Author: Momo Chan

Three Years After My Boyfriend’s Death I picked up a man from the black market who looked exactly like him. Day after day, I carefully trained him. Hoping he could become a perfect substitute. To replace the deceased Jack. To become my lover. “Don’t eat tomatoes anymore. He didn’t like them,” I instructed. “Don’t call me ‘bro’. He never called me that,” I corrected. “Be good, okay? You look so much like him… I won’t abandon you,” I promised. I always treated him as just a suitable replacement. Until one night. In the hazy darkness. The person who should have been sleeping beside me suddenly reached out and forcefully gripped my neck. “You liar,” he growled. “Didn’t you say you’d only love me for life?” “Yet I’ve barely been dead three years and you’re already looking for a substitute.” “No matter how similar someone else is, they’re not me…” “Liar!!” In the seventh year of my relationship with Jack. He suddenly died. There was no body, not even ashes. Just his subordinate stopping his car in front of me. With a solemn expression, handing me a pocket watch Jack had left behind. Along with the words: “Mr. Shen, please accept our condolences.” I took the watch with an expressionless face. Suddenly remembering the day Jack left. He had already walked to the entryway. Then abruptly turned back. Cupping my face in his hands, he gently kissed my forehead. “I’m really leaving,” he said, his dark pupils reflecting a glint of light. He slowly stroked my hair: “Will you miss me?” I’ve always been difficult with expressing emotions. Except for those uncontrollable moments at night in bed, I could rarely say words like “love”, “like”, or “miss”. So I turned my face away. Coldly telling him: “I won’t.” “What’s there to miss about you?” It was just a business trip, he’d be back in a few days. We’re adults, there’s no need to be so clingy. “…So heartless.” Jack smiled and sighed, his eyes showing a mix of real and feigned disappointment. “Alright, it’s okay.” He didn’t press further, leaning in to brush his soft, cool lips very lightly against the corner of my mouth. “It’s fine if you don’t miss me.” “I’ll miss you.” “Be good and wait for me at home. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll be back soon.” But he never came back. I stared at the watch lying silently in my palm. It was the birthday gift I had given Jack last year. He seemed very happy when he received it that day. He hugged me from behind with one arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder, using his free hand to play with the pocket watch. After a while, he suddenly bit my neck like a puppy and said to me: “It’s beautiful.” “I love it.” “And I love you. You’re even more beautiful.” I didn’t turn around. His hand moved up, skillfully and swiftly starting to unbutton my shirt collar. … Who would have thought, less than a year later. This pocket watch would return to my hands in this way. As Jack’s posthumous belonging. My heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, a dense pain spreading. I unconsciously bit my lower lip hard, tasting blood. A moment later, I suddenly looked up and smiled at Jack’s subordinate. “Condolences? What do I have to grieve about?” “He’s dead, so he’s dead,” I paused, as if genuinely puzzled. “Is that something worth being sad over?” Probably no one expected my words could be so harsh. No one managed to see anything resembling sadness on my face after Jack’s death. I had long been accustomed to disguising myself. Those few subordinates seemed slightly taken aback. But in the end, they said nothing, bowed to me, and drove away.

After that, I sealed away the pocket watch and never looked at it again. Three more hazy years passed. In between, when gathering or socializing with those fair-weather friends and business partners, people would repeatedly bring up Jack while raising their glasses in front of me: “I have to say, Mr. Shen, you really are cold-hearted.” “Although I don’t quite understand that kind of relationship between two men. But you and Jack were together for what, seven years?” “He died just like that in a car accident, and you don’t seem the least bit upset these past few years.” What nonsense. How could I not be upset? Every time I opened and closed my eyes I could see Jack. Even in my dreams, it was still him. But on the surface, I remained unmoved. I took a sip from the glass in front of me and casually said, “What do I have to be upset about?” “Jack and I… were only together for business reasons.” “It’s good that he’s dead… clean,” I said. As soon as the words left my mouth, several people around seemed stunned. I smiled carelessly, clinked my glass with the person opposite me. Then threw back the last bit of liquor left in the glass. “Think about it, with no one to control me anymore, how free am I now, right?” “No more of this clingy guy by my side every day getting jealous over nothing, upset for hours if I so much as glanced at another handsome man. The way I am now, how carefree, don’t you think?” I lowered my head and smiled: “Besides, he left behind quite a large inheritance.” “If I just focused on grieving, it would be quite a waste of all that money. Don’t you agree?” The air grew increasingly tense. I looked around. Guessing that though these people were silent now, as soon as they left they would surely spread rumors. Saying I had long grown tired of Jack, that I had only been with him those years for his money and power. Now that he died unexpectedly, it suited me perfectly. They didn’t know how happy I must be inside. It seemed like a very long time passed. Finally someone slapped their thigh, breaking the awkward atmosphere: “Right, exactly! Whether it was true love or not, the person’s already gone, it’s all in the past, why keep bringing it up?” “If you ask me,” the person turned back to look at me, “Mr. Shen. I happen to be going to the C3 district tomorrow, there are quite a few handsome young men there. Why don’t you come along and take a look, if you fancy anyone, just bring one back?” I glanced at him, not taking the bait. I picked up another glass of alcohol from the table in front of me.

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I knew Rachel had also come back to the first day of senior year when she tore up our couple’s notebook in front of the entire class and handed it back to me before sitting next to Tyler, the new transfer student everyone was crushing on. I calmly picked up the torn notebook and gave my spot on the math competition team to Emily, the scholarship student from the class next door who I often ran into at the library. In our previous life, Rachel and I had promised to attend the same college and spend our lives together. It wasn’t until the night before her wedding, when she drunkenly pulled out the love letter she had given Tyler years ago and called me crying about how she couldn’t marry the man she truly loved, that I realized she never really loved me. Given a second chance at life, I chose to let us both go. While Rachel was busy skipping class and having fun with Tyler, I was leading our competition team to dominate the national finals. On the day the SAT scores were released, Rachel, who had gotten pregnant and dropped out, saw a video of me being interviewed as the state’s top scorer. She completely lost it!

The moment I saw the tattered couple’s notebook carelessly tossed onto my desk, I knew Rachel had also come back. For the past ten years in our previous life, we had leaned on each other and worked hard together. I pulled all-nighters to build my startup, while she stayed in our tiny apartment making hangover soup to keep me going. Two kids from a small town, constantly encouraging each other. After ten years of perseverance and countless nights of drinking until I got ulcers, we finally put down roots in a big city, with a decent income and a fully paid-off house. Back then, standing in front of my own company building and holding Rachel’s hand, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. Without her support, I wouldn’t have made it this far. At that point, I finally felt confident enough to propose and start planning our wedding. To make up for all the years she had stood by me, I secretly prepared a $200,000 engagement ring and a fully paid house as a surprise. Everything seemed to be heading in the right direction. I even started fantasizing about having a child after we got married. It didn’t matter if she didn’t like doing housework or taking care of kids. In the past, when I didn’t have money, I had to take care of her myself. But now that things were better, I could hire not just one, but two nannies to take care of her and the baby. But fate seemed to be playing a cruel joke on me. The night before our wedding, Rachel said she wanted to have drinks with some friends for her bachelorette party. I agreed, of course, and promised to pick her up at midnight. But when I drove to the bar, I found her sobbing in a private room, bitterly regretting her life choices. She said she regretted more than once giving up her high school crush for a boring guy like me. “I was too young back then, too afraid to confess to the guy I liked because I didn’t want to ruin my reputation as a good student,” she cried. “But look what happened? This boring, studious boyfriend ended up wasting my most precious ten years!” “He tricked me into studying hard for three years, and then tricked me for another ten years, saying he’d give me a good life.” “Now I’m thirty, and no other man would want me. I have no choice but to marry him.” “You guys might envy me for finally getting my happy ending, but have you ever thought about how I’ve wasted my entire life with someone I don’t even love?!” I stood frozen at the doorway, my blood running cold. For the past ten years, even though I couldn’t give her a more luxurious life, I had given her all my salary and bonuses, and taken care of all the housework. Whether it was her freeloading parents or anything she wanted, I always tried my best to fulfill her wishes. She told me she wanted a unique wedding. I wanted to give her the grand wedding of her dreams once we were more financially stable, but in her eyes, I was just deliberately holding her back. Just as I was reeling from the shock, a girl passing by couldn’t resist the drama and posted a video online: “After seeing this, would you still choose to give up true love and marry a boring guy? Look at this poor man standing outside like a loyal dog while his drunk fiancée rants inside.” In an instant, we became a trending topic online. Everyone sympathized with Rachel and criticized me for ruining her youth. Some people even made memes out of my expression, calling me “the most pathetic simp of the new era.” Ten years of devotion, and I was left with nothing. My so-called friends who saw the post pretended to care while actually mocking me: “Are you still going through with the wedding? What if the bride runs away?” “Wow, you really outdid yourself, man. Trapping your high school crush for ten years? Are you some kind of yandere or what? Hahaha!” I became the target of everyone’s ridicule and mockery. But Rachel only panicked for a moment when she first found out about the video. Then she became righteously indignant. “It’s all your fault anyway. Even strangers online think you’ve held me back. Everything is your fault.” I leaned back on the sofa, looking at her tiredly. “We’re only legally married, we haven’t had the ceremony yet.” “In that case, let’s forget about the wedding and just get divorced.” Hearing this, Rachel suddenly started screaming. “I’ve wasted ten years on you! If we divorce now, I’ll lose half of everything! No way!” “If you want to dump me, you better pay up first!” I looked at the woman I had loved for ten years in disbelief, immediately getting up to find our marriage certificate. I can’t believe I misjudged her so badly! But just as I turned to look for the documents, Rachel, seeing that I was determined to divorce her, somehow crept up behind me. In a moment of madness, she pulled out a sharp knife from somewhere and stabbed it into my body. “How dare you even mention divorce when I’ve put up with you for so long?” “Only if you die can I have both money and freedom!” Her face was twisted with malice as she spoke the last words I heard before falling into darkness.

“What’s going on with you two? Did you have a fight?” Seeing me lost in thought, my buddy Mike nudged me with his elbow. He pointed at Rachel, who was now leaning close to Tyler, the new transfer student, and asked curiously. I finally snapped back to reality, my eyes cold as ice. Since high school, Rachel and I had been known as childhood sweethearts. In everyone’s minds, including my own until recently, we were destined to be together forever. So when they saw Rachel suddenly acting cold towards me and clinging to Tyler instead, everyone was shocked. I shook my head. “We didn’t fight. We just realized we’re not compatible and decided to split up.” Mike nodded. “That’s good, fighting would only hurt your relationship. See, I told you… Wait, what?! Split up?!” His voice wasn’t exactly quiet, and the entire classroom turned to look at us. I calmly nodded. “That’s right. From today on, Rachel and I are just regular classmates.” Everyone gasped and turned to look at Rachel. She was still staring at Tyler with undisguised adoration in her eyes. “Is it because of that guy?” Mike asked. “Not really. We just suddenly realized we’re not right for each other,” I said with a shrug, pretending not to care. Hearing this, Rachel suddenly turned to look at me with a strange expression. She looked at me as if I had done something to wrong her. I found it somewhat amusing. She was the one who stabbed me, yet she had the audacity to look at me like that? In the end, I didn’t say anything and just looked down at the form on my desk. It was a registration form for the state math competition. Normally, this year’s competition wouldn’t have much to do with me. I had already participated and won a gold medal in junior year, basically securing my college admission. But that year, Rachel had fallen ill and couldn’t compete with me. I knew she was lazy and stressed about the SATs, so I wanted to help ease her burden. At the same time, I subconsciously thought we should go to the same college. That’s why I agreed to lead the team for another competition in senior year. The main goal was to help Rachel win a medal too, so even if she couldn’t get a full scholarship, she could at least get some bonus points for college admissions. But that was all in our previous life. Now that things had come to this point between Rachel and me, the original plan was obsolete. However, since I had promised the teacher, I felt obligated to see it through. I looked at the registration form in front of me, thought for a moment, and then stood up. “Anyone interested in the math or biology competitions can come sign up with me. For the next year, I’ll be leading the team to prepare for the competitions as captain.”

