Before I could say anything else, a voice suddenly came from the doorway.

“What are you two doing here?”

We both turned.

Ivy was leaning against the doorway, wearing a tight racing outfit that clung to every curve. The fabric was thin, cut high on her thighs, lace barely hidden underneath when she shifted.

She looked relaxed. Confident… like she knew exactly what she was doing.

“It’s not the weekend. Why are you dressed like that? Where are you going? Who's with you? What time you get homem”

I blinked. That didn’t sound like a step-brother asking. That sounded different.

Ivy noticed too. Of course she did.

Her lips curved slowly.

“There’s a motor race today, brother,” she said, tilting her head. “Big crowd. Big energy.”

She glanced down at herself, then back at him.

“Might meet someone there. Maybe I’ll finally find myself a boyfriend. Hmm, what do you think?.”

Her voice softened, almost teasing.

“So don’t wait for me, okay?”

Samuel’s jaw tightened. I felt it before I saw it.

Something dark flickered in his eyes.

But Ivy only smiled wider, then shifted her gaze to me.

“What about you, Clara?” she asked sweetly. “Any plans today?”

I opened my mouth, but Samuel spoke first.

His fingers slipped into mine, holding on like it meant something.

“Clara’s coming with me,” he said. “We’re going back to the main pack house.”

Ivy’s eyes flickered for a second, something unreadable passing through them.

“Alright. Have a good day, both of you. Send my hi to my mum there!”

She walked past us, her scent lingering in the air.

And Samuel… he still didn’t let go of my hand.

Why are you holding me like this…?

Half an hour later, we were already on the road. Samuel drove in silence, one hand on the wheel, the other still wrapped around mine.

I stared out the window. I hated going there. The main pack house.

His parents never liked me. Only his grandmother ever treated me kindly. She used to hold my hand and tell me I was strong, that I belonged here.

And the rest of them… they look at me like I brought ruin into their bloodline.

I gave birth to twins. A boy and a girl. They were supposed to be everything this pack wanted.

But they died. Both of them.

And somehow it became my fault.

Every visit after that felt worse. Their eyes… their whispers… their silence… it all pressed down on me until I could barely breathe.

Samuel knew that. That’s why he usually avoided bringing me. But this time his mother wasn’t well. So here we were.

When we stepped inside, his parents were already in the living room. They were smiling, talking softly to each other. Warm. Peaceful.

But the moment they saw me… everything changed. Their faces went cold.

Just like that.

My chest tightened. I lowered my head, pretending I didn’t notice.

But Samuel noticed. His grip on my hand tightened.

“If you keep treating my Luna like this,” he said, his voice turning sharp, “then don’t expect us to come back here again.”

The room fell silent. Then his father slammed his hand on the table. The sound made me flinch.

“Watch your tone,” he snapped. “Are you really saying you’d turn your back on your own family for her?”

I tried to pull my hand away, but Samuel held on, his fingers locking with mine.

“Father,” he said, steady but firm, “I’ve told you this before. Clara is my mate. She’s the woman I love. I won’t even raise my voice at her, so why do you keep hurting her every time she comes here?”

His grip tightened.

“If this happens again, I won’t just leave this house. I’ll walk away from this family completely.”

His words hit the room hard. The Alpha everyone feared… the one who could command wolves with a single word… now stood there defending me.

Anyone watching would think I was the luckiest woman alive.

But I knew better.

Pathetic… you think I don’t know what you’ve been doing behind my back?

Before anyone could speak again, another voice cut in.

“Of course he’d choose her. He’s been blind for years.”

Sandra.

Samuel’s younger sister stood at the stairs, arms crossed, eyes full of disgust as she looked at me.

“Brother, are you serious right now?” she continued, walking down slowly. “You’re threatening our parents because of her? After everything that happened? After those two pups died? Ivy is much better than her.”

Her words pierced straight through me. I felt my fingers go cold.

Sandra didn’t stop.

“Maybe if she was stronger, maybe if she was a better Luna… they’d still be alive.”

“Enough, Sandra.”

Samuel’s voice dropped, dangerous this time.

But she only scoffed.

“What? I’m just saying the truth,” she shot back. “Everyone in the pack knows it. She brought bad luck into this family.”

I kept my head down. I didn’t fight back.

What’s the point…?

Samuel stepped slightly in front of me, his body shielding mine.

“Say one more word about Clara,” he warned quietly, “and I won’t treat you as my sister anymore.”

Sandra froze. For a second, something flickered in her eyes. Then she turned away with a sharp laugh.

“Fine. Protect her all you want,” she muttered. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Silence filled the room again. Heavy. Suffocating.

