For the past two months, I’ve been getting photos. Photos of my fated mate, Andrew, fucking his mistress, Crystal—a sultry omega.

【Dear Luna, Andrew left so many marks on me last night. He said I'm the only one who's ever made him feel a real orgasm.】

【Oh, and that famous soothing ability you're so proud of? I have it too. He says I can replace you completely now.】

【Don't worry, I'll take good care of your mate for you.】

In the photos, a smudge of Crystal's lipstick was a glaring stain on Andrew’s mate mark.

Looking at those messages, disbelief curdled into despair, and finally, into a cold, hard numbness.

Until tonight, when the Moon Goddess finally answered my desperate prayers.

I could sacrifice half of my soothing gift for one chance to sever our mate bond on my own.

In seven days, I will finally leave Andrew for good.

It was the dead of night by the time I dragged my body from the dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of Seattle back to our estate.

The ritual had drained me of almost all my strength, leaving me feeling like half my soul had been ripped from my body.

But it was all worth it.

I glanced down at my left shoulder. The laurel tree mark, which once shimmered with a silver light, was now as dull as ash.

It was the symbol of my eternal bond with Andrew, but now it just looked like a festering wound.

"In seven days, the bond will be severed completely." The Moon Goddess's voice, majestic and filled with unyielding authority, still echoed in my ears.

Seven days. I just had to endure for seven more days, and I would be free.

I applied a special herbal paste over the mark, completely hiding its lifeless state.

I couldn't let Andrew suspect a thing, not when I was this close.

On the living room TV, a familiar figure was giving an interview.

It was my husband, Alpha Andrew Blackwood.

That handsome face, the one that drove countless she-wolves wild, was wearing a perfectly charming smile as he answered the host's questions.

"Mr. Blackwood, as the leader of the most powerful pack on the West Coast, what do you believe makes the Silver Moon Pack so stable?"

The corner of Andrew's mouth lifted into that captivating smile I once adored. "My bond with my wife, Lucia, is the bedrock of our pack's stability. It's a gift from the Moon Goddess. Her unique, Moon-blessed soothing ability allows me to maintain my sanity during the full moon. That power is priceless."

Priceless power.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I collapsed onto the sofa.

If my power was so precious, why was he letting someone else take my place?

My phone buzzed again. Another message from Crystal.

For two months, she had sent me these taunting texts almost daily.

【Did you see the TV, Luna? I was right in the front row when Andrew mentioned you. He’s such a good actor. If I hadn’t felt him pounding into me just last night, I might have actually believed him.】

My fingers tightened around my phone, my nails digging into my palm.

On the TV, the host pressed on. "There are rumors that you and your wife have been seen in public together less frequently. Is there any trouble?"

Andrew’s expression turned serious. "Our bond has never wavered. I love her very much. There is no doubt about that."

The sheer hypocrisy of it made me laugh, a short, sharp, ugly sound.

Just then, I heard the lock turn.

Andrew was home.

A mixed scent immediately hit me—his cologne, and another cloyingly sweet perfume.

Crystal’s scent.

My stomach churned.

"You're back," I said without turning around, my voice flat.

"Yeah, just finished up with some pack business." Andrew's voice was tinged with fatigue. He walked toward me, about to wrap his arms around me from behind like he always did.

I sidestepped his embrace.

The air in the room froze.

"What's wrong?" He frowned, confusion flashing in his gray eyes. "Are you not feeling well?"

"I'm fine. Just tired."

Andrew walked around to the front of the sofa, those eyes that once made my heart race now scrutinizing me. Suddenly, his gaze locked onto my left shoulder, and his pupils constricted.

Even with the herbal paste, as my mate, he could still sense that something was off.

The air in the room crackled with a sudden, dangerous tension.

Andrew spoke slowly, his voice low. "Lucia, what's wrong with your mark?"

Facing Andrew’s suspicious gray eyes, I forced myself to stay calm.

"Nothing's wrong," I said dismissively, then deliberately changed the subject. "Do you remember what today is?"

Andrew’s expression froze, a flicker of panic in his eyes. I saw his Adam's apple bob as he scrambled to remember.

"Today is..." His voice was uncertain.

"Our fifth anniversary," I said softly. "The fifth anniversary of our mating."

The color drained from Andrew’s face, replaced by a wave of guilt and panic.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but all that came out was a barely audible sigh.

"Lucia, I—"

"It's okay," I cut off his apology, my voice still unnervingly calm. "I know you're busy. Pack business is important, isn't it?"

My unnatural calm clearly unsettled him.

Normally, if he forgot an important date, I’d be upset, demanding an explanation.

"I can make it up to you," Andrew said eagerly. "What do you want? Jewelry? A new purse? A trip to Paris?"

I stared at his anxious face, a wave of sadness washing over me.

"I only want one thing," I said slowly.

"Anything."

"Do you remember the promise you made when you proposed to me five years ago?"

Andrew searched his memory.

"You said," I continued, "that you would plant me a field of rainbow moonflowers, our symbol of true love."

He remembered. His expression grew even more guilty.

For five years, he had been so busy with pack affairs that the promise had been completely forgotten.

"I'll do it right now." Andrew immediately pulled out his phone. "I'll have the seeds delivered."

