Chapter 1 Chapter 1

My Alpha husband, Ryder, has always hated the sound of a crying pup. But recently, he started caring for my adopted sister's newborn pup, staying by its side in the nursery every night until dawn. Every time Ryder left our bedroom for the nursery, an inexplicable stabbing pain would pierce through my chest. This agony would last all night until dawn when he returned. I had finally reached my breaking point. At the Full Moon Festival, I announced in front of the entire pack that I was rejecting our mate bond. The pack's mind-link erupted with whispers that the battle had damaged my mind. A golden light ignited in Ryder's eyes as he stared at me in disbelief. "Because I was too busy to check on you when you were injured, you're rejecting our bond over a six month old pup?" I didn't meet his eyes. Instead, my gaze lingered on the faint lipstick mark smudged inside his collar. My voice trembled, yet it did not waver. "Since you love her pup so much, once our bond is severed, you can openly be the father." ... "Stop this nonsense! You're pregnant! Can't you see? I was only holding her pup to prepare—for our pup, for the life we're about to start together." Ryder's expression was a mix of confusion and panic. His eyes darted away as he hastily pulled up his collar to hide the mark. "Caring for that pup is my duty as Alpha. Every pup in the pack deserves my care and protection.""And now you're using this ridiculous excuse to reject our mate bond? Have you gone mad?" I pressed down the trembling in my voice and forced myself to speak. "Tell me, Ryder. Every night after you leave, the pain claws at my chest until I can't breathe. You know what I'm talking about…don't you?" Ryder's gaze flickered, but he quickly hardened it. "I have no idea what you're talking about. It's all in your head, Ember. ""You've always been dramatic, faking pain for attention. I used to pity you, but now you're blaming me for your own delusions? Pathetic." My face was calm, but every inch of me ached. I pulled the dissolution papers for our mate bond from my leather satchel and slapped them down in front of him. "Sign it. We'll have it witnessed tomorrow in the Elder Council hall." The surrounding pack members stared with wide eyes, their gasps echoing through the mind-link. Years ago, so desperate to claim me as his Luna, Ryder had prayed before the statue of the Moon Goddess for three days and three nights. The elders had warned him against such stubborn devotion, but he had declared, his voice raw with emotion, "She is the one the Goddess has fated for me. I would rather walk this world alone for eternity than live a single day without her." It was a story the pack still loved to tell. They couldn't believe that we, the Alpha and Luna who had moved the Moon Goddess herself, were now on the verge of breaking our bond. But I no longer cared about the mental chatter. I set down the papers and prepared to leave this suffocating place. Disbelief filled Ryder's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected me to have the papers ready. Seeing my resolute stance, my mother finally realized I wasn't acting on a whim. She immediately snatched the papers from the table, her face turning grim as she quickly scanned them. "Ember, you truly want to dissolve the bond? Your bond with Ryder has lasted for ten years, and you two have always been so in love. What on earth happened?" Pack members pleaded with me through the mind-link, and even Ryder's own warriors spoke up to persuade me. "Luna, your bond with the Alpha is the foundation of our entire pack. Don't shake that foundation over a single pup.""That Omega she-wolf is your adopted sister.. The Alpha is only helping out of compassion for the pup. As Luna, you shouldn't be so jealous of your own family. You should be bigger than that.""The Alpha has never pressured you about producing an heir. He has done so much for you. How can you not understand his difficult position?" The entire hall was buzzing with the hum of the mind-link, everyone accusing me of being heartless and willful. They all judged me from their moral high ground, as if I were the greatest sinner in the pack. I, however, remained silent, simply pushing the papers in front of Ryder again. "I came here today with only one purpose.""This bond must be broken. Nothing you say will change my mind." The moment I finished speaking, a sharp crack echoed beside my ear. Before I could react, I felt a stinging pain on my face. My father, a senior elder of the pack, had rushed over upon hearing the news and slapped me hard in front of everyone. I clutched my already swelling cheek, hearing his furious growl. "You ungrateful wretch! How dare you dissolve your bond with an outstanding Alpha like Ryder? Are you insane?""Ryder has spent years protecting this pack's territory, giving you the peace to manage internal affairs as Luna. Do you have any shame, wanting to break the bond now?""We raised Lyra when she was a child, and she has always looked up to you, always been respectful. How can you be so cruel to your own family?" Seeing my reddened, swollen face, my mother immediately rushed forward to stop him, grabbing my arm. "Ember, whatever conflict