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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