The moon goddess knew how desperately I wanted to have a baby, not because I wanted to please my mate, Alpha Owen, but because I wanted to have a child of my own to love and care for—a family of my own creation. But all my dreams of a complete family shattered when rogues attacked one night, and I got severely injured.

I mindlinked Owen until my head started to throb from the strain, but he wouldn't answer. It was as though he was blocking my connection on purpose.

When the warriors had gotten rid of all the bodies in the aftermath of the attack and I finally got healed as well, I went back to the packhouse and I trudged directly to Owen’s office, hoping to find something that could explain why in the world the Alpha of Hidden Spring Pack was missing in action while his pack almost fell apart.

That was the moment I opened his laptop, furiously searching for information that could shed light on his sudden disappearance. And that was when I opened his email reading a message from Amber, Owen's ex-girlfriend.

[I'm back, Alpha Owen. Meet me at my old pack so we can catch up. -Amber]

So while his poor pack was under attack, he was on a sweet rendezvous with his ex-girlfriend. My blood boiled at the betrayal. No wonder, I started having bruises on my body, only I covered them up with makeup. My mate was cheating on me!

***

It was five days later when Alpha Owen returned. I instantly sniffed the air when he entered our bedroom while I dried my hair with a towel. My wolf was seething inside my head as another scent mingled with his, but I tried hard to block my emotions and my shifter's, sitting in front of the vanity table and pretending to be absorbed in my reflection.

"I know you were trying to mindlink me, I was in the south part, trying to negotiate with Alpha Jude for alliance," my mate explained, placing his large hands on my shoulders. "To get his trust, I must close all my communication telepathically, even with you. I hope you understand."

I met his gaze in the mirror and smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. It was hilarious how he sought out alliances while the enemy was assaulting us. But because I instructed his beta not to inform him of the terrible incident, he was unaware that the rogues had ambushed us.

Regardless of how much I wanted to slap him for his stupidity or my wolf to rip him to shreds for his ignorance, I nodded, saying, "Alright, then."

His pleading smile vanished, and a perplexed frown took its place. "A-Are you sure you're not angry at me?" he asked tentatively.

"No. Why would I? You were just doing everything for the sake of our pack," I said, shrugging off, while my inside was bursting with fury.

"Well, that's a relief. Anyway, I know you can't afford to get mad at me, can you?" he added, his tone oozing with overconfidence. "That's why, on my way home, I stopped by your favorite bake shop and bought you some pastries as a peace offering," he said, placing the small basket tied with a ribbon on the table in front of me.

I stared at the package, sniffing it. My breathing constricted as I jumped off the chair as though it was a bomb about to explode. "I hope you do remember that sesame seeds can trigger a severe allergic reaction for me," I said, trying to remain calm despite the rising panic.

He blinked. "I thought you like…shit. I'm so sorry, Aleli. I must be more careful next time."

Bread with sesame seeds—those were actually Amber's favorites.

Crossing my arms across my chest, I said, "Maybe you got them mixed up with someone else's preferences."

"Of course I bought them for you. Who else would I buy them for?" Owen replied, looking confused. "I remember you mentioning how much you loved bread with sesame seeds. I wanted to surprise you."

"I never said that. Never," I thought inwardly. My heart was clenching as though it were being squeezed in a vice. "Maybe the servants will appreciate it if you give them the bread instead."

"O-Okay?" He nodded slowly, picking up the basket. "I'm very sorry if you feel neglected, hun. These past few days, rogue attacks have been more frequent, and I've been preoccupied with fortifying our defenses."

"I told you I understood," I replied, exhaling deeply.

"By the way, why were you trying to mindlink me during my inter-pack meeting? Was there something serious that happened in our pack while I was away?"

"No," I replied instantly, expecting that stupid question to be asked.

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his eyes turned totally yellow—the color of his wolf's eyes. It was clear that he was mindlinking someone. Our eyes did not always shine when we mindlinked—only when our wolves were in great emotion that they almost wanted to surface.

He then shook his head and started to speak again and said, "I have a situation to handle. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Once he disappeared out the door, I found myself falling to the ground, my legs and arms trembling. He didn't even notice the bruises on my arms—the evidence of his betrayal. But even though my nerves were on the verge of breaking down, I gathered myself together and mindlinked Dr. Payne, my father.

"Dad, I accept your offer to be a pack doctor in the Onyx Werewolf's Committee. Please, send me the details so I can prepare, ASAP."

There was a long pause before Dad finally spoke, "Are you sure, child? Being a member of the royal medical team to the Werewolves Committee means you're serving them for life, and you have to give up your pack and your rank as Luna. Once you make this commitment, there's no turning back."

I nodded even though he couldn't see my face over the mindlink. "I've made up my mind, Dad. I just realized that this is my true calling."

