Knocking softly before stepping inside, Elaine entered the room, her heart light and overflowing. She could hardly contain the joy that bubbled within her, and it showed in every step she took, every smile that graced her lips. Happiness radiated from her like sunlight breaking through the clouds.
Inside sat the most important figures of the Silverblade Pack. At the center was Alpha Efrein, a man whose presence commanded both respect and loyalty with a single glance, and beside him was Luna Beatrice, serene and graceful, her strength woven into every word and every smile she offered.
Elaine’s gaze then found her parents. Her father, Beta Richard, standing tall and proud as always, and her mother, Lucille, whose warmth seemed to wrap the room in comfort. Her sister, Kathy, sat nearby, eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.
And finally, her eyes landed on him.
Michael.
Her fated mate.
The one who had claimed her heart with nothing more than a single look. The one who would someday lead as Alpha.
Even now, Elaine’s chest tightened at the memory of last night, when their bond had revealed itself at his welcome-back celebration. Michael had returned from two long years of training at the prestigious Alpha School, his strength and leadership sharpened, his future assured. Yet all of that faded to the background the moment their eyes met across the crowded room.
Elaine would never forget that instant—the moment the mate bond snapped into place. It was as if the world had gone quiet, leaving only the two of them, drawn together by a force older than time itself. She remembered the rush of heat in her veins, the spark of recognition that shot through her soul, and the overwhelming certainty that she belonged to him and he to her.
The feeling had been indescribable, yet unforgettable. The sudden sense of being complete, as though every piece of her life had fallen into place.
Her wolf had howled with joy inside her, pressing against her chest, demanding she move closer,touch him, choose him. And when Michael’s eyes locked with hers, she knew he felt the same.The future Alpha, her destined mate.Now, standing in the same room as her family and her leaders, with Michael only a few steps away, Elaine felt the bond pulsing softly between them, alive and unbreakable. It was more than happiness—it was destiny unfolding before her very eyes
The love at first sight, the protectiveness, possessiveness, and the overwhelming emotion of joy. Her wolf howl and purred of happiness for finding her fated. The one wolf that was created for her, the wolf that is only hers.
Michael closed the distance between them, his steady steps sending her heart into chaos. His scent enveloped her, strong and irresistible, making her mouth water and her wolf stir with longing.
She smiled through her racing heartbeat, unable to hold back. Throwing herself into his arms, she kissed him without hesitation. Sparks erupted across her body, tingling and pulsing in ways that made her breathless.
“Mate,” Elaine whispered, joy trembling in her voice. “My mate.”
His eyes burned into hers.
“Mate,” Michael returned, his voice low, rough with restraint. “We need to go somewhere quiet and talk.”
But Elaine already knew. She would go anywhere with him. Since she was a child, she had imagined this moment, dreamed of the bond, and promised herself that she would give her mate everything she was. The fact that he was the future Alpha only made her more determined to be the Luna he needed.
In his room, the air thickened, charged with something neither of them could deny. Before Michael could speak, she kissed him again—hungry, desperate.
The connection between them grew stronger, each moment together intensifying until it felt impossible to pull away. She is not ashamed. He is her mate, and she will make sure he knows that her heart belongs to him.She was told that male wolves, especially Alphas, are protective of their mates. They tend to show that their mate is cherished, and Elaine wanted Michael to know that he is the only one in her life.He drew her closer, his kiss lingering, tracing warmth across her skin. She gasped, clutching his shirt, her inexperience clashing with the instinctive knowledge that this was right. This was hers. This was them.
The moment started slow but then changed into something intense. Their hands felt like they had minds of their own.Michael’s face moved closer, and his fingers rested lightly at her sides. She had never been held like this, but Michael’s presence felt like warmth through her body, reaching deep inside. She placed her hands on his abs and chest, feeling his muscles and his heartbeat pounding beneath her palm. This made her want him more. She lowered her hands, then stopped, breath caught.
Michael pushed her to the bed, hold her hands above her head, and kissed her long and wet. He removed her dress and continued kissing her nuts, playing with his tongue, biting, and suking. While his hands continue their exploration until they reach her core.
“You’re too tight, my mate. Did you save yourself for me?” He asked.
“Tell me,” he said when she did not answer.
“Yes, only for you,” Elaine’s response. “I am yours and yours alone.”
“You’re mine,” Michael growled softly, his breath hot against her ear.
Elaine, heart pounding, whispered back, “Only yours. Always yours.”
The words broke something in him. His embrace deepened, claiming her with unspoken promises.
She melted against him, her body alive with need, every nerve singing in response to his presence
Elaine can see the happiness in Michael’s eyes at her declaration and continues staying close to him. His attention moved from her upper body down to her stomach, lingering briefly at her belly button before drifting lower. His focus remained there, gentle and attentive. While his fingers, in and out of her core. She can feel her core tightens, preparing for her first or'gаsm.
“Let go, mate. Give me all your first. Let's see how you come and let me taste it,” Michael said. “I can feel you center suking my fingers. Can see your cllt wet and needy. Let go, mate!”
So she did.
“Don't think I am done with you, mate.” Michael said then turn Elaine and entered her in one fluid motion.
Elaine gasped at the sudden closeness but felt complete. It likes having something that is dentine to her.
“I am sorry, mate, but I cannot wait any longer.” Michael said.
“I am yours,” Elaine whispered, her voice trembling with devotion. “Yours to do what you want. This is us. You can take me however you want, my mate.”
Her eyes never left his, and he could see the truth shining there. She meant every word. Her trust was complete, her surrender not from weakness but from the strength of the bond tying them together.
Michael’s breath caught at her declaration. The mate bond pulsed between them, alive and unyielding, wrapping around his heart like chains forged from destiny itself. He had dreamed of this moment, but hearing her words, seeing her so willing and open, ignited something fierce inside him.
Their bodies moved together, guided not by thought but by instinct, as though the bond itself controlled them. Michael gave all of himself to her—every ounce of strength, every drop of passion, every unspoken promise. Each motion deepened their connection, sealing it in ways words never could.
The sounds that filled the room were more than physical. They were the raw, unfiltered language of two souls finally finding their other half. Her soft cries, his low growls, the rhythm of their heartbeats—it was a song only mates could create, one of possession, devotion, and destiny colliding all at once.