In our small town, we didn’t have many educational resources, let alone specialized training for academic competitions. Even when I participated in the competition in junior year, I had to mostly self-study. I had to find all the practice problems on my own and figure out the solutions through countless sleepless nights. The school teachers only realized there was such a path to college admission after I had already won and secured my spot. Fortunately, our class was considered the top one in our school, and most of my classmates were ambitious and eager to get into good colleges. They were naturally interested in this opportunity, so they all rushed over to sign up. I asked Mike to help me record the list of names first, and then I would screen them later to decide who to include in the competition team. Mike agreed without hesitation. But soon, he looked at me with some hesitation. “Actually, I think Emily would be a great fit. You know how good she is at math. If she could get into college through this competition route, she’d probably end up at a much better school than she could through regular admissions.” I knew Emily Parker, the class president from the neighboring class. I had a strong impression of her – throughout freshman and sophomore years, I never saw her score below 98 on a math test, and her physics and chemistry grades were also top-notch. But oddly enough, her English and literature scores were terrible, barely passing. Someone like her would indeed be more suited for the competition route. I thought for a moment and nodded. “If she’s interested, go ahead and put her name down. But keep in mind that these competitions are quite different from regular math classes. We’ll need to test her first to see if she’s really up for it.” “But…” Mike still hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. I looked at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong? She doesn’t want to participate? If that’s the case, forget it. It should be voluntary. There’s no point in forcing anyone, it’ll just make things harder to manage later.” “No, no, that’s not it,” Mike quickly said when he saw I was about to drop the subject. “It’s just that… Rachel doesn’t like you interacting with other girls, right? If you end up preparing for the competition with Emily, I’m worried it might cause problems for you.”

I sighed, feeling a bit exasperated. I had to emphasize once again: “I’ve already said this – Rachel and I are completely over. This isn’t just empty words; we really won’t have any contact anymore.” Mike still looked skeptical, but he didn’t say anything more. He just sat down and wrote Emily’s name on the paper. Just then, I suddenly felt uneasy, as if someone was watching me. I turned my head and caught Rachel hurriedly looking away. Seeing me look at her, she quickly put on an air of indifference. Mike finished recording the names quickly and handed me two sheets of paper. “Here are the lists of students interested in the math and biology competitions.” I nodded. “Great. Thanks! I’ll treat you to barbecue tonight.” Mike hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. “Why don’t you ask Rachel? Weren’t you planning to have her join the math team all along?” Rachel turned her head at the right moment, deliberately lifting her chin and not looking at me as she said coldly: “If you want me to participate, that’s fine, but I demand that Tyler joins too. Otherwise, I won’t do it.” “No need. We have enough people already, and we still need to screen them. I’m going to submit the list to the teacher now,” I said, ignoring her words and just organizing the forms. Rachel froze, seemingly not expecting me to disregard her like that. She looked like a rooster suddenly choked, abruptly falling silent and staring at me in disbelief. But I didn’t meet her gaze again. I just walked out of the classroom, minding my own business.

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To please his new girlfriend, Alex made me run three laps around the city barefoot. “Is this your 90th demand?” I asked. He scoffed. “You’re such a doormat anyway. Perfect for entertaining Serena.” I insisted, “Is it the 90th demand?” He grew impatient. “Fine, I’ll combine it with the 91st. After you finish the three laps, go fish out my son’s toy from the lake.” I didn’t hesitate. I just left to run. All because I’d promised to do a hundred things for him, to repay his kindness. Once the debt was settled, I could finally leave. **One.** It took me five agonizing days to complete the three laps. Without wasting a second, I rushed to Alex’s mansion, and amidst everyone’s snickers, I plunged into the lake. I searched for three hours, but Leo’s toy was nowhere to be found. When I finally stood dripping wet before Alex, he paused for a moment. His usual crew burst into laughter, patting him on the back. “Alex, you’re amazing! How do you train such an obedient lapdog?” “Chloe running around the city even made the news! I swear… I’ve never seen a woman so pathetic.” “Dude, how do you do it? Teach us! We want a lapdog like that too!” Alex’s dark eyes lingered on me, but he said nothing. Serena, nestled in his arms, leaned in and kissed him. “Oh, Alex, you’re the best! Serena is all yours tonight.” She reached out, playfully poking his chest, her eyes narrowing alluringly. “Alex, please don’t go easy on me tonight…” “Chloe’s still here, shouldn’t you guys tone it down? What if she gets upset and cries?” “Hahaha… Chloe’s just Alex’s pet, right? Even if he ordered her to serve us tonight, she’d probably agree in a heartbeat.” My hands clenched anxiously. I stared at Alex, terrified he’d agree. It wasn’t like it hadn’t happened before. His 50th and 79th demands were for me to watch him sleep with different women. They went on all night, and I was forced to watch all night too. That’s how my feelings for Alex were brutally severed. “What are you waiting for? Do you really want to serve us?” “Get back to Leo, now!” I let out a sigh of relief and quickly turned to head back to the mansion. I hastily changed out of my wet clothes, but just as I stepped out, I slipped on a glass marble. My body hit the floor hard, the glass marble digging into my skin. The pain brought tears to my eyes. A ten-year-old boy sneered, appearing from around the corner of the stairs. “You pathetic woman, you’re so lucky you didn’t fall down the stairs.” My heart sank. Leo actually hated me this much. The little boy who used to cling to my leg, his eyes red, begging me to tell him stories, seemed like a ghost now. “You have the nerve to cry? My dad told you to take care of me. Where were you having fun these past five days?” The pain in my body made me speechless, and my reaction was even a beat too slow. I watched, helpless, as Leo picked up the glass marbles from the floor and furiously hurled them at me. “Don’t think playing pathetic will replace my mom!” “I’ll hate you forever!” “I’m telling you, get out of my house, or I swear I’ll make you regret it!” Leo left with a defiant huff, swaggering away. The maids walking by ignored me, long accustomed to seeing me sprawled on the floor. **Two.** Ten years ago, my mom had a medical emergency on the street, and Alex, who was passing by, took her to the hospital. By the time I rushed back from overseas, my mom was gone. Alex then helped me arrange the funeral. To repay his kindness, I promised to do a hundred things for him. At first, Alex didn’t take it seriously, but one day he suddenly came to me. His first demand was for me to be his wife, but without a marriage certificate or a wedding ceremony. The second demand was for me to take care of his ten-month-old son. I devoted myself to caring for them, father and son, for ten years. Inevitably, I developed feelings, but I could never truly enter their hearts. Now, all I wanted was to complete those hundred demands, and then leave. … After I recovered, I picked myself up from the floor. A passing maid rolled her eyes at me. “Thinks she’s Mrs. Alex, huh? Get up and clean up those marbles before someone trips!” “Honestly, Chloe, I can’t believe her. She knew the little master was after her, why didn’t she just get out of the way? Now she’s just adding to our workload.” “Lying there like she’s some delicate flower. She’s not even as good as the poodle!” “At least the poodle barks. Chloe just makes Mr. Alex and the young master unhappy.” The maid finished speaking and quickly joined another maid. They discussed me loudly and carelessly, as if I wasn’t even there. Right. My status in this mansion was lower than a dog’s. Swallowing the bitterness in my heart, I resignedly got up from the floor. I picked up each glass marble, then went downstairs to put them away. Suddenly, a figure slammed into me. *Bang!* I was knocked down again. Glass shards, thrown by who-knows-who, were scattered on the floor and immediately pierced my palm. Blood gushed out, staining the glass and the floor. “Good! Hope it hurts you to death! Who told you to try and take my mom’s place!” “What a pity, why didn’t the glass get stuck in your neck?” Leo wouldn’t let anyone help me, nor would he allow the family doctor to treat me. He also wouldn’t let the household driver take me to a clinic. I walked three hours alone to reach the nearest clinic to treat my wound. When I returned that evening, a single lamp lit the living room. Alex was sitting on the sofa, reading. “Is your hand okay?” I looked at my hand, thickly wrapped in gauze, and stayed silent. Because I knew, even if I said it wasn’t okay, Alex wouldn’t punish Leo. That was his deceased beloved wife’s only child. He practically held him in the palm of his hand; how could he ever bring himself to scold him? “Leo’s still young, and it wasn’t intentional.” “You’re an adult, don’t fuss with a kid. He just can’t forget Eden, that’s why…” I cut him off. “I know. I won’t blame him. Can you just get your demands over with?” These ten years, I was exhausted. I wished I could fly out of here right away. But Alex had helped me, and I had to repay him. “Chloe, can’t I ever give you a kind look?” Alex snapped his book shut, his brows furrowed. “You’re that eager to finish these hundred demands?” I nodded. “Yes.” As soon as I said it, I could feel the atmosphere around Alex change. “You really have a way with words!” He stormed off, but halfway there, he turned back and switched off the lights. “You’ll sleep right where you’re standing tonight. That’s the 92nd demand!” “You want to leave so badly? I’ll satisfy you right away!” Hearing his retreating footsteps, I sighed. Just a little longer. I’d make it through this soon. **Three.** Leo woke up early. Seeing me sleeping on the floor, he ruthlessly kicked me awake. “Chloe, stop playing dead! Get up and eat!” The ten-year-old boy had quite a bit of strength, and he deliberately put his full weight into it. His foot landed hard on my stomach. I almost lost my breath. Clutching my stomach, I slowly got up. In the mirror, my face was terrifyingly pale. I held my breath and staggered to the dining table. Gently, I tugged on Alex’s sleeve, pleading, “Can you ask the driver to take me to the hospital?” My stomach hurt so much I couldn’t straighten up. Alex disdainfully slapped my hand away. “Chloe, what game are you playing now?” Leo rolled his eyes. “Dad, don’t pay attention to her! Chloe’s just trying to play pathetic! She’s strong as an ox, a little kick won’t kill her.” “Even if… I really am as strong as an ox, I can’t take this kind of torment.” “You dare talk back! I bet Chloe’s just faking it, trying to get sympathy because Serena is here.” I reached out and gripped the empty chair beside me. By now, I was too nauseous to speak, only able to plead with my eyes to Alex. It really hurt so much! More than my hand, which was cut by glass yesterday! Alex’s brows furrowed, carefully observing my expression. In his mind, I was always full of lies. “Alex, I made blueberry toast! You guys should try some!” “Chloe, you’re not very convincing. If your stomach hurt, you wouldn’t be able to even stand up. Stop acting and come try my blueberry toast!” As the scene froze, Serena came out with a plate. After placing a portion in front of Alex and Leo, she brought a plate with the most blueberries to me. She smiled sweetly at me. “Chloe, try my baking, tell me what you think!” She was smiling, but it sent shivers down my spine. Instinctively, I reached for Alex beside me, but I grabbed empty air—he’d moved away. “Alex… is my blueberry toast not good?” Serena looked about eighty percent like Alex’s deceased ex-wife. The moment she pouted, Alex and Leo instantly grew anxious. “Hey, woman, did you hear that? Go try Serena’s toast!” “Chloe, just one bite, don’t let Serena down.” My heart plummeted. Unbidden tears stung my eyes and fell. At that moment, I was only glad I no longer loved Alex. “Is this your 93rd demand?” After saying that, I gasped for several breaths. Alex’s breath hitched. He turned his head away, no longer looking at me. “Yes, this is my 93rd demand.” I nodded, no longer hesitating, and quickly stuffed the toast into my mouth. Serena clapped her hands. “See? Isn’t it delicious?” Then she happily snuggled into Alex’s arms. “Alex, you’re the best to me.” Watching Serena act coy, my head grew heavier and heavier. My vision blurred. In the last second before I collapsed, I heard Leo shout, “Chloe, is she dead?” Serena feigned innocence. “But people who faint usually just fall straight down. Why is Chloe looking around?” Alex frowned. “Chloe, get up now, stop faking it.” **Four.** I was jolted awake by the smell of disinfectant. Leo put down the spray bottle, crossed his arms, and glowered at me. “Chloe, what are you doing?” “Who do you think you are, so delicate? Do you know you’ve been lying here for three days and three nights?”

