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!"

Zael glared at his mother with fire in his eyes. "Enough! Aletta is my bonded mate. How can you speak of locking her away like a common rogue?"

His mother stared at him with wide eyes. "Zael, are you truly defending this outsider over your own blood? Am I wrong? You and Aletta have been mated for three seasons and she has given the pack no heirs. Even a common bird can hatch an egg, yet she is more useless than a hen!"

Zael shouted back, "That is because..."

He stopped himself, but I knew the rest. I knew it was because he and Moira had sacrificed my pup.

"No matter the reason, you will not treat her this way."

He walked toward me and tried to take my hand. I pulled back from his touch. "Since you desire a female who can produce a litter so easily, you should have marked one from the beginning!"

I turned my back on Elowen and headed back up to the chambers. Zael hesitated, then moved to follow me. Just as his foot hit the first step, Aelin let out a sharp cry of agony.

Moira quickly pulled the pup into her embrace, her face pale with terror. "Aelin, what is wrong? Is your heart failing again?"

"Zael, I think Aletta’s anger has frightened her. Please, come and check her pulse!"

Zael turned instantly and ran to them, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at the pup. He reached for his communication stone to summon the pack healer.

Moira looked up with fake concern. "But if you do not follow Aletta, will she not be furious?"

Zael growled softly. "She spoke to my mother with such disrespect. What right does she have to be angry? Ignore her."

I had seen it with my own eyes from the shadows of the stairs. When Zael turned to chase me, Moira had secretly pinched the pup’s arm. The cry was not from a failing heart. But even if I screamed the truth, he would never believe my words over her tears.

Standing on the landing, I saw the deep love in Zael’s eyes as he looked at Aelin. Back in our bedroom, I closed the door and began to throw away every gift and token related to him. He had already destroyed every memory of our three years together. I no longer wanted a male like him.

Just as I finished clearing the shelves, Zael pushed open the door. Seeing the empty room, he looked confused. "Aletta, what happened to your belongings?"

I shook my head, my voice flat. "Nothing. Just things that no longer have value."

Zael did not seem to care about my pain. He simply nodded. "Go down to the hall and apologize to my mother. I have prepared the tea myself. You only need to present it to her."

Without waiting for an answer, he led me downstairs and pushed me toward the table. I looked at the steaming cup and, despite the burning heat, I picked it up.

As I reached toward my mother in-law, Moira stepped in my way.

"Aletta, please, let me handle this task for you."

Moira looked at me with a triumphant grin, though she acted as if she were being helpful. I felt a surge of rage. "Get away from me!"

As her hand reached for the cup, I swung my arm to push her back. But she gripped the ceramic tight and fought me for it. The cup shattered on the floor and Moira let out a piercing scream.

"Zael, my arm is burned!"

Her eyes filled with tears instantly as she showed him her trembling arm. Even though there was not a single red mark on her skin, Zael’s eyes burned with fury and protectiveness.

"Aletta, you have crossed the line! Moira was only trying to assist you and you attacked her!"

His voice shook the room and then he raised his hand and struck me across the face.

Seeing my fall, Elowen laughed with joy. "Zael, I warned you this woman should be caged. Otherwise, she would bring shame and harm to this house. Now look at the truth!"

She pointed to the same two sentinels. "You two, lock her away! Do not let her harm my daughter in law again."

The men grabbed my arms and began to drag me toward the dark storage cellar beneath the house. This time, Zael said nothing to protect me.

Looking at him with a heart full of disbelief, I whispered, "Zael, you know I fear the darkness. Are you truly letting her imprison me there?"

He hesitated for a heartbeat, then looked at me with cold eyes. "You should not have struck Moira. You know how much she means to my soul. Aletta, this is a small lesson to keep you from doing something worse."

The heavy wooden door slammed shut and the cellar went pitch black. I pounded on the wood in a panic and screamed, "Zael, let me out!"

One breath passed. Then another. Then a third. Everything remained silent.

I stumbled back and curled into a corner, feeling completely alone. With my head buried in my knees, I remembered the night Zael found out I feared the dark and how he promised he would never leave me alone in the shadows again.

But this time, he knew my fear. And still, for the sake of Moira, he locked me away. As the tears fell, the bond in my heart finally snapped.