Elaine clung to him, overwhelmed by the rush of emotions. Every movement of his body inside hers sent sparks flooding through her veins, each one carrying both pleasure and love.
She felt as though her heart would burst from the strength of it, from the sheer rightness of being with him.
“Michael…” she gasped, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes—not from pain, but from the weight of it all.
“You’re everything. My mate. My Alpha.”
Her words pushed him to the edge. He kissed her fiercely, claiming her mouth as his hands held her as though he would never let go. He couldn’t—he wouldn’t. She was his, and he was hers, bound by a force greater than either of them could ever fight.
And as they moved together, losing themselves in the fire of their bond, both knew that this night was not simply passion. It was the forging of something eternal.
But eternity? When someone intimately connected to Elaine comes between them, she'll know tonight was a mistake.
“You’re here, Elaine. Please, take a seat,” Alpha Efrein said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority that made the air feel heavier. “We have something to tell you.”
“Me too, Uncle. I have something to share to everyone.” Elaine’s voice carried an eager warmth, her words accompanied by a bright smile that naturally found its way to her mouth. Her eyes, however, were drawn to Michael.
For a moment, their gazes met. She expected him to smile back, to mirror her joy, but instead she caught something else flickering in his expression. His jaw tightened, and there was a shadow in his eyes—something like guilt, maybe even regret. Before she could be certain, he quickly looked away, leaving her with a faint sting of confusion.
Still, her happiness would not be dimmed, not tonight.
Elaine seemed like she was glowing, every part of her radiating joy. The bond she discovered last night had filled her heart to the brim. Her fated mate was Michael, the future Alpha of the Silverblade Pack. The man she had known her entire life now tied to her by the Moon Goddess herself. The thought alone sent a shiver of pride and excitement through her. She wanted nothing more than to shout it to the world.She had awakened that morning with her heart lighter than ever before. Her wolf purred with satisfaction, their bond whispering promises of a future filled with strength, love, and unity. For the first time, she seemed whole. Even though she had woken alone, Michael’s absence in her bed did not trouble her. She understood his role carried countless responsibilities. Perhaps he was preparing for the changes their bond would bring. He had not marked her yet, but she brushed it aside with understanding. Surely, he was waiting for the right moment—waiting for their official mating ceremony. That was the kind of man Michael was—responsible, patient, and honorable. Or so she believed.
As Elaine made her way through the pack house earlier that day, her heart had nearly burst with joy. Wolves she passed congratulated her warmly, smiles lighting their faces. Everyone had seen it the night before at the welcome-back celebration. How her wolf had leapt with recognition, how their bond had sparked in the air. It had been undeniable.
“Congratulations, Elaine!” One pack sister had said, hugging her tightly.
“You’ll make a perfect Luna!” Another had whispered with admiration.
Elaine had accepted each word with gratitude, her chest swelling with determination. Every blessing, every smile, every pat on her shoulder solidified the promise she had quietly made to herself: she would be the Luna this pack deserved. She would stand beside Michael, supporting him as Alpha, and serve Silverblade with all her strength.
Now, sitting in the Alpha’s office with her family and her destined mate, she was ready to share her joy officially. She could hardly wait for the words to leave her mouth, to declare that the Moon Goddess had bound her fate to Michael’s.
The only thing dimming the moment was that strange look in his eyes, but she told herself it was nothing. Soon, he would smile. Soon, everything would fall perfectly into place.
“Elaine,” Alpha Efrein’s voice was steady, but there was a heaviness to it, the kind that pressed against the walls of the room. His gaze lingered on her, almost apologetic. “We need to discuss what happened last night. We cannot approve your mating with Michael.”
Elaine blinked, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, she thought she had misheard him.
“What… what do you mean? Cannot approve?” Her voice cracked with disbelief, confusion spilling into every word. “He is my Goddess-given mate—my fated mate! Nothing has to be approved.”
Her eyes darted desperately to her parents, searching for comfort, for reassurance, for anything that would make sense of this nightmare. But her father’s face was grim, her mother’s gaze heavy with sorrow. They would not protect her.
Panic began to crawl its way up her chest. She turned to her sister, then to Michael. Her mate, the man who was supposed to be hers. Neither of them could meet her eyes. Michael’s jaw was tight, his shoulders stiff, while Kathy stared down ather hands, guilt radiating from her trembling hands.
“What is going on?” Elaine whispered, her voice trembling as the weight of the room crushed her.
It was Alpha Efrein who answered, his tone measured but unyielding. “Elaine, Kathy is pregnant with the future Alpha. She has been training for years to be the Luna of this pack. She and Michael chose each other long ago, as chosen mates.”
His words fell like stones, each one shattering Elaine’s fragile hope. “You know our law. If the future Alpha does not find his fated mate before his thirtieth birthday, he is allowed to choose a Luna. Michael made his choice.”
Elaine’s breath came fast, her chest heaving.
“But… but he found me!” Her voice rose, sharp and broken. “I am his mate!”
She stood, her hands clenching into fists as her wolf howled inside her chest.
Her words were met with silence. No one moved. No one spoke. The truth hung in the air like a cruel noose.
“No one knows that Kathy has been training to be Luna,” Elaine pressed on, desperation tightening her throat. “No one in this pack thought Michael already had a chosen mate. You hid it. You kept it from me!”
Efrein’s face was grave. “We kept it a secret in case Michael found his fated mate. But Kathy is already with child. We cannot allow the next Alpha to be born illegitimate. This decision has already been made.”
It was her father who spoke next, his voice low but firm, each word another betrayal. “Elaine… this is the way it must be. The future of the pack cannot be compromised. Kathy will be Luna.”
Elaine’s world cracked. Every face in the room blurred as her eyes burned with tears she refused to let fall.
They had all chosen. Her parents. Her Alpha and Luna. Her sister. Even him.
She was utterly, devastatingly alone.
“Sister—” Kathy’s voice was small, trembling as she tried to speak. But she stopped the moment she saw Elaine’s face. The fury. The heartbreak. The silent demand: Do not speak to me.
Elaine’s head snapped toward Michael, her voice breaking with equal parts love and rage. “And what are your thoughts on this, mate?”
Michael finally looked at her, his eyes hard though his voice softened with regret. “I know this is painful for you. But I cannot let my heir be born illegitimate. I have to think of the pack.”
Elaine’s chest ached so fiercely she thought it might split.
