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.”

In the afternoon, Thea Gonzales entered the Alpha’s office, a stack of resource reports in hand. The room was imposing, as befitting the leader of the pack, with heavy oak furniture and the faint scent of pine lingering in the air. Xavier Ford, the Alpha, sat behind his desk, his broad frame commanding the space. He looked up as she approached, his dark eyes unreadable.

“Alpha,” Thea said, placing the documents in front of him. “These require your signature.”

Xavier took the papers, his fingers brushing hers briefly as he did so. He signed them with a swift, confident hand before handing them back to her. “Thea,” he began, his voice softer than usual, “about last night’s incident with the cake. Addilyn wasn’t thinking. Is Celine alright?”

Thea held the signed documents to her chest, her expression neutral. “She’s fine, Alpha. The healers took care of her.”

There was a pause, and Xavier’s gaze lingered on her. Since their separation, he had been less combative, as if the guilt of their fractured mate bond weighed on him. His eyes trailed over her figure, noticing the way the dress she wore accentuated her toned waist. “You’ve lost weight,” he remarked, his tone tinged with surprise. “That dress suits you.”

Thea had indeed been dedicating herself to training, her body transforming into something lean and strong. It was a stark contrast to Addilyn, whose pregnancy had softened her once-slender frame.

Xavier’s nostrils flared slightly, and his brow furrowed. “Have you changed your scent?” he asked, his voice low.

Thea tilted her head, her lips curving into a small smile. “Yes, a friend thought it suited me.”

Xavier’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something—curiosity, perhaps jealousy—crossing his face. “A male friend?” he pressed, his tone sharper now.

Thea didn’t answer. Instead, she turned on her heel, the fabric of her dress swishing softly as she walked away. Her smile lingered, a subtle challenge in her expression as she left the Alpha’s office.

Weekends were the days Xavier, the Alpha, had set aside to spend with his pup, Celine.

Celine, her tiny tail wagging with excitement, had slipped into her Elsa dress at dawn, her eyes sparkling at the thought of a day at the amusement park with her father. But then, Xavier’s call came, his deep Alpha tone laced with regret, explaining that something urgent had arisen within the pack—he couldn’t make it.

Celine’s ears drooped, her small frame trembling as she let out a whimper. By nightfall, she was burning up with fever.

Thea, her heart heavy but her resolve unwavering, carried Celine to the pack’s healing den. There, in the sterile glow of the den’s lights, she ran into Xavier.

He stood tall, his broad shoulders tense, his Alpha aura faintly flickering. “Addilyn wasn’t feeling well,” he explained, his voice low. “She’s here too.”

Thea’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing, focusing instead on Celine’s fragile form in her arms.

---

While Thea cradled a sleeping Celine, her fingers gently brushing through her daughter’s fur, Xavier approached. His presence was commanding, even in the quiet of the healing den.

For the first time since their separation, his voice softened, the Alpha tone replaced by something almost human. “Thea, I’m sorry. This must be hard for you.”

Thea’s gaze remained fixed on Celine, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. “It’s Celine you should apologize to. She’s been counting the moons to see you, and then you didn’t show.”

Xavier knelt beside them, his hand reaching out to brush Celine’s cheek. But as his fingers neared, she stirred, her small body instinctively curling closer to Thea.

His hand froze mid-air, then dropped to his side, defeated. “Have you eaten?” he asked, his tone softer now.

Thea shook her head, her eyes never leaving Celine.

Just then, Xavier’s phone buzzed—a call from Addilyn. Whatever she said made his expression darken, his Alpha aura flaring briefly before he reined it in.

“Just rest,” he said, his voice strained. “I’ll join you soon.”

Thea’s ears caught the gentleness in his tone, a stark contrast to the way he’d once spoken to her. There was a time when she’d called him, pleading for him to return to the den, only to be met with sharp words about pack duties.

After hanging up, Xavier glanced at Thea, his guilt palpable. “Addilyn wasn’t like this before. Maybe it’s the pregnancy making her more… demanding. Don’t take it personally. I’ll get you something to eat.”

“No need,” Thea replied, her voice calm but firm. “She’s carrying your pup; you should be with her. I can handle this.”

Her words, laced with quiet strength, left Xavier visibly conflicted, his fists clenching at his sides.

“Thea,” he said, his voice almost a whisper, “you’ve changed.”

She smiled, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “When you no longer have a mate to lean on, you learn to stand on your own.”

Xavier’s gaze dropped, his Alpha aura dimming as if weighed down by her words.

“Thea,” a voice called from behind him. Xavier turned to see Kian, the pack’s Healer, approaching. His white coat was spotless, and in his hands, he carried a takeout container.

Xavier’s eyes narrowed, his Alpha aura flickering dangerously, but Thea’s calm demeanor held him in place.

Kian’s presence was a quiet reassurance, his voice steady as he handed the food to Thea. “I thought you might need this.”

Thea’s smile this time was genuine. “Thank you, Kian.”

Xavier watched the exchange, his jaw tightening, but he said nothing. The weight of his guilt, his choices, and the bond that still lingered between him and Thea hung heavy in the air.