Right before our marking ceremony, my Alpha mate, Anderson, announces at the Ancient Altar that his first love, who has been injected with wolfsbane, is his Luna.

He holds Leah close under the moonlight and smiles tenderly. "Per our traditions, only the woman that everyone has witnessed having the ceremony with me is my Luna. Even if I have already secretly marked Irene as my mate, she will only ever be a mistress."

They make vows to the Moon Goddess, and then crowned, kissed, and were about to have a passionate night together.

I don't say anything as I watch all of this happen. All I do is make an appointment for an abortion.

I've loved Anderson for 12 years, starting from when I was 18 until I turned 30. However, Leah is still the one who holds his heart.

If that's the case, I'll let him go.

I leave Anderson with nothing but an agreement breaking our mate bond and a parting gift. He's never cared about me, but for some reason, he's so sorrowed by this that he can't maintain his human form anymore…

I shivered as I hid behind a tree near the ancient altar, silently watching my Alpha mate, Anderson.

I saw him holding a shining silver crown meant for a Luna and offering it to Leah.

Leah's eyes sparkled with tears of happiness as she bent down, allowing Anderson to place the crown atop her head.

The moment it was settled, Anderson couldn't resist pulling her into his arms.

They kissed affectionately before the eyes of the expectant crowd. The scorching kiss lasted for a full 20 minutes, until Leah, flushed and breathless, gently patted him.

Only then did he finally stop with a smile.

A cold wind swept through, lifting the drooping branches.

It was then that I noticed that my entire pack was present under the sacred moonlight.

The younger brother I once protected with my life, Rhys, now stood at the center of the ceremony as the officiant.

He wore a robe embroidered with the pack's emblem, and his eyes were filled with admiration for his stepsister, Leah.

Back then, Rhys and I had barely survived the torment inflicted by Leah and our stepmother, Maryanne Swift, in that correctional facility.

There, we were pierced with needles, electrocuted, drowned, and nearly burned alive.

Yet he had completely forgotten.

He spoke loudly with emotion, "Tonight, in this sacred moment, we witness the union of two hearts—our powerful Alpha, Anderson, and our wise Luna, Leah.

"Together, they will lead us to new heights. From now on, they are not just our leaders but the very symbol of Frostmoon Pack's future."

As soon as he finished, the other werewolves began dancing around them.

Excited howls and songs filled the air as Anderson and Leah turned toward the moon with their hands clasped, beginning their oath to the Moon Goddess.

Watching them, Rhys was overwhelmed with emotion. The moment they finished their vow, he roared at the top of his lungs, "Now go and enjoy your passionate night! Don't hold back on our account!"

I fell into an abyss of despair. The wolf within me howled in agony.

I called Rhys, the same brother who once swore he would always stand by me and protect me, but he simply curled his lips in disdain and ignored me.

I didn't stop and called Anderson next.

From the window, I saw his expression turn ice-cold the moment he saw my name. He wasn't planning to answer me at all, but after Leah whispered something in his ear, he finally picked up.

I rubbed my swollen belly and asked softly, "Anderson, what are you doing? Will you be coming home tonight?"

He let out a scornful laugh and replied mercilessly in front of the entire pack, "Can you stop trying to monitor me? Irene, you're already pregnant. Being so paranoid and jealous isn't good for the baby.

"Or is it that you're just that desperate for an Alpha's touch and that you can't survive without one?

"I've told you countless times that I came to the ancient altar with Leah to study the power-infused remains of the great wolves! Only a petty, disgusting she-wolf like you would constantly equate an Alpha's duty with infidelity!"

He relentlessly attacked me with his words.

I felt my heart shatter into countless pieces. Forcing back the pain, I whispered, "It's my birthday today. You promised you would celebrate it with me every year…"

You said that even if the world ended, you would always be by my side on this day.

So, even while pregnant, I braved the treacherous forests and steep mountain paths alone, pushing past my fear just to come find you.

But when I arrived, the wolves here told me there were no ancient wolf remains.

There was only the Alpha of the Frostmoon Pack, who often came here.

An Alpha who had been planning for half a year to hold his marking ceremony with his Luna at this altar.

Anderson must have forgotten his promise, as he suddenly paused his insults toward me.

Before he could come up with some half-hearted excuse, I heard Rhys say, "Irene, are you even part of this pack? Do you think everyone is like you, desperate to fight other she-wolves for attention?

