Anya POV

After seven years of being mated to Hugh Jones, the Alpha of the Shadow Claw Pack, I thought I had endured every betrayal, every slight, and every ounce of disdain he could muster. Yet, on my birthday, he surprised me—something he had never done before.

I received a delivery of three rear crystals believed to be a thousand years old yet they still glistined, accompanied by an intricately woven silver bracelet laced with moonstone, the stone of werewolf bonds. My heart leapt at the sight, foolishly hoping that perhaps, this was his way of rekindling what we had lost. I posted a picture in the pack’s group chat, captioned: "The Alpha always knows how to make a Luna feel loved."

Moments later, Terra’s reply shattered my delusion. The eta’s daughter, the pack’s golden wolf, wrote:

"A shame. Some wolves settle for scraps, while others feast on the whole deer."

That’s when I learned the truth. Hugh had gifted her a garden with special and rare flowers only owned by Luna's within the pack’s territory—mere minutes away from our residence. The bracelet, too, was originally hers, cast aside when she decided it didn’t suit her.

Fuming, I gathered the roses and stormed to her house, my wolf growling inside me. When I arrived, the glow of candlelight flickered through the windows. Hugh and Terra sat close at the table, sharing wine and laughter.

Hugh looked up as I entered, his golden eyes narrowing. “Can you stop being so dramatic, Anya? Terra and I are discussing pack security. If I truly wanted her, do you think you would still hold the Luna title?” he said to me with so much guilt in his voice.

In the past, I would have argued, demanded answers, and clawed at the truth. This time, I merely tossed the roses and bracelet onto their table. “I wish you both happiness.”

The bracelet rolled to his feet. His smirk deepened as he stepped on it, grinding it into the floorboards. “If you want to remain my Luna,” he sneered, “you need to control your jealousy. No wolf respects a mate who can’t trust her Alpha.”

His words struck like a whip, but instead of shattering, something inside me clicked into place. A cold decision. I wouldn’t fight for him anymore.

When I left Terra’s house, I sent a message to the elders: "The Luna bond is severed. Hugh Jones no longer holds my loyalty. I renounce my position."

Hugh was quick to respond in the chat, dismissing me with the same condescension he always reserved for me:

"Anya’s having another tantrum. We’ll resolve this privately. No need for concern."

But my mother, a proud but bitter she-wolf, immediately sided with him. Her messages were a flurry of accusations:

"You ungrateful pup! Hugh is the best mate you could ever have. Apologize now before you ruin everything!"

For years, I had obeyed her, seeking her approval despite knowing I’d never get it. This time, I silenced her by leaving the chat entirely.

I returned to the Alpha residence, my mind buzzing with plans for my departure. My wolf whimpered at the thought of leaving the pack, but she didn’t protest. Even she had grown weary of Hugh ’s callousness.

When he returned later that evening, he slammed the door open and threw the remains of the crystals at me. Their once vibrant petals were now wilted and soggy, a mockery of their former beauty.

“Still sulking?” he demanded. “Haven’t you always wanted the crystals? Here they are. Stop acting like a spoiled pup.”

I used to envy the mated pairs who strolled through the packlands, their bonds glowing with mutual respect and affection. I had asked Hugh once why he never showed me such gestures.

He had scoffed. “If you weren’t so demanding, I might’ve considered it. But you? You’re just lucky I chose you at all.”

That was the crux of it. Hugh didn’t see me as his equal.

I glanced at the scattered bracelet on the floor and then met his gaze, my voice steady. “I don’t want second-hand gifts, Hugh . And I don’t want a second-hand mate either.”

His eyes darkened, his wolf stirring beneath his skin. “Watch your tongue, Anya.”

But I didn’t flinch. “You’ve made your choice. Now I’ll make mine.”

***

That night, I packed a single bag and left the Alpha residence. My destination was the Mistwood Pack, where my childhood friend and fellow strategist, Tyler, now served as Beta. I hadn’t spoken to him in years, but I knew he would understand.