Samuel still held my hand, standing there like he was protecting me from all of them.

But I didn’t feel safe.

I just felt… tired.

Mrs. Willoughby finally let out a long breath.

“Enough,” she said coldly. “Let’s eat first.”

…

At the table, no one talked much. Just the quiet clink of utensils, stiff and uncomfortable.

Mrs. Willoughby kept making small annoyed sounds, and my fingers slowly tightened around my fork. I knew it was coming. It always comes, doesn’t it?

She suddenly set her fork down harder than needed. “It’s been nine months,” she said coldly. “That’s enough grieving. You lost your pups, fine. But you can’t stay like this forever. The pack needs an heir. You need to give us a grandson.”

My chest tightened.

Her husband looked at me next, his eyes even colder. “That happened because you didn’t take care of them properly,” he said flatly. “A small illness, and both of them died in the healer’s den. Stop acting pitiful, Clara. If you conceive again, then do it right this time.”

My ears rang. Both of them. My son. My daughter.

Before I could even breathe properly, Samuel set his fork down.

“I’ve already said this,” he said calmly, but there was something sharp underneath. “Clara is afraid of going through that pain again. I won’t force her. Even if we don’t have pups, that’s fine with me.”

The room went heavy. His parents looked at him with disappointment.

Sandra scoffed from the side. “Of course. You’d rather protect her feelings than think about the pack.” Then louder, “Brother, are you serious? No heir? What are we supposed to do, just wait forever while she hides behind excuses? You know what, bro? Just go mate with our stepsister, Ivy. I like her more than Clara. You used to have a crush on Ivy before she went abroad to study fashion.”

"Enough Sandra!" Samuel roared.

My fingers trembled slightly on the table.

I finally spoke. “You’ll have a grandchild soon.”

The whole table froze. Three pairs of eyes turned to me at once.

Samuel’s hand tightened around mine, his face softening. “Clara… you don’t have to push yourself for me,” he said gently. “I told you, I’ll protect you from all this.”

Protect me? I almost laughed. You can’t even stay away from her, how are you protecting me?

I smiled anyway. “You all want a grandson so much,” I said softly. “Then I’ll give you one.”

Mrs. Willoughby’s expression eased instantly. Her husband nodded, satisfied. Sandra just watched me, eyes narrowed, but said nothing.

Only Samuel looked uneasy. Like something felt off.

Then his phone buzzed. I glanced down.

Ivy.

A message flashed.

“Samuel… there’s someone here bothering me. Asking me for a quickie. I don’t like it. Can you come?”

I counted quietly. One. Two. Three.

He stood up right on cue.

“Clara,” he said, already grabbing his jacket, “something came up at the office. I need to handle it. You stay here and finish dinner, okay? I’ll come back for you after.”

He didn’t wait for my answer. The door closed behind him.

And just like that, everything changed.

Mrs. Willoughby’s face turned cold again. “We’ll give you less than a month,” she said bluntly. “If you’re not carrying his heir by then, don’t come back here. Do you understand?”

Her husband added, “You came from nothing. No pack lineage, no status. Both your parents are gone. Without Samuel, you are nothing. Don’t think this pack will keep accepting you forever.”

Each word landed harder than the last.

I sat there quietly, letting them speak. What else can I do…?

Samuel never came back so I returned to the pack house alone.

…

The moment I stepped inside, I stopped.

Ivy was already there, lying on the sofa in a silk night slip, eating chips like she had always belonged in this house.

“You said you were going to the motor race,” I said quietly. “You said you weren’t coming back tonight.”

She looked at me and smiled, soft and careless.

“Oh, Clara… I forgot to tell you,” she said. “I went. I just didn’t stay for the race.”

She tilted her head, fingers tracing the neckline of her slip. Marks. Fresh mate marks.

“I ran into my mate in the garage,” she continued lightly. “He saw me near the bike line. Lost control.”

My chest tightened.

“He claimed me there,” she said, almost laughing. “On his car. I could barely walk after. I love it!”

My fingers curled. I kept my face still.

“When did you even get a mate?” I asked. “You never mentioned him.”

She shrugged. “Around nine months ago,” she said. “Right after I came back from abroad. I studied fashion overseas, remember? When I returned, I didn’t want the main pack house. I missed my step brother Samuel too much, so I stayed here.” She smiled sweetly. “That’s when Samuel introduced me to him.”

My breathing turned uneven. So it started the moment she entered this house…?

Before I could think further, I felt it.

Samuel’s hands on my shoulders.

