Chapter 1

During the most miserable year of Alpha Ethan’s life, I married him without a second thought.

For six years as his Luna, I helped him build the Red Ridge Pack into a powerhouse.

So when I found out he spent $880,000 just to buy a necklace for an Omega...

I confronted him, screaming, "I've been with you since I was eighteen! How can you be so shameless, Ethan? How can you do this to me?"

Ethan’s face didn't even flicker. "If you cared so much about your pride, would you have thrown yourself at me back then?"

Maya smirked, snuggling deeper into his chest. "Lily, you’re not even worth the necklace around my neck. Ethan said he’d spend whatever it takes as long as I’m happy."

In six years, Ethan had never bought me a single decent gift.

Swallowing my tears, a wave of sheer exhaustion washed over me. I turned around and called my mom. "Mom, I’m ready to come home and accept the arranged marriage."

Maya stood before me, dripping in designer clothes, her face smug.

Around her neck was this month's new Chanel release. At the beginning of the month, I had mentioned to Ethan how much I liked it.

Back then, Ethan had only looked at me with annoyance. "The pack's year-end expenses are huge. Can’t you be a little more understanding?"

I felt so guilty then, thinking how hard it was for him to run the pack. I didn't want to burden him.

But now, that very necklace sat perfectly on Maya's neck.

It was never about a tight budget. He just didn't think I was worth it.

When I was young, I wanted nothing but him. I married him with a heart full of pure love.

My parents were furious that I left home for a man. They cut off all my financial support.

Back then, Ethan’s pack was tiny. He had just become Alpha.

The pack was chaotic and facing endless trouble.

I stayed up all night with him to handle pack matters. My eyes were bloodshot, but I never dared to complain.

After eating cheap instant food for a whole week, he held me with teary eyes and swore that he would succeed. He promised he would never let me suffer again.

But promises fade. The hardships I endured back then had now become his excuse to claim I was the one who desperately chased him.

Noticing my gaze, Ethan instinctively stepped in front of Maya, shielding her as if I were some kind of monster.

He cleared his throat. "It’s the end of the year. She worked hard too. What's wrong with giving her a little reward?"

I let out a bitter laugh. I felt so incredibly tired.

Seeing how pale I was, Ethan's expression softened. He reached out to support me. "Come on, babe. If you like it, next year..."

I shook my head and cut him off. "Forget it, Ethan. I reject you."

Ethan's face instantly hardened. "Just because of a necklace?"

"Lily, can you grow up? It wasn't easy for me to build this pack from scratch. Maya has been by my side helping me. What's wrong with buying her a little gift?"

Always the same excuse.

Last Valentine's Day, I waited up for him until midnight. What I got instead was Maya's post on Ins.

The caption read: [Spending Valentine's Day with my favorite person. Perfect.

In the photo, she was beaming. Next to her, a man's hand was visible—wearing the mating ring I had personally picked out.

I showed him the photo and cried, asking why. He coaxed me, saying, "She's been under a lot of pressure lately. I just took her out to relax for a day."

And then there was the time I accidentally found a bag from that highly popular dessert shop at his place. I had been begging to go there for months, but we never had time because of pack duties.

I confronted him, but he brushed it off. "Maya said she wanted some. I just picked it up on my way. I have to look after my pack members' moods."

Only later did I find out he had waited in line for three hours that day.

On my birthday, he claimed there was an urgent pack meeting. But my friend spotted him spending the entire day with Maya at the amusement park. On our mating anniversary, he said he had to travel out of town for an alliance meeting, yet I saw the same campground scenery on Maya’s Ins.

Time and time again, my heart slowly died.

Pushing Ethan's hand away, I turned to leave. "I reject you as my mate, Ethan. Whether you agree or not, I'm doing it."

"Lily!" Ethan growled behind me, but I didn't look back.

But before I could take more than a few steps, Maya rushed straight at me.

I lost my balance and my lower abdomen slammed hard against the corner of the table.

"Babe!" Ethan finally panicked. He rushed over and scooped me into his arms, his voice laced with terror. "Are you okay? Where did you hit? Does it hurt?"

I instinctively grabbed his arm, wanting to beg for help. But the next second, Maya's whimpering cry echoed from a distance: "Ethan, I think I sprained my ankle. It hurts so much, please help me."

Ethan’s hands froze. His eyes flickered with conflict for a split second, but in the end, he gently pushed me away.

"Hang in there, babe," he said apologetically, not wasting a single second to leave my side. "I need to take Maya to the pack clinic first. I'll be right back for you."

I was already losing consciousness from the pain. I weakly grabbed his sleeve. "Don't go..."

But he pried my fingers away without hesitation and rushed toward Maya.

Everything went black, and I completely lost consciousness.