Gunnar returned the next morning, his towering frame filling the doorway as he stepped into the Tran Pack’s den. His broad shoulders and muscular build, typical of an Alpha, were a stark reminder of the power he wielded over the pack—and over me. He settled onto the couch, his presence as commanding as ever, yet his face was calm, almost indifferent. He didn’t mention the previous night, and I didn’t ask. Perhaps the silence between us was louder than words, because he shot me a peculiar glance, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

“The trending topic’s been handled,” he finally said after a long pause, his deep voice carrying the weight of his authority. It was his way of explaining his absence the previous night, as if that justified everything. I pressed my lips together, refusing to respond. My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, a low growl of frustration that I quickly silenced.

Gunnar frowned, his annoyance evident, but before he could say anything more, Alaiya bounded down the stairs, her small frame a blur of energy. “Daddy!” she squealed, her tiny arms outstretched. Gunnar’s expression softened instantly as he scooped her up, his Alpha aura momentarily replaced by the warmth of a father.

“Today, I’ll pull you out of pack school for a bit, and we can go to the amusement park. How about that?” he said, his voice playful. Alaiya’s face lit up with excitement, but she glanced at me, her big eyes filled with a question she didn’t have to voice.

Gunnar’s frown deepened slightly, his Alpha tone creeping into his words. “Luna, Alaiya deserves a carefree, happy childhood. You shouldn’t always place so many limitations on her.”

I felt my wolf bristle at his tone, but I swallowed my frustration. Seeing Alaiya’s hopeful eyes, my resolve wavered. “Alright,” I said finally, my voice steady despite the tension. “But just for the morning. You still have your afternoon lessons with the pack’s healer.”

“Hooray! Thank you, Mommy!” Alaiya cheered, clapping her hands with delight. Her joy was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile, though the unease in my chest remained.

She wanted me to join them, but I had responsibilities as the Luna that I couldn’t ignore. My duties to the pack demanded my attention, and I had to decline. Alaiya’s face fell for a moment, but she quickly masked her disappointment with a maturity beyond her years. “Okay, but don’t work too hard, Mommy,” she said, her voice sweet and reassuring.

I kissed her little cheek, inhaling the faint scent of her pup-like innocence, and waved her goodbye. As I watched Gunnar carry her out the door, his Alpha aura radiating strength and control, I reminded myself that he was a good father. He had always been attentive and responsible when it came to Alaiya.

It wasn’t the first time he had taken her out for some fun, and I trusted him to keep her safe.

But that trust was shattered that afternoon when the pack’s healer called, her voice tinged with concern. “Luna, Alaiya hasn’t arrived for her lesson.”

My stomach dropped. Frowning, I reached for my phone and dialed Gunnar’s number. It rang for what felt like an eternity before he finally answered. His breathing was heavy, labored.

“Monica,” he said, his voice tight with urgency. “Alaiya’s had an allergic reaction. She’s been vomiting and having diarrhea. We’re at the pack’s healing den now.”

My heart pounded in my chest, my wolf howling in panic. “I’ll be there,” I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay calm. I grabbed my coat and rushed out the door, the weight of my Luna responsibilities momentarily forgotten as my thoughts centered on my pup.

The healing den wasn’t far, but every second felt like an eternity. When I arrived, the scent of antiseptic and herbs filled the air, and I found Gunnar standing by Alaiya’s side, his Alpha aura subdued but still commanding. His broad frame seemed to fill the small room, his presence both a comfort and a reminder of the power he held over our lives.

Alaiya lay on the bed, her little body pale and weak, her eyes half-closed. My heart ached at the sight, and I rushed to her side, taking her small hand in mine. “Mommy’s here,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Gunnar’s hand rested on my shoulder, his touch firm but reassuring. “The healers are doing everything they can,” he said, his voice low and steady.

I nodded, but the fear in my chest refused to subside. My wolf growled softly, a sound of both protectiveness and helplessness. I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stay strong for Alaiya.

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much, much worse.

I rushed to the pack's healing den, my heart pounding with anxiety. To my surprise, Gemma Simmons was there too. I gave her a quick glance, my only concern being to see my daughter in her room.

"Luna, don't worry. Alaiya is out of danger now. She's just asleep in there..." Gunnar called out to me, his voice tense, his alpha aura flickering with unease.

At that moment, I probably looked like I was about to lose it, on the verge of a breakdown. That's why my mate seemed so eager to calm me down.

But before he could finish, Gemma interrupted, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was soft, almost fragile. "I'm so sorry, Luna. I bought a spiced honey cake for Alaiya. She only took a couple of bites before she started feeling unwell. I panicked just as much as you did..."

