On the ninth year after our bonding ceremony, my mate, Alpha Kyle Burns, finds himself hopelessly in love with Ivy Cline, an Omega who's taken in as a prisoner of war from a pack that has been conquered by the Silver Moon pack.

Ivy is supposed to be a lowly prisoner, and yet she often keeps her head high in an arrogant manner. One time, she kicks the things gifted to her by Kyle into a puddle in front of everyone else.

"I might be a prisoner, but I refuse to become a traitor who clings to wolves of power for survival! You can keep your disgusting charity act to yourself!"

Those are the exact words that have Kyle wrapped around Ivy's little finger.

In order to conquer the wild-spirited Ivy, Kyle personally severs the mind-link that he has maintained with me for the past nine years. He completely disregards the fact that I'm his fated mate as well as the most reverent Luna of the pack.

But he most likely has forgotten the blood curse my father, who was also the former Alpha of the pack, asked the witch to place on him.

If Kyle and I don't head over to the Moon Goddess' altar to extend our bond once ten years are up, the curse will take effect. That's when the mate bond between us will be completely severed.

Kyle Burns once got down on his knees before the Moon Goddess statue and swore that nothing, not even broken limbs, would stop him from reaching the altar.

There was a time he claimed Rosa Ashford was his everything. Now, it was Ivy Cline.

Rosa zoned out. Her eyes were fixed on the dates she'd marked on the calendar.

In just three short months, he had hurt her 99 times.

The 10th time happened on the day of Rosa's birthday banquet. Ivy, a war captive, came down with a fever, and Kyle stayed by her side the entire night.

The 23rd time was when Rosa was in agony because of her cramps. Kyle had severed their mind-link just so he could focus on keeping Ivy company.

As for the 50th time, in an effort to cheer up the ever-melancholy Ivy, Kyle pointed at Rosa's most trusted Beta, Vance Woodard, and said, "Ivy feels inferior and looked down upon. From now on, the Beta position is hers."

Rosa planted herself in front of Vance. "Vance is the pack's most loyal Beta, whereas Ivy is a captive. Aren't you worried that she might act against you?"

"It's just a Beta. What, can't bear to part with your old subordinate?"

Kyle's gaze turned icy. "Or is it that your subordinate can't bear to part with you?"

When Rosa didn't respond, Kyle let out a cold snort. His impatience was evident. "So long as Ivy's pleased, I'd even give her control of the entire pack. A Beta position is nothing."

The light in Vance's eyes went out.

The man who once swore loyalty to the Silver Moon pack bowed deeply to Rosa. That very night, he left the pack. And now, there were only five days left until their ten-year bond would be dissolved.

The blast of a horn rang out, marking the "Relics Purification Rite" before the Full Moon Ceremony.

In the center of the square, a bonfire roared sky-high. The elders placed the pack's relics on the altar to be cleansed by moonlight.

Among them, a necklace made of snow-white wolf fangs stood out the most.

It was a keepsake that Rosa's father, Henry Ashford, had left her in his final moments. It symbolized the Alpha who came before.

Ivy, who was dressed in a washed-out linen gown, stood beside Kyle. Her gaze lingered briefly on the necklace.

Pulling her in by her waist, Kyle asked in a low voice, "Did that catch your interest?"

Ivy lowered her gaze. Her tone was cool and distant. "And what if it did? That's a keepsake given to the Luna by her father. As a war captive, I shouldn't even be looking at it."

A sense of foreboding hit Rosa, making her heart lurch. Instinctively, she stepped in front of the altar. Her eyes were locked on Kyle.

It was the only thing Henry had left her, the one non-negotiable thing.

The surrounding pack members held their breath, eyes trained on the three figures atop the platform.

Kyle arched his brow. "If you're that reluctant to part with something from a dead man, then keep it."

Rosa let out a breath of relief. Maybe Kyle still had a shred of care left for her.

Rather than going for the necklace, Kyle moved his hand straight toward the top of her head to take off her Luna Crown.

In an instant, Rosa's hair came undone, cascading down in wild strands.

Without even asking whether Rosa was okay with it, Kyle turned around and, in front of all the elders and the rest of the pack, he placed the crown on Ivy's head. "What's so great about a lame necklace anyway? This suits you better."

His gaze turned warm and tender as he added, "Ivy, this crown carries my scent. It will keep those low-ranking wolves in the pack in line. With this, you can't complain about being picked on anymore."

He then turned to the pale-faced Rosa. His tone was casual, as if talking about the weather. "Rosa, you're already the Luna. Don't fuss over material things."

Rosa froze where she stood, her breathing growing shallow and quick.