"Will you have the nerve to continue staying here if you ever jeopardize the pack's interests? When will you understand that neither I, nor the Alpha nor the entire pack, revolves around you?"

The call disconnected.

At the altar, Leah was still nestled in Anderson's arms. She reached out and gently caressed Rhys's cheek, smiling as she said, "Don't be mad. Irene has been like this since she was little.

"It's my happiest day today. Instead of thinking about her, shouldn't you be looking at me?"

Rhys blushed under her touch.

The pack gathered around Anderson and Leah, and their faces were filled with satisfaction.

They didn't revolve around me but around Leah.

As Luna, I mattered less than a beggar on the side of the road.

I scheduled an appointment for an abortion and walked away without looking back.

If 12 years of love and devotion weren't enough to move Anderson, then I had no reason to keep trying.

By the time I found a place to stay, it was already late. Too much had happened today, and I closed my eyes with exhaustion.

I hadn't been asleep long when the ringing of my phone startled me awake.

My healer mentor shouted anxiously, "Irene, there's been a massive avalanche near the altar! Get to the scene and help right away!"

He had no time to explain further before hanging up.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Maybe I really shouldn't have come here last night.

Anderson was close to where the avalanche struck. I picked up my phone, thinking of calling to check on him, but I must have accidentally tapped something else, as I saw Leah's latest post on the public platform instead.

In the photo, she and Anderson stood hand in hand, both wearing glittering diamond rings.

There was a jagged scar across the back of Anderson's hand.

It felt like that scar had reached through the screen and slashed straight across my heart.

That scar had come from the night Anderson protected me from my drunken father, who had turned on him in his wolf form.

I used to think that scar was proof he loved me. But the truth was, I had overestimated my importance to him.

My love for him vanished entirely in the face of those diamond rings.

I packed my medical kit, fully prepared to reject him.

When I arrived at the avalanche site, I saw how severe the damage was. I forced myself to set my emotions aside and did my work with the utmost professionalism.

The scale of this disaster was unlike anything even the oldest werewolves had ever seen.

Then, I noticed the remains of explosives nearby—left behind from when they had been digging at the altar site. A chill climbed up my spine.

Before I could fully process my thoughts, someone approached me from behind. I was still lost in my fear when I was suddenly shoved forward, crashing into the snow.

Jagged rocks hidden beneath the surface scraped my skin raw.

Rhys' voice exploded behind me. "Irene, you're worse than a plague! You tracked us here just because you're suspicious of the Alpha. Do we need a witch to finally rid us of you? You're disgusting!"

At some point, he had forgotten all memories of Maryanne driving our mother, Felicia Lindth, to her death. Now, all he cared about was wagging his tail for Leah.

I was done with this kind of brother.

I stood up calmly and quickly treated my wounds. Then, I took two steps forward just as Rhys opened his mouth to spew more filth and slashed him hard with my claws.

He clutched his arm, and his eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at me. He always thought I was someone who would never fight back against him.

I didn't give him another second to waste my time. My voice was cold as ice as I said, "Don't use your pathetic brain to make assumptions about me. If you love Leah so much, then why don't you go ahead and put a dog tag on yourself which reads 'Leah's lapdog'? Crawl at her feet and lick her boots.

"This strike is what you owe me. From now on, you're not my brother, and I'm not your sister anymore."

I turned away, not sparing him another glance, and continued with my medical work.

Anderson arrived with Leah.

Tear tracks stained Leah's face as she leaned weakly against Anderson, moving slowly toward me.

Anderson met my gaze. His eyes flickered as he finally voiced the excuse he must have spent the whole night preparing. "The remains of the great wolves we found yesterday were too complex. I was busy studying them and didn't have time to celebrate your birthday with you.

"Once we're done handling the avalanche, I'll make it up to you with a birthday banquet…"

Even as Anderson spoke sweetly to me, he still didn't pull his arm away from Leah's body.

I averted my gaze and said flatly, "It's fine."

An avalanche had just occurred, leaving many people injured.

I couldn't bring myself to celebrate on top of their suffering.

My uncharacteristic calm made them uncomfortable.

Rhys let out a mocking laugh. "Irene, drop the act. This isn't a stage for your fantasy.

"Everyone knows you're the one desperate to be Alpha's little pet, even trying to trap him with a pregnancy. Changing your persona now won't make you any nobler. Even if you are pregnant, you're still worthless compared to Leah."

