The door creaked open in the middle of the night, rousing me from restless sleep. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Cassian.

The bed dipped beside me as he settled in, his presence filling the space that once felt warm but now only suffocated me. A hand reached out, fingers grazing my hair with practiced gentleness.

“What did the healer say today?” His voice was soft, careful.

A scent clung to him—subtle but unmistakable. A she-wolf’s fragrance. Not mine.

The pang in my chest was immediate, but I ignored it. I had gotten too good at doing that.

“Oh, nothing important,” I murmured, shifting just enough to avoid his touch. I forced a smile, though I knew it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Everything’s fine.”

Cassian hesitated. “My position as Alpha has been giving me a hectic schedule lately,” he offered, the words too rehearsed, too smooth.

Right.

The lies were piling up again.

Rolling onto my side, I faced away from him. “Maybe you should take a shower before going to bed.”

For a second, silence stretched between us. Then, without another word, he rose, and the sound of running water filled the air. I lay still, listening, waiting. Not for him. Not for an explanation. Just waiting for the feeling in my chest to disappear.

Because I no longer cared.

...

The realization hadn’t come all at once. It was gradual, creeping in like a slow-burning fire that eventually consumed everything.

Two months had passed since my abortion. It had been an accident—I had slipped, the impact causing too much stress on my stomach. The miscarriage that followed had been inevitable.

Cassian had agreed to accompany me to my checkup today. But, as always, when the time came, he found an excuse to leave.

I no longer felt the need to chase after him.

Instead, I sat quietly in the sterile infirmary, listening to the distant sounds of the pack outside. The healers handed me my test results and medication. I swallowed the pills without much thought and left.

The old me would have been heartbroken. The old me would have waited, clinging to the hope that Cassian would come back, that maybe—just maybe—this time would be different.

But that girl was gone.

The final push had come not long after I stepped outside the infirmary.

“Selene, you can go home on your own, right? I still have things to do.”

Cassian’s voice in my mind link was casual, indifferent.

Once upon a time, I would have begged. But I need you, Alpha. Please, just this once.

Instead, I replied, “Fine.”

I took a cab back to the pack house, my mind blank. As I settled into my seat, I found myself glancing back at the infirmary’s entrance. Cassian’s car was still parked outside.

So why had he left me?

The answer came not long after.

Scrolling through Twitter on autopilot, I saw a notification. A post tagging Cassian.

[Just had a small scratch, but he insisted on dragging me to the pack's infirmary and has been accompanying me since! After all this time, you're still the best!]

The words didn’t sting. They should have, but they didn’t.

I had expected it.

Sienna Vaughn.

I knew her well. Who wouldn’t? She was Cassian’s childhood sweetheart. Years ago, she had left with her Alpha mate, only to return recently, a fallen Luna with a child in tow after her mate’s death.

The moment she set foot back in Moonvale Town, it had been clear where Cassian’s heart truly lay.

I had just been a placeholder during her absence.

And I had been foolish enough to believe that was enough.

...

Later that evening, Cassian returned home. He didn’t come alone.

I stood in the dimly lit hall of the pack house, watching as he entered, Sienna at his side. In his arms, he carried her child, holding them as though they belonged there.

From behind, they looked like a family.

A dry chuckle escaped me before I could stop it. “The child needs a father figure, huh?” My voice was steady, empty. “Then spend more time with them, Alpha.”

Cassian stopped in his tracks. His grip on my arm was immediate, almost desperate. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something—anything.

“Selene,” he murmured, his voice raw, uncertain. “Why don’t you care anymore?”

Why don’t I care anymore?

Because caring had become exhausting. Because loving him had drained me until there was nothing left.

The first real crack had appeared long ago. I just hadn’t wanted to see it.

The Alpha Gala photos that had landed in my inbox a few weeks ago should have been my breaking point. The images of Cassian and Sienna, standing too close, his hand lingering at the small of her back.

But I hadn’t confronted him.

I hadn’t said anything at all.

That night, when Cassian finally came to bed, I had simply turned away.

That was the moment I knew.

I didn’t need to leave Cassian.

Because I had already let him go.

The following day swept me into a flurry of responsibilities. As Luna, my duties to the pack consumed my time and energy. After wrapping up the morning meeting, a mind link from Cassian interrupted my focus—his tone laced with irritation.

"Selene, why didn’t you wake me up? You left early without telling me, and now I’ve overslept."

A familiar wave of frustration surged through me. Since our mating, I had devoted myself entirely to him, attending to his every need. Each morning, I carefully laid out his clothes, lovingly prepared his breakfast, and gently woke him to ensure his day started smoothly. This routine, one I had meticulously upheld, had become second nature to me. Yet, his tone now revealed an unsettling truth—my acts of love had turned into mere obligations and duties he expected me to perform without question.