As I crossed the Shadow Claw border, I felt the bond tethering me to Hugh snap. It hurt—like a claw ripping through my chest—but it also felt freeing.

When I reached Mistwood, I was greeted by Tyler, who embraced me tightly. His dark brown eyes scrutinised me, concern etched on his face. “Anya, what happened?”

I told him everything—the years of neglect, the final betrayal, and my decision to leave. Tyler listened quietly, his wolf pacing behind his eyes. “You deserve better,” he said firmly. “Mistwood will protect you.”

Over the next few weeks, I found solace in my new pack. Tyler helped me rebuild my confidence, encouraging me to join the Mistwood warriors in training. My wolf, long suppressed under Hugh ’s dominance, thrived in this new environment.

One evening, as I sparred with Tyler in the training ring, a howl echoed through the forest. It was a Shadow Claw scout, delivering a message.

I met him at the border, my stance wary. “What do you want?”

The scout shifted uncomfortably. “Alpha Hugh has issued a challenge. He demands your return to Shadow Claw.”

I laughed bitterly. “He can demand all he wants. I’m no longer part of his pack.”

The scout hesitated. “It’s more than that. He’s accusing you of treason, Anya. He claims you stole strategic plans and intends to use them against Shadow Claw.”

My blood ran cold. Hugh ’s manipulation knew no bounds. By labeling me a traitor, he was trying to justify his actions and tarnish my name.

Tyler stepped forward, his voice like steel. “Tell your Alpha that if he wants a fight, Mistwood will give him one.”

Days later, Hugh arrived with a small contingent of warriors. He stood at the Mistwood border, his posture arrogant.

“Anya,” he called out, his voice dripping with mockery. “Come home. This game has gone on long enough.”

I stepped forward, flanked by Tyler and the Mistwood Alpha. “I am home, Hugh . You don’t control me anymore.”

His expression twisted with rage. “You’ve made a grave mistake, Anya. A Luna doesn’t survive without her Alpha.”

I smiled coldly. “Then it’s a good thing I’m no longer your Luna.”

As the Mistwood warriors closed ranks around me, I realized something good. Hugh had always sought to break me, to make me believe I was nothing without him. But in breaking free, I had found my true strength.

Anya POV

The air was tense, thick with the challenges and the crackle of dominance from the wolves surrounding me. Hugh stood at the border, his golden eyes gleaming with arrogance as his warriors flanked him. Behind me, the Mistwood Alpha and Tyler stood resolute, their presence a wall of support I hadn’t known I needed until now.

“You think you’ve found a safe haven, Anya?” Hugh ’s voice cut through the quiet, mocking and cold. “This charade ends now. Come home.”

“I told you, Hugh ,” I said, my voice firm. “I’m not coming back. You don’t own me anymore.”

His smirk twisted into something darker. “You really think you can just walk away from your duties? From me?”

Tyler stepped forward, his stance aggressive. “She doesn’t belong to you, Jones. Not anymore. Leave, or we’ll make you.”

Hugh ’s wolf flared in his eyes, and with a sharp motion of his hand, his warriors stepped into formation. “You’ll regret this,” he said.

The clash was sudden and brutal. Wolves shifted mid-air, snarling and snapping as fur and claws filled the space between us. Hugh ’s warriors launched forward, met head-on by Mistwood’s defenders.

Tyler was a blur of power, his wolf formidable as he lunged at Hugh . Their bodies collided with a hard crash, the impact shaking the ground beneath them.

I stayed human, relying on my agility and training. A Shadow Claw wolf lunged at me, teeth bared. I sidestepped, grabbing his arm and twisting until he howled in pain. My wolf stirred inside me, urging me to shift, but I held back. I needed to stay in control.

Another wolf circled me, and I spun to meet him. My elbow hit his jaw, and he crumpled to the ground.

