Chapter 1

"Celeste, your resignation has been approved, but... are you certain about this? Alpha Marcus seemed surprised when he signed it. Perhaps you should reconsider?"

Celeste kept her eyes fixed on the resignation letter, her fingers tracing the familiar signature at the bottom. She shook her head slowly. "No need to reconsider. He's made his choice."

The HR manager shifted uncomfortably. "But Celeste, everyone knows how much the Alpha—"

"How much he what?" Celeste's laugh was hollow. "Cares about me? Values me? Loves me?"

What the HR manager didn't know was that Celeste wasn't just another pack member leaving the company. She was Marcus Sterling's mate—had been for four years. Their mating bond was a secret, buried beneath pack politics and his personal shame.

But love and mating were two very different things, as she'd learned six weeks ago.

The night she miscarried their first pup—alone in a hospital room at 2 AM, bleeding and terrified—she'd called him seventeen times through their mate bond. When he finally answered, his voice was thick with sleep and irritation.

"Celeste, it's the middle of the night. Can't this wait until morning?"

"Marcus, I'm losing the pup. I need you here. The doctors need consent for—"

"Look, I'm sure it's just cramping. She-wolves go through this all the time. Take some painkillers and call me in the morning."

The line went dead, and with it, something in their mate bond snapped forever.

She'd signed her own consent forms while hemorrhaging, her hands shaking so badly she could barely hold the pen. Her wolf whimpered in pain, calling for her mate, but he never came.

When the doctor told her the pup was gone, she was still alone.

Marcus showed up three days later—not to comfort his grieving mate, but to drag her back to work because his assistant, had accidentally deleted important files and he needed Celeste to recover them.

He had been with Raven.Raven. Her younger sister. The woman who'd been warming his bed while his mate was losing their pup.

"People change," Celeste said quietly to the HR manager. "I've given him four years of my life. That's enough."

The irony wasn't lost on her. Marcus had claimed her as his mate because she was useful—the brilliant daughter of a neighboring pack's Beta who could make his company profitable. But he'd never wanted a true mate. He'd wanted a business partner who occasionally warmed his bed.

Now that Raven was back from her Europe, he had what he'd always really wanted.

Before she left, though, Celeste had one final gift for her Alpha. Something that would set them both free.

The elevator to the executive floor felt like a countdown to her execution. Celeste clutched her bag, feeling the weight of the rejection papers inside—documents that would officially sever their mate bond.

She found Marcus in his office, arranging red roses in a crystal vase. Her chest tightened—in four years of being mated, he'd never once bought her flowers. He'd said they were a "wasteful gesture" when she'd hinted about wanting them on their mating anniversary.

But these weren't for her. Red roses were Raven's favorite.

"You're back early," he said without looking up. "How are you feeling?"

Such casual concern, as if she'd just had a cold instead of losing their pup.

"I'm fine." The lie came easily now.

He finally glanced at her, and for a moment, something flickered in his eyes. "About what happened... I know I should have been there. But you know how I am with hospitals. All that medical stuff makes me queasy."

Celeste almost laughed. He could handle brutal pack politics, territorial disputes, and corporate warfare, but couldn't handle being present when his mate lost their pup.

"Besides," he continued, turning back to the roses, "it's probably for the best. We're both too busy for a pup right now. These early miscarriages happen for a reason."

The casual cruelty of his words hit her like a physical blow. Their pup—their child—dismissed as an inconvenience that worked out well for his schedule.

He walked toward her, holding up the roses like a trophy. "What do you think? Beautiful, right?"

As the flowers came closer, Celeste's throat began to close. She'd developed a severe allergy to roses after the miscarriage—the pack doctor said trauma could trigger new allergies in wolves. She'd tried to tell Marcus, but he'd been too busy to listen.

She turned away, coughing violently. Instead of concern, he shoved her aside, protective of his precious flowers.

Her shoulder slammed into the corner of his desk. The impact sent waves of pain through her still-healing body, and she felt something tear inside.

"Careful!" he snapped. "Do you know how much these cost? They're specially imported for—"

He stopped himself, but they both knew he was going to say Raven's name.

Celeste straightened, tasting blood in her mouth. She pulled out the rejection papers with steady hands.

"I need your signature on something."

Marcus barely looked at her as he carefully placed the roses back in the vase. "What is it now? Another vendor contract?"

