Chapter 1My throat felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. I couldn't breathe.
The shriek of our tearing mate bond was a physical agony that buzzed in my ears. I stared, transfixed, at the glaring photo.
It wasn't fake.
My best friend, Tessa, and Gideon were kissing passionately. She was holding a pup that was his spitting image.
The shadows and angle of the sun in the photo matched the exact moment I was in the healer's secluded moon-ward, losing our pup.
"Why tell me now?" I squeezed out the words, my voice a raw rasp.
Gideon gently wiped a tear from my cold cheek.
"Tessa was worried the shock would be too much for you. She begged me not to say anything."
"My Luna, since you're unable to carry a pup to term, Jace will be your pup from now on, okay?"
The Alpha who had cherished me for seven years was uttering the cruelest words imaginable.
Just yesterday, he was happily rubbing my empty womb, envisioning our future.
"If this pup makes it, a boy will inherit my Alpha title. A girl will be a carefree, pureblood princess."
"Our family of three will rule this territory happily ever after. Okay, my Luna?"
One night had changed everything.
I raised my hand on instinct, but he caught my wrist effortlessly in mid-air. His large hand completely engulfed mine, the heat of his skin searing even through my numbness. He stepped closer, his imposing frame caging me in, a heavy hint of Alpha dominance lacing his dangerously soft tone.
"Valerie, you're not behaving."
"Don't forget, your mother is still in the purified healing den. She's waiting for the High Healer I brought from the Royal Court for her final heart-mending ritual."
I stiffened, gazing at him in disbelief. "Are you threatening me?"
In our seven years as mates, Gideon had never even raised his voice at me.
Because of my frail health and multiple miscarriages, gossip had swirled through the pack.
But if anyone dared whisper behind my back, Gideon would have their legs broken or have them banished by the next day.
Every werewolf knew the Alpha of the Crimson Crest pack spoiled his Luna rotten.
But now, he was using my dying mother to force me to accept his bastard child.
My eyes burned. I hurled the bowl of tonic at him and screamed, "Get out! Get out!"
Just then, a toddler with striking Alpha features and a faint scent of the Crimson Crest stumbled into the room.
He stepped right into the scalding tonic and slipped.
His instant, piercing wail made Gideon's face twist with fury.
He scooped the boy up and glared at me, a low growl vibrating in his chest.
"Valerie, don't push me."
I looked up and saw that face—a miniature version of Gideon's.
My heart felt like it had been shredded by claws.
The next second, Tessa rushed in. I hadn't seen her in a year.
She paled at the sight of the father and son locked in an embrace. She snatched the boy back, releasing her sweet, placating scent to soothe him.
"Jace, don't cry. Mommy brought you to see Auntie Valerie."
Then she forced a placating smile at me. "Why are you so upset?"
"Valerie, don't be so sad. You'll have other pups."
I bit my lower lip, staring blankly at her two-faced act.
A year ago, she had left without a word, claiming she was moving to the Neutral Territories to chase her dreams.
For a whole year, we mind-linked every day. She had comforted me countless times when I was heartbroken over losing my pups.
I had thought that even if I couldn't have my own pups, I had a loving mate and a loyal best friend.
Reality had just delivered a brutal slap to the face.
Tessa's smile stiffened under my glare. She held Jace out toward me.
"Okay, look... I'll tell you a secret. I didn't go to the Neutral Territories this past year. I... I had a baby."
"How about Jace becomes your godson?"
Her familiar smile sent my mind flashing back to the day Gideon and I were bonded. She had sworn to the Moon Goddess:
"You must be happy! If Gideon ever treats you badly, you tell me. I'll bite him for you!"
"Whoever has a pup first, the other one gets to be the godmother! Best friends forever!"
I closed my eyes. My voice was a hollow whisper, dragged from the depths of my soul.
"Godson?"
"You want me, the true Luna, to accept my Alpha's bastard as my godson?"
Instantly, all the color drained from Tessa's face.
Chapter 2
She jerked her head around, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Gideon.
"You told her?"
"Didn't I say Valerie is too fragile to handle it? Why did you tell her?!"
Tessa panicked and reached for my hand.
"Valerie, listen to me. It's a misunderstanding."
"I never wanted to steal your Luna title. Valerie, you're my best friend."
"The healer said that as an Omega, I'd have a hard time getting pregnant again after being marked. I had no choice but to keep him."
"Valerie—"
I shook her hand off, my gaze filled with pure disgust.
"My best friend? And you decided to become an intruder in our sacred mate bond?"
"Tessa, I was so blind."
I pushed myself out of bed, intending to leave, but Gideon seized my wrist. His grip was iron-tight, pulling me flush against his hard chest.
He frowned, his patience wearing thin, his handsome features tightening.
"My Luna, are you done with your tantrum?"
"You've screamed enough. Now calm down."
"You're weak. Stop moving around—"
A sharp slap echoed through the room as I backhanded him with all my strength.
Gideon's handsome features twisted into a terrifying snarl.
I sneered. "I want to sever the bond."
I turned to leave, but Tessa grabbed my sleeve again.
I couldn't restrain myself any longer. I violently shoved them both away from me.
With a sickening thud, Tessa's head struck the corner of the bed, and blood gushed from the wound.
Jace screamed in terror and tumbled to the floor.
The room filled with his loud, frightened cries.
