Seven months into my pregnancy, Leonard took me to his childhood friend’s birthday celebration in the Howling Forest Pack. The evening was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but it quickly turned into a nightmare.

Leonard lost a game of darts, and as a forfeit, his friend demanded that his childhood companion, Gemma, perform a seductive dance. The room fell silent as Gemma, with tears in her eyes, began to unbutton her blouse. “Being a rogue has its price,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “But for you, Leonard, it’s worth it.”

Leonard immediately stepped in, adjusting her clothes with a protective hand. Without hesitation, he turned to me. “Luna, you’ll dance in Gemma’s place. She’s not supposed to perform for others,” he said, his Alpha tone firm. Then, leaning closer to Gemma, he added, “You’re too precious to share. Let her do it—she’s already lost her figure anyway.”

Before I could protest, he ripped off my jacket and pushed me onto the makeshift stage.

---

The crowd erupted in disapproval.

“A pregnant Luna dancing like this? Disgraceful!” someone shouted.

“No wonder Alpha spends so much time with Gemma. Look at her compared to Tiffany—it’s obvious who’s more captivating,” another jeered.

I stood there, trembling under their mocking gazes, my hands instinctively covering my belly. I turned to Leonard, silently pleading for him to intervene, to let me step down. But he was too busy holding Gemma in his arms, whispering sweet nothings to her. He didn’t even glance my way.

It was Alexandria, my loyal Omega, who rushed onto the stage and draped a shawl over my shoulders, helping me step down. Leonard’s Alpha voice cut through the noise like a blade. “Who said you could leave? If you can’t dance, stay there until the performance is over!”

The crowd’s laughter and jeers intensified. I felt like a cheap trinket on display, every gaze stripping away what little dignity I had left. Gemma smirked from Leonard’s embrace, mouthing the words, “You lose again.”

And she was right. In Leonard’s eyes, I always lost.

As the music ended, one of Leonard’s friends joked, “Alpha, if you love Gemma so much, why not make her your Luna? You’re clearly tired of Tiffany. Just reject her and be done with it.”

Leonard chuckled, tightening his grip around Gemma. “Being Luna is too much work. I don’t want Gemma burdened with pack affairs. She’s meant to be free, to live a carefree life with me.”

His words cut deeper than any knife. All those promises he made before our marking ceremony—they were lies. He marked me not out of love, but to have someone to manage the pack while he indulged in his affair with Gemma.

When the music finally stopped, Alexandria helped me off the stage. Leonard looked at me, his expression cold and disdainful. “You’re embarrassing yourself, Tiffany. When will you learn to be as graceful and charming as Gemma?”

Gemma, ever the manipulator, chimed in, “Don’t be too hard on her, Leonard. She’s just not used to these kinds of events. It’s not her fault she’s awkward.”

Leonard’s gaze softened as he turned to her. “You’re always so kind, Gemma. Even now, you’re defending her.” Then, his eyes hardened as he glared at me. “Take notes, Tiffany. Learn how to make me happy. Don’t think carrying my child gives you any special privileges.”

His words shattered what little hope I had left. I clenched my fists, then let go, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Then let’s reject each other,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

Leonard’s eyes widened, fury flashing across his face. “Do you even know what you’re saying? A Luna doesn’t have the right to demand rejection! Go home and think about what you’ve done!”

I didn’t argue. I simply turned and walked away, Alexandria by my side, my heart heavier than ever.

After returning to the Blue Moon Pack, I drafted a rejection letter and wrote to my father, explaining everything. Within a day, I received his reply, informing me he would return from Howling Forest in three days to personally take me home.

I sat for a long time, my hand resting on my abdomen, torn between decisions. Then Alexandria came in, her voice hesitant but firm. "Alpha Leonard spent the night at the Rogue’s Den again. Gemma Smith was with him, as usual."

That was the final push I needed. I called for the pack’s healer, Tripp Romero, and the midwife, Lucille Medina. Tripp tried to dissuade me, his voice low with concern. "Luna, if Alpha finds out about this, he’ll be furious."

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping me. "He won’t care."

He didn’t care about me, and he certainly wouldn’t care about our child.

As I lay on the bed, I closed my eyes, feeling the sharp pain in my abdomen. The physical agony brought back memories I had tried to bury. Leonard and I had been together for five years. How had we come to this?

It started a year ago when Gemma came to me, her scent heavy with distress, saying something had happened to Leonard’s mother. I thought it was a heart attack and rushed over with medicine, only to find her lifeless. On the table was a vial of the medicine I had brought. Tripp later confirmed it had been poisoned.

Leonard had grabbed me by the throat, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a storm. "What did you do?" I tried to explain, but the pack members said I was the only one who had been in the room, and the poisoned medicine was mine. The evidence was overwhelming, and I had no way to defend myself.

From that moment, our bond shattered. The gentle Alpha I had known became distant and cold, even his scent filled with bitterness. We could never go back to what we were, and I knew it. Yet, I clung to the memories, unable to let go. I had always believed we could fix things, but this time, I was done.

When I opened my eyes again, Lucille was looking at me with pity. "Luna, the child… it’s gone."

I stared at my now-flat stomach, tears falling as I touched it. I forced myself out of bed, ignoring the pain, and began packing my things. I went to the storeroom where my dowry was kept, only to find half of it missing. The pack members stammered when I asked where it had gone. "Only Alpha has been here…"

So that was how he funded his nights at the Rogue’s Den with Gemma—using my dowry.

I locked the remaining dowry away, and that night, Leonard came home reeking of alcohol and another female’s scent. He stormed into the room, his Alpha tone reverberating through the walls. "Tiffany Ellis! Your dowry belongs to the pack now! Give me the key!"

His entitlement made me want to laugh. He had been in the room for half an hour and hadn’t even noticed my flat stomach, hadn’t realized our child was gone. All he cared about was money for Gemma.

I replied coldly, "My dowry isn’t for you to spend on Gemma."

His eyes darkened, his chest rising and falling with anger. Then, his tone softened as he took my hand. "Are you jealous, Luna? You know Gemma and I are just friends. She’s had a hard life, and I’m only helping her."

I turned away, catching a glimpse of a bite mark on his neck that his shirt didn’t cover. My heart turned to ice.

I pushed him away, refusing to fall for his act. "The dowry stays with me."

His expression hardened, and he slammed his fist on the table, sending everything crashing to the floor. "I don’t know why I ever chose you as my mate! You’re nothing compared to Gemma—not in looks, not in heart! You’re selfish and cold!"

He glared at me, his Alpha tone rising. "Tiffany Ellis, hand over the dowry, or I won’t step foot in this house again!"

I remained calm, repeating, "No."

The door slammed shut behind him, shaking the walls. I pulled out a small notebook from a drawer. It was something Leonard had written in the second day of our mate bond, detailing everything I liked, everything I avoided, even when my cycle was due. It was filled with his handwriting, a testament to the care he once had for me.

As I flipped through the pages, I could almost see the Leonard who had written this, sitting at the desk with a smile. But the wind blowing the door open reminded me that the past was gone.

Without hesitation, I threw the notebook into the fireplace, watching as the flames consumed it, turning it to ashes.