I am Alpha Bruce’s fated mate. But for eight years, I’ve been his dirty little secret, hiding in plain sight as his Beta.

When I saw him preparing the grounds for the Luna ceremony, I thought he was finally going to announce me.

But on our eighth anniversary, I saw a video posted by Seraphina, the daughter of the Silvermoon Pack’s Alpha.

In it, she was coyly showing off the mating mark on her neck.

The caption read: [Eight years apart, eight years you waited. I'm finally going to be yours!]

And the hand holding her—I knew it instantly. It was Bruce’s.

Only the spot on his wrist where my name had been tattooed now read ‘Seraphina.’

I ran out, desperate to confront them, but I was attacked by rogues on the way.

I called for Bruce through our mind-link, over and over.

The last time, I heard his voice, low and thick with desire: “Isadora? She was just a placeholder for you. A worthless, parentless she-wolf. She wouldn’t dare make a scene even if she knew.”

Lost in despair, the fragile life I carried inside me flickered and died.

But they didn’t know that a month ago, my birth parents—the Alpha and Luna of the Silvermoon Pack—had found me.

I am the true Alpha’s daughter of the Silvermoon Pack. Seraphina is just an impostor.

After the sterile cold of the surgery, the first thing I did was call my mother.

“Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I’m coming home to take my place. I agree to the alliance you mentioned, but I want Seraphina exiled from the Silvermoon Pack!”

I lay alone in the hospital bed, a ripping pain in my gut.

The doctor’s words echoed in my head: “I’m sorry, we lost the pup. But you're stable now. You’re young, Miss Isadora. You’ll have other chances.”

I had no tears left to cry.

My tiny, two-month-old pup was gone, without me ever getting the chance to meet them.

A nurse asked me, “Should I call any family?”

Family?

Did she mean Bruce? The man who was tangled up with another woman while I was fighting for my life?

Just then, my phone rang. It was the Luna of the Silvermoon Pack—my birth mother.

She was even more thrilled and decisive than I’d expected. “Of course, sweetie. If it wasn't for Seraphina's mother—that venomous Omega who switched her own pup with you at birth—we never would have lost all these years! I’ll make them pay.”

“In one week, I’ll hold a grand ceremony for your return. The entire North American werewolf community will know you are the true Silvermoon heiress.”

“As for the alliance, Julian, the Alpha heir of the Shadow Ridge Pack, is young, capable, and powerful. If you’re willing, I’ll arrange a meeting at once.”

I answered in a low voice, “Okay, Mom. Whatever you say.”

“But about the return ceremony… let’s not tell Seraphina just yet.”

Just then, another message popped up.

It was Seraphina.

I could feel her smug smirk through the screen.

“How does it feel to have your dreams crushed, Isadora? Let me tell you something else. A month ago, while you were sick, he was in my bed. He said you're lifeless in bed, that only I can unleash the animal in him.”

“Oh, and today’s attack was just a warning. If you don’t learn your place and stay away from Bruce, next time it’ll be more than a few scratches.”

My fingertips trembled. A chill that cut to the bone spread through me.

So the rogue attack today wasn’t an accident.

She did this. She killed my child.

I clicked on the image she’d sent. It was a photo of her and Bruce tangled in bedsheets, time-stamped from the night a month ago when I had a raging fever.

I’d been alone in our apartment, so sick I passed out. When I woke up, Bruce told me he’d been handling urgent pack business.

So this was his “urgent business.”

My heart felt like it was bleeding, but my face was a mask of calm. I even had the presence of mind to screenshot the evidence.

I opened Seraphina’s video again.

After she and Bruce shared a deep kiss, his pack members clapped and cheered for their “touching” love story.

“Alpha waited eight years for Miss Seraphina! They’re finally together!”

“An Alpha and a powerful Alpha’s daughter—a perfect match!”

At their words, Seraphina nestled shyly into Bruce’s arms.

Tears fell from my eyes again.

For eight whole years, all his pack members knew about Seraphina, while I, his fated mate, was a ghost.

How could I have been so foolish to think he ever loved me?

