Until one day, everything unraveled.
A photograph arrived on my phone—a picture of Kingsley , my mate, standing in the forest. The scene was bathed in silver moonlight, but his face wasn’t what caught my attention. His lips were pressed against another woman’s, their bodies close, their connection unmistakable. Her face was obscured by shadows, but I knew one thing with certainty—she wasn’t me.
My stomach churned. It wasn’t just the kiss. It was what it meant. Kingsley was bonded to me, bound by the moon and our shared promise. Infidelity among werewolves wasn’t just betrayal—it was a fracture in our very souls.
Moments later, my phone buzzed in my hand. His name lit up the screen: Kingsley —Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack.
“Honey,” he began, his voice warm, dripping with charm that once comforted me but now felt hollow. “I know I’ve been distant lately. I wanted to make it up to you for missing our Mates Under the Moon anniversary. I’ve prepared something special.”
My lips curled into a bitter smile. "That’s thoughtful of you,” I replied evenly, masking the storm in my chest. “It’s perfect, really. I’ve got a surprise for you too.”
He paused, surprised. “Really? That’s amazing! You’ve always been so thoughtful, sweetheart. I don’t deserve you.”
No, you don’t.
The moment the call ended, I tucked the folded Declaration of Relinquishment into an envelope. It was no ordinary letter—it signified my intent to divorce him and renounce my title as Luna of the Crescent Moon Pack. Without a Luna, Kingsley ’s claim to power as Alpha would weaken, his pack’s strength diminishing in the eyes of the council.
I thought of the vow we had made under the full moon, the promises whispered between us on the night our bond was forged. It felt like a lifetime ago. Now, the bond felt like chains, rusted and brittle.
That evening, Kingsley invited me to attend the Unipack Assembly, a prestigious gathering where Alphas and their Lunas strengthened alliances and maintained inter-pack relations. The event, steeped in tradition, was meant to showcase unity. Yet, I knew the truth—our bond had long since fractured.
When I arrived, the grand hall was alive with chatter, the glow of moonlight filtering through the glass ceiling. Kingsley greeted me with a warm smile, his hand outstretched. “Luna,” he said smoothly, his voice carrying over the crowd. He led me into the room as though we were the perfect pair, his grip firm but distant.
As we mingled with the crowd, I noticed a young woman standing off to the side—Marissa, the Omega who had grown increasingly close to Kingsley. Though she kept her distance, her eyes flickered toward him, filled with an emotion that tightened my chest.
Kingsley, ever the charismatic leader, called for the room’s attention. “Tonight, I celebrate the woman who has stood by me through every storm,” he declared. He presented a delicate moonstone necklace, fastening it around my neck. “To my Luna—my eternal partner.”
The crowd erupted in applause, but the weight of the necklace felt suffocating. As the cheers echoed around us, I whispered, “You forgot the tenth anniversary.”
His expression faltered for a brief moment before he masked it with a laugh. “Don’t be silly. Of course, I remember. It’s a decade of us.”
I didn’t reply, the moment stretching uncomfortably as the crowd resumed their chatter.
Later, as we posed for photos, I retrieved an envelope from my bag. “I have something for you, too,” I said softly, handing it to him.
His brow lifted in curiosity. “What’s this?”
“Something special,” I replied, my tone even. “Open it next week.”
He smiled, tucking the envelope into his pocket without a second thought. “You always know how to make things memorable,” he said.
So do you, Kingsley.
As the night wore on, the crowd thinned, and I watched as Marissa slipped from the room, Kingsley’s eyes subtly following her. My chest ached, but I held my head high.
The envelope, a Declaration of Relinquishment, remained unopened in his jacket. By the time he read it, I’d be gone—no longer a pawn in his game of appearances.
Later that evening, as the assembly progressed, I excused myself to the washroom. The hallways of the assembly hall were quieter than the bustling main room, but the whispers of two voices drifted toward me from a side corridor.
“…did you see that necklace Kingsley gave her?” one voice said, giddy with envy. “It’s enchanted moonstone! It must have cost a fortune.”
“I know! It’s stunning. I can’t believe how lucky Luna is to have a mate like him.”
A sharp scoff interrupted them. “Lucky? Please. If only you knew the truth. That necklace is nothing more than a guilt offering.”
I froze, my hand resting on the cool stone of the hallway wall. I peered around the corner to see Marissa standing there, her arms crossed and her lips curled into a sly smirk.
“What do you mean?” one of the women asked, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
Marissa shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Let’s just say Kingsley ’s been spending a lot of time in the woods lately. And not with his Luna.”
My emotions bristled, anger and hurt rippling through me.
Marissa’s next words were even more chilling. “It’s only a matter of time before the bond breaks completely. Then the real Luna will take her place.”
The woman gasped, but I didn’t stick around to hear more. My heart raced as I hurried back to the main hall, my body restless, torn between heartbreak and fury.
As the assembly ended, Kingsley offered me his arm, guiding me toward the exit. But my mind was elsewhere, replaying Marissa’s words over and over.
The bond that held us together was fraying—not because of time or distance, but because of Kingsley ’s choices. The Moon Goddess blessed us with this bond, and he had defiled it. Worse, he was forging a new bond, one with a woman who had no right to stand where I once did.
But bonds could not be severed without consequence. The Moon Goddess didn’t forgive betrayal lightly, and neither would I.
As the moonlight bathed the forest around the assembly hall, I glanced at Kingsley , his face a mask of pride and power. He had no idea what was coming. The declaration in his pocket wasn’t just a letter; it was the beginning of his downfall.
The Moon may forgive, but I would not.