“You’ve gotten stronger,” Hugh sneered, his voice rising above the chaos. He had Tyler pinned momentarily, his teeth bared. “But strength doesn’t mean you’re free.”

The words stung, but I didn’t falter. “I’m stronger because I’m free.”

The fight raged on until a piercing howl silenced the battlefield. It wasn’t just any howl—it carried authority, a command that no wolf could disobey.

All eyes turned to the figure stepping out of the forest: Elder Marian. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, her eyes sharp and scary. She was one of the most respected elders in the Shadow Claw Pack, her word almost as binding as the moon goddess’s decree.

“Enough!” she commanded, her voice carrying the weight of centuries of tradition. The fighting ceased instantly, wolves retreating to their respective sides.

“Elder Marian,” Hugh said, his tone dripping with false respect. “You honor us with your presence.”

Her gaze flicked to him, unimpressed, before settling on me. “Anya.”

Hearing my old name from her lips was like a tether yanking me back.

“I’ve come to settle this dispute,” she said, her voice even. “Anya, you know the laws of our kind. You cannot simply leave your pack and mate without proper permission.”

“I didn’t ‘leave,’” I countered, my voice shaking but steady. “I renounced my bond to him. I chose freedom.”

Elder Marian’s eyes softened, but her tone remained firm. “Your intentions may have been pure, but the bond between mates is sacred. To sever it completely, the elders of your former pack must release you.”

I shook my head, anger bubbling beneath my skin. “Why should I return to being judged by people who stood by and let him treat me like this?”

“Because if you don’t,” she said, “Hugh will retain his claim over you. Any pack that harbors you risks open war. This is the only way to secure your freedom properly.”

Hugh smirked behind her, triumphant. “See, Anya? Even the elders agree. Come home, and we’ll fix this.”

Tyler growled beside me, his wolf close to the surface. “She’s safer here. You’re not taking her back.”

Elder Marian raised a hand to silence him. “This isn’t about safety, Beta Tyler. It’s about our laws. If Anya wishes to join Mistwood permanently, she must follow tradition.”

The weight of her words settled over me like a shroud. My wolf whimpered inside, torn between rebellion and the pull of duty. I looked at Tyler, his expression stricken but resigned.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said, his voice low.

But I did. I couldn’t let my presence bring war to Mistwood.

I stepped forward, my heart heavy. “I’ll go.”

Tyler grabbed my arm. “Anya—”

“I’ll come back,” I promised, though I didn’t know how true those words could be. “But I have to do this the right way.”

The journey back to Shadow Claw felt like a death march. Hugh walked ahead of me, victorious, while I trailed behind with Elder Marian.

“You’re making the right choice,” she said softly.

I didn’t reply. My wolf was silent, retreating deep within me. The freedom I had tasted in Mistwood felt like a dream slipping through my fingers.

When we reached Shadow Claw territory, Hugh turned to me, his smirk wide. “Welcome home, Luna.”

Anya POV

The moment I stepped back into the pack house, the heavy air of dominance hit me. It wasn’t just Hugh ’s scent that lingered—it was his control, his authority. He wasn’t just the Alpha of the Silver Moon pack. To him, I was his Luna, chosen for reasons I never truly understood. And now, I felt more like a pawn than a partner.

Hugh stood at the foot of the grand staircase, arms crossed, his broad shoulders making the space around him feel smaller. His piercing golden eyes bore into mine, a mix of annoyance and possessiveness in his gaze.

“You’re not going anywhere, Anya,” he said, his voice deep. “Quit trying to leave me. There’s nowhere for you to go.”

I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring uneasily beneath my skin. “You don’t own me, Hugh . You can’t keep disrespecting me and expect me to stand by like some obedient little mate. Not when you flirt with Terra right in front of me.”

His lips curled into a smirk, a condescending expression that made my blood boil. “Terra is none of your concern. She’ll always be more beautiful than you could ever imagine yourself to be. But she’s not my Luna. You are. I chose you. That’s all that matters.”