Just as he reached for the papers, his phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a photo—Raven in a bikini, the contact name reading "My Darling."

Celeste's contact name was still just "Celeste."

He answered immediately, his voice transforming into something warm and tender—a tone she'd never heard him use with her.

"Hey, beautiful. I was just thinking about you."

While he walked to the window, lost in conversation, Celeste flipped to the signature page and held out a pen.

"Sign here," she said when he ended the call.

His brows furrowed. Marcus never signed anything without reading it first. But his phone buzzed again—a text from Raven with a photo that made him smile.

Without even glancing at the document, he scrawled his signature.

"There. Happy now? I need to go. Raven's waiting."

She looked at the signature—his name next to hers on the mate bond rejection papers. "Yes. Now you're free."

As he grabbed his coat, he tossed over his shoulder, "The office is a mess. Clean it up before you go."

The door slammed behind him, leaving her alone with the roses and the echo of his indifference.

Celeste walked to his desk, where a silver picture frame held Raven's smiling face. She remembered when her photo had been there—on their mating ceremony day, when she'd still believed in happily ever after.

She opened the desk drawer and found it—her mating ceremony photo, torn in half. Her face had been cut out, leaving only Marcus standing alone in his ceremonial robes.

Next to it was a small velvet box. Her heart stopped as she opened it.

Inside was the Luna ring she'd helped him pick out four years ago. The one he'd claimed was "being resized" but had somehow never made it to her finger.

It was sized for Raven.

He'd always planned to give it to her sister. Celeste had just been the placeholder until Raven was ready to come home.

The memories came flooding back like a cruel movie reel, blurring her vision with unshed tears.

Marcus had never loved her. He'd loved Raven since they were children—the adopted daughter who'd stolen everyone's heart, including his.

Celeste was the biological daughter of the Moonrise Pack's Beta, but when she was three, a rogue attack had killed our parents. The Sterling pack took her in, but they'd already fallen in love with Raven, the orphaned girl they'd been fostering.

To the world, Raven was the Sterling heiress—beloved, spoiled, and destined to be Marcus's mate. Celeste was just the "family friend" they'd graciously raised.

Marcus and Raven had been inseparable growing up. Everyone expected them to mate after college. But a week before their mating ceremony, Raven disappeared to Europe with a French Alpha, claiming she needed to "find herself."

The Sterling pack was devastated. The alliance with Marcus's pack would fall through without the mating bond.

That's when they offered Celeste as a substitute.

"You love him anyway," Marcus's mother had said. "And he needs a Luna who understands business. You're perfect for each other."

Marcus had been broken, drunk, and desperate to spite Raven. He'd agreed to mate with Celeste—but only in secret. "I won't humiliate myself with a public ceremony to a replacement," he'd said.

For four years, she'd believed she could make him love her. She'd run his company, managed his pack duties, and even lost their pup—all while hoping he'd see her as more than just a stand-in.

But when Raven returned last month, everything became clear. The secret mating was just another business arrangement. The moment his real love came back, Celeste became invisible.

She wiped a tear from her cheek and pulled out a small leather journal from her bag. Inside were pressed flowers from their mating ceremony and a list of dates—every time he'd chosen Raven over her, every disappointment, every moment she'd foolishly hoped things would change.

The miscarriage was number 99 on her list.

She'd promised herself that if she reached 100 disappointments, she'd leave and find her second chance mate.

Tonight, watching him arrange roses for another woman while dismissing their dead pup as "for the best," she'd reached her limit.

With shaking hands, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

"Damien? It's Celeste. Yes, I know it's been four years... I'm ready to accept you as my second chance mate now. The rejection period ends in a month. Come back for me then."

Chapter 2

The phone barely rang once before Damien's voice thundered through the speaker.

"Celeste fucking Moonborn." His tone was deadly calm. "Did you just call me because you're bored?"

At the Blackwood Industries headquarters, every Alpha in the boardroom froze. Nobody had ever heard Damien Blackwood speak with such rage.

"I spent eight years watching you pine after that worthless excuse of an Alpha. Eight years of you telling me we were 'just friends' while you played house with him. And now you call me?"

Celeste's chest tightened. She'd forgotten how raw his voice could sound when he was truly angry.

"You think I'm some backup plan you can activate when your first choice fails?"

