The Alpha Queen brought my cousin to the Silver Moon Pack three years ago, and since then, every suitor who came to propose to her met with misfortune—either death or severe injury. The pack began to whisper that she was cursed, a harbinger of doom. Fearing for her, the Alpha Queen decided that Jaycee would marry alongside me, as a co-mate to Remington, the Alpha of our pack.

Remington and I had grown up together, and I couldn’t bear the thought of him falling victim to the so-called curse. I protested fiercely, causing a scene in the packhouse, but my mother, the Alpha Queen, locked me in the storage room. From there, I could only watch as Jaycee was taken to the packhouse as his mate, while I was left to enter in the dead of night as his chosen one.

When he saw me, he whispered, "Evelyn, your mother mixed up the order, but it doesn’t matter. My heart belongs only to you." He explained that Jaycee wanted a child to secure her place in the pack, believing it would shield her from further scorn. "Once she has a child, she’ll step aside, and you’ll take your rightful place," he promised.

But after that night, I never saw him again. The pack members mocked me, treated me with disdain, and whispered that even if I died, Remington wouldn’t care. A month later, he rushed to me, excitedly announcing that Jaycee was pregnant. By then, I had no strength left to even look at him.

---

On the day of the marking ceremony, I was bound and locked in the storage room by my mother. My wrists bled as I struggled against the ropes, crying out and pounding on the door. But no one came. Everyone was too busy preparing for Jaycee’s ceremony.

"Alpha, Luna, the Alpha has arrived to take his mate!" a voice called from outside. Trembling, I tore a hole in the window and watched as Remington, with a bright smile, led Jaycee to the ceremonial grounds. The sound of celebration filled the air, but in the dark, dusty storage room, I could only weep.

Night fell before the door finally opened. My mother entered with a few pack members, quickly dressing me in a crimson gown. Confused, I asked, "Mother, what is this? Why am I being dressed like this now?"

She sighed, her tone sharp. "Evelyn, you’re only his chosen one. You must enter through the back. You must understand. Jaycee’s reputation is already tarnished. If we don’t help her, she’ll be left with nothing."

Tears streamed down my face. "Mother, you only care about her. What about me? My wrists are still bleeding, and you haven’t even asked how I am. Am I not your daughter?"

Her hand struck my cheek before I could finish, leaving a stinging pain. "You’re being selfish. You knew today was the ceremony, yet you injured yourself. Are you trying to make Remington think I mistreat you?" She gestured to a pack member, who stuffed a rag into my mouth to silence me.

I stopped struggling, clinging to the hope that once Remington saw me, he would set things right. The ceremony was held at the packhouse, and as I approached the back entrance, I listened intently, sure he would come for me. Instead, I was met by a guard who sneered, "Hurry up and get inside. I’m missing the feast because of you."

My heart sank, but I told myself Remington was busy with the guests. He would come to me once the celebrations were over. But when I entered, I found myself in a forgotten corner of the packhouse—a room covered in dust, untouched and abandoned. I sat on the cold bed, waiting for the man I loved.

Hours passed, and still, no one came. Parched and exhausted, I ventured out to find water, but the room was empty, and the halls were deserted. I wandered until I stumbled upon the main hall, still adorned with decorations from the ceremony. The sight of the crimson banners and lights pierced my heart—this should have been mine.

I stepped closer, only to be shoved to the ground by a guard. "What’s a chosen one doing here? Don’t disturb the Alpha and his mate!" he barked.

Just then, the door to the Alpha’s chambers opened, and Remington emerged. My heart leapt with hope as I called out, "Remington, it’s me, Evelyn."

He hurried over, helping me to my feet. I began to explain my pain, but he cut me off. "Evelyn, your mother got the order wrong, but it doesn’t matter. My heart is yours. Jaycee just wants a child to secure her place. Once she has one, she’ll step aside, and you’ll be my Luna. Be patient, and go back to your room."

With that, he turned and walked away, closing the door behind him. The guard dragged me back to my room, Jaycee’s laughter echoing behind me, shattering what remained of my heart.

Back in my room, the moonlight filtered through the cracked window, casting a cold, desolate glow across the floor. The echoes of Remington's excited voice still lingered in my ears, as if he were still standing there, declaring his love for me.

"Evelyn, I vow to love you and only you for all eternity," he had said.

But this lifetime hadn’t even begun before it ended. How could there be an eternity?