you two have, you should communicate properly. Dissolving the bond isn't a decision you make on a whim.""You are the Luna of this pack. We don't want to hear such irresponsible words from you.""Ryder is such a perfect Alpha; we've all seen it over the years. Being his Luna is a blessing for you.""Wait..." My mother paused, then covered her mouth in horror. "You...you haven't become some rogue's bitch, have you?" I slowly raised my head, the taste of blood filling my mouth as the surrounding condemnations poured into my mind. Ryder immediately stepped forward to support me, gently tending to my wound. He was always so flawless in front of others. In the eyes of the pack, he was forever the ideal Alpha, but only I knew the truth of the pain between us. "Ember, perhaps you have betrayed me, but you must remember, I am the only mate the Moon Goddess designated for you, to protect you for life.""Our souls have been entwined by the threads of fate since we were young, and our ten-year bond has been blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. How can it be so easily broken over a pup?""Even if other she-wolves try to seduce me, my loyalty to you has never wavered. If you turn back now, I can pretend none of this ever happened." Following my mother's lead, Ryder had, in just a few sentences, shifted the blame to me, suggesting I had betrayed the bond. In an instant, the scene grew lively again. The pack members' gazes pierced me like daggers, and my father gripped my shoulders in fury. "No wonder you want to tear up the sacred mate bond! So this is what you've become—entwined with rogues, fallen so low! To think I raised a daughter like you!""You will apologize to your Alpha right now and beg for his forgiveness!" The surrounding pack members all urged me to reconcile, and Ryder even lowered himself to plead with me, tears in his eyes. My gaze was ice cold as I forcefully pushed him away. "Let go. The love I felt through the bond is gone." He didn't know that our mate bond had existed in name only ever since he started caring for that pup. Ryder stared at me in disbelief, his lips trembling as he asked, "What... what did you say?"

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Ryder's face went as white as a sheet, and he stumbled back a few steps. "No, that's impossible! How could the love between us just disappear?" He shook his head frantically, his Alpha dominance flared, uncontrolled in his distress. It was only now that I realized what a truly gifted actor Ryder was. Just like now, as he suddenly lunged to wrap his arms around me from behind. "Don't go, Ember. You can't leave. I'll do right by you, I'll be twice as good to you!""Give me one more chance to prove it. I swear in the name of the Moon Goddess, I'll be a good mate to you again. Please, I'm begging you, don't abandon me." Ryder's Beta also rushed up to block my path. "Luna, the Alpha has done so much for you. You shouldn't hurt him like this. You should be the one to apologize!""The Alpha has been by your side for so many years, how can you be so cruel? Have you forgotten your passion on full moon nights?""You've spent a whole decade building this sacred bond. Have you forgotten all of that?""You cold-hearted she-wolf! Don't tell me you're willing to abandon the future Alpha heir in your own womb? You'd rather he become a fatherless pup?" Every eye in the room instantly focused on me. The air seemed to freeze. My mother gasped, nearly losing her footing. "Ember, you're pregnant? You're pregnant and you still want to dissolve the bond?" My father's roar was even more furious. "Madness! Utter madness! You would let the future Alpha heir lose his father?""This is blasphemy against the Moon Goddess! A betrayal of our entire pack's bloodline!" I clearly heard the accusations all around me. "The Luna's gone insane. She doesn't even care about her own child.""How could she bring such shame to the Alpha's bloodline?""She's so jealous of her adopted sister that she's willing to destroy her own family.""The pregnancy must be making her emotionally unstable." I fought with all my strength to break free from everyone's grasp, my inner wolf snarling with rage as I commanded them to get away. "I will raise my pup myself. I'm breaking this bond." My mother couldn't believe I could say something so heartless. "Ember, you've always longed to bear the Alpha's heir. Now that the Moon Goddess has finally blessed you, why are you still making a scene?" Her words were like a silver dagger, stabbing straight through my heart. Once, I too had longed to bear a powerful Alpha heir. I had hoped for ten long years. For a decade, I had prayed to the Moon Goddess on countless full moon nights, hoping to conceive a strong bloodline with Ryder, only to be met with disappointment every time. But now, I didn't want to endure the agony any longer. All I wanted was a clean break. Just then, a slender figure slowly approached. It was my adopted sister, Lyra. She was holding the pup, walking gently toward Ryder. This was the time of day Ryder always went to her quarters to care for the pup. The moment he saw her, Ryder forgot all about our argument. He rushed to take the pup from her, his