On the night of the full moon, my fated mate, Alpha Altair of the Trey Pack, was presiding over the ritual at the altar.

As the Gamma of the Trey Pack, my duty was to patrol the perimeter, ensuring the ritual proceeded without a hitch.

But as I patrolled near the Silent Abyss,

I was stabbed from behind with a silver-dipped dagger and shoved into the Silent Abyss.

As darkness claimed me, their voices filtered through the haze:

"Alpha, she is your fated mate!"

"If her uterus is forcibly removed, severing the mate bond will tear your very soul apart!" the healer cried, his voice laced with terror.

"Silence! I am your Alpha. Don't you forget it!"

"Only when Heidi is barren will my pup with Leia be the sole heir."

"Inject her with a large dose of wolfsbane extract."

"I don't want her conscious for my bonding ceremony with Leia."

Through my barely open eyelids, I watched the wolf I had once loved with all my heart.

The look on his face was more monstrous than any beast I'd ever fought.

Since he was so determined to have that Omega, I would grant him his wish.

Through the mind-link, I reached out to a sealed connection:

"Alaric, about your previous offer... I agree."

An older, familiar voice answered, filled with relief:

"Future Alpha, the Moon Goddess will crown you in the end."

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1

Half a month before my bonding ceremony with Altair Trey, he proposed a special lunar eclipse ritual by the Silent Abyss.

And as always, I could never deny him anything.

It was a ritual said to greatly amplify the pack's power.

I stood at the edge of the chasm, waiting for him to complete the ceremony.

The moment the moonlight vanished completely, someone viciously stabbed me from behind with a silver-dipped dagger and pushed me into the abyss.

The attack left me gravely injured.

When I awoke again, I was in a sterile, empty hospital room, and I could hear snippets of a conversation from outside the door.

"We need the best Rune Master to carve the binding mark."

"Every rune must be precise. No room for error, understand?"

"Tell the Rune Master to carve it deep. She must never find out!"

That was the voice of my fated mate, Altair.

Who was he talking about?

A spy from another pack, perhaps?

A binding mark was certainly the best way to neutralize a spy.

"Alpha, Heidi is the most powerful Gamma in our pack!"

"If we carve a binding mark on her, she'll lose the ability to serve as a Gamma warrior."

"This would be a devastating loss for the pack!"

After a pause, the healer, Nolan Hayes, added carefully, "I know you want to acknowledge the child you had with Leia Vance, but that pup is the spitting image of you!"

"Heidi will recognize him instantly!"

A dull thud echoed from beyond the door.

Altair's Alpha command thundered, "I am the Alpha! Your job is to obey!"

I had just managed to sit up, but the shock of their words sent me collapsing back onto the mattress.

Hearing the sound from within, the voices outside fell silent.

The door creaked open. I snapped my eyes shut, feigning unconsciousness.

I felt someone stroking my cheek. The warmth of his fingertips sent a sickening shiver down my spine.

He smoothed the strands of hair stuck to my temples with cold sweat.

That familiar hand had once been my greatest source of strength.

Now, it only sparked disgust.

I gripped the bedsheets, my nails digging into my palms as I desperately suppressed my inner wolf's fury and the stabbing pain in my heart.

Altair let out a soft, counterfeit sigh.

He spoke slowly, "That's why I told you to carve the mark on her."

"It's the only way to keep this wild wolf of mine caged in the castle I built for her."

"She'll never find out about my other home, the one right next door."

"A perfect plan, isn't it?"

"Even as a Gamma who can't fight, she will still be the honored Luna."

"My love for her has never changed. But acknowledging Leia and our pup is my responsibility as a father, you understand?"

He spoke with such sanctimonious piety, as if his betrayal and cruelty were forced upon him.

The healer sighed. "Alpha, I will do as you command. It will all be as you wish."

Altair finally removed his hand from my cheek.

He instructed, "Heidi's body is healing quickly."

"So, before my bonding ceremony with Leia, increase her dose of wolfsbane extract."

"She cannot wake up that day. It's the only way my plan will work."

The healer's eyes widened, his voice trembling as he warned, "Alpha, an overdose of wolfsbane extract could cause permanent brain damage."

"She might never wake up! This is no joke."

Beneath the covers, my fists clenched instinctively.

Wolfsbane. A potent poison used to suppress uncontrollable rogues.

I had led the pack's research team, spending five years to bring the herb's toxicity within a safe range.

The irony that it would now be used on me was almost too much to bear.

Altair waved a dismissive hand.

"So what? No matter what she becomes, she will still be my mate."

"She will forever be the most respected being in this pack."

"I'm doing this to spare her the pain. It's for her own good."

The healer shook his head, a helpless sigh escaping his lips.

Then, he hastily departed.

I slowly opened my eyes, watching as Altair sat by the window, speaking into a communication crystal.

"That rogue who stabbed Heidi, have you dealt with him?"

"Good. Well done."

"Frame him as a spy from a rival pack. Arrest and execute him."

"Even if Heidi digs for the truth, she won't find any leads."

Hearing his words, hot tears streamed down my cheeks, soaking the pillow beneath my head.

