"I won’t be going back. I’m already mated, and my daughter is nearly two years old."

The room fell silent, the weight of my words pressing down on the gathered wolves. Eyes widened, and whispers began to ripple through the crowd, each one carrying disbelief.

Eric Silva, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, frowned, his commanding presence filling the space between us. "Vivienne," he said, his Alpha tone sharp but controlled, "quit speaking out of anger. You know this isn’t the time for such declarations."

Judith King, his daughter, stepped forward, her voice dripping with impatience. "How could that possibly be true? Who do you think you’re fooling?"

Even Lenora Morrison, my longtime friend and Beta of the Shadow Fang Pack, looked skeptical. They all remembered how deeply I had loved Eric back then—how I had dedicated myself to him and his pack. It had been an open secret, something they’d mocked me for, calling me desperate for trying to integrate into the Silva family.

But only I knew the real reason behind my humility and dedication. When the Franklin family, my family, had faced troubles years ago, Eric was the only one willing to help us. My father had made me promise on his deathbed to repay that debt. I had done everything I could to honor that promise, even when it meant sacrificing my own happiness.

Shortly after, news of Eric’s separation from Alexandra McDonald, Judith’s biological mother, had surfaced. Eric had become increasingly despondent, and young Judith was pitied as an unwanted child. So, I approached them, thinking my sincerity could earn reciprocity. But I later realized that in this relationship, Eric had always been weighing pros and cons.

Because I had invested so much, my expectations grew unrealistic. So, when I finally saw the truth, I was completely disheartened. The day Eric pretended to have amnesia was when my debt finally ended. From then on, I neither loved Eric Silva nor owed the Silva family anything.

Suddenly, the guests turned toward the entrance, murmurs growing louder.

"The Alpha of the Shadow Fang Pack is here—it’s Alpha Damien!"

"Is that Alpha Damien Owens? And who is that with him?"

"Yes, indeed. I’ve heard he brought his Luna and daughter to the gathering. Perhaps he plans to introduce them formally."

The crowd shifted, parting like a tide as they flocked toward Alpha Damien and his daughter, Athena. Eric, noticing the commotion, straightened, his Alpha aura flaring as he realized the significance of the newcomer’s presence.

"The Shadow Fang Pack owns the territory near the northern border," he said, his tone tinged with both curiosity and ambition. "I didn’t expect to see Alpha Damien here."

I started moving through the crowd, my heart steady despite the stares. But Eric’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. "Vivienne," he said, his voice low but firm, "why are you diving into this crowd? You’ll only embarrass yourself."

I shook off his grip, my annoyance flaring. "What do you mean, embarrassing myself? Alpha Damien is my mate."

Eric’s expression twisted into one of disbelief, his Alpha aura pressing down on me as if to challenge my claim. "Are you joking? Vivienne, I know you’re upset about the past, but fabricating such stories is taking it too far, don’t you think?"

Judith scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Does Aunt Vivienne believe she’s some big deal? Would a wolf like Alpha Damien even notice someone like you?"

Eric didn’t bother to stop her this time, and around us, the whispers grew louder, the other wolves pointing and murmuring.

"Isn’t that Vivienne Franklin? The one who used to be with Alpha Eric? Why is she back?"

"She just claimed Alpha Damien is her mate? She’s as delusional as ever! I bet Alpha Damien doesn’t even recognize her."

"Yeah, I heard the Luna of the Shadow Fang Pack is a renowned designer from another territory. Didn’t Vivienne get tangled in a plagiarism scandal a few years back? She should think before making things up."

They weren’t wrong. Part of the reason I had chosen to leave the Silver Moon Pack was because my original design draft had been stolen by Judith and given to Alexandra. On the day of the competition, I had been accused of copying Alexandra’s work. Overnight, I became a target of public criticism, stripped of my position, and blacklisted from the industry.

Despite knowing the truth, Eric had continued to use his supposed amnesia as an excuse to cover for Alexandra.

The crowd parted further as Alpha Damien approached, his presence commanding and his Alpha aura undeniable. Beside him, Athena, our daughter, held his hand, her bright eyes scanning the room.

