On the 10th anniversary of our mate bonding came around, I tried to gamble by preparing small surprise for him.

With a small birthday cake that I made and a number 10 candle, I hope we can still rekindle this bond.

Until the photos appeared and ruined everything.

After receiving an anonymous letter containing photos of my mate, Alpha Ryan Hattman's affair with his ex-girlfriend, Omega Sarah Anderson.

My hands trembled violently when I held the photo.

[Memories of every season with Ryan.]

Written on the back of one photo. In every photo, there was clearly recorded date capturing each moment. The same moment as the time Ryan left for urgent Pack business.

I tried to call him.

Once, twice, three times.

But he's not answered

It wasn't until the fourth call that the woman's voice was heard.

The she-wolf groaned, screamed, and even growled with a disguised sigh.

"Faster, Ryan!" She said.

My eyes were blurry with tears.Since he chose another woman, I chose myself this time.

Later, when he knelt in front of me and begged me for forgiveness, I slapped him hard on the face: "A man who cheated on his wife deserves to beg my forgiveness?"

"You'd better get the hell away from me and never appear in front of me!"

"Otherwise I will kill you myself next time!"

——

My heart seemed to stop beating for a while, and my mouth clamped shut. I double-checked the number before confirming that it was Ryan's number and then listened carefully again.

A roar that was so powerful it made my blood rush. A sound I had never imagined from Ryan and that woman. Sarah Anderson.

"Your Luna's called," Sarah said with a gasp.

My mate was also heard breathing similarly. My body shivered at the thought of what they looked like right now. My mind screamed. I wanted to call out to my mate as strongly as I could and ask him to come back, but my mouth seemed to be firmly locked by my broken heart.

"Leave her alone!" Ryan replied. "You're my true Luna, Sarah!"

My heart was broken, and my chest became more tight and painful. Now I can't breathe properly. My limp body leaned against the wall with one hand, trying to keep my phone to my ear.

I closed my eyes when tears were streaming down my cheeks.

How could my mate choose another she-wolf as his Luna's?

Sarah's flirtatious laughter made me have goosebumps. I clenched my hands into tight fists and pressed the voice recorder as I listened to them.

"She's barren!" said Ryan.

"Barren?" Sarah giggled and asked in a tone full of contempt. "Maybe you didn't touch her?"

Ryan coughed. "I touched her."

"And enjoying time with her, too?" Sarah asked back.

"Absolutely not!" Ryan replied. "It's so different when I'm with you."

So this is the reason?

This is why Ryan always touched me roughly. Our bond was never formed with love and tenderness from the beginning. My Alpha only made me feel desire and ended it as if I were a mistress.

"It was your own fault that you chose her and dumped me!" retorted Sarah.

"Honey, let's not talk about it anymore!" pleaded Ryan.

I looked down, crying silently and biting my lips hard to keep the sound out. But I stood and listened.

"You're my mate. The real mate of Alpha’s Northern Pack!" Ryan said. "With our baby in your womb, you're more than worthy of her position!"

My eyes widened.

Did I hear wrong? Is that their baby?

Sarah is pregnant!

I suddenly felt nauseous and almost threw up, realizing how deep this betrayal had gone.

How far Ryan made our bond meaningless.

These photos clearly show his lies over the past five years. The pack business that he's always glorified is nothing more than a wild wolf's lust and desire business that he fulfills with other she-wolf out there.

Then, this time, it made me realize that my 10-year effort to bring an heir to Northern Pack had been in vain.

"So if she gets pregnant, you won't choose me?" That question came out from Sarah.

I'm sure this she-wolf did it on purpose. She was the one who sent the photos of their affair and also picked up my calls on Ryan's cell phone. I'm sure she's throwing all these questions on purpose to let me hear what Ryan has been looking at me like all this time.

Ryan's laughter was crisp. It was inversely proportional to my cries that were held back by mullet and hands at the same time.

"I'll always choose you, honey!" Ryan said. "Zara doesn't deserve to be Luna Northern Pack. You were the only Sarah Anderson I wanted to be Luna from the beginning."

I couldn't hear anymore.

My heart was broken and turned to dust now. I hung up the phone and cried loudly.

