Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Before my mother-in-law could respond, the sharp howl of a messenger wolf shattered the silence in the healer's den. On the other end, Alexander's voice was icy cold:"Prepare my private hunting grounds and have someone bring over that silver-infused pelt I acquired a few days ago. If you won't wear it, there are plenty of she-wolves waiting in line by my den who will!" His voice wasn't loud, but in the stillness of the healer's den, it was painfully clear. My mother-in-law's eyes flashed with anger. She was about to take the communication crystal to say something, but before she could, Alexander cut the connection. She let out a long sigh, lowering her hand as she looked at me."Diana, in the end, it's the Silver Moon Pack that has wronged you. I agree—break the mate bond..." Her warm tears fell into my palm."But I have one request...""I know. You don't want Alexander to know what really happened eight moons ago. Don't worry, I'll take this secret to my grave." My words made her break down completely. Eight moons ago, the Silver Moon Pack was at its weakest. Alexander's father, driven to despair by rival packs, jumped from Moon's Peak. In an instant, the once-glorious Silver Moon Pack was left struggling for survival. Everyone knew how deeply I loved Alexander. So, when disaster struck, his mother came to my father's territory, begging me to accept the mate bond with him. She stood outside my den for three days and three nights. In the end, my father, moved by my insistence, agreed. He poured everything he had into saving the Silver Moon Pack from ruin. But that night, I learned the truth behind their downfall. The ones who orchestrated Silver Moon Pack's downfall— were the Blood Fang Pack. Selena's father and herself were both involved. But Alexander's mother didn't want him to get caught up in such a cruel past, so she knelt before my father and me, begging us never to tell him the truth. I understood the love of a mother for her pup. So even today, when Alexander holds Selena in his arms, even when he takes her to his den, I will keep my promise. My mother-in-law pulled me into her embrace, gently stroking my pale face. "Child, Alexander doesn't know how to cherish his true Luna. That's his misfortune. Seven days from now is your birth moon. Stay for your birth moon, and after that, I'll let you leave our pack..." Looking at the elderly she-wolf before me, her fur already streaked with gray, I nodded. Seven days... I had endured eight moons already. Not wanting to disturb my rest, she brought me fresh meat and left. The moment the den entrance closed, my crystal vibrated with a new message from Alexander. A vision. In the dim lighting, he was entangled with a she-wolf whose face I couldn't see. Growls and whimpers filled the air. My hands trembled as I tried to turn off the crystal, but just then, Alexander called. His tone was lazy and filled with disdain."Saw the vision? If I don't get the location of your hunting grounds texted to me by moonrise, I'll send countless more visions like this straight to your crystal. Might as well let you learn something—see how other she-wolves please your Alpha.""Alexander, I'll go." Hearing my response, he let out a satisfied sigh. "Diana, remember this— you brought this on yourself. Eight moons ago, when the Silver Moon Pack was at its weakest, you forced me to leave Selena and accept you as Luna. From the moment you walked into my territory as my mate, you should have known— you will never, ever receive even an ounce of true love from me!" Then he cut the connection. Two bitter tears slipped from the corners of my eyes. Alexander was right. This was my own doing. Eight moons ago, I thought that if I just had enough time, I could warm his heart. But today, I finally realized how foolish I had been. Over these moons, Alexander had claimed countless she-wolves. At first, he had the decency to hide it from me. But now, he no longer even bothered— he made me prepare the hunting grounds myself. I knew that if I didn't comply, that vision wouldn't just be sent to me— by tomorrow, all the packs in the territory would have it. My family had been a respected pack for over a century. I couldn't let my father's name be dragged through the mud because of me. For years, this was how it had been— Alexander would do anything to make me suffer. That once all-consuming love had turned into a hatred so deep it devoured me whole. The thought alone was enough to make me feel desolate. Suddenly, a fresh wave of blood gushed down my legs. Clutching the wall for support, I staggered to clean myself up, then, ignoring the stabbing pain coursing through my body, I left the healer's den.