“He ripped open his collar to reveal the bite marks: ‘Now, it’s my turn to cover you with my scent.’” Selina cut off the contract with Alpha with her own hands, but met her childhood follower at the most embarrassing moment – now he has become a dangerous and charming wolf upstart. “Remember you said you would protect me forever?” She chuckled sarcastically, but he grabbed her wrist and pressed her against the French window, “Sister… This time I will teach you what ‘protection’ means.” When the old wounds have not healed and the power changes, she must choose between desire and reason: should she continue to be a deserter, or let this man who has lost his youth teach her the taste of sinking? Not long before Valentine’s Day, my mate, Kieran Draven, dropped a ridiculous amount of money on a custom diamond pendant. And when the day actually came? All I got was a bouquet of roses. He handed them over with a shrug. “We’ve been together forever, right? No need to go all out—flowers should do the trick.” That night, scrolling through my feed, I nearly choked. His Beta, Mira Thornclaw, had posted a picture, proudly showing off my necklace. A cold, sinking feeling twisted in my gut. When I confronted him, he just scoffed. “She’s part of our pack, Selene. No mate, no family—I felt bad for her. What, is that a crime now?” I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, sympathy? Why not just mark her while you’re at it?” His entire body went stiff, his jaw tightening as he turned to look at me. “You’re seriously this worked up over a piece of jewelry?” He gestured toward our room, irritation rolling off him. “Have I ever forgotten to get you something for a special occasion?” “Who makes sure you’re taken care of? Who keeps you safe? Who provides for you as my Luna?” “This is about a necklace? You’re actually thinking about rejecting our bond over something so petty?” “Why can’t you be more like Mira? You know how much she’d appreciate what you take for granted?” He let out a humorless chuckle. “What, still not enough for you?” His voice boomed through the den, his dominance pressing down on me like a command. At the mention of Mira, my hands clenched against my legs. That familiar sting of hurt clawed its way up my chest. Here we go again. Every fight, every disagreement—it always came back to her. I forced a bitter smile. “I’m the one being difficult? I’m the one who isn’t grateful?” “Kieran, is Mira my problem? Is it my job to make sure she has a cushy life?” My voice rose, all the anger I had swallowed for months finally breaking free. “And yet you, my mate, my Alpha, have never once gone out of your way for me like you did for her with that necklace!” “Ask anyone in the pack—who’s the selfish one here, Kieran? Have you ever stopped to think about how I feel?” I glared at him, my whole body shaking. Then, last year’s Valentine’s Day crashed into my mind. We had planned a trip to the Moonlit Cliffs in Silvercrest—a place sacred to our kind. I had everything packed and ready the night before. And then, just like that, he told me he wasn’t coming. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me. My chest tightened. “Why?” I had asked. He had barely looked up. “Something came up with the pack. Can’t make it. We’ll go another time.” I wasn’t stupid. “What could possibly be so urgent tonight? Even the Elders take the night off! You swore on the last full moon that we’d go.” “You’re always busy, Kieran. Can’t you give me one day?” I muttered under my breath, “Mia’s mate is taking her on a run through the Elderwood tomorrow.” At that, his expression darkened. “How long have Mia and her mate been bonded? You really think we’re in the same place?” “Can you stop obsessing over these ridiculous traditions? Why do you always need so much attention?” And then, with a look of pure exasperation, he pulled out his wallet, yanked out his black pack credit card, and tossed it onto the table. “Here. Go crazy. Buy whatever you want and let it go.” Then he walked out without another word. And after that, he was never there when it mattered. For the longest time, I told myself this is just how it is. Long-term bonds settle. Alpha and Luna, learning to coexist. But tonight? I knew better. His heart hadn’t changed. It had just shifted—toward someone else. I sucked in a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. Kieran’s face flickered with something—maybe surprise, maybe guilt—but it was gone in a second. His coldness faded, but indifference remained. Silence stretched between us until his phone buzzed against the table. He glanced at it, sighed, and looked back at me. “Selene, I’ll get you another necklace.” “But can we not turn this into a whole thing? You know the stress I’m under as Alpha.” I had known Kieran Draven since we were pups.
