I nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

Hugo cleared his throat, his gaze oddly evasive as he looked at me. “I know that as the Luna of the South Pack, you’re expected to have a mate who serves by your side for the sake of lineage. I’m willing to honor the arrangement, but I have one condition—you must allow me to be with the woman I love.”

I froze, staring at him in disbelief.

“Hugo, do you even understand what it means to be a mate?”

His face flushed, then paled, his jaw tightening. “Gwendolyn, you know I don’t feel anything for you. What’s the point of forcing me to stay by your side?”

“If you don’t want to be my mate, then go to your beloved. I won’t force you. I’ve never been short of wolves willing to stand by me as Luna.”

Hugo’s temper flared, his voice sharp. “Gwendolyn, what are you trying to say?!”

Before I could respond, a woman suddenly rushed forward and dropped to her knees in front of me. It took me a moment to recognize her—Norah, Hugo’s so-called “true love.”

“Luna Gwendolyn,” she began, her voice trembling, “I know I’m nothing compared to you. Someone like me doesn’t deserve to stand in your presence. But please, don’t blame Hugo. If you’re angry, direct it at me, not him!”

I frowned, confused. When had I ever said I was angry with her?

“Get up—”

I reached out to help her to her feet, but Hugo abruptly shoved me aside, pulling Norah into his arms.

“Norah, don’t kneel to her. You’re worth a hundred of her in my eyes. If it weren’t for her jealousy, you’d still be the greatest healer in the werewolf community, overshadowing her completely.”

I nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all.

In my past life, Hugo had been convinced that I was the one who sabotaged Norah during the Healer Trials, causing her to lose her position. He refused to believe that her incompetence—not some imagined plot of mine—was what had led to her downfall.

After the integration of modern medicine with our pack’s traditional healing methods, the South Pack had risen to prominence. As Luna and head healer, I’d dedicated myself to advancing our techniques, earning respect across all packs. Yet Hugo had always clung to his delusions, accusing me of using my authority to silence the truth.

In my past life, I’d gone to great lengths to prove my innocence, gathering testimony from every judge involved in the trials. But Hugo had dismissed it all, sneering, “You’re the Luna of the South Pack. Who would dare speak against you?”

Now, as I stood there, his words echoed in my mind, a bitter reminder of how blind he’d been.

“Hugo,” I said, my voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface, “if you truly believe Norah is the one for you, then go to her. But don’t insult me by pretending you’re doing me some great favor by agreeing to this arrangement. You’re not the only wolf in the world.”

Hugo’s face twisted with anger, but before he could respond, Norah clung to him, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.

“Please, Luna Gwendolyn,” she whispered, “I don’t want to come between you and Hugo. I’ll leave if that’s what you want.”

I exhaled sharply, my patience wearing thin. “Norah, this isn’t about you. This is about Hugo’s inability to accept the truth. If he wants to be with you, he’s free to do so—just not as my mate.”

Hugo’s eyes narrowed, his voice cold. “You’re just jealous, Gwendolyn. Jealous that Norah’s wolf is stronger than yours.”

This time, I did laugh, the sound sharp and humorless. “Jealous? Hugo, if that’s what you need to tell yourself to sleep at night, then go ahead. But don’t delude yourself into thinking I’d ever stoop to your level.”

With that, I turned and walked away, leaving them standing there, their whispers of indignation fading behind me.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the two of them. “A good healer either comes from a family of healers or works tirelessly to master their craft. With Norah’s barely-there education and a quick ‘study abroad’ stint, she wouldn’t even qualify as a nurse in any pack’s medical center, let alone earn respect as a healer.”

“You!” Hugo snapped, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me. “Gwendolyn, don’t act like you’re so far above everyone else. Just because our parents arranged a betrothal doesn’t mean I’ll ever love you. My heart belongs to someone like Norah—gentle, kind, and not obsessed with status like you.”

I sighed deeply, feeling the last remnants of the girl who had once admired him wither away. He wasn’t the boy I’d fallen for all those years ago. “Love whoever you want, Hugo. It’s not my concern anymore.” I just wished I’d never healed him in the first place.

Hugo let out a cold laugh, a smug look spreading across his face. “Stop pretending, Gwendolyn. You’ve been chasing me since the day we met, bending over backward to please me. You even fought your pack’s traditions to change the marking ceremony so I could mark you instead of you finding your mate through the usual process. Don’t tell me you don’t love me.”