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I broke off our engagement without hesitation the day my fiancée’s family went bankrupt. Later, she rebuilt her fortune with the help of a mysterious benefactor, while I struggled to save my family’s failing business. After she snatched away my 88th life-saving contract, I silently used the last of my money to pay my employees’ final wages, then vanished without a trace. Three years later, my secretary accidentally found an old phone. Inside were my late-stage cancer diagnosis reports and a receipt for an anonymous billion-dollar donation. The recipient’s name on the form was my ex-fiancée’s. When the red wine splashed across my face, my first thought was—I won’t be getting the deposit back on this rented shirt. “Ethan, have you no shame?” Olivia’s voice cut into my eardrums like a knife. “How dare you show your face at this high-class event?” The cold liquid dripped from my chin onto the floor. I could hear the muffled snickers around me without even looking. I knew exactly what expressions those former business associates who once fawned over me were wearing now. Three years ago, I was the heir to the Thompson Group. Now I couldn’t even afford my own shirt. “I’m just here to discuss business,” I said, wiping my face. Even the expensive wine stung my eyes. Olivia let out a cold laugh. She was wearing a Dior haute couture dress I’d seen in a magazine last year. Her earrings must be new—I hadn’t seen her wear them the last time we met. Good for her. It seemed Olivia had been taking very good care of herself these past few years. “Discuss business?” Olivia raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear. “You mean beg me for scraps, just like that divorce settlement you so generously handed my family three years ago?” A sudden stabbing pain gripped my stomach, the familiar burning sensation crawling up my esophagus. The doctor had warned me last month that the cancer cells had spread to my digestive system, but how could I afford chemotherapy? It was already a miracle the company had survived this long. “Ms. Foster, you must be joking,” I said, bending down to pick up the broken wine glass. The sharp edge cut my finger. “I apologize for the disturbance. I’ll leave now.” As I turned to go, I heard Olivia’s assistant whisper: “Ms. Foster, Mr. Wang is waiting to discuss the East City project…” My heart clenched painfully. That was my last hope—next month’s wages for the company’s remaining 20 employees depended on that project. “Olivia!” I instinctively called out her first name, turning back. “The East City project—” “Has already been signed over to me,” Olivia cut me off, waving her phone to show the contract photo she’d just received. “Three minutes before you walked in, actually.” “By the way, this is the 88th contract I’ve snatched from you. What an auspicious number.” you. What I stood frozen, letting the blade twist in my heart. Looking at Olivia now, I found her face both familiar and foreign.

Olivia and I had been betrothed since childhood—childhood sweethearts, two peas in a pod. From a young age, my parents told me Olivia would be my future wife and that I should treat her well. Of course, that’s exactly what I did. Before high school, I saw Olivia as a little sister. Until one ordinary day, when Olivia came running towards me in her plain school uniform, ponytail swinging. She stood in the sunlight, and crashed right into my heart. Back then, Olivia’s skin glowed so brightly. As she ran towards me, she also ran straight into my heart. Olivia had always been clingy with me, sharing all her girlish secrets. As she put it: “Whether we end up as husband and wife or just friends, we’ll always be soulmates. You understand me, and I understand you.” At the time, I knew we didn’t have some grand, sweeping romance. Even if I liked her, I couldn’t say it out loud. My father had taught me from a young age that a man’s duty was to build his career. I had to keep my emotions in check—even if I liked someone, I couldn’t show it too much. My main task was to expand the family business. In our social circles, everyone talked about how the Thompson and Foster families would make a powerful alliance. Three years ago, the Foster family suddenly went bankrupt without any warning. My father told me to cancel the engagement. He said the Thompson family couldn’t be dragged down by anyone. It was the first time I’d ever defied my father. I rushed out in the pouring rain to find Olivia, but got into a car accident on the way. The good news was, I wasn’t seriously injured. The bad news was, I was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Terminal. I cried for a long, long time that day. I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t control the fate of Olivia’s family, or because I was facing my own imminent death. Perhaps it was both. I followed my father’s orders and went to break off the engagement with Olivia. As luck would have it, the Foster family was in the middle of liquidating assets for auction, with many people waiting to watch the spectacle. I knew that even if I had to end the engagement, I shouldn’t humiliate Olivia and her family in front of so many people. Even if I couldn’t offer help in their time of need, I shouldn’t be throwing stones. Unfortunately, my father kept pressuring me, telling me this was the perfect opportunity. I gritted my teeth, unable to look Olivia in the eye. There was a watery sheen in Olivia’s eyes—helplessness, despair. She looked at me like I was her last lifeline. My voice shook as I spoke. Each word was agony. Sadly, there was no turning back for me, or for the Foster family. Olivia was wrong—she didn’t understand me at all. Otherwise, how could she not see my struggle at that moment? That’s when I knew for certain that I loved Olivia. It wasn’t habit or childhood indoctrination. It was that gut-wrenching pain of loss. Once news of the broken engagement got out, Olivia became a laughingstock. I agonized and wrestled with myself, wanting to tell Olivia the truth. But I couldn’t be that selfish—at the very least, I couldn’t make things even worse for her. Later, rumors spread in our social circles that Olivia had found a rich benefactor. This mysterious person had invested in her, allowing her to rebuild her fortune. Seeing her today, the dark clouds that had hung over Olivia had dispersed. She still shone brightly, standing in the spotlight.

It was raining when I left the hotel. I stood under the awning, counting the cash in my wallet: $327. Not enough to pay for the shirt. My phone buzzed with a notification from the hospital. “Mr. Thompson, your test results are ready. Please come in for a follow-up as soon as possible.” I didn’t reply, shoving the phone back in my pocket. The screen had a crack in it, just like my heart. It was late when I got back to the office. The entire floor was dark except for the light still on in the finance room. When I pushed open the door, Emma the secretary was hunched over her computer reviewing accounts. She jerked her head up at the sound, eyes bloodshot behind her glasses. “Mr. Thompson… the East City project…?” I shook my head, tossing my suit jacket onto the couch. The wine-stained shirt had dried, clinging to my body in wrinkles like a layer of skin I couldn’t shed. Emma’s pen clattered onto the desk. She opened her mouth, but in the end just silently took out some stomach medicine from her drawer, pouring a glass of warm water and pushing it towards me. “Pay out the wages tomorrow and then let everyone go,” I said. The pill stuck in my throat, its bitterness spreading. “How much is left in the accounts?” “Including the transfer from your personal account, just enough for three months’ severance pay,” Emma said, her voice shaking slightly. “But sir, R&D’s new product launch is next month…” I held up a hand to cut Emma off. I believe there’s karma in this world. My father died in an accident shortly after my diagnosis. The Thompson family’s former glory left with him. Outside the window, neon lights flickered. The LED screen on the opposite building was playing Foster Group’s latest advertisement, Olivia’s delicate profile especially eye-catching in the night. Three years ago on that rainy night, I had stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hospital, looking at the last message Olivia had sent me on my phone. “Ethan, the biggest regret of my life is ever loving you.” I had just received my stomach cancer diagnosis. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears. “Late stage. Three years at most.” My phone suddenly vibrated—a notification from the auction house that the payment had gone through. I stared at that string of numbers for a long time before finally opening my banking app and transferring the entire amount to a long-dormant account. The memo field was blank. The cursor blinked on and off, as if mocking my cowardice.

The farewell dinner for the employees was set at our usual hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Over 20 people crammed into the greasy plastic tent. The young guys from R&D brought two cases of beer, while the marketing girls strung up kebabs with teary eyes. No one mentioned the company’s closure—it was as if this was just a regular team dinner. “Try this, sir,” Emma said, putting a grilled chicken wing on my plate. “You’re too thin.” I forced myself to take a bite, but my stomach immediately revolted. As I rushed to the restroom, I heard someone whisper behind me: “The boss has been throwing up more and more frequently these past six months…” The man in the mirror was deathly pale, with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth. I splashed cold water on my face, suddenly remembering my 20th birthday. Olivia had snuck into my office to make longevity noodles, but ended up setting off the smoke alarm. Her face had been smeared with flour as she frantically tried to turn off the stove—so much more adorable than the polished business executive on the LED screen now. When I returned to the table, everyone was already drunk. The HR director, Old Wang, swayed to his feet, raising his glass. “When Thompson Group went bankrupt, it was the boss who shouldered all the debts alone, not letting us end up on the streets… This toast is to Mr. Thompson!” The clinking of glasses rose in waves. Someone started crying. I tilted my head back and downed my beer. The icy liquid burned my ulcerated esophagus, making my fingertips tremble with pain. Emma was the last to leave. She insisted on helping me clean out my office, but I knew she was just worried about me. “This is for you,” she said, handing me a manila envelope. “Your medical report from the hospital last month… I took the liberty of picking it up.” The envelope was light, but it felt like it was crushing my chest. The shadows on the CT scan had spread much further than six months ago, like a net slowly tightening. “Thank you,” I said, feeding the documents into the shredder. “Starting tomorrow, report to Foster Group.” Emma’s head snapped up. “What did you say?” “I recommended you as Olivia’s new assistant,” I said. The shredder’s noise covered my coughing. “She needs someone reliable by her side.” “I won’t go!” Emma’s usually gentle voice suddenly rose. “You know how she’s been targeting you all these years! Those projects, those clients… 88 times now! She’s trying to drive you to your death!” The shredder stopped with a click. The office fell deathly silent. I gazed out at the night sky and said softly: “88 is a good number.”

