Vivienne, of course didn't miss the chance to exploit the situation, she connered me at every given opportunity, the recent one was a pack event. she sauntered over to my side, her smile as sharp as a blade and fake.

“Leila, you look so tense,” she said, her voice dripping with mock concern, “is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine, infact it could never had been better.” I lied through my teeth.

“I noticed Derek's been distracted lately, I hope it's nothing serious,” she

I clenched my fists, my wolf snarling beside me.

“It's nothing, I'm sure it's because he's been occupied with the pack and meeting its needs.”

She knew fully well what she was doing, wrecking my marriage, that's what.

what a hypocrite.

“Well a little birdie told me, he doesn't seem to spend as much time as he used, to with you, being that you're his mate and everything.” She taunted.

“Well then, your little birdie must have heard it wrong,” I said.

She leaned in, her voice low enough that only I could hear.

“For your sake, I sure hope not, we wouldn't want a situation where our Alpha gets another mate or worse still reject you as his Luna, I heard a rumor about that.” she said sinisterly, like she knew something i didn't.

I walked away from her, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing that her words cut deep, of seeing me break.

My heart was heavy knowing fully that the pack was watching, judging.

The following weeks after the confrontation felt like a blur of pain and humiliation, I could still see the way Derek had stood between me and Vivienne, his words sharper than any blade, it wasn't just the betrayal that broke me, it was the public nature of it.

The once bright connection Derek and I had was now so fragile that sometimes I thought maybe I'd imagined it being there in the first place. The nights were the worst, he would return to our shared quarters, his faced lines with exhaustion, his words cold and distant.

“Long day?” I would ask, hoping to spark even the smallest connection.

“Yes,” he replied curtly. Sometimes not even looking up from the documents he carried.

The scent of her, Vivienne still lingered on his clothes, so unbearable.

“Derek, can we talk?” I asked one evening.

He barely glanced at me, his tone clipped.

“Not now, Leila , I'm busy,”

“You're always busy, when will you make time for us, for me?”

He sighed, his expression one of exasperation.

“Don't start this again, I have responsibilities to the pack.”

“What about your responsibilities to me?” I shot back, my wolf bristling at his dismissive tone.

“I am your mate, Derek or have you forgotten that? I need to understand what's happening between us, why does it feel like I'm losing you?”

“You're not losing me,”he said, but his voice lacked conviction.

“It feels like you've chosen Vivienne over me?” My voice cracked despite my efforts to stay calm and strong.

“She's helping me with the pack, you don't understand the pressure I'm under, she's a valuable asset Leila, that's all,” he replied.

“An asset!” I spat, the word bitter on my tongue.

“Do you even hear yourself? The pack's starting to talk, they see what's happening, even if you refuse to, she's always by your side, laughing with you, supporting you. Where does that leave me?

He ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tightening. “You're my mate and that hasn't changed.”

“Then prove it,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision. “Because I'm starting to feel like I don't matter how to you any more.”

He didn't respond, instead he left without another word slamming the door behind him.

That night, I sat alone in our quarters staring at the empty space where Derek use to lie beside me. My wolf whimpered softly, mourning the mate we both loved but no longer recognized.

“I don't know how much more of this I can take,” I whispered into the darkness.

The bond between us felt like a thin thread stretched to its limits. Derek wasn't just breaking my heart, he was breaking my spirit too.

The pack noticed everything, wolves who had once respected and admired our bond were now now whispering behind my backs. The pity in their eyes burned more than their words.

There was division among the pack, they’d all witnessed the altercation and there was no surviving my dignity from the ashes. Some wolves mostly the older ones, expressed their shock in hushed tone, lamenting how the bond between mates could crumble so easily. Others particularly the younger wolves were indifferent, more fascinated by the drama than the heartbreak behind it.

“She's lost control of him,” I overheard one day, “An Alpha's mate should be stronger.”

The whispers grew more louder, more brazen.

“Vivienne's always by his side unlike her,” one said.

“It's like Leila doesn't even exist anymore,” said another.

“She should have been stronger.”

“She's the Alpha's mate, if she can't hold his attention, that's on her.”

