The night before our pack union, my mother’s life was extinguished at the Moon’s Edge cliff. My Alpha fiancé, Zael Stormridge, held me against his chest while his howl of grief echoed through the valley. He swore on his wolf’s honor to hunt the rogue who killed her.

Three years later, I held a scroll confirming my new life force. The pack healer mentioned a compatible heart source for my dying father. Overjoyed, I shifted and ran to the healing den, only to find Zael cradling his true fated mate, Moira Faerwyn.

"Do not fear," Zael whispered to her. "The Great Moon has provided a matching heart in this den. I will command the healers to give it to your father first."

Moira whimpered softly. "But isn't that heart promised to Alpha Grimvale’s daughter? Aletta will be furious if she learns the truth."

Zael’s voice turned to ice. "Let her be. Three years ago, we used her first pup’s heart and essence to save your sire. We are simply taking what is owed again. It matters not."

He stroked her hair. "And stop worrying about her mother’s death. I burned the scent trails and destroyed the evidence myself. She will never link the murder to you."

The truth shattered my soul. They were the monsters who murdered my mother and my unborn pup three years ago. Now, Zael intended to steal my father’s life force to save Moira’s bloodline.

I pulled out my communicator and linked with Zael’s greatest rival, the Shadow Alpha.

"I wish to sever my ties with the Stormridge pack and ruin Zael and Moira. Will you assist me?"

The Alpha chuckled through the link. "You finally see clearly. I warned you that Zael was a beast in sheep's fur. You were bound to regret your choice. Are you ready to reject him and become my Luna?"

I watched the man I once loved acting so tenderly with Moira. I looked down and smiled with bitter resolve.

"I will take the marking from you, but only if you secure a new heart source for my father. If you find one this sun-cycle, I will cross the border and join your pack tomorrow."

"Give me one week. Just ensure you do not miss our meeting."

Before the link closed, I added quietly, "I have just realized I carry a new spark of life. I am one month pregnant. I will leave him and raise this wolf as my own."

The Shadow Alpha did not waver. "It is but one pup. My kingdom can provide for it."

I will rise as a True Queen of my own territory. It is time for Zael and Moira to fall into the abyss I have prepared for them.

——

I had felt the new life in my womb three days ago. Before coming to the healing den, I wanted Zael to run with me so I could share the news. But he rushed away, claiming pack business required his attention.

Now I knew he had run to the arms of Moira and their secret offspring.

Zael’s pocket buzzed with a message from the healer. He leaned down and kissed Moira’s forehead. "Wait here, my love. I must finalize the heart transfer with the elders."

As Zael walked away, Moira dropped her mask of weakness. She turned toward the shadows of the stone stairwell where I stood.

"How miserable you are," she sneered. "Three years as his Luna and you still hide in the dark like a scavenger, watching the happiness of others."

I narrowed my eyes and spoke with calm fire. "Aren't you the pathetic one? You gave him a bastard pup, yet he refuses to give you a title. As long as I draw breath, the crown of Luna Stormridge belongs to me."

My words stung her. Her face shifted with rage. "Zael has only ever loved me. You are the thief who stole my place at his side."

She stepped closer. "Zael and I were childhood mates. We promised our souls to one another. Aletta, you are nothing but an intruder."

A sharp ache pierced my chest. I reached out to steady myself, dropping my pregnancy scroll onto the stone floor. Moira snatched it up. When she saw the marking for one month of pregnancy, her eyes filled with malice.

"Aletta, I cannot believe you are carrying again. You heard Zael. Your first pup died so my father could live. But do you want to know the real secret?"

She laughed with a twisted pride. "Zael promised me that even if he mated with you, any pup he fathered would belong to me. What do you think he will do when he finds out you are pregnant again?"

I knew she wanted to break my spirit, but I no longer cared for her games. I lunged forward and struck her across the face. The blow was light, but Moira immediately wailed and collapsed onto the floor.

Her sobbing rang through the halls. "Aletta, I do not know why you hate me so. Why must you strike me and push me down the stairs?"

Tears fell perfectly down her cheeks. I opened my mouth to mock her acting, but Zael’s cold growl stopped me.

He stepped into the hall, his eyes dark with fury. "Why are you here? Why must you be so cruel? Why would you attack her? Aletta, what has happened to your spirit?"