"What about Alpha Owen? I thought you loved him. You chose to remain in the Hidden Spring Pack for him," Dad asked, and I could hear the hurt in his voice. "What makes you change your mind now?"

I bit my lip so hard, I could taste the metallic tang of blood. I knew Dad would wonder why I had a sudden change of heart, but I was prepared to explain. "Let's just say, I've awakened—that my blindness for love had me lost, but now I see clearly."

When I was younger, I believed that true love did not require the Moon Goddess to pair me with someone, as I had been secretly loving Owen. We were best of friends. Our families were close as well, and we were normally teased about being future husband and wife.

But when we both turned eighteen, Owen found out that Amber, our childhood friend, was his mate.

My wolf and I secretly wept for having a one-sided love, witnessing how they were so happy together.

It was until one day that Owen sneaked into my room, tears in his eyes. He said that Amber rejected him as she was arranged to marry a widowed alpha that visited our pack.

"I thought our matebond will surpass all obstacles," he had whispered, crying on my shoulder. "Turns out, she's embarrassed of me because I'm only a beta's son, and she pointed out that she deserves better than what the moon goddess has paired her with."

I held him tighter and never realized that I was pouring all my hidden love for Owen in that embrace. Then he stared into my eyes. "Let's be each other's mates, Aleli."

My mouth parted in shock as I processed his words. "W-What did you say?"

"I know you have loved me since we were kids, and I've always cared about you. But since she's gone, we can be together now. I'm choosing you as my mate, Aleli. Are you willing to be mine?"

I didn't hesitate to say yes, my heart bursting with joy.

But now…

I never expected that choosing him as my mate would be the fall of my entire world as well, especially that two days later, an envelope addressed to me arrived, containing intimate photos of Amber and my husband. A letter was attached, saying, [Dear Aleli. It's been a while since we last saw each other. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them. Your husband is quite the passionate lover. Love, Amber.]

Hot tears stung my eyes as I tore the pictures into pieces. How dare this bitch inform me of my husband's infidelity as though she was doing me a favor? But no matter how furious I was, I kept silent. Anyway, I was going to leave anytime soon.

Amber's sending of photos didn't stop, and even included videos of my husband and her together. This time, the letter attached said, [How could you still endure the pain of seeing your husband betray you like this? Don't you see, I want you to leave so we can get back together. Love, Amber.]

I didn't destroy the videos and photos this time and kept them in a safe place.

Owen even stopped sleeping with me, and this time, his alibi was that he was working late at the office, busy meeting virtually with the other pack alphas. Where the truth was, Amber was the one keeping him occupied during those late nights. The secret cameras I planted in his office revealed everything, and as I watched him on my phone, I could see more bruises surfaced on my skin.

It seemed that he was becoming so blinded by his betrayal that he didn't realize he was slowly abandoning the pack as well. Because a week later, Owen approached me as I ate my breakfast alone in the kitchen.

"We have a problem," he said, and his face was filled with worry. "I need to sail to the other pack territories to negotiate a peace treaty before things escalate further. Alpha Wilson said that rouges have been spotted near our borders, and we need to act quickly to prevent any potential conflict."

"All right," I said, drinking my cup of coffee. "I'll take care of the pack while you're gone."

His brows furrowed, but he planted a quick kiss on my forehead, saying, "I'm very lucky to have a Luna like you, always ready to support me and the pack." With that, he rushed out the door, leaving me gripping my mug tightly until it crushed in my hand.

That night, I observed my bruises in front of the bathroom mirror. They almost occupied my entire arm and torso. Self-pity washed over me. How could I tolerate such pain and still put on a brave face for the pack?

It was when I stepped in the shower that a great pain cut through my chest—like it was being ripped apart. My wolf howled as I collapsed to the floor, my breathing becoming shallow and labored. There was only one explanation for this, Owen and Amber were becoming very intimate. I bet they were presently fucking their brains out!

This was the curse of a matebond—one would feel the physical and emotional pain of their mate's cheating.

I screamed in agony, hoping that death just might come and take me away from the torment. The water from the shower mixed with my tears as I lay there, broken and defeated.

"D-Damn you, Owen!" I shouted through clenched teeth, blood dripping from my mouth. "I will never forgive you for what you've done to me."

Owen returned after a couple of days, but instead of the mansion, he rushed to the pack doctor's cottage when he learned that I was confined there.

His face was pale and worried as he held my hands and asked, "Oh, hun. Why are you in bed? What happened? You can't get sick as our baby will be affected."

I yanked my hands away and sat up, avoiding his gaze. "It's nothing, maybe just a bit exhausted because of the duties I've been handling lately," I replied. Funny how he didn't have any idea that I was here because of his infidelity, and still not aware of my miscarriage.

