Early the next morning, just as I stirred, I received an urgent call from Mason’s grandfather. He demanded my immediate presence, along with my daughter, back at the Pack. My daughter was excited. She thought her father finally had time for us.

“Is Daddy going to discuss my birthday party with me?” she asked.

She was thrilled the entire way there, but I couldn’t shake the unease in my heart.

Mason’s grandfather had never liked me. This sudden summon couldn’t mean anything good. I grasped my daughter’s hand as we entered the Pack’s grand hall—

And there, my eyes fell upon Mason, tenderly assisting Olivia as she settled onto the couch.

They looked like a haply family while I stood like an intruder in their supposed marital harmony. Olivia’s belly was a little bigger and she looked very pleased with herself.

Mason’s grandfather stood before them, his face was stern as he spoke.

“Evelyn, I bear good news—Olivia is pregnant, and, in accordance with the Alpha King’s decree, Mason will officially ascend to the Alpha title of the Phantom Pack.”

He continued, “Their offspring will be the future heir of our Pack.”

“Soon, they will partake in the Marking Ceremony.”

I glanced at Mason—he kept his gaze away, refusing to meet my eyes.

Olivia grasped Mason’s hand, placing it over her stomach.

“Mason, you’re finally going to be a father. Are you not overjoyed?”

Mason nodded.

“I will take care of you and the baby. I will be the father I ought to be.”

Olivia looked at me with blatant provocation, as if saying: You lost.

My heart ached.

What did he mean by "finally"? Was not my own daughter his child as well?

He was forsaking his own flesh and blood to care for the child of his stepmother? A child conceived from such a twisted union?

“Mommy… why is Daddy taking care of someone else? Shouldn’t he be taking care of us?”

My daughter looked up at me, confused and hurt. Though her voice was soft, it carried across the hall, reaching the ears of several onlookers.

“Well, she is merely a bastard. Who gave her leave to claim him as her father?”

A sharp, mocking voice pierced the room—it belonged to Mason’s cousin, who had always held me in contempt.

“The Pack only needs one heir, and that is Luna Olivia’s child! Do not think you can snatch that away!”

Mason’s grandfather rebuked us coldly.

Murmurs rippled through the hall:

“Precisely. A rogue’s bastard daughter—what is she doing here?”

Mason’s grandmother regarded me with disdain.

“Evelyn, you were a rogue Mason took in. We extended our hospitality out of kindness, but henceforth, you are merely a maid—your duty is to clean.”

“And that little girl? She is simply an orphan we took in. If you do not accept these terms, then depart.”

“I am not an orphan! I am not!”

My daughter cried, her small voice trembling.

She could not understand why everyone held her in such hate…

In their eyes, I was merely a rogue, exiled from my former Pack.

When I eloped with Mason, I hid my true identity— And I never once revealed my wolf form to him. I looked at Mason. He stood and walked toward us, attempting to explain,

“She is not a bastard, and she is not—”

But before he could complete his sentence, Olivia pulled him back. Under his grandmother’s gaze, Mason abandoned us.

“Evelyn, take the child and return home.”

Mason finally spoke, his eyes still refusing to meet mine.

“I will visit you both later.”

I stared at him. Mason, from this moment forward, we are nothing to each other.

“Wait.”

I turned to leave, but Olivia’s voice rang out.

“Evelyn, since you are leaving, should you not give up the necklace around your neck?”

“As the Phantom Pack’s new Luna and Mason’s mate, that crescent moon necklace rightfully belongs to me.”

I looked at her, then at Mason—

He remained silent, his head bowed.

That necklace had once symbolized my place in his life— A token from Mason, signifying my identity as part of his family.

He had declared that as long as I wore it, I was his sole mate.

“Mason, do you share this thought?”

I could not help but ask, clinging to a final, fragile hope. Mason paused, then slowly lifted his head.

“I am sorry, Evelyn. It is Pack tradition.”

His words pierced my heart like a sharpened blade. I inhaled deeply, removed the necklace from my neck, and gently placed it on the table.

“Here. Take it.”

I held my daughter’s hand and left without turning back. Tears blurred my vision, but I knew— I would never look back again.

Ten years of love with Mason shattered in that devastating moment.

—

As soon as we returned home, I immediately contacted my father.

“Evelyn, have you finally made your decision? When will you return?”

His voice trembled slightly with emotion.

“Your mother has been yearning for your return every day.”

“I miss you both dearly,” I replied.

“And I have joyous news—I have a daughter now. She is beautiful.”

His voice suddenly became joyful.

“Truly? Evelyn, that is wonderful! She is the blood of our family!”

“Return soon—your home is here, with the Northern American Pack.”

I looked at my daughter beside me.

She was staring at her coloring book, her small face clouded with sadness. I knew… once we returned to North America, it would signify a clean break from Mason. But what of my daughter? She was still so young…Could she endure all of this?

“Mommy… are we leaving?”

She suddenly looked up at me.

“Daddy does not like me, does he?”

My heart broke. Tears welled up in my eyes.

How could I hide the cruel truth to my child—that her father did not love her?

“I know,” she said quietly. “Daddy wishes to be with someone else. He is no longer my daddy.”

“If we remain, I will have to address him as Uncle, not Daddy… right?”

“Nobody here likes us, right?”

Her maturity cut through me. She was still so young, yet she understood so much.

I crouched down and embraced her tightly.

“We are simply returning to Mommy’s home,” I said softly.

“There, you will have grandparents who love you dearly.”

“Okay,” she nodded.

“But… I wish to celebrate my birthday with Daddy first.”

She spoke softly, her eyes shimmering with tears.

“He promised last year that he would spend it with me this time.”

