Alpha Damon was an exiled monster, feared for his cruelty. He chose Selena—an omega from a worthless pack—as his mate.

There was just one problem.

Our Mating Ceremony, mine and my fated mate Alpha Ethan's, was set for the same day.

When Ethan found out, he vanished for three days.

I found him just in time to overhear his plan.

"At the Mating Ceremony, I'll fake a sign from the Moon Goddess. I'll make it look like she rejected Elara."

"Pack law will force her onto that pathetic excuse for a brother, Damon. Then Selena won't have to mate with him."

"An outcast like Damon doesn't deserve a true Alpha's fated mate. Once Selena is safe, I’ll just take Elara back."

My heart turned to stone.

He was throwing me to a monster to save another woman.

And he thought he could just take me back?

Fine. I would play along with his little scheme.

But once his little show was over, I'd be gone for good.

Except when Ethan came to "rescue" me, he found Damon's mark burned into my neck.

That's when he finally broke.

The night before our Mating Ceremony, my fated mate was plotting my public rejection. He planned to throw me to his exiled brother, the monster, Alpha Damon.

All because he’d heard Damon had chosen his childhood sweetheart, Selena, as his mate.

Ethan finished explaining his plan. His Beta rushed out of the meeting room, never noticing me in the shadows.

“No, Ethan, I can’t let you take this risk for me.”

A soft, female voice drifted through the crack in the door.

It was trembling, on the verge of tears.

It froze me in place.

Selena.

She was here, too.

“Listen to me,” Ethan’s voice was softer than I’d ever heard it. “Faking the Goddess's rejection with a shadow rune... it's a risk I'm willing to take. I'll do anything to save you from my brother's clutches.”

“But shadow runes are too dangerous! If you’re caught, you’ll lose everything!”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do!” Selena’s voice cracked with a sob. “Ethan, you’re the future Alpha King. You can't throw that away for an Omega like me. I'd rather die than see you get hurt.”

My nails dug into my palms. The sharp sting was nothing compared to the numbness in my chest.

What a performance. What a touching sacrifice.

So in love.

But no one cared about me—the pawn they were about to sacrifice.

I am the last of the ancient Silver Wolf bloodline—the only hope for the future and strength of his entire pack.

According to the generational marriage pact between our packs, it was my destiny to become his Luna, to bear the pack's strongest heir.

And Alpha Damon was Ethan's half-brother.

Damon's mother was a half-breed. He was an outcast from birth.

But his raw power terrified the pack. Before exiling him, the former Alpha created the “Exile’s Blood Pact.”

If the new Alpha—Ethan—publicly rejected his fated mate at their ceremony, that mate would be automatically and irrevocably given to Damon, to help him start a new bloodline.

And now, Ethan was using this pact to protect his Selena.

The price was me.

“It’ll be fine,” Ethan soothed. “Damon's an outcast. His ceremony isn't public. Afterward, I'll spread rumors that Damon used dark magic to force Elara. The whole pack will support me when I go to ‘rescue’ her.”

“What about Elara? She'll hate you.”

"She won't," Ethan said, his confidence sickening. "Elara is obsessed with me. She'll get over it. Besides, where else would she go? Her bloodline is meant for ours; it's the fate she was born into. This minor complication... it's nothing."

I heard the soft clink of metal.

Then Selena gasped. “Is this—”

“The Heart of the Luna,” Ethan’s voice was sweet enough to drown in. “A moonstone necklace, the symbol of every Luna. From now on, it belongs only to you.”

“I can’t! It’s supposed to be Elara’s!”

“It belongs to the one I truly love.”

My heart stopped.

That necklace was my family's sacred heirloom. The last relic of my slaughtered pack.

Three days ago, Ethan took it from me, claiming it needed to be 'purified' before the ceremony.

I believed him like a fool. I was even touched that he was taking the ceremony so seriously.

“Lower your head. Let me put it on you.”

“Ethan…”

“Shh. You look as beautiful as the Moon Goddess herself.”

“What if Elara sees?”

“She won't. As soon as the ceremony is over, go back to your place. Don't let anyone see you. As for Elara… What I need is a pure-blooded heir. She is simply a means to an end. Her only true value lies in her Silver Wolf blood—the power that holds my pack together.”