“She has no place here anymore, Vivienne's practically running the show now.”

They opened praised her dedication and loyalty to Derek.

The irony was sickening.

I stormed away before they could see the tears welling up.

Their words cut deep but the real agony came from the silence of those who had once been my allies.

Annabelle tried to console me, but even she seemed uncertain of how to navigate the storm.

“You need to eat.” She urged one evening, placing a tray of food on the table before me.

“You're wasting away Leila, the pack… they're watching, they need to see that you're still strong.”

I stared at the tray, my appetite long gone. “What's the point, Annabelle? Derek doesn't even see me anymore, it's like I'm invisible.

“I don't know what's going on with Derek, but you need to fight for him Leila, don't let her win.”

“I shouldn't have to fight for my own mate,” I replied bitterly, my voice barely above a whisper.

This wasn't the life I envisioned when Derek and I first found each other. Still yet I clinged to the memories of when things were better, simpler, when Derek gaze held nothing but love and admiration.

There was a time he'd bring me wild flowers, he'd picked up during his patrols, tucking them behind my ear with a grin. We'd spend hour in the forest running together in wolf form, the wind rushing through our fur as we reveled in the pure joy of being one.

“I'll always protect you,” he promised me one night as we lay beneath the stars, his arms wrapped around me.

Only now, it felt like I was the one who needed protection from… him and the hurt he unknowingly inflicted.

The humiliation never stopped.

Every day brought a new wound, a fresh reminder of the betrayal that now defined my existence. Vivienne wasn’t content with just taking Derek from me—she wanted to crush me entirely, to grind what little dignity I had left into the dirt.

I woke one morning to laughter echoing outside our quarters. When I stepped out, I found Vivienne surrounded by a group of younger wolves. She held a delicate, silver pendant in her hands—my pendant. The one Derek had given me on our first anniversary.

“Look at this,” she sneered, holding it up for all to see. “Can you believe he thought this was worth giving someone? So cheap. I’d expect better from an Alpha.”

My breath hitched, fury and despair warring within me. That pendant had once been a symbol of our love, and now she was holding it as if it were trash.

“Give that back,” I demanded, my voice trembling but firm.

She turned to me, her smile icy. “Oh, Leila, I didn’t realize you were still… lurking. Don’t worry. I’m sure Derek will get me something far more beautiful. This? It’s not really my style.”

The wolves around her laughed, their mockery cutting deeper than any blade.

She didn’t just target me in private—she made sure the entire pack saw my misery. She clung to Derek ’s arm at every gathering, her smug smile daring me to say something.

The final straw came during the pack’s annual celebration. It was supposed to be a night of unity, a chance for us to come together as one. Vivienne saw it as another opportunity to humiliate me.

At the pack meeting, she sauntered in late, draped in a crimson gown that screamed authority. She sat beside Derek, leaning close to whisper in his ear. He smiled—an expression I hadn’t seen in weeks. My wolf growled, the bond between us aching like an open wound.

“I thought this was a meeting for Alphas and their mates,” Annabelle whispered beside me, her eyes narrowing.

“So did I,” I muttered, my hands clenched into fists.

But Derek said nothing, his silence louder than any words. The pack watched as Vivienne took my place, her presence a blatant challenge to my position.

I tried to hold my head high, but the weight of their judgment was suffocating. When the meeting ended, she approached me, a glass of wine in hand with a saccharine smile pasted on her face. “Oh, Leila, you should try and wear something more flattering next time. It’s important to keep up appearances, don’t you think?” Her gaze flicked over my simple dress, the disdain in her eyes unmistakable.

“Vivienne,” I replied, forcing a tight smile.

She leaned closer, her voice low enough that only I could hear. “Or better still, you can just step aside. Derek doesn’t want you anymore. Everyone can see it. You’re only just embarrassing yourself.”

My wolf snarled, I bit back my retort, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.

Derek was no better. He didn’t just ignore my pain—he added to it.

I caught him and Vivienne in the courtyard, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world. She rested her hand on his chest, her eyes sparkling with a confidence that burned me to my core.

“Derek,” I called, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

He turned, his smile fading into indifference. “What is it, Leila?”