Growing up, our families were so close that I practically trailed behind Kieran everywhere, and everyone knew I had a puphood crush on him. Over time, we went from childhood friends to mates, then engagement, and eventually, we became the Alpha-Luna couple everyone in the pack admired. But a year ago, everything shifted when he started expanding our pack’s territory. His duties as Alpha became overwhelming, and that’s when he took on a new Beta assistant. At first, I barely noticed her—Mira Thornclaw was plain, easy to overlook in a crowd. Turns out, that was my mistake. That seemingly unremarkable she-wolf somehow caught Kieran’s attention. He started nitpicking things he never cared about before. My love for steaks? Suddenly, that was wasteful and extravagant. Shopping for ceremonial Luna gowns? He had endless complaints about the cost, accusing me of spending recklessly. He even had the audacity to say that just one of my outfits could have funded supplies for the warriors or helped struggling Omega pups. Eventually, I figured out why. He was comparing me to her. Mira came from a rough background—an Omega-born girl who had to claw her way up in a pack that favored sons. She’d earned a scholarship to an elite shifter academy through sheer willpower. Even now, she still sent half her salary back home. Kieran admired that about her. And the more he sympathized with her, the more he resented me—his spoiled Luna who had never known hardship. Last month, I decided to surprise him at his office. Between constant meetings and pack matters, he barely ate properly. Too much stress, too much raw meat, and he’d been having stomach issues for weeks. I had a pack chef prepare a meal just for him. I walked into his office, smiling, lunchbox in hand—only to see an empty plate already sitting on his desk. Kieran looked at the meal I brought, expression unreadable. Then my gaze landed on a small wolf-shaped lunchbox sitting beside his files. A chill spread through me. It was the kind of thing a she-wolf would pick out. Doubt sank its claws into me, deep and unshakable. Forcing a smile, I asked lightly, “New meal plan, Alpha? Did the pack start sending catered lunches now? What happened to the ones I used to bring?” Before he could respond, the door to the Alpha’s private lounge creaked open. Mira stepped out, holding an identical lunchbox. A matching set. My stomach twisted. Everything clicked into place. I let out a cold laugh, walked straight to his desk, and without hesitation, tossed the lunchbox into the trash. Mira paled, eyes darting to Kieran, but she didn’t say a word. I turned to him and spoke, voice like ice. “Looks like your Beta’s got your meals covered, Alpha. I’ll stop wasting my time.” “She can take care of you from now on.” I walked out without looking back, my throat burning. And after that? I never brought him food again. If I ever mentioned it, he brushed it off—I was overreacting, I was being unfair, I wasn’t as understanding as Mira. Eventually, I got tired of the whole thing. Stopped fussing over him. Stopped checking in on whether he made it home after meetings. Instead of thinking about what he needed, I focused on what I wanted. I even sent him shopping lists instead of waiting around for him to remember to ask. A few days ago, Ravara—the Gamma’s mate—invited me to dinner, her voice laced with excitement. “Selene, did you hear the news?” I blinked. “What news?” “About you and Kieran.” I frowned, confused. “What about us?” She grinned. “He ordered a diamond pendant infused with moonstone from my family’s shop. Over a hundred thousand—extravagant, even for him.” “Honestly? I’m jealous.” Since her family owned one of the most renowned jewelry businesses among werewolf packs, I knew she wasn’t lying. And for the first time in months, hope flickered inside me. Maybe he was trying. Maybe things weren’t as bad as I thought. The more she talked about it, the more I started to believe. But then, Valentine’s Day came. And that hope shattered like fragile glass. Instead of the carefully selected, Elder-blessed moonstone pendant, he handed me a hastily bought bouquet of roses. And the custom-made Luna’s necklace? It was sitting around Mira’s neck. A bond built over two decades—reduced to nothing compared to the she-wolf he’d only known for a year. I let out a bitter laugh at myself. The moment Kieran left, I collapsed onto the den’s leather sofa, drained. I pressed a hand over my eyes, fighting back the sting of tears. And in that moment, I swore I could hear it— The sound of my mate bond breaking apart. I had finally reached my limit.