"Damien, I—"

"Shut up." The words cracked like a whip. "I moved three states away because of you. I haven't touched any she-wolf in four years because of you. And you call me like I'm some fucking consolation prize?"

The silence stretched between them, heavy with years of rejection and pain.

"One month," he finally said. "Clean up your mess. After that, I'm coming to collect what you threw away. And this time, little wolf, you don't get to break me again."

The line went dead.

Later that night, she moved through Marcus's house like a ghost, methodically erasing every trace of their failed bond. The rejection papers were safely locked in the safe, along with her resignation letter. She'd burned their mating ceremony photos, watching as the flames consumed her younger, hopeful face.

The front door slammed shut downstairs, and she heard Marcus's heavy footsteps on the stairs.

"Celeste?" His voice echoed through the house. "What's that smell?"

She quickly closed the fireplace screen and turned to face him as he entered the study. His shirt was wrinkled, his hair mussed, and he smelled like Raven's perfume.

"Just burning some old documents," she said, keeping her voice steady.

His eyes narrowed as he spotted the ash on the hearth. "What kind of documents?"

"Financial records. Tax forms from years ago. Things we don't need anymore."

Marcus stepped closer, his gaze suspicious. But before he could interrogate her further, a sound from upstairs made them both freeze.

"Marcus! Help me!"

Raven's scream pierced the night. Marcus abandoned Celeste instantly, racing toward the sound.

Celeste followed, dread pooling in her stomach.

She found them in the nursery—the room they'd prepared for their lost pup. Raven was on the floor, surrounded by shattered wood and torn fabric. The crib Celeste had lovingly assembled was destroyed, the mobile she'd hand-painted scattered in pieces.

"I'm so sorry," Raven sobbed, reaching for Marcus. "I came to see the nursery because I wanted to help you both heal from your loss. But when I saw all these baby things... I just broke down."

She gestured to the destruction around her. "I got so emotional thinking about your poor dead pup that I accidentally knocked everything over. I tried to catch the crib but it all just... fell apart."

Marcus knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms. "It's okay. You were just trying to help."

Celeste stared at the wreckage. The crib had taken her weeks to build by hand. The mobile had been painted with tiny wolves and moons, each one a prayer for their unborn child. The rocking chair had been her grandmother's, passed down through generations.

All of it was destroyed.

"I feel so terrible," Raven continued, her tears soaking into Marcus's shirt. "Maybe... maybe it's better this way? You can start fresh now. Have a real nursery for your future pups."

The implication was clear. Future pups with her, not Celeste.

Marcus's eyes hardened as he looked at his mate. "She's right. This room has just been a shrine to grief. It's not healthy."

Celeste's voice came out as a whisper. "That was our pup's room."

"Our pup is dead!" he roared. "This junk is just a reminder of failure. Get rid of it. All of it. Tonight."

"I said clean it up, Celeste!" Marcus snapped when she didn't move. "All of it! I want every piece of this garbage out of my house by tomorrow morning!"

Chapter 3

Celeste wasn't surprised by Marcus's cruelty anymore. He'd always chosen Raven over everything else—including their dead pup's memory.

She'd expected this moment eventually. The only surprise was how little it hurt now.

"Alright," she said simply.

Marcus froze, clearly expecting tears or pleading. He'd thrown out those harsh words in anger, expecting her to fight back so he could play the victim.

But Celeste just called the pack servants to clear out the destroyed nursery. They carried every broken piece to the garden and burned it all.

Everything that had represented their future turned to ash.

"I feel terrible about staying here," Raven said, though her smile suggested otherwise. "Maybe I should find a hotel?"

"Nonsense," Marcus replied quickly. "You're family. Stay as long as you need."

He turned to Celeste. "Move your things to the guest room on the first floor. Raven can have the the Luna suite."

Since Raven had "nowhere else to go" after her European adventure, Marcus offered her the Luna suite—the rooms that should have been Celeste's by right.

"Of course," Celeste agreed without hesitation. "I'll have the servants prepare it immediately."

She even personally arranged for Raven's favorite silk sheets and had the room filled with red roses, then quietly moved her own belongings to the small servant's quarters in the basement.

As she packed her few remaining possessions downstairs,Marcus appeared in the doorway.

"You're being awfully understanding about this," he said, arms crossed. "I know you're upset about Raven staying here."

