In the thirty-fifth year of Belvaria, Marcus Harrington rose as Alpha, naming Celeste Carrington, the Beta Pack's noble daughter, as his Luna.

And me? Julia Reynolds, the she-wolf who crossed time itself, stood by his side for a decade, and helped him claim that title? I was publicly bound to an omega named Percy Winslow.

"Julia, I had my wolves ordered. Percy won't tough a slice of your hair,"

Marcus said, lounging in the Goldenspire Palace like he was chatting about the weather.

"Julia, I can't bear to see Luna Celeste heartbroken. Binding you to Percy is the best way to keep the peace."

His words sliced through me.

He spoke so casually, so focused on her feelings, like I was just a pawn in his grand pack strategy.

Still, I forced a smile.

"Alpha Marcus! You, now the mightiest Alpha, personally forging this bond. But tell me, what grand dowry will you bestow upon me??"

A flicker of mockery passed through his eyes.

"You've shared my bed for a decade and birthed two pups. I won't be stingy," he said, his tone almost magnanimous. "You'll get a hundred chests of our pack's most precious heirlooms as your dowry, all hand - selected by me.

He stepped close, his palm cupping my jaw, his tone a tender murmur. "Julia, that day you showed up, claiming you were here for my happiness? I've never forgotten."

"I vow, you won't be tied to Percy long. As soon as Luna Celeste is convinced, I'll reclaim you."

He leaned in, his gaze locked onto mine, that ruggedly handsome face I'd adored for years making my heart race. Memories of the past decade flooded my mind.

The first time we'd met, I'd sauntered up to him in the moonlit clearing, our pack's territory bathed in silver light. "Marcus," I'd purred, my voice carrying the confidence of a she - wolf smitten. "I'm Julia. Came from afar, drawn by the call of our kind... and by you."

When we first fell for each other, I dragged him to the ancient moon - stone circle in the heart of our pack's domain.

Under the full moon's glow, I howled to the night, "Marcus, my heart, my strength, my very being-yours, now and always."

At our binding ceremony, the wnine of centuries - old traditions couldn't hold me back. I leaped into his arms, my laughter echoing through the gathered pack. "Marcus, can you believe we're finally bound?"

Those memories struck like a pack of wild wolves, tearing at my insides. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, and dropped my head, willing the burning tears in my eyes to stay put.

"Thank you, Alpha Marcus, for granting me this bond," I said, my voice steady despite the ache.

He left, satisfied, and I sat on the cold stone floor, staring at the doorway. Growing up, I had no parents, just my Mom. She loved me fiercely but had one hard rule: never go into the attic in our old house. Even on her deathbed, she gripped my hand, pleading, "Julia, promise me, don't go in there."

But curiosity's a wild beast. A year after she passed, I pushed open that attic door. Inside, there was a trunk overflowing with old scrolls and yellowed parchments. Among them were ancient texts about a pack called Belvaria - a place that didn't exist in any history I knew.

And the biggest secret? A strange, ornate mirror. Staring into it one day, I saw not my own reflection, but a different world entirely.

I stepped through and met Marcus.

Fell for him. Loved him.

I thought we'd be forever, bound for life. Turns out, forever lasted ten years.

I clutched my chest, feeling like a blade was lodged there-stabbing deeper if I pushed, tearing me apart if I pulled it out.

""Watch your step, you clumsy oaf!" a voice snapped, yanking me from my thoughts. My nine-year-old pup, Theo Harrington, stormed in glaring at me like I was dirt.

"Celeste says you threw away a perfectly good Alpha mate to shack up with an omega. That's disgusting!" he spat.

I looked at him, calm as I could manage.

"Theo, I thought you were smarter than to swallow rumors whole."."

His face turned red, practically shaking with anger. "Luna Celeste is kind and noble-she'd never lie! You're the one I can't trust, some outsider who slithered into our pack!"

I froze, my eyes widening as I pointed to myself. "An outsider? Me?"

"You've got no pack, no lineage, no kin in the whole damn world! What are you if not an outsider?" he shouted.

A bitter smile crept onto my face. No pack, no kin.

After Mom died, all I ever wanted was someone to choose me, to love me. I crossed time itself, left behind my world's comforts, dove headfirst into this brutal game of pack power, all for love.

And what did I get?

My mate, ready to bind me to another wolf to spare his precious Luna's feelings.

My own pup, calling me an outsider.

I tilted my head back, staring at the towering ceiling, hiding the tears pooling in my eyes. "Theo, soon enough, you won't have a outsider for a mom."

He scoffed, turning away. "Quit playing the victim!"

His footsteps faded, and I lowered my gaze to the darkening Silkshade Palace. No one knew about the door hidden there, the one that could take me back home. Not even Marcus.

I remembered when he first learned I was from the future. He'd looked at me, half-scared, half-awestruck, and asked, "Julia, what if I open my eyes tomorrow and you've vanished, like you were never really here? Swear you'll stay forever."

