After forgiving Lucas for the tenth time, I stopped paying attention to his smell and whereabouts every day.

The Pack Council had unanimously voted for me as the Chief Healer. However, Lucas used his Alpha authority to secretly give the position to his first love Sarah, a rogue wolf who had just returned to the pack.

He noticed my silence but felt no guilt.

Before leaving to answer Sarah’s mind link plea again, he held me.

"Elena, this job is Sarah's only lifeline to stay in the pack. She’s been a rogue for too long. She needs an official rank for protection."

"You’re different. Your healing gift is a blessing from the Moon Goddess. You shine anywhere."

"She only gets a title. You have my complete love. Isn’t that enough? Don't be mad."

My wolf, usually scratching to get out due to his neglect, was unusually quiet.

"Okay."

I didn't plan on keeping him or the job anyway.

Lucas is the Alpha. I am the pack’s most gifted healer. The Moon Goddess fated us as mates. Everyone thought we were perfect.

We agreed to complete the marking ceremony on the full moon after I became the Chief Healer.

However, after the voting results came out, the chief healer was indeed Sarah, Lucas's first love, a rogue wolf who had just returned to the pack.

Lucas pressured the Elders to make it happen.

He even gave Sarah the credit for my silver poisoning cure.

"Sarah just severed her mate bond. She’s incredibly weak. If I don't help her establish herself in our pack, the rogues will tear her apart."

"Elena, you’ve always been generous. You understand, right? You are so much stronger than her."

If I showed any dissatisfaction, I was being unreasonable and unsympathetic.

I didn't understand why saving his first love required sacrificing me.

But arguing was useless. Just like the last five years.

I nodded calmly. "Yeah, you're right."

Lucas looked surprised, then relieved. He rubbed my hair.

"Elena, you’ve really changed. In the past, you would have started a war over this."

"It seems our time apart taught you how to submit to your Alpha."

I paused.

I felt nothing.

He stripped me of my achievements while acting like he was proud of my "growth."

After our last fight, I tried to convince my wolf to reject Lucas as our mate. My wolf was in agony and nearly faded away.

He just used that time to complete his "obedience test" on me.

Five wasted years. Cheap and ridiculous.

After the celebration banquet for Sarah’s promotion, Lucas didn't go to his study for pack business as usual.

Sarah moved into the guest room downstairs six months ago. She claimed she was hiding from her abusive ex-mate, a violent rogue.

Lucas checked his phone and frowned.

"Sarah’s old injury is acting up. Go to the kitchen and brew some of that healing potion. I’ll take it down to her."

I stopped cleaning my weapons. "She can go to the infirmary."

Lucas’s face darkened.

"Those quacks at the infirmary don't know anything. Her wolf is unstable. You are the pack's best healer. Just brew the potion."

He stepped closer, releasing his Alpha aura.

"Elena, mate responsibilities are shared. If you won't make this small sacrifice, why should I keep loving you?"

" It's just helping a sick friend. Are you really that selfish?"

It was funny how self-righteous he looked.

I nodded and threw down the cleaning cloth. "Fine. Since you put it that way, I'll brew it."

Lucas relaxed immediately.

"See, Elena? Why couldn't you just do that from the start?"

He watched me work in the kitchen.

"That's right. As long as you listen and handle these domestic matters, my heart belongs to you, no matter which she-wolf I'm with."

He leaned against the doorframe.

"No one can replace you as Luna. Not even Sarah. She is too fragile. She needs to rely on others. You are the strong she-wolf standing behind me."

I stirred the soup and turned to smile at him. "Yes, you are absolutely right."

Lucas stared at me, looking for any sign of deception.

He found only submission.

Lucas’s phone rang.

It was the special wolf howl ringtone. Sarah was rushing him.

I turned off the stove, filled a thermos, and handed it to him. "Hurry up. Don't make the patient wait."

Lucas took the thermos. He reached out to hold my hand, offering a crumb of affection.

The phone kept ringing.

He pulled his hand back.

"Once Sarah recovers and this busy season ends, we’ll do the marking ceremony."

The mark?

He just wanted a free, high-level healer to serve him and his first love.

I used to dream of leaving my mark on his neck.

Now, the thought just made me sick.

I smiled. "Okay. Drive safe."

Lucas left, satisfied.

The door slammed shut.

Darkness swallowed the den.

I sat alone on the sofa, listening to the clock ticking.

The first time he abandoned me for Sarah, my wolf was in agony.

Now, that pain was gone.

My wolf had gotten used to it.

The memory of my wolf nearly fading flooded back.

It was late one night.

Sarah sent Lucas a message: [Lucas, I'm scared. I want to sever the mate bond with that rogue wolf.]

From that moment, Lucas changed.

He took back our engagement token—the Moonstone necklace.

His excuse was grand: he had commissioned a dwarf artisan to make a necklace with stronger magic and would give it to me when it was ready.

I believed him.

I was too busy helping him pass the Alpha Council assessment to think twice.

I didn't realize he was giving all his free time to Sarah.

The signs were there early on.

During a territory patrol, Lucas stared at the revealing maid outfits in the market—clothes usually worn by lower-ranked Omegas.

He hinted, "Elena, you should change your style. Healer robes are too conservative and boring."

Later, I found out Sarah had sent him a photo of herself in that exact outfit, asking if she looked good.

Then there was the stormy night.

Lucas was home but kept checking his phone, distracted.

He claimed there was an emergency at the border and rushed out.