I gripped the wall, my knuckles white.

Ten years.

Ten years ago, the night my pack was slaughtered.

Just as a rogue's claws aimed for my throat, a massive wolf dove in and saved me.

Those deep eyes, that powerful aura, the warmth of his body.

From the day I met Ethan, I was sure it was him.

We were fated mates.

I never doubted we would be mate.

Even though there was no spark between us, he had saved me, and I was willing to protect him for my entire life.

But only now do I understand: it was more than him not loving me.

All he wanted was the power in my blood, the honor of my title, and a mate who would obey his every word.

He treated me like a complete and utter fool!

“Selena, I swear, I will save you tomorrow. My heart is always with you.”

“I love you, Ethan.”

“I love you too.”

Enough.

I turned and walked away. Every step felt like walking on broken glass.

He made his choice. He would defy the Goddess for his little omega.

He didn’t respect me.

He saw me as a thing—something to be tossed aside and picked up again whenever he pleased.

Fine. I'll give him exactly what he wants.

I stood outside the training grounds, the fury building inside me.

Then, I ran. I threw myself into the pouring rain, letting the cold storm rage with me.

My body was cold, but my heart was colder.

"Elara!"

A familiar voice called from behind me. I didn't turn around.

"Gods, what are you doing in the rain?" Ethan ran up to me, pulling off his jacket to wrap around my shoulders. "You'll get sick!"

I stepped away from him.

"Where were you?"

"I—" his eyes darted away. "I was getting something for you."

"What?"

"Moonpetal," he lied, his face a perfect mask of sincerity. "The rare plant that strengthens our bloodline. I scoured three black markets just to find it for you."

I stared into his wet eyes.

Such a beautiful lie.

Such a perfect actor.

"Moonpetal must be expensive," I said calmly.

"Not at all," he said quickly. "Nothing is too expensive for you. Come on, let's go back. You'll catch a cold."

Just then, a small figure ran out from a side door of the training grounds.

Selena.

She was wearing a delicate silk dress, completely wrong for a storm.

"Watch out!" She slipped on the wet stone and fell forward.

A brooch tumbled from her dress, shattering on the stone steps.

Blue petals scattered everywhere, glowing with a faint silver light.

Moonpetal.

A real Moonpetal brooch.

I looked at Ethan. The color drained from his face.

"What's this?" I knelt and picked up a petal.

"Don't touch it!" Selena scrambled toward me. "It's dangerous!"

She tried to gather the pieces, and a sharp edge sliced her palm.

Blood welled up instantly.

"Selena!" Ethan lunged forward, a wild look in his eyes.

He didn't even glance at me. He ripped his jacket from my shoulders and wrapped it around her.

Then he tore a strip from his own shirt to carefully bandage her hand.

On that strip of cloth was my family crest. I’d spent a month hand-stitching it for him in silver thread. A surprise.

Now it was a bandage for another woman.

"Does it hurt?" he asked her softly.

"A little," Selena whimpered, leaning into his chest.

"I'll take you to the healers."

"No, really, you don't have to—"

"We're going!" he cut her off firmly. Then he looked at me. "Elara, go back to the pack house. I'll come get you later."

Then he swept Selena into his arms and walked away.

Leaving me alone in the downpour.

I stared at the broken Moonpetal on the ground and slowly stood up.

So this was the "Moonpetal" he found for me at three black markets.

So this was why he was gone for three days.

So this was his "nothing is too expensive for you."

This was a sacred relic, meant to guarantee the purity of the next heir's power.

Now, he's used it as a cheap trinket to please his lover, only to see it shattered to pieces.

Rain and tears streamed down my face.

I stood there from dusk until late into the night.

He never came back.

My pack members found me hours later, still standing in the freezing rain.

The next morning, he finally showed up at my door.

"Elara, I'm so sorry," he said, his face a mask of guilt. "Rogues ambushed my patrol last night. I was trapped."

His clothes were clean.

His hair was neat.

But he smelled faintly of jasmine—Selena’s unique Omega scent.

"What ambush?" I stared at him, my face blank.