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It’s been three years since Lily started treating me as a replacement, and she still doesn’t love me. She replaced all our travel photos with those of her deceased childhood sweetheart. She even turned these photos into a travel diary of their love story. Under each photo, she meticulously wrote: “Journeying together with you.” From the beaches of Miami to the mountains of Colorado, I accompanied her every step of the way. Yet in every picture she recorded, the face wasn’t mine. Until once again, with tears in her eyes, she looked at me and said in a pitiful voice: “I’m feeling so awful with this pregnancy. Don’t you know how to comfort me?” I brushed her hand away, my voice trembling slightly: “If it’s so awful, then get rid of it.” I discovered that travel diary while cleaning up the mess she had vomited all over the floor. She had brazenly left her love diary right on the desk. She wasn’t afraid at all that I would find it and be hurt. She didn’t even bother to close the cover. The photo on the first page was of her and her deceased childhood sweetheart, Ethan. It was from 7 years ago. The edges of the photo had yellowed, and some parts were worn from being frequently touched by its owner. Below the photo was a line of text, written in a strong hand that was clearly not Lily’s. “First stop on our love journey.” With trembling hands, I flipped through the travel diary. At the end were photo records of our trip to Miami last week. On Miami Beach, she cupped my face in her hands, smiling brilliantly. In the photo now, Lily was still smiling just as brilliantly. But the face she was cupping wasn’t mine – it was that of her childhood sweetheart who had died 7 years ago. She had replaced every single photo of us with someone else’s. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Lily getting up. After hastily closing the diary, I walked out of the study. As always, she called out to me in a soft, sweet voice: “Honey.” On any other day, I would have pulled her into my arms and gently kissed the top of her head, telling her: “Breakfast is ready. I’ve already eaten and am about to head to the office.” But today, I only said: “I have an early meeting.” Ignoring the surprise in her eyes, I walked towards the front door, ready to leave. But she ran over, planting a light kiss on my cheek of her own accord. Looking at her still-swollen eyes, a wave of nausea suddenly hit me. Because in her travel diary, there was a yellowed note tucked inside. It looked quite old, and on it was written: “Ethan says he must get a good luck kiss before leaving each day.” I thought back on the 3 years I’ve been with Lily. Every single day when I left for work, no matter what she was doing, she would run over to give me a kiss. Little did I know, this was just her fulfilling a promise made to Ethan. She was carrying out with me the things she never got to finish with Ethan.

It wasn’t until I got in the car and saw the capybara charm hanging from the rearview mirror that another memory from that diary surfaced. She had written: “Ethan says capybaras are cute.” Because of one comment from Ethan, she became obsessed with capybaras. Her clothes, phone case, and even the charm in my car – all featured capybaras. Feeling irritated, I took down the capybara charm and tossed it out of the car. The car display lit up with a call from my assistant. “Mr. Chen, the proposal site you asked me to prepare is ready. The capybara robot to deliver the ring has also been produced by the factory as requested.” I pressed my lips together, silent for a long moment before saying: “Alright, I got it.” The words “proposal” echoed in my mind. When I had brought up marriage to Lily before, she seemed somewhat reluctant. She said: “Didn’t we agree we’d visit all the travel spots on our list before talking about marriage?” I had taken her words to heart back then. After checking off the final destination of Miami, I started preparing for the proposal. But now… I had always known she had a childhood sweetheart she grew up with. I understood and accepted that. I was just jealous that the one who got to grow up with her wasn’t me. I thought 3 years would be enough time for her to fall in love with me. But I never imagined that even after 3 years, I still couldn’t melt Lily’s heart. I hadn’t even pulled out of the driveway when Lily called. “Honey, didn’t you say you had a meeting? “Why haven’t you left yet?” I forced out words through my hoarse throat: “I was just on a call. About to leave now. “Hold on, I’ll take you with me today.” I was about to refuse, but she had already opened the car door and sat down. She was wearing perfume, a faint woody scent. I frowned slightly. It was a scent I had long grown accustomed to, but now found somewhat irritating. I instinctively lowered the window a bit. Once when we were shopping together, I had picked out a perfume for her – one with the scent of crisp white shirts on a summer day. It was the androgynous style she liked. But she had shaken her head and instead chose a men’s cologne with a heavy scent that didn’t match her pure looks at all. She had said then: “I’m going to use this one. If I ever smell women’s perfume on you, I won’t let you off easy!” The sales assistant who witnessed this had covered her mouth, giggling and saying how sweet our relationship was. Little did she know, Lily had only bought that perfume because of something Ethan once said. In her diary, she had written: “Ethan says he likes the scent of cedar.” Just because Ethan liked the scent of cedar, she had been using that fragrance daily for 3 years. Even when she got sick of the smell, she never switched.

“Honey, can you close the window? The wind is a bit chilly.” I lowered my eyes, still closing the window. The scent of cedar – Ethan’s favorite – filled my nostrils. An awkward silence fell over the car. After a while, Lily suddenly said: “Honey, where’s the capybara charm I hung in your car? “Why did you take it down? “I made that charm specially for you as a good luck charm.” I turned the steering wheel, saying offhandedly: “I think I lost it.” Lily immediately frowned, her tone tinged with impatience: “Adrian, what are you saying? “That was a good luck charm I made for you with my own hands! “What do you mean you ‘think you lost it’?” I glanced sideways at Lily. It seemed she had always been like this. Usually gentle and sweet. But the moment something she liked was challenged, she would immediately lose her temper. She took advantage of the fact that I loved her, always pushing my buttons on this point. But this time, I didn’t feel like indulging her anymore. “Lost means lost. I don’t like capybaras. “I’m the CEO of a public company after all. We don’t have a housekeeper, and I don’t have a driver. “How does it look to have a capybara charm hanging in my car?” Lily had said she didn’t like having extra people in the house, so I had let go of the housekeeper. We didn’t even have a part-time cleaner. Every day after finishing work at the company, I still had to come home and clean. At first, Lily would help with the housework, but she always had excuses – this part hurt, that part was sore. Of course I wouldn’t expose a young girl’s little tricks, so I just went along with it. But later she became more and more excessive, not even letting me hire a driver. It wasn’t until today that I understood why. “Ethan says a home is a little nest for two. With a third person, it’s no longer just the two of us.” “Ethan says his passenger seat is only for me to sit in. Even he won’t sit there, because he’s the driver.” “He can only be my driver.” In her diary, she had meticulously recorded every memory of her love with Ethan. Suddenly I felt utterly drained. Lily hadn’t spoken for a long time in the car, just sitting there with red-rimmed eyes, waiting for me to comfort her. But when my gaze fell on the redness around her eyes, I was reminded of how she had locked herself in the study drinking alone last night.

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Introduction：He tore my sincerity apart with his own hands, but whispered in my ear in the middle of the night: ‘Your waist is softer than before… Who touched my thing? ‘” Astrid was once the most perfect daughter of the moon god in the wolf pack, until she found out that her destined partner had betrayed her. She took off her gentle mask and was reborn in the fiery eyes of another Alpha- “Ask me for forgiveness?” She curled her red lips slightly, and her fingertips brushed across the abdominal muscles of her new partner, “What a pity… You don’t even have the qualifications to kneel down and lick my toes.” When the old love kneeled down to beg for mercy, when power and desire intertwined, this time, she wanted to let everyone know: the wolf abandoned by the moonlight will eventually rot in the eternal night.. One afternoon, I got news that made my stomach drop—my mate had been rushed to the hospital after nearly suffocating during a hookup in his car. When I arrived, my eyes immediately landed on another familiar face—his Beta’s mate—lying on a hospital bed. A dull pressure settled in my chest, not from heartbreak, just pure exhaustion. The doctor hesitated before speaking. “The patient was using a… device that got lodged inside. We’re in the process of removing it. This is the best we can do for now.” His tone was professional, but the awkward flicker in his expression said everything. Then came the inevitable question. “How are you related to the patient?” I turned slightly, avoiding eye contact. “Just a packmate.” Once, I would have exploded—demanded answers, hurled accusations, let the betrayal tear me apart. But now? I felt nothing. I was too drained to waste my energy on something so disgusting. I filled out the necessary paperwork without a single glance in their direction, my movements cold and efficient. Then, without hesitation, I turned on my heel and walked away. They deserved each other. As I stepped outside, the crisp night air wrapped around me. The scents of the forest, the distant howls of my pack, and the weight of my decision grounded me. I inhaled deeply, pulled out my phone, and dialed my family. “I accept the arranged mating ceremony,” I said, my voice steady. “Three days from now, I’ll bond.” As soon as I hung up, my phone buzzed again. Magnus’s name flashed on the screen. “Astrid, my car got towed. Take care of it when you get back and bring it home.” His voice was as smooth and confident as ever—that same commanding tone that had once made my heart race. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed that this so-called Alpha had just been caught naked in a hospital bed with another female. Then, as if the universe wanted to humiliate me even more, a muffled groan filtered through the receiver. “Mm…” My grip tightened around the phone. Before I could say a word, Magnus quickly added, “I kicked the leg of the chair.” The audacity. He muttered a few half-hearted reassurances before cutting the call—completely oblivious to the fact that I had been standing in that same hospital just moments ago. I only responded with two words, my voice void of emotion. “Understood.” I was supposed to be away on a business trip outside the pack. If I hadn’t decided to come back early to surprise him, I never would have walked in on this absolute mess. The car he had used—the one he had so carelessly defiled—was a gift from me. And yet, I still went to retrieve it. When I found the vehicle and pulled the door open, an awful stench hit me. What I saw next made my stomach churn. A crumpled men’s dress shirt lay abandoned on the driver’s seat. Nearby, scraps of torn fabric—a woman’s, judging by the lace—were shoved carelessly to the side. But the worst part? The back seat. The scent of another female clung to the air—too sweet, too heavy. A direct insult to my claim on him. Stains. Sticky, undeniable evidence of what they had done, glaring under the dim moonlight. I felt bile rise in my throat. Slamming the door shut as if I could erase the sight from my mind, I turned away. But it was too late. The nausea hit me in full force, and before I could stop myself, I bent over and vomited. A hand landed gently on my back—warm, steady. I stiffened. The touch was careful, reassuring, yet a shiver ran down my spine. Slowly, I turned my head. The doctor from earlier stood beside me. He had removed his white coat, revealing a well-built frame beneath a fitted black button-down. The fabric stretched across broad shoulders, hinting at the strength restrained beneath. His scent was different now—Alpha. Potent. A presence that made my wolf stir. Gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, his deep-set eyes unreadable as they studied me. “Stormholt…” My voice came out quieter than I intended. Seeing him—my childhood friend, once my closest confidant, someone I hadn’t spoken to in years—sent a wave of unexpected emotions crashing over me. I wasn’t ready for this. Not tonight. Not when my wolf was still reeling. “I was worried about you.” His voice was calm, steady. Controlled, like always. But there was something else beneath it—a challenge. A claim. A long pause stretched between us before he spoke again. “You agreed to the arranged mating?” “Mm.” I nodded, unwilling to say more. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Good. Three nights from now, I’ll be waiting for you at the ceremony.” There was something unreadable in his gaze—something primal. A promise. But I was too exhausted to decipher it. “All right.” The words left my lips automatically. I refused his offer to take me home and called for a driver instead. The car was sent for a full detailing before I listed it for sale. I never wanted to see it again. On the ride home, I leaned against the cool window, watching the city lights blur past. My thoughts drifted to the last seven years with Magnus—years that now felt like a complete waste. I could still remember the way he used to look at me, like I was the only she-wolf in the world. His eyes had once been full of love. He used to tell me I was pure, untouched, the most precious thing he had ever known. Now, I understood the truth. I had never been his destined mate. Only a possession. A temporary claim. An Omega he thought he could keep under his rule. But he had underestimated me. And in three days, he would finally learn just how wrong he was.