That same night, Sarah posted a photo on Facebook of a man's back in the rain. The caption read: [Luckily, I have an Alpha to protect me on this stormy night.]

But I kept lying to myself.

Until that specific evening.

The pack held a banquet to sign a peace treaty with the vampire clan.

Sarah attended as the pack's newly recruited healer.

During the feast, the greedy Vampire Prince insisted Sarah drink a full pot of strong liquor with him.

Sarah’s eyes were red with fear. She hid behind Lucas, trembling.

I thought Lucas would stop it.

Instead, he turned and pushed the heavy pot of liquor toward me.

His voice was gentle but cold as ice: "Elena, Sarah is just an Omega. She can't handle this energy. You are a high-ranking wolf. Drink these cups for her."

It wasn't a cup. It was the whole pot.

This liquor contained violent energy. Even a high-ranking wolf would suffer backlash.

Amidst the jeering crowd, Lucas pressed down on my shoulder—using the Alpha command.

For his reputation, and for that peace treaty, I drank it.

The liquor burned like magma, corroding my throat and my wolf.

That night, I was carried out on a stretcher.

Severe internal corrosion.

When I woke up, only Lucas was in the infirmary.

He showed no pity. Instead, he held the signed parchment with a satisfied smile.

"Elena, you suffered a bit, but look, you helped me secure the treaty."

"I will remember this credit. This proves your love and your value as the future Luna."

My heart went cold watching him act so self-righteous.

On the day of my discharge, I suggested we go hunting in the deep forest to celebrate.

Lucas said he was tired and wanted to rest at the den.

Thirty minutes later, I saw him at the market on the edge of the territory.

He was carrying bags of expensive venison and healing herbs.

I watched him expertly enter the passcode to Sarah's apartment.

He didn't hesitate. It looked like he had lived there for years.

I stood in the hallway, my legs numb. It felt like my soul had been ripped out.

I knocked on the door with trembling hands.

Lucas's voice came from inside, full of laughter: "That was fast delivery."

The door opened.

The truth was naked before me.

I finally understood why Lucas came home late smelling of jasmine body wash.

Lucas instinctively shielded Sarah, who was wearing that sexy maid outfit, as if I were a monster.

"Elena! Are you stalking me?"

"I'm just reinforcing the defense barrier for Sarah. She's a weak Omega. Stop being so dirty-minded."

Was that it?

The Lucas who was too lazy to reinforce our own villa was now her dedicated guardian.

He accused me of being paranoid and ungrateful.

Later, while I was researching treatments, I was hospitalized again for silver poisoning.

This time, the infirmary was empty. Not even an apprentice was there.

In cold sweat from the pain, I called Lucas, hoping he would visit or bring me some recovery potions.

The phone connected, but the background noise was a busy mall and Sarah's happy laughter.

"Lucas, this Luna dress is perfect for the Moon Ball."

My wolf howled in pain inside me. I rasped, "Where are you? I'm lying in the hospital bed without even water."

Lucas sounded impatient.

"Elena, stop being so dramatic. Sarah just started working here. I'm helping her buy decent clothes to maintain the pack's image. It's official business."

"You're lying in bed. I'm not a healer, what use am I there?"

He hung up.

I listened to the disconnect tone and laughed.

Tears ran down the corners of my eyes into my ears, cold and biting.

To him, I wasn't a mate. I was a tool.

Once out of order, I had no value.

I pulled out the IV needle.

Blood stained the sheets.

I didn't bandage it. I just stared at the red stain.

Something inside me died completely.

I went to find the Witch of the Black Forest.

I asked her, "How can my wolf completely give up on a fated mate?"

The Witch stirred her potion, her black eyes staring at me. "Your wolf is stubborn. If I sever the bond now, the pain will destroy your soul. You will become a cripple."

"There is only one way—let your wolf adapt to the pain."

"Face the source of your agony. Submit completely. Give everything until your wolf gets used to the neglect, goes numb from pain, and voluntarily gives up."

So.

The first thing I did after discharge was find Lucas.

I didn't scream or question him. I put on makeup and submissively apologized.

Lucas looked at me, a flash of triumph in his eyes.

"That's right, Elena. You know I still love you, as long as you obey."

We "reconciled."

As if the damage never happened.

To make my wolf completely "numb," I took over the task of caring for Sarah.

I even took in Lucas's mother, who had always looked down on my background.

I woke up at 5 AM every day to polish Lucas's armor, cook beauty porridge for Sarah, and massage his mother's swollen legs.

Sarah accepted my service, occasionally acting fake-apologetic: "Elena, I'm sorry you have to serve us like a low-ranking Omega."

Lucas didn't defend me. He hugged Sarah's waist approvingly.

"Nonsense. This is Elena's kindness."

He turned to me with a condescending tone:

"See, Elena? This is what a good Luna looks like. You don't need pampering; you just need to be useful to this family."

"Being needed is the highest form of love I can give you."

I smiled and nodded, wiping the table. My heart was terrifyingly calm.

A month passed.

Lucas, whose face once made my wolf howl with joy, now looked greasy and hypocritical.

Every compliment he gave me accelerated my detachment.

In my eyes, he transformed from an Alpha into a clown.

Finally.

One sunny afternoon.

I realized my wolf no longer reacted to Lucas's betrayal.

She was tired. She finally agreed to reject Lucas.

I had been packing my bags gradually.

The Alpha of the Northern Ice Plains Pack valued my healing talent and had offered me a position. I accepted.