For three years, I defied my family’s objections and boldly left the Red Pack to mate with Mael Holmes, the Alpha of the Silver Pack. I gave up my position as an Omega in my birth pack, dedicating myself to being his Luna, and everyone around me said I was lucky to have been chosen by him. But there I was, sleepless from postpartum nursing, while he was off having an affair with his Beta, Kennedy.

Even when I begged him through tears to stay home, Mael shrugged me off coldly, his alpha tone cutting through the room like a blade.

"Just take a look at yourself. You’re worn out since the pup came!"

If that’s how it was, I saw no reason to stay. This mate bond had to end. Five days later, the news reported that Rio Foster, the Lycan King and my father, joyfully welcomed a new grandpup, sparing no expense on celebrations.

---

Late at night, as I finished feeding Emmie, fatigue weighed heavy on me. Mael stormed into the room, anger radiating from him, reeking of another she-wolf’s scent—Kennedy’s.

"Sapphire, when will you stop? Who said you could follow me to Kennedy’s apartment?"

Mael never let me ask about his duties as Alpha. Even when I tried to speak quietly, he’d insist I focus on taking care of the pup and mind my own business.

"I noticed you left your coat behind and wanted to bring it to you."

He shot me a look of irritation before turning away, his broad frame towering over me.

"You’re a mess; I don’t even know how you dare step outside looking like that."

"Can’t you at least fix yourself up? Look at Kennedy; she’s had a pup too, but she doesn’t look like you."

I knew Mael resented how I neglected my appearance after the birth, which was why he tangled himself up with Kennedy. He still thought I was blind to everything, comparing me unfavorably to her.

Hurt twisted in my chest, and I reached out to him.

"Could you stay with me, just for a while today?"

Mael’s brow furrowed, attempting to move closer, but Emmie began to cry suddenly. I wanted to speak, but he interrupted, his alpha tone sharp and dismissive.

"If you can’t even manage the pup, what good are you?"

Before he left the room, his phone rang. It was Kennedy, her voice syrupy as she called him "Alpha," complaining about a broken lightbulb at her place.

Without hesitation, Mael left without a backward glance. Emmie cried on, her wails failing to move him, and I lowered my head, soothing the pup until the night deepened its silence.

Mael didn’t return that night, nor did he leave any message. During my time at home, I handled all the shopping, and Mael never asked about it. After settling Emmie, I went to the supermarket for supplies.

After a quick round through the aisles, I spotted Mael and Kennedy not far off. He was cradling Kennedy’s pup in his arms, his face glowing with affection. Kennedy was picking out pup formula, while the clerk praised them.

"You two make such a lovely couple, the most fitting I’ve ever seen."

"The pup is so calm, not a peep~"

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but approach them. Mael’s face changed the moment he saw me. Instinctively, he handed the pup back to Kennedy, using his height to shield her from me.

"Are you following us again? Are you neglecting your own pup?"

I stepped back, feigning nonchalance as I tried to test him.

"I’ll head back soon and make your favorite pulled pork for dinner."

Kennedy clung to Mael’s arm, her voice as sweet as honey.

"We have to go home and tidy up; let’s hurry."

"I’ll order from that fancy restaurant on South Street for you. What’s so great about pulled pork?"

Mael chuckled indulgently, brushing past me with Kennedy. I stumbled against a shelf from the force.

"Stop embarrassing us in public, and besides, I’m afraid your pork might choke me."

Mael was out, and I settled for a bowl of pasta, the simplicity of the meal a stark contrast to the chaos in my life.

Back when we had a pack cook, I never had to prepare meals. Since becoming Luna of the Silver Pack, I’ve learned to cook, though my hands bear the scars of my efforts. Mael’s favorite is the spiced honey cake I make, and he’d often boast to the pack that my baking could rival the finest patisseries in the city. I used to take pride in that, in the way his eyes would light up when he tasted something I made. But now, the burns and cuts feel like reminders of a time when I still believed in us.

That evening, while scrolling through my phone, I noticed Mael had updated his profile on the pack’s private network. The photo showed a cozy scene, with half of Presley’s face visible in the frame, and the table laden with dishes that looked far more elaborate than anything I’d made in months. His caption read, *"A blissful evening."*

My chest tightened, and I quickly closed the app, my fingers trembling as I scrolled through my contacts. I found the number buried in my blocked list—my father’s. Taking a deep breath, I pressed call, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Dad," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I’m sorry… I want to come home."

There was a pause on the other end, and then his voice, firm but gentler than I remembered, replied, "Alright, in a few days, Philip will fly over and bring you back."

His next words brought a fresh wave of tears. "My daughter, Sapphire, doesn’t deserve to suffer."

Around midnight, Mael returned, slipping into bed beside me. His arms wrapped around me in the darkness, but my mind was still fixated on that photo, on the way he’d looked at Presley in it. I turned away from him, unable to stomach the closeness.

Annoyed by my rejection, he pulled me up, his voice sharp with irritation. "What’s with the attitude? Why are you throwing a fit now?"

I looked at him, my vision blurred by tears. It was only then I realized I was crying.

"I’m done with this charade," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Tears every day, such a performance."