I stepped closer, my voice trembling with anger. “You chose me, but you’re not acting like it. A Luna deserves respect, not humiliation!”

Hugh tilted his head slightly, as if amused by my defiance. “Respect? You’re too concerned about things that don’t matter. I’ve given you the title, Anya. Stop worrying about who I flirt with. It’s not your place.”

My wolf snarled internally, clawing at the edges of my restraint. "Let me out. Let me show him who we are!" she growled, her voice loud in my mind. My breathing quickened as I fought to suppress her, my nails threatening to shift into claws.

Hugh caught the flicker of amber in my eyes as my wolf pushed closer to the surface. He chuckled darkly. “Careful, Anya. Don’t lose control. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the house, leaving me standing in the suffocating silence of his absence.

After he left, I tried to calm myself by walking around the pack house. The place had always felt more like a gilded cage than a home. Every room was decorated to showcase wealth and power, but none of it felt comforting or personal.

As I wandered, I found myself standing before a door I had never noticed before. It was slightly ajar, and something about it felt off. I pushed it open and froze.

The room was lavish, even more so than Hugh ’s quarters. Luxurious silk curtains hung from the windows, and the bed was adorned with velvet sheets. Expensive jewelry glittered on a vanity table, and designer heels and bags lined the shelves. Every inch of the room screamed decadence—and betrayal.

This wasn’t just any guest room. This was her room. Terra’s.

Rage bubbled in my chest. I hadn’t even been gone for long, and he’d already given her a room of her own in the pack house. He had gone to great lengths to make her comfortable—more effort than he’d ever put into our shared space.

I stepped inside, unable to stop myself. The air was heavy with her floral perfume, and it made my wolf recoil in disgust. I ran my fingers over the vanity, my mind racing. How could he do this? How could he insult me so blatantly?

I turned to leave, unable to bear the sight any longer, and collided with someone at the doorway. The impact was minor, but Terra dramatically stumbled backward, falling to the floor.

“Oh, my goddess, Anya!” she cried, clutching her shoulder. “You hurt me!”

I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. I barely touched you. Get up.”

But she stayed on the floor, her doe-eyed expression shifting to something more sinister. “What do you think will happen if I scream? You know Hugh will be furious.”

I scoffed. “Scream all you want. I don’t care.”

Her lips curled into a wicked smile, and then, to my utter disbelief, she began to scream.

Her voice echoed through the halls, shrill and exaggerated. I stood frozen, staring at her in shock as she clutched her arm and wailed like she was on the brink of death.

“What the hell are you doing?” I snapped, my voice rising.

But Terra didn’t stop. She cried louder, her performance worthy of an award. “She attacked me! Someone help!”

My heart pounded as the sound of hurried footsteps approached. Members of the pack started gathering at the doorway, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern.

“What’s going on?” one of the guards asked, his gaze shifting between me and the sobbing Terra.

“She… she pushed me!” Terra whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I was just minding my own business, and she attacked me out of nowhere!”

“That’s a lie!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fury. “She’s making it up!”

But the damage was already done. The murmurs among the pack grew louder, and I could feel their judgment eating me up.

Hugh arrived moments later, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. Terra immediately rushed to him, clutching his arm like a damsel in distress.

“Hugh , she… she hates me,” she sobbed. “I’ve done nothing to her, and she keeps trying to hurt me!”

Hugh turned to me, his expression cold and unreadable. “Anya, what the hell is wrong with you?”

My wolf snarled, “You can’t honestly believe her,” I said, my voice shaking. “She’s lying!”

But Hugh didn’t respond. He simply stared at me, his silence cutting deeper than any words could.

Terra smirked behind his back, her victory written all over her face.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my wolf under control.

Hours later, I sat alone in my room, the events of the day replaying in my mind. My wolf paced restlessly within me, her fury barely contained.

“Why do you let him treat us this way?” she growled. “We’re stronger than this. He doesn’t deserve us.”