Back then, I thought I'd found the love I'd been chasing my whole life. I told him, "Why would I go? You're here, Theo's here, Anastasia's here. This is my home."

I'd planned to stay, to build a life with him in this strange world.

But love? For me, it's always been a pipe dream.

I dragged myself off the floor, my hands and feet ice-cold, numb. Leaning against the doorway, I stared toward Silkshade Palace, lost in thought-until a sharp female voice snapped me back to reality.

"Luna Celeste has arrived!"

I looked up at the sound, watching Celeste strut in, surrounded by her entourage like a queen basking in her glory.

Her face radiated triumph, a smug glint in her eyes as she fixed them on me.

"Julia, you've been with Alpha Marcus for ten years. You know his tastes best. ou know his heart better than anyone. For our union ritual, does he favor silver or gold for the ritual garb??"

Her question caught me off guard.

Swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat, I kept my voice soft.

"Ever since Lord Kellan claimed you as his bondmate, I doubt he'd quibble over such details."

After all, Marcus had a way of loving so fiercely.

Once upon a time, when we were a couple, he had an intense fear of water and couldn't even stand being near the edge of a pool. But because I adored swimming, he pushed through his phobia, forcing himself to take swimming lessons. Even when panic left him breathless and his hands trembling, he kept going, just to be able to share the water with me.

When his advisors warned him about me-some mysterious she-wolf with no clear origins, possibly a spy-he just laughed it off, light as a breeze.

"I know you're looking out for me, but I've never given my heart to anyone. Only Julia.  If she's the end of me, then let it be. "

Those memories surged, painting my heart with crimson waves of pain.

I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms.

Celeste's eyes flickered with jealousy as she studied my face, lit by the candlelight.

"Julia, haven't you heard my command? And why aren't you bowing?"

I jolted back to the present, but remained upright. Sliding a wolf's tooth pendant from beneath my tunic, I held it high. "Celeste," I said, my tone sharp as a blade honed on moonlit stone, "I don't bow to anyone."

The moment the token flashed, her attendants dropped to their knees in unison.

Celeste's lips tightened, her knees starting to bend-until a pair of strong hands yanked her back up.

Marcus swept her into his arms, his voice soft as velvet.

"You don't even kneel to me. Why let a piece of tooth pendant make you?"

I felt my hands clench tighter, nails digging deeper.

Celeste pouted, her voice dripping with fake vulnerability.

"I wasn't kneeling to the token. I was respecting your heart for Julia. I didn't want to put you in a tough spot..."

He pulled her closer, but when he turned to me, his gaze was ice-cold. Holding out his hand, he said flatly, "Give it to me."

The raw disgust and menace in his eyes made my heart lurch.

But I'm stubborn as hell. I met his stare head-on.

"Marcus, you taught me something once: what's given doesn't get taken back."

He froze, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of memory in his eyes.

Years ago, I was awful at carving, but he pestered me for a wooden amulet. When I finally made one-a lopsided thing with a wonky wolf symbol-I tried to hide it, mortified. He just slipped it over his neck, beaming.

"Julia, what's given doesn't get taken back."

The memory passed like a lightning flash.

His face hardened, and he stepped forward, yanking the token from my hand and smashing it to the ground.

"Julia, let me carve this lesson into your bones," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"This isn't some cozy village where you can flounce around like you own the place. This is my territory, my kingdom of fangs and fury. Your whims, your little protests-they mean less than dust here."

He whipped his head toward the guards, eyes blazing with a cruelty that sent shivers down their spines. "Drag her to the Cinder Pit. Chain her to the iron stake and let the sun sear her skin until she's begging for Luna Celeste's mercy. And if she passes out before she grovels? Douse her with saltwater and let the fun start all over again."

I stared at him, my face draining of color.

I tried to fight, but the guards-burly wolves with iron grips-dragged me out.

They struck my knees.

Marcus didn't even glance back.

He just led Celeste inside, his voice gentle as he said,

""The wizard mutters that when the black moon swallows the sun at midnight three nights from now, the barrier between life and death will crack. I'm certain that's the hour for our blood pact.  What do you think? And don't worry about asking anyone else-everything you've picked, I love."

His familiar profile, etched into my soul, twisted a wave of grief through me, bitter and bloody.

He was right. This wasn't my home.

This was Belvaria, where he could have a thousand mates if he wanted.

Staring at the closed doors of Silkshade Palace, I forced my tears back.

Ten years of love, severed in a single day.

If he could be heartless, I could let go.

I lifted my head, a tear-streaked smile breaking through.

"Marcus, this is how our story ends, huh?"

I knelt outside Silkshade Palace until dawn broke the next day. Marcus finally emerged, his handsome face cold as stone.

"Do you realize what you've broken?"

I looked up, meeting his indifferent eyes, my smile heavy with sorrow. "Marcus, my biggest mistake was thinking I could have a one-and-only bond for life."

His expression darkened.