After Magnus marked me as his mate, he treated me like a trophy, always calling me the perfect Luna—graceful, honorable, a leader in the pack and the ideal partner. For years, I believed him. But now, looking back, I realized his words meant nothing. Seven years together, and yet our moments of true connection had been painfully rare. Maybe he had never really wanted someone like me. Maybe he craved females like Seraphina—wild, reckless, shameless. The moment I walked into our den, I didn’t hesitate. I yanked a suitcase from the closet and started stuffing it with clothes and essentials, barely bothering to fold them. The space I had once lovingly arranged for us—**our home, our future as Alpha and Luna—**felt suffocating now. I wanted nothing to do with it. While rummaging through the study, my fingers brushed against something cold and metallic. Tucked beneath a stack of documents sat a laptop. Not one I recognized. An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I powered it on. A password screen popped up. I tried my birthday. Incorrect. Frowning, I typed another date—Seraphina’s birthday. The screen unlocked instantly. A sick feeling washed over me as the desktop loaded. Folder after folder, all neatly categorized. With a shaky breath, I clicked one open. Photos. Videos. Dozens of them. Magnus and Seraphina. My stomach twisted as explicit images flashed across the screen. Their betrayal was captured in painful detail—different positions, different settings. Seraphina bound, posed, displayed for the camera. A disgusting catalog of their time together. They had done it everywhere. **His Alpha’s office—**where Seraphina, dressed in a tight secretary outfit, knelt before him. **Our den—**on the bed, the table, the couch. Even here. In this very study. I slapped a hand over my mouth, my body trembling. I barely managed to reach for an external hard drive, copying everything. Every last file. Just as the transfer completed and I placed the laptop back where I found it, the front door creaked open. Magnus was home. It was late—he must have rushed back, worried that I had returned early and discovered his absence. I inhaled sharply, shut my suitcase, and composed myself. When he stepped into the study, his sharp Alpha instincts immediately took in the mess I had made while packing. His eyes narrowed. “Why are you cleaning all of a sudden?” “This place is filthy. I’m getting rid of the mess.” My voice was flat, detached. Disgust curled in my stomach. I couldn’t even look at him. Magnus chuckled, stepping closer. “You must be tired after patrolling with the pack. Why don’t you leave it for tomorrow? I’ll have the Omegas handle it.” His tone was smooth, filled with fake concern. He reached for me, attempting to pull me close. I shoved him away. Hard. “Go shower. You stink of her.” He blinked, then laughed. Oblivious. “Alright, alright, I’ll wash up.” Before leaving, he turned back with an easy smirk. “You should stop worrying about this, too. We’re getting mated under the moon soon. Maybe we should build a new den—deep in the heart of the territory.” He launched into a long speech about our future packhouse, renovations, decorations, furniture. Before, I would have eagerly played along, curling against him, discussing every detail. Now, my wolf was silent. Our bond was already breaking. I said nothing. Mistaking my silence for exhaustion, he kissed my temple before disappearing into the bathroom. I muttered a half-hearted reply and went to my room. Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those images. Not long after, the mattress dipped beside me. Magnus had finished showering and slid into bed, wrapping his arms around me like he always did. One arm beneath my neck, holding me close—his way of making me feel safe. Once, it worked. Now, I wanted to run. I inhaled slowly, trying to steady my breathing. But the words burned in my throat, demanding to be set free. “Magnus, I want to sever the bond—”

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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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Introduction：”He sneered and said I was unworthy when he tore up the contract, but now he pinched my waist and growled: ‘Why is your scent… stained with other wolves?’” Five years. I bled for him as Luna, but watched him mark someone else with my own eyes on the night of the full moon. When the truth tore apart the last bit of fantasy, I took off my wedding ring and turned into the blizzard– Now his empire has collapsed, and my new partner is gently kissing the scar on the back of my neck: “Baby, do you want to see him kneeling and confessing?” The moment the truth stared me in the face, I felt as if the ground beneath me had been ripped away. My hands trembled as I clutched the pregnancy test slip, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts. Pregnant. Again. My vision blurred as I forced my feet to move, rushing through the Pack House corridors until I stood before Alpha Kael Vargan’s office. The heavy oak door loomed before me, but before I could knock, voices slipped through the cracks—clear, sharp, impossible to mistake. “Make sure the suppressant isn’t too damaging, alright? I promised Nyra I wouldn’t mark Selene Nightbane. If she ends up carrying a pup, that little she-wolf will lose her mind.” A deep, measured voice responded, irritation woven between the words. “Every drug has its risks, Kael. Even the best suppressants can cause permanent damage over time. And I have to ask—Selene is your Luna. Why waste your time chasing after a Beta?” Kael scoffed, and I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. “You think I haven’t tried handling this properly? I’ve had her take suppressants, and she’s miscarried three times already. Another one won’t make a difference. She’ll never be able to carry a pup at this rate.” He exhaled, then added almost lazily, “Not that it matters. You don’t choose who you love.” I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat. Three times. My fingers dug into the pregnancy test slip so hard the paper crumpled. My entire world—the love I had once been so certain of—had unraveled in mere seconds. Inside, Kael was scrolling through a luxury goods site on his phone, an indulgent smile playing at his lips. “What do you think of this one?” he mused, tilting the screen toward his companion. “Nyra’s been eyeing it for a while. A rare gemstone—it’ll shine beautifully against her pale fur.” Across from him, Fenrir Drayden, the Pack’s Head Healer and one of Kael’s oldest friends, let out a heavy sigh. “That kind of jewelry would look good on anyone, Kael,” Fenrir muttered, rubbing his temples. Then his golden eyes hardened. “But tell me something—after five years of being your Luna, have you ever given anything like this to Selene?” Kael’s expression darkened instantly. “She doesn’t know how to present herself as a Luna,” he replied dismissively. “Even if I did, she’d just say I’m wasting the Pack’s resources.” Then, as if speaking of some rare, delicate thing, his lips curved into a wistful smile. “ Nyra is different. She’s young. She enjoys beautiful things.” The chair legs screeched against the floor as Fenrir shot to his feet, his patience snapping. “Wake up, Kael! Selene is your mate—your mate of five years! Do you even remember what she’s sacrificed for you? She’s lost three pups—three!—and yet, you still treat her like she’s nothing.” His voice turned dangerously low. “Let me say this one last time. Those suppressants you keep forcing on her? They aren’t harmless. If she takes them for too long, you’ll never have an heir—not even if you regret it later.” Kael waved a dismissive hand, his expression impassive. “Regret? I don’t make mistakes, Fenrir.” His voice was laced with arrogance. “I told Nyra she’d be the only one to carry my heir.” Then, leaning back in his chair, he added coolly, “As for Selene? I won’t reject the bond. Half of what I own in this Pack is more than enough for her.” The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Fenrir’s jaw clenched, his golden eyes blazing. “I watched you claw your way to Alpha, step by step—and Selene was right there beside you through it all. Do you even remember? How many times she drank for you at diplomatic banquets, how many sleepless nights she spent managing Pack affairs while you pursued your ambitions?” His fists tightened at his sides. “And this—this is how you repay her?” The silence that followed was suffocating. Then, with a sharp exhale, Fenrir turned on his heel, storming toward the door. “I’ve said my piece. If she ever finds out the truth, Kael, you’ll be the one to destroy yourself.” The door slammed shut behind him. I shrank back into the shadows of the adjacent storage room, pressing my hand against my mouth to stifle the sob threatening to escape. Five years as his Luna. Seven years as his mate. I had fought beside him, sacrificed for him, built this Pack with him. I scrimped on the smallest luxuries, living frugally so the Pack could grow stronger. I thought when he thrived, I thrived. When he won, I won. But it was all a lie. I had convinced myself the miscarriages were due to stress and exhaustion. Fenrir had told me my body was overworked, too drained from handling Pack duties. I had blamed myself, forcing down tonics, doing everything I could to strengthen my body for the pup I longed for. But Kael never wanted me to carry his heir. He never wanted me at all. He just didn’t have the courage to reject me outright. That was fine. Because I would make the choice for him.

I stepped out of the Obsidian Fang Pack House, the icy wind slicing through my coat like sharpened claws, burrowing into my skin until it numbed me to the bone. Five hours. That’s how long I stood beneath the flickering streetlights, my breath fogging in the cold air as I watched the windows of Bloodfang Enterprises, waiting. The office lights blinked out one by one until only a single floor remained illuminated. My fingers curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms. Finally, Alpha Kael appeared. The moment his eyes landed on me, he leaned toward Nyra Raventhorn, the Beta at his side, whispering something close to her ear. She giggled, her hand lingering on his forearm for a fraction too long before stepping away. He turned toward me then, his features schooled into something warm, something that might have convinced me once. Before I knew better. Before I understood what that warmth masked. His arms enveloped me, but I felt nothing. “When did you get here? Why didn’t you come inside?” His voice was laced with concern, but I could hear the careful control in it, the effort he made to sound affectionate. “I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a small smile. “I just wanted to bring you dinner, but your Beta said you’d already eaten.” A faint crease appeared between his brows, his grip tightening just slightly before he let out a soft sigh. “You shouldn’t push yourself when you’re not feeling well. I’d feel awful if you wore yourself out.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a familiar bottle, the label unmistakable. Suppressants. “By the way, Fenrir dropped off your dose. You’re almost out, aren’t you?” My fingers closed around the container without a word. The capsule rattled inside, hollow as the silence between us. I slipped it into my bag, feeling the weight of it settle like a stone. Winter’s frost still clung to my coat, but Kael’s touch had long since gone cold. When we arrived home, Kael barely gave me time to take off my coat before he pulled me down onto the couch, his hands skimming my sides with urgency. His lips hovered dangerously close to my marking spot, the place where our bond should have made us inseparable. I pressed a hand against his chest, firm, unyielding. A flicker of irritation crossed his face, but he smoothed it away with practiced ease, his voice turning soft. “What’s wrong? Haven’t you always wanted a pup?” “Not tonight.” My tone was steady, controlled. “I’m not feeling well. Maybe next time.” Instantly, his desire evaporated. Without another word, he rose to his feet, his frustration palpable. The bathroom door clicked shut behind him, and the sound of running water filled the space between us. Moments later, a familiar vibration hummed across the table. Kael’s phone. I stared at it for a moment before reaching for it, my fingers moving before my mind caught up. The screen lit up with a name I already knew too well. Hot Kitten. The passcode was easy to guess. Nyra’s birthday. The messages unfurled before me like a slow-burning fire, scorching away the last remnants of any doubt I had left. [Alpha, rooftop date?] [Goblin, wait for me.] [Alpha, how about tonight in the back of the patrol SUV? It’s parked right under your quarters. I’ve never tried it before.] [Not afraid of getting caught? Guess I’ll have to risk it for my Beta.] [Alpha, I really want to be part of that new foreign alliance project…] [No problem. Impress me tonight and it’s yours.] A bitter taste settled on my tongue as I forced myself to keep scrolling. Every major Pack alliance, every high-profile project Kael had undertaken in the past five years—Nyra’s name was attached to all of them. She wasn’t just his mistress. She was his shadow, woven into every inch of his life. To keep her happy, he had handed an Omega a false Pack rank just so she could act as the face of Nyra’s campaign. The final contract date? Nyra’s birthday. There were countless auction receipts, each one listing extravagant gifts—necklaces, rings, rare gemstones—all purchased under the guise of “Pack donations.” Kael’s so-called hidden love wasn’t hidden at all. It was carved into every action, stitched into the very fabric of our Pack. The same brands of jewelry he once claimed to have picked for me, the same gestures that had once made me believe I was cherished—had all been meant for her. Everything had become a weapon he used to cut me down. I let out a slow breath, then laughed. The sound was sharp, brittle, like the cracking of ice over a frozen lake. I didn’t need to read another word. Reaching for my phone, I typed in the contact I had saved for weeks now—the Pack’s legal representative. “I’d like to proceed with the Pack separation papers.” What was mine would remain mine. No one—not Kael, not Nyra, not anyone—would take it from me. The night passed without sleep. At dawn, I showered, dressed, and prepared myself for the day ahead. Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, my phone rang. Kael’s voice drifted through the speaker, his tone tinged with mild confusion. “Selene, what did you book?” I pulled the phone away from my ear, my expression unreadable. “Nothing important. Just a grooming appointment. Didn’t you say I should present myself better as your Luna?” A chuckle rumbled through the receiver, low and pleased. “That’s my girl. You’ll be the most stunning she-wolf at the next Pack gathering.” There was an ease in his voice, as if he believed everything would go back to normal. As if he had already won. “There’s a meeting at the Pack House today. I better get going,” I said smoothly. He pulled me into his arms, nuzzling against my scent gland, breathing me in. “My mate is the most beautiful she-wolf in the world, even without trying. Marking you was the best decision I ever made.” I smiled faintly but said nothing. Some lies no longer hurt—because I had already decided to leave.

