“Evander, when will you sever the mate-bond with her? You swore it to me under the moon.”
“Soon, my flame. She is still mourning our daughter who returned to the Moon Mother.”
That was how I learned the truth.
My mate.
The Alpha everyone feared.
The ruler of the Blackfang Territory, who once swore his life and soul to me, was sharing his heat with his beta’s sister.
The sleeping den.
The stone couch.
Even beside the offerings he prepared for our bond anniversary.
And when I faced him?
He looked at me calmly, as if nothing had shattered. He slid a bracelet carved with moon-diamonds onto my wrist and said softly, “Happy bond-day, my Luna.”
To the packs, Alpha Evander was flawless.
To me?
He was a traitor.
So I chose my path.
Thirteen nights. That was all I needed. When the Moon Council sealed my travel sigil, I would be gone.
“Ivara, you are my only true Luna.”
“If I ever betray you, may the Moon strike me down.”
Strange words, spoken while his fur still carried her scent.
Six moons later, he found me.
His eyes burned with rage. “Ivara! You are my bound mate! How could you lie with another?”
I only smiled—soft, sharp, unbroken.
“I was never owned by you. You only borrowed my soul until you crushed it.”
——
My mate took another woman into his den.
Not once. Not twice. But many times.
He brought her into our territory, into my home. The sleeping stone, the hearth couch, even the kitchen altar. He said his heart was mine, but his wolf chose otherwise.
I did not imagine it.
I heard it.
“Evander, when will you break the bond with her? You promised me.”
“Not yet, my flame. She is still grieving our daughter’s death.”
“How pitiful,” the woman replied lightly. “A Luna like her… no wonder fate was cruel. Don’t worry. I’ll give you a strong pup soon. I’ll carry your heir.”
“I expect nothing less.”
“Tell me honestly,” she asked. “Do you truly love her? Your Luna, Ivara?”
“Yes,” he said. “I love her.”
The Alpha of Blackfang Territory—the one whispered about across kingdoms, cold and merciless—still dared to speak of love while marking another woman.
Thirteen nights. That was all I required.
When the moon rose, I went to the Moon Council Hall and submitted my request.
“I wish to claim passage beyond the borders,” I said, placing my sigil scroll on the stone altar.
The Moon Scribe examined it, pressed her seal, and slid the token back.
“Your passage will be approved in thirteen nights, Luna. Wait for the moon’s blessing.”
I bowed and left.
Behind me, hushed voices followed.
“Did you hear? Luna Ivara requested passage.”
“She’s leaving Blackfang Territory?”
“But Alpha Evander treasures her more than anyone.”
“Seven years ago, their bond ceremony shook all the kingdoms. Three years ago, when she was nearly killed in that carriage fall, he gave her half his wolf-heart. Last year, when she vanished for an hour, he hunted the land mad with fear. And now… she’s leaving him?”
A quiet laugh escaped me. Empty. Cold.
Yes. Everyone knew how deeply Evander cherished me.
To the world, I was the only Luna he saw. He was ruthless to all others, feared even by rival Alphas. But to me, he was moonlight, jewels, and vows whispered in the dark.
I remembered how it began.
He saw me once at a gathering of packs and chose me. He sent enchanted gifts, rare beasts, even commanded a three-night moonfire display that lit the sky of every territory. When I once mentioned I liked chestnut cake, he crossed frozen lands through a blizzard to bring one to me. His cloak was stiff with ice, lips pale from cold, yet the cake was still warm when he placed it in my hands.
When my parents died in that ambush, he abandoned a kingdom alliance meeting and returned at once. I was shaking, empty, broken. He held me and whispered, “Ivara, I am here. I will never leave you.”
I believed him.
I gave him my heart. My wolf. My soul.
But love does not chain wolves like Evander.
Nine moons ago, temptation came—and he opened the den. His beta’s sister. He thought I would never know.
But lies rot.
We had just sent our two-year-old daughter back to the Moon Mother when I smelled it. Her scent on my couch. The broken stories. The truth.
I was finished.
Evander could charm the packs, rule the lands, and drown me in vows. But I would not stay.
I placed my moon-sealed papers into my satchel, summoned a carriage, and ordered it to take me to the Blackfang Estate.
The moment I entered the den, the air struck me. Sweet. Bitter. Heavy with scent. My stomach twisted.
Then I saw them.
Evander stood on a ladder, hanging silver runes for celebration. Beside him stood Adrielle Smith, smiling as if she already ruled the den.
The door closed behind me.
Evander froze, then descended slowly. In an instant, the feared Alpha vanished. His eyes softened. His voice warmed.
“Ivara, my Luna… why are you dressed so lightly? The night is cold. I thought you were with your companions. Why return early? I was preparing a surprise.”
Surprise.
My gaze lifted to his neck.
A fresh bite mark. Dark. Red.
My chest tightened. I said nothing.
Adrielle laughed softly and stepped closer. “Luna Ivara, the Alpha truly treasures you. He prepared all this for your bond anniversary.”
She pointed to the gifts stacked near the couch.
That was when I saw it.
A dark stain soaking into the fabric beneath them.
The scent.
The mark.
The truth.
So this was love?
He had taken her beside the offerings meant for me.
Pain burned through my chest, but I stayed silent.
Evander approached with a velvet box, opened it, and fastened a moon-diamond bracelet onto my wrist.
“Happy bond-day, my Luna. I prepared a candle feast. Just you and me.”
I shuddered and pulled away. “No. I feel unwell.”
Every breath near him felt like punishment.
He frowned at once, full of concern, full of act. He summoned healers, one after another, until they declared me fine. He ordered Cairos, his beta, to bring rare tonics. He even warmed moon-milk himself and waited until I drank it.
That night, exhaustion dragged me into sleep.
But when I woke in darkness, throat dry, I left my chamber for water.
And froze.
The door across the hall stood open.
Moonlight spilled inside.
Two shadows twisted together on the bed.
