Silas, the Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack, made three bids at the pack auction to secure the rare medicine that could save my father, only to turn around and give it to Phoenix Montgomery, his Gamma, to feed her pet rabbit.

I knelt in the pouring rain, pleading with him to show some compassion for the friendship and mentorship he once shared with my father. But instead of any empathy, I received the news that Phoenix had taken my place as his trusted advisor and was going to a new territory with him.

It wasn’t until the Healer delivered my father’s third critical condition notice that I finally reached Silas on the mind link. On the other end, Phoenix’s voice chimed in, “Alpha is in the shower. Want me to pass on a message?”

Gripping the phone so tightly my fingers turned white, I managed to say in an even tone, “Nothing urgent, just the rejection.”

...

After ending the mind link, I went straight to the pack lawyer to draft the rejection papers. Turning around, I noticed Arely, a Delta from our pack and one of my father’s former students, arriving with concern. They were shocked that something so significant had happened, and I was left to bear it alone.

I didn’t make any excuses for Silas. Instead, I hugged my knees and crouched in the corner. Just half an hour earlier, I’d seen a picture on his social media. There he was, spending all our savings on that rare medicine—with Phoenix, feeding her rabbit.

At first, I thought he hadn’t seen my countless messages, but he found the time to like and comment on his own post. This time, I could no longer fool myself. I realized our mate bond was over.

When my father was taken to the Healer’s den, I went to the pack hall to request a leave of absence. That’s when I finally saw Silas, who had rushed back from the new territory. It seemed like he didn’t even notice me as he headed straight to Bradley, the Beta.

“Beta, I’d like to recommend Phoenix for my project team, to work with me on the research.”

So that was it; he’d rushed back not for his mentor, but to make sure Phoenix replaced me. My pack members cast sympathetic glances in my direction before quickly looking away; everyone knew my embarrassment, except for Silas, who didn’t care.

Seeing the Beta remain silent, Silas impatiently turned his frown toward me. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of your father? Why hold onto this position? You should let it go.”

Days of stress left me dazed, and under Silas’s commanding alpha tone, I nodded numbly. Having achieved his goal, he made a curt bow to the Beta and turned to leave. The breeze from his swift departure carried the scent of the rose perfume he wore, filling my nostrils. My vision blurred, and I stumbled to the ground.

Everyone around cried out in alarm, rushing to my side, except Silas, who never looked back. In my dizzy state, memories of meeting Silas played before me like a film reel. He had always stood out among his peers, and from the first meeting, my eyes were drawn to him.

Throughout our mate bond, I followed in his footsteps like a shadow. Knowing his dedication to the pack, I suggested we skip the marking ceremony so as not to hinder his responsibilities. We never celebrated a single anniversary together.

When Silas spoke of me to others, he would always smile and praise me as a good Luna. It wasn’t until he personally introduced Phoenix to the pack council that I finally realized the truth. In his heart, I was indeed a good Luna—but only just an appropriate one, nothing more.

After waking up in the Healer’s den, I took the rejection papers from the lawyer’s hand and signed my name after a long moment of contemplation.

==============================

After taking a leave from the pack hall, I resumed searching for the medicine that could save my father. His condition had worsened again, leaving the Healers at a loss. The only solution seemed to be the rare herbs from the auction, but those had already been fed to the rabbit by Silas and Phoenix.

That evening, worn out from my futile search, I returned home to find Silas packing a suitcase. Once packed, the house held almost no trace of him. This home seemed more like a temporary den to him.

“I’m leaving for the new territory next month. I need to prepare in advance, so I’ll be staying at the pack hall for a while,” he said flatly, ignoring the exhaustion on my face.

“Father...,” I began, only to be cut off by his low voice. “You don’t need to tell me about your father’s situation. Handle it on your own. If you’re here for those herbs, let me make it clear—they’re gone. You’ll have to find new ones.”

Recalling the video, my throat felt unbearably dry. “Is there anyone or anything more important to you than me and Father?”

He casually replied, “No one lives for just one thing. Of course, there are many important people and things to me.” Seeing his slight frown, I knew his patience was waning. Just as I turned to leave, I saw him carefully place a worn photo into his notebook. It was a picture of him and Phoenix from years ago.

In all our years together, Silas and I never had a single photo of us. The only picture I had of him was taken secretly while he was asleep. He’d said he didn’t like having his picture taken, yet he cherished the one with Phoenix.

When his packing was done, I presented the rejection papers I had prepared. Seeing the document, Silas frowned.

