My heart raced with anticipation as I prepared to call my mate, Bennett Reed, the Beta of our pack, to share the incredible news. My father, Alpha Robert Reed of the Silver Moon Pack, had finally accepted him. The financial struggles Bennett had been facing with the pack’s resources would soon be resolved, and our future seemed brighter than ever.

Just as I reached for my phone, a notification from Liv Henry, Bennett’s business partner, popped up on Instagram. She had uploaded an ultrasound image with the caption, "Love defies convention." Bennett had liked it, and in a moment of impulsive curiosity, I did too, commenting, "Congratulations, congrats!"

Then, the post vanished.

Before I could process what had happened, Bennett’s call came through, his voice laced with fury. "Stop causing trouble, Kylie! Liv is carrying my pup. She’s the daughter of the Lycan King’s most trusted ally. Mating her will secure the pack’s future and solve all our problems. We need to reject our bond."

My world shattered in an instant. My father had another daughter?

Only minutes earlier, my parents had called, expressing their willingness to accept Bennett for the sake of our pup. Tears of joy had filled my eyes as I planned to tell Bennett the truth—that I was the daughter of Alpha Robert Reed, the most influential werewolf in the region—and invite him to join me at the pack gathering tonight. With his financial struggles, my father would surely help him.

But then, Liv’s post appeared on my screen: an ultrasound image captioned, "Love defies convention." Bennett had already liked it, so I did too, adding a comment, "Congratulations! Congrats!"

Liv, Bennett’s business partner, was sharp and capable. We’d met a few times at pack events, and she always greeted me warmly, calling me "sister-in-law" with a friendly smile. But as far as I knew, Liv wasn’t mated. Did she have a mate?

Seconds later, the post disappeared.

Bennett’s call came through, his anger palpable. "Stop making trouble, Kylie! Liv is pregnant with my pup. She’s the daughter of the Lycan King’s closest ally, and mating her will solve all our pack’s issues. We need to reject our bond."

I froze, the words hitting me like a physical blow. Liv, the daughter of the Lycan King’s ally? Then who am I supposed to be?

It took a moment to grasp that Bennett wasn’t joking.

In disbelief, I nearly screamed, "What are you saying, Bennett? Have you lost your mind?"

His voice was unnervingly calm, devoid of any guilt. "I’m serious, Kylie. This is the situation, and you just have to accept it."

My voice trembled, "What about our pup? What do you plan to do?"

"I’ve discussed it with Liv. She’s willing to accept you and the pup, but she doesn’t want to be in the shadows."

"We’ll reject the bond first. I’ll mate Liv, and you’ll still be my mate in secret. I’ll take care of you and the pup."

Bennett sighed, as if he were offering me some grand romantic gesture. "Kylie, I love you. To ensure you and the pup have a better life, this is the only way."

"If you don’t want to live under the same roof, that’s fine. Liv has a summer lodge where she’ll stay."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Could these words really be coming from the mate I had trusted with my life?

"Bennett, you must be dreaming!"

With all my strength, I hurled my phone against the wall, the sound of it shattering echoing in the silence of my room. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of pain and betrayal rumbling in the back of my mind.

He doesn’t mean it, my wolf whispered weakly. He can’t.

But the coldness in Bennett’s voice had left no room for doubt. The mate bond that had once felt unbreakable now felt like a chain, tightening around my heart.

I had been mated to Bennett since our days at the pack’s academy—a total of eight years—and we had been officially marked for two. When I chose him as my mate, despite his status as a Beta with limited resources, I severed ties with my parents, the Alpha and Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. I had declared to them, "I’ll prove you wrong about Bennett." But in just two short years, I was forced to face a harsh reality.

The storm outside raged with thunder and lightning as I spent the night crying on the floor of our den. I couldn’t wrap my head around how Bennett had become this way, or if perhaps he had always been like this and I was just too blind to see it. When did he start his affair with Liv? Had they been sneaking around right under my nose, laughing at how naive I was? Goddess, I was so stupid, never doubting Bennett for a second.

I cried all night, and Bennett didn’t come home. He must have been with Liv, probably celebrating in their shared den. I gently caressed my restless baby bump, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt. *I’m sorry, pup,* I whispered to myself, my wolf whimpering softly in the back of my mind.

By the time I dragged my exhausted body out of the bedroom the next day, it was nearly noon. Bennett walked in as I opened the door, carrying a bag from Jean’s Café, a place known for its lavish brunches. Our eyes met, and he, likely out of guilt, avoided my gaze. He casually placed the pricey pastries on the dining table.

“You’ve always wanted to have brunch from Jean’s, right? I brought some for you today,” he said, his voice calm but distant. Yes, I had always wanted to go, but he always said, “Next time. I’ve been so busy lately.” “Besides, it’s so expensive. What’s the big deal?”