“Sweetheart,” he said gently, “you look tired. You’ve had a long day. Let me run your bath.”

Like nothing was wrong. Like I didn’t just hear everything.

He guided me toward the bathroom. I didn’t resist. I didn’t have strength for it.

I went inside, closed the door, and started undressing slowly.

Then I realized… I forgot clean clothes.

I hesitated, then opened the door slightly.

And everything stopped.

Not far from me, Samuel had Ivy pressed against wall. His hand gripped her waist, his mouth at her neck.

Her slip was half undone, breathing uneven.

She let out a soft sound. “Slow down…” she whispered. “Clara’s still inside. Didn’t you already mark me enough in the garage? Your cum was still inside me.”

My heart dropped.

Samuel’s voice came low, rough. “Don’t say her name,” he said sharply. “And don’t let any other male wolves near you. If I find out someone else touched you… I won’t forgive it.”

She smiled faintly, pleased. Then her eyes shifted. Straight to me.

“Oh… alright,” she murmured. “I won’t. You’re the only one I belong to. Claim me now, brother. Fuck me.”

I couldn’t breathe.

That was enough.

I grabbed my clothes, shut the door, and locked it. My hands were shaking.

The bath was already running. I stepped in, letting the heat swallow me.

But it didn’t help.

Nothing helped.

Because my mind kept going back.

Five years ago. Our mating ceremony on the island.

I only looked once. Just once. At another male wolf passing by during the gathering.

Samuel lost control.

He kept me inside our room for a week. Didn’t let me leave. Didn’t let me look at any other male. Not even through the window.

When I couldn’t even stand, he held me close and whispered, “Clara… you don’t need anyone else. I’m enough. Just promise me you won’t look at another male wolf again.”

And I did. I promised. Over and over.

After that, I never even dared to look.

But now…

He’s the one who couldn’t stay loyal.

Just not to me.

To her.

I sank deeper into the water and let out a shaky breath. What did I do wrong…?

When I finally stepped out, everything was quiet.

Ivy was gone. Only Samuel was there, sitting calmly like nothing happened.

On the table, there was sliced fruit and a cup of ginger tea, still warm. My chest tightened.

He stood and handed me the cup. “I know your heat cycle is coming,” he said gently. “Drink this. It’ll help.”

I took it.

The warmth spread through my hands.

But inside… I felt nothing but cold.

How can he act like this…?

Just moments ago, he was claiming her.

And now… he’s standing here like my perfect Alpha again.

…

I didn’t sleep much that night. My thoughts kept looping like a broken mate bond, circling the same question without mercy. How many faces does my Alpha even have…?

Sometime before dawn, I finally drifted off.

“Clara!”

I jolted awake.

Samuel shot up beside me, his wolf already stirring under his skin. His hands found me in the dark instantly, gripping me like instinct, like a bond snapping tight. He pulled me against his chest so hard I could hear his heartbeat thundering.

“Don’t leave,” he said, voice rough and shaking. “Please… don’t leave me, Clara. I can’t… I can’t lose you.”

I froze in his arms.

“What’s wrong with you?”

His breath was uneven, eyes red like he hadn’t blinked all night.

“I saw it,” he said. “In my dream, you broke the bond and walked away from me. I called you, I reached for you, but you were gone.” His grip tightened again. “Then I woke up and you were still here. Still in my arms. I thought I lost you.”

My throat tightened. I should’ve said it then, should’ve let the truth slip into the cracks of his fear.

It will happen soon, Samuel.

But I stayed quiet, because the bond between us felt heavier than ever in that moment, like it was already deciding our ending without us.

Maybe that nightmare shook him deeper than I thought, because the next morning, he didn’t let me out of his sight.

“I’m taking you myself,” he said, already dressed, keys in hand. “I don’t trust anyone else around you today.”

I didn’t argue. I didn’t have anything left in me to fight.

When we arrived at his office tower, the guards lowered their heads immediately.

“Alpha Samuel,” they greeted.

I couldn’t even respond properly.

Something felt wrong the moment I stepped inside, like the air itself was watching me breathe.

His scent was everywhere, strong, layered, and beneath it something faintly unfamiliar that made my wolf shift uneasily.

And then I saw it.

His office wall.

My breath stopped.

Photos.

But not me.

Ivy.

Hundreds of them. Some casual, some intimate, some clearly taken in private moments that didn’t look innocent at all. A few were lewd, her pressed against him, his hands on her waist, her lips on his neck.

Why… is she on his wall like this…?

Before I could speak, arms slid around my waist from behind.

Samuel.

His lips brushed my neck, his hold firm, possessive.