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Ten minutes later, I sent Alexander the location of my private hunting grounds. I scrolled up through our crystal history— thousands of messages sent to him, yet all I had ever received in return were a handful of single-word replies. I let out a bitter laugh, then tossed my crystal onto the pack ground. Half an hour later, I stood outside his private den, holding the silver-infused pelt he had acquired. The first time he brought something like this home, I had been shy but willing. But that night, as he lost himself in passion, he growled Selena's name over and over again. Afterward, I had curled up, watching his back as he slept, silently crying until dawn. Since that night, I never wore such pelts again. But Alexander had many ways to torment me. If I refused, he would have other she-wolves wear them— then send me visions, as if it were his daily ritual. "Oh? You're here?" The den entrance opened, revealing Alexander in his half-shifted form, a smirk playing on his lips. Hearing my voice, Selena stepped behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She pushed the entrance wider, gazing at me sweetly. "Fellow Luna, how thoughtful of you to deliver this in person!" The widened entrance let Alexander see me more clearly. His gaze darkened as he yanked my cloak open, his voice laced with disgust. "So you fell once this morning, and now you're back in these healing herbs? Diana, you really commit to your little acts, don't you?" I didn't want anyone to know I had lost the pup. Quickly, I grabbed my cloak from the ground, wrapped it around myself, and turned to leave. But before I could, a strong hand seized my wrist, pulling me back. Alexander took a step closer, his lips curling into a smirk. "Since you're already here, why leave? Aren't you trying to be considerate? Stay. Serve me well tonight. Selena and I will sleep in the inner den—you can have the outer chamber." The thought of what was to come made my stomach churn violently. I struggled against his grip, but every movement sent sharp pain through my abdomen. Still, in the end, I was dragged inside. That night, the inner den filled with the sounds of their pleasure. I clutched my ears, turning on the pack's crystal vision. But fate always had a cruel sense of humor— the vision showed footage of them from earlier today, wrapped in each other's arms. I wanted to turn it off, but my hands were shaking too badly to move. The obscene noises from the inner den, the sweet images on the crystal— it was too much. I retched violently, nails digging into my palms until they bled. By morning, Alexander walked out, Selena in his arms. He marked her forehead tenderly, then turned to me, his voice as cold as ever. "Go back to the main den. You love being the Luna, don't you? Today, I'll let you enjoy it to the fullest." Then, smirking, he wrapped his arms around Selena one last time— before yanking me out the den entrance. The moment we stepped outside, I was surrounded by messenger wolves from all packs. I should have known. Alexander hadn't brought me here out of kindness— he had brought me here to be humiliated.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

As expected, the messenger wolves swarmed toward me like starving omegas spotting their prey on the open plains. In an instant, a barrage of howls and yips were thrust in my face. "Luna, did you see the latest reports about Alpha Alexander and Selena's affectionate display at the Silver Moon Pack's ceremony yesterday?""Luna, is there a mate bond crisis between you and Alpha Alexander?""Luna, Selena claims that her relationship with Alexander is purely pack-like. Do you believe her?""Luna, we captured scent markers of Selena entering this hunting ground last night. It appears that she entered with Alpha Alexander, yet this morning, it's you and Alpha Alexander coming out together. Can you explain?" Every question started with "Luna," but every word was meant to humiliate me under that very title. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Alexander standing off to the side. The sheer, unwavering hatred in his gaze sent chills down my spine. What kind of hatred would drive an Alpha to pull himself into the mud just to drag me down with him? The exhaustion from a sleepless night made my head feel like it was about to explode. Summoning the last bit of strength I had, I shoved past the messenger wolves and staggered away, breaking into an unsteady run. As I reached the first territory marker outside the hunting grounds, Alexander's pack runner pulled up beside me. "If you don't want those messengers to keep following you, get in." I glanced back at the commotion behind me. In the end, I opened the carrier and got in. Only after sitting down did I realize— blood had already soaked through my legs, spreading ominously across the seat beneath me. Panicking, I tried to cover the stain, but it was too late—Alexander had already seen it. His brows knitted together as he turned slightly toward me. "The pup... is it alright?" I was about to respond, but his crystal rang. From the speaker, Selena's soft, tearful voice drifted through. "Alexander, my pack is pressuring me to accept the arranged mating ceremony again… What should I do? My father said I only have a week left. Please, think of something..." A young she-wolf's heartbreak always sounded pitiful. Sure enough, at her words, Alexander abruptly halted the pack runner, bringing it to a sharp halt at the edge of the territory. A long silence followed. Then, he finally spoke. "One week is more than enough. Wait for me—I'll challenge for your hand." After murmuring a few more words of reassurance, he ended the call. A deafening silence filled the carrier. For a long time, neither of us spoke. Then, Alexander turned to look at me, his gaze carrying an emotion I couldn't quite decipher. "It's just playing along with a pup's game. Don't take it seriously." When I didn't respond, he restarted the carrier and asked lightly, "Where were we again?" I stared blankly at the bustling territories outside the window— the wolves, the packs, all moving forward, living their lives. My mind was blank. Like a puppet, I echoed his words mechanically. "I don't know. I forgot too." Alexander nodded and said nothing more. The rest of the journey passed in complete silence. It was only then that I finally registered the reality of what had just happened. My mate… was about to challenge for another she-wolf. And it just so happened to be on the very day I was set to leave the Silver Moon Pack. How ironic.