Chapter 1I was my Alpha's dirty little secret for five years.
His side piece. The girl he was too ashamed to claim.
Then he shoved me into a burning rack—and ran to comfort his "sister".
One month in the hospital. Zero visits. Zero calls.
Just one bullshit text: "Rest up. Work's been crazy."
When I finally came back? I found her sitting on his lap in his office, wearing his ring, casually asking where her lace underwear was—right in front of me.
He said I'd never be his Luna. Said I should know my place.
So I left.
Here's what he didn't know:
I'm not some "nobody Omega from the sticks."
I'm the Alpha heir of the Bloodwyn Pack—the most powerful pack in the North.
Now guess who's camping outside my door, losing his damn mind?
He broke off the engagement. Gave up his title. Says he'll do anything.
But here's the thing—
I'm done being the girl who waits.
---
"Let's have our mating ceremony."
I'd been holding that sentence in for five years. Finally said it out loud at the Willowdale pack banquet.
Hadrian's hand froze mid-sip. He glanced at me with that look I knew all too well—here we go again.
"Margot, you know I don't want to talk about this right now."
He lowered his voice like he was afraid someone might overhear.
We were surrounded by Willowdale pack members. His mother, Eveline, was just a few feet away, all smiles as she chatted with Maris.
Maris—his so-called sister. The future Luna handpicked by his mother.
"It's been five years. How much longer do I have to wait?" I stared at him.
He didn't answer. Instead, his eyes drifted toward Maris.
She happened to look back at that exact moment and shot him this wounded puppy look.
Just because he was talking to me?
Then Hadrian snapped.
He grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward a nearby storage room door, his voice low and tight. "Can you NOT bring this up in front of her?"
"Bring what up?"
"The mating ceremony." He bit down hard on the words. "You know she's got a bad heart. She can't handle hearing stuff like that."
Before I could argue back, he shoved me—hard.
The storage room was packed with old metal racks and heating equipment. I slammed right into them, my right arm landing square on a scorching furnace plate.
"Ah—"
The pain shot through me like fire.
By the time I looked up, Hadrian was already walking away.
I heard his voice down the hall, soft and soothing. "It's fine now. Come on, let's go."
I looked down at my arm. The skin was already blistering.
Eveline passed by, glanced at me, said nothing, and clicked away in her heels.
One month.
I spent one month in the hospital.
Skin graft surgery. Three dressing changes. Pain so sharp I couldn't sleep through the night.
Hadrian never came. Not once.
No calls. Just one message:
"Rest up. I've been swamped."
I stared at that message for a long time. Then I called my dad.
"Dad. I'm coming back."
There was a two-second pause on the other end, then my father's voice—tight with barely restrained excitement. "You finally ready?"
"Yeah. I'll take the Alpha position."
Nobody knew my real last name was Bloodwyn.
Nobody knew I was the next Alpha of the biggest pack in the Northern Territories.
---
The day I got discharged, I called a car and went straight to Willowdale's Alpha Hall.
Standing outside the stone fortress, I suddenly realized how foreign this place felt.
Five years. No money. No title. No status.
All the "perks" he'd given me? A guest room in his pack house.
Oh, and the occasional post-sex compliment: "You're so good."
I tried the facial recognition scanner at the main entrance.
User does not exist.
The gate guard blocked my path. "Miss, outsiders need clearance to enter the Hall."
I called Hadrian. No answer.
My wolf snarled inside me. Bastard!
Then Maris called.
"Margot? You're out of the hospital?" Her voice was syrupy sweet, like she was sucking on candy.
"Don't be mad, okay? Hadrian's been super busy with the pack alliance negotiations, so the Hall's restricted to core pack members right now. I'll tell the guards to let you in."
Two minutes later, the guard politely waved me through.
Look at that. Just like the lady of the house.
I walked through the marble corridors to the Alpha's chamber on the top floor. The heavy oak door was half open.
I pushed it all the way and froze.
Maris was sitting on Hadrian's lap in his throne-like chair, arms looped around his neck.
His leather jacket was tossed aside. Two buttons undone on his shirt. His hand resting on her waist.
Maris saw me. Smiled. Didn't move.
Hadrian tried to push her off. She pouted. "Nooo."
He sighed—and actually stopped trying.
I didn't say a word. Just dropped my resignation letter on the carved wooden desk in front of him.
"Margot, let me explain—" He frowned. "Maris just got back to the territory. She needs to learn pack operations. She knows way more than you do anyway. I mean, she practically grew up in this Hall…"
He paused, then added:
"She's my sister."
I almost laughed out loud.
Sister.
