manicured hand. Her grip was firm and cold.

"Ethan's told me so much about you, sweetheart," she said, her voice dripping with condescension.

"Such a cute little crush you had on him. I heard the Moon Goddess even paired you as mates initially. But Ethan explained it was just a mistake. We're even considering having pups soon."

She patted her flat stomach meaningfully, then let her gaze drift over my body with obvious judgment.

"You're still so... petite. Like a little girl playing dress-up. I'm sure you'll find a nice second chance mate your own age when you fill out a bit more."

The insult was wrapped in false sweetness, but it cut deep. Standing next to her abundant curves, I felt like a child pretending to be an adult.

I forced a smile. "Congratulations to both of you. I wish you all the best."

My voice sounded strangely steady.

Ethan looked relieved. Victoria's smile tightened slightly.

"Thank you so much for your blessing, sweetheart," Victoria said sweetly. "Actually, that reminds me. I have a little favor to ask."

She looked at me with those perfectly lined eyes, her expression taking on a fake troubled look.

"You see, while the Moon Goddess's arrangement was just a small mistake, it has caused Ethan some... complications within the pack. Some people are questioning our bond."

She moved closer to Ethan, pressing against his side possessively.

"If you could attend our marking ceremony and give us your public blessing, it would silence all the doubters. Show everyone that even his former... connection... supports our union."

The request hung in the air like a trap.

I opened my mouth to refuse, but Marcus spoke up first.

"Come on, Sylvia. After everything Ethan's done for you? He saved your life when you were just a kid."

"Yeah," Leo chimed in. "Now you want to mess up his whole future because of some childhood crush?"

"That's really selfish," someone else added. "He gave you years of protection and friendship."

"Ungrateful," another voice muttered. "Like a parasite that won't let go."

The words hit me like physical blows. Everyone was staring, waiting for my response.

I looked at Ethan, hoping he'd say something. Anything.

He was silent for a long moment, his jaw tight.

Finally, he spoke. "If I love Victoria, I have to protect her. I have to take responsibility for her happiness."

He looked directly at me. "I'm sorry, Sylvia. I was just trying to comfort you back then. I never expected the Moon Goddess to make us true mates. I apologize for the confusion."

Then he turned to the pack members who'd been attacking me.

"But that's enough. Don't talk about her like that. This situation isn't her fault."

His protection felt hollow. Too little, too late.

The damage was already done. Everyone was looking at me like I was the villain in this story.

Like I was the one standing in the way of true love.

I mumbled some excuse and turned to leave, needing to escape before I completely fell apart in front of everyone.

Grief pressed down on my chest like a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.

I found a quiet corner near a large window that overlooked the pack territory.

"Rough night?"

Victoria appeared beside me, holding two glasses of champagne. She offered me one.

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

"Listen," she said, her voice softer now, almost conspiratorial, "I wanted to apologize privately. What happened back there wasn't fair to you."

I just looked at her.

"I mean it, really. I'm happy for you both. I'm starting my own new life anyway."

She sipped her champagne, studying me with calculating eyes.

"Are you? You know, Ethan talks in his sleep sometimes. He used to say your name. A lot."

My breath caught. What game was she playing?

"I think he feels guilty. Leading you on with that whole 'wait until you shift' nonsense."

She shrugged. "Or maybe he actually enjoyed having a devoted little admirer following him around."

Her smile returned, sharp and knowing.

"It's been quite annoying, actually. He still buys gifts for both of us on holidays. Makes cakes for your birthday. Even refused to let you attend our marking ceremony to clear things up."

She took another sip. "But don't worry. In the end, I'll be his Luna. Not you."

Before I could respond, howls erupted from outside the hall.

Rogue wolves.

The sound froze my blood. Memories of my childhood attack came flooding back—claws, teeth, the smell of blood.

I couldn't move. My body locked up completely as the pack house erupted into chaos.

Through the windows, I could see dark shapes moving fast toward the building.

Ethan appeared instantly, his protective instincts kicking in. But he didn't look for me.

He grabbed Victoria, pulling her toward the safe room.

I stood frozen as windows shattered around us. Other pack members were shifting, fighting, protecting their families.

But I was alone. Paralyzed by fear.

A massive black rogue burst through the window near me. Its eyes were wild, foam dripping from its jaws.

I couldn't even scream.

More rogues poured in. I was surrounded, defenseless, still unable to move.

Just as the first one lunged, I heard Ethan shout from across the room.

"Sylvia!"

He started toward me, but Victoria grabbed his arm.

"Ethan, I'm hurt! The glass cut me deep. I'm bleeding!"

She collapsed against him dramatically, clutching her arm where a small scratch was barely visible.

Ethan hesitated for one crucial second, looking between us.

Then he lifted Victoria in his arms. "I need to get you to the healer. Now."

He ran out with her, never looking back.

The rogues closed in on me. Claws raked across my arms as I finally found my voice to scream.

Everything went black just as I heard Alex roar in fury, charging toward me.

I woke up in the pack hospital.

Alex was there, his face pale and his eyes red-rimmed.

"Sylvia? Oh god, Sylvia, I'm so sorry." He looked ready to cry.

"What happened?" My voice was rough as sandpaper.

"Rogue attack. You were nearly killed. Three of them had you cornered." His hands shook. "If I hadn't found you when I did..."

He looked furious. "Ethan... that bastard just left you there. Ran off with Victoria for a scratch that didn't even need healing herb."

I understood. Ethan had saved Victoria. Of course he had. She was his fiancée, his future.

And I... was just Sylvia.

The realization didn't even hurt anymore. It was simply a fact.

"It's okay, Alex," I whispered. "He made his choice. It's fine."

This made everything clear. My resolve to leave solidified completely.

Alex stared at me, his eyes filled with the same pain I felt, plus a simmering rage.

"This isn't okay, Sylvia. None of this is okay."

But I was completely certain that everything was over. Whatever I thought existed between Ethan and me, whatever future I'd dreamed of, was gone.

And I was strangely calm about it.

I was going to the European Royal Healing Academy. I would heal. I would start a new life.

I began secretly making real plans—the kind involving plane tickets and one-way journeys.

The next day, Ethan appeared at the hospital with Victoria by his side.

I was propped up in bed, my leg in a heavy cast, throbbing pain radiating from my arm where the rogue's silver claws had torn through flesh.

"Hey," he said awkwardly, hovering in the doorway.

He looked tired, maybe even a little guilty.

I kept my expression blank. "What do you want, Ethan?"

"Alex told me what happened. You got hurt. Victoria feels terrible about it."

Victoria stepped forward, her face a mask of concern. "I'm so sorry, Sylvia. I was just so panicked that night because... well, I'm pregnant. I needed to get to the healer immediately."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Pregnant.

My heart shattered completely. He'd moved on so fast. They were having a child together.

"I see," I managed to whisper.

Victoria moved closer to my bedside, reaching out as if to comfort me. "The pregnancy makes me so emotional. I didn't mean for Ethan to leave you like that."