Chapter 1

Seven years of being mated to Rohan Henry, and he finally agreed to hold a proper marking ceremony for us. Yet, on the day of the ceremony, his childhood friend Brittany Tucker showed up in a flowing Victorian-style gown, her eyes brimming with tears as she declared she wanted to be his mate.

Rohan released my hand and turned to walk Brittany up the aisle. "Brittany’s been struggling with depression," he said, his alpha tone firm, commanding. "She might harm herself at any moment. Think rationally, Elyse; you don’t need this ceremony to stay my mate."

Our son, Maverick, trailed after them eagerly, clutching a basket of flowers, his small face serious as he glared at me. "Bad mom, stay away! Aunt Brittany will be upset if she sees you!"

I accepted their reactions without protest. It didn’t matter; Jennifer Simmons, the Beta from the rival pack who had assigned me this mission, had assured me that once this ceremony was over, I’d forget all about them. The weight of her words hung heavy in my chest, a reminder of the fragile bond I was about to sever.

At the entrance of the grand hall, Brittany was already in tears, her white gown making her look like a tragic heroine. "Rohan," she sobbed, her voice trembling, "I can’t do it... I can’t watch you mark another female! Why can’t it be me? Aren’t we the ones who truly love each other?"

Maverick, standing beside me, darted forward and reached up on tiptoes to wipe Brittany’s tears away. "Aunt Brittany, don’t cry. It’s all my bad mom’s fault! Dad and I will always love Aunt Brittany the most!"

I was speechless, turning to look at Rohan, who had pursed his lips tightly. From the moment Brittany appeared, his gaze had shifted away from me. The ceremonial mark he was about to place on my neck was now a distant thought, his expression unreadable.

"You know Brittany’s been struggling with depression," Rohan said again, his voice steady but devoid of warmth as he looked at me. "Think rationally; you don’t need this ceremony to stay my mate."

Without waiting for a response, Rohan hurried off the stage. Brittany threw herself into his arms, and he gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. Brittany broke into a smile, embracing my mate and son as if they were already hers.

The guests in the grand hall glanced between me and the trio below, their inquisitive looks and whispered conversations cutting through me like thorns. I could feel the weight of their judgment, their pity, their scorn. The air was thick with the scent of pack hierarchy, the unspoken rules of dominance and submission that governed our world.

I stood there, an Omega in a sea of alphas and betas, my heart pounding in my chest. My wolf stirred within me, a low whimper of pain echoing in my mind. *He doesn’t mean it,* she whispered weakly, but even she couldn’t hide the hurt.

Brittany’s voice carried through the hall, sweet and mocking. "Serena," she said, her tone dripping with false sympathy, "I know this must be hard for you. But Rohan has to think of the pack. He needs a Luna who can match his strength. Someone... capable."

Her hand slid over Rohan’s arm, possessive, claiming him in front of everyone. The whispers around me grew louder, the pack’s loyalty shifting like sand beneath my feet.

"You must be so relieved, though," Brittany continued, tilting her head like a predator playing with its prey. "Being Luna is such a burden. It’s better for someone... stronger to handle it, don’t you think?"

Her words stabbed at me, but it was her expression—so soft, so understanding—that twisted the knife. I turned to Rohan, desperate for him to deny it, to say something—anything—that would undo the nightmare unraveling around me.

"Rohan," I said, my voice trembling. "Please don’t do this."

He looked at me as if I were something beneath him. "Accept it, Elyse," he said, his alpha tone leaving no room for argument. "This is bigger than you. I’m thinking of the pack, something you clearly wouldn’t understand."

The laughter that followed was deafening, the sound ringing in my ears as I turned and walked away, the weight of my failure heavy on my shoulders. The marking ceremony was supposed to be my redemption, my chance to prove myself worthy of the Henry pack. Instead, it had become my undoing.

As I stepped out into the cool night air, the scent of the forest enveloped me, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the hall. My wolf whimpered again, a sound of shared pain and confusion. *What now?* I asked silently, though I already knew the answer.

For seven years, I had lived in Rohan’s shadow, trying to fulfill a mission that was never truly mine. Now, as the bond between us frayed and the pack turned their backs, I realized I had nothing left to lose. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, it was mine to walk.