What a bulletproof excuse.
Maris cut him off, lifting her right hand. A silver ring with a moonstone glittered under the chandelier lights—the traditional Willowdale mating ring.
"It's not just that, Margot. You might not know yet—Hadrian's claiming me as his mate."
She wiggled her fingers, smiling soft and smug.
Hadrian had the matching Alpha's ring on his hand.
He didn't deny it.
Just looked at me with that calm, disgusting expression.
He knew I'd find some reason to forgive him.
I always had before.
I nodded. "Alright. Congratulations."
Then I pointed at the file on his desk.
"All the alliance documents with the Shadowclaw pack are in there."
My voice was flat.
"I've already handed off the rest to your Beta. You're all set."
Chapter 2
The second I turned to leave, Hadrian clearly froze.
He called after me. "Margot."
I didn't stop.
The elevator doors slid shut. Through the gap, I caught a glimpse of his face—furrowed brows, clenched jaw, like he'd never once imagined I'd actually walk away.
What a joke.
One month in the hospital. Not a single visit. And now he had the nerve to look betrayed.
My right arm throbbed again, sharp and pulsing.
But it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.
That part had died a month ago.
I hadn't deleted his message.
"Rest up. Work's been crazy."
That was it. One sentence.
Couldn't even spare a phone call.
---
I stepped out of the Hall. The wind hit hard, stinging my eyes.
I hadn't even made it to the road to call a car when I heard footsteps behind me.
He'd followed me out.
Hadrian wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, burying his face against the back of my neck. His breath was hot on my skin, his voice low and coaxing, like he was soothing a child.
"Margot, listen to me. Maris grew up with me. That's just how she is—anytime I mention a mating ceremony, she gets upset. The engagement was my mother's idea. You know that. To me, she'll always just be my sister. You and I can keep going like we—"
"Let go."
I tried to pull away.
He didn't. He held tighter.
I shoved him off hard and stepped back.
"I said, let go."
Hadrian stared at me, eyes wide with confusion.
He'd probably never seen me like this before.
The old me? One sweet word from him and I'd melt.
Now?
I just felt sick.
"You grew up with Maris. I know," I said flatly. "You've known her longer than me. The engagement was your mother's call. I get it. So I'm not making a scene. I'm not fighting for anything."
"Then why are you—"
"I'm really quitting. Not because I'm jealous. Not because I'm throwing a tantrum. I just don't want to deal with your pack's mess anymore."
He let out a breath of relief.
"I knew you'd understand. You always—"
Before he could finish, Maris's voice floated down from upstairs.
"Hadrian—where'd you put my lace underwear? The one I wore yesterday—"
She was leaning over the hallway railing, looking down. When she spotted me, she paused for half a second.
Then she blinked and smiled—sweet, innocent.
"Oops. Didn't realize you were still here. I've been with Hadrian so much lately, I kinda forgot you were around."
I laughed.
Actually laughed. Because honestly? What else was there to do? Classic fake innocent act.
"No worries."
Then I turned and left.
This time, he didn't chase after me.
---
The next morning, my dad called.
"Margot." His voice was low, careful. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"I heard what happened." He paused. "Come home. I'm getting old. I just want you close by. You spent five years over there with no title, no respect, letting them treat you like dirt. I saw it all. What were you even trying to prove?"
If he'd said this before, I would've argued with him.
Back then, I loved Hadrian. I thought everything was worth it.
Bloodwyn Pack could be the strongest in the Northern Territories, and it still wouldn't compare to one smile from him.
But now? My throat tightened. I couldn't get a word out.
"When are you coming back? I'll have everything ready."
I thought about it.
Eight days from now would mark five years since Hadrian and I got together.
What a twisted anniversary.
"Eight days," I said. "I've still got a few things to wrap up here. I'll head back after."
I hung up and looked up—
Hadrian was standing right behind me. Frowning. Leaning in to peek at my phone screen.
"Eight days? Who was that?"
I flipped my phone facedown on the table. Didn't bother showing him.
"A friend. We're planning a trip."
"A trip?" His frown deepened. "If you leave, who's gonna handle pack operations?"
I almost laughed out loud.
He really thought of me as free labor + a bed warmer, didn't he?
"I already quit. Not my problem anymore."
His expression darkened. He opened his mouth to argue, but then Maris's voice rang out from downstairs.
"Hadrian—dinner's ready! Don't keep Mom and Dad waiting!"
My hand twitched.
Not out of sadness. Just... old memories surfacing.
The year I first got together with Hadrian, his parents wouldn't even look at me.
To them, I was just some wild girl from a rundown territory—nowhere near good enough for their Alpha son.
