For seven years as the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, Nicolas, our Alpha, had always avoided meeting my extended family beyond my parents. Whenever I brought it up, he'd use that commanding alpha tone, "The pack's stability comes first. Once our borders are secure, I’ll make time."

And I, as his Luna, believed him.

Until my mother insisted I attend a full moon celebration for my cousin Angela’s pup, Krew, whom I hadn’t seen in years. There, in the heart of the Crimson Fang Pack’s territory, I found Nicolas, laughing and playing with a young boy who bore an uncanny resemblance to him.

My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, a low growl of warning. My hands trembled as I pulled Aunt Cheyenne, a respected elder of the Crimson Fang Pack, aside. "Is that your daughter’s mate? And is the boy their pup?"

Aunt Cheyenne’s smile was warm, but her words cut like a blade. "Yes, Alpha Nicolas and Angela have been mated for six years. They’ve been living in the Lycan King’s territory but returned to formalize their bond."

"You should greet your cousin and her mate," she added, her tone dripping with a casual cruelty that made my stomach churn.

I locked eyes with Nicolas across the room. For a moment, his alpha aura faltered, and he froze, his usual confidence replaced by something I couldn’t quite place—guilt, perhaps, or fear.

Angela approached, her hand entwined with Nicolas’s, her smile radiant. "Vivienne, it’s been so long!" she said, her voice sweet but laced with a mocking edge.

"This is my mate," she announced, and Nicolas’s discomfort was palpable, though he remained silent, his alpha mask firmly in place.

The room seemed to spin around me, the chatter of the pack fading into a distant hum. Angela’s friendliness was a facade, her eyes gleaming with triumph as if she were savoring my shock.

When I didn’t respond, she tilted her head, her smile widening. "You look pale, cousin. Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps you should rest."

"Honey, you don’t mind, do you?" she purred, tightening her grip on Nicolas’s arm.

Nicolas, ever the composed Alpha, tapped her nose gently, his voice soft but laced with alpha authority. "You’ve asked, so how could I refuse?"

The intimacy between them was like a punch to the gut. The man who had just yesterday told me he was on a diplomatic mission to the Lycan King’s territory was here, standing beside my cousin as her mate, with a six-year-old pup who was his spitting image.

What did that make me? Seven years as his Luna, and I’d been living a lie.

No wonder Nicolas was always away on “diplomatic missions,” disappearing for weeks at a time. No wonder he avoided my extended family. He had another mate all along, and his words were nothing but a carefully constructed shield.

I clenched my fists, trying to maintain my composure as Luna, but my wolf’s growl grew louder, a raw, aching sound in the back of my mind. I looked at Nicolas, my eyes pleading for an explanation, but he merely met my gaze with a cold, detached expression.

"Luna Vivienne," he said, his alpha tone cutting through the air, "if you’re unwell, you should rest. It would be inconvenient if something were to happen here."

His words were a knife to my heart, and I felt my wolf whimper, a sound of pure anguish. Angela glanced between us, her brow furrowing in feigned confusion. "Do you two… know each other?"

Nicolas’s reply was immediate, his voice firm and dismissive. "I don’t know her."

The finality of his denial shattered whatever hope I had left. A bitter laugh escaped my lips, hollow and broken.

Just then, Krew rushed over, wrapping his small arms around Nicolas’s leg. "Daddy, will you play with me? Mommy’s tired because she has a baby sister in her tummy."

Nicolas stiffened, his eyes darting to me before he quickly regained his composure. He ruffled Krew’s hair, his voice softening. "Of course, pup. Daddy will play with you."

Krew beamed, tugging at Angela’s hand. "Mommy, come too!"

Angela laughed, her voice light and carefree. "Of course, sweetheart."

I stood there, feeling like an outsider in my own life. Krew’s innocent excitement only underscored the depth of Nicolas’s betrayal. He had a family—a mate, a pup, and another on the way—while I had been nothing but a pawn in his twisted game.

Angela turned to me, her mask of sweetness slipping to reveal the venom beneath. "You know, Vivienne, since we moved to the Lycan King’s territory, Nicolas visited me every month. He rented the apartment next to ours just to be close to me. Even before we formalized our bond."

Her hand rested on her swollen belly, a deliberate gesture that made my stomach churn. "You’ve been mated for seven years and still no pups, right? He told me his pups could only come from me. Any other female’s child, he wouldn’t acknowledge."

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It’s time to face reality, dear cousin."

I felt frozen, my wolf’s growl now a distant echo of pain. Nicolas had always insisted on precautions, always dismissed my desire for pups with promises of “later.” Now I knew why. He had a pup—just not with me.

Krew turned and waved, his voice bright. "Mommy, come on!"

Angela answered with an enthusiastic "Coming!" and dashed towards them, throwing herself into Nicolas’s arms. He held her close, whispering something that made her cling to him with an intimacy that felt like a dagger twisting in my chest.