The bedroom door slammed shut, and the noise woke Emmie. I wiped my tears away, no longer pleading for Mael to stay like I once did. The sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall felt final, like the closing of a chapter I’d been clinging to.

The next morning, I was awakened by voices in the kitchen. Walking out, I found Presley seated at the table, using *my* mug, sipping coffee as if she belonged there. Mael stood by the stove, apron on, frying eggs, his gaze fixed on her every move.

Presley saw me and feigned concern, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Oh dear, Luna, you look absolutely exhausted. Could give someone outside a fright."

She gestured to the table. "Alpha made breakfast; you should join us."

Her audacity was infuriating. As I reached for my mug, Presley suddenly let go, and the glass shattered on the floor. A small cut appeared on her hand, and she whimpered dramatically.

Mael immediately turned, his face contorted with rage. Before I could react, he slapped me hard enough to make my ears ring. His voice was venomous.

"Curse of a woman! Marking you as my mate was the worst decision of my life."

I stood frozen, watching Mael lift Presley up, his movements frantic as he applied alcohol to her wound. He glanced back at me, his eyes blazing with anger. It was a care I hadn’t seen from him in ages. I couldn’t even recall the last time he smiled at me.

I watched their close-knit frame as Presley leaned against Mael’s shoulder. He blew on her wound, his voice gentle, "I’ll blow it away, let the pain fly away."

My cheek throbbed, and I turned away from them to finish the eggs, my hands trembling as I stirred the pan.

Mael ignored me the entire time, attending to Presley, feeding her breakfast. Presley coyly mentioned wanting cupcakes, and Mael ordered me to go buy them. When I refused, his demeanor shifted instantly. He dragged Presley out, slamming the door behind them, leaving me alone in the kitchen with the remnants of a meal I no longer had the appetite to eat.

For the next couple of days, Alpha Mael was nowhere to be found. Philip, my brother and the Future Beta of the Red Pack, messaged me, saying he’d be picking me up to go home the following afternoon. With Alpha Mael away, I took the opportunity to quickly pack my things. I rolled up my clothes and stuffed them into the suitcase, leaving it half empty even after packing.

When Alpha Mael returned, he found me sitting in the living room with my suitcase beside me. The closet was empty, the clothes all packed. He brushed past me impatiently, his towering frame and broad shoulders casting a shadow over me. "Are you trying to scare me by threatening to leave? You hurt Presley, and I haven’t even called you out for it. Yet you act like you’re above it all?"

I remained silent, staring at him, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind. Realizing something was amiss, he eventually sat down next to me, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight.

"Alright, let’s just forget it ever happened. Go make dinner," he said, dismissing the issue as if it were trivial.

I stepped back, my tone detached. "If you want dinner, have Presley hire a top chef. What I cook doesn’t meet your high standards."

Alpha Mael paused, his expression icy. "I’ve been leading patrols for the pack lately, worn out. Is this how you repay your mate?"

"Jealousy should have boundaries," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

I refused to argue further and went to the kitchen to prepare a couple of dishes. When Alpha Mael saw the food on the table, his disdain was obvious. He took a few bites and grimaced. "I can’t believe I used to eat this," he muttered. "You can’t even make a meal without souring my mood."

He then proceeded to throw the entire meal in the trash right in front of me. That night, Alpha Mael didn’t leave. I lay in bed, ignoring him, while he sulked and turned his back to sleep.

In the middle of the night, I got up to tend to Emmie, causing Alpha Mael to grumble in irritation. "Take that outside, and stop disturbing my sleep."

Sleeping on the couch was uncomfortable, and I woke up before dawn. Beneath my head was one of Alpha Mael’s shirts, its pocket feeling awkward. I pulled out a small box containing a gold locket meant for a pup.

Thinking it was for Emmie, I tried it against her neck when Alpha Mael stormed out and swatted my hand away. "Who said you could touch my things?"

With one look, I could tell the locket wasn’t meant for our pup. Alpha Mael cleaned it off and returned it to the box. "This locket is way too expensive for you to wear."

Soon after, his phone rang with Presley’s familiar ringtone. "Hey, Alpha Mael," her voice rang out, "aren’t you supposed to join me at the pup’s first-month party today? Hurry up."

Alpha Mael glanced at me briefly, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "Want to join? Might help with your paranoia."

Before I could refuse, he grew impatient and pulled me outside. It was freezing, and I was only wearing a light blouse, but Alpha Mael acted as if he didn’t notice.

At the restaurant, he criticized my shabby appearance and avoided meeting my eye. As soon as Presley arrived, he let go of me and went over to her, cradling the pup in his arms. I watched from the sidelines as he smiled, surrounded by admirers in the center of the room, while I was pushed to the edge, feeling completely out of place amidst the celebration.

The pack members around me whispered, their voices carrying the weight of their judgment. "She’s not Luna material," one said. "Alpha Mael deserves better," another added, their words cutting deeper than any physical wound.

Presley, the Omega, stood beside Alpha Mael, her smile triumphant as she glanced my way. The scent of her dominance filled the air, a cruel reminder of my diminished status. My wolf whimpered softly, the pain of rejection and betrayal searing through me.

But I stood tall, my head held high. I was still the daughter of the Lycan King, and no matter how Alpha Mael and his pack tried to diminish me, I would not break. Not yet.