The cold bite of chains around my wrists cut deeper than any physical pain as two Delta wolves dragged me down the spiral stone staircase. My bare feet scraped against rough-hewn steps, each one taking me further into the bowels of the packhouse—into the ancient ritual chamber that hadn't been used in generations.

I didn't fight. There was no point. My wolf, Lyra, whimpered inside me, sensing what was coming. *Stay strong,* I whispered to her through our bond. *We have no choice.*

The air grew thick with the scent of moss and old magic as we descended. Torches cast long, dancing shadows across walls inscribed with ancient werewolf runes—symbols of power, binding, and sacrifice. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my face carefully blank. Three years as Gabriel's unwanted Luna had taught me to hide my fear.

"Move faster, Luna," one of the Deltas growled, yanking the chain. "Alpha doesn't have all night."

The chamber door swung open, revealing a circular room dominated by a stone altar at its center. Gabriel stood there, his powerful frame diminished by illness, leaning heavily against the ancient stone. His skin had a gray pallor that made his usually commanding presence seem ghostly. Even weakened, his dark eyes burned with hatred when they found mine.

In the shadows behind him, I caught a glimpse of Amanda. My stepsister's perfectly made-up face couldn't quite hide her smirk as she watched me being dragged toward my mate—the mate who despised me, who believed I had stolen her place.

"Chain her to the altar," Gabriel commanded, his voice raspy but still carrying the unmistakable weight of an Alpha tone.

The Deltas forced me onto my knees before the stone slab. One held me down while the other secured my chains to iron rings embedded in the floor. The cold stone pressed against my legs through the thin fabric of my nightgown.

"Bring forth the chalice," Gabriel ordered.

The pack healer, Elias, stepped forward, his weathered face impassive as he placed an ancient silver cup on the altar. His eyes briefly met mine—not with sympathy, just clinical assessment.

"The blood bond is the most sacred and dangerous of our rituals," he intoned. "It will transfer the Luna's life force to strengthen the Alpha, but at great cost to the donor."

I knew what this meant. My wolf would be weakened, possibly permanently. But I also knew Gabriel was dying from the poison of the last rogue attack. Despite everything, despite the humiliation and pain he had inflicted on me daily, Lyra howled at the thought of losing our mate.

"Begin," Gabriel commanded, looking not at me but at Amanda, who stepped forward to stand at his side, her hand possessively on his shoulder.

The healer took my arm roughly, producing a ceremonial silver dagger. "Your blood freely given, Luna?" he asked, though we all knew there was nothing free about this sacrifice.

"Yes," I whispered, the lie bitter on my tongue.

The blade bit into my forearm, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. My blood—bright crimson against the silver—flowed into the chalice. I could feel Lyra trembling inside me, her silver form shuddering as our shared strength began to ebb.

When the cup was half full, Elias moved to Gabriel, who drank deeply, his eyes never leaving Amanda's face. The moment the blood passed his lips, I felt it—a violent tug at my core, as if someone had reached inside and begun unraveling my very essence.

A gasp escaped me as my vision blurred. Through the haze, I watched as color returned to Gabriel's face, his back straightening as my strength flowed into him. My wolf's aura, usually a bright silver, flickered and dimmed like a candle in a storm.

Amanda's eyes gleamed with triumph as Gabriel stood taller, his vitality visibly returning while I slumped against my chains, barely conscious.

"It is done," Elias announced.

The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Gabriel collapsing back against the altar—alive, but unconscious from the power of the transfer.

I awoke hours later in a chair beside Gabriel's bed, placed there not out of concern for my comfort but to ensure I was present when my Alpha awakened. My body felt hollow, Lyra curled into a tight, wounded ball deep within me.

When Gabriel's eyes finally fluttered open, they found mine immediately. There was no gratitude in them, only contempt.

"You still breathe?" he snarled, his voice stronger than it had been in weeks. "I would rather have died than take your tainted strength."