Alpha's dominance instantly softening. The gentle look in his eyes was something I had never seen before, as if he were gazing upon his own flesh and blood. Even his wolf eyes grew soft. A wave of betrayal crashing through our bond almost made me collapse. I remembered that I once had a pup of my own. If he had been born safely, he would be old enough to hunt by now. But that hope had been stolen from me. I had lost our first pup inexplicably, a loss that tore a hole in my soul. When I'd desperately searched for answers, Ryder had been cold, telling me only to move on and focus on my duties. Lyra spoke in her usual soft tone, "Luna, I heard your argument just now. I didn't know that having the Alpha help care for my pup would displease you so much.""Sister, I never wanted to cause problems between you and Ryder. Our parents raised us to love each other.""I will leave the pack lands today. I'll take my little one and find a new place to live immediately. I will never again interfere with your sacred bond." Ryder's brow furrowed instantly, his Alpha's protective instincts flaring as a clear reluctance showed in his eyes. "You are a member of our pack. This is your home. No one can drive you and your child away." After saying that, he turned to me, his eyes full of accusation. "Ember, don't take your anger with me out on a weak Omega. You've just recovered from your battle wounds, don't let your inner wolf lose control again.""How can you treat your own sister this way? After everything your parents have done for both of you?" Once again, he had shifted all the blame onto me. My father's wolf eyes turned a dangerous gold, his voice a low growl as he gripped my arm. "You will obey an Elder's order. How dare you treat Lyra this way? We raised you both with equal love, and this is how you repay us?""Lyra has always been the perfect daughter, while you… you've become a source of shame for our family.""Now that you two have a bloodline to continue, if you still dare to dissolve the sacred bond, don't blame me for using my authority as an Elder to exile you!" I took a deep breath, slowly glancing around at these people I called family. My nose stung, but I did my best to remain calm. This time, I would fight for myself. "Threatening me is useless.""I told you, this bond must be broken." With that, I turned and left that suffocating place. Ryder roared behind me, "Ember, you will regret this!""Since you've chosen betrayal, don't think you can take any property belonging to this pack. You'd better be prepared to become a lone wolf.""Since you've already found a new Alpha and are ready to abandon this place, don't blame me for destroying every last shred of warmth between us!" Without looking back, I walked out of the hall and went straight to the Elder Council's office. I placed the dissolution papers I had prepared on the Great Elder's desk. "I request an emergency council meeting to review my request to dissolve my mate bond with the Alpha." The Great Elder quickly scanned the document, his brow furrowing. "Luna, are you certain you want to take this step? It will have a great impact on the stability of the pack." I took a faintly glowing crystal from my bag. "I have new evidence." It recorded every intimate moment between Ryder and Lyra in the nursery, as well as the agonized howls of my inner wolf during those painful nights.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

"If this evidence is genuine, tomorrow's trial will change everything for our pack." The Great Elder took the crystal, looking at me with a solemn expression. "I have to remind you, once the Elder Council's trial begins, there is no turning back.""Are you sure you're prepared to face the consequences?" I nodded without hesitation. "I'm prepared for everything." By the time I left the council hall, night had fallen, and only a few scattered lights flickered in the pack territory. After returning to my residence, I packed a few necessities and left the pack. I had intended to stay in a hotel in the human city, but I discovered that all the pack resources I was entitled to as Luna had been frozen by Ryder. The werewolf clerk at the bank looked at me cautiously. "Luna, the Alpha ordered a suspension of all your financial privileges last night.""He said it was to protect the pack's assets and prevent you from making any impulsive decisions." My heart clenched tightly. So Ryder's revenge had come this quickly. As Luna, I should have had the right to allocate half of the pack's resources. Now, I couldn't even afford a hotel room. For years, I had entrusted Ryder with managing my assets, keeping very little for myself. I had worked day and night handling pack affairs, partly because it was my duty as Luna, but more importantly, because I thought I was building a life with Ryder. I had believed that one day Ryder would see all I had done for us, that I would have a happy family of my own, with pups that belonged to us. I never imagined it was all just a farce. I had been alone from the very beginning. After borrowing money from a friend to check into a hotel, I opened my phone and saw a recording of our argument from the day before. The conflict at the festival had been spread