My mate, Karson Johnson, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, had always been known for his commanding presence and imposing physique. His strength and aura were unmatched, making him a natural leader. One day, while in his study, I spotted a sketch on his desk—a design for a lingerie set with a Thanksgiving theme. My heart fluttered with excitement, assuming it was a special gift for me, his Luna.

But on Thanksgiving Day, Lia Kennedy, a Delta warrior from the Crimson Fang Pack, posted photos of the actual lingerie set on Instagram, thanking him in the caption: "Thanks, darling, for the Thanksgiving gift. I hope we can spend every Thanksgiving together."

I quietly liked the post, my heart sinking with each word. Later that day, I scheduled an appointment for an abortion. I decided to take a few days off to recover, then move forward with my plans to leave the pack and start anew abroad, considering the offer from a foreign pack to lead their international operations.

---

Leaving the hospital after the procedure, I was struck by the coldness that the bright morning sun couldn't dispel; a chill that seemed to freeze my very soul. Only when I checked my phone did I notice Karson had called me multiple times. Looking at the list of missed calls, I hesitated briefly before calling him back.

"Hello," I managed to say, my throat dry and my voice hoarse. There was a pause on the other end before his angry shouting hit me like a tidal wave.

"Audrey, where have you been?! Why haven't you answered any of my calls?!"

I stayed silent, staring into space, my face pale as I held my lips tightly sealed. His impatience erupted again through the phone, "I'm coming home later. We're going to a birthday party."

I whispered a faint "okay," and he abruptly ended the call, having run out of patience.

With a heavy sigh, I slipped off my mate mark bracelet, a symbol of our bond, and let it fall into the storm drain on the street. Karson Johnson, promises rust over time, and now it’s time to go our separate ways.

---

That evening, as I prepared for the party, I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness. The pack’s grand hall was filled with laughter and celebration, but I felt like an outsider. Karson’s presence was overwhelming, his aura commanding the room. Lia stood by his side, her beauty and strength evident, her eyes gleaming with triumph.

I watched them from a distance, my heart aching with every glance they shared. Millie, an Omega in the pack, approached me, her sharp tongue cutting through the air.

"Audrey, it must be hard, seeing your mate with someone else," she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.

I clenched my fists, refusing to let her see my pain. "It’s none of your concern, Millie," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

She smirked, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "You’re no longer the Luna he needs. Lia is a better fit, don’t you think?"

The whispers around me grew louder, the pack members casting sidelong glances, their judgment clear. I took a deep breath, drawing strength from my wolf, who growled in the back of my mind, urging me to stand tall.

As the night wore on, I felt the weight of Karson’s betrayal pressing down on me. The bond we once shared was crumbling, and I knew there was no going back. With a heavy heart, I made my decision. It was time to leave the Silver Moon Pack and start anew, to build a life where I could lead with strength and resilience, free from the shadows of my past.

After mustering the strength to hold myself together and make my way back to the packhouse, I splashed some cold water on my face in the bathroom. Only then did the fog in my mind begin to clear, though slowly. My reflection stared back at me—pale skin, silent tears streaking down my cheeks—a pitiful sight that made my stomach churn.

The sharp pain in my chest was unrelenting, a constant reminder of the mate bond that still lingered despite everything. I thought of making myself a cup of coffee with some sugar before heading to bed, but as I passed the dining room, I noticed the spiced honey cake I had left on the table.

With a bitter smile, I looked at the forgotten cake. Alpha Karson had only remembered today as the birthday of his beloved, Lia Kennedy, a Delta from the Crimson Fang Pack, while he forgot it was mine as well. The irony wasn’t lost on me.

Years ago, after Lia decided to move abroad to join another pack, a drunken Karson showed up at my door. He knelt on one knee, holding nothing more than a soda can tab, and said, “Audrey Dean, I, Karson Johnson, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, accept you as my mate.” His words were slurred, but the weight of the mate vow was undeniable.

Looking at the face I had adored for so long, I knew deep down he didn’t truly love me. But I was swept away by the illusion of lasting happiness, the promise of standing by his side as his Luna. Against my better judgment, I accepted his proposal.

Eventually, we completed the mate bond, marking each other in a private ceremony under the full moon. The soda can tab he used to propose was swapped for a silver pendant engraved with the pack’s emblem, a symbol of our union.

From being an unknown Gamma warrior, I rose through the ranks to become his most trusted fighter, while he solidified his position as the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. Everything seemed perfect, yet happiness proved as fragile as a bubble, ready to pop at the slightest disturbance.

If Lia hadn’t returned from abroad, if I hadn’t stumbled upon Karson’s design drafts and Lia’s social media post during the pack’s Thanksgiving gathering, maybe I would’ve kept lying to myself. I wouldn’t have ended the pregnancy, nor would I have turned down the opportunity to lead a new pack abroad.

But reality doesn’t entertain “what ifs.” I swept the cake off the table and into the trash, feeling nothing but icy indifference and seething resentment. The bond still burned in my chest, a cruel reminder of what once was, but I refused to let it break me.

The packhouse was silent, the air thick with tension. I could feel the eyes of the Omegas and Deltas watching me from the shadows, their whispers carrying through the halls. Millie, an Omega with a sharp tongue, had been particularly vocal earlier, taunting me about Karson’s neglect. Her words still echoed in my mind, a harsh reminder of my place—or lack thereof—in his life.

I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring in the back of my mind, a low growl of frustration and pain. *He’s a fool*, she whispered, her voice tinged with sorrow. *He’ll regret this.* But I wasn’t so sure.

The cold night air seeped through the windows, and I wrapped my arms around myself, staring out at the forest beyond the packhouse. The bond still tethered me to him, a connection I couldn’t sever, no matter how much I wanted to.

But as I stood there, the icy resolve began to harden within me. I was a Gamma, a warrior, and I would not be defined by his betrayal. The Silver Moon Pack had been my home, but it was no longer my sanctuary. I would leave, and I would rise above this—alone, if I had to.