I flinched as if struck, the mate bond between us burning with his rejection.

"Amanda," he called out, his voice softening instantly. "Bring Amanda to me."

I stumbled to my feet, my legs barely supporting me as I backed away from the bed. My hand instinctively went to my chest, where the pain of his words felt like a physical wound.

As I reached the door, I heard the Beta's voice outside. "The Alpha is awake! Summon Lady Amanda immediately!"

I pressed myself against the wall as servants rushed past, eager to bring the woman everyone believed had saved Gabriel years ago—the woman who should have been his Luna. No one spared me a glance as I slid down to the floor, invisible in my suffering.

Through our weakened bond, I could feel Gabriel's joy at the prospect of seeing Amanda—joy that twisted in my chest like a knife. I had given him my blood, my strength, my wolf's vitality. And in return, he had given me only the certainty that he would rather have died than owe his life to me.

The morning of my birthday dawned with a dull ache in my chest. One year as Luna of the Moonstone Pack—one year of torment disguised as honor. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, barely recognizing the hollow-eyed woman staring back. Lyra, my wolf, whimpered softly within me, still weakened from the blood ritual weeks ago.

"Happy birthday to us," I whispered, touching the fading bruise on my cheek—a gift from Gabriel after I'd accidentally dropped a glass in his presence.

A sharp knock on the door made me flinch.

"Luna Victoria." Beta James's voice was carefully neutral. "Alpha Gabriel requires your presence in the main hall. Immediately."

I smoothed down the simple gray dress I'd chosen—the least offensive option in my wardrobe—and followed him down the grand staircase. The sound of voices grew louder as we approached the main hall, and my steps faltered when I saw what awaited me.

The entire pack had gathered. In the center of the room stood an enormous cake, its surface gleaming with frosting and candles. Gabriel stood beside it, his handsome face twisted into what others might mistake for a smile but I recognized as cruelty.

Beside him, Amanda glowed in a skin-tight red dress, her hand possessively resting on his arm. Her eyes glittered with malicious anticipation when she saw me.

"There she is," Gabriel announced, his voice carrying that dangerous edge I'd come to fear. "My Luna. One year of... bliss."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew the truth—that he despised me, that he believed I'd stolen Amanda's place as his mate.

"Come, Victoria." He gestured to the cake. "I've arranged a special celebration for you."

I approached slowly, each step feeling like I was walking toward my execution.

"I've heard how much you enjoy cake," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Amanda tells me you used to steal sweets as a child. Such an... insatiable weakness."

I froze, my eyes darting to Amanda. Another lie. Another manipulation.

"So today," Gabriel continued, "you'll have all the cake you desire."

His eyes darkened, and I felt the crushing weight of his Alpha command before he even spoke the words.

"Eat it. All of it. Now."

The command slammed into me like a physical blow. My hands moved against my will, scooping frosting and cake into my mouth. I couldn't stop, couldn't even slow down as I shoved handful after handful past my lips. Tears blurred my vision as I heard the laughter around me, saw the phones recording my humiliation.

"More," Gabriel commanded when I slowed. "Every crumb."

My stomach cramped violently as I continued to eat. Lyra howled in shared pain and humiliation. The cake was sickeningly sweet, coating my throat until I could barely breathe. Still, I couldn't stop.

"Look how eager she is," Amanda's voice cut through the laughter. "Like a starving animal."

Eventually, inevitably, my body rebelled. I doubled over, vomiting onto the marble floor at Gabriel's feet. The pack's laughter reached a crescendo as I knelt there, cake and bile dripping from my chin.

"Clean it up," Gabriel ordered coldly. "With your hands."

I did as commanded, gathering the mess with trembling fingers while tears streamed down my face. When I finished, he dismissed the pack with a wave of his hand, leaving me kneeling in my soiled dress.

"Pathetic," he whispered, before walking away with Amanda on his arm.

