Stephanie’s POV
Today was supposed to be mine.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the fall of my dress with careful hands. The fabric draped elegantly over my body, soft yet structured, chosen not just for appearance but for presence.
The reflection staring back at me looked composed. But I knew better. Because beneath the surface, everything was already crumbling.
I inhaled slowly, my hand drifting down to rest over my stomach.
“We’re almost there,” I whispered softly. “Just a little longer.”
Today wasn’t just the official launch of the platform. It was supposed to be the day I reclaimed something. My name. My effort.
I turned away from the mirror, reaching for my bag—
And that’s when I saw it. An envelope. Placed neatly on the bed.
My steps slowed as I approached it, a strange heaviness settling in my chest.
I already knew what it was. Still, I picked it up. Opened it. Inside were the papers. The divorce documents. And the formal notice of my resignation as Luna of the Foreshadow Pack.
My fingers traced the edge of the paper, the weight of it grounding me.
This was it. No turning back. No more hesitation.
I slid the documents back into the envelope and placed it carefully inside my bag.
Then I straightened.
“It ends today,” I murmured.
---
The company building stood tall and imposing, its glass exterior reflecting the morning light.
For a moment, I paused at the entrance.
Memories flickered through my mind.
Late nights. Endless discussions. Ideas scribbled across papers. This place… wasn’t just his. It was mine too.
Or at least—It was supposed to be.
I stepped inside. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, employees moving quickly, preparing for the launch event. Screens displayed the platform’s interface, polished and refined.
My creation. Or what used to feel like it.
I didn’t linger. My steps carried me straight to the top floor. To his office.
I knocked once before opening the door. And there she was. Faye.
Sitting comfortably on the sofa, her phone held up as she smiled brightly at the screen.
“Oh, Luna!” she greeted cheerfully, as if we were friends. “Good morning!”
The word Luna felt almost mocking now.
Her camera tilted slightly, catching me in the frame.
“She’s here too,” she added lightly to her viewers.
Streaming. In his office. Of course she was.
I didn’t respond. My gaze shifted to Alpha Cain, who sat behind his desk, reviewing something casually.
“I need your signature,” I said, walking toward him.
He barely looked up. “What is it?”
“Just some documents,” I replied smoothly, placing the envelope in front of him. “Company-related.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie. In a way… it was.
He hummed in acknowledgment, already reaching for a pen.
“Leave it there.”
He didn’t even ask. Didn’t even check. Didn’t even glance at the contents.
That was how much he trusted me. Or maybe—That was how little he cared.
The pen moved swiftly across the paper. One signature. Then another. Then another.
Just like that. Years of marriage. My title. My place in this pack. Gone.
Signed away in less than a minute.
“There,” he said, sliding the documents back toward me. “Done.”
I picked them up carefully, my hands steady despite everything.
“Thank you.”
He finally looked at me then.
“Stay,” he said. “We’ll have lunch after this.”
Faye perked up at that, her smile widening.
“Yes, let’s eat together!” she chimed in sweetly.
I met his gaze.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Expectation. Control.
“I’m not feeling well,” I said calmly.
His brows furrowed slightly.
“Then I’ll have someone bring you medicine.”
“I’ll manage,” I replied.
And before he could say anything else, I turned and walked away.
The hallway felt quieter this time. Or maybe it was just me. I stopped near a large window, the city stretching out below.
Then my hand moved to my stomach again.
“Just a little longer,” I whispered. “I promise… I’ll give you a better life.”
I opened my bag, intending to place the documents securely inside. But my fingers brushed against something else.
The sealed letter. I had almost forgotten. Carefully, I pulled it out. This time, I opened it.
Inside was a recommendation. My name written clearly. Approval for entry into the Direwolf Pack.
A small slip of paper fell from the envelope.
A number. I stared at it for a moment before pulling out my phone.
My fingers hesitated briefly. Then I dialed. The line rang once. Twice.
Then, it connected.
“Who is this?”
The voice was deep.
“My name is Stephanie,” I said quietly.
There was a brief pause.
“I see.”
The tone shifted slightly. Recognition.
“Elder Elisse mentioned you.”
My grip tightened slightly around the phone.
“Yes.”
“Do you need someone to pick you up?” he asked directly. Straightforward.
I glanced at the time.
“Not yet,” I said. “It will be later tonight.”
Another pause.
“After the event,” I added.
“I understand,” he replied. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
Something about his voice felt… steady. Reliable.
“Thank you.”
“We’ll be waiting.”
The line went dead. I lowered the phone slowly.
The event hall was filled to capacity. Lights. Cameras. Energy. Everything felt grand. Important.
I sat in my assigned seat, my hands resting over the speech I had prepared.
Pages filled with words. Ideas. Acknowledgments. Everything I had worked for. Everything I wanted to say.
The MC stepped onto the stage, smiling brightly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us for this monumental launch!”
Applause filled the room. My heart began to beat faster. This was it.
“At this time, we would like to invite the visionary behind the success of this new developed platform…”
I straightened slightly.
“…Alpha Cain!”
The applause grew louder. My chest tightened.
And then—
“And of course, the face of our platform…”
A pause. A smile.
“Faye!”
The world seemed to go silent. I didn’t move. As they walked onto the stage together. As if it had always been meant to be them.
Faye took the microphone first, her smile radiant.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “I’m truly honored to be the face of such an incredible social media platform.”
She looked at Alpha Cain.
“And I want to thank Alpha Cain for believing in me.”
More applause. Alpha Cain stepped forward, taking the microphone.
“This platform wouldn’t be what it is today without the right exposure,” he said smoothly. “Faye’s contribution to its popularity has been… exceptional.”
The words echoed in my ears. Exceptional.
“The company will cherish her,” he continued, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at her, “for life.”
Something inside me went completely still.
My fingers slowly tightened around the papers in my hand. The speech. My speech. The words I spent nights writing. The ideas I poured my heart into.
All of it… Discarded. Just like that.
I lowered my gaze. The ink blurred slightly.
I didn’t realize I was gripping the pages too tightly until they crumpled in my hands.
Around me, whispers spread. Phones lifted. Cameras turned.
I could feel it. The pity. The judgment. The silent labeling. The cast-away Luna.
I inhaled slowly. Then exhaled.
And for the first time… It didn’t hurt as much as I expected. Because I already knew. This was never mine anymore.
The event ended in celebration. Laughter. Congratulations. Endless praise directed at them.
I remained seated until the crowd began to thin.
And then—
“Stephanie.”
I looked up. Alpha Cain stood in front of me.
“What happened?” I asked quietly. “Why wasn’t I called on stage?”
He frowned slightly, as if the question itself was unnecessary.
“What for?” The words were simple.
“You gave some ideas,” he continued. “But that’s small compared to what Faye and I did in terms of distribution and promotion.”
Small. My chest tightened.
“Don’t worry,” he added, almost dismissively. “Your earnings will still be good.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“After all… you’re still my Luna.”
The words felt like mockery. Like a title stripped of all meaning.
I looked at him. Really looked at him.
And for the first time—I felt nothing at all.
“Congratulations,” I said softly.
Then I stood up. And walked away.
The night air was cool against my skin. The noise from inside faded as I stepped further away from the building.
Each step felt lighter. Freer.
Until… I stopped. Because someone was standing there.
A man. Tall. Broad-shouldered. His presence alone commanded attention. And when my eyes met his… My breath caught. He was… striking.
And yet—
There was something about him that made my wolf stir. Something instinctive. Something undeniable.
He took a step forward. His gaze steady on mine.
“Stephanie,” he said.
My name sounded different coming from him. Like it meant something.
“I’ve been waiting.”