"By the way, Heidi likes moonstones."

"After the 'surgery' tomorrow, fill her room with her favorite moonstones and the purest silver-patterned wolf pelts."

"Also, pave the manor paths with them."

"That should lift her spirits when she recovers."

"And add two cute snow wolf pups to the manor. Heidi has always loved small animals."

Altair's tone was grave, but his words sent a deathly chill through me.

I wasn't just the Gamma of the Trey Pack; I was a born Luna, his fated mate.

I had fought for the Trey Pack for ten years, and this was my reward: betrayal and pain.

The bonding ceremony I'd anticipated for five years, the ceremonial grounds I’d spent a year preparing—it was all for Leia.

My love for Altair, it turned out, was nothing but a grand web of lies.

Altair finally left my room.

The only sounds were the rhythmic beeping of the medical instruments and the shattering of my own heart.

My gaze hardened.

After a war within myself, I made my decision.

Oh, my dearest Altair Trey... Since you've chosen that Omega, Leia Vance, you and she can wait for the "blessings" I have in store. I hope, when we meet again, you won't regret the choice you made today.

With a surge of effort, I reached out to Alaric Sterling through the mind-link.

He was someone I'd sworn I would never contact again.

The connection flared to life instantly.

"Our future Alpha. I knew you would contact me one day."

"The Moon Goddess will always guide you to the right path."

I had no time for pleasantries.

"I accept your proposal. I will be the next Alpha of the Argent Pack."

"But you need to get me out of here, and fast. Otherwise, you'll be inheriting a crippled Alpha."

"And I trust the honorable Argent Pack wouldn't want that."

I was trying to provoke him into acting faster.

To my surprise, the voice on the other end of the link remained calm.

"Heidi, don't panic. Everything is under control."

"The surgeon scheduled to operate on you, Elias Thorne, is one of ours. He will arrange everything."

"After the surgery, focus on your recovery."

"In five days, my people will meet you at the shore of the Sea of Silver Veins."

His words were a balm on my frayed nerves, and I let out a shaky breath of relief.

I subconsciously touched my lower abdomen, where the silver-dipped dagger had left a ghastly wound.

As a powerful Gamma, my healing ability was astonishing.

But the silver's poison, combined with some dark curse I'd contracted in the "Silent Abyss," kept the wound from closing.

I didn't need surgery, and I certainly didn't need wolfsbane. They were all just pieces of Altair's wicked game.

Just then, Nolan Hayes entered the room, his lips pursed into a tight line that betrayed his concern for me.

"Gamma Heidi, your surgery is scheduled in three hours."

"Our best surgeon, Dr. Thorne, will be performing the procedure."

"Try not to worry. Dr. Thorne will ensure you make a full recovery."

Altair took my hand, his grip tight.

"Heidi, don't be afraid. I'll be waiting for you right outside the operating room."

I slowly pulled my hand away.

Then, I stared directly into his eyes.

"If I can never shift into my wolf again, will you still complete the bonding ceremony with me?"

Altair leaned down and pressed a deep, seemingly affectionate kiss to my forehead.

He promised solemnly, "I will. You are my one and only Luna."

I forced a faint smile. "Alright. I believe you."

I gently caressed his handsome, weary face.

"Altair, you look exhausted."

"My surgery is still a few hours away. Why don't you get some rest first?"

Altair let out a long sigh, a mixture of fatigue and relief.

"You're right. I haven't slept, worrying about you."

"Now that you're safe, I think I need to rest."

"My dear Heidi, can I sleep here, beside you?"

I nodded, a placid smile on my face.

Then, I watched him lie down beside me.

He fell asleep quickly, his breathing deep and even.

I reached over and picked up his communication crystal from the bedside table.

The background was a picture I took of him the first time he showed me his wolf form.

In the photo, he was howling at the sky, brimming with pride.

I opened his contacts and saw two pinned links at the top: one for me, and one for Leia.

I couldn't believe it. An Alpha as busy as him would pin an Omega's link!

It was a special privilege not even his most trusted Beta enjoyed.

How utterly ironic.

I clicked on the link to Leia.

I scrolled through several images of a cute pup, accompanied by a series of his soft, recorded messages.

"Dad, Mom made me cute rabbit-shaped jerky today. It was yummy."

"Dad, the birthday bone you got me was so delicious."

"I wish you could have been with me."

Following that message was a picture of the pup, his face greasy with food, Leia smiling at his side.

"Dad, a mean wolf bullied me. He said I don't have a dad. I told him my dad is a powerful hero, but he didn't believe me."

"Dad, you're so cool! The wolf who bullied me yesterday apologized today. You taught him a lesson, right?"

"Dad, Mom and I miss you so much. When can we all live together?"

Altair never replied in any of these recordings.

But from the pup's reactions, it was clear Altair had been quietly taking care of them.

I opened the private album, filled with images of Leia and her pup.

Some were clearly recorded by him.

Altair once told me he didn't like pups.

Now I saw that for the lie it was.

He liked pups. Just not pups with me.

A self-deprecating smile twisted my lips.

My heart aching with bitterness, I forced myself to stop scrolling.