Three weeks later, I stood in Gabriel's office, my back pressed against the wall as Amanda's voice drifted through the door.

"I need another healing mark, Gabriel," she purred. "My wolf feels so weak lately."

The door swung open, and Gabriel's eyes locked on mine with cold determination.

"Perfect timing," he said, grabbing my arm with bruising force. "You'll witness how a true mate deserves to be treated."

He dragged me into the office where Amanda waited, lounging on his desk with her blouse already unbuttoned to expose her shoulder.

"Hold still," Gabriel growled, forcing me to my knees beside the desk.

He leaned down, his breath hot against my neck. When his teeth sank into my flesh, I bit my lip to keep from screaming. This wasn't the loving mark of a mate—this was punishment. I felt the mate bond flare with rejection as he deliberately channeled pain instead of healing energy through the mark.

Blood trickled down my collarbone as he pulled away, immediately turning to Amanda. With infinite tenderness, he placed his lips against her unmarked skin, giving her the healing energy that should have been mine.

"There," he murmured against her shoulder. "Better?"

"Much better," Amanda sighed, shooting me a triumphant glance.

I stumbled from the room, my hand pressed against my bleeding neck. The rejection mark burned like acid beneath my fingers. That night, as I curled on my bathroom floor, a different pain seized me—sharp, tearing cramps that left me gasping.

When I looked down, I saw the blood spreading across my nightgown, too much blood. Something precious was leaving me, something I hadn't even known I carried.

"No," I whispered, Lyra's anguished howl echoing my own grief. "Please, no."

The next morning, I found myself on the cold examination table in Healer Elias's quarters. His ancient hands moved over my abdomen, his expression grave in the dim glow of medicinal lamps.

"The pup is gone," he confirmed, his voice devoid of emotion. "The rejection mark was too severe, too close to a vital point."

I stared at the ceiling, tears sliding silently into my hair.

"There's more," he added, not meeting my eyes. "The damage was... extensive. You may never be able to carry a child to term, Luna Victoria. I'm sorry."

As he turned away to wash his hands, I pressed my palm against my empty womb. Gabriel had taken everything from me—my dignity, my strength, and now, the only part of him I might have loved.

The grand ballroom of the Moonstone Pack territory buzzed with voices as Alphas from neighboring packs mingled under crystal chandeliers. I stood in the shadows, my fingers nervously smoothing down the simple blue dress I'd chosen for the inter-pack alliance ceremony. It was the only formal attire Gabriel had allowed me to keep after burning most of my wardrobe in a fit of rage last month.

I caught my reflection in one of the gilded mirrors lining the wall. The woman staring back at me looked like a ghost—pale skin, hollow cheeks, and eyes that had forgotten how to shine. One year as Luna of the Moonstone Pack had hollowed me out from the inside.

*Stay strong, Victoria,* Lyra whispered within me. *Just get through tonight.*

My wolf had become my only friend, the only one who knew the truth about the scars we both carried. I touched my neck where Gabriel's rejection mark still burned beneath my skin, a constant reminder that I was unwanted.

"There you are." Gabriel's voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. He appeared beside me, resplendent in a tailored black suit that emphasized his powerful frame. Despite everything, my treacherous heart still skipped at the sight of him. "I've been looking for you."

The coldness in his eyes made me step back instinctively. "Alpha," I acknowledged, lowering my gaze as was expected.

"The Crimson Pack Alpha has expressed interest in seeing our wolves," Gabriel said, his tone deceptively casual. "A display of strength between allies."

My blood turned to ice. "Our wolves?"

"Yes." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Amanda has already agreed to participate."

Of course she had. My stepsister stood across the room in a stunning red gown, laughing with a group of admiring Betas. She caught my gaze and smirked, knowing exactly what Gabriel was planning.

"Follow me," Gabriel commanded, already turning toward the center of the ballroom where space had been cleared.