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Half an hour later, the carrier stopped at the territory of my den. After I got off the carrier, Alexander stared at my seat for a long time. Maybe the bloodstain reminded him of the topic we were interrupted. So he took two quick steps forward and held my hand. 'Diana, you don't look very well. Yesterday at the ceremony... are you okay? ' I wrapped my cloak tightly around me without looking back. 'It's okay. ' I tried to break away from Alexander's hand and walk into the den. But the next second, he suddenly roared, 'Diana! Do you know that you are really annoying like this? I am your Alpha and mate, and you always treat me with such a cold attitude! You can tell me what you are not satisfied with! But you are really annoying like this! Don't you have pack instincts? ! ' Alexander's sudden rage startled me. I turned around and looked at Alexander, whose face was flushed red, and was slightly stunned. I didn't understand where his emotion came from, Why did he have such an emotion, But I knew that if I didn't reply to him today, He would not let me go easily, So I looked at him and whispered: 'Alexander, you can do anything to me, but you shouldn't drag my pack into it. Today you threw me in front of the messenger wolves, and tomorrow my father will be on the territory gossip. We grew up in such an environment since we were pups. You know what this means. At least he helped you with all his strength...' I thought I chose the most insignificant topic to reply to his words. Alexander looked at me and was stunned for a moment, But then a huge anger swept over him, He stared at me with scarlet eyes and shouted: 'Diana, is that helping? That's taking advantage of a weakened pack! That's what I got for ruining my own and Selena's life! Shameless! ' 'These eight moons, do you know how she has been? ! We clearly were true mates, but you two despicable father and daughter tore us apart! So I will torture you until your wolf spirit breaks! ' 'Your birth moon is in seven days! I know! I will challenge for Selena on that day! I love her! I am not acting! I want her to be my Luna, the only Luna in my heart even though the pack laws won't recognize it! You will spend your next life as my rejected mate! ' 'Also, I saw Selena stepping on your belly that day! I indulged her! Even if the pup in your belly had survived, I would not give him any fatherly protection! ' 'Diana! This is what you and your father deserve! ' After saying that, he pushed me aside, started the carrier and left. As soon as I staggered to my feet, I received another call from Alexander. He on the other end of the crystal calmed down a lot. He said in his usual cold and playful tone: 'Diana, you can personally organize my challenge ceremony in seven days. Aren't you virtuous? Aren't you emotionless? Then just do it.' 'You'd better make it perfect. If Selena is not satisfied, I have plenty of ways to put your father's pack reputation on display every day.' After saying that, he cut the connection while growling a little tune. I know Alexander can do it. I pushed open the den entrance and looked at the huge mate-marking ceremony portrait of Alexander and me in the main chamber. A bitter smile appeared on my face. Alexander didn't smile at all in the portrait. He stood very far away from me with his stiff body. It took me a lot of effort to put my head on his shoulder. It was only a palm's distance. I still couldn't fill it after eight moons. I thought that when taking mate portraits with Selena, Alexander must have been very happy. I forced myself to stand up and took down all the mate portraits in the den. I tore the portraits into pieces and burned them in the territory. turned into ashes, then packed up his ceremonial robes and sent them to the main pack den, asked the pack scribe at home to draft a mate-bond severance agreement and put it in Alexander's study, after doing everything, I started to arrange his challenge ceremony for him, for a whole week, He did not come back, the hunting grounds were booked, the ceremonial pelts were prepared, the ritual was arranged, every day I sent these to Alexander like a subordinate reporting duties, still no reply, but no angry howls came in, I knew that Alexander was satisfied, or Selena was satisfied. That's fine, at this moment I just hope to leave smoothly. … Seven days later, Alexander stood in the center of the challenge circle and formally challenged for Selena, but before he could mark her as his chosen, the entrance to the ceremonial grounds was suddenly pushed open from the outside, the gray-furred Elder Mardanna pointed at Selena and snarled at the top of her lungs: 'I don't allow her to enter our pack, the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack can only be Diana! ' Alexander was also a little angry. He grabbed Selena's hand and looked at his mother and asked loudly: 'Why! Why! Mother, even if my wolf spirit leaves me today, I will claim Selena as mine! ' his mother clutched her chest and trembled all over. Looking at Alexander who was also angry in front of her, she cried and said: 'Son, you ask mother why? It's because she and her father are the murderers who killed your father! It's because mother asked Diana to mate with you! Son! You can't be confused anymore! '