After hanging up, he looked at me. "They'll be here within the hour. I'll plant every single one for you myself."

I nodded, saying nothing.

An hour later, his assistant arrived with a dozen bags of rainbow moonflower seeds.

Andrew changed into gardening clothes and began digging in the moonlight.

His movements were clumsy.

I stood on the terrace, watching him quietly. Once, this scene would have moved me to tears.

Now, it just felt ironic.

"In seven days, these will bloom into the most beautiful colors," he said as he planted. "We'll watch them together, babe."

I gave a faint smile.

In seven days, I probably wouldn’t be here to see them bloom.

Two hours later, Andrew had finally finished.

"Go take a shower," I said.

He nodded, kissing my forehead tenderly. "Anything to make you happy, Lucia. I'd do anything for you."

After Andrew went upstairs, I noticed something had slipped out of his jacket pocket.

A pair of black lace panties. They reeked of Crystal's scent.

Worse, my keen senses instantly picked up fragmented images left on the fabric:

Andrew pinning the woman down on his office sofa, her legs wrapped around his waist as he tore at her clothes...

Bile surged up my throat. I couldn't hold it back. I bolted to the bathroom and retched, emptying what little was in my stomach.

Bile burned my throat as tears streamed from my eyes.

Not from heartache, but from pure disgust. I was utterly disgusted by this man.

"Lucia?" Andrew's voice called from upstairs, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

He rushed in, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still dripping. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

"I'm fine," I said, wiping my mouth and trying to look like I was just feeling ill. "I'm probably just exhausted lately."

Andrew frowned, reaching out to touch my forehead. "Should I call the pack doctor? You look pale."

"No," I said, gently pushing his hand away. "I just need some rest."

He carefully helped me back to the bedroom, treating me as if I were a fragile doll.

"Get some sleep," Andrew said, tucking me in and placing a soft kiss on my forehead. "If you're not better tomorrow, we'll go to the hospital."

I closed my eyes and gave a tired nod.

The lights went out, and the mattress dipped as Andrew lay down beside me. I could feel his warmth and smell his fresh, clean scent, but it all just made me sick.

About half an hour later, once he was sure I was "asleep," Andrew carefully slipped out of bed.

His movements were silent, clearly trying not to wake me.

Through my lashes, I watched him walk to the balcony and slide the glass door shut.

Then, he took a call.

Even through the glass, my wolf hearing picked up his hushed voice.

"I told you not to call when I'm home. Lucia might hear."

Crystal’s coy voice purred from the other end. "But I miss you... Aren't you craving me?"

"Guess I didn't tire you out enough last night," Andrew let out a low, husky chuckle.

My stomach churned again, but I forced myself to keep listening.

"Of course not. I'm still starving for more," Crystal said, her voice dripping with triumphant provocation. "Same place tomorrow? You can tell me what to wear, anything you want."

The desire in Andrew's voice was obvious. "I want you wearing nothing. I'll dress you myself."

They continued their graphic flirtation, every word a shard of glass in my gut.

Ten minutes later, Andrew ended the call.

He tiptoed back to the bed and placed another gentle kiss on my forehead. "Goodnight, my wife."

I instinctively flinched away, turning slightly in my sleep.

Andrew didn't suspect a thing, assuming it was just an unconscious movement.

The next morning, Andrew was up early, making me breakfast.

Scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and my favorite Blue Mountain coffee.

The perfect breakfast from the perfect mate.

Just then, the doorbell rang. It was Logan, his beta, holding a discreet black bag.

"Boss, the stuff you asked for," Logan said, avoiding my eyes as he quickly handed it over.

My sharp eyes caught the logo of an adult novelty store on the package.

It must be the "new clothes" he mentioned on the phone last night, for his rendezvous with Crystal this afternoon.

Andrew returned to the dining room as if nothing had happened, hiding the bag behind his back.

"Who was that?" I asked casually.

"Just Logan, dropping off some work files," he lied smoothly. "Boring pack business."

I nodded, not calling him on it.

We ate in silence. To an outsider, it would have looked like a scene of domestic bliss.

Halfway through the meal, I put down my fork and looked up at him.

"Andrew, can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?" he asked, his gaze soft.

I looked into his clear, gray eyes and asked softly, "Could you ever cheat on me?"

The question caught him off guard. He put down his coffee cup and took my hand.

"Why would you ask that?" His expression grew serious, earnest.

"Just curious," I said, keeping my expression innocent. "We've been mated for five years. Don't you ever get tired of me?"

Andrew squeezed my hand tighter, using his other hand to point to the mate mark on his chest.

"Listen to me, Lucia. If I ever betray you, may the Moon Goddess strip me of my wolf and leave me a powerless outcast. I swear on my life, I will never cheat on you. I will never betray our bond."

His solemn, gut-wrenching vow echoed in the dining room. His expression was so sincere, his eyes so truthful, that if I didn't know the truth, I would have been moved to tears.

Now, all I felt was deep, biting irony.

Just last night, he was planning today's tryst with another woman. Just minutes ago, he accepted a package of sex toys for his affair.

And now, he could swear the most sacred oath to the Goddess without flinching.

I looked up at his handsome, deceitful face and slowly broke into a smile.

"Okay. I believe you."