The flicker of guilt that had briefly surfaced on the Alpha’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, fierce anger. He instinctively moved to shield Sonya behind him, narrowing his eyes as he fixed them sharply on me. “What do you think you’re doing? That’s your sister!”

I paid no mind to his outburst, directing my cold, unwavering stare straight at Sonya instead. “Mind your language. Whether or not we share blood, you have no right to disrespect my son.”

Sonya’s face fell, wounded and uncertain, as she looked up at Craig, her voice barely steady. “Alpha, please don’t let me come between you two. If Kristen won’t admit Dustin is pretending to be sick, then I’ll stop bringing it up.”

My heart pounded hard as I turned back to Craig, my tone low but firm, carrying all the weight of my resolve. “Do you honestly believe our son is faking it too?”

Craig’s silence was suffocating. His eyes darted around, scanning the empty room as if Dustin would suddenly appear out of thin air.

Trying to mask the irritation creeping into his voice, Craig finally asked, “Where did you take Dustin? I can’t sense him anywhere.”

His doubt cut deep. He couldn’t even believe that our son had been suffering for all this time. If only I had his strength—I would have summoned the finest healers to help Dustin immediately. But as Luna, my power was limited by the boundaries of our pack—and by Craig’s refusal to recognize me.

Had he bothered to come home even once, he would have seen the table covered in herbal medicines, and Dustin’s pale, fragile form lying quietly nearby. But he never did.

I remembered the day Dustin told me he didn’t have much time left. His voice was so weak, his eyes reflecting a truth too painful to deny. Though I clung to hope with every fiber of my being, I knew he was right, given how fast his health was failing. Dustin’s dying wish had been simple: to celebrate his birthday together, as a family.

Driven by desperation, I had begged Craig, even dropping to my knees in complete surrender. I grabbed his pants, my voice breaking as I promised that this would be the last time I ever troubled him. I said I was ready to let him go—to set him free. In that moment, my Alpha looked down at me, his eyes flashing with surprise and something else I couldn’t quite understand.

His voice trembled, laced with disbelief and a hint of happiness. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I whispered, closing my eyes as tears spilled down my cheeks.

From the very moment I saw Craig, I had loved him fiercely. It was love at first sight—so obvious, everyone around us noticed. Even before I understood we were fated mates, my heart belonged to him. I had chased his attention, followed him everywhere, done whatever I could just to capture his heart.

But instead of reciprocating, Craig grew to despise me. His hatred peaked when, during his coming-of-age ceremony, he learned I was his destined mate. That revelation only deepened his bitterness; he had wanted Sonya by his side instead.

He had desired to be with her. Why hadn’t I stepped aside? Why hadn’t I let them be? I had been foolish to think he might change his mind. Because of my insistence, he had witnessed Sonya leave for another pack after she found her true mate there.

My parents had insisted I accept my fate and remain with Craig. They believed there was no escaping the bond we were meant to share. So Craig was forced into the mating with me, which left me as his Luna.

Our mateship ceremony was far from joyful. Craig had refused a grand celebration, saying I deserved nothing more.

Years later, when Sonya returned claiming her mate had died, I realized how pointless it was to compete with her.

Looking back, I had begged him once again, promising to leave him alone after all these years. That plea seemed to break the last barrier—he agreed only because he wanted to be rid of me.

But why? Why hadn’t he spent even a single final moment with Dustin? Why did he break his promise? It’s one thing for him not to love me, but Dustin is his son too. How could he be so utterly heartless toward him?

I stared at Craig with a heavy, gnawing sense of disappointment eating away at me. There was a time when I admired every line and curve of his face, thinking of it as a masterpiece brought to life. Now, seeing him filled me only with revulsion and bitterness.

Just as Craig was about to speak, Sonya cut in, her voice laced with fake pain and melodrama. “Alpha, I’m feeling dizzy again, and my cheeks are burning. Can you check if they’re swollen?”

Craig’s attention immediately snapped to her, genuine concern flashing in his eyes. Sonya wasted no time, collapsing dramatically into his embrace with a heavy sigh. The handprint I had left on her pale cheek stood as a vivid testament to the rage I had unleashed.

Tears glistened in Sonya’s eyes, and the Alpha tenderly brushed them away with a gentle touch that felt too familiar. I recalled a time when he had shown that same kindness to me. When we were younger, he would have helped me up if I stumbled and comforted me just like that. But now, those moments of warmth seemed like nothing more than distant memories.

His face hardened abruptly, transformed into something chilling and ruthless. “Kristen, apologize to your sister.”

I lifted my chin defiantly, locking eyes with him, unwavering in my stance. “No.”

Craig’s surprise was evident, his eyebrows rising in shock at my bold refusal. In the past, when he held nothing but disdain for me, I treaded carefully around him, desperate to earn even the smallest shred of his approval. Despite the depth of my feelings for him, it never seemed to be enough, especially with Sonya always in the picture.