“Will my mighty Alpha grant me a grand gift today?” I teased, letting my voice dip into a playful lilt. Kael’s lips curved into that easy, practiced smile—one that once made my heart flutter, but now only felt rehearsed. “Of course,” he assured me, his tone dripping with confidence. “I’ll make sure it’s worth the wait. See you at the Pack House.” He didn’t linger, didn’t kiss my forehead the way he used to. Instead, he turned on his heel, his stride purposeful as he disappeared down the corridor. A few moments later, a Pack Omega arrived, balancing a silver tray draped in fine linen, a lavishly plated breakfast arranged with meticulous care. Five years ago, my heart would have swelled at the gesture. Kael had religiously ordered my favorite meal from the same high-end kitchen, ensuring it arrived without fail each morning. Back then, I had foolishly convinced myself it was a display of devotion. Now, I saw it for what it was—habit. A duty, devoid of sentiment. A wolf as powerful as he was, capable of leading an entire Pack, yet he had never once lifted a hand to prepare a meal for me himself. If he had ever cared, he would have at least tried. Instead, he had spent years ensuring I never clashed with Nyra, his precious Beta. I didn’t hesitate. Without a second glance, I picked up the tray and dumped the meal straight into the trash. Grabbing my coat, I stepped out into the brisk morning air, my decision set in stone. This five-year farce was ending today. The Pack Council’s law office was dimly lit, the scent of aged parchment and ink filling the room as I sat across from the Pack’s legal advisor. “The longer the mate bond, the more tangled the resource entanglements,” the advisor explained, adjusting his spectacles as he sifted through the thick stack of documents before him. “It’ll take a few days to finalize everything.” I nodded, sliding across the ledger filled with evidence—the financial records of Kael’s generosity toward Nyra, disguised as Pack expenses. “We’ll meet again in three days to review the final agreement.” Without looking back, I left. As I made my way home, my phone buzzed with a notification. A new announcement had been posted by Bloodfang Enterprises. The screen illuminated with a video—champagne spraying through the air, the raucous cheers of Pack members filling the Alpha’s grand hall. At the center of it all stood Kael, his dark hair damp from the celebration, golden eyes gleaming with unrestrained triumph. And then I saw it. The cloak draped over his broad shoulders. The ceremonial anniversary cloak I had gifted him last year—the one he had once sworn was irreplaceable, steeped in meaning. This year’s gift? He had sent it back to me without a word. I arrived at the Pack’s business estate just as the revelry reached its peak. Standing before the assembled wolves, Kael raised his glass high. “I am officially transferring half of my Pack assets to Beta Nyra,” he declared, his voice smooth, commanding, victorious. “Additionally, there will be a bonus of fourteen thousand gold marks.” Gasps rippled through the hall. Whispers and murmurs slithered through the crowd. “Half the assets? Nyra might as well be the Luna now.” “Careful. The real Luna is still around. If she hears this, you’ll regret it.” “Oh, please. She’s like a ghost—never seen, never involved. Nyra is young, stunning. No Alpha could resist that. Poor Kael.” “Wouldn’t be shocked if the Pack name changes to Raventhorn soon.” Their laughter rang out like a chorus of knives. I clapped my hands together once—sharp, deliberate. The room fell into dead silence. Kael’s golden eyes locked onto mine across the hall, the blood draining from his face. “Selene…” He stepped forward, his voice faltering. “Why are you here?” I raised a brow, watching the panic flicker in his gaze as he struggled to recover. “It’s not what it looks like. I was just distributing rewards—nothing more.” Nyra stepped in then, her lips curling into a saccharine smile, lifting the territory transfer decree in her manicured fingers. “Alpha Kael is truly a generous leader,” she purred, her voice dipped in false modesty. “Thanks to his unwavering support, I can finally afford a beautiful den overlooking the Silver River.” A few wolves chuckled, anticipation crackling in the air like a brewing storm. I met Kael’s panicked stare with a serene, unreadable expression. “Bonuses are a standard Pack practice,” I said lightly. “Every Pack member should receive what they’re owed. Make sure they do.” His brows furrowed. “You’re not upset?” I tilted my head, offering him a slow, indifferent shrug. “Why would I be?” “I just stopped by to take a look. You’re busy—carry on.” His relief was palpable. I turned, stepping past him toward the doors, but I didn’t make it far before he hurried after me, lowering his voice. “Selene, it’s not what you think,” he insisted. “I was only rewarding my warriors. Don’t misinterpret this.” I almost laughed. The irony of it all was suffocating. The same wolf who had sacrificed three unborn pups for Nyra’s sake was now scrambling to convince me his actions were honorable. Now that he had everything he wanted, who exactly was he trying to convince? I kept my expression carefully neutral. “Don’t worry, Kael. I’m not unreasonable.” “I don’t claim to understand Pack politics. Just do whatever you think is right.” He exhaled, his relief evident. As if my approval still mattered. Before I could leave, he caught my hand, his grip gentler than it had been in years. “There’s a Full Moon Banquet coming up,” he murmured, his voice thick with something unreadable. “Come with me. I have a surprise for you.” I nodded, expression unreadable. Then I turned and walked away. But deep inside, I laughed bitterly. He had already given me more surprises than I could ever stomach.

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Introduction：”Other hands hold me as I push my way into the depths, and the night of the moon’s night my lower back roar: ‘Your blood, your breath, your breath—the city just belongs to me.’” Since then, I have been blessed with a heavenly blessing, and I have been given a life-long wolf to protect my guardianship. Desperately running away, more than capable of running away from the bottom, ignoring the self-defeating Alpha story that is at its most dangerous. “Did you change my last name?” In the dark of the night, a man’s scorching breath caught my eye.. The evening before I was supposed to receive my mating certificate, Jasper Flynn, the wolf destined to be my mate, announced his decision to mark my best friend, Mireille Dalton, as his Luna. Betrayed by both my closest companion and the wolf I had once loved, I became the subject of gossip within the pack. Everyone waited eagerly for my downfall. Yet, Nolan Reed, the esteemed Beta of one of London’s most influential packs, appeared unexpectedly and proclaimed his desire to claim me as his mate. Without hesitation, I accepted his claim and stepped into the role of his Luna. Following our ceremony, I abandoned the dream I had spent years working toward. Instead, I devoted myself entirely to my new position, embodying the ideal Luna of the Reed Pack. Among the high-ranking she-wolves of the elite, I became someone they envied. During a pack gathering, I arrived to escort a drunken Nolan home, only to overhear his sister, a wolf of high standing, speaking of me with pity. “Nolan, the marketplace you built for Mireille’s pack is set to open soon, isn’t it? You’ve given up so much for her—even your bond with Selena was part of the scheme.” With a bitter chuckle, Nolan responded, “As long as Mireille finds happiness, I will clear every obstacle from her path.” The affection I had believed in, the devotion I had trusted—it had all been an illusion. I had been nothing more than a pawn in their elaborate game. That was the moment I decided to walk away. Accompanied by Irene Humphrey, Nolan’s most trusted warrior and aide, I made my way to the pack’s private lodge, carrying a bowl of herbal tonic meant to soothe his drunken state. A resident Omega informed me that Nolan was resting in the Alpha’s private chamber. As I reached for the door, the sharp scent of alcohol filled my senses. Through the half-open doorway, I heard a voice I recognized all too well. “Nolan, the trading grounds for Mireille’s pack will be operational soon. You’ve spent years making sacrifices for her, even arranging your bond with Selena as part of the plan. How long do you intend to keep lying to her?” My body stiffened. Just as I prepared to enter, Nolan’s slurred yet unmistakably bitter voice reached my ears. “As long as Mireille remains content, I can keep up the act indefinitely.” “For her sake, I will eliminate every obstacle.” It felt as though lightning had struck me, paralyzing my every movement. My hand hovered in the air, unable to complete its motion. Beside me, Irene cast a sideways glance, sympathy flickering in her eyes. Everyone had known the truth—except me. Time seemed to halt. The soft flute melody playing in the lodge suddenly grated on my nerves, a sound too piercing to bear. My world, once secure, now crumbled around me. “Selena adores you, Nolan. She has given you everything. What happens when she uncovers the truth?” “She never will.” Despite the warmth of the chamber, a chill crept through me. I turned to Irene and murmured, “Beta Nolan has had too much to drink. Give this to him later. I’ll be outside.” Then, as a quiet reminder, I added, “And make sure you don’t say anything you shouldn’t.” Stepping into the night, I sat outside, my eyes lost in the vast sky above our pack’s land. The full moon shone down, indifferent to my turmoil. Memories surfaced, unbidden and relentless. Jasper breaking our bond without warning. The scandal that followed. The humiliation that awaited me. And then, Nolan, stepping forward as my savior, telling the pack he had always loved me, marking me before them all. I had trusted his words. I had believed his promises. Our mating ceremony had been celebrated throughout the territory as a tale of love triumphing over adversity. Now, I saw the truth for what it was. A deception. A carefully crafted illusion. Inside, Irene helped Nolan into the black SUV waiting outside the lodge. His expression remained hazy for a brief moment before something sharpened behind his gaze. Then, he leaned his head against my shoulder. “It was just a pack meeting, Selena. You could have let Irene handle it.” I forced a small smile. “You shift unpredictably when you drink. I didn’t want you getting hurt.” Nolan exhaled, gripping my arm. “Mireille’s new trading grounds open tomorrow. I’ll be working late. Don’t stay up for me.” “There have been sightings of rogues along the borders. Stay vigilant.” That night, no matter how I turned in bed, sleep refused to come. Then, a sudden thought surfaced. I had left my moonstone charm in the study. Rising from bed, I entered the study. As I opened the drawer beneath the desk, the edge of several folded documents peeked out from within.

