"Tell your Alpha I accept the invitation."

I watched a flash of surprise in the messenger's eyes, a strange sense of satisfaction welling up inside me.

"When can you begin?"

"In one week."

After the messenger left, I put the invitation away, my mind already starting to plan for the future.

Since Kade only saw me as a stand-in, there was no reason to waste my youth on this sham of a relationship.

The Silver Crest Pack was stronger than the Black Moon Pack, and the position of Head Warrior offered a much better future than my current status.

I packed a small bag and drove to the veteran's quarters on the edge of the pack's territory.

"Anya?" My father opened the door, pleasantly surprised. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

His face was even paler than the last time I'd seen him, and the cough rattling from his old battle wounds had clearly worsened.

"I have good news," I said, taking his slightly trembling arm. "The Silver Crest Pack has invited me to be their Head Warrior."

My father was so excited he broke into a coughing fit. I quickly patted his back.

"Good, good! I always knew my daughter was the best warrior!"

Once he calmed down, he frowned. "But what about your relationship with the Alpha?"

My smile stiffened slightly. "What relationship?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You can't fool your old man," he said, his expression serious. "You need to have him hold a mating ceremony for you, and soon. It's the only way to secure your position."

"When you have time, bring him to see me. I need to talk to him."

A wave of bitterness washed over me, but not wanting to worry my father further, I nodded in agreement.

When I returned to the Alpha's residence, Kade had just woken up.

The hangover left him looking disheveled, his golden hair falling unkempt over his forehead.

"Anya?" He rubbed his temples. "What happened last night?"

"You drank too much last night. Ryan brought you home."

Kade sat up and suddenly reached out his hand to me. "Come here."

It was that commanding tone he always used, the one I used to obey without question.

But now, his voice filled me with a strange revulsion.

I instinctively took a step back. "I'll go make lunch."

"Anya." Kade's voice was laced with annoyance. "I said, come here."

I reluctantly walked to the side of the bed, but when his hand touched me, the nausea churning in my stomach intensified.

"What's wrong with you?" Kade sensed my discomfort. "You look pale."

"It's nothing, maybe..."

Before I could finish, I shoved him away and bolted to the bathroom, dry-heaving over the toilet.

Kade followed immediately, rubbing my back with a worried frown.

"I've been feeling a little off... My stomach has been acting up lately."

"You're not... pregnant, are you?"

His words made us both freeze.

I looked at Kade's reflection in the mirror and caught a fleeting glimmer of joy in his eyes.

He might not have even been aware of it himself, but the primal, instinctive pride of an Alpha learning his mate might be pregnant came through our bond, clear as day.

"I'll go with you to the clinic for a check-up this afternoon," he said.

I nodded, hesitating for a few seconds before carefully choosing my words. "This afternoon, could you... come with me to see my father?"

Kade was leaning against the doorframe, looking at his phone. He answered with a distracted "Mmm."

I was surprised he agreed so readily, and a complicated mix of emotions stirred within me.

Whether it was genuine or just an act, I couldn't afford to have a showdown yet.

I needed to put my father's mind at ease.

I went downstairs to the kitchen.

By the time I emerged with a bowl of seafood porridge, Kade was already dressed and heading for the door.

"I have an urgent meeting at the border this afternoon. You'll have to go to the clinic by yourself. Mind-link me if there's any news."

"What about my father..."

"Send me the address."

The sound of the closing door cut off whatever I was about to say.

I didn't say anything more. I sat at the table, took a few simple bites of porridge, and lost my appetite.

I pushed the porcelain bowl away and walked quickly to the pack's medical center.

In the healer's office, I took the test results with a hand that wouldn't stop shaking.

Positive.

To be pregnant at a time like this was the cruelest joke of all.

I could feel Kade's desire for this pup through our mate bond, clear as day.

But the existence of this child would make everything infinitely more complicated.

I carefully placed the report in my bag. Just as I stepped out of the clinic, I saw Kade's car parked nearby.

He was in the driver's seat, seemingly waiting for someone.

Selena, wearing a pale blue dress, walked briskly toward Kade's car, a sweet smile on her face.

"Kade, thank you for coming with me," she said, her voice soft and cloying.

"How did the check-up go?" Kade's voice was gentle in a way that felt alien.

"The doctor said everything looks good. The pup is very healthy."

My heart stopped.

When I came to my senses, I realized my communication crystal was blinking.

My father's voice came through, filled with an excitement he couldn't hide.

"Anya, I've already made your favorite beef bone soup, and I've prepared roasted venison."

I took a deep breath, said nothing more, and fled.

