Chapter 1
On our fifth mating anniversary, I received a mysterious package. Inside were intimate photos of my mate, Silan Grant, Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, and his secretary, Flora White. The timeline stretched back far–far longer than five years. The most recent photo was taken just two weeks ago, showing him at the Bodessa River with Flora and our daughter. In the photo, they were laughing so brightly, like a perfect little family of three.
Swallowing my emotions, I took the prescribed herbs for rejection–induced sickness and picked up my
phone to send a text. The moonflower tincture worked wonders on my bowel.
“Mom, I’ll take your advice and request for rejection. I’ll come back next month to take over the pack’s
trading operations.”
The healer’s regretful words still echoed in my ears as I left the den.
“Luna Laurel, the pup’s heartbeat is strong. At your age, it might be difficult to conceive again. Are you absolutely sure about this?”
“Maybe you should discuss it with your mate one more time?”
Staring at the tiny spot on the ultrasound crystal, I steeled myself and swallowed the bitter wolfsbane elixir. Before the effects of the potion kicked in, I stopped by the pack market to buy a pile of fresh ingredients.
Back at the packhouse, I cooked a table full of Silan’s favorite dishes. I sat silently on the couch, waiting for him to return–from dawn until the full moon rose. The food grew cold, and the candles on the cake melted down to their stubs. Silan never came home.
Just then, Flora White updated her PackChat story. The photo showed a man’s hands, wearing an apron, frosting a cake. The caption read:
“How sweet of him to remember our ten–year partnership. Who says Alphas can’t be romantic? Mine’s the exception.”
I recognized those hands immediately. The elegant fingers, the faint scar between the thumb and index finger. That scar came from last year, when Silan fought off a rogue wolf to protect me. He used to joke that it might even affect his precision in transmitting Alpha commands.
Now, those hands that once radiated power were busy cooking for someone else.
As the night deepened, he finally opened the den door. He looked surprised to find me sitting there alone with a table full of cold dishes.
Chapter 1
“Didn’t I tell you I’d be at the neighboring pack late? I said not to wait for me for dinner.”
I stretched my stiff body and began clearing the table, tossing the food into the trash.
“It’s fine. I already ate. I just hadn’t cleaned up yet.”
He noticed the cake on the table, his expression briefly flickering with unease.
“Why is there a cake? Is today some kind of occasion?”
I casually removed the “Fifth Mating Anniversary” topper and replied flatly, “No reason. I just wanted
cake.”
He exhaled, visibly relieved, walked over, and kissed my cheek with the practiced ease of an Alpha hiding
his lies.
“You’ve had a long day. I’m pretty tired–I’ll head to bed first.”
Juggling two mates must be exhausting for him, except the other one isn’t truly his mate but he sure acts
like it.
