Aurora

This place used to be a silver mine, but now it was worse. A prison where they sent wolves to break us.

The silver in the walls burned if we shifted, so we didn’t. We just worked. And bled. And waited for something to change.

I was number 73 now. Not a name. Just a number.

“Move, 73!” a guard yelled, snapping a whip close to my back.

I kept dragging the heavy stones, hands raw and stinging. The others didn’t speak much. We didn’t have the strength.

One girl, young—maybe eighteen—collapsed beside me.

A guard stormed over, his face twisted in irritation, lifting his baton high above his shoulder. "Get up!" he shouted, though the girl hadn’t made a sound.

When she didn’t move, he brought the baton down—not once, but twice—slamming it against the stone just inches from her skull.

She shrieked, curling in on herself.

"She can’t even stand," I said quickly, stepping in front of her. "Her arm’s broken. She needs help."

He shoved me hard. I hit the wall and gasped.

“Don’t tell me how to do my job,” he said. “What, you think you’re still a Luna?”

He looked around at the other prisoners. “Everyone here deserves to be here. Especially you.”

He grabbed the girl and dragged her away. Her cries echoed down the tunnel.

---

At night, we slept on the cold floor. No beds. No blankets. Just dirt and pain.

But the worst pain didn’t come from the work.

It came from the bond.

Every time Dunstan touched Aubrey, I felt the mating bond twisted inside me like a knife. I curled into myself, biting my hand to stay quiet. Some nights, I failed. I screamed until my throat burned.

He didn’t care. He probably wanted me to feel it.

I used to love him. I used to believe him.

Now all I wanted was revenge.

Every night, I sat in my corner, dirty and bruised, planning. I drew lines in the dirt, whispered names under my breath, and begged the Moon Goddess to help me.

I had one hope left.

Dominic.

He said he’d come. He had to.

---

I was barely awake when someone grabbed me the next morning.

One grabbed me by the arm so roughly I thought it might pop from the socket. I clawed at the ground, but another yanked me by the hair. They didn’t care if I was awake or breathing—just that I moved.

“Get up, 73.”

I tried to fight, but I was weak. My body was shaking. I hadn’t eaten. I could barely see.

They dragged me out of the pit and threw me into the mud. My knees hit hard. My hands sunk into the filth.

I looked up and saw Aubrey.

“Bow to your Luna,” the warrior barked.

“I’d rather die,” I spat.

He raised a hand to hit me, but Aubrey stopped him.

“Leave us,” she said.

He stepped away.

“What do you want now?” I asked, voice rough. “Want to film how pathetic I look?”

She laughed. “Oh, you gave me a great idea.”

She pulled out her phone and started recording. “Look at her,” she said in a syrupy tone, stepping slowly around me like a predator circling its prey. “Former Luna, now just a filthy mutt in the mud. Face down like a kicked dog. Isn’t it tragic?”

My fists clenched in the mud. Every part of me wanted to lunge at her, to wipe that smirk off her face with blood and teeth. But I couldn’t—not yet.

She crouched low, angling the phone to catch every inch of dirt on my skin. Then she zoomed in on my bruised face and torn clothes. “This is what happens when you forget your place,” she continued. “Maybe I’ll send this to the council... or better yet, make it go viral in the territory’s network.”

She tilted the phone mockingly. “Smile for the rogues, sweetheart. They love a broken Luna story.”

I looked down at the mud.

Endure it, my wolf whispered. Soon she’ll beg for the same mercy she never gave.

Then I heard a voice I didn’t expect.

“Stop it, Aubrey.”

Dunstan.

Aubrey turned. “Babe?”

He didn’t even look at her.

“Get a maid,” he said. “Clean her up.”

Aubrey stared at him. “Why? She doesn’t deserve it.”

“I need her in the packhouse.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Need her? What, are you making her Luna again?”

He scoffed. “Of course not.”

I stood, shaking. Mud on my face. Fire in my chest.

“Then what?” I asked. “What do you want from me?”

I wanted to spit in his face. But I needed answers more than pride.

Aurora

I stood outside the study, still clutching the clipboard pressed to my chest, when I heard Dunstan and Aubrey arguing.

"Why bring her back to the packhouse? Is it because you won’t divorce her—and still plan to restore her as Luna?"

Dunstan scoffed. "I already have a Luna, and that’s you. Why be threatened by someone who’s already a loser?"

I knew he no longer loved me, but hearing the disdain in his voice seemed to crack my ribs into two.

"Then why?" Aubrey demanded.

"She may no longer be useful to me as a wife or Luna, but I need her brain. She’s good with paperwork and communications." Dunstan’s tone turned matter-of-fact. "There’s a deal that needs to be closed soon, and I’m assigning her as my temporary secretary to ensure it doesn’t fall through."

"What? No! You can’t be serious!"