“You can claim your son or daughter as yours,” she said, her voice trembling with desperation. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to throw me away.”
The words she wanted to say—reject me, end us—burned on her tongue, but she held them back, terrified that once spoken, they would become irrevocable truth.
Michael’s jaw tightened. “Kathy has been preparing for this role for years. She’s trained to be Luna, and—”
“I can train!” Elaine cut him off sharply, her voice rising in a cry that cracked the silence. “I can learn, I can work harder than anyone. I can put in the hours, the sacrifice. Don’t say I can’t.”
But Michael’s face only hardened with finality. He shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry, Elaine. I cannot abandon Kathy. She will be my Luna. It is the best choice for the pack.”
“The best,” Elaine repeated, her voice hollow, breaking.
Just this morning, she had woken with joy in her heart, dreaming of being the best—the best Luna, the best mate, the best support for Michael. She had pictured a future where she was loved and honored, standing at his side.
But now, she realized, there was already someone else on that throne. Someone who had taken her place long before she even knew it.
The room spun around her, the voices of her family nothing but distant echoes. Betrayal cut into her deeper than any blade could.
Her whole world had collapsed.
The hurt coursing through Elaine’s chest was unbearable—raw, searing, a torment she would not wish upon even her worst enemy. It hollowed her out from the inside, leaving her gasping, as though every breath might shatter her further.
Her eyes, glossy with unshed tears, clung desperately to Michael’s face, silently pleading with him to take it back, to change his mind, to see her as she truly was—his fated mate, chosen by the Goddess herself. But the hardness in his eyes told her everything. His decision was made, resolute and cruel.
He had chosen Kathy, her own sister.
Elaine’s voice broke as she turned to her family, her last thread of hope dangling by a fragile thread.
“How about you?” she asked, her gaze moving from her father to her mother, searching, begging. “Do you agree to this?”
Her father’s shoulders sagged under the weight of her gaze. His tone was steady, but his words cut deeper than any blade. “We have to think of the pack, Elaine. Not just our family, but all of the wolves who depend on us. This… is bigger than us.”
Her mother’s eyes brimmed with sorrow, but her words struck like a hammer. “Your sister is pregnant, Elaine. There is a baby to think of as well.”
Elaine’s heart clenched so tightly she thought it might stop altogether. She turned to Kathy, desperate for her sister to deny it, to cling to sisterhood, to stand with her.
But Kathy’s eyes were shimmering pools of regret.
“I am so sorry this happened, sister,” Kathy whispered, her voice trembling. “I love you. I didn’t know Michael was your mate. If it weren’t for my pup, I would step aside… I truly would. But I can’t—not now.”
Each word was another blow driven deep into Elaine’s chest. The betrayal was unbearable. Her family—the ones who were supposed to protect her, to shield her from hurt—were now the very ones destroying her. And the worst part? They spoke as if their cruelty was duty, as if sacrificing her happiness was noble.Something inside Elaine hardened. She sensed her heart begin to freeze, as though her soul itself was retreating behind icy walls. She realized then, with bone-deep certainty, that she could never look at them the same way again. They weren’t her family anymore. They were the Beta family, loyal to the pack above all else.
The Alpha couple were just that—the Alpha and Luna, leaders, not protectors. And Michael… he was no longer her mate. He was simply the future Alpha, nothing more.
Drawing in a shaky, deliberate breath, Elaine forced herself to stillness. She would not let them see her hurt. They did not deserve it. None of them deserved her tears, her love, or her trust.
“So,” she said at last, her voice calm, almost detached, “what do you propose, Alpha?”
The entire room fell into a stunned silence. No shouting, no tears, no desperate begging, just an icy calmness none of them had ever heard from Elaine. It unsettled them deeply, because Elaine had never been cold. She had always been warmth and light, the spark that lifted others. Now, that spark was gone, buried beneath her broken heart.
Alpha Efrein cleared his throat, his expression grim.
“Michael and Kathy will have their mating ceremony next month,” he said slowly. “The pack already knows you are Michael’s fated mate. We need you to be present, Elaine. We need you to show support for their union. The pack must remain united.”
Elaine’s heart cracked again, each word another fracture. Not only did they want her to sacrifice her mate, her Goddess-given destiny—they wanted her to stand beside them, smiling, pretending to celebrate. They wanted her humiliation to become her duty.
“So,” she said softly, but with sharpness in her tone, “you want me to give up my mate, my Goddess-given mate… and be thankful for it?”
“That is not what I said!” Alpha Efrein shot back, frustration flickering in his eyes.
“It doesn’t matter,” Elaine replied, her voice sharp and unyielding now. “You can do whatever you want. I don’t matter in this pack anyway.”
“Don’t say that, sister,” Kathy pleaded, tears spilling freely down her cheeks. “That isn’t true.”
Elaine laughed bitterly, a hollow sound that chilled the room.
“Sister, please,” Kathy tried again, stepping forward. “We love you. We know you’re hurting, but we all must do what is right for the pack. I never wanted to be the cause of your hurt. I never wanted this, Elaine. But please, please understand.”
She reached out, trying to hold Elaine’s hand, her voice breaking as she whispered, “Please.”
But Elaine pulled back, drawing her hand away as though her sister’s touch was burning. The very sister she had once idolized, cherished, loved beyond measure—was now the source of her deepest agony. And Elaine could not bear it.
Her voice was steady, final. “I need to think. I need to be away from all of you.”
She turned on her heel, ignoring the chorus of voices calling her name, the desperate cries of her family trying to reach her. Their words, their apologies, their pleas. None of it mattered anymore.
She shut them out, sealed her heart, and with one final act of defiance, she slammed the door to her mind. The moment they tried to reach her through the mind-link, she blocked them all.
For the first time in her life, Elaine was truly alone.
Elaine ran—ran as though the very air around her was suffocating, as though the walls of her world were caving in. She didn’t care where her feet carried her. She only knew she had to escape. Away from their voices, away from their justifications, away from the betrayal that had shattered everything she believed in.
Her lungs burned, her chest heaved, but she didn’t stop until the familiar sound of rushing water reached her ears.
Her sanctuary.
The waterfall stood tall and untamed near the border of the territory, its steady roar drowning out the noise of the world. It was her safe place, the one corner of the packlands where no one followed, no one demanded, no one judged.
