Introduction： “You gave me to a Beta like some common whore,” I whispered, tracing the scar where our bond used to be. Mother flinched. “While you knelt for Selene like a devoted dog.” Now Jarek’s hands shake when he reaches for me. “Come home.” Selene’s fangs gleam in the moonlight. “You’ll never belong here.” I laugh, cradling the life growing inside me—the heir they’ll never touch. “Funny… I don’t recall asking permission.” I was getting ready for my mating ceremony, practically humming with excitement, when my mom decided to drop a grenade on my perfect day. Out of nowhere—right before the ceremony—she announced she wanted a bigger offering for the Pack, something that would solidify our family’s standing among the ranks. Magnus, my fated mate, lost it. He didn’t just reject me—he made a whole spectacle out of it, ditching me at the last second and turning around to claim my cousin, Selene, instead. Classic. Straight out of a bad Pack drama. Humiliating? Understatement of the century. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. Then, like some kind of twisted cosmic joke, Jarek—my childhood best friend and Beta—steps in. He doesn’t even hesitate. Offers to claim me on the spot. And just like that, my mom—who was ready to drain Magnus dry—suddenly has no problem slashing the tribute. Practically shoves me into Jarek’s arms and out the door. Three years later, Selene and Magnus are living the high life—Alpha and Luna, Pack royalty, rolling in wealth. And me? I’m stuck at home, raising pups, feeling like I blinked and lost my entire future. It’s the Full Moon celebration, the Pack’s all gathered at my mom’s for a feast, and I’m just trying to get through the day. Then I hear them—Jarek and my mom—talking in the backyard. “You’re a mastermind, Mom,” Jarek is saying, laughing under his breath. “Jacking up the tribute like that? Got Magnus to walk away so fast his head spun. Now Selene gets to be Luna, just like you wanted. But if Astrid ever finds out you two played her like that… think she’ll ever forgive you?” …I was coming back from the Pack store, arms full of groceries, when I caught the conversation. My mom, cracking sunflower seeds between her teeth like she had all the time in the world, didn’t even blink. “She’s my daughter. What’s she gonna do, cut me off? I could tell her never to take a mate at all, and she’d still listen.” Jarek hesitated. “I mean… You knew how I felt about Selene back then, and now, you basically handed Astrid to me just to make sure Selene got the Alpha. That’s kinda—” Jarek exhaled heavily. “Look, if Selene gets everything she ever wanted, is it really a loss? She’s the sweetest she-wolf I know. If she had to struggle in the lower ranks, I don’t think I could stand it.” “And now she’s the Luna, living in the Alpha’s estate, got wealth pouring in, whole Pack at her feet—it all worked out!” My mom beamed and gave Jarek a pat on the back. “That’s my boy. And now that she’s given Magnus an heir, he’s making sure she’s set for life. Bonus payout, three Pack nannies, everything she could ever need. That’s what real security looks like.” Jarek chuckled, looking satisfied. “Yeah, I saw her earlier. She was glowing. Magnus couldn’t make it, busy with Pack duties and all, but he still made sure she and the pup were taken care of. Just goes to show, we did the right thing.” My chest clenched so hard I thought I might choke. This was my reality? My own mother thought Selene deserved more than me? And my so-called mate—my Beta, my husband—was still thinking about my cousin like she hung the moon? What did that make me? A consolation prize? I stood frozen, gripping the grocery bags. Then, my youngest pup stirred against my back, whining before breaking into full-blown wails. I rocked her automatically, my mind still spinning. I had gone out to do the Pack’s supply run—trying to help, trying to be a good daughter—and this is what I walked into. I used to feel bad for my mother, always alone after my father left. Now, I just felt stupid. She turned at the sound of my footsteps, barely sparing me a glance. “You’re back? Did you get Selene’s favorite venison steaks?” “And the goat’s milk for little Mikey?” Jarek and my mom both looked at me, waiting. Not one of them offered to take a single bag. I said nothing, just carried them inside and set my pup down carefully before making her a bottle. Behind me, I heard them retreat to the living room—back to doting over Selene’s son, the precious heir. Their laughter filled the den, easy and warm. I rubbed my stomach absentmindedly. Three months along with my second pup. One more to care for, while I cooked for a Pack that barely noticed I existed. Tears burned at the edges of my vision, but I swallowed them down. I should’ve known better. Jarek wandered into the kitchen, leaning against the counter like nothing was wrong. “Hey, Ash, don’t let it get to you. Just—” My mother’s voice rang out before he could finish. “See, Astrid? Jarek is such a good mate! You made the right choice accepting his claim.” Right. Such a sweetheart. One who only ever gave me empty words. My pup finished her bottle and reached for me, fussing. I kissed her forehead before passing her off. “Go to Daddy, honey. Mommy has work to do.”