"I am serious. If only you could do those things. When I handed you the inventory of our stockpiles, you didn’t even touch it." He exhaled loudly. "I was disappointed. You begged to be Luna, Aubrey, but you won’t even lift a finger to understand the logistics. What kind of Luna doesn’t know what her pack has in storage?"

"Umm..." Aubrey faltered. She shifted in her seat, eyes narrowing, but her voice softened when she finally spoke. "Of course, I’m not here to do those things. I’m your Luna. My task is to sit beside your throne, right?"

"Exactly. And that’s why I need Aurora for the real work," Dunstan said. "I won’t deny it—she’s good."

Aubrey's tone cooled. "Promise me you only brought her back for those things. Nothing else."

Dunstan let out a low laugh. "But of course. I’m not a dog who’ll consume something he already puked."

My fingers tightened around the clipboard.

I wanted to barge in, but instead, I stood frozen as my wolf said, 'Patience, Aurora. This is actually the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.'

I took a series of deep breaths and nodded.

Let them believe I’m broken.

---

I resumed my duties quietly, handling the council’s documents, read reports, and even presented summaries during meetings.

Dunstan was always impressed, though he barely said so aloud.

Aubrey, however, was always watching me.

One morning, I was preparing coffee in Dunstan’s office when he walked in.

"Thanks," he said as I handed it to him. But instead of drinking it immediately, he continued to gaze at me, saying, "You still haven’t changed, Aurora. Still got that exceptional ability."

I kept my tone cool, laying out the day’s paperwork. "You don’t need to flatter me so I won’t fail again."

He raised a brow. "I’m not flattering you. Just stating facts. I regret putting you in the Dire Oval. You didn’t deserve that."

My hand, which had been flipping through the pages stilled as I thought, 'And you don’t deserve my time either.'

I pushed the stack of reports toward him. "Here are the papers in their proper order. All you need to do is sign." I gave him an innocent smile.

He sat down, placing the untouched coffee beside him, and began signing the documents without reading. I stood by, composed and civil, watching the ink dry on decisions I no longer cared for.

Then the door burst open.

"Babe! Breakfast is ready!" Aubrey chimed. "I made your favorite coffee too."

Dunstan looked at the cup I had prepared.

"It’s okay," I said smoothly. "You don’t have to drink that. Please enjoy your breakfast. I’ll continue my work here."

He shrugged. "Alright. You drink it then. You need something in your stomach too."

I blinked. It was the first hint of concern I’d heard from him in a long time.

Aubrey's eyes narrowed. "Don’t get any ideas, omega. You may wear decent clothes now, but you still reek of desperation. This packhouse isn’t yours anymore. Remember that every time you breathe the air in here."

"Come on," Dunstan muttered, annoyed. "I don’t want negativity in the morning."

He pressed a kiss to her cheek. She giggled, pleased, and they left together.

Once they were gone, I returned to the desk and began sorting the signed papers.

My lips slowly curled.

He had no idea he had signed our divorce papers, along with the official severed mate bond declaration.

I was officially free and unmated.

---

Dominic

The bedroom was too masculine. All dark wood and sharp edges. It looked like it belonged to someone permanently angry. I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Tessa stroll in with her measuring tape and sketchpad.

"Make it unisex," I told her. "The current vibe is... testosterone and trauma."

Tessa gave me a look, one brow raised. "If I didn’t know this was just an arrangement, I’d think you had a crush on this Aurora."

I rolled my eyes, exhaling hard through my nose. "Just do the job."

She snorted but got to work.

Then my phone buzzed.

It was the office. My secretary’s voice came through the speaker. "Sir, I think you’ll want to see this. Riverbanks just submitted a bid for the Richmond account. And it’s... incredible."

I was already grabbing my coat.

Half an hour later, I stepped into the glass lobby of Richmond Tower. The city skyline blinked beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. My secretary handed me the file, and I flipped it open on the elevator ride.

Then I saw the name.

Prepared by: Aurora Aspen.

I smiled. Just slightly.

"We’ll choose this one," I said aloud.

In my mind: I’m choosing you.

Aurora

The signed divorce papers rested on my lap, finalized.

This wasn’t just a severance of bond. It was a burial of the past.

I picked up the phone and dialed the only number I trusted.

"Well, who’s calling me today?" Dominic's voice carried a lazy amusement. "My little wolf."

I rolled my eyes, shifting the phone from one ear to the other as I paced the room. "Can you stop calling me that? I have a name."

"If you say so. But since we’re getting married soon, I’ll call you my wife."

I paused as my jaw dropped. "What did you just say? That’s not in our agreement!"

He chuckled. "I don’t recall we’ve actually formulated one yet. But since we’re talking now, let me lay it out for you."

I didn’t protest, though I probably should’ve. I found myself listening, curious despite myself.