Gideon's expression turned glacial. His eyes flashed red as he stared at me, his voice dangerously low.
"Tessa has been with me for a year with no title. She never cried or made a fuss. What right do you have to act like this?"
"Have I let you lack for anything this past year? Your mother is only alive because of my mercy! And you dare threaten to sever our bond?!"
In an instant, the man I loved vanished, revealing the stranger beneath—vile and unmasked.
Vile.
I clenched my fists as he spoke again, his voice cold as steel.
"Come here and get on your knees. Apologize to Tessa."
"I'll pretend today didn't happen. You're just disoriented from the loss of your pup."
I turned to leave, but his next words stopped me cold.
"Your mother has had seven rituals in three years. Tomorrow is the last one."
"Only a High Healer from the Royal Court can perform it, remember? No one else in the North can bring a High Healer here but me."
He didn't count down. Instead, he unleashed the full, crushing weight of his Alpha aura. The oppressive dominance slammed into my weakened body.
Thud.
I dropped to my knees.
"I'm sorry."
The smile I managed was more painful than any sob as tears streamed down my face.
Tessa shook her head, crying like a child.
"Valerie, it's my fault. You don't need to apologize. I was wrong."
"Gideon, don't treat Valerie like this. She's just been spoiled. Don't blame her, I'm fine."
I never thought my so-called sister could spout such venomous, manipulative garbage.
My heart was a dead weight in my chest. I was crying and laughing at the same time.
Gideon's expression finally softened. He helped Tessa up and called a healer to bandage her wound.
Then he lifted me into his arms, kissed my forehead with a self-satisfied smile, and murmured,
"Good girl. That's my Luna."
I lowered my gaze and said nothing.
Just wait until tomorrow. Once my mother's ritual is complete, this will all be over.
Chapter 3
But the next day, the High Healer never showed up.
My mother lay on the ritual altar. Her life crystal had been dimming for three hours, and no one came to take over the delicate spirit-vein mending.
I was burning with anxiety. I tried mind-linking Gideon over and over, but he didn't respond.
In a panic, I pushed my voice through the pack's telepathic mind-link to reach Tessa.
She answered immediately.
Her voice held a hint of excitement. "Valerie, you're finally talking to me. Have you calmed down?"
I gripped the edge of the stone basin, my knuckles white, and ignored her question. "Where's Gideon?"
Tessa went quiet for a moment before answering awkwardly, "Jace came down with a sudden fever last night. Gideon took the High Healer to our mountain lodge. Is something wrong?"
I gritted my teeth, fighting to keep my voice steady.
"To the mountain lodge?!"
"Tell him the High Healer still isn't here! My mother's life crystal is fading! Where the hell is he?!"
Before she could answer, Gideon's voice cut in through the link, sharp and impatient.
"Valerie, get your priorities straight. Jace has a high fever. Of course I'm going to stay by my son's side."
"The healer already mind-linked me that the ritual was completed. You're just saying this to make me come back, aren't you?"
"Stop being unreasonable. Is it fun being jealous of a pup?"
My eyes widened in disbelief. I cut him off. "What do you mean, it's done? My mother is still lying on the altar—"
He severed the connection. "Enough. Stop with the theatrics. I'll come back when Jace's fever breaks."
The next second, the life crystal in the room went completely dark.
The door opened. The lead healer from my mother's team walked in, his head bowed.
"Luna... your mother has passed away."
My body went rigid. My vision tunneled to black, and I collapsed.
When I woke up, the healer handed me my mother's scroll of passing.
A three-hour delay in the mending ritual had caused her heart to fail. She was gone.
I signed the parchment with a trembling hand, my body wracked with silent, uncontrollable sobs.
I moved through the next three days in a haze of grief. By the time my mother's funeral was over, I was completely numb.
Gideon finally returned.
He strolled into our Alpha's manor holding Tessa's hand, with Jace trailing behind them.
He paused when he saw me, then a smug smile touched his lips.
"Learned your lesson? You haven't called me these past few days."
"You're out of the healing ward already? I'll have the omegas prepare something restorative for you."
"Which ward did they move your mother to? I'll go see her later."
The moment Tessa saw me, she dropped his hand and stepped forward with a fake, apologetic smile.
"Valerie, how are you feeling?"
I silently dodged her touch and held out a document to Gideon.
"Sign it."
Gideon frowned. Just as he took it to read, Tessa interrupted him.
"Gideon, just sign it! Valerie deserves a nice gift to make her feel better."
"See? She's not throwing a tantrum anymore. Hurry up and sign so we can all move on!"
His tense expression relaxed. He signed it without a second glance.
He chuckled and handed it back. "If you want anything else, just go to the treasury. I'll buy you anything, as long as you're a good girl."
I didn't reply. I took the document and turned away.
Behind me, I heard him give an order. "Butler, clean up the East Wing nursery for Tessa and Jace."
"My Luna, you don't mind, do you?"
I stopped in my tracks.
That was the nursery I had spent seven years carefully designing for my future pup.
Everything in it was made by my own hands.
I laughed, a short, mocking sound. "I don't mind."
Gideon looked shocked for a second, but I ignored him and walked away.
Of course I didn't mind.
My Pack Elders had already informed me that the Blood-pact Severance would take a week to be finalized.
Perfect. In exactly a week, it would be the seventh day of mourning for my mother.
After that, I was leaving this place forever.
