Back at the Southern Pack’s estate, Adelynn burst into tears the moment she removed my socks.

“Luna, how did you let yourself end up like this?” she cried, her voice trembling. “Why are there so many injuries on your feet? And your knees—did someone harm you? Who dares to lay a hand on you! You must tell the Beta, he’ll—”

I shook my head, cutting her off.

Adelynn fell silent.

She knew.

Talon let the pack members in the house call me “Luna,” but he had never officially acknowledged me as his mate. How could I expect him to stand up for me?

“I’ll rest for a while,” I said, pulling off my jacket. “Wake me when the Beta returns.”

“Yes, Luna.”

I lay down, and Adelynn quietly fetched the first aid kit, gently applying ointment to my wounds.

My mind drifted back to that time when I had a high fever.

The young warrior, his eyes red with worry, had been frantic. He brought me water over and over, wiping my body with a damp cloth.

“If you die, you die!” he had snapped, his voice thick with fear. “I’ll sell your house, your herbs, and live a carefree life! No one will remember you!”

But moments later, he had broken down, clutching me tightly as he sobbed, “Skyla, don’t die. If you die, what will I do? I’ll have to follow you to the underworld!”

After that, he had been adamant about becoming my mate.

“Look at me—I don’t have a single mark of another mate. I couldn’t have been mated before! Even if I remember my past, what good would that do? Skyla, no matter who I am, no matter who you are, I’ll never take anyone else as my mate in this lifetime.”

There was a faint noise outside the room.

Adelynn quickly lit a lamp and went to check. She returned moments later.

“Is he back?” I asked, sitting up.

Adelynn avoided my gaze. “The Beta… he went to see Princess Briella.”

She hesitated, clearly struggling with what to say next. Finally, she spoke softly, “Luna… The Beta and Princess Briella… they’ve set a date for their marking ceremony.”

“Luna, please don’t be upset.”

Adelynn’s voice was urgent as she grasped my hand, her eyes filled with worry.

“The Beta simply forgot the bond between you two!”

“Didn’t you find the rare herb this time?”

“Once he remembers everything…”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

But the laughter soon turned into tears, and Adelynn’s eyes welled up alongside mine.

How could I have not thought the same way before tonight?

He just didn’t remember.

He didn’t remember the depth of our connection.

He didn’t remember the vows we once shared.

That’s why he fell for Briella at first scent, eager to make her his mate.

So I risked everything, venturing into the snow-covered mountains to retrieve the legendary herb said to heal any ailment.

Before I left, I pleaded with him…

Wait for me to return before deciding on the mark ceremony.

But it was all a lie.

“When is the marking ceremony?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“The eighth of next month.”

In just half a month.

No wonder they were talking about “impending celebrations.”

I wiped away my tears.

“Adelynn, I’m hungry. I’d like some of your soup.”

“Of course, Luna, I’ll make it right away!”

As soon as Adelynn left, the room turned cold and silent.

I stared out the window at the swirling snowstorm, pulling a letter from my pocket.

“We’ll arrive in Southville in two weeks at the latest!”

But it was too late.

My mate, the one I once knew, was gone.

And there was no reason for me to stay here any longer.

I stood up and walked to the desk.

“Gamma, proceed as planned. I’ll await your message.”

The next day, Talon arrived with Briella by his side.

Briella took one look at me and tilted her chin up, her slender neck marred with unmistakable marks—evidence of their marking ceremony. Her lips curled into a smirk as she spoke, her voice dripping with mockery. “Well, well, if it isn’t the ‘Stray Mate.’ What have you scavenged this time?”

Ever since I’d been taken into the Southern Pack, the whispers had followed me. They called me the “Stray Mate,” mocking the way I’d found Talon injured and brought him back, only for him to forget me. The title clung to me like a curse, a reminder of my place—or rather, my lack of one.

Talon chuckled lowly, his deep voice carrying a warmth that stung me more than it should have. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Briella’s face, his touch tender. “You’re such a tease,” he said, his gaze lingering on her with an affection that felt like a blade twisting in my chest.

Briella giggled, leaning into him as if she couldn’t bear to be even an inch apart. “Oh, come now,” she said, her tone light but edged with malice. “I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll spare you the humiliation. After all, you’re hardly worth my time.”

She paused, her smirk widening. “But I suppose I should share the good news. You’ll want to hear this.”

I stiffened, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind, though it stayed silent, sensing the tension. Talon’s Alpha aura was faint but present, a subtle pressure in the room that made it hard to breathe. Briella, too, carried her own aura, sharp and commanding, a reflection of her status as a Lycan Princess.

“Go on,” Talon urged, his hand resting possessively on her waist. “Tell her.”

Briella’s eyes gleamed with triumph as she spoke, her voice sweet but laced with venom. “We’ve decided to hold the marking ceremony next week. It’s time to make things official.”

The words hit me like a physical blow, my stomach churning as the mate bond—what little of it remained—ached faintly. My wolf whimpered softly, a sound only I could hear, but I forced myself to stay composed, to not give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.

“Congratulations,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I’m sure you’ll make a... fitting pair.”

Briella’s smile faltered for a moment, her eyes narrowing as if she’d expected a different reaction. But then she laughed, the sound cold and dismissive. “Of course we will. Unlike some, I know my place—and I’m more than capable of fulfilling it.”

Talon’s gaze flicked to me, his expression unreadable, but he said nothing. Instead, he pulled Briella closer, his Alpha aura flaring slightly, as if to remind me of his dominance. It was a silent warning, one I couldn’t ignore.

As they turned to leave, Briella glanced back over her shoulder, her smile cruel. “Oh, and Skyla? Don’t get any ideas. You’re nothing more than a stray—and always will be.”

The door closed behind them, leaving me alone with the weight of their words. My wolf growled softly, a low, pained sound, but I shoved the emotions down, refusing to let them see me weak. Not again. Never again.