Taking a deep breath, I let the weight of my realization settle. I was not his caretaker—I was his Luna. His unreasonable demands were not mine to obey.

"Well, since you’re running late, you’d better get up soon," I replied, my voice carrying a subtle edge.

"What am I going to wear today?" he asked, as if dressing himself was an impossible task.

"Just pick something from the closet, Alpha. Everything you need is there," I answered, my patience wearing thin.

"But I can’t find it..." His voice trailed off into a familiar whine of dependence.

An Omega called for me, and I seized the opportunity to end the ridiculous conversation.

"I have other matters to attend to. You’ll have to manage on your own," I said, turning away.

Barely a moment passed before his voice pierced through the mind link again.

"The shirts are wrinkled! You didn’t iron them? How am I supposed to attend a meeting like this?"

And, as expected, another complaint followed.

"You didn’t prepare anything to eat!"

As his words echoed in my mind, the weight of my choices bore down on me. I had given up my wolf—my essence—to be with Cassian. I had envisioned a life filled with love, pups, and leadership by his side. But now, those dreams feel foolish, naïve. Staying with him no longer held any appeal. I felt nothing but emptiness.

Desperate for peace, I left the pack house and wandered into a nearby town. There, I found solace in an inn catering exclusively to she-wolves. A sanctuary. A place where I could momentarily escape the suffocating weight of my regrets.

Lying on the bed, I stared at the wooden ceiling, lost in memories. Regret clawed at me as I reflected on the past. Then, a mind link shattered my thoughts.

"My daughter..." My mother’s voice—soft yet filled with concern. The Moon Goddess. She had always been my guiding light, warning and advising me. And yet, here I was, drowning in remorse.

Her voice was a balm to my wounded spirit, a reminder that I was not alone. But it also served as a stark symbol of the price I had paid for my choices—a burden I would carry forever.

Flashback

My 18th birthday—a momentous day for every wolf.

"Are you excited to find out who your mate is?" my mother asked, her eyes shimmering with both joy and apprehension.

"Yes, Mom! Can you show me?" My heart pounded in anticipation.

With a wave of her hand, the mystical orb she possessed revealed my destined mate. As the image materialized, I saw him—Alpha Cassian of the Celestial Night Pack in Moonvale Town. His strong, commanding presence filled the orb. My heart soared. But then, my mother’s smile faded into something more troubled.

"Your mate..." she began, her voice tinged with hesitation.

"What is it, Mom?" A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach.

Her gaze softened, her concern unmistakable. "He is cursed. His bloodline has been plagued for generations. This curse was placed on by a wolfless woman, betrayed by his ancestor—an Alpha who was friends with a powerful witch. It is a dangerous fate, Selene."

My mind reeled. "What kind of curse? What happened?"

With a deep sigh, she explained, "Many years ago, an Alpha from Cassian’s lineage cruelly rejected his wolfless mate. He belittled her, played with her emotions, and tormented her until she was driven to abort their unborn child. In despair and fury, she sought the aid of her closest friend—the most powerful witch of that time. Together, they cursed his bloodline. Every Alpha would be doomed to make their mate wolfless. If you choose Cassian, you will lose your wolf. Your wolf will never wake again."

A pang of sorrow pierced my heart. But as I gazed at the orb, I saw more than a curse—I saw the man I had loved long before I knew he was my mate.

"But..." I hesitated. My love for Cassian burned brighter than any warning. "Mom, I don’t care anymore. I’m so sorry, but I will choose my mate!"

Her eyes widened in silent plea. "Are you sure? Think carefully, my daughter. Won’t you regret losing your wolf—your essence?"

I inhaled deeply, the weight of my decision pressing upon me. "But, Mom, choosing my wolf means turning away from my fated mate. I choose Alpha Cassian."

End of Flashback

Regret coursed through me. The choice I had made for love now felt like a distant echo of foolishness. I had embraced my mate, only to later realize the depth of my sacrifice.

Outside the window, darkness had settled. I remained silent, ignoring my mother’s mind link. I couldn’t face her—not after what I had done. The weight of my regret was unbearable, and I let the stillness of the inn swallow me whole.

Then, Cassian’s mind link intruded again, his voice brimming with impatience.

"Why aren’t you home yet? Where’s dinner?"

A deep, unsettling revulsion stirred within me at the thought of returning to him. I chose to stay at the inn, savoring the quiet—a stark contrast to the chaos I had left behind.