She stumbled toward it, her knees finally giving out beneath her as she collapsed onto the damp earth. Her hands dug into the soil, her body shaking violently, and at last, she let it out.
A raw, broken scream tore from her throat, echoing across the rocks and mingling with the thunder of the falls.
She screamed again, louder, until her voice cracked, until it felt like the sound itself might rip her apart.
Tears she had held back in that suffocating room now poured freely, unstoppable, spilling down her cheeks as relentlessly as the waterfall before her. The rushing water became the only witness to her hurt. its endless cascade mirroring the endless ache in her heart.
She wept for everything she had lost.
She wept for her family. The bond that had always defined her, the protectiveness of her father who once promised to keep her safe, the warmth of her mother who used to be her comfort, and the unconditional love of her sister who had always been her best friend. That bond was gone, severed cleanly and without mercy. What remained was only betrayal, duty spoken in cold voices, and the realization that her family had chosen the pack over her.
She wept for Michael—her mate. The man who was supposed to be her forever, her partner, her other half given by the Goddess herself. She wept for the stolen future she had once dared to dream of: the companionship, the partnership, the nights of laughter, and the pups she imagined they would raise together.
All of it, ripped away before it could even begin.
Her wolf howled inside her, keening with agony, mourning their mate in a voice that resonated deep into her bones. The sound was so piercing it nearly brought Elaine to her knees all over again.
'He did not abandon us,' her wolf whispered desperately. 'His wolf still wants us. It was Michael who chose this, not his wolf.'
But the words brought no comfort. They only deepened the wound. If it was Michael, the man, the leader, who made the choice, then it meant he had looked at her and decided she was not enough. Not even worth fighting for.
She remembered last night. The fire in his eyes when they had discovered they were mates, the warmth of his presence, the way their bodies had fit together like they were meant to. For a moment, she had believed in it, in them.
But now she understood the truth. That was why he had not marked her. TThat was why he had held back, why something had seemed restrained even in their passion.
He had already chosen Kathy. He had already decided to betray her.
A sob shook her shoulders. He hadn’t just rejected her. He had used her. Used her body, her heart, her trust, knowing full well he had no intention of staying. She had given him everything, and still it wasn’t enough.
And worst of all, everyone in that room had agreed.
Her father. Her mother. Her sister. The Alpha. The Luna. All of them had stood by silently, justifying it, as though her hurt was a fair price for the sake of the pack.
Her chest heaved, her breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. She curled forward, clutching her stomach as though she could physically hold herself together, as though her body might unravel completely if she let go.
But slowly—so slowly—the tears began to dry. The waterfall still roared, steady and indifferent, as if reminding her that the world would not stop for her pain. The night deepened around her, stars beginning to glimmer faintly above the trees.
She forced herself to sit straighter, though her body still trembled. She could not stay here, drowning in grief. If she remained in the pack house, surrounded by their lies and betrayal, she would wither. She would break beyond repair.
No, she needed a plan.
Her mind began to turn, shaky at first, but with growing determination. She could not live another day under the same roof as the Beta family. Every glance, every whispered word would suffocate her further. She could not watch Michael parade around with her sister, pretending nothing had happened.
She would not survive it.
But she could not leave the pack entirely. Not yet. Not until after the mating ceremony. They would force her to attend. She knew it, and if she vanished before, they would hunt her down. But afterward… afterward she could leave, and she would never return.
There was no one here worth staying for anymore.
Her mind drifted to a place she had once heard about, a half-forgotten structure at the far edge of the border. A house where wolves awaiting discipline used to be kept, abandoned now, its walls left to the elements. No one went there anymore. That was where she would go.
A month. That was all she had to endure. A month hidden away, alone, far from the eyes of those who betrayed her.
There, she wouldn’t have to plaster a smile, wouldn’t have to choke down her grief. She could be herself. Broken. Angry. Free. The only time she would need to pretend was when the Alpha summoned her presence. She would make those appearances minimal, bear them in silence, and then vanish again.
But that would require preparation. She would have to resign her position as the Beta’s secretary. The thought stung. It was the only role that had once made her feel useful, important. But she could no longer serve them, not after what they had done.
Hours slipped by as she sat at her sanctuary, the waterfall’s endless rhythm anchoring her as she pieced together the fragments of her plan. Only when the moon stood high and the night was thick around her did she notice how much time had passed.
The world was quiet now, save for the water and the faint whisper of wind in the trees.
Through the bond, she sensed the faint pressure of her family’s voices. Beta Richard, her mother Lucille, even Kathy, all trying to reach her, asking if she was safe. But her mind was locked down, sealed.
She would not let them in.
Not tonight.
Tonight was for mourning. Tonight was for her grief.
Tomorrow… tomorrow she would be stronger.
The following morning, as dawn stretched its pale light over the pack lands, Elaine made her way slowly back toward the pack house. Every step seemed heavier than the last, as though the earth itself tried to keep her from returning to the very people who had betrayed her. Her mind, however, was firm and clear.
She had made her decision.
Through the mind link, she reached out to the Alpha, Luna, the Beta family, and Michael. Her voice was steady, calm, but carried a weight that made them all pause. “I am ready to talk to all of you. We can meet at the Alpha’s office.”
Almost immediately, replies echoed back.
“We will be there,” came the unified response.
As Elaine walked closer to the pack house, she began to notice the whispers. At first faint, like a breeze, but then sharper, cutting at her with every word.
“Rejected mate…”
“Unqualified to be the Luna…”
“To think I congratulated her… she is not even worthy…”
Each word dug into her chest like claws. She lifted her head, trying to meet the eyes of her packmates, but what she saw made her stomach twist. Judgment. Disdain. Pity. As if every pair of eyes said the same thing without speaking: She is not enough. She will never be enough.
Elaine’s throat burned, her chest tightening, but she refused to let the tears fall.
Why? she asked herself again and again. What did I do to deserve this?
She had given her life to this pack. Her time, her strength, her love. She had been a good daughter, a good sister, always stepping in to help when others needed her. She had been reliable, loyal, and selfless. And yet… here she was, abandoned, cast aside as though she meant nothing.
The betrayal burned hotter than any flame. She thought she knew hurt before. But this, this hollowing rejection from the people she trusted most, carved deeper than any wound could.
