BLOOD DEBT, BRAVE HEART

Freya's POV

Eric Wheeler, the Alpha who had been bonded with me for five years and doted on me deeply, had actually left a fake mark on me.

And according to the Alliance's mate registry, the person who was supposed to stand beside him was never me from the very beginning.

I didn't know how I managed to walk out of the Alliance under the Elders' pitying gazes. My whole world was spinning and collapsing.

Eric and I were fated mates, yet he cheated on me with his childhood sweetheart, Ella Howell.

I felt cold all over, with the only exception being the gentle warmth emanating from the Moon Goddess' Kiss in my hand.

This was the item my parents left for me.

No werewolf wouldn't want to obtain it—it could greatly enhance an Omega's strength, as well as solve the issue of unstable powers in mixed-blood werewolves.

Besides, Eric's mother was a human, so being mixed-blood was his deepest fear as an Alpha.

Still unable to snap out of the immense grief I felt, I murmured softly, "Layla…"

My wolf, Layla, screamed within me, "Fool! What are you hesitating for? Consume it and leave this place! Are you still holding onto illusions about him?"

Suddenly, my phone rang, and I answered it instinctively. Eric's deep, magnetic laughter came from the other end.

"Freya, guess what I brought you? It's your favorite, Moonlit Roses. The final negotiation went exceptionally smoothly! I'll go home to you soon. Once this is settled, I can plant an entire garden of Moonlit Roses just for you."

His voice was still filled with his usual affection, but my heart hurt, feeling as if it had been brutally stabbed with a silver knife.

"Eric, I… You… That… Ella…"

In my agitation, my old stuttering problem resurfaced.

Layla sighed.

"Ella? Did she come to see you?" Eric asked.

His tone suddenly turned serious. "Listen, babe, go home now. Don't run around. She's hot-tempered, and her shifting could hurt you.

"Alright, I still have things to do here. See you tomorrow. I love you."

After the call ended, I stood there dazed for a while before finally moving my stiff legs and walking home. Along the way, Layla kept urging me to quickly absorb the Moon Goddess' Kiss.

When I returned home, I pondered on things for a long time. Before going to sleep, I stuffed it inside the drawer of the bedside table.

I wanted to make a decision after seeing Eric tomorrow.

…

Following a sleepless night, I got up early the next day and got ready to wait for Eric at the pack's entrance ahead of time.

However, my welcoming of him this time wasn't because of affection. Instead, it was to clarify that matter.

It was cold in the morning, and as a physically weak Omega, I had to wrap myself tightly in a thick cloak to go out.

I walked toward the pack's main entrance. Just after turning a corner, I saw Eric's tall figure appear outside in the distance.

I was just about to call out to him when a red-haired she-wolf in a dress rushed into his arms.

"Eric!" Ella looked up and smiled brilliantly as she shouted his name.

Eric caught her. Instead of pushing her away, he unbuttoned his own cloak, wrapped it around her, and looked at her with a helpless expression.

"It's so cold in the morning. Why are you dressed so lightly? What if you catch a chill? What about the pup in your belly?"

I froze in place. A pup?

Still in his embrace, Ella had a happy expression as she said, "I'm not that delicate Omega you have at home. A little chill like this is no threat to me. Our little wolf pup will definitely be the strongest Alpha heir in the future."

Within me, Layla roared with fury.

I covered my belly, feeling my heart ache so much that my whole body trembled.

The authenticity of the mark on me was already self-evident. My mate already had a pup with someone else, and I had been completely unaware.

Five years had passed, from our first meeting to him insisting on being with me—an Omega of unknown origin—against the entire pack's opposition.

I had been deceived for five years.

I still remember when the witch announced that I might never be able to bear pups. The immense despair had nearly crushed me.

Even I had wanted to give up on us.

However, he had said, "Freya, I don't care about an heir. I only want you."

I once thought such a steadfast and caring fated mate was the greatest blessing from the Moon Goddess, but it turns out everything was all a disgusting lie!

It was all clear to me now.

I rushed into the bedroom and pressed the Moon Goddess' Kiss against my chest. After an intense flash of light, it vanished into my body.

Layla laughed heartily. "Good! You should have done this long ago!"

I trembled all over, and at some point, I had started crying uncontrollably. The pup in my womb seemed to sense my distress and moved restlessly.

I covered my belly, feeling how absurd everything was.

In the five years we were together, in order to conceive an heir, I had taken no less than a hundred different kinds of medicine and experienced countless moments of despair.

Eric always said it didn't matter, but every time he saw a young pup, he couldn't walk away.

Perhaps the Moon Goddess had heard my prayers. Lately, when I went for another checkup, the healer told me the pup was very healthy and that I was exactly two months along.

I was so surprised that I was rendered speechless. I went to retrieve the inheritance my parents left me, wanting to give Eric a big surprise on his birthday.

Meanwhile, he had already become the father of someone else's pup a long time ago!

Eric's scent wafted over, which was soon followed by the sound of footsteps.

I immediately wiped away my tears. I had only just composed my expression when Eric pushed the door open.

"Surprise!"

A large, brilliant bouquet of Moonlit Roses was thrust toward my face. Behind the flowers was Eric's carefree and doting smile.

"The negotiations were very successful, and I brought back many seeds. Your exclusive rose garden can be completed in two months at the earliest. Are you happy?" he asked.

I avoided his gaze and indifferently replied, "Yeah."

He noticed that I wasn't as affectionate as usual, and his smile faded. He put down the flowers and hugged me.

"Babe, what's wrong with you today? I didn't see you when I returned, so I was worried the entire way home."

The Moon Goddess' Kiss was gradually taking effect, and my body temperature slowly rose.

"I have a fever," I said, trying to push him away. "I want to rest alone for a while."

He kissed my cheek before letting me go. His gaze was filled with concern as he said, "You're sick, so how can I feel at ease leaving you alone? I'll stay and take care of you."

As soon as he finished speaking, his phone chimed with a message. He instinctively swiped it away, and I didn't need to look to know who it was.

"Sorry, babe. There are too many pack affairs I need to handle. I'll make it up to you properly when I get back."

He shoved the bouquet into my arms, turned, and left.

I curled up into a ball. The Moon Goddess' Kiss flowed through my body like a spring, bringing about a strange sort of strength and a tingling pain.

Before losing consciousness, I vaguely saw Layla slowly transform from a gray wolf into a white wolf with blue eyes. It was so beautiful.

She gave me a gentle look and pressed her head against my forehead.

"Sleep now. We'll be free soon."