Chapter 1

My mate abandoned our son before his coming of age ceremony. Just to hang out with his pregnant omega mistress.

My son was attacked and killed by a hostile wolf pack. But I contacted Maverick King, who I hadn't contacted for a long time.

"I will no longer protect Stone Pack and Ethan. You can take revenge on them."

Maverick King, Valerius's voice came through, full of a predator's glee.

"Princess Winters, I've been waiting for your call. But you've protected the Stone Pack and that fool Ethan for so many years. Why the sudden change of heart?"

My voice was flat. "I'm breaking my mate bond with him. Soon."

Valerius was silent for a few seconds, then his voice turned excited. "You're not kidding, are you, little princess? So many powerful Alphas wanted to mate with you back then, but you chose that nobody, Kaelen—Ethan, and even helped him become a big shot. And now, you're really letting him go?"

I didn't want to explain.

My heart died with Caleb.

"The reasons don't matter. From now on, what happens to the Stone Pack is none of my business."

Valerius let out a satisfied growl. "Well, since your bond is broken, I'll personally deliver a 'special gift' to the Stone Pack's Blood Moon Festival tomorrow night."

The next evening, Ethan returned to our territory, reeking of his mistress's perfume.

"Where's Caleb?" he asked casually. "Is that boy hiding away training again? I told him, a real Alpha doesn't need to sneak around."

"I'm surprised you even remember him," I replied coldly.

Ethan didn't seem to care; his mind was elsewhere. "Regina, I have an official announcement to make tonight. Scarlett's pregnant. This child will be the true future of the Stone Pack. Your bloodline... it's too ordinary. Scarlett is pure-blooded. Her child will be a hundred times stronger than Caleb."

My hand stroked the armrest of the sofa. My voice was still calm. "Is that so?"

"Of course. I've already given her a temporary mark. Once she has the baby, we'll mate officially. As for you..." He sneered. "An old mate, a she-wolf with a common bloodline. Regina, for old times' sake, I'll let you stay in the pack to look after the children. But the Luna position belongs to Scarlett."

"I want to break our mate mark," I said suddenly.

Ethan froze, then burst out laughing mockingly. "Break the mark? Regina, are you dreaming? You're nothing without me. You wouldn't last a day if you left the Stone Pack."

"And," his voice turned threatening, "who do you think you are? I won't let you take Caleb. He's of Stone Pack blood; he needs to get proper Alpha training here. Don't even think about it."

I looked at this man I once loved so deeply. It was all so ironic.

"Mom, I'll make you and Dad proud." Those were the last words Caleb ever said to me.

Caleb cared so much about his father's approval, tried so hard to make Ethan happy.

And Ethan couldn't even be bothered to be with him for the most important training session before his coming-of-age ceremony.

Eighteen years old, just about to become an adult, and my Caleb died like that, on the Stone Pack's sacred land.

"The Alpha's son is dead," Beta Marcus had told me last night, his voice trembling. "An ambush by a rival pack... We were too late."

I knelt by Caleb, my hands shaking as I touched his pale face. The smell of blood filled the air, moonlight shining on his closed eyes.

"Why weren't there any guards?" My voice was terrifyingly calm.

Marcus answered timidly, "The Alpha ordered all elite guards to go with him... to protect Miss Scarlett while she was hunting."

He'd already thrown everything away for that mistress of his.

And now he had the gall to tell me to give up my Luna title to Scarlett. Calling it a favor to me!

This so-called Luna title, I didn't want it anymore!

"No matter what you think, I will break our mate bond," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Are you crazy? You useless she-wolf," he said dismissively. "Regina, drop the ridiculous threats. You're nothing here without my protection."

Ethan turned and stormed off.

I used to always be gentle with Ethan.

Even when I knew he was having an affair with Scarlett, I didn't make a big deal out of it. I always thought he'd still treat Caleb and me better.

But now…

I gathered Caleb's ashes, clutching the moonstone that symbolized our mate bond, and decided I would leave for good the next morning.

The moment I woke up, Ethan's voice boomed in my head.

"Whatever you're thinking, don't mess up my son Caleb's coming-of-age ceremony. Get him to the full moon celebration, now! I'm going to announce that, until Scarlett's child is grown, Caleb will be the temporary Alpha heir. Hurry up!"

Clutching my son's urn, I sneered, "Fine. I'm on my way."