“Clara,” he murmured, voice soft like he wasn’t the same man who could snap necks with a command. “You don’t have to worry about her. It’s nothing.”

My eyes stayed on the wall.

Nothing…?

He exhaled, then quickly added, “Those are just Ivy’s suggestions. She wanted to see herself displayed. It’s just today. I’ll take them down tomorrow and replace them with yours.”

His grip tightened slightly, like he was trying to erase what I was seeing.

I didn’t answer.

He turned me away fast, almost too fast, and guided me into the inner room.

“Stay here,” he said. “I’ll fix this.”

A knock came at the door.

Jonas, his Beta.

“Alpha, the council meeting is about to start.”

Samuel exhaled like letting go of me physically hurt him more than anything else.

“Stay here,” he said, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Don’t go anywhere. This place is safe for you.”

Safe.

I almost laughed.

He finally released me and left. The silence swallowed the room. I stayed still for a moment… then walked back out.

My feet stopped again.

A screen on his desk was still open.

A post.

Ivy.

Smiling at the camera, her lips on a man’s neck from behind. The man’s face wasn’t shown, but I didn’t need to see it.

The mark on his collarbone. That cross-shaped birthmark.

Samuel.

My stomach dropped.

More photos below. Intimate. Soft. Dangerous. Like a secret life he forgot to hide.

Comments flooded the screen.

“OMG Ivy girl is that your mate?”

“You two look so real together.”

“Alpha energy!!”

“Is that Samuel?? Be honest!!”

“Stop, this is too hot…”

My hands went cold. I stepped back slowly. The room suddenly felt too small to breathe in.

I couldn’t stay.

So I left.

I walked through the tower halls, past wolves bowing their heads, past guards who avoided my eyes like I was already half gone from the pack.

By noon, my phone buzzed.

I answered quickly.

“Ms. Clara Cooper,” a woman’s voice said through the line, “your exit from the Willoughby pack territory has been approved. You can now collect your transfer papers at the consulate.”

My grip tightened on the phone.

Approved.

It’s really done.

I opened my mouth—

But a voice cut in behind me.

“Exit papers?”

***

I turned slowly, and there he was. Samuel. His face had gone pale, like the ground under him just disappeared.

“What exit papers?” he asked, voice low but shaky. “Clara… what was that just now?”

My heart jumped, but I forced a small smile. “Not mine,” I said lightly. “A friend’s. She’s planning to leave her pack and move to human territory. She called to ask me about it.”

He didn’t speak for a moment. Just stared at me like he was trying to smell the truth off my skin. Then suddenly he pulled me into his arms.

Tight. Too tight. His body was trembling.

“Clara…” he whispered into my hair, voice rough, almost breaking. “Don’t ever leave me. For a second I thought it was you. I thought the bond was breaking and you were really gone.” His grip tightened. “I can’t live without you. Don’t do that to me.”

I slowly placed my hand on his back, patting him like I was soothing him. On the outside, I smiled a little. Inside, I was already gone.

I’m leaving. You just don’t know it yet.

That afternoon, while he was buried in pack meetings, I slipped out quietly and went straight to the consulate. I signed the last of my exit papers from the pack. My hand shook when I wrote my name, but my mind was clear.

---

That night was the Willoughby Company’s big event. The whole pack was there, Alphas, elders, investors, warriors. The ballroom shimmered with lights and scent of expensive wine and power.

I wore something simple, something that wouldn’t draw attention. I just wanted to blend in.

But Ivy didn’t. She walked in wearing a blood-red dress that clung to her like she wanted every eye on her. And it worked. People turned. Whispered. Watched.

Samuel noticed her too. I saw it in the way his hand paused around his glass, in the way his jaw tightened for half a second before he smiled again like nothing happened.

Guests kept coming to me, praising him.

“You’re so lucky, Luna Clara.”

“Alpha Samuel is completely devoted to you.”

“The mate bond really is strong.”

I just nodded and smiled.

If only they knew…

A man offered Ivy a drink. Before she could take it, Samuel stepped in, took the glass, and drank it himself.

“Can’t risk my friend’s sister getting into trouble,” he said smoothly, like it meant nothing.

Ivy tilted her head and smiled.

“Careful, Samuel,” she said lightly. “If you keep acting like this, Clara might get jealous.”

All eyes flicked to me.

I kept my smile soft. “No,” I said gently. “I won’t. I know Samuel loves me. He can’t live without me.”

For a second, Samuel looked at me like he wasn’t sure if he should believe that or fear it.

Then I saw it.

The necklace on Ivy’s neck. Same design as mine. Different stones.

My chest tightened.