If only. If only I had listened to my mother—the wisdom of the Moon Goddess. I could have been the Lunar Princess, radiating power and grace, instead of this pitiful Luna, shackled to a faithless Alpha.

"I had something urgent to take care of," I lied, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Let the maids cook dinner tonight."

His surprise was palpable. "What?"

In the past, the very idea of eating food prepared by the maids was beneath him. I had been the one to cater to his every meal, dedicating myself to his comforts.

"Is there a problem?" I asked, my tone edged with challenge.

A pause. Then, his voice softened, hesitant. "No. Just... take care of yourself."

"Thank you," I replied flatly, devoid of warmth.

A heavy silence stretched between us before he finally asked, "Selene, are you angry?"

His question—so painfully late—stirred something within me. Anger, perhaps. But mostly, disappointment. Was he truly this oblivious, or did he simply not care?

Yet, with startling clarity, I realized it no longer mattered. The anger had long since faded, leaving behind nothing but emptiness.

"I’m not angry," I murmured, more to myself than to him.

Anger was a luxury I could no longer afford.

With an apologetic tone, Cassian reached out through our mind link. "Selene, it's difficult for Sienna to raise a child on her own. She doesn’t know anyone else here—she only has me."

His words hit me like a slap. It was as if he had forgotten that I, too, only had him. But of course, that never mattered to him.

"I already understand, okay? She must have been through a lot," I replied, forcing myself to sound calm.

However, the sarcasm in my voice didn’t go unnoticed. Cassian's reaction was immediate and defensive. "Selene, what’s that supposed to mean? What’s with your attitude?"

"I said I understand," I repeated, now with an unmistakable edge in my tone. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Do you have to talk to me like that?" he snapped, frustration creeping into his voice.

I let out a tired sigh. "What do you want me to say?" I countered, feeling my patience wear thin.

A heavy silence settled between us. After a moment, Cassian muttered a curt, "Fine! Do as you wish," before abruptly severing the mind link.

The irony wasn’t lost on me. If I questioned his visits to Sienna, I was the annoying one. If I asked when he planned to return, I was still the problem. Now, even trying to be understanding is met with irritation.

I shut my eyes tightly, trying to push away the frustration. There were far more important things to focus on—like rediscovering my own path, even if it meant losing the version of myself I once knew. Could I do that, now that I had sacrificed my wolf?

The night stretched on as I lingered in the inn, drowning in regrets and unanswered questions. The thought of returning to the pack house was unbearable, yet when I finally did, Cassian was already gone. I took a shower, hoping to wash away the exhaustion, and crawled into bed, seeking refuge in sleep.

Just as I began to drift off, Cassian’s urgent mind link jolted me awake.

"Selene… my stomach… it hurts."

I mumbled a barely coherent response, too exhausted to care. In my sleep, I vaguely registered him calling my name again, but it felt distant, unimportant.

Sometime later, the sound of the door opening startled me awake. Cassian stood by the bed, his face twisted in pain.

"Selene, why don’t you care anymore? You used to worry when I was sick!"

His words stirred up memories I had tried to bury. Once, when he had a stomachache, I had rushed to his office with medicine despite the pouring rain. I arrived drenched, disheveled—a sight that drew laughter from his wolf subordinates. Cassian did nothing to stop them. He simply told me not to show up at his office again because, in his words, I was an embarrassment.

If it hadn’t been for Beta Adrian and his quiet kindness—handing me my favorite chocolate tea to warm me up—I might have shivered all the way back to the pack house. Adrian had always been my silent protector. Every time Cassian belittled me or treated me like a servant, Adrian was there, offering a small act of comfort.

I suddenly realized that Adrian had transferred to the Celestial Night Pack around the same time I did. We had known each other since childhood, growing up in the same town. We spent countless hours playing together, running through the woods like normal children. We had even attended the exclusive school for wolves together. That was where I had first seen Alpha Cassian—and foolishly, I had fallen for him long before discovering he was my mate.

Lost in these thoughts, I was pulled back to the present by Cassian’s expectant gaze.

"Are you feeling better now?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. "We might be out of medicine. Maybe you can get some yourself."

Cassian stared at me, his frustration evident. Without warning, he grabbed my arm, his grip tight. "Selene, how long are you going to keep fighting with me about Sienna? I’ve told you, there’s nothing between us!"

His words hung in the air, but I met them with a calmness that surprised even me. "Oh, okay," I said evenly, my lack of emotion standing in stark contrast to his anger.

His frustration boiled over, and he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The silence that followed was liberating.

And as I sat there in the quiet, my thoughts drifted back to Adrian—the only person who had ever truly been there for me.