(Rosienne’s POV)
"Your mother was the Alpha's secret lover. So what does that make you?"
Alpha Darius of the Redclaw Pack slipped the moonstone ring onto my finger before those cruel words left his mouth.
I froze beneath the silver glow of the packhouse lanterns. "Darius, what are you saying?"
"It means you're fit to become one too, sweetheart."
I stared at him in disbelief. His face carried no trace of a joke.
"I want you to stay by my side as my hidden mate."
My chest tightened.
"There is a new she wolf serving in the Moonfang Territory," he continued calmly. "She's clever, beautiful, and comes from a strong bloodline. I plan to make her my Luna."
"Then what am I?"
He forced a look of false pity onto his face.
"Your mother knew she was involved with a bonded Alpha and still stayed. Why can't you do the same?"
——
It took me a long moment to answer.
"My mother made her own choices. I will not live as someone's secret mate."
"Really?"
A mocking chuckle escaped him.
"Then our bond ends here."
"Fine. Then it's over."
Long ago, I swore beneath the Moon Goddess that I would never become the other woman. Not in this life.
But Darius never knew that vow.
He reached over and brushed my hair gently, just as he always did.
"Stop acting stubborn. Without me, how would you survive in these territories?"
"Your mother was shamed by every pack until she took her own life beneath the Blood Moon. Your father, a former Alpha, never claimed you. The only reason nobody dares mock you now is because of me."
A soft laugh escaped my lips.
Who said Darius was the reason nobody touched me?
I still had a family, Aunt Sorenna.
She ruled one of the largest northern werewolf territories across the sea. Even Alphas bowed their heads when speaking to her.
Last week, she found me and asked if I wanted to leave these kingdoms and live with her in her territory.
I refused because I could not leave Darius behind. But now...
I pulled out my crystal communicator and sent her a message.
[Auntie, I've decided. I'll go with you.]
Her reply came instantly. [Wonderful. My private aircraft will arrive in three days.]
It should have made me happy. Yet tears still rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them. My heart burned sharply, as if venomous claws had torn through it.
I had planned to tell Darius about Aunt Sorenna as a surprise.
But now, there was no reason anymore.
When Darius saw my tears, he assumed I could not bear losing him. He gently wiped beneath my eyes with his thumb.
"See? The moment I mention ending things, you cry like this. If I truly abandoned you, you'd completely fall apart."
"You won't gain anything by fighting with me. If you don't want to become alone again, then listen to me and behave."
I sniffled quietly and stayed silent. But Darius mistook my silence for obedience. He started the black wolf forged car, then suddenly paused.
"Oh, right. From now on, you sit in the back seat whenever you're with me. She said the seat beside me belongs only to her now. I gave her my word, and I don’t break promises."
He glanced at me proudly.
"You know the kind of Alpha I am. I promised to protect you for life, and even after taking another Luna, I'll still provide for you."
A pleased smile spread across his face.
"You probably haven't heard yet, but in three days, she and I will complete our moon binding ceremony. I spent months persuading her before she finally agreed. I cannot upset her now. She's far harder to comfort than you."
His eyes softened with affection.
"She calls herself a red moon rose. And if you love the flower, you must accept its thorns."
Darius was completely lost in thoughts of her.
But those thorns felt like they were stabbing into me instead.
A sharp pain suddenly pierced my palm. I lowered my gaze.
While removing my seatbelt, my hand had brushed against a silver earring left on the seat. Its pointed edge cut through my skin.
When I opened my hand, blood was already gathering in my palm.
Darius noticed immediately. His voice rose sharply.
"How can you be this careless?"
For one foolish second, I thought he was worried about me. I almost told him it was nothing, that this pain was far smaller than the ache inside my chest.
But his next words crushed me completely.
"That belongs to her. She's obsessed with cleanliness. If she finds out her favorite earring was stained with your blood, she'll be furious."
