Chapter 1

Tess' POV

It was the fifth anniversary of my mating bond with Harold.

Pack tradition required a sacrifice ritual today, where the Alpha and Luna shared the full moon blessing.

Days ago, he promised to finish pack business early and join me.

But when I reached the central altar, another she-wolf stood beside Harold.

It was Shirley, the low-ranking omega who worked as his secretary. She wore a silver-trimmed gown, surrounded by werewolves near the bonfire.

Under the eyes of the entire pack, she deliberately held up a Moonflower honey cake.

Her voice was cheesy, "Alpha Harold gave me this full moon gift himself... it tastes even sweeter than my heat scent."

Harold gently pulled her closer, gazing down at her with tenderness.

A crowd of high-ranking pack members fawned over them, nodding eagerly.

I was the rightful Luna, yet I was shoved to the outside, feeling like an outsider.

Fighting the sharp ache in my belly, I controlled my breath.

I spoke clearly, "Shirley, you're a low-ranking omega. Watch your words and your position."

The wolves in front of me turned, parting a path between us.

Shirley froze, then lifted her chin, her face showing a spoiled arrogance.

"I'm only accepting Alpha Harold's gift."

Harold spun around and glared at me, shielding Shirley like she was a treasure.

He kept his voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear, "Tess, why are you humiliating Shirley in public? My tolerance is not a license for you to run wild!"

I tried to explain, but a coppery taste flooded my throat. The pain was too sharp for me to speak.

Harold didn't give me the chance. "Go home. Now."

He publicly dismissed me.

I froze. My wolf, Belle, snarled inside me. Disgust, humiliation, and fury flooded in at once.

I struggled to steady my breath.

My voice was still weak, "Harold... at least let me speak. I'm not targeting her. As the Luna, I have a duty to maintain pack order."

Before I finished, Harold’s anger crashed down.

"Shut up. Go home immediately."

In front of the entire pack, he made it sound like a final decree.

I was stunned. My chest ached dully. Belle let out a low whimper inside me.

Every pack member's eyes were on me—some shocked, some pitying, some outright enjoying it.

I looked at him, my breath trembling, but I forced myself to stand tall.

"You're scolding your Luna at a full moon ritual, all for a low-ranking omega. You trust her that much?"

My voice was quiet, but the air instantly tightened.

Harold snapped his head up. Savage gold flashed in his eyes.

"Tess, I won't say it again."

I managed a thin, bitter smile.

"I only wanted to maintain our dignity. But now I see I'm the only one who cares."

With that, I walked away.

As I reached the pack border, the communal mind link was pierced by a soft, deliberately amplified, syrupy voice—the omega.

"Alpha Harold just personally gave me a Silver Moon necklace to make up for things. Only high-ranking wolves get these."

Her tone was thick with spoiled, needy affection.

"Alpha Harold told me not to be afraid. He'd stand up for me."

"Was Luna Tess being so loud just now because she's jealous?"

Whispers and snickers rippled through the mind link.

Fighting the stabbing pain in my gut, I answered calmly, "Your behavior crossed the line. The gift is from Alpha Harold, but you have no right to challenge pack order here."

She paused, then quickly switched to a whiny, pitiful tone, "I—I wasn't challenging anyone... I just wanted to share my happiness... Did you misunderstand me, Luna Tess?"

I tried to reply, but the mind link only gave me a static buzz.

It wasn't a system glitch. I had been blocked.

In the entire pack, only the Alpha could block the Luna. Today, for some simple omega, he stripped me of my voice and let her slander me.

Maybe he hadn't cared about this mating bond for a long time. It was pathetic that I still hoped he remembered our anniversary.

Clutching the subtle ache in my lower abdomen, I walked slowly home.

Harold arrived late that night. I had just finished cleaning up a table full of cold food.

It had only been three days since I lost the pup, and I'd demanded the doctors release me early just to spend our anniversary with him. Now, the whole thing felt absurd.

He saw the bare table. His brow instantly darkened.

"No dinner prepared tonight?"

I nodded lightly, not looking at him.

"Didn't you already eat with your dear one?"

His face turned instantly grim. "Tess, watch your tone."

I stayed silent.

He handed me a box. "This is for you. I didn't forget our anniversary."

I opened it and froze. Inside was a piece of ruined Moonflower honey cake. The spot where berries should have been was crudely scooped out.

Someone had clearly taken a bite. He was giving me another wolf's leftovers from a ritual?

A wave of intense nausea rolled through my stomach.

"It's contaminated with another wolf's scent. I don't want it."

He paused, ready to lash out, when his phone screen lit up.

He glanced down. A gentle smile touched his lips.

I didn't need to guess who it was.

"Sure, I'm going out now to get you some other food. Just stop being dramatic."

He turned to leave. Watching his back, my heart sank completely.

"Wait."

I leaned weakly against the wall. "Take me to the pharmacy, too."

He snapped his head back, furious, like I'd stepped on his tail.

"Are you trying to buy medicine or track me? When do you ever need to go yourself?"