"If you can't see your place, then from now on, you'll serve in Silkshade Palace. Maybe that'll teach you."

As he stormed off, I whispered,

"Thank you, Marcus, for your generosity."

Thank you for giving me the chance to leave.

"Luna Celeste has arrived!"

I looked up at the sound, watching Celeste strut in, surrounded by her entourage like a queen basking in her glory.

Her face radiated triumph, a smug glint in her eyes as she fixed them on me.

"Julia, you've been with Alpha Marcus for ten years. You know his tastes best. ou know his heart better than anyone. For our union ritual, does he favor silver or gold for the ritual garb??"

Her question caught me off guard.

Swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat, I kept my voice soft.

"Ever since Lord Kellan claimed you as his bondmate, I doubt he'd quibble over such details."

After all, Marcus had a way of loving so fiercely.

Once upon a time, when we were a couple, he had an intense fear of water and couldn't even stand being near the edge of a pool. But because I adored swimming, he pushed through his phobia, forcing himself to take swimming lessons. Even when panic left him breathless and his hands trembling, he kept going, just to be able to share the water with me.

When his advisors warned him about me-some mysterious she-wolf with no clear origins, possibly a spy-he just laughed it off, light as a breeze.

"I know you're looking out for me, but I've never given my heart to anyone. Only Julia.  If she's the end of me, then let it be. "

Those memories surged, painting my heart with crimson waves of pain.

I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms.

Celeste's eyes flickered with jealousy as she studied my face, lit by the candlelight.

"Julia, haven't you heard my command? And why aren't you bowing?"

I jolted back to the present, but remained upright. Sliding a wolf's tooth pendant from beneath my tunic, I held it high. "Celeste," I said, my tone sharp as a blade honed on moonlit stone, "I don't bow to anyone."

The moment the token flashed, her attendants dropped to their knees in unison.

Celeste's lips tightened, her knees starting to bend-until a pair of strong hands yanked her back up.

Marcus swept her into his arms, his voice soft as velvet.

"You don't even kneel to me. Why let a piece of tooth pendant make you?"

I felt my hands clench tighter, nails digging deeper.

Celeste pouted, her voice dripping with fake vulnerability.

"I wasn't kneeling to the token. I was respecting your heart for Julia. I didn't want to put you in a tough spot..."

He pulled her closer, but when he turned to me, his gaze was ice-cold. Holding out his hand, he said flatly, "Give it to me."

The raw disgust and menace in his eyes made my heart lurch.

But I'm stubborn as hell. I met his stare head-on.

"Marcus, you taught me something once: what's given doesn't get taken back."

He froze, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of memory in his eyes.

Years ago, I was awful at carving, but he pestered me for a wooden amulet. When I finally made one-a lopsided thing with a wonky wolf symbol-I tried to hide it, mortified. He just slipped it over his neck, beaming.

"Julia, what's given doesn't get taken back."

The memory passed like a lightning flash.

His face hardened, and he stepped forward, yanking the token from my hand and smashing it to the ground.

"Julia, let me carve this lesson into your bones," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"This isn't some cozy village where you can flounce around like you own the place. This is my territory, my kingdom of fangs and fury. Your whims, your little protests-they mean less than dust here."

He whipped his head toward the guards, eyes blazing with a cruelty that sent shivers down their spines. "Drag her to the Cinder Pit. Chain her to the iron stake and let the sun sear her skin until she's begging for Luna Celeste's mercy. And if she passes out before she grovels? Douse her with saltwater and let the fun start all over again."

I stared at him, my face draining of color.

I tried to fight, but the guards-burly wolves with iron grips-dragged me out.

They struck my knees.

Marcus didn't even glance back.

He just led Celeste inside, his voice gentle as he said,

""The wizard mutters that when the black moon swallows the sun at midnight three nights from now, the barrier between life and death will crack. I'm certain that's the hour for our blood pact.  What do you think? And don't worry about asking anyone else-everything you've picked, I love."

His familiar profile, etched into my soul, twisted a wave of grief through me, bitter and bloody.

He was right. This wasn't my home.

This was Belvaria, where he could have a thousand mates if he wanted.

Staring at the closed doors of Silkshade Palace, I forced my tears back.

Ten years of love, severed in a single day.

If he could be heartless, I could let go.

I lifted my head, a tear-streaked smile breaking through.

"Marcus, this is how our story ends, huh?"

I knelt outside Silkshade Palace until dawn broke the next day. Marcus finally emerged, his handsome face cold as stone.

"Do you realize what you've broken?"

I looked up, meeting his indifferent eyes, my smile heavy with sorrow. "Marcus, my biggest mistake was thinking I could have a one-and-only bond for life."

His expression darkened.

"If you can't see your place, then from now on, you'll serve in Silkshade Palace. Maybe that'll teach you."

As he stormed off, I whispered,

"Thank you, Marcus, for your generosity."

Thank you for giving me the chance to leave.