My gaze fell back to the glaring tattoo on Bruce’s wrist.

The small, delicate script of “Isadora” was gone, replaced by a bold, fresh “Seraphina.”

I remembered what he’d said eight years ago when he got it. “Isadora, even if I can’t make us public, my body will always remember that you are my fated mate. This mark is the proof.”

“Trust me, the day my pack is strong enough, I will proudly announce you to everyone!”

Fated mate.

What a joke.

Turns out his “permanent mark” could be rewritten at any time, and his “fated mate” could be replaced just as easily.

As I was drowning in my pain, the hospital room door creaked open.

Bruce walked in holding a bouquet of moonflowers and a small cake. He wore the same gentle smile I used to love, acting as if nothing had happened.

“Happy eighth anniversary, Isadora.” He sat by the bed, his voice soft. “I have a surprise for you. Sorry I’m late, I had to deal with some pack business.”

I just stared at him, as if he were a stranger.

He still didn’t know I had just lost our child.

He saw my pale face and his expression filled with concern. “Is it from the accident? Are you still hurting? Tell me.”

I said nothing.

My phone screen was still open to Seraphina’s post.

Bruce glanced down, and his face shifted.

He took the phone from my hand. “Don’t look at that.”

A complicated look flickered in Bruce’s deep eyes.

He stroked the back of my hand, soothing me like he always did. “Isadora, I can explain.”

“Explain what?”

He was silent for a few seconds, then said slowly, “Marking Seraphina was just to secure an alliance with the Silvermoon Pack. You know our pack needs stronger allies.”

I watched him, waiting for him to spin the rest of his lies.

“Seraphina is just an ex from eight years ago. We haven’t spoken since. There are no feelings involved.” His hand tightened on mine, his gaze as earnest as a master actor’s. “I’m only getting close to her to meet the Silvermoon Alpha at her birthday party in a week.”

Her birthday party in a week. My return ceremony.

“That’s right,” Bruce’s voice was a low, mesmerizing hum. “Once I have the Silvermoon Alpha’s support, I’ll break it off with her and have her mark removed. Isadora, you are my fated mate. Nothing will ever change that.”

He kissed my forehead. “Just bear with me for seven more days. Just seven. When the pack is stronger, I’ll give you the grandest Luna ceremony of all, so everyone will know your place.”

I listened quietly, feeling utterly exhausted.

Eight years. I was sick of the endless mind games, tired of hearing “just a little longer,” “soon,” and “almost there.”

But I still nodded. “Okay. I’ll wait for you.”

Until the truth came out, I would play along.

A relieved smile spread across Bruce’s face. He reached over to light the candle on the cake. “Come on, let’s make a wish for our ninth year together.”

Our ninth year.

I laughed bitterly to myself.

There won’t be a ninth year, Bruce.

Just as he held up the cake, his phone rang. The screen flashed with the name “Baby.”

The pet name was a punch to the gut.

So intimate. Not like the formal way he always addressed me.

Bruce glanced at the caller ID, and his expression changed instantly.

He answered the phone. “What’s wrong?”

“Bruce~” Seraphina’s cloying, sweet voice oozed through the speaker. “My tummy hurts… can you come be with me? I’m scared…”

I saw a wave of panic cross Bruce’s face.

“Where are you? I’m on my way.” He shot to his feet, completely forgetting the anniversary he was just celebrating with me.

He gave me a quick, dismissive kiss. “Isadora, I’m sorry, she needs me. You rest up. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I just said flatly, “Go.”

Bruce looked at me, as if he wanted to say something else, but another pained moan from Seraphina stole his attention.

“I’ll be right there, don’t be scared,” he cooed into the phone, then rushed out of the room.

The door clicked shut, leaving me alone again.

I stared at the flickering candle and blew it out by myself.

I made a wish. I wish to be free of Bruce and start a new life.

Then I threw the moonflowers and the cake into the trash.

The next morning, I insisted on being discharged.

I had more important things to do.

I went straight to the Bloodmoon Pack headquarters, the place I’d helped Bruce build for eight years.

I found Sarah, who handled pack personnel.