So, he *did* know how much I’d loved him. I’d loved him enough to defy the elders, to change the South Pack’s traditions just so he could mark me as his Luna. But instead of gratitude, he’d used my love against me.

“Norah, don’t be afraid of her,” Hugo said, pulling her closer. “No matter what happens, I’ll never give up on you. You’ll always be the woman I love most.”

Norah nestled into his chest, her eyes welling up with tears as she spoke in a soft, trembling voice. “Hugo, it’s okay if I suffer a little. I just don’t want you and Gwendolyn to fight because of me…”

I finally couldn’t hold back another eye roll. As more pack members began filing down the narrow path, returning from a medical conference to report to the healer’s office, I decided I’d had enough of their melodrama and turned to leave.

But Hugo wasn’t finished. He grabbed my wrist, yanking me back toward him. “Gwendolyn, if you’re still determined to mark me, you’ll have to accept Norah as my second mate. Why should the Luna be the only one allowed multiple mates? If you want me to honor our betrothal, you’ll share me with Norah!”

His words hung in the air, arrogant and absurd. I pulled my wrist free, my voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath the surface. “Hugo, you’re delusional if you think I’d ever agree to that. Our betrothal is over. You’ve made your choice, and so have I.”

Without waiting for a response, I walked away, leaving him and Norah to their twisted little fantasy.

Hugo’s words felt like sharp slaps across my face, each one stinging more than the last.

As the Luna of the South Pack, I was accustomed to respect, yet here I stood, humiliated in front of these younger pack members who watched with thinly veiled amusement. I clenched my fists, forcing down the anger that simmered in my chest, and spoke coolly, “As you wish.”

To my disbelief, Hugo took my words as consent. He went straight to his grandfather, Ander Scott, the former Alpha of the Northern Pack, and knelt in the pack’s ancestral hall, pleading for his blessing to sever our betrothal. The news spread like wildfire. A grand proposal to Norah Franklin, complete with a lavish ceremony and public displays of affection, became the talk of the werewolf community.

Ander, furious and ashamed, took matters into his own hands. He disciplined Hugo harshly, the sound of his claws scraping against Hugo’s back echoing through the hall. Three lashes left deep marks that night, but Hugo’s defiance remained unshaken.

In a desperate attempt to make amends, Ander had Norah bound, threatening to cast her out into the wilderness—a punishment reserved for the most dishonorable rogues. I stepped in, shaking my head. “Let it go, Elder Scott.”

Hugo, bloodied and bruised, still shielded Norah with his body, refusing to let her suffer even a scratch. He glared at me, his voice a growl. “Gwendolyn, is this how far you’ll go to destroy Norah? Just because I refused to join your pack, you’d stoop to this?”

“If anything happens to her,” he snarled, “I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life.”

Norah, nestled in his arms, sobbed louder, her voice trembling. “Hugo, I’m so scared. I only love you—what’s wrong with that? Why does Luna Gwendolyn have to take that away from me? Is it because I’m just an Omega, and she’s a Luna?”

Her words nearly sent Ander into a rage-induced collapse. I quickly intervened, calming him with my presence, ensuring his heart didn’t give out. “Elder Scott, please, your health is more important. As for Hugo, if he’s truly set on this path, let him have it.”

Ander’s hand trembled as he pointed at Hugo. “On your knees, boy! Beg for Luna Gwendolyn’s forgiveness! If she refuses, you’re no longer a part of this pack—take that rogue and leave!”

“Enough,” I said softly, my voice firm yet resigned.

For Hugo, kneeling before me would be a humiliation worse than death. I reached into my bag and pulled out the betrothal contract, handing it to him. “I wish you happiness.”

Hugo stared at the document, confusion flickering in his eyes before it was quickly replaced by smugness. “Trying to play hard to get, are you? Gwendolyn, you’re obsessed with me—there’s no way you’d let me go so easily.”

I’d explained myself too many times already. This time, I simply smiled faintly. “Think what you want.”

His smirk deepened, as if he’d uncovered some grand scheme of mine. Supporting Norah, he struggled to his feet. “Gwendolyn, Norah’s carrying my pup. If you can stop this jealous nonsense, I’ll even let you have our child after we’re mated.”

I turned away, my heart heavy but my resolve unshaken. Let him believe what he wanted. My path was clear now, and Hugo was no longer part of it.