For eight long years, I harbored a secret relationship with Ronan Nightshade, the Alpha of the powerful Shadowclaw Pack—and my best friend’s older brother.
In public, Ronan treated me like just another low-ranking pack member, barely sparing me a glance. But in private, under the glow of the blood moon, he whispered promises of forever, his golden wolf eyes soft with love. He marked me with his touch, and I foolishly thought I held his heart.
One fateful evening, while helping prepare for the annual Luna Ceremony, I stumbled across something extraordinary—a handcrafted moonstone pendant etched with sacred runes, the kind reserved for a Luna’s marking. My heart raced. Ronan had chosen me as his mate!
Excitement coursed through me, and I followed him to the pack’s sacred clearing, eager to hear him speak the words that would bind us for life. But as I reached the edge of the clearing, my blood turned to ice.
There he was, kneeling before Violet Frost, a she-wolf who bore an uncanny resemblance to me. Tears glistened in his amber eyes as he pressed the moonstone pendant to her palm and vowed to her, “Violet, you are my true mate. My only one in this lifetime.”
My breath hitched, but I didn’t cry—until his Beta’s taunting words reached my ears. “Finally, Alpha, your real Luna has returned. What about the stand-in omega you’ve been keeping warm at night?”
Ronan exhaled a long, smoky breath, his tone cold and calculating. “Ayla? She’s nothing but a substitute. The poor girl worships me. She won’t survive without me, so I’ll let her down gently—when the time is right.”
I stumbled back, my wolf whimpering in agony. I clutched my chest, where his phantom touch burned like betrayal. Swallowing my pride, I sent a message to my father. “Father, I’ll accept the bond with the Crescent Fang heir.”
It was pure coincidence—or cruel irony—that Ronan’s mating ceremony fell on the same night I registered my own union with a distant Alpha. When I posted the ceremonial photo, marking myself as claimed, I heard later that Ronan’s face had paled instantly.
After confirming the arranged bond with Luke Blackthorn, the Crescent Fang new Alpha, I returned to the Shadowclaw Packhouse to gather my things. I steeled myself, trying to shove thoughts of Ronan’s betrayal deep into my mind.
But as I stuffed my belongings into a bag, the door swung open. Ronan stormed in, his face filled with an intensity I’d never seen before. His wolf loomed close to the surface, golden eyes blazing.
“Ayla,” he growled, his voice raw. “You know how much I love you, right?”
He reached for me, his claws brushing my arm, but the familiar scent of wild jasmine—the same perfume he’d given me for years—turned my stomach. I shoved him away, finally seeing the truth. He hadn’t loved me; he’d been chasing the ghost of Violet all along, using me as her shadow.
Before I could respond, a loud knock echoed through the quarter. The door opened, and Violet swept in, her presence commanding. She flung her arms around Ronan, her voice sweet and melodic. “Ronan! Why didn’t you wait for me? I thought we agreed to greet the pack together!”
She turned her icy blue gaze toward me, her smile as sharp as fangs. “Oh, you must be Ayla! Ronan told me how helpful you’ve been to him all these years. Thank you for looking after my mate.”
“Yes, this is the she-wolf I told you about,” Ronan said, “Ayla doesn’t have much, so I let her stay in the guest quarters here. It’s convenient for her to assist me with some pack business and… other tasks.”
“Ronan, why are you explaining this to me again? Do you think I’m some jealous pup who can’t tell the difference between duty and… distraction?” She laughs. “Besides, since Taryn and I share such a striking resemblance, it must feel like having me around when I’m not here. You must find it so comforting, Ronan. How considerate of her to play the part.”
She paused, her predatory grace making the room feel smaller. “In fact, I should thank you, Ayla. You’ve clearly been such a help to Ronan.”
“Speaking of help, Ayla, since you’re already familiar with the house—and with Ronan’s… needs—why don’t you do one last thing for me?” Her amber eyes narrowed, her wolf barely restrained. “Move my belongings into Ronan’s den. We’re to be mated soon, and it’s time everyone knows where I stand.”