Watching the three of them together, I felt the chill of isolation seep into my bones, even under the warm light of the full moon. I was no longer the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack—I was an outsider, a shadow in the life of the man I had once called my mate.

My gaze drifted absently to the family of three not far away.

Perhaps sensing my stare, Alpha Nicolas glanced up in my direction, only to quickly look away when our eyes met. I tugged at the corners of my mouth in a self-deprecating smile, unable to pull my gaze away. I just stood there, watching them, as if trying to sear the scene into my memory forever.

As I watched, my phone suddenly buzzed with a message from the Alpha:

*“I'll explain everything when I get back tonight.”*

*“It's Krew's birthday today, please don't cause a scene, okay? Go home and calm down, alright?”*

A wave of nausea hit me instantly. I gripped my phone tightly, not responding. The Alpha glanced my way once more before pocketing his phone, acting as if nothing had happened, continuing to play with his son.

The pack gathering was full of relatives; I couldn't afford to cause a scene in front of so many family members. Otherwise, my parents would be left to bear the brunt of the gossip.

Tired from playing, Angela came over to sit across from me, and the Alpha took out a thermos to pour her some warm coffee. “Warm coffee again? It's such a hot day, I want something cold,” Angela pouted, leaning into the Alpha’s embrace, as if the whole performance was meant just for me.

The Alpha glanced at me before lowering his head and speaking gently, “No, you can't. You're pregnant, and it's not good for the pup.”

Unperturbed by the refusal, Angela merely responded, “Alright then.”

I sat silently, casting my eyes down to hide the resentment underneath. Seven years with the Alpha, and I never knew he had this side to him—gentle, attentive, his eyes brimming with affection. He never looked at me like that.

The Alpha and I had met during a pack alliance meeting, where he was the future Alpha and I was a young pack member. I really started liking him after a particular incident where a rogue wolf tried to intimidate me during a hunt. The Alpha intervened just as the rogue’s claws were inching towards my throat, stepping forward with an alpha command that made the rogue whimper and retreat.

He taught me how to navigate the hierarchy of the packs, how to use my status as Luna to influence others. I wouldn’t have achieved what I have without the Alpha's guidance.

After our mate bond was sealed, I thought he loved me. Reality served a harsh lesson.

“Vivienne,” Angela suddenly spoke, snapping me back to reality. Resting her chin on her hand, she grinned at me, “I heard from your mother that you're mated too. Why didn’t you bring your mate along? Maybe he could have a drink with your dear cousin’s mate.”

Her comment caught the attention of Aunt Cheyenne, who looked at me in surprise, “Vivienne, you're mated?”

“When did that happen? Why didn’t we know?”

Instinctively, I glanced at the Alpha, then at Angela, forcing a mocking smile. “Yes, I’m mated. But he’s dead.”

Aunt Cheyenne looked embarrassed, realizing her blunder, and awkwardly tried to comfort me. “Well, it’s alright, you can always find someone else.”

I just smiled, “Sure.”

The Alpha’s face had darkened considerably, but I pretended not to notice. Angela stared directly at me, gripping his hand. “You’ve developed quite a sense of humor after all this time. Haven’t you, Alpha?”

Without sparing me a glance, the Alpha gently stroked her head and said softly, “I don't care about other people. None of this concerns me.”

The words twisted like a knife in my heart. Meeting Angela’s gaze, I spoke loud enough for those nearby to hear, “Yes, I do joke around. Like the fact that my dear cousin is the other mate—nobody knows about that, do they?”

The room went silent as the pack members exchanged glances, curious and judgmental. Angela’s eyes widened, reddening at the corners. “Vivienne, I merely asked a couple of questions. Did you have to be so harsh? My mate is right here—how can you say that?”

I struggled to suppress my emotions, replying, “Cousin, why such a big reaction? I was only joking. Or did I hit a nerve?”

The Alpha gave me a cold, hard look. “Luna Vivienne, if you continue to slander my mate, I’ll have to consult the pack council.”

The love that was once in my mate’s eyes was replaced by an icy stare. Angela’s mother, Summer, was the first to recover, pointing a finger at me, “Vivienne, this is disgraceful. Angela is your cousin, how can you speak like this?”

“I’m calling your mother to find out how she raised you.”

Turning to her, I smiled, “Aunt Summer, I was just joking around.” Then, casting a glance at Angela, I added, “Surely my cousin doesn’t mind, right?”

The Alpha declared coldly, “Luna Vivienne, you are not welcome here. Please leave.”

Whispers among the pack were full of criticism directed at me. The pain in my heart nearly took my breath away. The Alpha, without hesitation, helped Angela up and left.

Seeing his mother upset, Krew grabbed a water gun and started spraying me. “Bad Luna! Don’t bully my mom! Get out! Dad said you’re not welcome!”

“Leave!”

My carefully done appearance was ruined, my clothes soaking wet. I looked utterly pathetic. Angela’s mother practically dragged me out, hurling insults, “Go back home! You’re not welcome here.”

“Go home and let your mother teach you how to behave.”