The crown was a sacred relic passed down for centuries in the Silver Moon pack. It symbolized the Luna's absolute dignity and honor. Yet now, it had become a prop for Kyle's flirtation.

However, Ivy didn't look pleased. Taking off the crown, she shoved it back to him as if it were something filthy.

"Alpha Kyle, please show some restraint."

Ivy held her head high. Her eyes shone with a hint of pride. "I'm a sinner from a defeated pack. I'm not fit to touch a sacred relic. Besides, it's been worn for nine years. I don't like used things."

She took a step back, putting on a flawless display of dignity before the entire pack.

Kyle froze for a moment. Then, his gaze intensified. He looked as if he was even more captivated by her. "If it's no longer clean…"

Kyle raised his hand. Rosa's pupils shrank instantly. "Kyle, don't!"

Her scream wasn't enough to stop him. The crown that had witnessed their bonding vows was tossed into the bonfire like trash.

"Kyle, even if the crown had to be thrown away, you shouldn't have been the one to do it!" Rosa screamed herself hoarse.

In that moment, it was as if she had forgotten her status as the noble and dignified Luna. She couldn't even hear the pack's collective gasp as she charged straight toward the flames to grab the already warped metal crown with her bare hands.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air. Though the pain was excruciating, she didn't loosen her hold.

Looking on, Kyle was taken aback for a moment before Ivy's quiet cough snapped him out of it. Ivy seemed to have choked on the smoke. She held her chest, and her brows were slightly furrowed.

Kyle immediately looked away from Rosa and gently patted Ivy's back, not sparing Rosa another glance. He softly said, "Since it's trash, we don't need it. I'll have someone make you a new crown, one that'll only belong to you."

"Alpha Kyle, please refrain from saying things that can cause misunderstandings in the future."

Ivy turned and walked off, prompting Kyle to trail after her all obsequiously like a pathetic mutt.

Late that night, in the pack's healing hall, Rosa stared quietly at the moon outside the window while cradling her bandaged hand.

From the corner of the hallway came the hushed whispers of two healers.

"Alpha Kyle's gone crazy over that outsider Omega. He even destroyed the Luna's crown."

"Tell me about it…"

"I heard back then, when he wanted to become mates with Luna Rosa, he knelt in front of her father for three days straight, swearing to give her his life."

"It hasn't even been that long. How did things turn out like this?"

"Maybe he's grown tired of her. Lost the thrill, you know?"

Their voices faded down the corridor.

Rosa looked down, stroking the charred crown with her uninjured hand.

Her thoughts drifted back to three months ago. Kyle had won a massive victory in a territorial battle. Most of the captives chose to submit. Only Ivy didn't.

She got rid of all of Kyle's gifts, lifted her chin stubbornly, and shouted, "I don't want your charity. Just kill me. I will never submit!"

The way she stubbornly held her ground was just like Rosa back in the day.

It was then that something changed in Kyle. He then began chasing Ivy like a man possessed.

The pack members all said the same thing—that Kyle had fallen out of love with Rosa.

Rosa had confronted him with reddened eyes. "You swore before that you'd only ever have one she-wolf. Me."

In a casual tone, Kyle had replied, "That was before. I'm the Alpha of the pack. Having a few she-wolves by my side is normal."

He took Rosa's hand in his before speaking in a voice gentle enough to soothe a pup, though his every word cut deep.

"Rosa, take a page from the Lunas of other packs. Don't be so small-minded."

Rosa forcefully shook off his hand. "I can't accept this! Kyle, there's no place for a third person in our relationship!"

"Do you seriously want to hear the truth?"

His voice turned cold, and his tone was impatient. "We've been together for nine years. Seeing the same face and body every day is boring. But Ivy's different. She's unfamiliar, new. You can't give me that."

"So, to sum it up, you're just tired of me."

Rosa closed her eyes as tears streamed down her face.

Kyle reached out to wipe her tears. In a softer tone, he said, "Dummy, what's there to cry about? To me, Ivy's just a plaything. Once I'm done with her, I'll reestablish our mind-link.

"You're my only Luna. You don't need to take her so seriously."

Pulling herself back from her thoughts, Rosa stared at the scorched crown in her hands. "Five more days."

She whispered to herself, "After five days, I will have nothing to do with you anymore, Kyle, no matter what you do."

Rosa had just returned to the fortress when she noticed servants hurrying in and out of the room next to their main bedroom.

That room was where she kept her wedding gifts and Henry's keepsake, and besides their main bedroom, it had the best light in the entire fortress.

Kyle was standing on the stone steps, directing the servants as they dragged Rosa's belongings out and haphazardly piled them in a dark corner of the corridor.

"You're back?"