By the time she reached the Alpha’s office, her resolve had hardened. She paused for a moment outside the heavy wooden door. Just yesterday, she had knocked on it with hope in her heart, hope for a future beside her fated mate, hope for the acceptance and love of her family. But today? Today, she carried nothing but the weight of betrayal and the ice that now shielded her heart.
She raised her hand and knocked.
“Come in,” Alpha Efrein’s voice called from inside.
Elaine pushed open the door. All of them were there.
The Alpha and Luna are seated in authority, the Beta and his wife are standing nearby, their daughter is beside Michael, her so-called replacement as the future Luna. Michael himself, the man who was supposed to have been her mate, stood with his arms crossed, avoiding her eyes.
Elaine’s steps were calm, measured. Her face betrayed nothing, her voice controlled as she spoke. “Alpha, I came here to discuss what you said yesterday. About me staying and supporting the mating ceremony of the future Alpha and Luna of this pack.”
Her tone was detached, as though she were speaking of someone else’s fate, a report she had no personal ties to.
“Elaine?” Her mother’s voice broke through, soft and trembling. Lucille’s eyes shone with concern. This… this was not her daughter. The warmth, the joy, the life that always radiated from Elaine was gone. What stood before her was a stranger—cold, distant, hollow.
Elaine caught the look of concern from each face in the room. But she didn’t waver. Their concern no longer reached her. It was too late.
“Please,” she said firmly, her words sharp as a blade. “Stop pretending. Stop with your false concern and your empty care. I am here to discuss your precious pack unity, not my feelings.”
Her sister stepped forward, her voice pleading. “Sister, how can you say that? How can you speak to Mom like that? We love you. You know we love you. How can you think that our love is fake?”
Elaine’s mouth curved into the faintest, bitter smile. She met her sister’s eyes, but her words were colder than ice. “I just spoke the truth, future Luna.”
The title cut like a blow. She did not call her sister or by her name, nor by the bond of family. No. Those ties had been severed in Elaine’s heart. To call them by name meant they were still hers, that she still belonged. But she did not belong here—not anymore.
Her sister flinched, her face twisting with hurt at the distance in Elaine’s words.
Michael finally spoke, stepping closer, his jaw tight. “Elaine, stop this. I know you’re hurting, but you cannot use that hurt as an excuse to wound others.”
Elaine turned her gaze on him, her expression unreadable. “I only speak the truth, future Alpha.”
The room fell into stunned silence. They all stared at her, unable to comprehend the change. This was not the Elaine they knew. Where was the warm-hearted, laughing girl who once lit up every room? Where was the loyal daughter, the gentle sister, the loving mate?
What stood before them was different. Someone forged in hurt and betrayal, a woman no longer blinded by love or trust.
And for the first time, they realized they might never see the old Elaine again.
“That is enough!” Alpha Efrein’s voice cut through the heavy silence of the office. His tone was sharp, commanding, yet beneath it lay a subtle urgency. He wanted control of this meeting before it spiraled further out of hand.
Later, he told himself, there would be time—time to speak with Elaine properly, to soothe her wounds, to remind her that she was loved. Later, there would be time to repair their broken bonds.
For now, however, the needs of the pack had to come first. The pack always came first. That was the way of things. The pack’s survival, the heir Kathy now carried, the stability of their future. That was the true priority.
Turning his gaze on Elaine, he spoke carefully, almost gently. “Elaine, you said you wanted to talk about Michael and Kathy’s mating ceremony. I know what we are asking of you is painful, but you must understand. Our hands are tied. Kathy is already pregnant with the future heir, and Michael chose her as his Luna long before he knew you were his mate. The timing was simply… unfortunate. You were away at college, far from the pack, and Michael was at the Alpha School. By the time he returned, by the time you crossed paths again, fate had already set its cruel joke in motion. It was not anyone’s fault. It is only… circumstances.”
Elaine’s lips twitched into something that wasn’t quite a smile. Her eyes, however, remained cold, unreadable.
“That is not what I came here to discuss, Alpha.” She said flatly.
Her refusal to acknowledge his explanation. His attempt to soften the blow by blaming timing was deliberate. To Elaine, his words sounded hollow, almost laughable. He was trying to dress betrayal as coincidence, abandonment as fate. But she knew the truth. The truth was brutal: the future Alpha did not wait for her. She wasn’t even worth waiting for. Not to Michael. Not to anyone in this room.
And Kathy? Her sister—the one they now all hailed as “future Luna”—had chosen desire over duty, selfishness over decency. She had opened herself without thought of what it might mean, without waiting for her own mate, without caring that Michael’s fated mate was still out there.
Elaine’s voice sharpened, her bitterness seeping through despite her attempt at composure. “I originally came here to discuss how to limit the fallout of this situation, to minimize the damage to the pack. But since everyone now knows the truth, there is no point in playing politics. Instead, I will make my demands—my compensation—for the humiliation and betrayal I’ve been forced to endure.”
The room went still.
“Demands?” Alpha Efrein repeated, his brows furrowing.
“Yes.” Elaine’s voice was unwavering. She stood straighter, her eyes locked onto his with quiet defiance. “My first demand is your approval for me to move out of the Beta household. I will relocate to the abandoned house at the far edge of the territory. Second, I resign from my position as the Beta secretary. I will no longer serve in that capacity. And lastly, I want all of you to limit your contact with me. Until the mating ceremony, I will remain here, as you ask, but I do not want unnecessary interactions. I want to be left alone.”
Her words dropped like stones into water, and the ripples of shock spread across the room.
The Beta female gasped, tears immediately welling in her eyes.
“Elaine…” She whispered, clutching her mate’s arm as though she could not stand. The Beta male held her close, his face stricken with anguish as his gaze shifted helplessly to his daughter.
Kathy—her future Luna—was crying openly now, sobbing into Michael’s chest as he held her, murmuring words of comfort. The sight of it twisted something inside Elaine. That display of tenderness, that comfort where had it been when she had cried? When she had been ripped apart, when she had been made to bleed for their unity? They had looked away then, but now? Now they rushed to soothe Kathy’s tears.
It burned.
“You are out of line, Elaine!” Alpha Efrein thundered, slamming his fist against his desk with such force the wood groaned. The sound echoed through the room like a blow.
Elaine did not flinch. Her gaze remained fixed on him, steady and unbroken.
