Before Corbin Walker became the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, he pursued me with an intensity that bordered on obsession. Everyone in the pack knew of his devotion, and I, too, believed in it—until our third year as mates.

It was during the lunar gathering, a sacred time for our kind, that I first saw the cracks in our bond. The whispers began to spread like wildfire. Corbin, my Alpha, had been seen leaving the territory of Kiara Fox, a notorious rogue werewolf, late into the night. The pack’s warriors, loyal to him yet unable to ignore the rumors, exchanged uneasy glances as I passed by the training grounds.

“Did you hear?” one of the Omegas muttered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. “The Alpha was seen with Kiara Fox. It’s a scandal.”

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. My wolf whimpered softly in the back of my mind, sensing the turmoil before I could fully process it. But I held my head high, refusing to let the pack see my vulnerability.

The next day, the evidence was undeniable. A group of young warriors, emboldened by curiosity, had followed Corbin and returned with their tails between their legs, their faces pale. They’d seen him outside Kiara’s territory, leaning against his car, sipping wolfsbane liquor—a drink reserved for moments of contemplation or regret. As Kiara approached, he moved to greet her, his posture relaxed yet commanding, as if he belonged there. She, ever the icy enigma, shoved him away, but Corbin remained unfazed. He pursued her, murmuring words I couldn’t hear but could imagine all too well.

Two hours later, he finally left, his car disappearing into the night. Kiara Fox, a rogue known for her aloofness and independence, had never been involved in such a scandal in her eight years as a lone wolf. The pack was abuzz with speculation, and the weight of it pressed down on me like a suffocating fog.

I clutched the small, crumpled piece of paper in my hand—the results of the pregnancy test I’d taken just that morning. Five weeks. I had been carrying his pup for five weeks, and now, the future I’d envisioned for our family felt like a cruel joke.

My wolf growled softly, a mix of anger and sorrow. *He’s betrayed us,* she said, her voice echoing in my mind. *He’s broken the bond.*

I couldn’t deny it. The evidence was there, undeniable and damning. I tore the pregnancy test results into tiny pieces, my hands trembling as I scattered them to the wind. Then, I made the call. The healer, Rosa, answered on the first ring, her voice soft with concern.

“Luna,” she said, using my title with the respect it demanded. “What’s wrong?”

“I need an appointment,” I replied, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “And I need you to deliver a message to Corbin.”

Rosa hesitated, but she didn’t argue. She knew better than to question me in this state. “What message?”

I took a deep breath, the words heavy on my tongue. “Tell him I’m sending him the rejection declaration. And the divorce papers.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “Are you sure, Luna?” Rosa finally asked, her voice tinged with worry.

“Yes,” I said, my voice firm. “I’m sure.”

As I hung up, I felt a strange sense of relief. The bond between us, once so strong, was now a frayed thread, and I was ready to sever it completely. I wouldn’t raise our pup in a broken relationship, not when the trust between us had been shattered so completely.

The next morning, the papers were delivered to Corbin’s office. I didn’t wait for his response. I already knew what it would be—anger, denial, perhaps even a threat. But I was done playing the dutiful Luna. I had my own strength, my own pack to lead, and I wouldn’t let his betrayal define me.

As I walked through the territory, the pack members bowed their heads in respect, their whispers fading into silence as I passed. They knew something had changed, but they didn’t dare ask. Not yet.

For now, I would focus on my duties, on the life I was building for myself and the pup I carried. Corbin Walker might have been my mate once, but he was no longer the Alpha I was bound to. I was my own Alpha now, and I would lead my pack with the strength and determination they deserved.

---

The night of the full moon, Corbin came to my door. I could sense his presence even before he knocked, the bond between us still faintly pulsing despite the rejection. But I didn’t open the door. I stood on the other side, my arms crossed, my wolf growling softly in warning.

“Clementine,” he said, his voice low and pleading. “Let me in. We need to talk.”

