Five years ago, Alpha Layton Ortiz injured his legs trying to protect me from rogue werewolves. Because of his disability, he never got the opportunity to fully lead the Silver Moon Pack as he was meant to. Despite everyone blaming me for his injury, he stood by my side, insisting it was his own decision. To find a cure for his legs, I donated a substantial amount of blood every three months. Unexpectedly, my werewolf healing abilities allowed me to recover faster than expected, and I woke up earlier than anticipated. That was when I accidentally overheard him speaking with the pack’s Healer.

"Luna Gloria's frequent blood donations are seriously affecting her health," the Healer said, his voice low but urgent. "And you know it was Rayne who intentionally exposed Luna Gloria's location to the rogues, leading to her parents' deaths in that tragedy."

Alpha Layton took a drag on his cigarette before replying, his voice as cold as the winter wind, "Rayne's infected with an unidentified virus. If she doesn’t undergo a full-body transfusion, she’ll lapse into a coma again. I plan to compensate her with wealth and status for the rest of her life, but love—that’s not included."

"This must remain a secret from Luna Gloria," he added, his words slicing through me like a blade. "Her blood is also beneficial to your research, isn’t it?"

These shocking revelations left me frozen, my breath catching in my throat. The memory of my parents’ tragic deaths resurfaced vividly. Five years ago, during a rogue attack on our home, I lost them both. In that dark alley, teetering on the brink of despair, Alpha Layton appeared and pulled me back from the edge. His legs were injured in the process. I always thought he was my savior. I never imagined he was just drawing me in, only to break me completely.

Tears streamed down my face, my wolf whimpering softly in the back of my mind. Helplessness and despair engulfed me, dragging me back into the darkness I thought I had escaped. When I finally opened my eyes, Alpha Layton was back in his wheelchair, silently sitting by my side, his gaze filled with endless concern and pity. But now, that look felt more like a predator watching its prey, sending a chill down my spine. When he reached out to touch me, I flinched instinctively.

He hesitated for a moment, then gently took my hand, pressing a soft kiss on it. "Luna Gloria, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be suffering like this. I’m so sorry."

But how much of that was true? I couldn’t bear watching his act any longer. I pushed him away, saying I wanted to rest for a bit. Turning my back to him, I closed my eyes. Perhaps sensing my cold demeanor, he seemed unsure of what to do. "I’ll go see if your lunch is ready," he said. "Luna Gloria, if anything’s bothering you, please tell me. I’m always here for you."

Once he left, I opened my eyes and looked at Alpha Layton’s phone on the table. He had left it unprotected. I picked it up and, with practiced ease, unlocked it and scanned through all the records. There was nothing unusual.

I numbly turned off my phone. My pale arms were marred with bruises from countless needle marks. Staring at my reflection in the dark screen, I looked ghostly and frail. Was it all just a figment of my imagination?

The screen flickered again, revealing the smug face of Rayne James, who bore an uncanny resemblance to me. Eight years ago, Rayne’s parents arrived at the Silver Moon Pack’s territory with a paternity test in hand, claiming to be my father’s long-lost brother and his wife. My grandparents had always been concerned about their missing son, and finding him had been my father’s lifelong hope.

Seeing how much Rayne resembled me, my father was nearly convinced. Once the pack’s Healer performed another DNA test, they were promptly welcomed into the pack. From then on, Rayne became the darling of the James family, climbing her way out of her Omega status and into favor.

But from the moment I laid eyes on her, there was a clear hostility in her gaze. Whatever I possessed, she had to have, and whatever she couldn’t obtain, she made sure I lost as well. When my performance during pack training surpassed hers, she sabotaged my equipment, leaving me humiliated in front of the warriors. I was chosen to lead the annual pack gathering, but she wasn’t—so she destroyed the ceremonial robe I’d painstakingly prepared the night before the event. I constantly stepped back to prevent my father from being caught in the middle.

Yet when rogue werewolves attacked, Rayne deliberately revealed my hiding spot, leading to my parents’ tragic deaths as they tried to protect me. Afterwards, my uncle twisted the story, accusing me of luring the rogues and endangering Rayne, resulting in my parents’ downfall. They took over everything our family owned and forced me out of the pack’s leadership council.

I had confided all this to Alpha Layton Ortiz, yet he dismissed my words as nothing but spiteful lies. The screen blinked again, showing fresh notifications.

"Alpha Layton, I’ve changed the password to our shared private account. Please make a note of it."

My breath caught as I shakily entered the new password. A new screen emerged, displaying Alpha Layton’s heartfelt and fervent affection for Rayne. In every photo he took of her, whether she was weeping, angry, or joyful, she shone brilliantly. From the first day Rayne entered the pack, Alpha Layton had quietly observed her.

Never once did I doubt his loyalty over the years, but the truth now hit me like a ton of bricks. This was the man I had treasured, the Alpha who had saved me from the rogues, the one I believed would one day mark me as his Luna. Tears spilled onto the screen, leaving trails of sorrow across my face.