“Is this about the auction or the new territory position? Mila, you know this isn’t something a good Luna would do.”

“I have a lot to handle before going to the new territory and really can’t engage in drama with you right now. If you think these issues warrant a rejection, I’ll sign, giving you time to calm down.”

“But I suggest not making a scene. Otherwise, people might mistakenly think I’m rejecting you because of Phoenix. She’s innocent and shouldn’t be dragged into your unfounded tantrum.”

Seeing my resolute stance, Silas finally took the papers and signed his name.

“Mila, I’ve always thought you were smart and graceful, so I hope this impulsive action is your last.”

Watching him leave with his suitcase, I collapsed onto the couch, drained. Even now, he thought I was only acting out of spite. But this time, I truly wanted the rejection. I needed it to get the medicine for my father.

After delivering the signed rejection papers to the lawyer, I dialed an unfamiliar number. “I’ll get the rejection certificate in a month and mark you as my mate. When will you provide the medicine?”

My father's health has finally improved.

It has been a month since Silas and I completed the rejection ceremony, severing our mate bond. The formal words still echo in my mind, sharp and final: "I, Silas Watson, Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack, reject you, Mila, as my mate." The bond had burned through me like wildfire, leaving behind only ashes and a hollow ache in my chest.

After finalizing the paperwork for my return to the pack's healing center, I ran into Silas and Phoenix Montgomery as I was leaving the packhouse. Phoenix was wearing Silas's jacket, the dark fabric draped over her shoulders like a claim.

"Luna Mila," she said, her voice dripping with faux concern, "I accidentally spilled some wolfsbane extract on my clothes in the training grounds, and Alpha Silas was worried about the potential harm, so he lent me his jacket."

I looked at Silas silently, my gaze steady despite the turmoil churning within me. My wolf whimpered faintly in the back of my mind, a soft, pained sound. I nodded, unwilling to engage. Just as I was about to step around them and leave, Phoenix spoke again.

"Luna Mila, where are you headed? Aren’t you here for the farewell party Alpha Silas and I are having?"

Farewell party?

I frowned slightly, confusion clear in my eyes. Phoenix noticed my reaction and pretended to be surprised.

"Alpha Silas and I are heading to the northern territories in three days. The pack has arranged a farewell gathering for us. Didn’t Alpha Silas mention it to you?"

"I came across the rejection papers in Alpha Silas’s office a few days ago. I thought you two were joking. Is it real?"

Phoenix’s voice was loud enough for those heading to the dining hall to hear, and their eyes fell on Silas and me in disbelief. We had been the pack’s model pair, the Alpha and Luna who seemed inseparable. The murmurs began immediately, whispers of shock and curiosity rippling through the crowd.

Hearing the murmurs, Silas frowned and walked over to me, draping his jacket over my shoulders. His Alpha aura, usually so commanding, felt distant and cold.

"I’ve been caught up with pack responsibilities these past few days and forgot to mention the gathering. Since you’re here, why not join us?"

The dining hall was filled with pack members whom I had known for years, so I didn’t want to spoil the mood. At the gathering, Silas sat with Professor Judson Murphy, the pack’s senior Healer, on his left, while Phoenix naturally took the seat on his right. I found a random spot, ignoring Silas’s searching gaze.

This was the first time Silas and I were sitting so far apart in such a setting.

"Luna Mila," Professor Murphy said, his tone respectful but warm, "I heard your father’s health is improving. I’ve been so tied up with pack healings lately that I haven’t had the chance to visit."

Silas heard this and glanced over too. All this time, he hadn’t once asked about my father’s condition. Yet, when he was caught up in a controversy over misallocated pack resources, it was my father who vouched for him, proving his innocence and saving his position as Alpha.

"Yes, he’s much better. He shouldn’t have major issues for the next few years."

Phoenix, overhearing, turned to me with a tone of mock surprise.

"Luna Mila, where did you find the medicine? If there’s any spare, could you share some with me? The supplements Alpha Silas got at the pack auction last time were a hit with my pet rabbit, Fluffy."

Her words hung in the air, a subtle reminder of where Silas’s priorities had lain. The rare ingredients I had painstakingly acquired for my father’s recovery, Phoenix had fed to her pet. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf growling softly in my mind, but I kept my expression neutral.

"Unfortunately, the medicine is specific to my father’s condition," I replied calmly. "I’m sure Alpha Silas can find something else for Fluffy."

Silas’s gaze flickered to me, a flicker of something—guilt, perhaps—crossing his face, but he said nothing. The meal continued, the distance between us growing with each passing moment.