"Mommy!" she called out, her voice cutting through the murmurs.

The room fell silent again, all eyes turning to me as I stepped forward. I reached for Athena, lifting her into my arms, and felt the weight of Alpha Damien’s gaze on me. His hand rested on my back, a silent but firm affirmation of our bond.

The whispers returned, louder this time, as the wolves around us struggled to process what they were seeing.

"Is that…? Is she really…?"

"Vivienne Franklin? The Luna of the Shadow Fang Pack?"

Eric’s face paled, his Alpha aura flickering as he took a step back. Judith’s mocking smirk faltered, replaced by a look of confusion and disbelief.

I met Eric’s gaze, my voice steady. "I told you, Alpha Eric. I’m not coming back."

The whispers around us grew louder, and I could feel the weight of Eric Silva’s gaze on me, his confidence swelling like the tide under the full moon. His Alpha aura pressed against me, but I stood firm, my back straight and my chin high. He stepped closer, his voice carrying the commanding tone of an Alpha, though it lacked the warmth it once held.

“Vivienne,” he began, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the murmurs, “I made mistakes back then because of my memory loss. I’m here to apologize.”

I met his gaze, unflinching. His words meant nothing to me now. The bond we once shared had been severed, and the scars of his rejection still lingered deep within me, though I’d long since moved on.

Before I could respond, a small voice broke through the tension. “Mommy.”

Athena wriggled out of Damien’s arms and padded over to me, her tiny hand clutching the hem of my dress. Her scent—sweet and floral, like wildflowers in spring—filled the space between us, a reminder of the new bond I’d forged with my mate and our daughter.

The sharp clack of high heels echoed across the marble floor, drawing everyone’s attention. I turned to see Alexandra McDonald striding into the room, her golden hair catching the light, her presence commanding in a way that made the crowd part like waves before her. She was beautiful, but there was something predatory in her eyes, something that made my wolf stir uneasily in the back of my mind.

“Alexandra?” Eric’s voice was tinged with confusion, his brow furrowing as he stepped toward her. “What are you doing here?”

The crowd erupted into murmurs, their excitement palpable. The scent of curiosity and intrigue filled the air, mingling with the faint undertones of wolf musk.

“When Miss McDonald appeared, the little heiress called her ‘Mommy,’” someone whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Does this mean Miss McDonald is actually the Luna of the Shadow Fang Pack?”

“It must be! She’s a renowned designer, recently returned from the Alps. And didn’t Mr. Owens’ mate come from Manchester? Isn’t that where Miss McDonald’s family is from?”

“It all fits. Miss McDonald must be Mr. Owens’ true mate!”

Alexandra stood there, her confusion melting into a smug smile as the crowd’s speculations swirled around her. She didn’t correct them—instead, she basked in their praise, her head tilted just so, like a queen accepting adoration from her subjects.

Eric’s expression darkened, his Alpha aura flaring in frustration. “Alexandra,” he said, his voice tight, “when did you get mated to Damien Owens?”

Alexandra hesitated for a moment, then lifted her chin defiantly. “Who I’m mated to is none of your business, Eric.”

Judith, standing beside her father, looked on the verge of tears. “Mom,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “don’t you want me anymore?”

I couldn’t help the small, bitter smile that tugged at my lips. This spectacle was almost too absurd to be real. I stepped forward, ready to put an end to Alexandra’s charade, but she moved to block my path, her eyes gleaming with challenge.

“Vivienne,” she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness, “I heard you’ve been pretending to be the Luna of the Shadow Fang Pack. How bold of you.”

The crowd erupted into laughter, their mocking voices cutting through the air like claws. “She’s been claiming to be the Luna, and now she’s standing right in front of the real one!”

“She’s probably terrified. Just wait until Alpha Owens gets here—she’ll be exposed for the fraud she is!”

Alexandra shot me a triumphant smile, then turned back to the crowd, fully embracing her role as the supposed Luna of the Shadow Fang Pack. Her scent—sharp and floral, like roses with thorns—filled the air, mingling with the crowd’s growing excitement.

But I didn’t flinch. I didn’t need to. I knew the truth, and so did Damien. And soon, everyone else would, too.