He stepped closer, his voice softening slightly. "Look, about the nursery... maybe I was too harsh. When you're feeling better, we can talk about trying again. For a pup. I mean."

He reached for her, expecting the usual embrace—but she stepped away.

"I'm not upset," she said, meeting his eyes with startling clarity. "You've made your priorities clear. I respect that."

Marcus's face hardened. He wasn't used to this version of his mate—calm, distant, unaffected by his moods.

"What was that document you had me sign yesterday?" he asked suspiciously.

"A gift," Celeste replied. "For our fourth mating anniversary. You'll understand soon enough."

That seemed to satisfy him. He still thought she was just going through a phase, that she'd come crawling back once Raven got settled.

"Get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow's the pack meeting. I'll need you to handle the financial presentations."

As he moved to leave, he held out his arms for their usual goodnight embrace. But Celeste walked past him without a glance.

Something was different about her. He just couldn't figure out what.

For four years, Marcus had been decent enough to her. He'd provided for her, protected her, even showed her affection—when Raven wasn't around. There had been moments when she'd almost believed they could make it work.

But every single time Raven appeared, he abandoned her without a second thought.

Celeste had loved him. Truly. But she was tired of fighting for scraps of attention from her own mate.

At 2 AM, Celeste was ripped from sleep by claws digging into her arms. She was dragged upstairs and thrown against the wall, her healing injuries screaming in protest.

"I knew you were jealous, but poisoning Raven with wolfsbane? That's attempted murder, Celeste."

Marcus's voice was deadly calm—the tone he used before ordering executions.

Through her dazed vision, she saw Raven on the bed, writhing and gasping. Her skin was flushed, her pupils dilated, and silver burns were appearing on her arms where she'd touched the doorframe.

"I didn't poison anyone!" Celeste gasped.

"You gave me that herbal tea," Raven sobbed. "Said it would help me sleep. Now I'm burning from the inside out!"

Celeste's mind sharpened instantly. "I offered you chamomile tea from the communal pot. We all drank from it tonight—why is no one else affected?"

"And why would I poison you with wolfsbane? I'd be executed for that!"

But Raven just cried harder. "If she says I'm lying, then maybe I am. Maybe I poisoned myself just to get attention."

The manipulation was masterful. Celeste felt like she was fighting smoke.

Marcus's eyes blazed with fury. "Enough. This isn't the first time you've done something like this. You know exactly what happened four years ago."

The accusation hit like a blow.

"You really think someone with a history like yours deserves the benefit of the doubt?"

One sentence. That was all it took to convict her.

"I'll say it one more time," Celeste said through gritted teeth. "I did not drug you four years ago."

The night they'd mated, she'd found Marcus alone and drunk after Raven's departure. Someone had already slipped him something—aphrodisiac herbs mixed with alcohol.

Yes, she'd loved him. Yes, things had spiraled out of control. But she hadn't planned it.

He'd never believed her, though. In his mind, she was the calculating woman who'd trapped him into a mating bond.

"Marcus, please," Raven moaned, clawing at her burning skin. "It hurts so much. I can feel the wolfsbane eating through my wolf."

She was a talented actress, Celeste had to admit. The silver burns were real—but they were self-inflicted. Raven had clearly brushed silver powder on her skin before calling for help.

Marcus knelt beside the bed, his face twisted with worry. "I'll get the pack doctor—"

"No!" Raven grabbed his wrist. "The wolfsbane... it's affecting my wolf differently. Only an Alpha's healing saliva can neutralize it. Please, Marcus. I'm dying."

Celeste watched in disgust as Raven pulled Marcus's hand to her mouth, sucking on his fingers while maintaining eye contact with her.

"I know this is inappropriate," Raven whispered, "but I don't want to die. Please help me."

Marcus hesitated for exactly three seconds before leaning down to lick the "burns" on Raven's arm.

The moment his saliva touched her skin, Raven arched against him with a moan that had nothing to do with pain.

"Thank you," she breathed. "I can feel your strength healing me."

Celeste felt something die inside her chest—not heartbreak, but the last fragment of respect she'd held for the man she'd called mate.

"I'll be in the basement if you need me," she said quietly.

Neither of them looked at her as she left.

But as she reached the door, she heard Raven's voice, sweet as poisoned honey:

"Marcus, I'm still burning. The wolfsbane is spreading. Can you... can you help me with the burns on my chest too?"