The little wolf inside my womb stirred softly beneath the pull of the moon. I already knew my answer.
After leaving the Healing Hall, I returned alone to the Mooncrest Tower, the heart of the pack company Ronan and I built together.
I began reviewing the share ledgers, reorganizing trade routes, and dividing the warriors and resources under my command.
Anything I could settle, I resolved at once. Anything unfinished, I listed clearly with risks, numbers, and future plans, sealed them with my mark, and sent them to the wolf advocate Elder Ardena arranged for me.
The Valloren Alpha Kingdom holdings were not mine to claim. But this consortium was built by Ronan and me from nothing, claw and blood, and I would take what was rightfully mine.
Not for myself.
For the pup inside me.
Since I had decided she would not be born into the Valloren Alpha line, I had to prepare every path for her.
Her wolf name, her territory, her inheritance, her future, I would arrange each step.
Even if she did not grow within the Valloren stronghold, she would rise safe and free under the blessing of the moon, never living on another’s mercy.
After confirming the final scroll, my most loyal beta lowered his voice.
“Luna, about the project ‘Moonbond,’ do you want the gold settlement, or control of the realm itself?”
I did not answer at once. Instead, I opened the realm of Moonbond again.
When the familiar ancient kingdom appeared on the crystal screen, my fingers paused.
This old kingdom style world, from its lands and bloodlines to its fate paths, was created during the brightest years between Ronan and me.
Countless nights beneath the moon, rebuilding territories again and again, fighting side by side, those days were real.
I thought my heart had already grown cold.
Yet at that moment, a thin thread still tugged at me.
I entered the mate bond space once shared by Ronan and me, only to be expelled instantly.
The Luna title beside that space had already been changed, at some unknown time, to Marielle Evergrove.
Ronan clearly sensed my presence. He offered no explanation.
The next second, a transfer request for two million gold coins appeared. One of my minor streamers was broadcasting Moonbond and needed a proper background.
Let me use the mate territory for now.
He truly knew how to borrow. In a single breath, he claimed the secret den we spent more than half a year building.
I logged out immediately. Then I looked at my beta.
“I want Moonbond itself.”
And I wanted full authority.
I would not allow Ronan and another she wolf to stain the world we created.
During the next two days, I forced my mind away from Ronan. Yet he appeared everywhere. Inside the realm, Ronan and that streamer, Marielle, hunted side by side.
Her chamber remained open nearly all day. The titles grew more intimate each time, and her viewers increased rapidly.
I never entered.
Still, others kept sending me images by accident.
The newest image showed Ronan igniting moonfire blossoms inside her stream. He lit them for over an hour just to celebrate her winning first place in a duel ranking.
I gave a faint smile and blocked the sender, then lowered my head to arrange the rites for my mother’s death memorial.
The pack whispered that Marielle was the she wolf who had stayed beside Ronan the longest.
They guessed whether she would one day take my place as Luna of Valloren. But no one noticed that I no longer wished to fight for the title of Luna Valloren.
On my mother’s death anniversary, I dressed in pure black, a white mourning bloom pinned to my chest, standing in the center of the great hall.
The guests wore solemn expressions, speaking in hushed tones. After offering condolences, they nodded respectfully to me.
Everything should have remained quiet and dignified.
Until, as I instructed the servants to guide the guests to their seats, a deliberately softened yet sharp voice sounded from the doorway.
“Oh… why is everyone dressed in black?”
I raised my head.
Ronan stood at the entrance of the Alpha stronghold. Behind him stood a woman dressed in bright red, heavy makeup on her face, curled hair falling over her shoulders.
She leaned forward slightly, eyes scanning the hall, finally landing on my mother’s memorial portrait beneath the silver moon crest.
“Ah… today… someone passed?”
Then she seemed to realize her mistake. She pulled a red blossom from her hair and stepped toward the memorial altar.
“Sorry, I did not know. May I place this flower here?”
As her hand reached toward my mother’s shrine, the blood in my veins turned to ice. Instinct almost drove me to shove her away.
“Get out. Who allowed you to step into this territory?”
She stumbled backward, nearly falling, but Ronan caught her.
I stared at him, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay calm.
“Ronan, did I not warn you never to bring those low born she wolves into this pack hall to defile it? And today is my mother’s death anniversary.”
The hall fell silent. All eyes turned toward Marielle.
She clearly had not expected me to push her away. She stared at me blankly for a moment, then her eyes filled with tears as if summoned by magic.
“I did not mean to cause trouble. It is my birthday today, so I wore red to bring myself luck.
I truly did not know it was your mother’s memorial. I only came because Alpha Ronan asked me to return with him.”
Her voice weakened until she leaned into Ronan’s chest, as though deeply wronged.
Ronan’s face darkened like a storm over the northern mountains. He lowered his head first, checking her carefully, his tone softening.
“Did she frighten you?”
Marielle shook her head, then nodded, tears falling faster, still clinging to him.
“I am fine.”
Only then did Ronan lift his head and look at me. His eyes were cold, empty of warmth.
“Valea, I thought you had finally grown wiser. I did not expect you to behave like this.”
“Your mother has been gone for many years. I only learned today that her memorial day shares the same date as Marielle’s birth celebration.”
“I brought her here because I believed a little joy might ease the sorrow of this day. I have done nothing wrong. Yet you are upset over even this? So immature.”