"Rogues. A sudden attack. I'm so sorry." He tried to hug me, but I moved away. "I promise I'll be with you all day to prepare for the ceremony."

"Don't bother." I turned to my vanity. "I can prepare by myself."

"Elara—"

"Get out," I said to my reflection. "I need to be alone."

He opened his mouth, then closed it and left.

At noon, we went to the pack's commercial center to get the last few things for tomorrow's ceremony.

As soon as we arrived, I heard arguing from above.

I looked up. Of course, it was Selena again.

"Well, look who it is."

A sharp female voice floated down from the rooftop terrace of the commercial center.

I looked up to see three high-born Beta females surrounding a trembling Selena.

"You dare wear the Heart of the Luna? A filthy half-breed like you isn't even worthy to touch something meant only for Silver Wolf blood."

My heart clenched.

The Heart of the Luna was around Selena's neck, sparkling in the sun.

"I... I didn't..." Selena stammered, trying to cover the necklace with her hand.

"Didn't what? Didn't steal it, or didn't seduce our future Alpha?"

"Please, don't do this..."

"Kneel!" one of the women snapped. "Show us submission! Prove you remember your place!"

A crowd started to form.

I felt Ethan tense beside me.

He didn't even care that the necklace was exposed.

His eyes found mine from behind the crowd, pleading. Go help her, Elara, his voice commanded in my head.

He wanted me to save her.

Just like all the other times, he wanted me to solve the problems his little sweetheart created.

While he stayed hidden, playing the innocent bystander.

I slowly walked up the stairs.

"Stop it," I said, stepping between them. My voice was calm.

"Oh, the future Luna has arrived," the lead woman sneered. "Elara, do you know this bitch stole your—"

"I know," I cut her off, my eyes fixed on Selena. "But now is not the time to deal with this."

A flash of panic crossed Selena's eyes before she put on a grateful expression. "Elara, thank you..."

"Don't thank me yet," my voice was quiet, but every word was terrifyingly clear. "I just don't want to see an ugly scene in public."

"What ugly scene?" a man in the crowd shouted. "I saw Ethan carrying this woman into his private villa last night with my own eyes!"

The area fell silent.

Everyone's eyes darted between me and Selena.

Selena's face went pale.

"That must be a misunderstanding..." she explained, her voice shaking.

"A misunderstanding?" the man scoffed. "I saw it clearly! Ethan even opened the car door for her!"

"Enough!" Selena suddenly screamed. "I don't want to hear this!"

She pretended to be overwhelmed and lunged toward me.

"Elara, protect me! They're bullying me!"

Her hand gripped my arm, her nails digging into my skin.

Then, as everyone watched, she suddenly went limp and fell backward.

But her hand was still latched onto my arm, making it look like I had pushed her.

"Ahhh—!"

She tumbled over the edge of the terrace.

Time seemed to stand still.

Everyone was staring at me.

Staring at the evil woman who had "pushed" Selena.

"Murderer! The future Luna just pushed her!"

"Somebody do something!"

"Gods, she's a monster!"

A silver blur exploded from the crowd below. Ethan. His massive wolf form caught Selena in mid-air.

He landed safely on the terrace, shifting back to human in a fluid motion and clutching her to his chest.

"Selena! Selena! Are you okay?"

"I... it hurts so much..." she whispered weakly against his chest, looking like she was at death's door.

Ethan looked up, his eyes locking on me with pure murder.

His voice crashed into my mind, "I told you to help her, not kill her!"

I stood silently on the terrace, watching the drama unfold below.

"It was an accident," I said. My voice was so calm it felt foreign even to me.

"An accident?" The crowd hissed in anger. "We all saw you!"

"That's right! We saw everything!"

"Elara is consumed by jealousy!"

"Our future Luna is a monster!"

I didn't defend myself.

There was no point.

This was all part of their plan.

Ethan carried Selena away without a second glance in my direction.

The crowd dispersed, leaving me alone on the terrace.

Just before they disappeared from view, Selena peeked over Ethan’s shoulder.

She gave me a triumphant, ice-cold smirk.

He chose me, her eyes screamed. You lose.