And yet he finally found the time to go, suddenly not concerned about the cost? And he brought me leftovers. Did he think so little of me now?

I sat across from him, glanced at the pastries, and gave him a sarcastic smile. “Congrats! You’ve landed the heiress. You can visit Jean’s whenever you want now.”

Bennett let out a deep sigh. “Stop being so sarcastic. I thought you’d understand after mulling it over all night. Kylie, marking Liv is strictly for the pack’s benefit. She can help my career! I made it very clear over the phone that you’re still the woman I love most. Even without the official bond, I’ll take care of you and the pup.”

He took out the rejection papers and even had a pen ready for me. “Sign it. You don’t have another choice.”

“I don’t have another choice? How do you know I don’t?” Bennett frowned. “The pup is already over four months along. Are you really going to be so heartless as to not bring him into the world?”

“If you keep the pup, it’s been over two years since you worked. The outside world isn’t easy, and you have no pack support. How will you raise the child alone? Kylie, don’t be stubborn. I’ve already planned for you and the pup’s future. I promise I won’t let you down.”

His words cut through me like cold, sharp knives. From Liv’s ultrasound report, it was clear her pregnancy was at least three months along. Bennett had waited until now to confront me so that my pregnancy would be too far along, forcing me to rely on him. Looking at the man I once thought I’d love forever, he seemed like a complete stranger.

If I were truly a helpless she-wolf with no support, I’d indeed have no other choice. But unfortunately for him, he was wrong. I wasn’t just Kylie Reed, the mate of a struggling Beta. I was the daughter of the Alpha and Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, and I had more strength and resources than he could ever imagine.

I forced a grim smile as I picked up the rejection papers and scanned their contents carefully. As expected, he wanted me to walk away with virtually nothing, leaving me with only this three-bedroom apartment in the Silver Moon Pack territory.

"The rejection can go ahead, but I'm not signing this agreement," I said through clenched teeth, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. "You're the one who betrayed the mate bond, not me, so why should I be the one left with nothing? You should be leaving empty-handed, not me!"

Bennett, still wearing the faint scent of Liv Henry on his clothes, seemed nonchalant, almost as if he had anticipated my reaction. "I have nothing but debt anyway," he said coolly, his Beta aura flickering with guilt. "Even this apartment is already mortgaged to the pack's treasury."

What was he implying?

How could a Beta of the Silver Moon Pack possibly have only debts and no assets?

I was still reeling from the shock when Bennett's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered it in a gentle tone, his voice softening in a way that made my stomach churn. "I'll be there soon, just hang tight."

It was clear that Liv was on the other end, impatiently waiting for him. Her floral scent, so different from my own, seemed to linger in the air.

Bennett hung up and looked at me with irritation, his Beta aura pressing down on me in a way that felt almost suffocating. "Just sign it, don't drag this out any longer."

I seethed with anger, my wolf snarling silently in my mind. "Did you stash our pack assets away?"

He avoided the question, only saying, "Assets aren't important. I'll make sure you and the pup are taken care of."

I gritted my teeth, my wolf pacing restlessly. "The rejection will happen, but I'm not letting this shady asset transfer during our mate bond go unchecked."

My father, Alpha Robert Reed, has influence, but this injustice is unbearable.

How could he treat me like this?

"What are you going to do? Bring it before the pack council and come after me?" Bennett sneered, his Beta aura flaring. "Do you even have the resources to challenge me?"

"What good will it do to fight me tooth and nail for you or the pup?"

Our standoff continued, interrupted by the sharp sound of his phone ringing again.

Bennett clenched his fists, his Beta aura crackling with tension. "Kylie, don't hold it against me!"

He then stood up, grabbed me roughly, and forced my fingerprint onto the rejection papers. During our struggle, my swollen belly slammed painfully into the corner of the table, but Bennett didn't let up. He shoved the pen into my hand, holding my wrist and forcing me to sign despite my agony.

With the agreement in his grip, Bennett immediately picked up Liv's call and walked out, his Beta aura trailing behind him like a shadow.

"Bennett, you bastard!!"

"I hate you!!"

He glanced back at me from the hallway, his expression full of guilt and helplessness. "Kylie, I don't want it to be like this either!"

"You know the sacrifices I've made to climb up. The pack's next round of funding is critical, and without Liv's backing, all my efforts will crumble!"

"I love you, Kylie!! Trust me, this is the only path for you, me, and our pup to have a better life."

With that, he slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the apartment like a final blow.

The pain in my abdomen was relentless. I looked down to see a streak of blood trailing down my leg.

As anger boiled within me, a torrent of fear crashed over me. My wolf howled silently in my mind, a sound of pure anguish.

I couldn't stand anymore. I collapsed onto the floor, summoning all my remaining strength to reach for the phone on the coffee table to dial the pack's healing center.