A sickly sweet voice interrupted my thoughts. "Sister, is what you’re looking at enjoyable?"

I looked up to see Rayne standing in the doorway, her smirk as sharp as a predator’s fang. Her scent—a sickeningly sweet blend of vanilla and deceit—filled the room, overpowering my own floral one. She stepped closer, her eyes glinting with triumph.

"Does it hurt," she purred, "to see him choosing me over you? After all, I’m the one who fits the role of Luna better, don’t you think?"

I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring within me, a low growl forming in the back of my mind. But I held it back, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break. Instead, I straightened my spine, meeting her gaze with a coldness that surprised even myself.

"You’ll never be Luna," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "No matter how much you manipulate or deceive, the Moon Goddess sees the truth. And one day, Alpha Layton will too."

Her smirk faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "We’ll see about that," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "But for now, enjoy the view, sister. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to him."

She turned on her heel and strode out of the room, leaving me alone with the shattered pieces of my heart. My wolf whimpered softly, a fragile echo of the pain I refused to let surface. I clutched the phone tighter, the screen now dark, but the images burned into my mind.

One day, I vowed silently, the truth will come out. And when it does, I’ll be free of you both.

I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when Rayne appeared at the door, her scent—a faint mix of vanilla and rosemary—filling the room before I even saw her. Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she took in my disheveled appearance, her lips curving into a smug smile.

“Alpha Layton told me you’re feeling under the weather,” she said, her voice dripping with false concern. “I thought I’d bring you something to cheer you up.”

I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms as I glared at her. The faint hum of my wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of warning.

Rayne strolled over, her movements deliberate, and leaned in to whisper maliciously into my ear, “Didn’t I warn you? Whether it’s your family’s wealth or your mate, anything you have, I’ll take from you.”

I shoved her forcefully, the strength of my wolf lending me power, and grabbed my phone, hurling it at her with all my might. “Rayne James, I won’t let you walk all over me.”

The phone hit her forehead and shattered on the floor. A bruise swelled instantly, yet she barely flinched. Instead, she dropped to her knees, looking up at me with feigned innocence, her eyes wide and pleading.

“Sister,” she said softly, her voice trembling, “if hitting me will make things right between us, then go ahead.”

The same sickening act. Did she really think I wouldn’t dare?

Rage surged through me, and I stepped forward, my hand flying to slap her hard. But before I could make contact, someone rushed in, shoving me aside with such force that I stumbled and fell to the ground.

Layton stood there, his towering frame radiating Alpha authority, his dark eyes blazing with anger as he held Rayne protectively in his arms. “Rayne is your sister. How could you treat her so harshly?” he demanded, his voice sharp with disapproval.

“She came here to check on you, and this is the thanks she gets?”

I sat on the floor, my chest heaving, and scoffed at his legs, the ones he had injured saving me from the rogue werewolves five years ago. “So you’re done pretending, huh?”

“You know perfectly well she was responsible for my parents’ deaths, yet you still lie to me for her sake!”

Layton’s expression faltered for a moment, a flicker of guilt crossing his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

“Rayne was scared back then,” he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “That’s why she leaked your location. She regrets it now. Can’t you forgive her this time?”

I stared at him, my eyes cold and unyielding. “What right do you have to ask for my forgiveness?”

“I’d rather see her gone. Alpha Layton, don’t even dream of making me donate blood to save her again.”

Layton opened his mouth to argue, but Rayne, clutching his shirt, cut him off, tears streaming down her face.

“Alpha,” she whimpered, her voice breaking, “she just wants me to pay with my life. Don’t blame her; it’s all my fault.”

Before she could finish, she fainted dramatically in his arms. Layton’s face paled, and he immediately lifted her, his movements frantic as he rushed out of the room, presumably to find the pack’s Healer.

A hollow feeling spread through my chest. The lies were now out in the open; there was no reason for me to stay any longer.

Dragging my exhausted body to the door, I tried to leave, only to be stopped by two burly Delta warriors, their imposing figures blocking my path.

“Luna Gloria,” one of them said, his voice respectful but firm, “Alpha Layton has ordered you to rest in your room. Please don’t wander around.”

---

The tension in the room was suffocating, mixed with the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee. Rayne had brought over a basket of spiced honey cakes, but they sat untouched on the table, their sweet aroma doing little to ease the bitterness in the air.

My Victorian-style dress rustled as I moved, the sound sharp against the backdrop of silence. The warmth of the Thanksgiving wreaths adorning the walls did little to dispel the coldness that had settled between Layton and me.

Postcards of the Alps were scattered on the desk, a cruel reminder of broken promises. Layton’s presence, once a source of comfort, now felt colder than the mountain air.

My phone buzzed with Amazon notifications, the sound echoing the chaos of unread WhatsApp messages. I felt alienated, trapped in a world where pack traditions and hierarchies clashed with personal betrayals. The weight of my title as Luna felt heavier than ever, a chain I could no longer bear.