Screamed, roared, and grabbed my own hair while hitting my empty stomach.

"Why...! Why didn't you give me the descendants, Moon Goddess! Why!"

I cursed and crumpled all the photos together before beating myself.

Destroyed. I can't longer feel my existence.

Wanted to blame Ryan for all the betrayals. But isn't that also my fault if the heir is the reason?

Our 10 years were too long to wait for a worthy heir to the Northern Pack. The heir that I had always sought to live in my womb and grow with us, and the same heir that never came all these years.

My sobs were yet to stop when the message from an unknown number opened.

[Prepare to leave, Zara Clover!

Signed, New Luna of Northern Pack]

"What is this?" My eyes narrowed and sharpened.

I quickly wiped the tears.

"Is that my dress?" Sarah sent the video.

She was wearing a red dress suit I bought for my birthday.

I thought Ryan would like the dress because it clearly showed my back's curves and skin. But he scoffed it because he was disgusted when he saw me wearing it.

I still vividly remember the way he looked at me.

"Why Ryan?" I asked and smiled, thinking he was mesmerized by my appearance.

"Are you a cheap woman?" he asked without looking at me again.

My face suddenly heated up and flushed with embarrassment because he said it in front of all the pack members who came to celebrate my birthday.

"W-What you mean?" My lips trembled.

After hearing Ryan's words, I didn't dare to see how everyone would behave.

"You're dressed like a cheap woman! So shamed!" He said uncontrollably.

I looked at my appearance, which was quite decent.

"You're Luna of Northern Pack, Zara! Not a cheap woman!" His insults didn't stop there.

"Ryan, I--"

"You're such pitiful!" Ryan cut me off and stood up to put down the plate of cake pieces he hadn't touched.

Without looking at me again, he quickly left, which made me feel embarrassed and humiliated all night because of his words.

After that horrible party, I didn't dare leave the house for a few days and put the dress in the box so I wouldn't wear it again.

At first glance, I thought to throw my dress.

But I didn't because it was a gift from my mom, who hoped that Ryan could look at me more deeply with this dress and strengthen our bond.

"My bag and shoes?" I counted the items used by Sarah in the video.

Ryan's birthday celebration a year ago. When he left me again in our house, with 'Pack' as the reason.

"No way!"

I got up, walked quickly to the dressing room, and realized the dress was no longer.

Proving again that Sarah's dress was mine.

Her dresses, bag, and shoes were mine; I had previously kept them because Ryan hated them.

But after seeing all those items in Sarah's hands, how Ryan looks at her. I realized it wasn't the clothes, shoes, or bag's fault. Rather, Ryan hated me for wearing them.

He hated me and thought I did not deserve to wear the dress.

I sobbed again.

This pain felt like a squeeze on my chest, intense and suffocating.

The air around me felt so heavy that I had to clap my chest repeatedly to catch my breath.

My tears were flowing, but my lips were smiling stiffly.

I laughed, my body slumping sharply against the floor.

"That's all a joke!" I muttered.

My laughter exploded.

"This bond, this whole relationship... is just a joke! A joke!"

With all these cruel realities, I thought everything would be over, and I just needed to calm my heart and mind before meeting Ryan again.

But my hope is not come true.

Because of an cheap she-wolf.

No, no, no!

The number that sent the new message was not from Sarah's but Ryan's.

"I was terrorized tonight?" I asked.

The second video is like a bucket of ice over my head.

There was a date on the video: our 9th mate bonding anniversary. Exactly last year.

I took a deep breath and prepared to see the video more clearly; maybe other things belonged to me, such as those that had been taken over by that woman.

But what I found was far more horrifying.

"Dad's Villa!"

The background of the video already shows the shape of a luxury house on a hill.

My Dad’s Villa which gave to us for wedding gifted.

"This villa is yours. You can live here." Ryan said proudly to Sarah.

"Really? You bought this for me?"

Ryan nodded.

"Bought it?" I wanted to laugh out loud at his confession. "With Pack's current financial situation?" I muttered.

My scream was stifled.

He's shameless!

Even though Northern Pack owes my father a lot.

"You're so kind, darling! I love you!" They shared an intimate and deep kiss.

"But how if your Lunas found out?"