“We need to talk,” I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze.

Vivienne stepped closer to him, her smirk widening. “Oh, Derek, don’t keep her waiting. It must be important.”

He sighed, as if the mere act of acknowledging me was a chore. “Later, Leila, I’m busy.”

“Busy with her,” I snapped, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

For a moment, his eyes flickered with something—guilt, maybe—but it was gone just as quickly. “Don’t do this,” he said, his tone cold.

And then he turned back to her, their conversation resuming as if I didn’t exist.

That night, I stood alone at the edge of the celebration, watching as Derek and Vivienne danced. They moved together effortlessly, their smiles bright, their laughter carefree.

I felt like an intruder in my own life, a shadow of the woman I once was. The pain was overwhelming, but beneath it all, a fire burned.

They thought they had broken me, but I wasn’t done yet. Somewhere inside, my wolf howled, a fierce reminder that I was stronger than this.

They would regret underestimating me.

One day, I would make them pay.

Or so I thought, no knowing that fate has another miserable event planned for me.

The night it happened, I was returning from a meeting with the pack's elders. The forest was quiet save for the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. My thoughts was laden with Derek and Vivienne's betrayal, of my own dwindling place in the pack I once called home, Of the fact that I should leave, the pain, the humiliation was just too much to bear.

I should have just trusted my instincts that night, stayed at home or instead walking back together with other members of the pack. But I didn't want their pity suffocating me.

That was when I heard it.

The snap of a twig.

The low guttural growl of an unfamiliar wolf.

It lunged at me before I had the time to react, its amber eyes gleaming with primal rage, sinking it's teeth into my shoulder.

I screamed, the sound echoing through the empty woods. My wolf surged to the surface fighting back with claws and teeth.

It was no use, I was outmatched.

Every swipe of it's claws tore into me, every bite sent pain searing through my body.

The blood…. The gore…. Oh.

I managed to knock it off balance with a desperate kick, but it was relentless, circling me like I was a prey.

My vision blurred and the world titled on its axis.

I wasn't going to survive this.

The wolf pounced again, it's claws raking down my side, more blood poured from the wound, warm and sticky against the chill of the night. The last thing I saw was the wolf snarling above me and then everything went black.

The last thought I had in my head was… Finally.. I wouldn't have to deal with anything anymore, I was finally leaving…but what a nasty way to leave everything behind…

When I came to, I was being carried, my body, a dead weight, my senses dulled but I could hear a voice low and urgent.

Elder Marcus

“She's barely breathing,” he muttered, his steps quick and steady.

“Stay with me, Luna Leila, you hear me, you can't give up now.”

I wanted to respond, to tell him that I wasn't giving up, but my throat was too dry, my body too weak. Darkness tugged at me time and time again, but his voice kept pulling me back.

When we got to the pack's infirmary, the medics rushed to my side, their hands working quickly to stabilize me, I drifted in and out of consciousness, catching snippets of frantic voices and the metallic smell of blood.

“Call the Alpha,” someone said. “He's need to be here for her.

Derek never came.

Hours passed before I woke fully. My body aches with every breath, the bandages around my torso pulling tight against my wounds.

Elder Marcus sat beside me, his brow furrowed with concern.

“How are you feeling?” He asked gently.

“Like I was run over by a truck,” I said, my voice hoarse. “ Did… did anyone call Derek?”

Marcus's expression darkened. “He's preoccupied.”

I didn't need to ask what that means, my chest tightened, the pain shaper ths. The injuries I'd sustained.

Minutes later, voices echoed from the hallway.

Vivienne's laughter cut through the quiet, grating and annoying.

“Derek, my hand still hurts,”she whined.

“What if it gets infected?”

“You'll be fine,” he said, his tone soft, indulgent, “let me take a look at it again.”

My fist clenched breathe blankets.

Her hand?

She had a scratch on her hand while I had nearly died and he was tending to her?

The door opened slightly and Vivienne peeked in, her eyes narrowing when she saw me awake.

“Oh, you're alive,” she said with mock surprise. “For a moment, I thought we'd have to mourn you.”

Derek appeared behind her, his gaze sweeping over me briefly, before returning to her.