"I’ll get you out of Pack Hell. You’ll marry me and become Luna to the rogue factions. I need a partner—someone sharp and fearless—to strengthen my leadership. You gain safety. I gain power. It’s a win-win."

I bit my lower lip.

Was I walking into another matrimonial deal as a chosen, repeating the same mistakes again?

"I know what you’re thinking, little wolf," Dominic chuckled, breaking my train of thoughts. "But no. That’s not going to happen because first of all, there’s no love involved. Unless, you’re already in love with me?"

“Do I look like I’m searching for love?” My cheeks burned. "You are so full of yourself, you know that? But fine. I’ll agree to your deal. We’ll treat it as a business arrangement. Mutual benefits, nothing more."

He chuckled, low and sensual. "I knew you’d agree. You’re an intelligent woman."

His compliment only squeezed my heart. If that’s true, then why did I once believe Dunstan’s love?

Later that morning, I was collecting trash from the east wing of the packhouse, a task Aubrey had personally assigned—probably hoping to humiliate me.

I held my breath as I lifted the lid of Dunstan’s office bin, expecting the usual scraps of torn paper and half-eaten food.

But then I saw a pale blue folder, too clean for trash. It had slipped just beneath a crumpled council memo.

Curious, I pulled it out, and saw the name Aubrey Smith printed across the top, stamped with bold red letters: 'CONFIDENTIAL.'

I frowned.

My fingers moved before I could second-guess myself, flipping it open. The contents made my stomach knot.

She never had leukemia.

I slid the folder inside the bottom of the garbage bag, beneath layers of paper waste, and once outside, I carefully retrieved it.

---

That afternoon, I was instructed to bring food to Aubrey and her friends on the patio.

As I placed the dishes down, one of them laughed.

"I can’t believe this woman used to be a Luna," one of them sneered, eyeing me. "She looks more like a worn-out housemaid than someone who once had a throne."

"Never would’ve guessed," another added with a scoff. "That’s why I don’t even glance at rogues. I don’t want my Alpha thinking I’ve caught something from the gutter."

"Seriously," a third piped in. "It’s like she was made for scrubbing floors. She probably smells like the dungeons she crawled out of."

"Oh, but that’s not the real reason she ended up like this." Aubrey leaned in with a wicked smirk as she gazed at me. "Dunstan just never loved her. Not even for a moment."

I took a slow breath, trying not to let my trembling fingers show. "Excuse me," I said calmly, turning to leave.

"Wait," Aubrey called sweetly. "I have a gift for you."

I turned back, wary. "A gift for what?"

She grinned. "The Moonlight Gala is happening soon. I already gave my friends their gowns. Of course, you get one too."

"Oh, you’re so generous to everyone, Luna," one of the women gushed.

Aubrey held out a glittering box wrapped with a dramatic silver bow and handed it to me.

I opened it. Inside lay a threadbare servant’s dress, the kind worn by omegas who scrubbed blood off the Dire Oval floors.

The girls burst into laughter. But I only smiled.

"Thank you," I said sweetly. "It suits you better. You wore it well before, didn’t you?"

The women glanced at each other, their lips parted.

And then one laughed as she tapped Aubrey's stiff shoulder.

"Wow, Aubrey. Even with the title and the spotlight, you still can’t outshine the former Luna. Kind of embarrassing, isn’t it? Especially when she's wearing rags and still makes you look second-rate."

Aubrey’s face twisted. Her hand shot forward, grabbing my hair with a shriek. "You smug little bitch!"

She pulled me down, nails clawing at my scalp, her fists slamming against my shoulder as she shrieked. My back hit the wall hard.

"What right do you have to embarrass me in front of my friends? Do you really want to see what I can do to a trash like you?”

Pain exploded behind my eyes, sending a sharp flash through my skull.

It triggered the memory of my daughter’s lifeless body. Her death collided with Dunstan’s betrayals. The laughter, the lies, the humiliation.

They all burn together.

It was then that my wolf erupted in a flash of black and white, larger than before, midnight fur streaked with silver at the tips.

Aubrey screamed and stumbled back, scrambling against the wall.

"W-What? When did your coat change like that?!"

Her friends backed away, speechless. Fear replacing their earlier mockery.

Just then, Dunstan stormed in.

"Aurora! Shift back! Now!"

I turned my glowing eyes toward him. And for the first time, I felt nothing.

His Alpha command held no power over me now.

But I shifted anyway. Not for him. For my plan.

I stood tall, breathing slow, anger locked behind my spine.

"I thought I could trust you," Dunstan spat. "But you’re still feral. You don’t belong in this packhouse anymore. I’m sending you back to the Dire Oval. Permanently."

Aubrey, still panting, wiped her tears and clung to his arm. "But babe, your deals... You need a secretary, right?"