But every time, Hadrian would take my hand and pull me into the dining hall anyway. Right in front of his parents, he'd say:
"She's the one I chose."
He'd also said something I'd never forget.
"As long as I'm alive, Willowdale will always have a place for you."
Looking back now, I guess that place was the guest room.
Chapter 3
This time, he didn't chase after me.
I was almost at the door when Hadrian's voice came from behind me, tone weird and strained.
"After what happened last time... you know my parents aren't doing great health-wise. If they see you again, it'll just set them off."
He paused, then softened his voice like he was trying to soothe me.
"Don't overthink it, okay? I'll talk to them about the engagement. Maris grew up around them, so obviously they're closer to her. Once things settle down a bit... they won't be so worked up anymore."
I didn't turn around.
He just left with Maris. One went left, one went right. Neither of them looked back at me.
I stood there, chest tight and suffocating, throat squeezed like someone's hands were wrapped around it. Even swallowing tasted metallic.
Five years.
Five whole years.
What did he used to say again?
"If anyone lays a finger on you, I'll take down their entire pack."
Sounded so good.
And what happened? He was the one who shoved me into the metal rack. He was the one who left me alone in the hospital for a month. He couldn't even be bothered to call.
I get it now. He was always waiting for Maris. It was never me.
I didn't even realize I was crying until the tears hit the floor. I scrubbed my face hard, took a deep breath, and went back to the villa.
Time to pack.
Five years. Sounds long. Feels fast. But this place was full of traces of me.
The painting on the wall? I picked it. The blanket on the couch? I bought it. The sticky note on the fridge? I wrote it—"Remember to eat breakfast."
How stupid was I?
He said he wanted a pup. Said he'd take the little one running through the forest, teach them how to shift under the moonlight. I believed him. I was happy for days. I even came up with names.
And then? No pup. And he'd already stopped loving me.
I used to work late all the time, pulling all-nighters till my head was splitting. When he found out, no matter where he was on business, he'd message me at bedtime and tell me to sleep. Sometimes when I couldn't, he'd stay on the phone with me until I went quiet. Then he'd hang up.
The worst time, I had a migraine so bad I was banging my head against the wall. He held me, eyes red. After that, he went and learned how to do head massages from a healer. Every night, he'd rub my temples.
Looking back now... was any of that even real? Feels like a past life.
He used to be so thoughtful. Anything I glanced at twice, he'd buy the next day and hand it to me like it was nothing. "Saw it on the way. Figured I'd grab it."
Once, he kissed my forehead and ran his fingers through my hair. "I never want you to have to ask for anything. If you want it, I should already be giving it to you."
Such pretty words.
When did it all change?
The first time I brought up a mating ceremony, he laughed and said we were still young. Getting mated too early might make things stale.
The second time, I spent forever planning a surprise. Candles, a ring, the necklace he'd once said looked beautiful. But before I even walked in, I heard him talking to his friends over drinks.
"Carol? I got bored of her ages ago. But she's so good to me. I'd feel bad just dumping her."
"I mean, she's a girl who's literally asked me to mate her. How does she not get that I don't love her?"
I stood outside the door. My hands were shaking so hard I dropped everything.
The last time.
I went all in. Right in front of his parents, I said I wanted to be his mate. I said I didn't need money, didn't need the Luna title. I just wanted to be his.
His mother hadn't even opened her mouth yet when Maris exploded. Crying, screaming, saying her heart condition was flaring up, saying she didn't want to live anymore.
Then Hadrian looked at me.
I still remember that look—like I was some clueless outsider who didn't know when to leave.
Enough.
I yanked open the drawer and pulled out every single photo I'd taken of him over five years. Tore them up. One by one.
And the only letter he'd ever written me. Something about "the Moon Goddess as my witness, I'll never let you down."
I lit it with a lighter and watched it burn to ash.
After that, a whole week went by. Not a single message from him.
He knew I'd give in eventually.
But during those days, I'd already moved my stuff out of his villa. Piece by piece. He didn't even notice.
Probably thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Didn't care enough to check.
It wasn't until three days before I was set to go back to Bloodwyn—our five-year anniversary—that he finally called.
"Carol." His voice was soft, almost coaxing. "Our five-year anniversary's coming up. I booked a spot at Moonlight Gallery. And that steakhouse you love. Come out and talk?"
Right after, I got a text. An address.
Moonlight Gallery.
The place we first met.
That day, we'd both reached for the same painting at the same time. Said the exact same thing about it. My heart had been racing like crazy.
I thought for sure the Moon Goddess was playing a trick on me—that I'd finally met my fated mate.