“Not really, Alpha. These are the terms for my cooperation. You wanted me to pretend the Moon Goddess made a mistake, that she erred in giving me Michael as my mate. You wanted me to pretend that it was acceptable—no, necessary—for me to sacrifice my mate in the name of pack unity. Very well. I will play along with your narrative. But I will not do so without cost. This—” she gestured to herself, her calm, cold demeanor “—is the price. My payment is freedom from all of you. No ties. No connections. Nothing.”
Her words hit like a blade, slicing through every false assurance, every plea for understanding.
“Sister, stop! Please don’t say that!” Kathy sobbed, her voice breaking. She tore herself from Michael’s arms, reaching out toward Elaine as though she could pull her back from the edge. “I’m sorry. You don’t know how sorry I am for hurting you. Please, sister, don’t push us away! Please!”
Elaine’s eyes did not move to her sister. They stayed locked on the Alpha, unyielding.
“Elaine, don’t do this,” her mother’s voice cracked with desperation. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped forward, hands trembling. “We can still fix this, if only you will listen. You are not the only one hurting, don’t you see? We are your parents, we hurt for you too. Please… don’t let this separate us. We are still family.”
For just a heartbeat, Elaine’s eyes flickered. Her mother thought she saw it—the vulnerability, the ache beneath the ice. A glimmer of the daughter she had always known.
But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
“Family?” Elaine’s voice was sharp, ringing with a fury that came not from rage but from heartbreak. “This is not a family. A family protects each other. A family supports, uplifts, and sacrifices together. But what did you do? You did not protect me. You did not support me. You sacrificed me—your daughter—for the convenience of this pack. You chose them over me.”
Her gaze swept over the Alpha and Luna, the Beta and his mate, Michael and Kathy. One by one, she stripped them of their illusions.
“You, Alpha and Luna, live with your fated bond. No one ever asked you to give that up. You, Beta and your mate, live with yours as well. But when it came to me, it was easy, wasn’t it? To demand the impossible. To tear me from my fated mate and call it ‘duty.’ To silence me, to bury me, all for the unity of this pack. Tell me—where was that same sacrifice from any of you? Where was it?”
Her voice cracked, but she forced herself steady, her eyes like steel. “I will stay until the mating ceremony. That is the price you asked of me. But I will stay on my terms. And after that… I will never again call this pack, this house, or any of you my family.”
The finality of her words settled over the room like a storm cloud.
Elaine stood there, calm, resolute, untouchable.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The silence was suffocating, so thick it pressed against everyone’s chest. Elaine stood tall, her words still hanging heavy in the air, final and irrevocable.
And then, Michael moved.
The future Alpha stepped forward, peeling himself away from Kathy’s trembling form. His face was tense, his jaw clenched, eyes locked on Elaine with a mixture of frustration and guilt. His voice, when it came, was sharp—too sharp, as though the weight of his shame demanded he lash out instead of face it.
“Enough, Elaine!” he barked, his tone harsher than intended. “You’re not being fair.”
Elaine tilted her head, her expression unreadable.
“Fair?” She repeated softly, almost as though the word itself was foreign.
Michael took another step forward, his hands curling into fists at his sides.
“You think you’re the only one hurting? You think this is easy for me?” His voice cracked slightly, but he forced it steady. “I never asked for this either! I never asked for Kathy to be pregnant, for fate to play this cruel trick on us. Do you think I don’t feel torn apart knowing you are my mate? Do you think I don’t feel the bond pulling at me every second I breathe?”
His voice rose, anger and desperation colliding. “Do you think it doesn’t kill me that I can’t have you?”
For the first time since walking into that office, Elaine’s mask wavered. Just barely. Her mouth pressed into a thin line, and her eyes flickered with a storm of emotions she refused to release.
But Michael wasn’t done. His chest heaved as he continued, almost spitting the words, as though confessing them burned. “I chose Kathy before I knew. I can’t undo that. She is carrying my child. Our pack’s heir. She needs me. The pack needs me. And as Alpha, I don’t have the luxury to follow only my heart. I have to follow my duty.”
He looked at her then, his eyes blazing, raw with hurt. “Do you think it’s easy to reject the mate bond every time I see you? Do you think I don’t feel the Goddess’s punishment for it? I do, Elaine. Every. Single. Day. But I can’t turn back now. I can’t abandon her. I can’t abandon this pack. So stop acting as though I don’t bleed from this too!”
His words left the room trembling, and for a brief moment, his vulnerability filled the air with something fragile, something dangerously close to breaking.
Elaine let the silence stretch, her eyes locked on his. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet, but it cut sharper than any scream.
“You bleed?” she asked softly, her tone laced with disbelief. “No, Michael. You made a choice. You had me, and you still chose her. You decided my hurt was worth less than your convenience. You call it duty, but it was never duty. It was weakness.”
“You can’t abandon her? I never asked you to abandon her. I would never ask you to abandon your pup. All I wanted was a chance to be what I am supposed to be. To be your Luna, your mate as the Goddess created me. But that is too much for me to ask, right?”
Michael flinched as though she had struck him.
Elaine’s eyes hardened, her voice steady once more. “The Goddess gave us a bond, Michael. And you spit on it. You spit on me. Whatever punishment you feel from rejecting me, know this—it is nothing compared to what I am feeling.”
Her gaze flicked briefly to Kathy, still weeping in the corner, then back to Michael. “So don’t speak to me of hurt. You do not get to claim my suffering as your own. You do not know what it feels like to be unwanted, to not matter, to not deserve even a chance to be who I am supposed to be.”
“You chose to abandon me. You chose to use me, use my body for your satisfaction. And everyone here chose to sacrifice me, sacrifice my happiness, sacrifice who I am.”
The finality in her voice sealed the air between them, leaving Michael speechless, trembling with fury and shame. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, but no words came
The air in the Alpha’s office was charged, tense enough to snap. Michael stood frozen, shame and anger battling inside him, while Elaine remained unyielding. An unmoved wall of ice in the face of his outburst.
It was the Luna who broke the silence first.
“Enough,” Beatrice’s voice carried through the room, not loud, but firm, resonant with the authority of her position.
She rose slowly from her seat, her gaze sweeping over both her son and Elaine. Her eyes, full of both sorrow and resolve, settled on Elaine.