Her face lit up when she saw me. “Isadora! Congratulations on your promotion to Head Beta! Alpha said he’s making the official announcement next week.”

Head Beta.

The position I once dreamed of now sounded like a sick joke.

I pulled the documents I’d prepared from my bag. “Sarah, I’m resigning from my position as Beta.”

Sarah stared at me, her mouth agape. “What? Isadora, are you kidding? You’re about to be Head Beta. Why would you quit?”

“I found my family. I’m returning to my own pack,” I said calmly.

“Family?” Sarah was even more confused. “But… aren’t you an orphan?”

Right. In everyone’s eyes, I was just Isadora, the orphan nobody, a charity case who only survived because of Bruce’s kindness.

“It’s complicated. The point is, I’m leaving.” I handed her the papers. “This is my resignation and all the handover documents.”

Sarah was about to say more when a familiar, cold voice cut in from behind me.

“What family?”

I turned. Bruce was standing there, his expression grim, his eyes locked on the papers in my hand. “What family?”

Before I could answer, the office door opened again.

Seraphina glided in, walking straight to Bruce’s side and leaning affectionately against his arm.

She was wearing a light purple dress, a silk scarf artfully draped to half-conceal the mating mark on her neck. She looked fragile and lovely.

“Sorry to interrupt, Bruce,” she said with a sweet smile. “I brought breakfast for everyone.”

Bruce’s expression softened instantly. He wrapped an arm around her waist. “Are you feeling better?”

“Much better. With you by my side, I’m not afraid of anything,” Seraphina murmured, pressing against him.

I watched them, a familiar sting piercing my heart.

Just then, the other core pack members started trickling in. Bruce looked around the room and cleared his throat.

“Since everyone is here, I have an official announcement.” His arm tightened, pulling Seraphina closer. “Seraphina will soon be my Luna.”

The room erupted in applause and congratulations.

“Congratulations, Alpha!”

“An Alpha and a true Alpha heiress! A power match made in heaven!”

“Our pack is going to be stronger than ever!”

Seraphina beamed. “Thank you, everyone. Bruce and I will have our official mating ceremony soon. I hope you can all be there.”

“Of course! We’ll be there to celebrate!”

Everyone crowded around them, offering their best wishes. The atmosphere was electric.

I stood in the corner like an outsider, silently gathering my things from my desk.

That’s when Seraphina noticed me. She walked over gracefully, a gentle smile on her face.

“Isadora, you’re here. I’ve heard you’ve always been Bruce’s most capable assistant. Thank you so much for taking care of him all these years.”

Her voice was sweet as honey, but her eyes held a flicker of contempt that only I could see.

“I’ll be the lady of the pack now,” she continued, her voice as soft as a whisper. “Could you tell me some of Bruce’s preferences? I want to take the best possible care of him.”

I looked up at her.

She was playing the part of the gracious Luna, but every word was a declaration of ownership, every glance a mockery of my low status.

Before I could answer, Bruce walked over. He draped a possessive arm around Seraphina’s shoulders, his voice tender.

“Darling, I’ll tell you everything you need to know. You don’t need to ask an outsider.”

Outsider.

The word struck me like lightning, and I froze.

Eight years of partnership, eight years of devotion, and to him, I was just an “outsider.”

Seraphina snuggled closer to him. “You always know how to take care of me. Can we go see your office? I want to see where you work.”

“Of course.” Bruce kissed her temple. “I’ll give you a tour.”

They walked away, leaving me standing there alone.

The others eventually dispersed, returning to their work. Only Sarah remained, looking at me with concern.

“Isadora, are you okay? You look terrible.”

I shook my head and continued packing.

My heart was being torn to shreds, but I couldn’t break down here.

Ten minutes later, I had all the handover documents ready. I took my signed resignation and walked to Bruce’s office.

Through the glass door, I could see Bruce showing Seraphina the things in his office. She listened intently, letting out a silvery laugh now and then. They looked so perfect together, so in love.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

“Come in,” Bruce’s voice called.

“Isadora? What is it?” He frowned, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

Without hesitating, I placed the resignation letter on his desk.