Suddenly, I caught a faint scent outside. Pushing the door open, I found a small black wolf pup nestled in the grass. Its eyes glistened with tears as it looked up at me pitifully. I couldn’t hold back my own tears any longer. Just moments ago, I had looked at Remington the same way, yet his heart was already with Jaycee.

He had told me they would "work things out," as if that wasn’t the most humiliating thing he could have said. The pup timidly licked my hand, as if trying to comfort me. I let out a bitter laugh. Even a pup could sense my pain, yet the man who claimed to love me, and the mother who raised me, neither of them cared.

I picked the pup up and cradled it in my arms, gently stroking its fur.

"I’ll call you Shadow, okay?" I whispered. "Do you think Remington still loves me? Maybe it’s all my mother’s doing. Maybe he has no choice, right? Or maybe, like he said, once Jaycee’s pregnancy is confirmed, he’ll come back to me, and everything will go back to normal. I just need to believe him and wait, right?"

"But it’ll take at least a month to confirm the pregnancy, maybe longer. The time feels endless. It’s been less than a day, and I’m already suffocating. At least I have you with me."

All my words were swallowed by the silence of the night, unanswered. I held Shadow close and eventually fell asleep on the cold ground of the courtyard.

At dawn, two Omegas entered the courtyard. One of them leaned down and shouted in my ear, "Miss Evelyn! The sun’s up, get moving!"

I jolted awake, and Shadow growled in alarm. The Omega grabbed him from my arms and threw him to the ground with a sneer.

"This runt dared to bite me! I’ll crush it!"

Her boot came down, and I screamed, scrambling to shield Shadow with my body. The Omega stepped back, glaring at me with disdain, but I didn’t care. I held Shadow tighter, my heart pounding as I whispered, "You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

The Omegas muttered under their breath as they left, but I didn’t listen. All that mattered was the tiny, trembling creature in my arms. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a flicker of warmth. Shadow’s soft whimper grounded me, reminding me that I wasn’t entirely alone.

But even as I held him close, the weight of Remington’s betrayal and my mother’s indifference pressed down on me. The world felt colder than ever, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could endure it.

I didn’t have time to think. I lunged forward, shielding Fluffy with my body as her foot came down hard on my back. Pain shot through me, and I collapsed to the ground, my face pressing into the dirt. I clutched Fluffy tightly, refusing to let go.

“Stop!” I shouted, my voice shaking. “I’m still the Alpha’s chosen mate! How dare you treat me like this? Do you think Remington won’t punish you for this?”

One of the Omegas stepped forward, stopping the other. She gave me a shallow nod, her smile thin and insincere. “Apologies, Miss Evelyn. We’re here to serve you. My name is Annika, and this is Nellie. Please forgive our... overzealousness.”

Nellie scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. “Why bother being polite? Even if she dies, the Alpha wouldn’t spare her a second glance.”

I didn’t engage. The world was cruel, and this was just another reminder. I pushed myself up, cradling Fluffy in my arms, and carried him into the room.

“Clean this place,” I said coldly, my voice devoid of emotion. “Then bring me something to eat.”

Nellie looked ready to argue, but Annika grabbed her arm and dragged her out.

Once they were gone, my eyes burned with unshed tears. I clenched my fists, repeating to myself, *Just one more month. One more month, and Remington will make this right.*

They returned soon enough, carrying a food tray that they carelessly dropped onto the dusty table. The moment they lifted the lid, a sour stench hit me, and I gagged.

“Why is the food spoiled?” I demanded, my voice rising.

Nellie rolled her eyes. “Be grateful you’re getting anything at all. You’re not exactly in a position to be picky.”

Annika hesitated, her voice softer but no less cutting. “Miss Evelyn, the Luna requested cherry tarts. The kitchen is busy preparing them for her. This is all that’s left from yesterday. Please... make do.”

My hands trembled with anger, but I had no recourse. Nellie stomped around the room, wiping surfaces with a rag that only seemed to spread more dust. The already inedible food was now coated in it.

I picked up the tray and carried it outside, placing a bowl in front of Fluffy. But even he turned his nose away, whining softly. If even a dog wouldn’t eat it, how could I?

The bitterness in my chest deepened. *Would Remington care if he saw me like this?* I wondered. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and my body was growing weak. Fluffy was shivering with hunger too.

My gaze fell on a tree near the edge of the yard, its branches heavy with unfamiliar fruit. I plucked a few, wiping them on my dress, and took a bite. The taste was tangy and sweet—a small mercy in this miserable place.

Fluffy and I sat by the wall, sharing the fruit in silence. For a moment, the world felt a little less cold.