Chapter 1

Layla's POV

For ten years, the entire pack called Adeline Hill their future Luna. Nobody corrected them.

Not even my mate, Alpha Finn Cooper.

Even though she found her mate five years ago and left to his pack, everyone still anticipated when she would return to rule beside Finn as his Luna.

Today was finally the day she returned, and the excitement radiating through the pack was impossible to miss.

Finn signed the documents on his desk one after another without even looking at them. Instead, his eyes remained fixed on the television mounted on the wall, displaying Adeline's convoy almost arriving at the border of Silvercrest Pack.

Pack members lined the streets, holding placards and chanting, "WELCOME BACK, LUNA ADELINE!"

Finn stood to leave when a throat cleared in the room.

His Beta, Derek Hill, Adeline's elder brother, stalked forward.

"Alpha, my sister can come visit you later. Luna isn't well. Maybe you should stay with her instead?"

Finn's lips curved into a frown. "Adeline is my best friend who has been away for so long. I have to welcome her back."

"But, Alpha—"

Finn raised his hand. "Enough, Derek! I'll only be gone for a few hours. Layla will be o—oh, Layla." He froze on seeing me. "What are you doing here? I told you to rest."

He rushed towards me, his eyes full of concern.

"Go back and rest, okay? So you can have strength for your birthday celebration."

I just nodded, unsure how to respond.

Finn sighed. "I really don't want to leave you, darling, but as Alpha, I am needed somewhere. Please understand. In fact, let me show my sincerity."

I smiled weakly, my eyes stinging with tears I refused to let fall. I knew what was coming.

"Derek."

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Give her another token. Whatever she asks for, jewelry, money, cars, property, even half of the pack, just give her. You can use my stamp on my behalf."

Derek's jaw tightened as he nodded. Without another word, Finn hurried out the door.

We grew up as best friends, and although Finn had feelings for Adeline, she eventually found her mate and left. Years later, Finn and I discovered we were mates. I thought he'd reject me because of Adeline, but he told me I was his mate and we were going to make things work.

A year later, just when we were to announce our bond, Adeline returned. I had spent the entire day preparing myself for the celebration. I waited until midnight, but Finn never came.

Instead, he sent his Beta to deliver a blood-signed promise token.

"I owe you one token. You can request anything from the pack and it'll be yours."

Every time Adeline appeared, Finn left me behind. For each failed promise, he signed a binding Alpha decree document that gave me anything I wanted.

That was the first token. In just a few years, I had accumulated ninety-eight tokens.

Now, number ninety-nine.

A hand landed on my shoulder. I looked up into Derek's softened eyes.

"I'm sorry about what Finn is doing. I'll talk to—"

"Please hand me the signed token," I choked out.

In the entire pack, he was the only one who knew that I was the Luna.

He sighed and walked towards Finn's desk.

"This is what I want this time." I slipped a note to him.

Derek stilled. For all the past tokens, I had refused to ask for anything.

But not anymore.

This time, my only request was this:

"If tokens reach one hundred, whatever is requested by Miss Layla Bennett, will be irreversible, including dissolution of mate bond and voluntary departure from pack territory. Alpha Finn Cooper’s signature stands as a promise to not interfere in any way."

Derek's eyes almost fell out as he read.

"L-Luna, are you sure about this?"

I nodded and walked out with my head lifted.

Once this was signed, I would be free in six days.

Six days.