throughout the entire werewolf community by pack members. Now I was the laughingstock of the werewolf world, a vicious Luna. The comment sections on social media were filled with curses aimed at me, and some werewolves even threatened over the mind-link to ruin my reputation completely. "The Alpha was just caring for her own adopted sister's pup, and this cold-hearted Luna wants to tear up a sacred bond over it!""I bet she found a rogue lover and is using this ridiculous excuse to betray the Alpha. What a disgrace to all werewolves!" The rumors spread like wildfire. Even the hotel staff recognized me and shot me looks of contempt. But when I activated the magic crystal, a sharp pain pierced my heart. This was the hard evidence I had asked my old friend, a witch from a neighboring pack named Maya, to obtain for me. She was the only one who knew I was secretly gathering evidence. Now I summoned all my courage to watch the recordings. Whenever Ryder thought I was fast asleep, he would sneak off to the nursery. The images in the crystal showed him holding that pup with an expression of immense tenderness, even lightly kissing Lyra's forehead. Through the scenes recorded by the magic crystal, I witnessed their nightly trysts. The look in Ryder's eyes when he gazed at Lyra was a different kind of gentle, a deep affection I had never seen in all my years with him. Although he acted perfectly in front of the pack, only I knew how cold he was to me. After we were bonded, he had told me in no uncertain terms that he didn't want to pass on his bloodline, ordering me not to have any fantasies about it. Unfortunately, I later became pregnant by accident. I begged him to let me keep the pup, but he forced an injection on me to end the pregnancy without hesitation. That incident became a wound in my heart that never healed. From that day on, he never allowed me to be physically close to him again. But now, right under my nose, he was tenderly caring for another she-wolf and her child, night after night. The next morning, I received a mind-link message from my assistant. The pressure from the rumors was causing our allies to question my abilities. I had to return to the pack to handle my daily duties as Luna. As soon as I reached the pack hall, I saw Ryder and Lyra already waiting there. Ryder stood at the entrance to the hall, saying in front of many werewolves, "Ember, calm down. The people inside are just here for the drama.""Let's talk.""There's nothing to talk about." I walked straight into the hall without lifting my head. He stepped in front of me, his voice trembling. "I know you're still angry, but the pup is innocent.""How can you treat your own family this way?" The surrounding pack members began to whisper, their sympathy for Ryder flowing through the mind-link. Lyra then approached, holding the pup, tears streaming down her face. "Sister, I never wanted to come between you and Ryder. It's all my fault.""If I had never come to this pack, you wouldn't be having these conflicts.""I only ask that you forgive the Alpha for his kindness. I'll do anything." As she spoke, she suddenly pretended to stumble to the ground, with tears streaming down her face. Ryder immediately rushed to help her up, his face full of concern and panic. The loud sound instantly drew the attention of the onlookers, who began to condemn my arrogance and cruelty on the mind-link. "Look how the Luna has frightened poor Lyra!""Such a gentle Omega, and the Luna won't even show her mercy." But at that moment, I stood up. "That's enough. Stop the act." Lyra immediately looked up at me with tearful eyes, "Sister, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall. Please don't be angry.""I was careless myself. Please don't blame the Luna." Her performance was flawless, making me look like the heartless villain who had caused her to stumble in fear. Was this the effect she wanted? I turned my head away, refusing to watch her performance. Seeing my reaction, Ryder looked at me. "Ember, don't you feel any sympathy at all?""Your sister has apologized so sincerely, and you won't even look at her. How cold-hearted can you be?" Lyra stood up and immediately bowed deeply, making herself appear even more pitiful. Watching this meticulously choreographed melodrama, my heart felt so heavy I could barely breathe. The air in the hall seemed to thicken around me, and I felt as if I were drowning in their performance. My chest ached with a familiar, crushing weight. I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, anything, to defend myself against this elaborate charade… But before I could form the words, Ryder stepped forward, his voice booming across the hall as he positioned himself protectively in front of Lyra. "Ember, you're going too far!" His eyes blazed with righteous anger. "How can you be so cruel to someone who's done nothing but try to apologize to you?""Lyra has been nothing but respectful and humble, and you won't even show her basic decency. This jealousy has consumed you completely." My words died in my throat.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