This had never happened before. His desk drawer was always locked. But this time, it wasn’t. Curiosity gnawed at me, and eventually, I gave in. I pulled the drawer open, expecting resistance. Instead, it slid effortlessly, revealing its contents. Inside lay detailed maps of the pack’s expanding territories—plans outlining future trading centers, alliance strongholds, and diplomatic outposts that Nolan’s pack had already established or intended to develop. Resting beside them was a small velvet box. I thumbed through the documents, scanning each carefully. Then, something caught my eye. Every trading post, every new settlement, even landmarks bore the same name—Dalton. Dalton Market. Dalton Lands. Dalton Jewelers. Although I was part of the Pack’s Strategic Development Council, Nolan had always assured me that he handled territorial affairs independently. I had seldom interfered. Yet now, the truth lay before me—every move he made, every political alliance he forged, had been dedicated to Mireille. Reaching for the small box, I flipped it open. The jewelry it once held was gone, yet the authenticity certificate remained inside. It was for a Cartier piece. The Cartier Sapphire and Diamond Necklace—the Moonstone Jewel. I had long admired that necklace. More than once, I had caught myself staring at it on my phone, scrolling back to it repeatedly. Yet, I had never owned it. I remembered the moment Nolan had dismissed the idea. “Selena, a necklace of that value isn’t suitable for a Luna to wear casually. Wouldn’t you prefer something more meaningful? I could commission a handcrafted silver pendant from our pack’s artisans.” And yet, only yesterday, Mireille had worn that exact necklace to her pack’s gathering. I stepped onto the Packhouse balcony, letting the icy night air bite at my skin. My vision blurred, moisture stinging my eyes. My phone vibrated. A message flashed across the screen. [Luna Hayes, are you certain about your decision?] I didn’t hesitate. [Yes. My mind is made up.] It was time to leave. At dawn, with my bags packed, I placed a call to Nolan. “I’m heading to Italy tonight.” A pause. Then, confusion tinged his voice. “That’s sudden. What’s going on?” Swallowing the bitterness rising in my throat, I forced a casual tone. “Some of the high-ranking she-wolves from New York planned a short trip, and I decided to join them.” He didn’t question it. Instead, he pressed a light kiss to my cheek, his wolf utterly unaware of the storm raging inside me. “Good. Enjoy yourself. Buy something nice.” I exhaled slowly, marveling at how effortlessly he could feign affection. But there was no need to pretend anymore. This game had run its course. Recalling the location of the newest trade hub from the documents, I drove there, knowing it would be the last time I set eyes on Nolan. At the gathering, a designated area had been prepared for the grand opening, and Nolan stood at the center of the event. Exuding confidence, he navigated conversations with every Alpha and high-ranking guest, seamlessly weaving through the crowd. Mireille, by contrast, wore an outfit designed to draw attention, her scent deliberately laced with dominance, her gaze seductive and knowing. She lifted her glass, her lips curling into a slow smirk. “Beta Reed, congratulations.” For a split second, something flickered in Nolan’s gaze—an emotion I couldn’t quite place. But just as quickly, his composed demeanor returned, and he clinked his glass against hers. “Alpha Dalton, your contributions to the design have been invaluable. The Dalton Trade Hub is already attracting key alliances on its first day.” He deliberately emphasized ‘our trade hub,’ and the words coiled around my chest like a vice. I stepped forward. At the sight of me, Nolan’s surprise was fleeting before his mask of control slipped back into place. “Why are you here?” Feigning nonchalance, I offered a smile. “What’s wrong? Am I not welcome at my own pack’s event?” He set his glass down. Something about my tone must have unsettled him, but he chose to ignore it. “Of course not. But you dislike large gatherings. I didn’t expect you to come.” Beside him, Mireille observed me with quiet amusement, her smirk deepening as though she knew exactly why I had come. Just then, Irene, the pack’s head strategist, approached, lowering her head in deference before addressing my mate. “Beta Reed, your speech is about to begin.” Nolan turned to me. “Find a seat and rest. I won’t be long.” Without another word, he strode toward the stage. I picked up a small piece of sweetbread, taking my time before sitting down. Mireille, naturally, couldn’t resist. With an arrogant sway in her step, she sauntered over, her voice dripping with mock affection. “Long time no see, Selena. My dear, dear friend.”

Mireille smirked. “What’s this? Keeping tabs on me now?” “If you’re that insecure, why not mark Nolan properly so he stays put?” “How does it feel, sitting on a throne that was never meant for you?” “You should never forget—you will always be beneath me.” She laughed—a melodic yet mocking sound that rang in my ears. The Cartier necklace—the Moonstone Jewel—glinted under the sun, resting elegantly against her collarbone. That sight pierced me deeper than I cared to admit. Once, Mireille had been my closest friend. I had believed our bond unshakable, that our shared dreams of shaping the pack’s future through architecture and development would unite us forever. But then, Jasper, my fated mate, shattered everything. He severed our bond and chose Mireille instead, leaving me with nothing but pain. To be betrayed by my mate and my closest friend—it was agony beyond words. Just when I thought I would drown in that darkness, Nolan emerged, offering me a lifeline. For the first time in months, I saw a glimmer of hope. At first, everything seemed to fall into place. Nolan claimed me as his mate, and I accepted, believing our future would be built on trust. I was preparing for an international architecture competition when he suddenly told me, “Selena, you don’t have to burden yourself with work anymore. Just focus on being my Luna. I’ll take care of you, of your family, of everything.” His words moved me deeply. Trusting in his promise, I sold my pack-funded architecture firm, walking away from the career I had fought so hard to build. Not only that, I withdrew from the competition entirely. In the end, the champion of that prestigious event was Mireille. From that moment on, the woman who had once been my friend became an internationally celebrated strategist and architect, while I was reduced to nothing more than Nolan’s Luna—known not for my own talents, but as the Beta’s mate. Now, looking back, the truth was painfully clear—Nolan had been paving the way for Mireille all along. My gaze lifted to the expansive layout of the new trading post. The structural design was strikingly familiar—so much so that for a moment, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. But there were subtle differences, as if someone had taken my blueprint and altered it just enough to make it seem unique. My heart pounded violently. There was a project file I had abandoned years ago, stored on my personal pack-linked server. Since stepping away from my career, I had never so much as glanced at it. So how had my design—one I had left untouched for years—become Mireille’s? And why had Nolan transformed it into this trading hub? Forcing down the surge of emotions, I turned to Mireille, ready to confront her. But before I could speak, her voice rang out, sharp and panicked. “Selena! What are you doing? Do you want me to lose my pup?!” “Ah!” Before I could react, Mireille suddenly collapsed, clutching her stomach as her face contorted in pain. Gasps rippled through the crowd. “Get the healer!” “Someone fetch the medic wolves!” A flurry of movement followed as wolves gathered, their eyes flickering between Mireille and me, their expressions laden with judgment. In the chaos, my gaze locked onto a figure rushing forward—a figure I knew all too well. “Mireille!” It was my mate. The man I had shared a den with for three years. Nolan’s face was lined with worry as he descended from the ceremonial stage. But what did he do? He shoved me aside. Without hesitation, he crouched beside Mireille, his voice urgent, his hands steadying her trembling form. “Are you alright?”