My father and I spent the whole afternoon preparing a lavish warrior's feast, simmering his secret-recipe wild game stew.

The hot dishes grew cold on the table. Kade never showed.

The few mind-links I sent him went unanswered.

Seeing the disappointment dimming my father's eyes, I felt a pang of shame and made excuses, then stepped out onto the balcony to forcibly activate my mate bond with Kade.

This time, the link connected quickly.

I got straight to the point. "Are you here? My father has been waiting a long time."

He sounded as if he'd just remembered. "Sorry, the meeting ran long. I lost track of time..."

Suddenly, the sound of loud music and the laughter of a pack of wolves came through the connection.

It was the soft, ambient music unique to high-end private clubs.

"Kade, try this. I had the chef make it just for you," Selena's saccharine voice cooed through the link.

"Some old veteran's cooking? So dated. They probably don't even use the right spices."

"Is Selena getting jealous?" someone teased.

"Don't you worry. Anya's no competition. Her old man is a washed-up warrior. Didn't even earn any real honors in the war."

The mocking laughter of his friends made my blood run cold.

I heard Kade's impatient "Mmm," as if he was frequently checking his phone.

"Knock it off, you guys," he said, his voice laced with annoyance.

I heard the flick of a lighter, followed by his smoke-raspy voice.

"Anya, I just took over as Alpha. I can't look bad by leaving an important meeting early. I'll make it up to your father another day, okay?"

Did he really think I was a fool, that I'd believe he was holding a meeting with the sounds of a private club in the background?

I unconsciously tightened my grip on the communication crystal. Just as I was about to speak, I heard an urgent voice from the other end.

"Kade, stop wasting time. Selena's waiting for you."

Kade stubbed out his cigarette, his voice laced with false tenderness. "Be good. You're always so understanding. I'll make it up to you tonight when I get back."

After ending the transmission, I returned to the dining table, feigning a casual air. "He has an urgent meeting," I said with a forced smile.

The table was laden with the food he had prepared. The beef bone soup was still simmering over a low flame, its aroma filling the air.

"Let's eat first."

"We're not waiting?" my father asked, looking at me.

"We're not waiting."

We sat quietly at the table. My father ladled a bowl of soup for me.

"Anya, do you think the Alpha truly loves you?" he asked suddenly.

My spoon froze mid-air.

"An Alpha who truly loves you wouldn't let you face an embarrassing situation alone on an important occasion."

My father's voice was calm, but every word was a nail driving into my heart.

"He might have really had something urgent..." I tried to defend Kade again.

"Child, I've seen a thing or two," my father said, shaking his head. "Anya, I want to see you settled as a proper Luna in my lifetime. But if a mate bond isn't built on a foundation of respect, I would rather you walk alone."

He paused, looking at me. "And remember, a warrior's honor is more precious than an uncherished love."

I put down my spoon and hugged my father.

"Dad, I know what to do now."

When I returned to our penthouse apartment, Kade had somehow already returned.

He was coming out of the kitchen with a glass of blood-red, potent wolf's liquor.

When he saw me, his eyes landed on the duffel bag at my side, and his pupils constricted.

"What's this? I hear you're going to the Silver Crest Pack?"

I didn't deny it.

Kade closed the distance in a single, sudden step, pulling me into his arms.

"Anya, you're not going anywhere without my permission."

He kissed me forcefully, the movement rough, as if staking a claim.

I bit down hard on his lip. "Let me go, Kade."

He hissed in pain and stopped, but then he bent down, scooped me up with one long arm, and threw me onto his shoulder.

I was tossed onto the plush sofa, the impact leaving me breathless and dazed.

Before I could recover, Kade was already on top of me. "The Silver Crest Pack. Don't even think about it."

"You are my marked mate."

His warm breath fanned across my trembling eyelashes.

I struggled instinctively.

Feeling the resistance from the woman in his arms, Kade's grip on my wrist tightened abruptly.

His other hand clamped down on my restless waist, and his knee pinned my tense legs, completely cutting off my escape.

He then lowered his head and sealed my lips, his fingertips expertly igniting fires across my skin.

It wasn't that he was oblivious to my emotions; he was just used to solving conflicts this way, with brute, primitive force.

In four years as his secret mate, whenever friction arose, this proud Alpha would never stoop to console me.

And I had always been the one to yield to his Alpha temper.

But this time was different. He had been deceiving me from the very beginning.

I cleared the possessive fog from my head and shoved him away with all my might.

"Kade, let's end this."

Caught off guard, Kade was shoved away. His expression turned cold in an instant, a dangerous light flashing in his golden wolf eyes.

