Reina Lawson had been with Dean Willis, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, for ten years.

She had his favorite lavender scent etched into her memory, a permanent reminder of their bond. He had finally agreed to mark her as his Luna, yet he was secretly seeing an 18-year-old Delta warrior from the Crimson Fang Pack. In the days leading up to their marking ceremony, he indulged in this young wolf’s bucket list. He went on pack hunts, moonlit runs, and even traveled to the Howling Peaks to watch the Northern Lights with her. But he didn’t know Reina’s time was running out.

She had booked a flight overseas, donated his entire fortune, and removed the lavender-scented charm he had gifted her. While he was counting down the days to their marking ceremony, she was planning her escape.

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On the day Reina was diagnosed with a rare and incurable wolf-borne disease, Dean’s young mistress, Alexia Knight, came to see her.

"I know I’m the other she-wolf," Alexia said with unsettling honesty, biting her lip before continuing, "I know you’re about to be marked as his Luna, but—"

"Alpha Dean doesn’t love you anymore."

"I’ve been with him for a year. We’ve been together seventy-eight times—fifty-three at pack lodges, twenty-one at my den," she said bluntly, locking eyes with Reina. "And four times at your place, in your bed."

"If Alpha Dean still loved you, I wouldn’t be here," she added frankly.

Reina found it darkly amusing. She lit a cigarette, watching Alexia through the haze. "Is that all? Go on."

Alexia pulled out her phone and showed Reina a video. The angle was discreet, almost like it had been filmed secretly. In the video, Alexia was curled up in Dean’s arms, crying. "Even if you have to mark her out of duty, can’t you still keep me?"

Dean pushed her away, handing her a pouch of coins. "Find someone reliable. Being with me is not a good idea; it’s too risky."

"No!" Alexia clung to his waist, pleading, "I’m not afraid of risk."

"Can’t you just not leave me?" she asked again, her voice shaking.

Dean hesitated, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, visibly torn. Then he leaned in and kissed her.

Reina stubbed out her cigarette, the faint scent of smoke mingling with the crisp night air. Across from her, the young woman sat, her youthful face still bright with the innocence of someone who hadn’t yet been hardened by the harsh realities of pack life. She was a Delta, a warrior from the Crimson Fang Pack, and from the moment Reina had laid eyes on her, she’d felt a pang of nostalgia for her own younger self—before the weight of being Luna-to-be had settled on her shoulders.

"You’re right about one thing," Reina said, her voice steady despite the sharp pain that lanced through her abdomen. She masked it by leaning casually on the table, her posture relaxed, as though the conversation didn’t affect her. "If Alpha Dean still loved me, you wouldn’t be here."

The girl flinched at the title, her eyes darting to the floor in a gesture of deference. It was instinctive, the way lower-ranking wolves responded to the mention of an Alpha’s title. Reina almost pitied her—almost.

Reina straightened, her gaze piercing. "But I’d advise you not to get too involved. Alpha Dean’s never truly loved either of us."

She paused, letting the words sink in. The girl’s hands twitched in her lap, her fingers curling into fists as if to steady herself. Reina continued, her tone softer now, almost regretful. "He only cherishes the memory of a young Reina—a pure, beautiful girl who vanished long ago while trying to help him succeed."

The girl’s eyes flicked up, a hint of defiance in them. "You’re lying," she said, though her voice lacked conviction.

Reina smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "In a few years, he’ll look for a fresh face, and you’ll end up worse off than me."

In reality, she was deceiving the girl. With her own time running out, she couldn’t be worse off than she already was. At most, the girl would be tossed aside once Alpha Dean lost interest, left to wander the ranks of the pack as just another forgotten Delta. But Reina didn’t say that. Let the girl hold on to her illusions for a little longer. Reality would find her soon enough.

Reina had been with Dean since she was eighteen.

She grew up without her parents and was raised by her grandmother, Leighton, who passed away when Reina was just fifteen. Dean entered her life during that void. His pursuit was relentless, showering her with gifts as if he wanted to lay the world's treasures at her feet. Dean, the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, was charming and commanding, his presence both reassuring and overwhelming. He made Reina feel secure, and she quickly found herself drawn to him.

On her nineteenth birthday, he led her into a new level of closeness, guiding her from discomfort to surrender that night. They became inseparable. The following day, Dean introduced her to his inner circle—his Beta, Gamma, and other high-ranking members of the pack. Unused to such settings, Reina clung nervously to Dean's arm and greeted them shyly. Their eyes held a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Alpha," one of them said, "how did you end up with someone so young?"

"She's too sweet; she'll just hold you back," another added.

Reina didn't understand then what they meant by "hold back." She couldn't help but quietly assert, "I won't."

"I won't be a burden to the Alpha."

She was resolute, but as she gradually acclimated to Dean's world, she realized the kind of life he led—a life balanced on the precipice of danger. To avoid dragging him down and to stand by his side, she forced herself to adapt to that environment. She trained alongside the pack's warriors, learning to fight and defend herself, though her natural gentleness often clashed with the brutal reality of pack life.

Over ten years, she changed dramatically. She cut her hair short, dyed it, and adorned her body with tattoos that symbolized her loyalty to the Silver Moon Pack. Her body bore countless scars as evidence of her transformation. It was her toughness that helped Dean solidify his position as Alpha, his aura growing stronger with each challenge they faced together.

Yet Dean didn't seem happy.

Countless nights, he would hold her close, his fingers tracing the scars on her skin before leaning in to kiss them.

"Reina," he murmured, burying his face against her chest with a sigh, "I still miss the old you."

And every time, after a moment of stunned silence, Reina would push him away, light a cigarette, and laugh before teasing him.

"Alpha," she would say, her voice teasing but with an edge, "talking like that is such a betrayal."

She had given up so much to stand by his side, to be the Luna the pack needed. But now, as she faced her own mortality and the betrayal that had shattered their bond, she wondered if it had all been worth it. The life they had built together, the sacrifices she had made—none of it could erase the pain of his infidelity or the terminal illness that now loomed over her.

Reina's resolve hardened. She would leave him, not out of weakness, but out of a newfound strength. The mate bond that had once tied them together now felt like a chain, and she was ready to break free.