Broken Ring, Hidden Queen

Aria's POV

It was the third anniversary of my Mate Bond with Julian.

I stood in his estate, rejected by my own twin pups for my "reeking Omega scent."

And that lavish gala wasn't for me.

It was for another woman.

...

Three hours earlier, I was heading home early, battling a severe case of the flu.

Every breath felt like my lungs were on fire.

As I crossed the boundary line of the territory, I saw the estate glowing with lights.

My heart skipped a beat.

He didn't forget.

"Aria? You're home early," a maid said as she passed by, her expression flickering with awkwardness.

"Has the celebration already started?" I asked.

"Yes..."

"I'd better go change then."

"It's a victory party for Kierra, the actress," she whispered. "Alpha Julian said he's so proud of her. That she's the best."

I froze and didn't wait for her to finish.

I walked away, dazed.

My Mate Bond with him felt dead and cold.

Standing outside the main hall, I saw Julian looking radiant, standing by Kierra's side.

She seemed to glow.

Julian had a tender smile on his face—a look I had never seen directed at me.

I turned and went upstairs to find my pups.

They were playing with a sand table, not even looking up when I entered.

They had built a tiny Lunar Altar—the most sacred place for the pack.

"Who are these two?" I knelt, forcing a small smile.

Lara looked at the wooden doll in her hand, dressed in a silver-white gown. "It's Daddy and Kierra."

My throat tightened.

"And... where's Mommy?"

"You're in that house." Isaac pointed to a colorless clay figure tucked away in the furthest corner of the sand table.

His voice was indifferent.

Lara pouted. "Mommy, why aren't you as pretty as Kierra? She says she's the one who should be our Luna."

"Lara, don't say that." I tried to touch her braids. "I missed you guys."

"Don't touch me!" Lara snapped, shoving my hand away with a look of pure disgust.

"You're sick, and your Omega smell is gross!"

My hand froze in mid-air.

I stood there, watching the pups I nearly died giving birth to, excitedly discussing what gifts to make for Kierra at the altar.

Meanwhile, the clay figure representing "Mommy" lay forgotten in the shadows.

That evening, Julian's secretary delivered a beautifully wrapped box.

"Luna, the Alpha ordered this as a gift for Kierra's 'Coronation Gala.' He... can't get away from the bonfire tonight."

"I understand."

My heart felt like it was being twisted by a blade.

He remembered a gift for her, but forgot today was the third anniversary of our union before the Moon Goddess.

I triggered a video call.

The background was the most luxurious lounge in the territory. The scent of champagne and pheromones practically bled through the screen.

Julian's ice-blue eyes were as distant as ever.

"What do you want?"

"Julian, today is—"

"Julian, the Moon Lantern is ready! Come here!"

A silky voice interrupted, and a slender hand rested on Julian's shoulder.

Kierra...

Julian's eyes flickered for a split second.

"We'll talk when I get back," he said coldly.

The screen went black.

A moment later, my phone buzzed.

It was a wire transfer notification with a note:

【It's for the anniversary. Go get something pretty for yourself.】

Right then, Kierra updated her social media.

She was wearing the moonstone diamond ring I had always dreamed of—the symbol of a Luna's status.

Her caption read:

【Eight months of waiting, and it's finally mine. Thank you, my Alpha.】

Eight months. While I was running myself ragged across the territory for our sickly pups, he spent eight months hand-crafting a ring for another woman!

The next afternoon, dragging my aching body through the garden, I overheard the pups talking behind the hedges.

"Why is Mommy back? Now Kierra won't take us to the Holy Lake to see the lights. I wish she'd stay away forever."

"Daddy thinks so too, right? Daddy only picked an Omega like Mommy because he couldn't have Kierra back then."

I stopped dead in my tracks.

To them, I was just... extra.

When I married Julian, the night before we bonded, Julian gripped my chin, his voice lethal,

"Aria, I'm marrying you for your bloodline. Nothing else. So, don't dream of anything more."

For three years, I thought I could change his mind.

Today, I realized how wrong I was.

I walked toward the Lunar Altar.

Before I even reached it, I heard familiar, piercing laughter.

In front of the sacred altar, Julian held a pup in each hand, while Kierra leaned intimately against his arm.

Their long shadows stretched across the stone, a picture-perfect family.

"Kierra, do wishes really come true here?" Lara asked.

Kierra stroked the girl's hair and shot a provocative look toward the shadows where I stood.

"Of course," she purred. "The Moon Goddess hears the most sincere prayers. Like... to tell your Omega Mommy to leave us alone!"