Thea Gonzales and Xavier Ford had been mates for seven years.

During their toughest times, when their pack struggled with scarce resources, they survived on scraps of meat and bread rolls for two months. There was even a period when they couldn’t afford to maintain their den and slept under the stars in the forest. Yet, those were the years when they were most in love.

Later, as Xavier’s pack grew in strength and prosperity, the wolves around him began to flatter him, and he started to change. During pack council meetings, whenever Thea, his Luna, disagreed with him, even if she was right, he took it as a challenge to his authority. It seemed that because she had seen him at his lowest, he felt she was trying to undermine him, dismissing everything she said as if she doubted his capability as Alpha. Gradually, a rift grew between them.

The breaking point came one night when Xavier returned to their den after a neighboring pack gathering, his aura heavy with dominance and the scent of alcohol clinging to him. He clumsily tore off Thea’s traditional Luna cloak and kissed her forcefully. It had been a long time since they had been intimate. His sudden passion overwhelmed her, and she softened in his arms. But just as they were reaching the height of intimacy, Xavier held her tightly and, in a moment of thoughtlessness, whispered, "Addilyn..."

Thea’s blood froze, and she felt as though her heart had been struck with a heavy blow. Xavier’s ardor vanished. He rolled away and sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her. The den was dark, enveloped in stifling silence.

Staring at the shadowed ceiling, Thea silently cried.

After what felt like an eternity, Xavier extinguished his cigar, broke the silence, and said, "Let’s end this, Thea."

"I’m tired of the little things, like your scent lingering everywhere. And your presence, it’s always the same. Aren’t you tired of it? It’s suffocating me."

He laid it all bare: "Being with you feels too familiar. But she’s different. She makes me feel alive and excited."

"I can’t keep compromising like this anymore. Name your terms for the separation. I’ll do my best to fulfill them, just let us be."

Xavier left their den that very night.

Thea had yelled, pleaded, and fought. But none of it mattered. His decision to abandon her and their pup was final.

The only consideration he had left was sparing their daughter, Celine, from the harsh truth. They agreed to tell her that her father was busy with pack duties and would return soon. Yet, less than six months after the separation, little Celine persistently clung to Thea, asking for her father and insisting he come home.

Thea’s wolf whimpered in the back of her mind, a sound of pain and betrayal. She had stood by Xavier through every struggle, every challenge, and now he had cast her aside as if she were nothing more than an Omega. The weight of his rejection pressed heavily on her, but she couldn’t let it break her. For Celine’s sake, she had to stay strong.

That evening, Celine once again seized the opportunity when Thea wasn’t paying attention and secretly grabbed her phone, making a video call to Xavier.

When the call connected, she enthusiastically shouted, "Alpha!"

But it was Addilyn who answered.

Addilyn warmly greeted Celine through the screen, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Hey there, Celine."

Celine’s expression turned serious, her small brows furrowing as she asked, "Who are you? Why do you have my dad’s phone?"

With a cheerful grin, Addilyn replied, "I’m your dad’s—"

"Celine!" Thea suddenly interrupted, her voice sharp and commanding, cutting Addilyn off mid-sentence. She swiftly took the phone from her daughter’s grasp, her fingers trembling slightly as she ended the call abruptly. Startled, Celine burst into tears, her tiny body shaking with sobs.

Feeling both guilty and heartbroken, Thea knelt down and gathered her daughter into her arms. "I’m sorry, sweetie," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "It was Mommy’s fault for scaring you. I’m really sorry."

Celine cried throughout the evening, her small hands clutching Thea’s shirt tightly as if afraid her mother might disappear. Eventually, she fell asleep in Thea’s arms, her breath hitching occasionally as dreams claimed her.

Watching her daughter’s innocent face, Thea felt too distressed to sleep. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, sorrow, and a deep, aching regret. She reached for her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen before she tapped into Instagram.

Addilyn’s latest post stared back at her.

"Happy one-year anniversary, Alpha Ford! Thanks for your love and companionship. I’m so happy and looking forward to our family of three. Love you~"

Thea’s chest tightened as she tapped on the photo that accompanied the post.

In the picture, Xavier’s large, muscular frame loomed protectively over Addilyn, his Alpha aura palpable even through the screen. His hand held hers, and on her ring finger was a massive diamond ring, its brilliance mocking Thea’s memories.

Thea remembered when she and Xavier had shared those blissfully happy moments.

When their pack had secured its first major alliance, Xavier had taken her to a jewelry store, insisting on buying her a ring worthy of his Luna. Thea had protested, thinking of the pack’s resources, and settled for a modest ring with a small diamond.

That day, they had walked out of the store, hand in hand, Thea lifting her ring-clad hand towards the rising moon, watching the small diamond sparkle under its light. Even then, it had felt magical.

Xavier had held both her hands tightly, his Alpha tone softening as he promised, "Thea, I’ll give you a good life. You’ll never regret choosing me as your mate."

But Xavier, you’ve broken your promise.

Thea’s wolf stirred within her, a low growl of pain and betrayal echoing in her mind. She clenched her jaw, forcing the emotions down. She couldn’t let it consume her—not now, not when Celine needed her.

She glanced at her daughter’s sleeping form, her heart aching with a fierce protectiveness. She would be strong—for Celine, for herself. The Moon Goddess had tested her, but she would not falter.

Yet, as she lay there in the dim light of the den, the weight of Xavier’s broken vow pressed heavily on her chest, a reminder of the life they had once built—and the life he had shattered.

The next day, whispers rippled through the pack den about the gleaming mate bond mark on Addilyn Freeman’s neck. Everywhere Thea Gonzales went, she felt the weight of curious stares and hushed murmurs trailing her like shadows.

Her close friend, Paislee Larson, pulled her into the private quarters of the packhouse, her amber eyes blazing with frustration. “Addilyn’s got some nerve, doesn’t she? You should’ve made sure Alpha Xavier walked away with nothing, stripped of his title and resources!”

Thea calmly poured herself a cup of herbal tea, her hands steady despite the tension in the air. “Alpha Xavier’s no fool,” she replied, her voice calm but firm. “He gave me our den, the resources, and custody of our pup, Celine. That means he wanted to keep his position as Alpha. How else would he provide for Addilyn and their future pup?”

Paislee growled low in her throat, her wolf bristling. “But, Luna Thea, you know what the pack is saying behind your back, right? They say you’re lingering around, refusing to be cast aside, just to win him back.”

Through the open doorway of the quarters, Thea glanced at the bustling packhouse. Those who’d been watching quickly averted their gazes, pretending to be engrossed in their tasks. The hierarchy of the pack was clear—Alphas commanded respect, and even whispers were veiled with deference.

“They’re not entirely wrong,” Thea murmured, her voice carrying the quiet strength of a former Luna. “I’m not ready to just walk away.”

She set her cup down, her golden-brown eyes hardening. “Why should I be the one who stood by Alpha Xavier through every challenge, only for Addilyn to swoop in and reap the rewards? Why does her pup get a father while my daughter ends up in a single-parent den?”

“But I don’t want that man,” Thea continued, her tone unwavering. “What I want is his position, the very thing he prides himself on.”

For that, she was willing to do whatever it took. The pack’s hierarchy was strict, and Alphas held power that could make or break a wolf’s life. Thea knew the game well—she had played it as Luna for years. Now, she intended to play it again, but this time, for her own gain.

Paislee’s eyes gleamed with admiration and a hint of worry. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Luna Thea. But if anyone can pull it off, it’s you.”

Thea gave a faint smile, the kind that carried the quiet determination of a wolf who had survived the harshest winters. “Watch me.”