Jrue’s phone lay abandoned on the couch, buzzing incessantly. He hadn’t taken it with him to the bedroom, and the noise was grating on my nerves. After what felt like an eternity, I finally picked it up. I tried several passwords—our anniversary, the date of our marking ceremony, even his Alpha coronation day—but none worked. Then I remembered Lilian’s birthday, scribbled in his diary years ago. I hesitated for a moment before entering it. The screen unlocked instantly. I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. Of course. Even after all this time, Lilian still held that kind of power over him. Her birthday was his password, a constant reminder of the woman he truly wanted.

The messages in their group chat kept pinging, tagging Jrue repeatedly. My fingers trembled as I scrolled through their past conversations. My mind went blank, my chest tightening as my heart pounded violently.

"I originally thought that by marking Melanie, Lilian would get jealous and come back to me. But when she didn’t, I went ahead and marked her anyway."

"Lilian can't have pups, but she really wants one. I need to make that dream come true for her because a pup would be the only thing connecting us."

The words hit me like a physical blow, and I felt my wolf whimper faintly in the back of my mind, a low, pained sound. My heart turned to ice.

"But this is unfair to Melanie. After all, the pup would be hers, born through her own effort and pain."

"Melanie is healthy; we'll have more pups. But Lilian will never have any in her lifetime. She can be expected to stay quiet about it."

I glanced toward the bedroom, where Jrue’s soft snores drifted down. My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. Tears streamed down my face, and my chest heaved with the effort of holding back a scream. My lips trembled uncontrollably.

No wonder Jrue had suddenly started talking about wanting a pup. I’d been naive enough to believe that my years of loyalty and devotion had finally softened him, that he’d seen me as more than just his Luna, his mate. But now it was clear—this was all about Lilian. She couldn’t have pups, so he’d decided to use me to give her one. The bitterness of it all twisted my stomach, and the hatred in my eyes felt like it could burn through the walls.

Their plan was meticulous, but how could they possibly think I’d let my pup call another woman ‘Mother’? The thought alone made my wolf snarl, a low, guttural sound that echoed in my mind. I wasn’t just a pawn in their twisted game, and I wouldn’t let them turn my child into one either.

Early in the morning, I arrived at the hospital to check in for my stay. Having the pack healers nearby meant I had someone to look after me; at home, I could only rely on myself.

As I made my way upstairs to my room, I ran into two familiar faces—Alpha Jrue and Lilian. Jrue was wearing a tailored black shirt, the one I had given him not long ago. His face was etched with concern as he carefully supported Lilian in his arms.

We crossed paths on the stairs. Jrue's eyes widened with surprise when he saw me, and he instinctively turned to Lilian.

"Must be pack business," he said, his alpha tone sharp and dismissive. "You should head to your room first. I'll come by once I handle this."

With that, he grabbed my wrist and led me towards the stairway, not even giving me a moment to regain my balance before he brusquely pushed me aside.

"I'm just here with her for a check-up, and you tracked us to the hospital?" he said with a sneer. "How did you know we were here? Been stalking my pack members again? Can't bear to be without me, can you?"

His words cut deep. I forced a smile, steadying myself against the railing. "I'm just feeling unwell and came for a check-up. Running into you both is purely coincidental; you're overthinking it."

At my explanation, Jrue laughed coldly. "Come on, you couldn't have come up with a more convenient excuse. I've seen your medical reports; you're perfectly fine. Why play the fragile act in front of me, Luna? Why all the theatrics? Wouldn’t it be more sensible to stay home and rest than trail me?"

I opened my mouth to defend myself when a pack healer, Lakelyn, hurried over. "Your mate fainted, Alpha. You need to come quickly."

I realized that when she said "mate," she must have meant Lilian. Jrue didn’t correct her. Anxiety creased his face as he shot me a look, shaking off my hand to leave.

"Are you happy now? I've had enough of you, Luna. Go home. I'll return once I'm done. Stop bothering Lilian; she's unwell."

With that, he hurried after Lakelyn. I watched him go, rubbing my wrist, which was red from his grip. "You won't have to endure this anymore," I whispered to myself, the bond between us flickering weakly in my chest, a painful reminder of what once was.

The procedure was over quicker than I had anticipated. Lying in the cold, sterile operating room with the bright lights of the pack clinic glaring down on me, I felt something leave my body. Even though the pack healer had administered a numbing potion, a sharp pain pierced through me—not just physical, but a deep, soul-rending ache that made my wolf whimper softly in the back of my mind. A single tear slid from the corner of my eye as I gazed into the blinding white light above.

I failed this child.

As I was wheeled out of the operating room, I saw Jrue ahead, his towering Alpha frame unmistakable even from a distance. His focus was entirely on Lilian, who stood beside him, her delicate scent of jasmine wafting through the air. He didn’t even notice his Luna being pushed past him.

“The Alpha and his mate are so striking together. I’ve seen her come in often for check-ups, and he’s always by her side,” one of the pack healers remarked, her voice tinged with admiration.

“I heard she can’t carry pups because of her health,” another whispered.

“But does it matter? The Alpha clearly adores her. It’s something to envy.”

I stared up at the ceiling, numb to the discussion about my mate and another woman. My heart felt like a stone in my chest, heavy and unyielding. Since I’d discovered I was pregnant, I’d attended every prenatal appointment alone. Jrue always had the excuse of being swamped with pack duties—meetings with the Betas, skirmishes with rogue wolves, or negotiations with neighboring packs. Now, it was obvious: it wasn’t about his responsibilities; he simply didn’t want to be there with me.

Jrue seemed to harbor resentment since our last encounter at the clinic, and after our unpleasant exchange, he hadn’t reached out. Meanwhile, Lilian had been admitted too, her room just down the hall from mine. Even being so close, during all my time in the clinic, Jrue hadn’t noticed I was there. Of course, with Lilian being his perfect ideal—his “white moonlight”—how could he see anyone else? Her presence was like a beacon, drawing him in with her grace and beauty, while I remained invisible in the shadow of her perfection.

As the healers wheeled me further away, I caught a glimpse of Lilian’s delicate hand resting on Jrue’s arm, her fingers brushing against the mark on his wrist—the mark that should have symbolized our bond, our promise. But now, it felt like a cruel joke, a reminder of how easily he’d turned his back on me.

“Lilian,” Jrue said, his voice low and tender, the kind of tone he’d never used with me. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright? You don’t have to push yourself.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes soft and adoring. “I’m fine, Alpha. You worry too much.”

The words cut deeper than any blade. He worried for her, while I had been left to face this alone. My wolf growled softly, a sound of both pain and defiance, but I silenced her. There was no point in fighting this anymore. The bond between us—once strong and unbreakable—had been shattered the moment he’d chosen her over me.

As I was wheeled into the recovery room, I closed my eyes, trying to block out the sound of their voices, the scent of her jasmine, and the overwhelming presence of his Alpha aura. But even in the silence, the weight of his betrayal pressed down on me, a constant reminder that I was no longer his Luna, no longer his mate. I was just a shadow, fading into the background of a story that no longer belonged to me.