"She won't know! After all, you're the only one, Mate. Not her!"

Sarah smiled disgustingly. The expression on her face made me want to slap her rosy cheeks.

"I was forced to marry her. If it wasn't for Pack being in critical condition, I would never have fulfilled my parent's asked!"

Ryan's words again struck on my head.

"But the Moon Goddess blesses your bond."

"Well, I am also surprised. But I’ll reject her for you.”

The video stops with the sound of Sarah's crisp laughter as Ryan carries her inside our Villa.

They even went into our private room and had a disgusting affair there that left the phone falling out with a blackened screen.

My brain was still trying to digest all the evidence when the door of our home opened and took me by surprise.

I straightened up and ran to the door to see Ryan carrying Sarah's bridal style and laughing together.

"Ryan Hattman!" I shouted.

"Oh, you're home!"

His words sounded as if I was never here.

"Hello, Luna Zara Clover!" greeted Sarah.

She walked up to me with a pretentious smile and extended her hand.

I looked at him sharply. My chest rumbled as I held back my hands that were trembling to slap his face.

"Oh, did you get the love letter I sent you?" asked Sarah, turning to Ryan.

She made sad faces when her eyes met Ryan.

"She won't shakehand with you, darling!"

My eyes widened at her complaint.

"I think she hates me because of our picture," she said again.

My eyes grew round and sharply focused on Ryan.

"You knew about the photos too?" I asked incredulously. "You let her send the cheating photos-"

"She's the mate I choose and pregnant my heir!" Ryan interrupted me sternly. "Give her your respect, Zara!"

"Never!" I refused.

My screams were silenced with Ryan's hard slap twice.

I saw Sarah's eyes widen while covering her mouth with both hands. Then, she moved backward to hide behind my Alpha's back.

My Alpha!

It hurt me more. The Alpha, who was supposed to protect me, moved his hand to protect Sarah like she was attacked by me.

"She carries the future heir to the Northern Pack! Kneel!" He ordered me with his Alpha’s Command.

Ryan pushed my shoulders and made me kneel down forcefully until my knees banged hard against the floor.

"Now, you are Omega for Sarah and future Heir of Northern Pack!" Ryan commanded.

"Never!" I refused.

Ryan slapped and spat at me hard until the corner of my lip was torn and bleeding.

"You can't reject my command!" Ryan shouted.

I saw Sarah stifle a laugh, then cover her mouth and hide behind Ryan's back.

That she-wolf bitch acted like she was hurt by me.

I was hurt physically and mentally, but I had to watch Sarah's foul charade of grabbing my Alpha's arm intimately.

"Calm down, darling... don't torture her again." Sarah glanced at me with a disgusted expression. "Who will serve me when she's sick?"

Her words sounded like she was defending me. Sarah's expression was sweet as if she felt really sorry for me.

But her poisonous tongue made Ryan forget himself.

"Look, Zara! I wouldn't forgive you if it wasn't for Sarah!" Ryan exclaimed.

Sarah gently rubbed Ryan's chest to calm him again.

"I don't need her kindness!"

Ryan raised his hand to slap me again.

But Sarah suddenly bent down and whimpered with a pitiable face.

"Honey!" She called.

"Honey, what's wrong?" asked Ryan worriedly.

I stared at all their intimate scenes with a pained face. My eyes were wide.

I couldn't imagine that my Alpha, who was supposed to protect and worry me, physically abused me in front of his mistress.

"My womb hurts! Our baby doesn't like this commotion, darling," Sarah said.

My eyes rounded.

Although I had never been pregnant, I knew that Sarah's gestational age could not possibly make the fetus in her womb react.

"Liar!" I swore.

"Shut up!" Ryan shouted.

He picked Sarah up in a her arm and carried the cheap woman upstairs to mine and Ryan's room.

Realizing where they were going, I chased them and tried to stop them.

"Not to my room!"

I shouted loudly.

I spread my arms as wide as I could, blocking the door to our room.

"Don't bring her into our room, Ryan! This is our room! My room!" I shouted until I was hoarse.

But Ryan had gone dark.

He lowered Sarah carefully before grabbing my hair and pulling me to get out.

"Get out of my way, cheap woman!"

