Every year on the anniversary of our mate bond, Alpha Dexter would personally prepare a private dinner for us.

This year was no different.

But today, he seemed distracted, his piercing amber eyes constantly flickering to his phone. By afternoon, his chiseled jaw was tense as he scrolled through messages, his Alpha aura crackling with unease. He abruptly rose from his seat, his towering frame casting a shadow across the room, and strode to the balcony.

I checked my phone and opened the pack’s shared mind link. Ten minutes ago, Kai Gonzales, a Delta from our pack, had posted something.

"99 sunflowers, should I say yes?"

She couldn’t hold back any longer.

Dexter soon returned from the balcony, his broad shoulders stiff with tension. Grabbing his coat, he said, “Luna Estella, there’s something urgent I need to attend to.” His voice carried the weight of his Alpha authority, leaving no room for argument.

Without waiting for my reply, he left in a hurry, his commanding presence still lingering in the room.

Timing it right, I followed him out, slipping into my car. I drove all the way to Central Park, where the pack often gathered for ceremonies. Walking behind Dexter, I kept my distance; he was too preoccupied to notice me, his focus entirely on whatever awaited him.

Just as we reached the private room door, Kai rushed out, her lithe figure clad in a sleek dress that clung to her curves. She threw herself into Dexter’s arms, her fingers digging into the muscles of his neck as she choked back tears, “I thought you didn’t want me anymore!”

I couldn’t make out Dexter’s expression from where I stood, but his movements were gentle yet firm, his Alpha dominance radiating even in his touch.

He sighed softly, his deep voice carrying a rare tenderness, “How could I possibly not want you? Remember? I told you there’d be a surprise today!”

“What surprise?”

Dexter suddenly stepped back a couple of paces, his towering frame casting a shadow over her.

Just then, the hall lights dimmed, and a crowd of pack members surged forward, their eyes gleaming with excitement. Dexter knelt on one knee, his Alpha aura commanding the room as he pulled out a ring.

He said, his voice resonating with the authority of his rank, “Kai Gonzales, I love you. Will you mate with me?”

“Say yes! Say yes!”

Amid the cheers from the pack, Kai covered her mouth in disbelief, her eyes glistening with tears. Soon she nodded repeatedly, extending her hand.

Dexter stood up gracefully, his muscular frame towering over her, and slipped the ring—a wolf’s promise for life—onto Kai’s finger. She rose on tiptoe, offering her kiss. Dexter embraced her waist, his Alpha dominance palpable as he deepened the kiss.

Before coming here, I had anticipated witnessing something significant. Yet, seeing it with my own eyes left me breathless, the mate bond between us screaming its agony through every fiber of my being.

The pain surged through me, carving me out again and again.

But I managed to summon the strength to record everything, capturing it all as evidence under werewolf law.

Leaving Central Park, my temples throbbed relentlessly. Taking a deep breath and suppressing the swirling emotions, I dialed my lawyer, Brian Alexander, a high-ranking Gamma in the Lycan King’s court.

“Alpha Dexter just proposed to his mistress. Does that count as a violation of mate laws?”

“Not enough? How about adding a witness account to that?”

“Alright, I’ll update you.”

My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, her pain mirroring my own. But I couldn’t afford to falter. As Luna of the Silver Crescent Pack, I had a duty to uphold the integrity of our kind, even if it meant severing the bond that had once defined me.

Dexter didn’t come home all night.

Early in the morning, Kai shared a snapshot of her engagement ring in our pack’s communication channel.

"Hey, pack mates, send some good vibes my way!"

The dazzling diamond lured out everyone who had been quiet in the group.

"The couple I’ve been rooting for is finally happening!"

"Big congrats!"

"Wow, that rock is massive! How much did it set you back?"

Kai replied, "Two hundred grand. I thought it was a lot, but he insisted on splurging!"

The news left everyone gasping with surprise and admiration.

I smirked and chimed in, "Congrats, Kai."

Kai quickly responded, "Thanks, Luna Estella. Your advice really hit the mark."

"So, when are you two sealing the mate bond?"

Kai paused for a moment.

"We haven’t picked a date yet."

I nudged her, "Even if you’re not rushing to mark each other, you should kick off with some engagement photos. It’s all about keeping the ball rolling. Alphas are so focused on their responsibilities, we have to steer the course."

Someone promptly agreed, "Yeah, engagement pics. Once you snap those, it’s practically a done deal."

"Exactly, Alphas need to feel it’s real, or they’ll just keep dangling you along."

"When I took my mate ceremony photos, it was the first time my mate felt he was truly committed."

Soon, Kai replied, "Thanks, everyone. Once the photos are done, I’ll share them!"

I grinned knowingly, feeling more at ease.

Alpha Dexter was getting busier, always jet-setting for pack business or burning the midnight oil, or so he said.

I knew he was really caught up in Kai’s allure.

Tonight, there was a pack gathering. Dexter hadn’t mentioned it to me, but I showed up anyway.

As he strolled into the grand hall with Kai on his arm, I was holding a glass of wine, deep in conversation with Beta Reed from the neighboring pack.

A waiter accidentally bumped into me, causing me to stumble. Luckily, Reed steadied me.

Suddenly, I was pulled back with some force and landed against a familiar warm chest, enveloped in his signature cool fragrance.

It was Dexter.

He held my waist and gave Reed a curt nod of thanks.

Reed awkwardly retracted his hand, bowing slightly. "Alpha Dexter."

Behind Dexter, Kai stood alone, shooting daggers at me with her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Dexter’s tone was cold, his alpha aura pressing down on me.

I let out a casual laugh, "Why wouldn’t I be here, Alpha?"

Dexter rubbed his forehead, his irritation barely concealed.

"If you wanted to come, why didn’t you tell me, Luna?"

I emptied the wine in my glass.

"Tell you? When was the last time you even came home, Alpha?"

Dexter tensed for a moment, then quickly softened and apologized, though his voice still carried an edge. "I’ve been busy with pack affairs."

For the rest of the evening, he stuck by my side, his presence commanding respect from the other wolves in the room. But his attention was fleeting, and I could feel him glancing toward Kai, who lingered on the outskirts of the gathering.

It wasn’t long before Kai found herself in a sticky situation.

An entitled heir from another pack was obstructing her, insisting she have a drink with him. His tone was disrespectful, and the tension in the room thickened.

Kai’s eyes turned red, filled with helplessness and fear.

Dexter flew into a rage, crossing the room in an instant. His alpha aura flared, and with a single punch, he knocked the guy to the ground, his dominance unmistakable.

The scene devolved into chaos, but Dexter didn’t care. He draped his coat over Kai and hurriedly escorted her out, not sparing me a glance.

I turned to Reed, who was watching the scene unfold with a cautious expression. "Still sure you don’t want to sell those shares to me, Beta Reed?"

Reed hesitated, choosing his words with care. "Aren’t you upset, Luna?"

I chuckled softly, masking the sting of Dexter’s actions. "Pack business comes first, Beta Reed. He’s the Alpha, and I’m the Luna. We both have our roles to play."

Reed nodded, though his gaze lingered on me with a hint of concern. "As you say, Luna."

I straightened my posture, the weight of my title grounding me. Dexter might have forgotten his duty to our mate bond, but I wouldn’t let it distract me from mine. The pack needed stability, and I would ensure they got it—with or without him.