Chapter 1

My fifth year as Luna, and it was the first time my Alpha, Marcus, sat down to have breakfast with me alone.

But a three-year-old boy was sitting right next to him.

“Catherine’s husband passed away last month. She’s struggling to raise the boy alone. We grew up together, and I can't just stand by. I'm bringing them to live here for a while.”

The boy looked up. His features were almost identical to Marcus’s.

I froze.

Not because of his face, but because I couldn't smell a thing.

A three-year-old pup was sitting right in front of me, yet I couldn't scent him.

Even now, my wolf didn't surge forward to rip Marcus's throat out.

####

I pushed down the tremor in my chest and sneered. "Grew up together? Her husband just died, and you’re already rushing to bring her into our home?"

His face darkened. "She doesn’t want any status. She’ll just live here to help take care of the kid... You’re still the Luna, and you get an extra child. It’s a win-win."

I set my fork down and stared at the Alpha in front of me.

Five years ago, when the Blood Ridge Pack declared war, the Shadow Fang Pack was almost wiped out.

It was my father who led his warriors to push them back, rebuilt their territory, and established their supply lines.

Without the Silver Creek Pack, the Shadow Fang Pack wouldn’t even exist today.

"Marcus, I’m leaving. Take your woman and your kid, and get the hell out."

He picked up the boy, placed him in his chair, turned to me, and slid his hands into his pockets. "Luna Elena, you’ve been married into the Shadow Fang Pack for five years. Everything here is under my command." His tone was flat, stating a fact that needed no debate. "I remember the favor your father did for us back then. But since you married in, those resources belong to Shadow Fang. If I say no, they have nothing to do with you anymore."

He pulled out a chair, sat down, and casually picked up a piece of toast, taking a bite. "What do you have to fight me with?"

The three-year-old boy sat on the high chair, poking his yogurt cup with a spoon, glancing at me with every poke.

His brow bone, the bridge of his nose, even the mole at the corner of his lip—he was a carbon copy of Marcus.

"You think I didn't come prepared?"

"Prepared what? Calling your father’s messenger?" He smirked. "That guy bowed his head to me yesterday. In this territory, no one dares to defy my orders."

I just stared at him.

He put the toast down, brushed the crumbs off his hands, and stood up. "Luna Elena, stop throwing a tantrum. Catherine is coming this afternoon. Help clean up the room next door."

He walked to the door to change his shoes.

Bending down to tie his laces, he glanced back at the boy. "Liam, be good. Daddy will be home tonight."

Daddy.

Not uncle.

He wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.

After the door slammed shut, I stood by the window, watching Marcus’s car drive out of the gates.

I lifted my arm and sniffed.

Nothing.

I couldn't even smell my own scent anymore.

I walked back to the kitchen and opened the deepest cabinet.

Three months ago, Marcus started giving me a "nutritional supplement" every morning. He said it was formulated by the pack healer and was good for my body.

I drank it every time, never thinking twice.

But now, I was starting to wonder.

Over the past few months, my wolf felt weaker and weaker.

Every time I drank that stuff, my body felt sluggish in a way I couldn't describe.

I used to think it was just stress.

Now, putting everything together, the answer was staring me in the face.

I didn't make a scene.

I just took a clean vial from the cabinet, poured half of tomorrow morning's "supplement" into it, screwed the cap tight, and hid it at the very bottom of my closet.

Then, I went about my day like nothing had happened.

Yesterday, I tried to send a messenger to contact my father, wanting him to send people to pick me up for a few days.

Now, it seemed that messenger had already fallen into Marcus’s hands.

Twelve minutes after the door closed, my phone rang.

An unknown number.

"Luna Elena, this is Catherine." Her voice was soft and sweet, with a southern drawl. "Alpha Marcus said I should come over at three. Is the room ready?"

"What else did he tell you?"

"He said... you agreed to it."

"When did I ever say I agreed?"

The line went quiet for two seconds. "Luna Elena, I really won’t take up much space. I’m just here to help with Liam and cook. You can just treat me as a free nanny..."

"Who is the pinned contact on your Snapchat? What’s his nickname?"

Her breath hitched.

"I saw it this morning. Between eight and nine today, you sent him eight messages. The last one: 'Honey, did she agree? I'm so nervous.'"

"Elena..."

"You also have another social media account called 'Secrets of Happiness' on TikTok, with 1.17 million followers. Three months ago, you posted a video. The background was a living room with warm lighting, a mahogany coffee table, and custom Italian drapes. You told the camera, 'Everyone, this is the home my husband and I share.'"

She fell silent.

I continued, "That living room is mine. Those drapes were ordered by me from Milan. I brought that coffee table in."

She remained silent.

"Are you still coming at three?"

Her voice was small, but she didn’t back down. "Luna Elena, Alpha Marcus told me to come."

At three sharp, the doorbell rang.

She wore a cream knit dress, her hair in a low ponytail, her skin ridiculously fair.

When she smiled, two deep dimples appeared.

"Hi, Luna Elena." She bowed slightly, dragging two suitcases.

The boy jumped off the couch and ran into her arms. "Mommy!"

She picked him up, kissed his forehead, and looked at me.

There wasn't a shred of guilt in her eyes.

She walked around the living room as if she owned the place.

In her mind, maybe she did.

"Luna Elena, where is the guest room? I can find it myself."

"That ring on your left hand."

Her smile froze.

On her left ring finger was a sapphire ring.

My engagement ring.

Two years ago, Marcus said he took it for cleaning and never brought it back.

She hid her hand behind her back. "Alpha Marcus gave it to me..."

"I know he did."

I turned and went upstairs.

Her voice trailed behind me, laced with a whiny, spoiled pout. "Luna Elena, I really am just here to help."

####