Her words couldn't hide the defiance in her eyes. I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. Gemma was taken aback by the sudden strike, and her cheek turned red instantly. She gritted her teeth, tears welling up, but remained silent, playing the innocent victim.

The Alpha quickly stepped in front of her, shielding her. "Monica, it wasn't intentional on Gemma's part. There's no need to lash out at her."

"And you? Are you just going to stand there?"

I hurled my handbag at him in a fit of rage, nearly losing control. "Did you forget Alaiya is allergic to cream?"

The metal clasp of the bag left a scratch on his cheek, drawing blood. He closed his eyes and didn't move. Gemma let out a shriek, as if the blow had struck her instead.

"Luna, please don't blame the Alpha. It's all on me. Alaiya wanted to try the spiced honey cake, and the Alpha did warn about the allergy. It was my idea, thinking a small taste wouldn't hurt. Besides, back in my birth pack, people have allergies too, and adults often help them overcome it by gradually exposing them to the allergen. Eventually, they're no longer allergic," she insisted, her voice full of misguided conviction. "Luna, I really just wanted to help Alaiya overcome her allergy. I had no idea it would be this severe."

I stared at Gunnar, disbelief etched on my face. So that was it...

Great. Just great.

Alaiya's allergy was serious. When she was very young, she had once been rushed to the pack's healing den after accidentally eating cake. Back then, Gunnar and I had been terrified, our faces pale in the waiting room. After that incident, we had been strict about her diet, ensuring nothing like this would ever happen again.

And now, he had been so careless as to entertain his Beta's absurd idea! That was his daughter!

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, feeling a wave of bitter disappointment wash over me. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, a reflection of my turmoil.

"Monica, please don't be like this..." Gunnar's voice was strained, his alpha aura pressing down on me, though it lacked its usual strength. "I thought that after all this time, maybe Alaiya's allergy had lessened. After all, she's fine now. It was just a scare..."

"Gunnar, I, Monica Tran, Luna of the Tran Pack, reject you as my mate," I cut him off, my voice trembling but resolute.

His alpha aura flickered and dimmed as if struck, and the room fell into a heavy silence. The words hung in the air, a declaration that shattered what little remained of our bond.

Gunnar Tran, the Alpha of the Tran Pack, almost instinctively moved toward me, his broad shoulders tense, his usually commanding presence now tinged with panic. But I walked right past him into the healing den, leaving him outside. He reached for the door, his hand hovering as if he wanted to push it open, but he hesitated, likely worried he might wake Alaiya. He could only call out to me in a low voice, his alpha tone softened by desperation.

"Luna," he began, his voice strained, "it was just an accident, I swear on the Moon Goddess. This will never happen again! Monica, please open the door. Can we talk this through?"

It was absurd. Clearly, he was the one who had grown distant in our bond, the one who had let the cracks form between us. Now that I was ready to sever our mate bond, he was the one in a panic.

I was determined to seek a mate rejection and immediately contacted Jasper Hoffman, a Delta warrior and legal counsel, to ensure I got the best possible deal in the proceedings. What I didn’t expect was Gunnar’s willingness to compromise.

"Monica, does it have to come to this?" he asked, his voice heavy with regret.

He came to the healing den every day, and since I wouldn’t let him see Alaiya, he just sat outside on the bench, his powerful frame hunched in defeat. His presence, once so commanding, now seemed diminished, as if the weight of his actions had finally caught up to him.

"I know you’re worried about Gemma," he said, his tone pleading. "Can’t we stop this? I’ve already demoted her to Omega, and I promise I’ll never see her again. Besides, nothing inappropriate ever happened between us. Monica, can we not go through with the rejection?"

He wiped his face roughly, his calloused hands trembling slightly as he lowered himself to plead with me. We had been mates for years, had built a pack together, and knew each other too well.

Gunnar understood how stubborn I could be once I made up my mind, but he still didn’t grasp why I was pursuing this.

"Alpha," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me, "you still don’t understand why I want this rejection."

What mattered to me was Alaiya.

Perhaps once, Gunnar had been my first choice, but my daughter was the only one in this world with whom I shared an unbreakable bond. I could endure Gunnar’s emotional betrayal to give Alaiya a stable pack, but I could also leave him for her sake.

He was silent for a moment, his dark eyes searching mine as if trying to find a way to bridge the growing chasm between us. Then he pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening as he said, "But Monica, I’m Alaiya’s father. I love her just as much as you do. You can’t write me off for one mistake."

Seeing that I wasn’t convinced, Gunnar gritted his teeth, meeting my eyes with the intensity of a warrior facing a final stand.

"And are you sure you’ll win Alaiya’s custody battle against me, Luna?"

His words hung in the air, a challenge laced with desperation. But I stood firm, my resolve unshaken. For Alaiya, I would fight, even against the Alpha of my own pack.