I looked at her and hesitated.

I knew—once we departed, we would never have that birthday with Mason.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

“Okay. Mommy promises.”

Three days later, it was finally Lily’s birthday. From the early morning, she was buzzing with excitement, decorating the house with garlands made of wildflowers she’d picked from the forest. She even selected a delicate lavender dress for the occasion.

“Mommy, do you think Daddy will come? He promised me a year ago,” she asked, her head tilted upwards, eyes brimming as she anticipated. I gently patted her head, forcing a smile, but I couldn’t bring myself to give a clear answer. Mason hadn’t visited us in days. Ever since he publicly declared Olivia his Luna and announced her pregnancy, he had completely ignored Lily and me.

Yet, gazing into her bright, expectant eyes, I couldn’t bear to shatter her hopes.

“Sweetheart, go play in the backyard for a little while. Mommy will prepare your favorite stew.”

Once she was out of sight, I retrieved the communication stone and contacted Mason.

“Evelyn?” His voice, tinged with surprise, echoed through the stone.

“Mason, today is your daughter’s birthday. When do you plan to arrive?” I asked, swallowing the bitter bile rising in my throat.

After a brief silence, he replied slowly, “Evelyn… I’m sorry. I have… a ceremony to prepare for today.”

“You two go ahead and celebrate. I won’t be coming.”

He cut the connection before I could utter another word.

“Mommy… is Daddy not coming?” I turned to find Lily standing behind me. I embraced her tightly, choking back my own tears. “It’s alright. We still have Grandpa and Grandma, and all the pack members. They will celebrate with you.”

“And Mommy will throw you the best party in the forest.”

She remained silent, nodding quietly.

Just then, the communication stone illuminated again. It was a message from Mason:

“Evelyn, bring Lily to the Pack House. There is a banquet tonight.”

I froze—hadn’t he just said he was busy?

Lily, seeing the message, instantly brightened. “Mommy! Daddy is planning a surprise for me, right? Let’s go!”

Looking at her hopeful expression, I couldn’t refuse.

“Alright, Mommy will take you.”

During the journey, Lily’s imagination ran wild, picturing herself dancing the first dance with her father and receiving a gift he had personally selected.

But an unease had already crept into my heart. Upon our arrival at the Pack House, the sight that greeted me left me stunned.

The hall was lavishly decorated with vines and silver moon sigils, and a luminous twin-wolf crest symbolized union. The air was thick with the scents of incense and bay leaves. This was…

The setting for a marking ceremony.

In the center of it all, Mason and Olivia stood in formal black-and-gold ceremonial attire, smiling as they greeted their guests.

No… My heart sank.

“Mommy, look!” Lily exclaimed, pointing. “Daddy and Aunt Olivia are waiting for us!”

I was about to stop her when Mason’s voice echoed through the hall:

“Thank you all for attending to witness my marking ceremony with Olivia.”

Marking ceremony?!

I was paralyzed. This wasn’t a birthday banquet—it was the marking ritual of Mason and Olivia!

“Daddy!” Lily ran forward excitedly, but Mason pushed her aside without hesitation.

“Whose little pup are you? Don’t speak nonsense.”

The guests turned to stare, confused by the child who was messing up their Alpha’s ceremony.

“Daddy, it’s me, Lily—your daughter!” Her voice trembled.

Mason’s face darkened, “I told you, you have mistaken me for someone else.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“The Alpha of the Phantom Pack has a child?”

“Didn’t he always insist that Olivia was his one and only Luna?”

Olivia approached, with a smirk playing on her lips.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Evelyn. Still clinging to delusions? Bringing your little mutt here to cause a scene—how pathetic.”

“Mason, tell her to give up already.”

Anger surged within me. “Olivia, you planned this, didn’t you? You tricked us into thinking this was for Lily’s birthday—just to humiliate us!”

She leaned in.

“Do you truly believe a banished she-wolf with a bastard pup could threaten my Luna status?”

“That little girl’s bloodline? Do not make me laugh. She is nothing compared to a true Alpha heir.”

The guests chuckled—some mockingly, some with pity. I could no longer endure it. I drew my dagger, shielding Lily behind me.

“Enough! None of you will insult my daughter again. The blood that flows through her veins is more noble than you can imagine.”

“Mason, you do not deserve to call yourself her father!”

I turned to leave, pulling Lily with me.

But Olivia, struck me across the face. “We took pity on rogues like you, and this is how you repay us?”

I fell to the ground, my cheek burning.

“Mommy!” Lily ran to hold me tightly.

“What are you waiting for? Throw them out!” Olivia barked.

The guards seized us roughly, and Lily struggled fiercely.

“Let go of my mommy!”

She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

“Alpha Mason, Luna Olivia, please… Please do not harm my mommy…”

“Lily, no!” I gasped, reaching for her.

But she simply wiped the dirt from her face and continued bowing stubbornly. “We were wrong. We should not have come. Please, have mercy on us.”

Mason’s expression shifted, conflicted. He asked softly, “What did you just call me?”

“Alpha Mason,” Lily said firmly. “We know our place. Please do not hurt my mom anymore.”

She helped me up. “Let’s go, Mommy.”

Under the eyes of the entire crowd, Lily and I walked out of the hall.

It felt as though a blade had pierced my heart. That night… my daughter grew up.

Back at our cottage near the woods, the communication stone illuminated again. It was Mason.

“Evelyn, do not misunderstand. I had to protect the Pack’s reputation in a situation like that…”

I said nothing.

Instead, I wrote a letter—pouring into it all the years of longing, betrayal, and heartbreak.

Then, I packed our belongings, took Lily’s hand, and we boarded the carriage bound for my mother’s clan.