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Just before my wedding, my fate mate, my Alpha fiancé, Fabian, stripped me of my wedding dress—our wedding dress—and handed it to his mistress, Yolanda Porter. Not only that, but he locked me in the dressing room like some rabid wolf he needed to contain. “Yolanda has a terminal illness.She just wants to experience being a bride before she dies.” I lunged forward, my wolf howling inside me. Alpha’s strength pressed against mine, his dominance forcing my muscles to lock. My claws twitched, itching to break free. “You bastard!” I snarled, my breath ragged. Fabian barely blinked. Instead, he let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head . “She’s dying, and you can’t even show a little compassion?” His tone dripped with disappointment, as if I were the villain here. “You’re only losing a wedding, but Yolanda… Yolanda is losing her dreams and her life.” I was adjusting the hem of my dress when Alpha Fabian walked in. My white gown shimmered under the dressing room lights, the fabric hugging my figure perfectly. In just a few minutes, I’d walk down the aisle and officially become Luna of the Silver Claw Pack. Everything was perfect. Until I saw his face. “Salena, I…” Fabian’s voice wavered—and that was odd. I turned, smiling, reaching for his hand. “Why is the Alpha more nervous than the bride? Don’t tell me you’re going to cry from excitement later.” Normally, he’d roll his eyes and smirk, maybe pull me in close and whisper something entirely inappropriate for a pre-wedding conversation. But not this time. His usual sharp, confident aura was replaced by something… hesitant. “What’s wrong?” My stomach tightened as I smoothed my dress. “Did something happen at the wedding?” When I tried to step past him, he grabbed my wrist, stopping me. His fingers were warm, but his grip was tight—like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. I frowned. “Fabian?” A long pause. Then, finally, he met my gaze. “Salena, Yolanda… she’s terminally ill.” My breath hitched. Yolanda Porter. His childhood friend. His beautiful, always conveniently present childhood friend. The same Yolanda who had spent years lurking in the background, reminding everyone how she and Fabian grew up together, how they understood each other in a way I never could. The same Yolanda who had smiled sweetly in public and sabotaged me in private. She had been my biggest thorn, never missing a chance to remind me that I wasn’t worthy of the Silver Claw Pack’s Luna. But I had won. I had Fabian. And now— I swallowed hard. “She’s sick?” Fabian nodded, jaw clenched. “She doesn’t have much time left.” A strange mix of emotions twisted in my chest. Guilt? No—why should I feel guilty? Jealousy? Maybe. Fear? Definitely. Because I knew that look in Fabian’s eyes. I’d seen it before. “I only see her as a sister,” he’d told me a hundred times, exasperated, brushing off my concerns. It wasn’t until his birthday this year, when Alpha Fabian proposed to me, that Yolanda finally faded from our lives. “Yolanda has a terminal illness?” I blinked up at Alpha Fabian, my fingers instinctively tightening around the fabric of my wedding dress. My wolf stirred, sensing the tension radiating from my mate, but I didn’t panic. Not yet. “That doesn’t mean you need to rush to the hospital right now, does it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even. “The wedding starts in ten minutes—” Fabian cut me off, his voice urgent. “Yolanda is already here. She said…” A pause. I folded my arms. “What did she say?” He exhaled, rubbing his temple. “She said she’s never been in a relationship her whole life and wants to experience being a bride… before she passes away.” Silence. The kind that made my wolf growl low in warning. Sadness filled Fabian’s dark, stormy eyes, his tone so reverent it was as if Yolanda had ascended straight into sainthood. Meanwhile, I sat down, slowly, like a queen lowering herself onto her throne, staring at him. “Don’t tell me she expects you to ditch our wedding and take her to a bridal shop?” Fabian shook his head. I sighed in relief. For a moment, I thought the little green tea snake had finally grown some self-awareness. Then, Fabian opened his mouth again. “There’s no time to go outside. Salena, why don’t you lend your wedding dress to Yolanda?” A bolt of lightning crashed through my brain. I stared at him. Did my Alpha mate just get possessed by sheer stupidity? “What, is she not going to survive until tomorrow? Or have all the bridal shops in the city suddenly gone out of business, leaving her no options but to take the dress right off my back?” “Salena.” Fabian’s face darkened, his eyes filled with disappointment—like I was the unreasonable one. “Yolanda is already so pitiful. Why would you curse her like that?” I laughed in disbelief, standing so fast my chair scraped against the floor. “Alpha Fabian, did a door slam on your head? Or did you hit it against the packhouse walls for fun? She’s terminally ill, and you think lending her my wedding dress is going to cure her?” I placed a hand over my chest dramatically. “What, is my dress some kind of divine elixir? More effective than a healer? Will she ascend straight to the Moon Goddess in couture?” My wolf was practically snarling inside my mind, tail flicking in rage. “Yolanda has spent years using these little tricks to pull you away, and I let it go before. But today is our wedding day—do you understand what those words mean?” My breath was shaky, but my tone was firm. Fabian, however, wasn’t listening. Instead, his expression grew even colder. “Salena, I never expected you to be such a heartless person.” And then he looked at me—no, through me. Like I was nothing. Like I was a burden instead of his mate. My wolf fell silent. And just like that, the bond that once made my heart race with love… felt like a chain tightening around my throat. Chapter 2 “Fabian.” The air was thick with tension, our standoff silent but charged. My wolf, restless inside me, paced in my mind, ears pinned back. Then, the door swung open. Yolanda stepped in, her long hair cascading over her frail shoulders, her lips trembling as crystalline tears shimmered in her wide, doe-like eyes. She looked like the Moon Goddess herself had personally crafted her to inspire pity. Her voice was soft, weak, as if merely speaking was draining the life from her. “Don’t fight with Salena because of me,” she murmured. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have gotten sick and then clung to life instead of just… dying right away…” I blinked. Did she really just say that? Fabian gently covered her mouth, like she was the most precious thing in the world. His eyes were brimming with so much raw tenderness . “Don’t be afraid,” he said, voice low, soothing. “No matter what happens today, no one will stop me from granting your wish.” A growl rumbled deep in my chest. My wolf was furious, tail flicking in agitation. Fabian turned toward me then, his towering figure casting a shadow over me. Alpha presence rolled off him in waves, oppressive and suffocating. “Salena, I advise you to show some kindness.” I crossed my arms. “And what if I say no?” Fabian paused, his jaw tightening. Then, without another word, he turned and took Yolanda’s hand, leading her out. For a second, I thought he had finally come to his senses. I was wrong. He returned. And this time, he locked the door behind him. My wolf’s ears flattened. “Salena, don’t blame me for this.” Something in his tone—a chilling finality—sent a sharp spike of alarm through me. I shot up, ready to run, but he was faster. His Alpha reflexes kicked in, his grip iron-tight as he spun me around and pinned me against the vanity. My wolf snarled, but Fabian’s strength overpowered mine. “Are you insane?! Fabian, let me go!” My frantic struggles meant nothing. I felt the zipper of my wedding dress sliding down, scraping against my skin like a brand. “Stop!” I cried out, pain flashing through me as his grip dug into my waist. My wolf whimpered, but Fabian didn’t let go until the dress—my dress—was completely gone. When he finally released me, I crumpled onto the floor, my arms wrapping around myself. My meticulously styled hair was now a wild mess. My body—bare, vulnerable—felt like a broken relic of what should have been my happiest day. Fabian, breathing heavily, held my wedding dress in his hands like a damn trophy. His voice was cold. “Does it hurt? You brought this on yourself.” I stared up at him, my wolf silent—too shocked to even growl. Then, I spoke. “Alpha Fabian, we are done.” His brows furrowed. I pushed myself up, chin high, and let my next words tear through the bond like claws through flesh. “I, Salena Carlson, reject you, Fabian Parkinson, as my mate.” The rejection hung in the air. For a second, he simply blinked at me, as if he hadn’t heard right. Then, irritation flickered across his face, and he let out a short, humorless laugh. “Stop acting out. I’ll make it up to you with another wedding.” He turned to leave. “But today, Yolanda’s dream must come true.” My vision blurred, my heart hollowing out as he disappeared. Then— Click. The sound was quiet. But the moment I heard it, my blood ran cold. I rushed to the door. Locked. I pounded on it, but no one answered. A bitter laugh escaped me. He really did it. I turned back, my gaze landing on a white T-shirt draped over a chair. Desperate for something to cover myself, I grabbed it and pulled it over my head—only for the collar to get stuck. Frustrated, humiliated, trapped—I could do nothing but fall onto my knees and cry and cry. “Tsk. Looking this miserable?” A deep, smooth voice cut through my despair. I lifted my tear-streaked face, my breath hitching. The moment I saw the man leaning against the doorframe, casually elegant in a crisp white suit, I knew trouble had arrived. Alpha Halbert. Fabian’s archrival. The Moon Goddess really had a twisted sense of humor. His eyes, sharp and mischievous, flickered with amusement as he took in my ruined appearance. My makeup was a mess, my hair tangled beyond saving—I probably looked like a rogue that had lost a fight with a tornado. His lips quirked, but for just a moment, his teasing faltered. Then, his voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “Want to get some payback?” My wolf’s ears perked up. I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing here?” Everyone knew Alpha Halbert and Fabian had been close once, back in college—before something ripped them apart, turning them into bitter enemies. No one ever talked about why. “I don’t recall inviting Alpha Halbert.” Halbert, unfazed, simply raised a brow and took a slow, deliberate step forward. His scent—crisp pine and the kind of danger that lured people in—drifted over me, sending a shiver down my spine. My wolf stirred, intrigued. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” His voice was smooth, tempting. “Opportunities like this don’t come twice.” He extended a hand toward me. My wolf growled softly, uncertain. Before I could even decide, Halbert moved. In a blur of movement, he pulled me to my feet—so effortlessly it was like I weighed nothing. His strength was undeniable. Then, before I could protest, he lifted a pristine white handkerchief and wiped my face clean. His touch was gentle, careful, as if he were handling something delicate and breakable. His golden eyes assessed his work before giving a small, approving nod. “Much better.” I blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, his grip tightened around my wrist, his warmth steady, grounding. “Let’s go.” His voice was quiet but firm. “Revenge is best served fresh. Bottling it up will only hurt you in the end.” For the first time since this disaster started, I didn’t feel alone. Chapter 3 “Fabian Parkinson, for richer or poorer, will you stay by Yolanda Porter’s side, never to part?” The officiant’s voice rang out over the crowd. Onstage, Alpha Fabian gazed at Yolanda with a tenderness so nauseating it made my wolf bare her teeth. “I do not.” The words ripped through the ceremony like a thunderclap. Gasps filled the air. Every head in the room snapped toward me. I saw it then—the exact moment realization dawned on Fabian’s face. His smile froze, his fingers twitching against Yolanda’s hand. “Where’s security?” Fabian growled, voice low and commanding. “Escort the troublemaker out.” Halbert, standing beside me, handed me the microphone with an amused smirk. I didn’t even look at Fabian. Instead, I turned up the volume to max and let my voice ring across the hall. “Everyone, I am Salena Carlson. Tonight’s bride, Salena Carlson.” Chaos erupted. A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. The sharp rustling of guests flipping through their invitations was almost comical. Fabian’s expression darkened, his jaw clenching so tight it could snap a bone. “Hey, she’s right! The invitation says the bride is Salena!” “Then who the hell is the woman onstage?” “Fabian’s wedding was so rushed, I didn’t even question it. But this…?” The murmurs grew louder, sharp whispers turning to judgmental glares. Yolanda’s fake innocence cracked, her wide doe eyes filling with crocodile tears. Fabian tightened his grip on her hand, his voice low but authoritative. “Everyone, there was a typo on the invitation.” His lips curled into a forced smile. “This is the real bride.” A laugh burst from my throat before I could stop it. “A typo?” I drawled, arching a brow. “Right. And let me guess—my name embroidered on the wedding dress? Also a typo?” More gasps. A few guests exchanged pointed looks. Fabian’s pathetic attempt at damage control had done nothing but pour gasoline on the fire. “The venue? The photography? The décor? Paid for with my money.” I pulled out my phone and, with a single tap, projected the receipts onto the massive screen behind the altar. “13.14 million.” I smiled, slow and deliberate. “Alpha Fabian, will that be on your credit card or by check?” Silence. The air was thick with tension, the scent of unease rolling through the room like a storm cloud. Fabian’s gaze flickered toward the doors, searching. Probably for security. “Don’t bother looking.” My smirk widened. “The security staff? Paid for by me. They don’t answer to you.” Fabian’s nostrils flared, frustration rolling off him in waves. And then, because the universe loved giving me more reasons to hate her, Yolanda decided to play her final card. “Salena, I know you have issues with me.” She sniffled, stepping forward. “It was wrong of me to borrow your wedding, but I have a terminal illness.” She paused for dramatic effect, gauging the crowd’s reaction. And just like that, a few whispers started up again. “She’s dying, though…” “Maybe Fabian was just trying to be kind.” “Is Salena really this heartless?” Yolanda lowered her gaze, trembling ever so slightly—but not before I caught the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. I felt my wolf bristle beneath my skin, a growl curling low in my throat. Oh, this little actress wanted a show? Fine. I’d give her one. I swatted Yolanda’s hand away, my wolf thrumming beneath my skin, urging me to rip through her pathetic act. “Oh, a terminal illness?” I arched a brow. “What’s the diagnosis? Which hospital declared it?” Silence. “Funny how someone on death’s doorstep has enough energy to steal my multimillion-dollar wedding and act like she deserves it.” Yolanda stumbled back, clutching her chest, her breath turning shallow. Her wide, watery eyes flitted around the room, as if searching for sympathy. Cue the dramatic coughs. She hacked so hard that her pale face turned ghostly, as if she might crumple to the floor at any moment. And, right on cue, Alpha Fabian was there in an instant, shielding her with his broad frame, his scent sharp with irritation. “Salena.” He growled my name like a curse. “You’ve only lost a wedding, but Yolanda—she’s losing her life.” His voice dripped with righteous fury, like I was the villain here. “How can you stoop so low as to bicker with someone who’s dying? Where’s your compassion?” I stared at him. For a brief moment, I remembered the man I once loved—the one who whispered promises under the moonlight, who swore I was his forever. Now?

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