“There’s nothing left to say,” I replied, my voice cold and steady. “You made your choice, Corbin. Now live with it.”

He didn’t respond, but I could feel the weight of his regret through the bond. It wasn’t enough. Not anymore.

As I turned away from the door, my wolf whispered softly in my mind. *We’re stronger than this. We’ll survive.*

And for the first time in weeks, I believed her.

Corbin’s sleek black SUV had just pulled up in front of the pack’s headquarters when a swarm of reporters descended, their cameras flashing like wildfire. I watched from the screen in my living room, my heart pounding despite the numbness that had settled in my chest.

"Alpha Corbin, does your Luna know about your affair with Kiara Fox?" one reporter shouted, shoving a microphone toward him.

"Alpha Corbin, aren’t you worried your Luna might reject the mate bond?" another chimed in, their voice dripping with curiosity.

Corbin paused, his towering frame radiating the commanding aura of an Alpha. He raised a hand, stopping his Beta, Scout, and the other guards who were ready to intervene. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes looked as composed as ever, but there was a coldness in his gaze that cut through the screen, as if he were staring directly at me.

"She won’t," he said, his voice low but carrying the weight of his Alpha tone. "And she wouldn’t dare."

The reporters fell silent, stunned by his bluntness. Before they could recover, Scout stepped forward, ushering them away as Corbin disappeared into the building, his every movement exuding the confidence of a leader who believed he was untouchable.

I still remember.

Corbin had declared countless times that he would love only me for the rest of his life. On the day of our marking ceremony, the usually reserved and composed Alpha had tears streaming down his face as he held me close. That night, he clung to me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, his breath warm against my neck as he whispered, "Clementine, I’ve finally marked you." "Clementine, at this moment, no one is happier than I am; I, Corbin Walker, am the happiest man in the world."

Three years into our bond, the entire pack knew how deeply he loved me, and he was known as a devoted mate.

And now, the harsh reality hit me like a slap in the face.

The screen flickered to another channel, but the image of Corbin’s cold expression lingered in my mind. My wolf whimpered faintly in the back of my consciousness, a soft, pained sound that mirrored the ache in my chest.

I stood up, pacing the room as the weight of his words settled over me. "She wouldn’t dare." The arrogance in his voice, the sheer certainty that I would never reject him, burned like a brand. It wasn’t just a statement—it was a challenge, a reminder of the power he held as Alpha, as my mate.

My fingers clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms. He thought I was weak. He thought I would stay, bound to him despite the betrayal, the lies, the humiliation. But he was wrong. I wasn’t the same Clementine who had once believed in fairy tales and eternal love. I wasn’t the same Luna who had put the pack’s image above my own happiness.

The doorbell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. I hesitated before opening it, finding Rosa standing there, her healer’s bag slung over her shoulder and concern etched across her face.

"Luna," she said softly, her tone respectful but laced with worry. "I came to check on you."

I stepped aside, letting her in. Rosa had always been my rock, the one person who didn’t care about titles or hierarchy when it came to supporting me. Her presence was a small comfort in the storm that had become my life.

"Did you see the news?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, her expression darkening. "He’s being reckless," she said, setting her bag down. "But you’re stronger than he thinks, Clementine. You don’t have to let him dictate your life."

Her words were a balm to my frayed nerves, but the truth still lingered in the air—Corbin’s betrayal, his arrogance, his belief that I would never leave him. I looked out the window, the moon hanging high in the sky, its pale light a reminder of the bond that still tied us together, even as it frayed at the edges.

"I know," I said finally, my voice steadier than I expected. "But he’s going to learn that I’m not the same Luna he thinks he controls."

Rosa placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "Whatever you decide, I’m here for you."

I nodded, gratitude swelling in my chest. The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in weeks, I felt a flicker of determination. Corbin Walker might have been my Alpha, my mate, but he wasn’t my keeper. And if he thought I wouldn’t dare to walk away, he was about to be proven very wrong.