He was just as childish and stupid, completely oblivious to how I had changed.

Anderson grew impatient after being rejected by me. His face darkened as he scolded me harshly, "I wasn't planning to call you out on your endless need for control, but why did you have to follow us here?

"We don't have time for your games. Leah is shaken from the avalanche. She needs peace, and all you do is bully her.

"You're useless here. You should leave now."

He grabbed my arm so hard it hurt.

As we struggled, a second avalanche struck. A massive wave of snow came crashing down.

Anderson's and Rhys's first instinct was to shield Leah.

Anderson even shoved me aside, knowing full well there was a boulder rolling in that direction.

The rock came down hard on my left foot, and the pain was so excruciating that I blacked out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the pack's infirmary, and my left foot was wrapped up exaggeratedly.

There was no one else in the room.

The healer came over to check on me with concern. "You need to take better care of yourself, Irene. You almost lost the baby."

My face was pale, and I felt weaker than I had ever done before. "This child shouldn't exist in the first place. Can you check my abortion appointment for me?"

The person who had brought me here was a beta I had once treated.

The Alpha, who should have been by my side, only sent a single text. "Leah was terrified by your injuries. I'm taking her to see the best healer in the neighboring pack. You should apologize to her."

Anderson and Rhys had already shifted into their wolf forms and left with Leah. They didn't spare a single word of concern for me or the child.

I curled up, feeling as if my very soul was scarred beyond repair, the pain never ceasing.

The abortion required a few hours of preparation.

In the meantime, I asked the elders how to unilaterally break a mate bond.

While I was drowning in anxiety, Leah wasn't sitting idle either.

My phone buzzed with a group chat notification—photos of my father, Anderson, and Rhys celebrating Leah's birthday.

I stared at the falling autumn leaves outside the window, feeling my heart sink to the bottom.

My father had given Leah a wolf fang necklace—the same one my mother had gifted him years ago.

"Happy birthday, Leah!" Rhys had given her a bottle of moonlight wine he brewed himself.

"May the Moon Goddess bless you and keep you safe and happy forever!"

Anderson had gifted her a showpiece brooch from an auction. "Leah, you will always be my Luna."

Leah accepted the gifts and smiled radiantly with joy.

The harmony of that scene burned my eyes. I couldn't bear to look anymore. I closed the app and left the chat.

As soon as the notification popped up on their end, Anderson immediately called to berate me. "Irene, stop this nonsense! You can't stand seeing Leah being happy, can you?

"You always claimed Leah and Maryanne drove Felicia to her death, but that's not true! Benjamin told me Felicia was mentally weak—she had paranoia and killed herself!

You also claimed Benjamin and Maryanne threw you into a correctional facility where you suffered endlessly…"

Anderson let out a cold, disdainful laugh. "I looked into it. That place you described doesn't exist at all. Rhys told me you deliberately took him to the wastelands, where he was attacked by enemy werewolves, leaving him brain-damaged and with amnesia.

"Leah was the one who cared for him. You just wanted to escape responsibility, you liar."

It was as if he had been holding this in for a long time, and now, he finally let it all out. "I never wanted you as my Luna. If Leah hadn't pitied you, worried you'd be as mentally fragile as Felicia and kill yourself, I wouldn't have met with you, let alone fallen into your trap that night when you drugged me."

I never interrupted him, not until the healer came in to inform me, "Irene, we're ready for the abortion."

Anderson paused for a moment before his voice rang out sharply. "What was that? Are you getting an abortion?"

His tone was as if he had just heard something absurd, waiting for me to deny it.

Before I could say anything, Leah's voice chimed in from his side. "Anderson, you're overthinking it. Irene went to such immoral lengths to get pregnant. She wouldn't possibly give up the baby. She cherishes it too much."

Anderson's voice turned cold again. "You almost had me fooled again. You always do this. It's disgusting.

"You and Leah grew up in the same household. Why is she so pure and kind, while you're this despicable?

"I won't believe you anymore. If you keep acting obsessive, then get ready for my rejection!"

If this were before, I would have immediately caved, humbled myself, and begged for peace. I knew he was waiting for that.

But today, I wouldn't do it again. I took a deep breath and made sure my voice was steady and firm before saying, "I accept it. Let's go through with the rejection in a few days."

I turned off the phone, followed the healer, and lay down on the operating table.