For a moment, a strange silence formed between us, separating us from the truth that I couldn't—or wouldn't—bring myself to reveal. I could feel his guilt through our shared matebond, but I couldn't sense all of it since he seemed to be mastering how to block me out.

Finally, he sat beside me and gently took my hand in his. This time, he didn't let go of my hand, as if he was trying to convey his remorse and willingness to make things right. "I know I wasn't always around and taking care of you. But I promise you, I will make up for lost time and be the mate you deserve," he whispered, kissing my hand. "When you and the baby are fully recovered, I want us to celebrate your birthday together. What do you think?"

I looked up at him. His excitement didn't mirror my own feelings. But somehow, I replied, " That sounds lovely. I would like that."

"Cool!" His beam widened, as though he felt that he was saved from a potential disaster.

On the day of my birthday, he took me to a restaurant in the city which was owned by a pack member in our community. He never ran out of stories about the packs that he had visited lately, as though trying to distract me from my own thoughts. Although I knew that those stories were only fabricated. He had never actually been in those packs. I knew it since I phoned those packs and asked about him. They said that Owen had never been there in a long time.

Such a big fat liar!

"…and you know what?" he continued. "Alpha Rick said that he wants us to visit when out pup—"

The sound of his phone ringing interrupted him, and Owen glanced down at the screen with a reluctant expression. "Sorry, I have to take this," he said before quickly excusing himself, rushing through the washroom without another word. And a couple of minutes later, he came back; his face looked pale and troubled.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, waiting for him to share the news—or should I say, another alibi.

"Alpha Rick... he's been attacked," Owen finally whispered, placing his cold hand on my bare shoulder. "He's asking for our help, Aleli. I must go and assist him and—"

"Go," I cut him off, forking a piece of cake and placing it in my mouth.

He seemed to be caught off guard by my nonchalant response. He said, "Hun, please don't feel bad about me leaving you alone."

"I know, Owen. We have to support them since they are our friends, and we can't turn our backs on them in their time of need." I simply nodded.

A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he shoved the phone back into his pocket and stood up from the table. "Thank you for understanding, hun. Don't worry, I'll prepare a much bigger celebration back in the pack when we return victorious."

I watched him sprint out the door, my eyes a bit misty with unshed tears. "Just go on fooling around, Owen." I whispered to myself. "You will regret all of this, and even your apology will not be enough to make up for it."

I remembered when we were seven, he was the first to greet me and even climbed on my window before 12am, so he could be the first one to wish me a happy birthday and celebrate with me. Every year, he was doing it as though it was a sacred tradition. And because of that, my foolish heart fell for him, believing that his actions were genuine and sincere. But now, I realize that no one could love me unconditionally but myself.

That night, Owen unexpectedly returned with gifts in hand, and no trace of bloody battle could be seen on his spotless white shirt.

I checked on those items when he was asleep, and my heart seemed to be stabbed again as I saw the notes attached to each gift. [Happy birthday, Amber]

My instinct was to destroy those gifts, but I chose to keep them along with the photos and videos I had collected in the past few weeks.

An idea popped up in my mind. What if I catch him on the spot so he can't deny his infidelity any longer?

With that, I followed him to his favorite bar one night later. It was a bar where shifters mostly frequented.

As I entered the dimly lit establishment, I first spotted his old friends from highschool sitting in a huge U-shaped booth in the corner. And in a loveseat, I saw him cozying up with a woman who was definitely not me. Blonde, curvy, and laughing at something he said.

"Amber." My fists clenched at my sides as I watched them together, my heart sinking. Owen's hand's explored her body as they kissed passionately and seemed to not care about anyone else around them.

I suddenly remembered the first time they announced their being mates when we were eighteen. The pain I had felt then came rushing back, fresh and raw. Only now was even worse, seeing it play out in front of me.

They only stopped when one of them faked a cough, saying, "Oh come on, Alpha. Why don't you mark Amber again? After all, she's divorced and available."

"Yeah, that's true," one woman said with a smirk. "It's been a while since we've had a good wedding. Plus, you need a Luna to run your pack, Alpha."

Owen chuckled as though he found the whole situation amusing, while Amber circled her arms around his neck, gazing at his face with adoration. "You know I'm always here for you, Alpha."

"Then what are you two waiting for? Let's make it official!" A tipsy man chimed in, raising his glass in a toast. "To Alpha Owen and Luna Amber, may your bond be as strong as the moonlight," he declared, prompting cheers and applause.

"Mark her, mark her, mark her!" they began chanting, catching the attention of other people in the bar who joined in the celebration.

"Well, I—" Owen froze when he turned to my spot at the bar, where I had been observing the scene with disgust. He stood up, slipping Amber's hand from his grasp. "A-Aleli? What are you doing here?"