"I already closed the deal with Mr. Richmond. I no longer need a servant who thinks she's royalty."

She smiled behind his back.

"If only you were good, Aurora," she said with fake sadness. "But you chose this fate. We didn’t want to hurt you."

"Guards," Dunstan barked. "Escort her back to the Dire Oval."

He didn’t look at me as the warriors ungracefully dragged me away.

---

As we walked into the forest, a small backpack was slung over one of my shoulders as Dunstan had allowed me to take a few belongings.

What he didn’t know was that the most important ones were hidden beneath the lining of my shirt, strapped tightly against my body.

Outside the gates, dusk had begun to fall.

But then a howl ripped through the air, making the warriors freeze in their tracks.

"Rogues!"

Gray wolves burst from the shadows, instantly killing the nearest warrior they see.

I hit the ground as a massive wolf lunged over me.

I curled up, bracing for the pain that never came.

"Ready for the big night?"

I opened my eyes slowly and spotted a massive black wolf standing over me.

One of the guards tried to rise, but the wolf was faster. After slitting his throat, he turned to me, tilting his massive head.

Then he shifted to his human form an

"Ready for the big night?"

“Yes.”

——

Dunstan

"Gentlemen, let me introduce the woman beside me. This is Aubrey, my Luna."

The other Alphas and their mates nodded politely.

The Moonlight Gala wasn’t just a fancy event.

People attended, but they weren’t just here to dance.

Deals were made between wine refills, and reputations were made or broken depending on how smart or stupid you acted.

We were in the middle of a casual conversation with some council members and visiting leaders when Alpha Magnus’s Luna asked a question that made my jaw clench.

"Where’s Aurora?"

I cleared my throat and kept my tone even. "She committed a crime against our pack. I had to punish her."

Before I could say more, Aubrey chimed in with that sugary voice of hers. "It’s just to prove that our Alpha is a fair one. Regular pack member or not, he treats everyone equally and holds them accountable."

I nodded along, trying to look unaffected.

But something churned in my chest.

I still thought of Aurora more than I wanted to admit. I hated how she kept showing up in my head, uninvited. I told myself it was just guilt.

That’s when I spotted Mr. Richmond.

I tapped Aubrey's elbow. "I need to speak with him. Of all the bids, he chose mine. Now he's part of our board members. You should thank him too.”

She smiled. "Of course. I do wonder what pack he belongs to. I’ve never heard of any Alpha named Richmond in the North."

I chuckled. "Who cares? What matters is he’s rich and influential. Thanks to…"

I paused.

My tongue nearly said it.

'Thanks to Aurora. Hell, she wasn’t even part of the final meetings, but the damn report she wrote impressed him so much it sealed the deal.'

We approached him as he stood among guests.

Mr. Richmond was a head-turner, alright. Clean cut. Tall. The kind of man that walked like he owned the room. He couldn’t be more than a few years older than me, but his suit looked like it cost more than my car.

I’ll admit it—I envied him a bit. But he didn’t have Alpha blood, and I did. That gave me confidence.

"Mr. Richmond," I said, holding out my hand. "Pleasure to finally meet in person. Thank you for choosing our pack."

He shook my hand with a relaxed grip. "Pleasure’s mine. The presentation was very impressive."

I nodded. "I’d like to introduce you to my Luna. Aubrey."

He gave her a polite smile and a nod but didn’t seem all that interested.

Aubrey tilted her head. "Do you already have someone, Mr. Richmond? Or are you here alone tonight?"

He chuckled lightly, about to speak when the whole room shifted.

Eyes turned to the entrance. I followed the stares, and my whole body stiffened.

She was stunning. Long legs in a sleek, black dress that hugged every curve.

Her hair was up, neck bare, lips red. Expensive. Confident. Powerful.

My jaw tensed. Aurora?

She walked straight toward us.

Aubrey sneered. "What’s the meaning of this? Why are you here?"

Aurora smiled coldly. "That’s a rude question to ask a former Luna."

I stared at her. "You’re supposed to be in the Dire Oval."

"I was," she said calmly. "But obviously, I’m not there now."

Aubrey’s voice turned shrill as her hand flew up and pointed toward Aurora. Her face was red with anger, eyes wide. "Guards! Pick this woman up. She’s not part of this event."

Aurora looked around and turned back to Aubrey with a shrug. "Still not figuring out who doesn’t belong here? Notice how no one moved."

Aubrey turned to me. "Do something! This rogue is humiliating us."

I glared at Aurora. "You’re going back to the Dire Oval. Just let me finish this event, and I’ll find out who helped you. He’ll be reported to the High Council."

Mr. Richmond finally spoke. His face went dark.

"That’s very disrespectful to the future wife of Richmond Enterprises’ CEO."

I was stunned in my place. "What?"