“Let's go, Vivienne, you need to rest,”

That was it, no concern, no questions about my condition, nothing. He didn't even step inside the room.

I felt something inside me break as I watched the door closed behind them.

Derek's betrayal wasn't just an affair, it was a complete disregard for my existence, my worth, my life.

Elder Marcus placed a hand on my shoulders, his touch grounding me. “You deserve better than this,” he said quietly.

I nodded. Yet the despair was overwhelming, I had given everything to Derek, now I was nothing more than a shadow in his life.

The days in the infirmary dragged on, each one blending into the next. My body healed slowly, the pain a constant reminder of how close I’d come to death. I spent most of my time staring at the ceiling, thinking of the life I once had and the one I now needed to escape.

It was during one of these long, silent afternoons that Vivienne arrived.

The sound of her heels clicking against the tiled floor was like the ticking of a bomb. I turned my head as she stepped into the room, her lips curling into a saccharine smile that made my skin crawl.

“Well, well,” she said, her voice dripping with mock concern. “Look at you, Leila . Still clinging to life, I see. Honestly, I’m surprised. Most people would’ve had the decency to just die after such a fatal incident, but not you, I have to give you credit, you are quite strong, even though you don't look like it.”

“What do you want, Vivienne ?” I asked, my voice low and steady despite the tremor in my chest.

She laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “I just came to check on you, of course. It’s only polite, isn’t it?”

She sauntered closer, her presence suffocating. “You know,” she began, her tone casual, “you’re not exactly popular around here. No one in the pack really wants you. You’re like a ghost haunting the place, tormenting everyone with your sad, pathetic existence.”

Her words struck like a whip, each one leaving a stinging mark. “Derek —” I started, but she cut me off with a sharp laugh.

“Derek?” she sneered. “Oh, Leila. You still think he cares about you? He’s mine now, heart and soul. Soon, the rest of the pack will see that too. You? You’re nothing but a fading memory.”

She leaned in closer, her eyes glinting with malice. “You should’ve died out there in the woods. It would’ve saved everyone so much trouble. Including me.”

Something in her voice sent a chill down my spine. I studied her face, searching for answers, and caught a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes—a flicker that made my blood run cold.

“What are you saying?” I whispered.

Vivienne smiled sweetly, a predator toying with her prey. “I’m saying that if you want what’s best for you, you’ll leave. Pack up your little broken heart and disappear. Because next time…” She trailed off, her claws extending slightly, glinting like polished daggers in the dim light.

“Next time,” she said softly, “you might not be so lucky.”

Before I could react, she pressed her claws into my side, directly where the rogue had torn me open. Pain shot through me like lightning, I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out.

“You should be thanking me for the advice,” she murmured, her voice dripping with faux kindness. “It’s the least I can do for a dying breed like you.”

The door creaked open, and a pack doctor entered, her presence like a beam of light cutting through the darkness. “Leila I’m here to check—” She stopped short, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.

“Vivienne,” the doctor said sharply. “What are you doing here?”

Vivienne straightened, her claws retracting as she plastered on an innocent smile. “Oh, nothing. Just a friendly visit,” she said breezily. “Leila and I were having a little chat.”

The doctor’s gaze didn’t waver, suspicion etched into her features. “I think it’s time you left. Leila needs rest.”

“Of course,” Vivienne replied, her tone dripping with false sweetness. “Take care, Leila.” She winked at me before turning and sauntering out, her heels clicking against the floor.

Once she was gone, the doctor turned to me, concern softening her expression. “Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

I shook my head, though my body screamed in protest. “I’m fine,” I said weakly, unwilling to explain.

But inside, I wasn’t fine. I was unraveling, Vivienne’s words echoing in my mind like a cruel mantra. I was unwanted, unloved, a burden to the pack. And worse, her veiled threat left no doubt—my life was in danger, and Derek wouldn’t lift a finger to save me.

As tears slid silently down my cheeks, I made my decision.

I had to leave. Not just for my dignity, but for my survival. If staying meant enduring more of Vivienne ’s cruelty and Derek ’s indifference, then it wasn’t worth it.

And when I did leave, I would make sure they both realized what they had lost.