“This is tearing all of us apart. Elaine, you speak with such venom because you are in hurt. I see it, even if you try to hide it. But understand this, the bond between you and Michael is real, yes, but so is the bond he has forged with Kathy. We cannot undo what has already been done. We can only move forward.”
Elaine’s jaw clenched, her silence speaking louder than any words could.
The Luna’s expression softened for a fleeting moment. “I do not deny that you were wronged. You should not have been put in this position. As a mother, my heart breaks for you, Elaine. But as Luna, I must also see the bigger picture. This pack cannot fracture over this bond, no matter how unfair it seems. Sometimes…”
She faltered, her composure slipping just slightly, “…sometimes the Goddess gives us trials we cannot understand.”
Elaine’s laugh was low and bitter. “Trials? That’s what you call this? A trial? No, Luna. Trials are meant to strengthen us. This—” She gestured toward Michael and Kathy. “This is a betrayal dressed up as sacrifice.”
Before Luna Beatrice could even open her mouth, the Alpha’s voice cut sharply through the thick silence.
“That is enough, Elaine!” Alpha Efrein’s command echoed in the room, strong and absolute. His words carried the weight of authority, shaking the air with finality. “I understand that you are in hurt, but that does not excuse the way you speak to us. You will remember that we are still the Alpha and Luna of this pack, and with that comes responsibility—responsibility to the safety, peace, and unity of everyone under us. If the price of preserving that unity is for you to be cast aside, then so be it. If you cannot stand with us as family, then you will stand alone. You may leave the Beta household and live at the edge of our territory, far from your parents and your sister. But remember this, Elaine. This is your choice. This is what you wanted.”
The Alpha’s last words roared through the chamber like thunder, leaving the air heavy and suffocating.
“Alpha-” Her father, Beta Richard, stepped forward, his voice breaking with worry and desperation. His eyes begged for mercy, not for himself but for his daughter. But Alpha Efrein cut him off mercilessly.
“No, Beta. Enough. I am sick of her insolence and her constant defiance. We have bent, we have yielded, we have tried to comfort her. But she spits it all back in our faces. She believes she is the only one in hurt? She is wrong. Every single one of us has suffered. We all bleed, we all grieve, but still we carry the burden forward for the sake of the pack. And what of her? She refuses to see beyond herself. If leaving the Beta family is the only way she believes she can move forward, then I will grant her that. ”
“But hear me, Elaine.” His dark eyes burned into her, unforgiving. “You will not resign your position. You will not abandon your duty. You will continue your work here in the pack house, as is required of you. You will face every pack member, every day. You will show respect to me and to the Luna as your leaders. From this day forward, you will be treated as any other pack member. And from this day forward… You are no longer part of the Beta family.”
The room fell silent, stunned into stillness by the Alpha’s decree. Gasps broke from a few throats, and even Luna Beatrice’s composure wavered.
Richard and Lucille looked shattered, their eyes wide, their mouth trembling, as though the ground had been torn away beneath their feet.
But Elaine… did not falter. She stood as though she had expected this outcome all along. If this was what her pack had become—a place where her sacrifices, her hurt, and her very dignity meant nothing, then why should she hold on? They had already taken her mate, stripped her of her future, and now even her family ties were being severed. Was there truly anything left for her here?
No.
If this were her reality, then her decision was clear.
Still, she had to be cautious. Even if stripped of her family name, she remained valuable to them. Her role, her position, and most of all the connections she had nurtured during her years at Wolfe school—ties with other packs, alliances that Efrein desperately wanted. Those things bound her here. That was why he refused her resignation. That was why he chained her to this place with duty, not choice. He would bleed her dry for what she could give the pack, and she knew it.
Respect. That was what they demanded. Respect that had not been earned. Respect that came from fear and hierarchy, not from love or loyalty.
But fine. She would give it—for now. She would play their game, smile when she had to, and bow when required.
One month. That was all she would give them. After that, whether they gave permission or not, she would leave this pack behind forever.
“Elaine, please…” Her mother’s voice broke the silence, tears streaming down her cheeks. She clutched at her daughter’s arm, her body trembling with desperation. “Don’t do this. Just apologize. Just… just say you’re sorry to the Alpha, and this will all be over. Please, I am begging you.”
Elaine turned her head slowly to face her mother. No—she corrected herself coldly—not her mother. Not anymore. This woman was the Beta female. Loyal to her Alpha before her own child. Lucille, not Mama. The hurt that realization brought cut deeper than any blade.
Her gaze returned to the Alpha, steady and unwavering. Her voice, though calm, carried the quiet strength of finality.
“I will leave the Beta household immediately and take residence in the abandoned house at the edge of the territory. I will continue my work in the pack house, as you have commanded, and I will show the respect you demand, Alpha.” She paused, letting her words hang in the heavy air before she delivered the final blow. “But from this day forward, I am no longer part of the Beta family.”
With that, Elaine turned on her heel and walked out of the room. Her footsteps echoed against the stone floor, each one a reminder to everyone present that a bond had been broken—a bond that might never be repaired.
And though her heart ached, her spirit no longer trembled. For the first time, she felt a strange, cold freedom.
It had been three long weeks since that day in the Alpha’s office. Three weeks that felt like years—three weeks of humiliation, of whispered insults, of isolation that gnawed at her spirit like a hungry wolf.
The moment she stepped out of the Beta home and into her new life at the edge of the territory, she ceased to be Elaine, daughter of the Beta. In the eyes of the pack, she had become something else entirely—an outcast, a warning, a walking reminder of what happened to those who defied the Alpha.
The very first day she reported back to the pack house for duty, she could feel their eyes on her. Dozens of stares that pierced into her skin, their whispers carrying across the halls like poisoned arrows. Some murmured “rejected… unwanted…” as she walked by. Others didn’t bother lowering their voices at all. They laughed, they mocked, they cursed her under their breath, enjoying her downfall as if it were their entertainment.
To them, she was not Elaine the scholar, Elaine the Beta’s daughter, or Elaine the woman who had once been celebrated for her accomplishments at Wolf School. No.
She was now only the interloper, the obstacle that had stood between their beloved future Alpha Michael and his chosen Luna, Kathy. The fact that she was the mate the Moon Goddess had given him did not matter anymore. The pack saw only what the Alpha had declared. That she was no longer family, no longer worthy.