I cried, lamenting my current situation.

My heart and blood were boiling.

I wanted to scream and pull Sarah's hair, too.

"From now on, this room belongs to me and Sarah!"

"But my stuff there-."

"None of yours! Everything will belong to Sarah and our baby. You just lived at our home." Ryan's more hurts my heart.

Then he grabbed Sarah's waist to lead her inside.

"Come on, sweetheart! You and our baby are more important than her!"

I burst into tears again. I couldn't take all this humiliation and pain anymore.

He brought her into our home and ruined my pride as Luna. Especially now, I heard them laughing from behind the wall of our room.

I wiped away my tears and tried to hold back the sobs that were choking my chest.

My breath ran out, along with the tears running down my cheeks.

Damn man!

Maybe I could still survive if it was just Sarah who treated me unjustly.

But my Alpha.

My Alpha's treatment was more cruel!

I tried to get away from there. But my logic shouted for an action to restore my dignity.

Slowly, I stepped towards the balcony door and peeked at what they were doing inside.

I remembered every corner of my home and utilized it.

I picked up my phone.

With trembling hands, I pointed my phone camera at the window of our room and recorded all their betrayal.

My teeth chatter, holding back my anger.

I gripped my phone tightly to get proof of their affair.

If they could hurt my pride. Then, I could destroy their lives.

My clothes, house, and Mate had been taken away. Then, my position as Luna was the same.

Thought that enough, I decided to avoid my ears from the sound of their disgusted laugh.

But our room suddenly opened, and Sarah came out in my favorite nightgown.

"Oh, you're still here?" Sarah asked and closed the door.

"It's my home!" I told her. "I have the right to be anywhere at my home!"

Our faces and gazes met.

Her eyes stared intently at me, and I responded kindly.

"Maybe, now...?" he said condescendingly, "But so soon, you're just an Omega who's served me, Zara Clover!"

I raised my hand and tried to slap her.

But she stopped me and threw my arm.

"Stop being so arrogant, Zara Clover!" she said. "The baby in my womb is the Heir of the Northern Pack!"

After saying that, Sarah suddenly laughed and covered her mouth while giving me a sardonic look.

"Oh, I remember!" she exclaimed. "I came out to find you."

She stepped closer to me and gave me an order.

"The Northern Pack Heir-to-be wants cheese bread for breakfast tomorrow."

"Just make your own bread!" I snapped.

Unfortunately, Sarah was more brilliant than I thought.

She screamed loudly and held her womb again until Ryan came out.

"Honey-"

"I'll make it!"

I made that statement quickly so I wouldn't hear Sarah's disgusted voice and theatrics. And not getting physically tortured by Ryan.

**

The sound of broken dished startled me...

The plate with the slice of cheese bread for Sarah's breakfast was slammed in front of me.

"Spicy!" she shouted.

"What?" I winced.

"Did you want to kill our baby on purpose?" Sarah shouted.

I picked up the bread; my eyes widened when I saw the surface of the bread was smeared with super spicy sauce that smelled awful.

I glared at Sarah.

"You spread this sauce on purpose, didn't you?" I asked.

"Are you crazy?" she shouted back. "What the reason I harmed my baby!"

Amid our commotion, Ryan came and approached me. He slapped me again and grabbed my hair until I looked up.

"You insolent woman! You couldn't fulfill your ten-year obligation by giving me a descendant. Now, you want to kill the future heir to the Northern Pack in Sarah's womb?"

"But I didn't give her the sauce!" I argued.

"Shut up!" shouted Ryan. "Don't argue and make it again!"

I endured all the suffering of being Omega to Sarah the following days. I didn't give up. I just needed time to gather every piece of evidence of their betrayal, as well as a proper plan of retaliation.

Someday, Ryan left me Northern Pack affairs to fulfill Sarah's holiday wish.

"The Rogue attacked surrounding Pack territory have been contained, Luna." Beta Demian confirmed and gave me his report.

"Good!" I replied. "Then, for the rest of the Pack's needs-"

Before I'd finished the instruction, my vision was foggy. My head was spinning.

"Luna Zara, are you okay?"

I couldn't answer when my vision began to blacken.

My body wavered, and Demian’s scream was the last I heard.