Chapter 2 · When the Alpha Chose His Pack Over His Mate

Rowen had nothing more to say as he followed me out the door.

The distance from the inner courtyard to the gate felt like an eternity…

I had stood by Rowen’s side as he rose from a struggling Beta to become the Alpha of his pack.

Every detail of the pack’s affairs, I had managed with care.

To those above, I showed respect; to those below, I offered kindness.

Liliana, his mother, had treated me like her own daughter.

If she hadn’t passed away two years ago, she would have shielded me from this scene, forcing Rowen to kneel in the pack’s sacred grounds as punishment.

I missed her deeply.

I missed the herbal tea she used to brew for me during pack gatherings.

I missed her gentle reminders not to strain myself during pack training.

I missed how she defended me when others whispered about my inability to awaken my inner wolf.

Even in her frail state, she stood up for me: “What my daughter-in-law does is none of your concern!”

“Awakening one’s wolf is a matter of fate, not just effort. What are you trying to achieve with your gossip?”

I missed how, before she left this world, she whispered in Rowen’s ear, urging him to treat me well.

Sadly, her wish remained unfulfilled.

……

The pack members had always respected me.

Now, as I prepared to leave, they gathered in the courtyard, hesitating, unsure if they should approach to say goodbye.

I calmly told them to return to their duties.

Rowen was a stickler for rules, and I didn’t want them to face punishment on my account.

After I left, Sky—the noble Beta’s heir who had been rejected by the Northern Pack’s Alpha heir—would take my place as the pack’s Luna.

They needed to earn her favor to secure their positions in the pack.

Compared to my humble origins, Sky’s status, even tarnished, carried an air of nobility.

As Alpha, Rowen needed a Luna who could bring prestige and strength to the pack.

In that regard, I was no match for Sky.

Being replaced was inevitable.

Still, the situation was more absurd than I had imagined.

Even if it wasn’t Sky’s fault, being rejected by the Northern Pack after two years had damaged her reputation.

For a female werewolf, all she desired was a stable mate and a place in the pack.

When the news reached our pack, Rowen became restless.

I could tell he pitied her.

He never said it outright.

But he had already written the rejection letter and hidden it in the drawer of his desk.

I found it by accident while organizing his papers.

I quietly placed it back and continued with my work as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, I revisited every memory of our journey together.

I couldn’t find any evidence that Rowen didn’t love me.

He had been a considerate mate,

sneaking in the silver pendant I’d admired for my birthday,

staying by my side when I was unwell,

and always bringing me little gifts he thought would make me smile.

……

But if this was love, why did I lose my place the moment she returned, even before she set foot in our territory?

Chapter 2

Rowen had nothing more to say as he followed me out the door.

The distance from the inner courtyard to the gate felt like an eternity…

I had stood by Rowen’s side as he rose from a struggling Beta to become the Alpha of his pack.

Every detail of the pack’s affairs, I had managed with care.

To those above, I showed respect; to those below, I offered kindness.

Liliana, his mother, had treated me like her own daughter.

If she hadn’t passed away two years ago, she would have shielded me from this scene, forcing Rowen to kneel in the pack’s sacred grounds as punishment.

I missed her deeply.

I missed the herbal tea she used to brew for me during pack gatherings.

I missed her gentle reminders not to strain myself during pack training.

I missed how she defended me when others whispered about my inability to awaken my inner wolf.

Even in her frail state, she stood up for me: “What my daughter-in-law does is none of your concern!”

“Awakening one’s wolf is a matter of fate, not just effort. What are you trying to achieve with your gossip?”

I missed how, before she left this world, she whispered in Rowen’s ear, urging him to treat me well.

Sadly, her wish remained unfulfilled.

……

The pack members had always respected me.

Now, as I prepared to leave, they gathered in the courtyard, hesitating, unsure if they should approach to say goodbye.

I calmly told them to return to their duties.

Rowen was a stickler for rules, and I didn’t want them to face punishment on my account.

After I left, Sky—the noble Beta’s heir who had been rejected by the Northern Pack’s Alpha heir—would take my place as the pack’s Luna.

They needed to earn her favor to secure their positions in the pack.

Compared to my humble origins, Sky’s status, even tarnished, carried an air of nobility.

As Alpha, Rowen needed a Luna who could bring prestige and strength to the pack.

In that regard, I was no match for Sky.

Being replaced was inevitable.

Still, the situation was more absurd than I had imagined.

Even if it wasn’t Sky’s fault, being rejected by the Northern Pack after two years had damaged her reputation.

For a female werewolf, all she desired was a stable mate and a place in the pack.

When the news reached our pack, Rowen became restless.

I could tell he pitied her.

He never said it outright.

But he had already written the rejection letter and hidden it in the drawer of his desk.

I found it by accident while organizing his papers.

I quietly placed it back and continued with my work as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, I revisited every memory of our journey together.

I couldn’t find any evidence that Rowen didn’t love me.

He had been a considerate mate,

sneaking in the silver pendant I’d admired for my birthday,

staying by my side when I was unwell,

and always bringing me little gifts he thought would make me smile.

……

But if this was love, why did I lose my place the moment she returned, even before she set foot in our territory?