Leonel Powell, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, was once the heir to a powerful family that had fallen from grace. For five years, I’d worked tirelessly—taking on every role the pack could offer, from cleaning the Alpha’s quarters to assisting the Healers—just to support him. I was an Omega, the lowest rank in the pack, and my resources were limited. But I did it all without complaint, believing in him, in us.

The day Dr. Gardner, the pack’s Healer, diagnosed me with a rare and fatal illness, I sent Leonel a message.

“Alpha, I’ve run into a problem. Could you lend me $7,000?”

The moment I hit send, I regretted it. I hated asking for help, especially from him. But he replied almost instantly.

“Emilia, if that’s not enough, let me know,” he said, attaching a screenshot of a $7,000 transaction from his account.

Tears filled my eyes. For a brief moment, I thought my sacrifices might finally be recognized. That was until I overheard his conversation with Amaris Marshall, the Lycan Princess and his childhood friend. His tone was laced with disdain.

“Amaris, you were right. Emilia is just after my resources. She probably knew all along that my family wasn’t actually powerless.”

“She’s been playing quite the game. It took five years, but she finally slipped.”

“I can’t stand opportunists. I wouldn’t give her $7, let alone $7,000. I had someone fake that transaction record.”

“I’m not losing out. Where else would I find an Omega who pays for my meals, my board, and even shares my bed?”

In his eyes, my sacrifices were nothing but a delusion. If that’s how it is, I hope we never cross paths in any lifetime.

===

As Leonel ended the call, a message from the pack’s Healer appeared.

“Emilia, you’re short $7,000 on your prepaid treatment fees. Please settle the balance promptly.”

The light from my phone cast a pale glow on my already sickly face. I turned it off and walked to the living room. On the table were rare moon berries I’d gathered from the forest—Leonel’s favorite delicacy. They were difficult to find and dangerous to harvest, but I’d risked it countless times over the years. They were a luxury I could seldom afford, yet I always made sure they were available for him.

It’s ironic—though I gathered them, I’d never tasted a single one. Knowing my time was limited, I opened the container for the first time. These berries had always been reserved for Leonel.

He was picky about his food and wouldn’t touch anything he disliked. Worried he might lack essential nutrients, I made sure these berries were always on hand, no matter how scarce resources were. I sank into the couch, savoring the berries one by one. They were sweet, tart, and bursting with flavor, worth every effort. Much like Leonel, they were a luxury I seldom allowed myself.

Leonel emerged from his study after his call, momentarily surprised to see me enjoying the berries.

“Emilia, I thought you said you didn’t like moon berries?”

I shrugged with a faint smile. “Today, I just felt like trying them.”

In truth, I’d never tasted them before, so I couldn’t say if I liked or disliked them. My concern for Leonel always prompted me to save them for him. But now, glancing at the marks on my arm from the Healer’s treatments, I thought it was time to care for myself.

I looked at his commanding presence and spoke softly.

“Alpha, aren’t you curious why I need $7,000?”

I studied him closely, noting the hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth. My heart turned to ashes then, realizing he never trusted me. He thought it was all a ploy to exploit his resources.

“Emilia, I trust that you need it for something important. You don’t have to pay it back.”

His words crushed my last bit of hope. Of course, how could I pay back money that was never really sent? Five years couldn’t even earn me $7,000, and I felt incredibly foolish.

It was three days ago that I was diagnosed—a terminal illness with no cure. Dr. Gardner suggested immediate treatment, which required a significant amount of pack resources. In theory, after working for five years, I should have been able to come up with that amount easily. But supporting Leonel left me living from one meager allowance to the next.

It took me three days to gather the courage to ask him for help. Treatment might not even save me, but I couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from Leonel by life and death. I hadn’t marked him, hadn’t stood by his side as Luna, hadn’t grown old together. But now, looking back, it was all just a fantasy on my part.

My diagnosis report sat plainly on the table, yet Leonel hadn’t so much as glanced at it—just like he hadn’t noticed my love over the past five years.

To save resources for my treatment, a packmate found me a new role within the Blue Moon Pack. The pay was higher than anything I’d earned before—enough to cover a month’s worth of medicine—but it meant taking on a temporary position as a server during a high-profile pack gathering. The job wasn’t glamorous, but it was a chance to contribute in some small way.

On the very first night, the gathering turned out to be a grand celebration for Amaris Marshall, the Lycan Princess, hosted by her father, the Lycan King. The hall was filled with the elite of the werewolf world—Alphas, Lunas, and their most trusted Betas and Gammas. Among them was Leonel Powell, the Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, looking as commanding as ever in his tailored suit.

Beside him stood Amaris, her presence as radiant as it was intimidating. She wore a gown that shimmered like moonlight, her hand resting possessively on Leonel’s arm. My packmate whispered to me, her voice tinged with awe, "That’s Princess Amaris, daughter of the Lycan King. And the one next to her? Alpha Leonel Powell of the Blue Moon Pack. Rumor has it he gifted her a piece of prime territory along the river for her birthday. That’s how the high-ranking wolves show their affection."

I forced a bitter smile. Of course, I recognized him. I’d spent five years by his side, supporting him through the darkest days of his family’s fall from power. I’d seen him at his lowest, but now, here he was, standing tall among the pack elite. And I? I was an Omega, serving drinks in the shadows.

When we first became mates, Leonel had confided in me about his family’s disgrace, how they’d lost their status and wealth. I never pressed him for details, not wanting to reopen old wounds. Back then, I thought his reluctance to introduce me to his circle was due to insecurity. Now, I realized the truth—I simply didn’t belong.