He regarded Rosa from above. His tone was full of entitlement as he said, "Ivy's been having nightmares lately. The full moon is tomorrow. Since she's a captive with no family to protect her, I'm letting her stay here."

Rosa's gaze fell on Henry's portrait, which was dumped on the floor. The anger she felt instantly became more intense than the pain in her hand. "On top of being from another pack, she's a captive!"

Rosa rushed forward to stop the servants. "By Pack Law, captives can only stay in the dungeons or outer barracks. They have no right to stay inside the fortress! Kyle, what you're doing is an insult to my father!"

Kyle's eyes turned cold, and his Alpha aura exploded from him. "The Alpha sets the laws. In this pack, my word is law!"

No longer wanting to hear another word from her, he swung his hand hard. Before Rosa could even react, she was flung back by a powerful, invisible gust of wind.

She slammed into a stone pillar in the corridor. Blood ran down over her eye, turning half the world before her red.

Clutching her forehead, she stared at the man who had once sworn he'd take a knife for her in disbelief. "Kyle, you actually laid a hand on me?"

Even Kyle seemed startled by the strength he'd used on her. He approached her, using his thumb to wipe the blood from her temple.

"I know that you said Ivy is a war captive and doesn't deserve to stay here. But since you're injured and can't get around easily now, she can move in to take care of you. She knows a bit about herbs after all. She'll simply be serving you."

Rosa froze. Wow. What a perfectly justified excuse.

Not only was he letting the other woman move in, but he was also dressing it up as "taking care of her"? What kind of twisted logic was that?

Holding her bleeding forehead, Rosa stared at Kyle through her blurred vision. Somehow, he seemed like a stranger to her.

Back when they first bonded, she had slipped in the bath and scraped her knee.

Back then, Kyle's eyes had gone red with worry. He then replaced all the carpets with the thickest plush ones and even padded the corners of the tables. He had said, "Rosa, I'll never let you get hurt in my territory again."

And yet, now, he had made her bleed with his own hands. How ironic.

Just then, a slender figure appeared at the doorway. Ivy, who was wearing a thin white dress, looked proud and aloof. "Luna Rosa, I think you've misunderstood."

She continued in a cold voice, "I'm not the one who wants to move in… It's your mate. He's just too overbearing. I'm just a captive Omega. I can't refuse the orders of someone more powerful than me."

Though she spoke of being forced, she stepped inside naturally, as if this place had always been hers.

She gave Rosa a look that was totally devoid of respect. "Luna Rosa, I made this herbal decoction just for you. It's very effective on external injuries. You can use this on the wound on your forehead. Consider this my compensation to you."

Ivy approached Rosa, wanting to apply the decoction to her wound.

However, the moment the soaked cloth touched Rosa's wound, a searing pain overwhelmed her.

Rosa broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. That mixture wasn't for pain relief at all. A tiny amount of wolfbane had been added. Though the mixture wouldn't blister her skin, the pain was excruciating. "You…"

Rosa's vision was starting to go dark from the pain, and she instinctively shoved Ivy away.

The decoction spilled everywhere. Ivy fell backward before hitting her head on the floor.

She let out a startled cry, and tears spilled down her face. "Luna Rosa, I know you hate me, but I just wanted to ease your pain. Why did you have to do that to me?"

Kyle helped Ivy up, then turned his glare on Rosa. "Rosa, Ivy was just trying to help you! How could you push her? When did you become this nasty? Have you forgotten that as the Luna, you're supposed to be tolerant of your pack members?"

As wolfsbane had seeped into her wound, the pain rendered Rosa unable to speak. And yet, her mate turned a blind eye to all of it, caring only for the she-wolf who hadn't even gotten a scratch.

Ivy cried as she struggled to leave. "Alpha Kyle, if I'm not welcome here, then I'll leave…"

"Who dares make you leave?"

Kyle stopped her before coldly ordering Rosa, "Apologize to Ivy. If you don't, you'll regret it!"

Rosa lifted her head. Her blood and cold sweat mingled. "You're going to force your Luna to apologize to a captive from a different pack?"

Kyle said coldly, "It's so you'll learn some manners. Don't make me repeat myself!"

Rosa squared her shoulders. Her teeth were clenched, and she was determined not to lower her head. "I see."

Running out of patience, Kyle leaned in close to Rosa. "If you don't apologize, then your father's old guards won't be needed anymore. I'll send them to the deadliest edges of the territory as cannon fodder."

They were the last elite guards Henry had left for the pack, the pack members who had watched her grow up. Rosa shuddered violently.

As she looked at the man who was no longer the one she once knew, the last bit of affection she held for him disappeared entirely.

How dare he treat Henry's guards like tools for that woman?