I forced myself to maintain a composed exterior even as my heart fractured. At last, a single sentence escaped my lips:"Then I'll see you at the Elder Council." Without another word, I arranged for the pack's urgent affairs to be handled and then focused all my energy on preparing for this trial that would decide my fate. Our conflict spread like wildfire through the entire North American werewolf community via the mind-link. The situation was far more serious than I had imagined. I became the treacherous Luna despised by all werewolves, while Ryder successfully crafted the perfect image of a victimized Alpha. One rumor claimed I had undergone multiple abortions to destroy the Alpha's bloodline for the sake of a rogue lover, even embezzling pack resources to fund my betrayal. Others claimed I had suffered brain damage during the fight against the invading rogues, and my inner wolf had lost control, leading to my insane actions. Waves of malicious mental energy swept over me like a blizzard. Even my parents, who were pack elders, couldn't bear the shame. "You are a stain on this family! We raised Lyra with love, and she's shown us nothing but respect and gratitude. You, our own blood, have brought us nothing but shame!""From this day forward, I will no longer acknowledge you as my daughter! Lyra is more worthy of being our daughter than you!""The crimes you've committed have brought shame upon our family name. I wish I had never given birth to you!" Faced with the overwhelming accusations, I chose silence, quietly waiting for the Elder Council's judgment in three days. On the morning of the trial, hundreds of werewolves had already gathered outside the council hall, all waiting to see me, the "evil Luna," stripped of my sacred Luna mark and cast out as a pathetic lone wolf. I had just reached the entrance to the hall when Ryder blocked my path. He looked at me with a deeply affectionate expression. "Ember, it's not too late to withdraw your application.""For our child, for the stability of the pack, don't let this escalate to a point of no return.""I can swear, in the name of the Moon Goddess, that from now on I will devote myself only to you." The onlookers nodded in agreement, voices of support for Ryder echoing over the mind-link. "The Alpha is so devoted. The Luna should give him a chance.""For the child in her womb, the Luna should forgive the Alpha.""He was just helping her adopted sister. Family should support each other." Lyra stood by, holding the pup, a mocking glint in her eyes that only I could see. Even my own Elder parents looked as if they wished I would be exiled, disgusted that I had tarnished the family's honor while their precious adopted daughter remained perfect. But I was determined to leave this suffocating place and, at the same time, clear my name. My expression remained unchanged as I waited for the Great Elder to declare the start of the trial. "This emergency meeting of the Elder Council is now in session to review the application for the dissolution of the mate bond between Alpha Ryder and Luna Ember.""First, Alpha Ryder will present his case." Ryder stood, his voice loud and sorrowful. "Esteemed Elders, my Luna has misunderstood me because I was caring for an orphan pup.""She believes my concern for Lyra and her pup has been inappropriate, but Lyra is her own adopted sister, and caring for family is merely the duty of an Alpha.""I love my Luna deeply. I do not wish to see her suffer from jealousy, and that is why I have agreed to this hearing." A wave of agreement rippled through the audience, the mind-link filled with sympathy for Ryder. "The Alpha is so tolerant and magnanimous!""To be so patient in the face of an unreasonable Luna." The Beta, Marcus, stood up to testify. "Elders, the Luna has been behaving erratically and contacting werewolves from outside the pack.""I suspect she has been bewitched by an outside witch, which is why she has made such a treacherous decision." Another witness stepped forward. "The Luna has been emotionally volatile while handling pack affairs, even shoving the Alpha and her innocent sister.""Such behavior makes her completely unfit for the position of Luna." Witness after witness came forward, each accusing me of various "crimes." After hearing all the testimony, the Great Elder looked at me. "Luna Ember, do you have anything to say in your defense?""If you have no new evidence, the Council will find you at fault, forcibly dissolve the bond, and strip you of your Luna title." Whispers broke out in the audience. Everyone was waiting to see me made a fool of. Ryder and Lyra exchanged a glance, a triumphant gleam in their eyes. They thought they had already won. I slowly rose to my feet, my gaze sweeping across the entire hall. "Esteemed Elders, I do, in fact, have new evidence." Ryder's face changed. "Ember, stop this nonsense. What evidence could you possibly have?" I calmly produced a box, my voice devoid of any inflection as I spoke. "Inside," I stated, "are my three pieces of evidence: two crystals and one document. Within them lie the memories of every torment I was forced to endure, the truth of where Ryder vanishes each night, and the reason I now stand before you." The moment the words left my mouth, the color drained from Ryder and Lyra's faces. They turned deathly pale.