Five years after our mate bond was severed, Murphy Harper, my former mate and Jace’s father, stopped contributing to the pack’s resources, claiming financial difficulties. As the former Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, I felt a pang of sympathy, deciding to give him more time to sort things out before pressing the issue. But soon, rumors reached my ears—Murphy had purchased a new territory in the suburbs, taken Gabriela Holmes as his mate, and even had the audacity to warn me over the mind link not to interfere in his life. The nerve of this man to call me clingy! I laughed bitterly, my inner wolf growling in frustration.

As I was about to end the mind link, a barrage of comments from the pack’s online forum caught my attention:

"Get out fast! The Omega always ends up losing."

"She’s raising the pup only for him to repay her by taking a new mate without informing her."

"The former Luna is too proud, refusing to demand resources and becoming everyone’s doormat."

I severed the mind link, frozen in place as I stared blankly at the endless stream of messages. Most of them mocked me, saying I was destined to be a lifelong provider for others, with some even hinting at what the future held.

They speculated that I would tirelessly support Jace, working myself to death to leave him a large inheritance. But after he received the resources, he’d reveal his true self. He wouldn’t even inform me of his marking ceremony and would use my contributions to pay tribute to his father and Halle Jensen.

And when I became ill and was hospitalized in the healer’s den, even though recovery was possible, they’d predict Jace might sign away my chance of getting better. As for Murphy? He always had resources; his act of poverty was just a strategy to make me willingly support our pup, leaving Jace no guilt in taking my inheritance.

Reading these predictions made my palms sweat. With my nature, I feared I might indeed follow that path. I thought if Murphy wasn’t contributing to the pack, then fine. I could raise Jace on my own. Why involve myself further with him?

But as I absorbed every word, I envisioned a future that felt all too likely. A future I desperately wanted to avoid. My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, her presence a quiet but persistent reminder of the mate bond I once shared with Murphy. The bond that, even severed, still left a faint, haunting ache in my chest.

I clenched my fists, determination hardening within me. I wouldn’t let this prophecy come true. I wouldn’t let Murphy’s manipulation or Jace’s potential betrayal define my future. I was the former Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, and I would reclaim my strength, my dignity, and my independence. No matter what it took.

Just as my mind wandered, my pup Jace came in after finishing his training exercises. His scent—a mix of pine and youthful sweat—hit me before he even spoke. I could feel the faint tremor in his aura, a sign of his growing emotions as he approached his first shift.

He glanced at me, his amber eyes—so much like mine—narrowing in concern. "Luna," he said, his voice tinged with the deference all pack members showed their Luna, even though I was his mother. "Haven’t you prepared dinner yet? I’m starving."

"Jace," I replied, my voice softer than usual, "I’m not feeling well." His face immediately shifted from mild impatience to worry, his young wolf senses picking up on the strain in my tone. He hurried over, his movements quick and purposeful, and fetched me a warm cup of herbal tea from the kitchen. Watching him, my heart ached. How could this boy, so attentive and caring, be the one they whispered about in the pack forums? The comments replayed in my mind, each one a dagger to my heart:

[Don’t be fooled by the pup’s sweetness. He’ll betray her the moment his father calls.]

[Blood ties run deep. The Luna trusts him too much, and it’ll cost her.]

[The stricter she is, the more he’ll lean toward his father. His loyalty is already fractured.]

[Doesn’t she know his communication device has a tracker? No matter where she goes, Murphy can find them.]

[This is pointless. The Luna’s blind to the truth.]

I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. She growled softly, a warning that I couldn’t ignore. The comments had revealed two truths I could no longer deny: First, Jace’s behavior was being influenced by his father’s manipulations. Second, the device he carried was a leash, binding us to Murphy’s reach.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to give Jace—and myself—one last chance. "Jace," I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me, "what if I officially severed the mate bond with your father? What would you want?"

His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked younger than his thirteen years. "I want to stay with you, Luna," he said without hesitation, his voice firm despite the quiver in his aura. His words were sincere, but the faint flicker of uncertainty in his gaze made my stomach twist.

I sighed deeply, my wolf whining softly in my head. She wanted to believe him, to protect him, but the warnings from the pack were hard to ignore. I couldn’t abandon him based on rumors, but I also couldn’t afford to be naive. If there was even a sliver of a chance to save our bond, I had to take it.

"Jace," I said, my tone firm now, "hand me your communication device." He hesitated, his fingers brushing the sleek band on his wrist, but he obeyed, passing it to me. I removed the chip, snapping it in half before his wide eyes. "Your father’s been using this to track us," I explained, my voice calm but laced with anger. "And he’s refused to contribute to the pack’s resources. He’s abandoned us, Jace."

Tears welled in his eyes, his young wolf whimpering softly in his mind. I could feel his pain through the faint bond we shared, a reminder of the pup I’d carried for nine months. He cried silently, his shoulders shaking as the truth of his father’s betrayal sank in. My wolf growled again, this time in sorrow, and I pulled him into a tight embrace. For now, I would hold on. But the cracks in our bond were already spreading, and I wasn’t sure how long I could keep them from shattering.