"Why? Is this about that Alpha from the Silver Crest Pack? Or is it because I missed dinner with your father?"

"You're not a child anymore, Anya. Stop throwing a tantrum."

I straightened my shirt and buttoned it, my voice steady. "When have I ever thrown a tantrum with you?"

My unyielding attitude exhausted what little patience Kade had.

He shot me a cold, annoyed glare, the pressure of his Alpha authority rolling off him in waves. "I'm giving you an out, Anya. I suggest you take it."

I looked at him silently, my eyes devoid of emotion. "I said, we're ending our relationship."

"Ending our relationship?"

Kade repeated my words, his voice a lazy drawl. A careless smile touched his lips. "And what relationship, exactly, did you think we had?"

I froze. "What do you mean?"

Kade sneered, his eyes playful. "A temporary mate. Nothing more. If you're tired of playing the part, you're free to leave anytime."

My whole body went stiff. Even though I was prepared for it, my heart still seized with pain.

So to him, we didn't even have a normal mate bond.

In his eyes, I was just a temporarily marked Beta.

"Little Beta."

Kade bent down to my level, a cruel smile on his lips. "I told you back then that you could push me away. Weren't you the one who willingly marked with me in secret?"

"You didn't actually think we were official mates, did you?"

I felt as if I'd been struck by lightning, a chill spreading through my entire body.

"I thought you understood the arrangement. I thought you were okay with it."

"I mean, look at the gap in our ranks. Our ages. Not to mention you're my sister's best friend. Did you really think I was ever going to give you a formal mating ceremony?"

I dug my nails into my palms, fighting to keep the tears from falling.

"Don't worry, I have no intention of clinging to you. Just give me a minute to pack my things, and I'll be out of your hair."

With that, I turned away abruptly, and the tears finally broke free.

I cursed myself for being so weak.

I already knew all of this, so why did it still hurt so much?

I didn't want to show my vulnerability, so I just focused on packing.

Neither of us spoke, and the living room fell into a strange, oppressive silence.

Kade held a cigarette between his fingers, but he didn't take a single puff. His gaze followed my every move.

Watching me pack all my belongings into the bag without hesitation filled him with an unfamiliar frustration. He paced the room restlessly.

It was only when I zipped the bag shut and turned to leave that Kade's deep voice finally cut through the silence. "If you walk out that door, don't you dare come crawling back."

I reached the door, then stopped and walked back.

It was the bowl of beef bone soup my father had made for Kade.

When he returned, he saw it on the dining table and assumed it was trash.

He had tossed it in the trash without a second thought. But seeing how carefully I held it, he finally understood.

Just as he was about to offer an explanation, he heard my voice, as still and lifeless as a dead lake.

"Kade, does it give you some kind of sick thrill to trample all over someone's heart?"

After saying that, I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.

He was an Alpha who had been doted on his entire life, who had everything he ever wanted handed to him.

Things like genuine feelings and precious sentiments were worthless in his eyes.

Why was I even saying this, just to humiliate myself?

Kade's golden wolf eyes flickered, his wolf growing agitated on the other end of their mate bond.

The words he was about to say were cut off by the sound of the door slamming shut.

Kade stared, then let out a humorless, angry laugh.

Fine. It was rare for her to defy his Alpha authority like this.

This time, he'd see just how long she could last before she came crawling back to him.

I moved into the standard warrior barracks and spent the next few days busy with the preparations for my transfer.

Chloe tried to drag me out several times, but when I refused, she finally just cornered me at the barracks.

She took me to the pack's central celebration plaza.

A bonfire burned brightly, and werewolves danced in a circle, celebrating the Moon Goddess's gifts.

I used to love attending the pack's full moon festivals. The sense of pack unity always brought my wolf a sense of peace.

But Kade didn't like me appearing in public, saying it could expose our private relationship.

So after four years together, I had almost forgotten what it felt like to revel under the moonlight.

"Here, drink up," Chloe said, handing me a glass of strong liquor.

The alcohol burned my throat, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

"Anya, I heard Alpha Jasper from the Silver Crest Pack is very interested in you," Chloe whispered.

"At the last Pack Alliance meeting, he specifically asked about you."

I paused, then shook my head. "We haven't spoken since our coming-of-age ceremony."

Chloe pouted but didn't press the issue.

I raised my glass to toast Chloe, but my eyes locked with Kade's as he entered the festival area.

His arm was draped casually around Selena's slender waist, an intimate claim.

As our eyes met, he even arched an eyebrow in a silent, defiant challenge.