She held on tight, her little hands gripping my leg like a lifeline. No amount of coaxing would make her let go. She barely knew Jarek—how could she, when he was always too busy running around handling Pack affairs as Beta? My mom’s expression twisted with irritation, her amber eyes narrowing. “That wolf? What does he know about pups? Just sling her on your back like you always do and get on with it!” Right. Because that was my job, wasn’t it? I turned my head just in time to see Jarek cradling Selene’s son, Mikey, in his arms, making soft growling noises as he waved a shiny new toy in front of him. He looked like a natural—gentle, patient, even affectionate. Where was that when it came to our daughter? If he spared her even half that effort, maybe she wouldn’t tense up every time he walked into a room. Maybe she wouldn’t look at him like he was a stranger. With a sigh, I shifted my daughter into the sling and adjusted the straps. The weight on my back was familiar by now, but that didn’t make it any easier. My body ached, my energy had been drained dry ever since I got pregnant again, and now, with the truth gnawing at me, even breathing felt exhausting. I forced myself into motion, grabbing a knife and chopping vegetables, but my vision blurred as hot tears stung my eyes. Was this it? Was this the rest of my life? A Beta’s mate—bound by duty, never truly chosen. I was only twenty-eight, and already, I felt like I was suffocating. After being strapped to my back for so long, my daughter’s cries escalated into helpless wails. I sighed and untied the sling, carrying her into the bedroom, whispering soft reassurances. It took a while, but eventually, she curled into my chest and drifted off. My mom, meanwhile, was probably halfway to my uncle’s den already. She never missed a chance to see Selene. “Selene carries herself so well—so refined, like a true Luna. Not like Astrid, always looking like some stray.” I wasn’t sloppy. I just didn’t have anything new to wear. Selene and I were the same age, but my mother always gave her the fresh clothes first. Only after Selene got bored with them did they make their way to me. And somehow, my mom still had the nerve to tell me I looked unpresentable, like I had no sense of dignity. I outperformed Selene in Pack training, but my mother never once praised me for it. “What’s the point of a she-wolf being clever? In the end, the only thing that matters is if she lands a high-ranking mate.” Then came the courting season. I brought Magnus home, hoping to finally prove my worth, to show my mother I had done something right. Instead, she turned right around and invited Selene to meet him. I wasn’t blind. I knew Selene had asked Magnus to go out with her more than once. He never accepted. When I mentioned it to my mother, she just scoffed. “You’re being selfish, Astrid. Selene needs a strong Alpha like Magnus. Why not step aside and let her have him?” For the first time in my life, I disobeyed her. Magnus and I were getting bonded. At least, that was the plan. But my mother wasn’t done yet. At the very last moment, she increased the Pack tribute, setting the price so high it reeked of pure greed. Magnus had the wealth to cover it, but he wasn’t blind. He saw what she was doing and refused to play along. He walked away. I ran after him, begged him to stay. But he never looked back. The invitations had gone out. The Pack Elders had already given us their blessing. But none of it mattered. Selene stepped up in my place, smiling sweetly, lowering her head, offering herself as his Luna—no strings attached. No demand for a tribute. And just like that, she took everything that was supposed to be mine.
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