I tried to defend myself, but Moira clung to his arm, trembling. "Zael, please do not be angry with her. I must have said something wrong. If it makes her feel better, she can hit me as much as she likes."

Zael looked at her with deep devotion. "She has no right to lay a hand on you. This is her failure. I will ensure justice is served."

He reached out and gripped my shoulder with his Alpha strength. "Moira, strike her back."

I stared at him, my heart turning to stone. "I am carrying your pup, Zael. Are you certain you want her to strike me?"

I grabbed the torn scroll from the floor and shoved it at him. He did not even look at the writing. He snatched the parchment and shredded it into pieces. "What lie is this? If you commit a sin, you must face the pain of it."

Moira whispered softly, "Zael, let it go. Perhaps she is just unwell. I truly cannot bring myself to hurt her."

Zael looked at her tenderly. "Your heart is too kind and people use that against you. If you do not stand your ground now, she will never learn."

With those words, Zael took Moira’s hand in his own and used it to deliver a heavy blow across my face. "Since you are too weak to do it, I will do it for you."

The force of an Alpha’s strength sent me spinning backward. My body slammed hard against the sharp edge of the stone stairs. Zael did not look back. He simply turned and walked away, cradling Moira in his arms.

I collapsed on the cold floor, clutching my stomach as a sharp, tearing pain took hold. Dark red blood began to pool beneath me, staining the gray stone.

"My pup..."

The world turned cold and the darkness took me.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a soft furs in the healing chamber. Remembering the agony before the darkness took me, I bolted upright.

A pack healer entered the room. Seeing my panicked face, she offered a small smile. "Be at peace. The pup survived. However, you must be more careful with your womb in the future."

I let out a long breath and placed a shaking hand over my belly. Because of Zael, I had already lost one pup to the Great Moon. This time, I would guard this life with my own.

After leaving the healers, I shifted into my wolf form and ran straight to the Great Hall of Records. Since I had chosen to leave his territory, I needed to finalize the severing of our bond immediately.

I handed my scrolls to the elder in charge. He looked at the symbols for a moment, then looked up at me with confusion. "Luna, you already submitted the decree to sever this union a moon ago."

I felt my blood run cold. "That is impossible. I have not been to this hall in many seasons. How could the bond be broken?"

The elder checked the ancient ledgers again. "The records show the separation was filed a moon ago. An Alpha named Zael Stormridge brought the documents. He used his authority to sign for you."

The old wolf hesitated. "The records already show his fated Luna is another woman named Moira. Do you know of her?"

My mind went numb. The stone walls seemed to spin and a loud ringing filled my ears.

One moon ago, it was the night of my birth-moon celebration. Zael had given me a chest of gold to spend as I pleased and promised to hunt with me after his duties were done. But while I was walking through the forest, a group of rogue wolves ambushed me and dragged me into the thicket.

I tried to reach Zael through our mind-link over and over, but he blocked my voice every time. If a wandering sentinel had not found me, I would have been torn apart.

Later, Zael calmed my fears. He told me he was in a deep council meeting and had closed his mind to all distractions. I believed his lies.

Now the truth was clear. He had discarded me on the night of my birth-moon and given Moira his protection and his name.

That was exactly what I wanted now. After leaving the Great Hall, I walked through the pack lands to clear my thoughts. Suddenly, a violent storm broke. Thunder shook the earth and heavy rain lashed down.

The wind was so fierce that I could not catch a scent trail. My cloak was shredded by the gale and I walked alone through the freezing rain. My tears were lost in the storm as they hit the muddy ground.

By the time I reached the Alpha’s villa, I was shivering and soaked to the bone. I pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The warmth of the hearth wrapped around me and I heard Zael’s gentle voice from the den.

"It is a bitter night. Drink this warm tonic so your spirit stays strong against the cold."

For a heartbeat, my soul stirred. But then I saw Moira and her pup, Aelin. Zael was not speaking to me. He was caring for them.

When he saw me standing broken at the entrance, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. "Aelin has a weak heart. If her life fades, I must be near to use my Alpha strength. Moira is living here now to tend to the pup."

I let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Strength? Do you believe your power is greater than the Moon’s healing? If the pup is dying, she should be with the healers. Are you mad to keep her here?"

Zael’s face twisted into a snarl. "Mind your tongue. This is my den. If you challenge my word, I have many ways to strip your name from these lands."

