CRUEL HUSBAND

On the anniversary of our Mating, my legs were wrapped around my Alpha, Adrian, as we shared a deep kiss.

My fingertips brushed against the hidden pocket of my silk dress, my hand tightening around the pregnancy test I had concealed there.

I felt the faint flutter of a new life inside me, planning to give him this surprise as the perfect end to our evening.

Just then, Adrian's Beta, Ethan, spoke in a low, teasing tone, using the Old Tongue.

"Alpha, that little sister-in-law of yours… the newly matured she-wolf, Zoe. How did she taste?"

Adrian's low, suggestive chuckle reached my ears, quiet yet piercingly clear.

He replied in the same ancient language.

"You know a freshly ripened pepper? Hot, with a real kick."

His palm was still caressing my waist, yet his gaze had drifted elsewhere.

"Just keep it quiet. If my Luna finds out, it's all over."

The other Betas let out knowing chuckles, raising their glasses in a silent promise to keep his secret.

But a chill washed over me, and my inner wolf went still, as if it had died.

He didn't know I had studied the Old Tongue for my research on werewolf trauma. I understood every word.

I held back my tears, forcing myself to appear unfazed, maintaining the composure expected of a Luna.

Instead of confronting him, I sent a magically shielded message to Elder Slone of the Werewolf Healers' Association, accepting the invitation she had extended to me.

In three days, I would join a secure werewolf rehabilitation program as their new Lead Therapist and disappear from Adrian's world forever.

...

Adrian sensed my turmoil through our mate bond. He gently stroked the mating mark on my nape with his thumb.

The mark he'd left on that full moon night began to burn, trying to soothe my turmoil.

"Baby, what's wrong? I can feel your pain."

Staring into his eyes, which were filled with concern, only made a wave of nausea wash over me.

One moment he was discussing my sister's body with his men, and the next, he could seamlessly slip back into the role of the perfect, devoted Alpha.

I wondered just how deep his deception ran.

"It's nothing. I was just curious, what were you all talking about?"

Adrian casually pinched my cheek, laughing with the same indulgent affection as always.

"We were discussing a territory dispute with some Rogues. I know you don't like hearing about that kind of violent business, so we used the Old Tongue."

He made it sound like it was for my own good.

But he must have been too distracted by his affair to notice I'd been studying the Old Tongue for my research on werewolf trauma.

Before Adrian could respond, I walked out onto the manor's terrace.

As I passed, the mates of other pack members watched me with envy.

"Look at our Luna. The Moon Goddess has truly blessed her. The Alpha throws such a grand celebration for her every year."

"Yes, the Luna of the Blackwood pack. It's a position to be envied."

I used to feel proud hearing such praise, believing I had found the perfect mate.

But now, the words just grated on my ears, stirring nothing inside me.

No one knew what Adrian, the man who supposedly loved me more than life itself, was really doing behind my back.

Even I had only just found out.

Yesterday, wanting to prepare his anniversary surprise in secret, I slipped into his private study without his knowledge.

It was a restricted area where the Blackwood pack's most confidential files were kept, a place even I rarely had access to.

But this time, I caught the distinct scent of my sister Zoe.

That cloying scent of a she-wolf had seeped into the leather chairs, clung to his jacket, and even lingered in the air.

The moment I walked out of that study, I knew my bond with Adrian was over.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated as a magically shielded message appeared on the screen.

"Camilla, I see you've accepted the program's invitation. I will have someone pick you up in three days."

"You can use these next few days to say goodbye to your family."

Hearing the word "family," my knuckles turned white as I gripped my phone.

Since my parents were killed in a pack war five years ago, Adrian was the only family I had left.

But now that he had betrayed me, he was no longer my family.

"Elder Slone, that won't be necessary. Please submit a request to activate the Moon Goddess's Veil and erase all records of my existence."

Her surprised voice came through.

"Why? Once the Veil is activated, the person known as Camilla will completely disappear from the werewolf world. Your Alpha will lose his mind."

I gave a bitter laugh. "He won't. He betrayed our mate bond."

The Elder fell silent. After a long moment, she sighed.

"I knew something was wrong yesterday when I felt you suddenly accept the invitation, but I never imagined..."

"Alright. I'll arrange for the highest level of the Moon Goddess's Veil for you. Take these three days to put your affairs in order."

Hearing her final agreement, I finally let out a breath of relief.

With the protection of the Veil, I would have nothing left to worry about before I left.

The message had just ended when a familiar, deep voice spoke from behind me, making me jump.

"Darling, who did you just say broke a mate bond?"