I trailed behind him, panic rising in my throat. *He knows,* Lyra whimpered. *He knows about our scars.*

The music died down as Gabriel raised his hand, commanding the attention of every werewolf in the room. "As a show of good faith to our allies," he announced, his voice carrying to every corner, "my Luna and I will demonstrate the strength of the Moonstone Pack through our wolves."

He turned to me, eyes glittering with malice. "Shift. Now."

The Alpha command hit me like a physical blow. I couldn't resist even if I wanted to. My bones began to crack and reshape as the transformation took hold. I closed my eyes, shame burning through me as my dress fell away and my human form gave way to my wolf.

Lyra emerged—a beautiful silver wolf with eyes the color of twilight. Once, I had been proud of her, of our strength and grace. Now, I could only feel the eyes of every Alpha in the room fixed on the jagged scars that marred her back—three deep claw marks that ran from shoulder to haunch, the permanent reminder of the day I had saved Gabriel from a rogue attack. The day Amanda had stolen my truth.

"Behold," Gabriel's voice cut through the murmurs, "proof that she's damaged goods."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. I kept my wolf's head low, her tail tucked between her legs as Gabriel circled me, pointing out each scar with cruel precision.

"A weak wolf," he continued, "unworthy of an Alpha mate. But fortunately—" he gestured across the room, "—we have better to offer."

Amanda stepped forward, her transformation fluid and graceful. Her brown wolf emerged, unremarkable but for its unmarked coat. She pranced around the circle, tail high, reveling in the approving nods from the visiting Alphas.

"A perfect specimen," Gabriel praised, his hand stroking Amanda's fur with a tenderness he had never shown me. "This is the true strength of the Moonstone Pack."

I remained frozen, Lyra's pain and humiliation coursing through our shared consciousness. When Gabriel finally dismissed us with a flick of his hand, I shifted back, grabbing my fallen dress and clutching it to my naked body as I fled the ballroom.

In the safety of my quarters, I collapsed against the door, my entire body shaking with silent sobs. Lyra's howl of anguish echoed inside me, a sound no one else could hear.

*They laughed at us,* she whimpered. *They all saw our scars.*

"I know," I whispered, dragging myself to the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. In the mirror, I saw the tears I couldn't stop, the trembling lips I couldn't still.

The faces of the mocking Alphas flashed before me—their sneers, their whispers. And worst of all, Gabriel's proud smile as he paraded Amanda's unscarred wolf before them, as if to say, *This is what a real mate looks like.*

Later that night, when the pack house had grown quiet and the celebration had finally ended, I slipped from my room. The hallways were dark, but I knew my way to Amanda's quarters by heart. I had watched her come and go for months, had memorized her schedule, knew when she would be absent.

With trembling hands, I picked the lock on her door—a skill I had learned in desperation during my early days as Luna, when food was withheld as punishment.

Her room was a shrine to excess—silk sheets, designer clothes strewn across chairs, jewelry glittering on her vanity. I moved directly to her jewelry box, my heart pounding in my ears.

There, nestled among diamonds and gold, lay my grandmother's moonstone necklace—the heirloom that should have been mine, that Amanda had claimed as her own when she stole my identity as Gabriel's savior.

With reverent fingers, I lifted the pendant. The moment my skin touched the moonstone, Lyra surged within me, her silver aura flaring so brightly I gasped. The stone glowed in response, recognizing the bloodline it was meant to protect.

*It's ours,* Lyra whispered fiercely. *Proof of our heritage. Proof of our truth.*

I clutched the necklace to my chest, tears falling freely now. This was the evidence I needed—the moonstone responded only to the true female descendants of my mother's line, those blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

But as I stood there, the precious stone warming in my palm, I knew with sinking certainty that even this proof wouldn't be enough. Gabriel would never believe me over Amanda. He had built his entire reality on her lies.

The moonstone pulsed once more against my skin, as if trying to tell me something—a secret, a warning, or perhaps a promise of what was yet to come.