Every morning at the dining hall was the hardest. Attendance was mandatory for all wolves not on guard duty, which meant she could not escape the public eye. After collecting her food, she always sat alone at the far end of the long hall.
Once, her presence in the Beta family’s circle had given her a place of honor near the front. Now, the benches around her remained empty, as though she carried a sickness they might catch by sitting near her.
Her solitude was a spectacle in itself. Whispers grew louder when she walked past, laughter followed her like a shadow, and eyes—judging, pitying, or cruel—never left her back. She kept her head high, even as her heart ached, refusing to let them see her break.
That morning, as the hall filled with chatter, the atmosphere shifted the moment the Alpha and Beta families entered. All eyes turned toward them with admiration and respect, the noise fading into greetings and bows. Smiles blossomed across faces like flowers seeking the sun. That was the power of their presence. The respect and loyalty Elaine had once been part of are now denied her.
As always, the families moved through the hall, exchanging morning greetings with their pack. When they reached her, Elaine forced herself to her feet, her tray of food untouched before her.
She lowered her head, exposed her neck, and spoke with a steady voice that belied the storm in her chest. “Alpha, Luna, Beta, Ms. Lucille… good morning.”
Her throat tightened as she added the final greeting, her voice soft but firm. “Future Alpha and Luna, good morning to you as well.”
It was a ritual now, this forced display of respect. One more chain binds her.
Lucille’s eyes found hers, filled with sorrow that words could not express. The older woman’s hands trembled as if she wanted to reach out, to pull her daughter into her arms and whisper comfort like she once did. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. The eyes of the pack were watching, and in their eyes, Elaine was no longer her daughter. She was only another wolf.
The Alpha gave her a curt nod, his expression unreadable.
“Good morning, Elaine,” said Kathy—future Luna, her sister in blood but no longer in name. She smiled softly, as if trying to remind Elaine that, deep in her heart, the bond of sisters still lingered.
Elaine’s mouth curved faintly, but her words were devoid of warmth. “Good morning to you as well, future Luna.”
The title was a dagger. She will never call her “sister”. She is not a family member. She is nothing but a reminder of her hurt, of her ripped bond from her fated mate.
The group moved on to their seats, their conversation resuming as though nothing had passed. Not another word was spoken to her.
The rest of the day was no better. Her work had become a constant test of her endurance. Once, she reported only to her father, but now she was required to give her updates directly to the Alpha himself, and sometimes to Michael, the future Alpha, who had begun taking on more of his father’s duties.
Each interaction was a fresh wound, each report another reminder of what she had lost. Michael’s future Beta was still away at school and wouldn’t return until next month, so for now, Elaine was forced to fill the gap—forced to serve, forced to pretend.
Pretending was the hardest part. Pretending that her heart did not shatter every time she stood before them. Pretending that the whispers didn’t sting. Pretending that the respect she offered came freely, and not because it was demanded of her.
Three weeks of this endless cycle.
Three weeks of swallowing her pride and burying her hurt so deeply that no one would see.
Three weeks of carrying herself with dignity, even as the world around her laughed.
And through it all, she had never once disrespected them. Not the Alpha, not the Luna, not even the ones who had taken everything from her. Her voice never wavered, her posture never faltered. She gave them the respect they demanded, though she knew they had not earned it.
It was her last weapon, her last shield. The dignity they could not strip away from her, no matter how hard they tried.
And now, three weeks after that devastating day in the Alpha’s office, Elaine found herself once again in her sanctuary—the waterfall near the border.
Its constant roar had been the only companion to her hurt, the only place where she could release everything that was crushing her. Here, she didn’t need to pretend. The waterfall had seen her break, seen her sob until her chest ached, heard her voice crack as she screamed out her frustrations to the uncaring wind. It had borne silent witness to her curses, to her whispered questions to the Moon Goddess, to her prayers that never seemed to be answered.
For the past three weeks, the Silverblade Pack had been consumed with preparations for the grand mating ceremony. Excitement hung in the air, contagious and unrelenting, as the entire pack looked forward to celebrating their future Alpha and Luna. Their joy was heightened by the knowledge that the Luna-to-be carried the pack’s future heir. Everyone was eager to see this union, to revel in the promise of strength and prosperity it symbolized.
Everyone, except Elaine.
While the pack buzzed with celebration, her heart had been slowly withering. The cruelest part was that she had been given the duty of sending out the invitations to neighboring packs.
Day after day, she sealed letters bearing names that should have been hers and Michael’s. Each stroke of ink, each written acknowledgment of the union, was like driving a blade deeper into her chest.
When she saw Kathy’s name written beside Michael’s for the first time, Elaine had frozen. Her eyes could not move away from it. She had felt her soul splinter, her wolf whimpering in agony. But she couldn’t afford to show weakness—not in the pack house, not in front of the very people who had stolen her future.
“Are you okay, Elaine?” Luna Beatrice’s voice had broken into her thoughts that day.
The Luna had handed her a fresh stack of invitations to deliver. Standing beside her was Kathy, the future Luna, radiant with pride as she shadowed Beatrice in her training. There was no need to hide anymore. Everyone knew Kathy’s role, and her lessons had become a spectacle that the whole pack quietly admired.
Elaine forced herself to meet their eyes, though it was like swallowing glass.
“Of course, Luna,” she answered smoothly, as though her insides weren’t shattering piece by piece. She gestured to the invitations. “I will see that these are delivered to the other packs.”
“I’m sorry if this is difficult for you, Elaine.” Kathy said softly, her expression almost sympathetic.
Difficult?
Elaine wanted to laugh, to scream, to tell her sister she had no right to apologize for something she had stolen so willingly. But her mouth curved into a polite smile instead.
“This is part of my duty, Future Luna. There’s nothing to apologize for.” Her voice carried no tremor, no crack, no hint of the storm raging beneath her calm mask.
“Is there anything else you require of me, Luna?” She asked, turning back to Beatrice.
The Luna hesitated as if there was more she wished to say, but at that moment the office door opened.
Alpha Efrein, Beta Richard, and Michael entered the room, discussing details of the ceremony.
Elaine’s stomach twisted, but she didn’t flinch. It was her responsibility to remain in the room, to take notes, to provide support as they planned the very event that would crush her soul.
So she stayed. Silent. Professional. Her pen moved across the page as they spoke of flowers, rituals, and guests. She answered questions when addressed, her tone perfectly respectfu...
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