The evening of my 20th birthday celebration was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the Hunter Pack. Instead, it became the night Maurice George, the Beta of the George Pack and my childhood friend, shattered our mate bond in front of everyone, bringing Georgina Woods, my long-time rival, into the spotlight.

After that night, my family severed all ties and alliances with the George Pack.

When pack members proposed a joint training session, my brother Isaias, a Delta in our pack, declared firmly, "Not interested. I have no association with the Georges anymore."

For a new collaboration with a neighboring pack, my best friend Giuliana, a rising star in our ranks, announced, "I’m stepping back from managing alliances with the George Pack. My loyalty lies solely with Ophelia and the Hunter Pack."

An offer from the Lycan King himself requested my presence as a representative for a prestigious pack mission. I accepted, but not as a member tied to the George Pack.

My parents, Alpha Uriel and Luna Brooke, found the situation intolerable and withdrew all support from the George Pack, cutting them off entirely.

---

At my birthday celebration, Maurice brought Georgina Woods. He knew exactly how much I despised her. The grand hall of our packhouse was filled with the scent of pine and wildflowers, the air buzzing with the chatter of pack members and allies. I stood at the center, my polite smile masking the unease creeping into my chest.

Maurice stepped forward, his imposing frame towering over the crowd. "Packmates and friends," he began, his voice carrying the weight of a Beta. "Today is Ophelia’s birthday, and I’d like to take this opportunity to share some important news."

The murmurs of congratulations began, but I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I glanced at Maurice, hoping he wouldn’t announce something I couldn’t take back. Moments earlier, I’d caught him and Georgina exchanging intimate glances in the shadows.

"Georgina, come up here," Maurice called, his voice steady. Georgina, dressed in a flowing white gown that seemed to glow under the chandelier, stepped onto the stage beside him. Her presence was commanding, her scent—a mix of jasmine and something sharp—filling the air.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Maurice continued, "Georgina and I have pledged our lives to each other. I’m sure you’ve all heard about my mate bond with Ophelia, but that was a decision made when we were children—no formal vow was ever exchanged. From now on, our packs will continue as allies, but our personal paths are our own."

The room erupted into whispers, the tension palpable. Just as my mother, Luna Brooke, moved to intervene, I held her back, my grip firm.

"Mom, should we continue the celebration?" I asked, my voice low but steady.

"Of course we’ll continue!" she replied, her tone fierce. "We won’t let anyone steal this night from us." She took my hand and led me onto the stage.

Maurice and Georgina were still basking in the spotlight, their words turning what should have been my celebration into their moment. My mother, with her usual grace, snatched the microphone from Georgina, her Luna aura radiating authority.

"Packmates," she began, her voice cutting through the murmurs, "tonight was meant to honor my daughter, Ophelia. It seems the George Pack found their own occasion lacking and chose to use our gathering for their announcement. Fortunately, the Hunter Pack has no shortage of venues. If you’ll kindly follow me, we’ll continue the celebration elsewhere."

With her command, the crowd began to disperse, their loyalty to the Hunter Pack clear. Maurice’s expression darkened, but I didn’t linger to see it. My mother and I exited the hall, the cool night air a relief against my skin.

As we stepped outside, Elise Meyer, Maurice’s mother and a former ally, approached me, her scent tinged with desperation. "Ophelia, please, let’s talk—"

My mother intervened, her presence a shield. "Elise, your son’s actions have deeply hurt my daughter and our pack. You’ll face the consequences."

Elise and my mother had been close once, their bond forged in their youth. The arrangement between Maurice and me had been their doing, a decision made long ago. We’d supported the George Pack for years, never expecting their betrayal to be so public. My mother’s cold demeanor made it clear—their friendship was over.

By the time we returned to our den, it was past midnight. I heard Maurice and Elise had waited outside, but I didn’t care to see them. The bond between Maurice and me was broken, and with it, so was the alliance between our packs.

Out of basic decency, my mother, the Luna of the Hunter Pack, didn’t order them to leave, but the coldness in her aura was unmistakable. It filled the room like a frost, sharp and unyielding. I stood beside her, my spine straight, refusing to show any weakness in front of them.

"Dear sister," Elise Meyer began, her voice smooth but laced with a desperation that made my wolf stir uneasily in the back of my mind. "I’ve already spoken to Maurice, and he knows he’s made a grave mistake. You and Ophelia have been wronged, but surely, she won’t hold this against her aunt, will she?"

