Chapter 1

The day before our mating ceremony, I was dragged into an alley by rogues and assaulted. The video surfaced that same day, and Alpha Arlo was incensed, offering a hefty reward to catch the perpetrators. In order to suppress the scandal and maintain his standing as Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, he staged a public mating ceremony with Leyla Ford, a Beta from the Shadow Claw Pack, while secretly marking me as his true mate. Unbeknownst to everyone else, rumors buzzed that I shamelessly lingered by his side as a mistress. I paid no mind—I was focused solely on him securing his position of power.

It wasn’t until I applied for a transfer to the Silver Fang Pack and discovered that our mate bond had never been officially recognized by the Lycan Council that I confronted him. Standing outside his study, I overheard a conversation between him and his Beta:

"Alpha, those rogues are locked up in the dungeon. You let them violate Serena to mate with Leyla. Are you having second thoughts now? Have you seen how she’s lost so much weight over the years?"

"I had no choice," Alpha Arlo replied, his voice cold. "If Serena had found out that I couldn’t mark her publicly, she would have left me. Only by disgracing her could I ensure she’d stay by my side. I just never thought it would come back to haunt me. I can’t even touch her now."

"But my heart belongs to her," he continued, his tone softening. "With Leyla, it’s just business and physical attraction. Once she gives birth to the first Brown heir, I’ll sort things out and make it up to Serena."

Outside the door, I stood rooted in disbelief.

"There are no secrets that remain hidden forever. Once she finds out, you’re finished!" his Beta warned.

In response, Alpha Arlo calmly polished his glasses and confidently said, "Could she really leave me? She’s now cut off and can’t even sleep without me. I’m her only support."

"Even if she does find out..." he paused abruptly, then his tone sharpened. "She will never know."

His Beta interjected, "Shouldn’t you stop the potion? Serena’s mental health is fragile. She’s on a new sleeping draft this year due to tolerance issues, with severe side effects. Now that Leyla is pregnant..."

Before he could finish, Alpha Arlo interrupted coldly, "No."

His Beta widened his eyes in disbelief. "You don’t need to go to Leyla’s room at night anymore, yet you keep Serena on the potion? What are you thinking? If your feelings have changed, let Serena go! She’s suffered enough!"

Conflict flickered in Alpha Arlo’s eyes. He hesitated for a moment, his voice indifferent. "You’re stepping over the line. Just manage the potion. There’s no need to worry about anything else. I promised I’d take care of Serena for life. I just made a few commitments to Leyla as well..."

His Beta sighed, "Fine, have it your way."

Hearing footsteps approaching, I scrambled back to the bedroom, collapsing onto the floor with wobbly legs.

During the abduction, I had been tormented by three rogues until I lost consciousness and was hospitalized for two days. Within those two days, the video went viral across the packs.

The incident thrust the Red Moon Pack into the eye of a public storm. Alpha Arlo’s father proclaimed that if he dared to bring me into the pack as Luna, he would forfeit his right as heir.

Alpha Arlo proposed a faux mating to Leyla, and I didn’t oppose it. I even thought I was disgraceful, causing him so much trouble.

But those haunting nightmares—my beloved had orchestrated them.

Alpha Arlo gently pushed open the door, holding a cup of tea. Seeing my tear-streaked face, he quickly gathered me into his arms, gently stroking my hair.

"Serena, what’s wrong? Did you have another nightmare? I swear I’ll bring those rogues to justice."

"Here, drink this tea and get some rest."

Gazing at the person before me, I took a deep breath. Tears streamed uncontrollably.

The once-familiar face now filled me with dread.

I leaned on him, only able to sleep soundly with his presence. But my sleep was fitful. He had instructed the pack’s healer to prepare a cup of tea every day, which I thought was out of love. Instead, it was a guise for his nightly visits to Leyla.

I drained the cup in one go, and once he left the room, I rushed to the bathroom to throw up, glaring at my pale reflection in the mirror.

With a bitter smile, I picked up my phone and messaged Healer Ishaan Simmons: "I’m ready for the ritual to reconnect with my wolf."