The day I turned sixteen, my childhood friend, the one who had promised to claim me as his mate the moment we both came of age, stood before the entire Griffin Pack and declared Jenna Dean as his chosen Luna. Jenna, the pretentious heiress of the Lycan Kingdom, with her golden hair and perfect smile, was everything I wasn’t. And there I stood, in the shadow of her radiance, feeling the weight of my own inadequacy.

But then, Axton Griffin, the Alpha of the Griffin Pack—a man revered for his wisdom and strength—stepped forward. His towering frame, muscles rippling beneath his tailored suit, commanded the attention of everyone in the grand hall. He looked at me, his dark eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place, and confessed his love with a grandeur that left me breathless.

For five years, he treated me with a tenderness that felt almost too good to be true. His touch was gentle, his words sweet, and his devotion unwavering. I believed him. I believed in us. Until the day I overheard a conversation between him and his Beta, Emerie.

“Alpha,” Emerie said, her voice low but clear, “now that Jenna’s become the Lycan Princess, do you still need to keep up the charade with Sylvia?”

Axton’s response was cold, detached. “Since I can’t have Jenna, it doesn’t matter anymore. Plus, as long as I’m here, Sylvia won’t disrupt Jenna’s happiness.”

The words hit me like a blow to the chest. I stumbled back, my heart pounding in my ears. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, a sound of pure anguish. I had been a fool. A pawn in his game to protect Jenna.

I retreated to our chambers, my hands trembling as I opened the sacred texts Axton always kept by his side. Each page was inscribed with Jenna’s name, prayers and blessings meant for her, not me.

“May Jenna be freed from obsession; may her soul be at peace.”

“May Jenna attain all she desires, and may her love be unwavering.”

...

“Jenna, though fate hasn’t united us in this life, may I hold your hand in the next.”

The illusion of our marriage shattered in that instant. I couldn’t stay. I wouldn’t. I devised a plan, a false identity, and a staged disappearance. From now on, we wouldn’t have to meet again for an eternity.

Once the final arrangements were set for the faked death, I hung up the phone. In two more days, I would vanish forever as they wished. At that moment, a faint scent of coffee wafted in from outside. I instinctively looked up to find Axton standing in the doorway.

He crossed the room in a few strides, his presence overwhelming as always. He embraced me gently, his voice soft, “Who were you just talking to?”

“Nothing important, just something about the gallery,” I replied, trying to sound casual.

He kissed the top of my head and murmured, “Why so busy lately? Tonight, I’ll whip up something light for you, easy on the stomach.”

Five years of marriage, and he treated me with unwavering tenderness. People say when an Alpha truly loves, it lasts a lifetime. I once thought this was my happiness. But now, I’ve realized this marriage wasn’t my happiness—it was his way of shielding Jenna.

Gently stroking my shoulder, Axton suddenly mentioned, “By the way, the Deans are hosting a Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow. Jenna’s pregnant, and they’re celebrating her entry into the international art exhibition. You don’t need to go. I’ll send a gift and come back to keep you company.”

“But the art exhibition, I—”

He cut me off, his tone kind yet firm, “You shouldn’t participate in the exhibition. Haven’t you always said you wanted a pup? It’s a good time to rest at home.”

I lowered my gaze, trying to hide the turmoil inside.

We’ve been married all these years without pups. I once thought it just wasn’t the right time, but now I fear he never truly wanted them. Not letting me compete might just be his way of ensuring Jenna’s path remains clear.

He pressed a tender kiss to my forehead, seemingly unaware that my heart was sinking into the abyss.

“The day after tomorrow is your birthday. I’ve planned a surprise for you—a wish for eternal happiness.”

Eternal happiness. I repeated the words under my breath, suddenly finding them unbearably hollow.

For years, every blessing from his lips contained the word “eternal,” yet now I understood its true meaning. Those blessings were never meant for me.

“Alright, I’ve planned a few things myself for my birthday. Make sure you keep your schedule open for me.”

He nodded, “Of course, whatever our dear Sylvia wants.”

I looked up and smiled at him.

Axton Griffin, you really outdid yourself.

That night, unable to sleep, I gently moved the arm he’d draped over me. As I did so, I accidentally knocked his set of prayer beads to the floor.

Picking up the beads, I felt a strange texture on their surface. In the dim light, I examined them closely, only to discover each bead was inscribed with a word.

Jenna.

At that moment, my heart completely gave up.

The next morning, I turned to Axton, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "Let’s go visit the Griffin Pack together."

He hesitated, his Alpha aura flickering for a moment before he regained his composure. "Alright," he said, his tone measured. "We’ll drop off our gift and head back."

I knew why he hesitated. He was worried I’d upset Jenna, his true mate. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to see my family one last time before I disappeared. Tomorrow, I’d be gone.

When we arrived at the Griffin Pack estate, the place was alive with celebration. Guests from neighboring packs had gathered to honor Jenna’s pregnancy and her entry into an international art exhibition—two reasons for the pack to rejoice. Jenna stood at the center of it all, her golden hair catching the light, her smile radiant. She was the perfect Luna, the embodiment of grace and strength. Everyone was certain her painting would win a major award. Someone even mentioned it had been paired with a poem by Roberto Price, a Delta warrior known for his artistic flair. Together, they said, it was a masterpiece.