Looking back, Sonya’s hatred for me had been clear from early on. Since childhood, she resented me for being better, more capable—a bitterness that only grew stronger when I was entrusted with the Moonstone, an heirloom she had coveted for years.

When she found out about my feelings for Alpha Craig, she deliberately started vying for his attention, pretending affection. But I never expected her to come back to Moonridge after her fated mate’s death and cause even more chaos in my life.

Craig’s moment of surprise lasted only a few seconds before he settled back onto the couch, still cradling my sister protectively. His voice cut through the thick silence, sharp and commanding. “Kristen, don’t push me.”

Suddenly, the wolf guards—summoned by Craig’s mental command—appeared and stopped me from leaving. Their presence was stern, cold, and authoritative as they escorted me back to face both Craig and Sonya.

Craig reclined on the couch with a casual ease, but the tension in the room was suffocating. He looked at me with a detached, almost bored expression. “Apologize to Sonya.”

Sonya’s grin was a mix of smug satisfaction and silent challenge. She turned to my mate, speaking softly and sweetly. “It’s fine, Alpha. Kristen didn’t mean what she said.”

Craig’s eyes filled with pity as he looked back at her. “You’re too kind. Even though you’ve always been nice to her, she’s never accepted you as her sister.”

Then his gaze chilled as it locked on me. “Anyone who harms Sonya will pay dearly.”

His meaning was clear—he wanted me to suffer. He motioned to the guards, who stepped forward and forced me down onto my knees. As I bowed my head in submission, Craig’s lips curled into a satisfied, almost cruel smile. One of the guards raised his hand, ready to strike.

But Sonya intervened just then. “Alpha, she’s still my sister. I’m worried the guards might hurt her too badly. If anyone should punish her, it should be me.”

Craig nodded approvingly at that. Sonya lifted her hand and slapped me twice across the cheek, her nails digging into my skin, leaving sharp, burning lines.

She glanced at Craig, conflicted. “Alpha, I hurt Kristen. What should I do now?”

Craig’s reply was icy and dismissive. “She had it coming. You’re too soft, worrying about her after she hurt you first.”

The guards finally stepped back, releasing me, and I crumpled awkwardly onto the floor. Craig’s gaze remained cold and unyielding as he looked down at me. “You owe Sonya an apology.”

Owe her an apology? Sonya was the one who insulted my son, accusing my baby of lying! Dustin would never deceive anyone! Yet this worthless Alpha always sided with her, no matter the truth.

I glared up at him, my voice thick with bitter resentment. “In your wildest dreams.”

“I hate you, Alpha!” I yelled, the words ripping from my throat.

As I fixed my eyes on Alpha Craig, there wasn’t a single flicker of affection left—only a raging, burning hatred simmering beneath the surface. His brow drew together tightly, clearly unsettled by the fierce intensity of my stare.

“Kristen,” he said, trying to sound calm and reasonable, “just do as I say, and you’ll get whatever you want. We can hold the celebration for your son’s birthday—just like you wished.”

But his words rang hollow, bitter, and mocking. What was the point of celebrating now that Dustin was gone? My mate had already made his priorities clear—Sonya came first, while our son was pushed aside. Everyone in the pack knew it; Craig had always favored my sister’s presence at every banquet and public event, leaving me alone and disrespected in my role as Luna of Moonridge.

Now, with Dustin dead, Craig was using the promise of a birthday celebration as a manipulative tool to bend me to his will. It was a cruel, disgusting tactic—playing on my grief just to force me back under his control.

I fought hard to keep the anguish from breaking through my expression as I met his gaze without flinching. “No need, Alpha. It’s over. I’m leaving this place—the nightmare you wanted me trapped in. Enjoy your perfect little world with Sonya.”

Craig’s reaction showed he couldn’t believe what I was saying. A sneer twisted his lips in contempt. “What? You’re not coming to me? Pretending you still need me to care for your son?”

His voice dripped with disdain, a tone I was well accustomed to. Before I could answer, Sonya cut in, her voice dripping with fake innocence. “Kristen, don’t lie to our Alpha. If Dustin was truly dying, why would you be here by yourself?”

That was the last straw. I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Shut your mouth! You have no right to speak about my son.”

Sonya’s expression changed instantly, a mix of wounded hurt and smug satisfaction crossing her face. “Fine, I won’t mention him again. Don’t be mad at me, Kristen.”

Craig watched my fierce anger toward Sonya with visible irritation. He let out a cold, amused chuckle, then pulled out his phone and dialed Beta Yuriel. To make sure I caught every word, he switched the call to speaker mode.

“Beta Yuriel,” Craig commanded, his tone sharp and commanding, “find out where my son is. Bring him to me.”

He glanced at me with a smug smirk, as if summoning Dustin would somehow prove he still held power over me.

I forced a bitter, weary smile, overwhelmed by the hopelessness of my situation.

Then Beta Yuriel’s hesitant voice came through the speaker, trembling but clear. “Alpha… Dustin passed away days ago. It happened the day after you left the territory with Sonya.”