Elise had always been kind to me growing up, treating me like her own daughter. I’d called her Aunt Elise since I was a pup. But now, standing here, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of their betrayal. Maurice, a Beta from the George Pack, had once been my mate bond—or so I thought. Until he’d publicly rejected me at my birthday celebration, in front of the entire pack, for Georgina Woods.

My wolf whimpered faintly, a sound only I could hear. *He’s not worth it,* she murmured, her voice a low growl. *He never was.*

I forced myself to focus on Elise, her words smooth and practiced. But I knew better. In a pack as prominent as the Georges, no decision this significant would be made without the elders’ approval. Maurice standing here now meant they’d all agreed to this charade.

"Aunt Elise," I said, my voice calm but laced with a sharp edge. "Why would I be angry with you? You weren’t the one who stood in front of the entire pack and severed our bond. You surely didn’t know this would happen. If you had, you’d have already broken his legs to stop him, wouldn’t you? This must have been Maurice’s decision alone. If I were angry, it would only be with him. Don’t you agree?"

Elise’s face flushed, her composure slipping for just a moment before she quickly masked it. She turned to Maurice, her tone scolding but not harsh enough to be genuine. "You see what you’ve done? Apologize properly."

Maurice stepped forward, his eyes meeting mine for the first time since he’d walked in. There was a flicker of something—regret, maybe—but it was gone before I could be sure. "Ophelia," he began, his voice steady but hollow. "I’m sorry. But you have to understand, I couldn’t—"

"Stop," I interrupted, my voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Don’t. Just don’t."

My mother, the Luna, stepped forward, her presence commanding and unyielding. "Elise, this is a matter of your family’s integrity. Best to sort it out privately. But at this point, what solutions can you offer? Or are you just here to waste our time?"

Elise’s smile tightened, but she didn’t back down. "Sister, you know how these things work. Once something like this happens, it’s impossible to keep it quiet. Maurice has already publicly declared his intentions with Georgina, and reversing it would only cause more chaos. But I’m genuinely fond of Ophelia. I’d like to take her as my goddaughter, so we can still consider ourselves family. What do you think?"

My mother’s laugh was sharp and humorless. "What do I think? I think your family is shamelessly opportunistic! Always wanting it both ways! You’re like thieves, stealing from one pocket to fill the other—one side thick-skinned, the other shamelessly bold! What do you think?"

I’d seen my mother’s temper before, but it was rare for her to let it show so openly. It was a reminder of why she was the Luna—her strength, her authority, her refusal to be walked over.

"Luna Brooke," Elise said, her voice strained now, "please don’t be so harsh. Maurice has the right to choose his mate. Must he spend his life bound to Ophelia? He doesn’t love her. Please, don’t force him. Georgina is kind, gentle, charming—everything Ophelia isn’t. If he’s made to stay with her, his heart will never belong to her."

The words stung, but I refused to let it show. My wolf growled louder this time, a low, dangerous sound that only I could hear. *She’s wrong,* she snarled. *You’re stronger than she’ll ever be.*

"Exactly," Elise continued, her tone now almost pleading. "Let’s each take a step back. We can still be one big, happy family, can’t we?"

The audacity of her words made my blood boil. My mother, however, remained calm, her voice icy and precise. "Here’s my suggestion: don’t show your faces in front of us again, and offer compensation for the humiliation you’ve caused. Then we’ll call it even."

Elise’s patience finally snapped. "Compensation? You must be joking."

"You started this joke," my mother shot back, her gaze unyielding. "And after everything that’s been said, shouldn’t your son compensate us for the emotional distress he’s caused?"

Elise’s face darkened, her aura flaring briefly before she reined it in. "Luna Brooke, don’t push it. Do you think our pack is still the weak one that needed your help all those years ago? I’m sick of your superiority. The entire pack world is talking about how your family was publicly humiliated by ours. I wonder what face you have left to show! Don’t come crying to me later!"

With that, she turned on her heel, Maurice trailing behind her like a shadow. The door slammed shut behind them, and the room fell into a heavy silence.

I stared at the spot where they’d been standing, my chest tight with a mix of anger and relief. My wolf settled slightly, her growl fading into a low rumble. *They’re gone,* she said softly. *They’re not worth another thought.*

I nodded faintly, more to myself than anyone else. My mother placed a hand on my shoulder, her touch warm and grounding. "Don’t let them get to you," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "You’re stronger than this. You’re stronger than them."

I took a deep breath, letting her words sink in. "I know," I said quietly. And I meant it.

As I watched my mother walk away, her back straight and her aura steady, I felt a flicker of pride. She was the Luna, and one day, I would be too. And when that day came, I’d make sure no one—not Maurice, not Elise, not Georgina—would ever make me feel small again.