When we were first bonded, he told me he wanted me to feel safe, so he bound my name to the title of his manor. But now, for the sake of Moira, he had cast those promises into the fire.

Since that was the path he chose, I would burn every memory of our time together.

After he finished speaking, Zael led Moira and their pup upstairs without offering me a single glance. My head felt heavy from the freezing rain, so after a hot wash, I went straight to my furs.

I was not sure how long I had slept, but my throat felt as if it had been cut by a silver blade.

"Zael," I called out several times, but my voice was weak. All I could hear was the sound of someone telling a tale in the next room.

"Zael, Aelin has your spirit," Moira said with a joyful hum. "Even when she is troubled, she mimics your strength and tries to soothe me."

"Of course," Zael replied with pride in his voice. "She is of my blood. It is good that she is protective, so she can guard you even when I am away from the pack."

Even through the stone wall, I could imagine the triumphant smile on Moira’s face.

Zael gently stroked Aelin’s hair. "Now, close your eyes. I will tell you and your mother a legend of the ancient stars."

After the sounds of settling, Zael’s soft voice drifted through. "In a land before time, there lived a Great King and a Moon Queen."

Staring at the dark ceiling, I could only manage a bitter smile. Zael and I had been bonded for three years, but he and Moira looked like the true Alpha and Luna, sharing sweet dreams with their three-year old pup.

I tried to sit up to reach my water basin, but I accidentally knocked over a crystal frame on the side table. The glass shattered and the image of Zael and me was torn.

I climbed out of bed to gather the pieces, but the room was too dark and I stepped onto a sharp shard. Fighting the sting, I limped to the wall torch, cleaned the mess and poured my water.

The whole time, the sound of Zael’s gentle storytelling continued from the room next door.

As I bandaged my foot and crawled back into bed, a memory hit me. Long ago, I had been caught in a light spring rain, yet Zael had canceled all pack meetings to stay by my side for a week, terrified I might catch a chill.

Back then, he had whispered, "Aletta, do not fear, I am here with you. Because you are suffering, my own heart hurts more than yours."

But now, after I had walked through a freezing storm to reach my home, he gave the warm tonic to Moira instead. As soon as I closed my eyes, silent tears fell onto my pillow.

The next morning, loud laughter from the great hall woke me. I opened the chamber door and saw Moira chatting happily with Zael’s mother, Elowen.

Before I could speak, Moira spotted me. She gave me a smug look, then spoke sweetly to my mother-in-law. "Great Mother, do not worry. Zael is only letting us stay in the villa for a few sun-cycles because of Aelin’s heart. Once the healing is done, we will depart. I do not want Aletta to be angry."

Elowen held Aelin in her arms and said coldly, "Why should she be angry? She has been bonded for three years and has produced no heirs. Our little Aelin is the pride of the pack. Call me Grandmother."

Aelin looked up and chirped, "Grandmother."

"Ah!" Elowen’s face beamed with delight. She patted Moira’s hand. "Moira, one daughter is not enough for our lineage. Once you give Zael a son, I will see to it that he makes you his official Luna!"

Moira’s face turned red at once. For a moment, I felt a wave of sickness wash over me.

Just as I turned to retreat into my room, I heard Elowen snap, "Stay right there!"

In the next heartbeat, two pack sentinels appeared and gripped my wrists, holding me fast.

"Time has passed and you have grown disrespectful! You do not even come down to serve me tea? You two, drag her down here."

Right after she spoke, the men grabbed my arms and forced me down from the second floor. I struggled against them, but their wolf strength was too much.

Seeing me humbled, my mother-in-law said with a haughty air, "Go and prepare me a cup of tea with water heated to exactly 99 degrees."

I stood perfectly still, acting as if I had not heard her.

Seeing this, Moira spoke up softly, "Great Mother, let me do it. I am used to performing such humble tasks."

Elowen took Moira’s hand and said, "You are the future Luna of the Stormridge Pack. How could you do such servant work? Let her do it."

I watched them play their roles. Moira tried to walk away, but my cold stare made her falter. She looked annoyed.

"What use is she to us? She cannot provide pups and now she refuses to serve. You two, lock her in the cellar. I do not wish to see her face!"

The two sentinels gripped my shoulders, moving to take me away. Just then, Zael stepped out of the study, his brow furrowed in a frown.

"Mother, that is enough!"