As I stepped into the grand hall, Jenna’s eyes flickered to me, her smile tightening for a moment before she smoothed it over. "Oh, my sister is here?" she said, her voice sweet but laced with sarcasm. "You seem to have plenty of spare time lately."

I ignored her jab, my gaze drawn to the painting on display. My heart clenched. It was one of my own works, a piece I’d completed years ago and kept hidden in my private gallery. How had it ended up here? How had it become her "competition entry"?

Jenna watched me with a smirk, gliding closer, her voice soft but cutting. "Do you like this painting, sister?"

I shot her a cold look, ready to retort, when she suddenly gasped, clutching her belly. Her face twisted in pain, and she staggered backward. The room erupted into chaos.

"What happened?!" someone shouted.

"Jenna’s pregnant! How could anyone bump into her!"

"Call the healer, quick!"

Amid the commotion, I heard a voice filled with tension: "Jenna!"

It was Axton. His concern was palpable, his Alpha aura flaring as he rushed to her side. The way he looked at her—protective, desperate—shattered the last shred of hope I’d been clinging to. When he noticed my gaze, he quickly schooled his expression, turning to me with a gentle reproach. "Regardless, Jenna’s lost the baby. You shouldn’t have pushed her."

Just then, news broke that the painting had advanced to the finals, with a high chance of winning the gold medal. Axton’s face lit up with pride, a look I hadn’t seen in the five years we’d been together.

I asked him quietly, "Why does Jenna’s painting look exactly like mine?"

He hesitated, his Alpha mask slipping for a moment before he recovered. "Maybe it’s just a coincidence," he said, his tone dismissive. "Perhaps her style mirrors yours..."

I let out a cold laugh. That painting had been locked away in my private gallery, the key held only by a select few. And the poem accompanying it—even under a pseudonym—the handwriting matched Axton’s. There was no doubt who was responsible.

I had intended to give that painting to him as an anniversary gift for our fifth year. Now, it was clear even our mate bond had been a lie, rendering the painting meaningless.

I smiled faintly, my voice flat. "Let’s take a yacht ride," I said. "Sail through the night and catch tomorrow’s sunrise."

Axton hesitated, his Alpha instincts likely sensing something was off. But he nodded, his expression softening. "Alright," he said. "Let’s go."

As we left the estate, I could feel the weight of the pack’s eyes on me. They whispered, their voices carrying through the mind link, but I blocked them out. I had one last night to endure. Then, I’d be free.

Once inside the car, Axton’s deep voice filled the space, his Alpha aura pressing against me even in his calmest moments. "I’ve arranged a surprise for your birthday," he said, his tone carrying the weight of authority. "Once we have some downtime, maybe we should think about starting a family."

I kept my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of gold. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a quiet whisper of unease, but I silenced her. I said nothing in return.

As the car began to move, his phone rang. The sound was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. He answered, his forehead wrinkling slightly, his voice carrying a note of apprehension that was rare for an Alpha.

I looked at him, my tone calm but distant. "If you need to take care of something, you should go."

He paused briefly, his dark eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. "Sylvia, I..."

"It’s fine," I said, cutting him off. "I’ll wait for you on the yacht."

I didn’t see the caller ID, but I knew only one person could provoke such a reaction from him. Jenna Dean. His true mate.

Once on the yacht alone, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through Jenna’s Instagram. A newly uploaded photo popped up, captioned: "Success is sweeter with someone by your side, sharing late-night cookies and having conversations just for you. Thanks for always looking out for me."

The comments overflowed with admiration: "Your mate treats you so well!" "That’s what it means to truly pamper your Luna!"

Yet, my eyes were drawn to the hand in the photo. The wrist was adorned with a familiar silver bracelet—Axton’s. The one I’d given him on our first anniversary.

I dialed his number, only for Jenna to pick up.

"So late, what does my dear sister want by calling me? Trying to reach your Alpha, perhaps?" Jenna’s voice was thick with sarcasm, her tone dripping with the confidence of someone who knew she’d won.

"Give it up; he’s not coming home tonight. Looks like my lovely sister can’t keep a mate. I’ve handed him over, and still, you can’t manage."

I hung up without a word and told the yacht staff, "Let’s set sail."

"Aren’t we waiting for anyone else?" one of the crew members asked, his tone respectful but curious.

Softly, I answered, "No need to wait. It’s just me."

The yacht glided forward, cutting through the midnight sea towards the open water. Standing alone at the bow, I stared at the stars above, the chilly wind biting at my skin as starlight danced across the waves.

He never returned that night.

I leaned against the deck, lost in thought, memories of the past five years flooding back. His kindness, his presence, his promises... every memory felt like a shard cutting through my heart, coming together to form only a broken image.

All the pretense, all the lies, seemed absurdly laughable now.

Before dawn, I dialed his number one last time. The phone was off.

Staring at the screen, I set the phone to upload the video evidence of my painting at a scheduled time. Once that was done, I moved to the stern, glancing one final time at the breaking light of dawn.

Then, I jumped, plunging into the icy depths of the sea.

Meanwhile, Axton hurriedly left Jenna’s place, his Alpha aura crackling with urgency. "I have to go. Tomorrow’s her birthday, and I promised her we’d watch the sunrise together."

Jenna blocked him, her voice sharp with frustration. "Axton, I need you now..."

He shook his head, his tone firm. "No, not today."

Just then, his Beta, Emerie, rushed to him, her face pale. "Alpha, your mate jumped off the yacht!"