During our years together, I’d done everything I could to support him—cooking, cleaning, gathering rare herbs to help him regain his strength. I gave him the best I could offer, but perhaps, to him, it was never enough.

When it was time to serve, my packmate, aware of my illness, kindly offered to switch roles with me. "Emilia, you’re strong. Maybe if you catch the eye of one of the high-ranking wolves here, they’ll help you with your treatment," she said, though her tone was more practical than hopeful. "Every illness in this world," she added quietly, "is just a lack of resources in disguise."

I nodded, balancing a tray of drinks as I made my way through the crowd. As I passed Amaris, she extended her foot, tripping me. The tray clattered to the ground, spilling drinks everywhere. The scalding liquid burned my hand, but the humiliation burned deeper.

"Do you even know how expensive these shoes are?" Amaris snapped, her voice sharp and cold.

I bowed my head, my voice trembling. "I’m sorry, Princess Amaris. I didn’t mean to."

She kicked me hard in the stomach, her face twisted with cruelty. I crumpled to the floor, pain radiating through my body.

"What good is an apology? Pay for it! Did you know these shoes were a gift from Alpha Leonel?" she demanded, then turned to him with a pout. "Alpha Leonel, tell her!"

Leonel stepped forward, his voice calm but dismissive. "Don’t worry about an Omega, Princess. It’s your birthday. Don’t let this ruin your evening."

His words cut deeper than Amaris’s kick. He’d called her "Princess" with such tenderness, the same tone he’d once used with me. But now, it was no longer mine.

Leonel looked at me, my hat and mask hiding most of my features, leaving only my tear-filled eyes visible. He seemed puzzled, as if I were vaguely familiar.

Before he could say anything, the Gamma of the event staff approached, bowing low to both Leonel and Amaris. "Alpha Leonel, Princess Amaris, please forgive her. She’s ill and wasn’t thinking clearly."

Suppressing the pain, I bowed repeatedly and left the hall.

Outside, my burned hand had already blistered, and I rinsed it under cold water, my expression blank. But the ache in my heart was far worse than the pain in my hand.

The Gamma followed me out, his expression conflicted. "Emilia, you don’t need to come back tomorrow. It’s not that I don’t want you, but Princess Amaris has made it clear she doesn’t want you around. The Lycan King’s influence is too great. I have no choice."

I forced a smile, though my chest felt like it was caving in. "It’s okay, Gamma George. I understand. It’s my fault today."

I stepped out into the cold night, the bright lights of the pack hall illuminating my path. But everything felt dark, just like the bleakness of my life as an Omega.

Leonel returned to our den long after the moon had risen, the faint scent of moon berries clinging to his clothes. He’d been at the Lycan Princess’s gathering again, though he hadn’t invited me. I was already in bed, curled into myself, the weight of the day pressing down on me like a stone. It was the first time in five years I hadn’t waited up for him.

His arms slid around me, his body warmth seeping through the thin fabric of my nightgown. “Emilia,” he murmured, his voice low and rough, “what’s wrong? Did something happen today?”

That single word, my name, broke the dam I’d been desperately holding back. Tears spilled over, and I clung to him, my sobs muffled against his chest. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a quiet echo of my pain.

Leonel held me, his hands gentle but firm. “Talk to me,” he said, his tone softening. “Who upset you? Tell me, and I’ll deal with it.”

I shook my head, unable to speak. Who else could it be? It was him, the Alpha I’d given everything to, the one who now barely seemed to see me. My tears soaked into his shirt, but he didn’t pull away.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under, and I drifted into a restless sleep.

In my dream, I was back at the beginning, when Leonel and I first met. I was just an Omega, newly assigned to the Blue Moon Pack, and he was the future Alpha, born into the once-powerful Powell family. Even then, he was dazzling—tall, broad-shouldered, with an aura that commanded respect. His wolf was as dominant as he was, though I never saw it. Everyone in the pack looked up to him, and countless she-wolves vied for his attention.

I was no one. An orphan, an Omega, with no family or status to speak of.

But Leonel didn’t seem to care about rank back then. One night, as I was returning from gathering herbs for the pack’s Healers, a group of rogues cornered me. I was terrified, my wolf cowering in fear, when Leonel appeared. He didn’t hesitate—he stepped in, his alpha aura radiating power, and drove them off. He didn’t say much, just asked if I was okay, but that moment changed everything for me.

From then on, I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I knew our paths shouldn’t have crossed—he was destined for greatness, and I was just an Omega. But fate had other plans.

Then came the fall of the Powell Pack. Leonel’s family lost everything—their status, their wealth, their influence. Overnight, he went from being the future Alpha to a pariah, shunned by the very packs that had once revered him. But I didn’t care. I stood by him, working multiple roles within the pack to help him rebuild. I gave him everything—my time, my strength, my love.

For a while, it felt like we were equals. We shared a small den, rationed food, and struggled together. I even donated blood five times—despite my anemia—to earn enough pack credits to buy him a gift for his first birthday after the fall. It was a rare artifact, something I thought would remind him of his strength, of who he was.

I’d believed in him. In us.

But now, as I lay in his arms, the truth was harder to ignore. He was Alpha again, and I was still just an Omega. And tonight, at the Lycan Princess’s gathering, he hadn’t even acknowledged me. I’d been there, serving drinks, and he’d looked right through me.

“We survived those hard times,” I whispered into the darkness, my voice barely audible. “Why can’t you trust me now?”

Leonel didn’t answer. His breathing was steady, his body warm against mine, but I wasn’t sure if he’d even heard me. Or if he cared.