I was up early the next morning, packing my things to head back to my birth pack. Once I was ready, I called my mother, the Pack Luna, from downstairs. She stepped outside, her face lighting up. “Selene, look who finally decided to come home!” “Come in, I made your favorite—venison stew.” I nodded, following her into the Alpha’s residence. Dad, the Pack Alpha, was already at the table, casually eating. I pulled out a chair and sat across from him. We ate quietly for a while before I finally worked up the nerve to speak. “Mom, Dad… I need to talk to you about something.” Their heads lifted instantly, curiosity flashing in their eyes. I hesitated, then met their gazes. “I’m thinking about rejecting my mate bond with Kieran.” Both of them spoke at once. “What?!” Dad’s silver spoon hit the wooden floor with a sharp clang. Mom was the first to react. “Did something happen? Did you and Kieran have a fight?” “If he upset you, just tell me—I’ll handle it.” I exhaled slowly, choosing my words. “It’s not just an argument. It’s more than that… We can’t keep going like this.” “He doesn’t care about me. Not really.” The room fell into silence. Dad’s brows knitted together, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he finally said, “I’m meeting with Alpha Magnus for dinner tonight. Come along. Talk it over with him.” That evening, dressed and ready, I rode with my parents to the Pack’s Council Hall, where the Alphas gathered. As soon as I stepped into the private dining hall, my breath caught. Kieran was already there, dressed in a fitted black training shirt, exuding dominance like he belonged at the head of every table. I barely spared him a glance before greeting his father. “Hello, Alpha Magnus.” The older Alpha smiled warmly. “Selene, it’s been too long. You’ve grown into a strong she-wolf. Come, sit with us.” I nodded, deliberately choosing the seat beside my mother, ignoring the empty one next to Kieran. He noticed. His hand tightened around the chair he was about to pull out, but instead of sitting, he pushed it back in, his face darkening. Sensing the tension, his father made an effort to keep Kieran engaged, serving me roasted meat, refilling my drink, and keeping the conversation flowing. It didn’t change the fact that the air between us was stifling. Maybe it was all the water I drank, but soon, I excused myself to step out. As I left, another door nearby opened. And out walked Mira Thornclaw. She froze. I stared. She smelled like nerves—anxiety rolling off her in waves. Dressed in a dark violet gown that hugged her curves, she looked anywhere but at me, her fingers twisting together. My jaw clenched. “What are you doing here?” I glanced at the private pack chambers behind her, suspicion crawling up my spine. Mira Thornclaw, the Beta assistant from a struggling Omega family, standing inside an elite Pack Elders’ gathering? Something didn’t add up. I took a step forward, intent on seeing exactly who was inside that room. She stepped in front of me. I moved to the side, and she did too. I was done playing. I shoved her aside, harder than I meant to, and she tumbled to the floor with a startled gasp. Just as my hand closed around the door handle, a furious voice rang out. “Selene! What the hell are you doing?!” I turned in time to see Kieran storm toward us. His Alpha instincts kicked in immediately, kneeling beside her, checking her injuries. Her scraped knees. Her tear-filled eyes. Her trembling lips. And then he looked at me. Golden Alpha eyes burning with fury. “Selene, apologize. Now.” Something inside me snapped. He hadn’t even asked what happened. He hadn’t questioned why I reacted. He had just assumed. I let go of the door handle and met his gaze with an icy glare. “Apologize? Sure. But first, tell me something—”
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